Feminist Flicker - Decoding Sexism In Movies

Have you ever watched a movie and wondered why it left you with a feeling of dissatisfaction so subtle that you couldn't quite put your finger on it? Have you ever wondered how to tell if you're watching a movie through the male gaze? Then look no further. Feminist Flicker is here to shine a light on those shadiest of cinematic corners.

It is an unfortunate, but inescapable truth that sexism in society is supported and promoted by sexism in the media - especially movies. Indeed, even the most beloved of films can sometimes be unmasked as a hive of insidious white patriarchal messages. 

But fret not, dear reader. Just as Morpheus revealed the nature of the Matrix to Neo, so Feminist Flicker is on hand to expose the truth to you - by decoding sexism in movies, one film at a time.

Extreme Esteem

Dive into a weekly awakening that rivals your morning coffee but lasts much longer. With Murray by your side, navigate transformative insights and hands-on advice each week, specifically designed to ignite your self-esteem and reveal the untapped powerhouse within you. Ready to uncover your best self?

Plunge into the hidden challenges of thriving in our hyper-processed world, armed with game-changing strategies, profound insights, and little-known secrets. Don't just survive—elevate your life to unparalleled heights with Extreme Esteem. Are you ready to unlock the extraordinary?

The Domesticated Poet

A behind the curtain look at life for this poet/Stay at home mom. Join me as I discover what it takes to balance the two as well as break the sterotypes that go along with both. 

Backlist Mystery Book Club

Reading and reacting to old mysteries.

Which ones are still page-turners and which ones are hilariously dated? 

Channillo Holiday/Winter Series 2019

A collection of holiday or winter themed essays, poems, and stories by various authors.

Nifty's Free Album Picks

The world is full of music; from pop to rock; from country to folk; from classical to alternative. Music is everywhere, and there is no doubt about that! In fact, if you look a little bit on the Internet, you will find genres that don't exist at all in the mainstream music scene! We at Mini Nifty have decided to comb the Internet for full-length albums that people can listen to without paying a cent, highlighting the best of online music, with a focus on little-known but high-quality albums. All the music we will mention in this publication is legally streamable from sites such as Bandcamp, various netlabel and music library websites, and other free music havens. Not all good music comes from the mainstream labels. Find out about albums on a daily basis!

Lessons I've Learned the Hard Way

You know when someone says, “learn from my experience,” or “don’t make the same mistakes I did,” and you’re like “oh I probably shouldn’t do that thing”? I’m one of those people who doesn’t have that capability. I don’t learn from anyone else’s mistakes; I’ve had to learn most of my lessons the hard way - by making my own mistakes, living through the consequences, and coming out the other side. I’m also one of those people who the universe likes to throw stuff at faster than I can possibly handle it. So, my life isn’t always fun, but it’s always interesting and there are always lessons to be learned. 

In this series, I’ll share the stories of the lessons I’ve had to learn the hard way, and maybe, just maybe, you’ll be able to learn from my mistakes and not make the same ones. 

My Life as a Rocket Scientist (and other lies I tell myself)

Who am I really?

Well, that is the everlasting question. The answer that still eludes me, and so many others to this day.

My quest is to find some sort of answer to the complexities of life. Join me on this perilous journey, as I slay dragons, defeat zombies, and uncover the hidden truths inside.

Poking holes through tough situations, and learning to find the humor in everyday life. Sometimes, life sucks, but that doesn't mean it's the end of the world. (not yet, I promise)

Quips of Profanity may ensue. 

Series Release: Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Series Now Finished.

Unfixed Timelines

Secrets buried under the sands of Turkey, the murder of a small-town sheriff, zombies at Vicksburg, otherworldly entities recruiting at a high society ball, and a daring escape from pirates. Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction, and in these five stories, the two are blended into tales of alternate history. Short stories appear every other week, and essays on the historical events related to stories are posted in the intervening weeks.

Lines in the Gravel

Lines in the Gravel is an engaging, often humorous, series of snapshots about Al Ainsworth's experiences growing up in rural Star, Mississippi. It is one story—told by a collection of stories—of family and faith that transcends his own experience to connect with others who seek to perpetuate their own values through the stories they tell…and re-tell.

There's a monster in my bed. Oh wait. It's a baby.

No self-respecting modern woman wants a baby, until you do and then you’re stuffed.

There’s a monster in my bed. Oh wait. It’s a baby is a series of satirical columns about surviving life with a baby and a boyfriend in a modern world that forgot it’s not 1950 something.

Briana takes on all things babies and boyfriend as she discovers motherhood is like riding a wild horse that’s out of control. Only the horse is not a horse, it’s a donkey. And it’s going backwards.

Written with a lot of sarcasm, a little humor and not enough coffee by a woman who wishes she was Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

No Vacancy

No Vacancy is a collection of humorous personal essays. Each essay is independent of each other, but together the collection weaves an autobiographical tapestry, at times sad, bizarre, and deeply personal. No skeleton in her closet is safe.

Lisa tackles subjects including grand conspiracies, generation gaps, memory loss, aging, nostalgia, modern technology, Corporate America, airline industry, affairs, addiction, unorthodox relationships, male species, and female anatomy, to name just a few.

A Writer Looks at Fifty: Middle Aged Musings in a Millennial World

A Writer Looks at Fifty is one man’s attempt to navigate life in a world dominated by millennials, celebrities and everything digital.  Looking at life’s little quirks, oddities, and things that give us pause, this weekly series will explore the author’s desire to adapt to an ever changing world while trying to maintain his sense of calm and balance.

Buzz writes about subjects including but not limited to:  Books, Film, History, Popular Culture, Music, Cooking, Television, Bourbon, Education, Dining (fine and otherwise), Relationships, Pets, Employment, Travel, Shopping, Sports, Growing Up, Wine, Beer, Astrology, Aging, Transportation, Myths, Legends, People, Customer Service, Gaming, Hotels, Millennials and the odd observation or two about the Weather Channel.

Each essay will explore a different topic but usually adhering to the author’s general theme of “how did I get here and why am I drinking so much wine?”  Hopefully he’ll change some attitudes and maybe some latitudes and have fun all the way.

So come along for the ride and remember:  Life is all about the journey and not the destination.

The Un-Writerly Guide to Narrative Design

This Guide is intended for all those who wish to enter the world of writing. In it, we will explore the many ways and tools and means to craft the stories which reside at the bottom of our lungs, simply waiting for the deepest breath. I include prompts aimed at working our creative minds and always strive to give positive feedback and discussion. My Guide gives no definitive answers, no equations, or Truth; it merely provides a look into the words of one writer's pursuing of the elements of writing life. 

Stories from the Roller Coaster

Al Ainsworth graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a degree in Coaching and Sports Administration. His career plan was to coach baseball at one high school for 40 years, win multiple state championships, and impact generations of young men. His family plan was to marry at age 22, begin a family at age 25, and complete that family by age 30.

Over 25 years into his life plan, he can look back on a coaching career that lasted just 13 years at three different schools. A subsequent career in pastoral ministry lasted eight years before giving way to his current endeavors as a teacher of learning disabled students and as a writer, speaker, and legacy builder. In between he has done everything from lawn care and landscaping to paper routes, membership sales, tool sales (for a week), glass installation, and even a couple of years as actuarial analyst.

And that family plan? Age 22 came and went without so much as a date. In his own words, he was an "idiot" when it came to his courtship of his future wife. Three children later--with a couple of twists and turns--they continue a counter-intuitive faith ride in Hernando, Mississippi.

This is their story.

Vista of a Sisyphean Mind

Vista of a sisyphean mind series looks at the world in a unique perspective that is inspiring and motivating. The series is an exploration into the greatness of life.

Inspirational short stories (fiction) are also published here.

Travel on a Different Plane

Let yourself go. Captivating, humorous, and delectable travel tales that will transport you to the next town or the far side of the world . . .

Who am I? Who are you?

An antidote to the 'gene-centred' view of what makes us who we are, this series considers topical issues reflecting how we see ourselves. From genetic modifications to end of life decisions, how do these issues influence our self perspective?  What makes us who we are? Join me on this journey of discovery. We may be surprised by what we find. 

Kickstarts! Writing Workshop

A writing workshop for reluctant and blocked writers, and for those just looking to put the fun back into the creative writing process.

We all have those times when the words don't flow. Whether you are are a student who can think of about a million other things that you would rather be doing than writing that English assignment, or a veteran author who has spent the last chunk of time staring at a blank page where words should be, this workshop is for you!

While it explores ideas from the stance of writing fiction, with a few easy adjustments it can be very helpful for non-fiction as well! 

Making News

For more than 15 years I’ve been exploring the Berkshires as a writer and a journalist. While the world of news has changed rapidly, I’ve tramped the hills with a reporter’s notebook and talked with people. Community journalism is at risk, and some say it’s endangered. Let me tell you what it’s like, while it still exists. 

I’ve talked with many kinds of people, from Chinese artists to mill workers, a rabbi immersed in Passover and women celebrating Easter hundreds of miles from their native towns in Central America. This part of Western Massachusetts has a rare combination of real country and intellectual richness — in these open ridges, so far west that most of Massachusetts forgets we’re here, we have the most diverse set of people in the state outside Boston.

Here I will share some of the stories I’ve heard and the experience of finding them. Come with me inside the newsroom and into artist studios, theater rehearsal rooms, museums, farmyards and woods.  

I’ve learned that good conversation is a craft; it improves with practice, and at its best it’s a natural high. And I have gotten to know this place, from wood-fired kilns to Quebeçois reels to new-laid eggs. Let me tell you about it.