Category Archives: consumerism

Super sunday?

Posted on February 5, 2012 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

What if, instead of spending millions on advertising, the corporate greed-mongers donated all of that money to schools, hospitals, and unions?  What if instead of spending millions of money to fly super rich folk to the Superbowl, for a super … Continue reading →

Posted in consumerism, corporate greed, fraud, holidays | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

DIY wars: who is behind shutting down artisan ice cream makers?

Posted on August 8, 2011 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

The Chicago Tribune recently did a story on local ice cream makers being shutdown by the Illinois Department of Public health for not having a dairy license. The article noted that the artisan ice cream makers in Chicago had followed … Continue reading →

Posted in consumerism, food, inspiration | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

A cool drink of water

Posted on March 6, 2011 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

I’ve been re-reading Writing A Woman’s Life by Carolyn Heilbrun — it was published in 1988 and re-reading it now makes me realize just how far women have strayed, ambled, run, and yes moved on and from the path of … Continue reading →

Posted in beer, consumerism, expectations, family, feminism, identity, motherhood | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

The mad cap adventures of Princess Belle

Posted on February 21, 2011 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

Gorilla Girl’s cousin and aunt sent her a new favorite book for Valentine’s Day — it is called Enchanted Stables and it incorporates three princesses, Belle, Cinderella and Snow White, each in her own mad cap “adventure” involving a horse.  … Continue reading →

Posted in consumerism, expectations, fairy tales, lessons | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Not so pretty in pink

Posted on February 10, 2011 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

Peggy Orenstein’s Schoolgirls, when it was released in 1994, like other feminist works of the 1990s, questioned, probed, revealed, and prompted changes and shifts in education, the work place and social interactions.  Her book, like Myra and David Sadker’s Failing … Continue reading →

Posted in class, consumerism, education, expectations, fairy tales, fraud, gender, identity, language, motherhood | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Farewell, Rosie

Posted on December 31, 2010 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

This iconic poster has adorned the wall of my classroom for the last fifteen or so years, as long as I have been teaching in MS 176. Geraldine Doyle, the woman who was the source of inspiration for this poster, … Continue reading →

Posted in class, consumerism, education, gender, inspiration | 2 Comments

Fashionista barbie, door bells and prince charlie

Posted on December 22, 2010 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

A few days ago, Monkey Man and Gorilla Girl were playing while I made dinner.  Gorilla Girl said to Monkey Man, “You will be Prince Charlie and I’ll visit you.” For a moment, I thought I should correct Gorilla Girl, … Continue reading →

Posted in consumerism, expectations, fairy tales, gender, holidays, language | 4 Comments

The grinch meets uncle ho

Posted on December 15, 2010 by Necessity is the Mother of Invention

Monkey Man and Gorilla Girl are excited about the impending visit from Santa, and despite my misgivings, reluctance, and inherent distrust of rampant consumerism, I know that there will be presents under our tree from Santa.  Because I’ve always been … Continue reading →

Posted in connection, consumerism, expectations, holidays, motherhood, sisters, winter | 1 Comment