Viva la Feminista

Thanks to Ella the Kid for helping me with this review of the latest Wimpy Kid book! This review is based on a book report she wrote for class, but I added to it. Mama-daughter collaboration! Summary: The plot revolves around Gregory, aka the Wimpy Kid, looking for a date for the big Valentine's Day dance. Meantime, his dad's brother, Uncle Gary, moves in after losing all his money after buying a zillion shirts that are misspelled. Uncle Gary is full of dating advice...bad dating advice. After Gregory is turned down by every girl in school, he asks Abigail, after her date cancels, to join him on a group date with Rowley, his BFF. Gregory's mom is also freaking out because it's time for baby brother, Manny, to head to kindergarten! Alas, Manny prefers to play with his invisible friends and not flesh and blood kids. Will Uncle Gary ever move off Rodrick's favorite sofa? Will Manny make a real friend? What does the Valentine's Day dance hold for BFFs Gregor

In the spirit of 16 Days merged with "Giving Tuesday," I present a list of 16 organizations that work on behalf of eliminating violence against women, as well as one handgun control organization, that you where you can give, give, give! Some also have shops, so if you still need a gift.... If I have missed your favorite, please let me know in the comments. Amnesty International Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence CARE Chicago Abortion Fund * Chicago Foundation for Women International Rescue Committee JASS National Network to End Domestic Violence National Women's Law Center Nobel Women's Initiative RAINN Say NO - UNiTE Stop Rape in Conflict suggests donating to members of their advisory committee   Women for Women   V-Day YWCA * They don't work on VAW issues directly, but many of the women who call requesting assistance are survivors of violence.

Day One November 25th is the day that the Mirabal sisters were assassinated in 1960. Most people are familiar with their story thanks to the novelization of their fight for democracy in " In the Time of the Butterflies " by Julia Alvarez or the movie by the same name. Their surviving sister wrote a memoir a few years ago. In 1999, the UN declared today International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in their honor. The Nobel Women's Initiative is marking "16 Days" by highlighting 16 activists. Visit their "16 Days" blog or sign up to get all 16 profiles sent to you via email.     Take Back The Tech! is a collaborative campaign that takes place during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence (25 Nov - 10 Dec). It is a call to everyone - especially women and girls - to take control of technology to end violence against women. Check them out! Remember, if you have something to share, please do so !

Yes, it's that time of the year! Time to rally for 16 days of activism against gender violence. Although this year feels like 16 days is hardly enough time to address all the acts of gender violence happening in the USA and around the world. The 16 Days Campaign begins on International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (November 25) and ends on International Human Rights Day (December 10), to emphasize that such violence is a human rights violation. This year’s Campaign theme, From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Let’s Challenge Militarism and End Violence Against Women! , highlights the role that militarism plays in perpetuating violence against women and girls. Against the backdrop of several recent mass shootings in the United States, the Campaign will seek in part to illuminate the relationship between domestic violence and small arms. With nearly 700 million small arms in the hands of private actors today, research shows that having a small a

Environmental justice is an important issue to many Latino communities. Our communities are often located near smoke stacks, polluted land, undrinkable water, on and on. In Chicago, the Tribune ran a story today about our polluted communities*:  Federal and state officials have known for more than six years about hazardous levels of brain-damaging lead in a vacant lot near Walsh Elementary School in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood. Yet even after field investigators raised alarms about children possibly inhaling or ingesting contaminated soil, the half-acre lot hasn't been fenced off or cleaned up. Nor have government officials posted signs warning residents in the low-income, largely Latino neighborhood that the lot is tainted with toxic lead dust. How are we expecting our children to grow up strong and learn all they can in school if they can't even breath clean air? If you ponder this question too, why not join in on a blog carnival that is happening? Moms

DiálogoEcológico De los Redactores de E/La Revista Ecológica Querido DiálogoEcológico: ¿Qué está pasando con la propuesta de convertir parte del Gran Bosque Boreal en Maine en un gran parque nacional? -- Peter Griswold, Jaffrey, NH La idea de tornar una porción grande de las forestas en Maine central en un parque nacional se remonta por lo menos 150 años cuando él mismo Henry David Thoreau sugirió convertir a la región en "una reserva ecológica nacional" en ensayos acerca de sus viajes por el área a pie y en canoa en los años 1850. Hasta la fecha la mayor parte de las áreas en Maine central que Thoreau visitó son todavía principalmente subdesarrolladas excepto por la extracción intermitente de madera. Pero cambios recientes en la propiedad de la tierra allí preocupan a los ecólogos. La organización sin fines lucrativos RESTAURA: Los Bosques Boreales [RESTORE: The North Woods] ha estado liderando la creación de un Parque Nacional y Reserva de los Bosques de Maine po

CALL FOR PAPERS ( Deadline 1 December 2012 ) - PLEASE CIRCULATE WIDELY TO COLLEAGUES AND STUDENTS WORKING ON MOTHERHOOD IN  ALL DISCIPLINES. Motherhood in post-1968 European Women's Writing: 'Cross-cultural and Interdisciplinary Dialogues' Thursday-Saturday 24-26 October 2013 Venue: Centre for the Study of Contemporary Women's Writing, Institute of Germanic & Romance Studies, University of London, Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU, U.K. This conference is the culmination of the AHRC-funded Motherhood in post-1968 European Literature Network, and follows five thematic workshops held between May 2012 and June 2013. The main aim of the Network is to raise the profile of contemporary literature as a field of study of motherhood in an interdisciplinary and cross-cultural forum, and to explore how insights from literary studies might contribute to studies of motherhood in other disciplines. The conference aims to continue the cross-cultu

It's the 10th anniversary of the Chicago Toy & Game Fair and just like last year, I'm giving away a free weekend pass!! We went last year and while we could only stay a short time, we had a ton of fun. This year we'll definitely be staying for a longer period of time. ChiTAG happens the weekend of November 17 & 18 and will be held at Navy Pier. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for kids, but free admission for teachers, librarians, members of the military, Boy/Girl Scouts in uniform, children under 3 years of age. On Sunday, grandparents accompanied by kids admitted free of charge. The kid playing a HUGE Perplexus So how do you get my free weekend pass? Just comment. I'll draw a random winner on Tuesday. It's that simple. No need to tweet or send me cupcakes. The games at ChiTAG and not just for the kids. I'm sure some adult-sized kids would have a great time. So hurry and comment! Deadline is Tuesday at noon!!