Need to change things up a bit?
If you have a spare moment or two, check out this really nifty website I was referred to called FreeRice.com.
Yesterday I came across FreeRice.com through a referral from Marni Soupcoff of the National Post.
What is FreeRice?
It's a website geared toward word puzzle lovers and etymologists alike who enjoy whittling away the hours working with (and interpreting) words.
As stated on their website, the goals of FreeRice are two-fold:
1. Provide English vocabulary to everyone for free.
2. Help end world hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free.
While a fun place to test your linguistic mettle, this website as noted above, has a greater purpose to serve by means of donating rice to help feed the hungry through the United Nations World Food Program.
Each word you get right results in a donation of 20 grains of rice. Sponsorships secured on the website convert your noodle power into grains of rice for FreeRice.com to distribute.
According to the National Post, FreeRice.com (since its creation in October, 2007) has generated donations of 15,295,699,110 grains of rice. Last night, I was playing for a while and donated over 7,000 grains of rice and loved every minute of it.
You can view FreeRice statistics here.
Instead of playing a game of Backgammon or Solitaire, why don't you try FreeRice?
It's food for thought and helps to nourish other people as well.
Have fun!
Stephanie
Thanks for the new addiction Stephanie!
After reading your post, I just added a post about Free Rice on my blog today as well!
300 grains and counting! :-)
Peace!
Liz
Wow - great idea.
Very addictive to a word game person.
I just donated 500 grains of rice!
Thanks!
Cool! I got hooked right away and donated 2300 grains...what fun! And what a great cause. Thanks, Stephanie!
Another great charity site is AIDtoCHILDREN.com. It donates money to children in need through World Vision.
Check it out at http://www.aidtochildren.com