FreeRice.com: Play and feed the hungry

Thom Hartmann was interviewing someone at the United Nations this week who mentioned a learning/food giving site associated with Poverty.com called aptly FreeRice.com. It is vocabulary building for child, student, adult, and senior, and it will automatically set and adjust your level by how you answer or you can manually adjust the settings.

You are given a word and four definitions. If you are correct, 20 grains of rice are donated by the sponsors whose banners are displayed. (You see the rice mount up.) There is a little speaker which will pronounce the word if you click it, helpful. (I've been mispronouncing or perhaps alternatively pronouncing some words: AARgh!) I keep a running list of missed words or words I want to check further. The FAQ says the highest level is 60 but most don't get past 50. So far my best level has been 48 -- but I've only been playing two days. More important, I've help donate over 4000 grains of rice! Beat me!

I've added a smaller button to my side bar for your/my ease when this post gets buried, but try it now:



Let me know how you do and what you think of it. (My kids, Audient and Kat, generally ask me for a handicap when playing word games -- will they fare better with this? And how will my writer daughter-in-law Gina do?) Also spread the news. The playing number go way down on weekends, fyi, so play today to make the numbers jump!

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

June is busting out all over!

Just as I am missing my son Audient's blog -- it has gone on hiatus -- as I can't easily catch up with what he's up to, I realize that I've been so busy that I have in essence been on hiatus too. Okay, you may know that you can check out my Quick TAKES and Tasty Tidbits blog for current little facts, snippets, recipes, and pictures, as well as my Flickr.com photo page(s). But I've been quiet with my online peace hugging. High time to give a quick run down of life since the Shad Fest. Here goes.

Last week I saw John Cussack's excellent satire War, Inc. (see it!). Linda Rousseau invited me to join some of her friends in seeing the Iraq based play, Betrayed, which focuses on the plight of Iraqis hired by the US. Saturday, I did computer research and played in the evening with Joan by going out to dinner at Bliss Bistro and then sharing the fun chick flick, Sex and the City right here in Sunnyside at Centre rather than in Manhattan for half again as much. Sunday I blogged with my Sam Seder friends on the occasion of his last (for now?) Air America Radio show. Then on Monday I went to Red Sky on 29th Street to see Sam interviewing author David Sirota live. David autographed my copy of The Uprising but I am kicking myself for not having Sam autograph it too, though I did shake his hand and get pictures. It was a good night as I also got to meet two delightful Sederistas Kat-in-Manhattan and Lucille.

Then there were some June birthdays. I took Sam Oast out to Pescatore on Tuesday (as I had my hair appointment with incomparable Anca on Wednesday) and joined Sue Bovet, Joanell Meringolo, and Sue Larkin in feting Lillian Heckler on the occasion of her 90th birthday. Pictures from both events will be posted soon. (Coming up are the long distance birthdays of Aunt Betty Murphy, Cousin Patrick Coyne, and Geneva friend Carol Robertson -- stocking up on cards and stamps!)

I got home last night to divide up the CSA share of organic food which Jean Ann picked up from the Sunnyside CSA we joined together: our first pick-up so heavy on the greens! But we're trying to live healthy and locally.

Next week is the Songs FOR peace meeting and the Children of Abraham Peace Walk in Brooklyn. And I have to find time to do some housework. Yes, I need to find a little personal peace by tidying up the environs. Need help from FlyLady! Meanwhile, I am reading David Sirota's great new book, The Uprising: An Unauthorized Tour of the Populist Revolt Scaring Wall Street and Washington. You should, too, as he writes as good as he looks (see picture below :-).

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne


Kate Anne and author David Sirota