Open Letter to Zynga

Internet Game company Zynga is dropping the classic Word Twist game from Facebook and my friends and I are very unhappy. As you know I don't take certain things quietly. Must speak up. I sent them this letter via the Word Twist application but now I am posting it here.

Dear Zynga

I am sorry to hear that you are killing Word Twist -- it has been simple in its interface, educational (you provided the definitions!!!), competitive (my certain circle love playing each other), mind-sharpening and FUN! It has been a quick and better version of the comic strip jumble game and we hate to see it go. Thanks for a lot of fun -- and I wish you would reconsider your decision. I don't see myself playing the other games -- they aren't Word Twist. (And my one circle member didn't enjoy your Scrabble variant [Words with Friend] which doesn't move me to trying it, even tho Alec Baldwin likes it. He's not in my Circle.)

Again, thanks. Sorry you are killing such a good game, but it has been a joy and I am grateful for that. Guess I will have less time for fun and more time for saving the world with my peace and justice activities.

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

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