I broke my own blog-reading rules today and followed a link that I knew would be distracting over at Simcha's blog.
This organization, Free Rice is running a vocabulary game that allows the player to donate rice for every correctly answered question. The rice is donated through the UN World Food Program. Normally, I wouldn't be wild about supporting anything that is filtered through the UN and you may feel the same and, therefore, don't want to play this game.
If you're still with me . . . this site intrigues me for a few reasons. First, Simcha claims that they tried to set up as a non-profit and found the process too cumbersome so they set up this for-profit but they don't keep any of their earnings. I think that's ingenious. They've created a fun game that is also educational and is designed to only really work if a human plays it. They've built in levels to keep us motivated to play. I love for-profit thinking!
I was irked to read in the FAQs, however, a subtle implication that homemakers would need lower-level vocabulary words (maybe I'm just paranoid). Anyway, I have long had a theory that homemakers, particularly homeschooling, blogging homemakers are of above-average intelligence. So, if you aren't adverse to supporting the UN, play the game for a few minutes and let me know what your highest level is. I'm not ashamed to say that after donating about 600 grains of rice I had only gotten to level 44. Simcha says she's gotten to 48 which Free Rice says is about the highest most people get (the absolute highest is 50).
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3 comments:
LOL. I didn't even read that in the FAQs. I did notice that they lumped us in with doctors, so they probably didn't mean to disparage us.
But to help you prove your point, I did get to 48 as well. Now if I can only remember to use those words when I write or talk, I'll be in good shape:)
Hi, me again. What I'm more curious about is exactly how much they're donating -- on my post here:
http://www.andthesethygifts.com/2007/11/10/donate-rice-learn-vocabulary/
my brother left a comment/link to someone's calculations. Doesn't seem like much donating is going on. But I do think every little bit helps.
29,000 grains to a pound -- at last check: since Oct they have donated over 100,000 pounds of rice. It is food that would otherwize not have been donated -- I think that is amazing.
People are going to play games - might as well be able to do something to help others at the same time. PLUS it is a great vocab game!
I am at 44 --- you 48s amaze me!
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