h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I came across someone's posting about a website called Free Rice. It's a site that tests your vocabulary in a fun quiz, while donating rice to the hungry for every right answer. I love this! Sorry I can't remember who posted about this before me, but here's the website anyway:

http://www.freerice.com/index.php

Come join me, and let's break the daily total record.

I've been trying to donate 2000 grains a day, and I've done so on two out of three days so far. Not last night, though, on account of being asleep.

I managed 3804 this morning before my phone started ringing.

I managed 1000 first thing this morning, one of those reasonably rare mornings when relative clearheadedness prevails. No telling what I could do 1) later in the day-hmm, for instance now, and/or 2) with some determination. Thanks for posting the link JEllen!

Sorry to piss on anyone's bonfire - and I'm sure it's a fun quiz....BUT:

This reminds me of those chain e-mails which promise that Microsoft will donate 1c for every 100 forwarded. Think about it. If someone had rice to give away, they'd give it away. They'd be morally obliged to do so. What advantage would there be to them to get punters the world over to ansewer questions first?

Admittedly this site hasn't appeared on snopes.com. Yet. Give it time.

for my cynicism.

Hi Jellen how are you long time no speak?

I have had a go at the free rice and got 1000 but had to stop due to Lohla wanting a feed.
Have you moved yet?If so how is it all going for you?

'If someone had rice to give away, they'd give it away. They'd be morally obliged to do so.'

Sorry to say, JEllen, but Edward's logic is inescapable. And who are these people anyway?

I saw there were supposed to be advertisers and made the mistake of clicking on 'advertisers' to see. My e-mail form appeared. Which probably means they've got my e-mail address now.

Be cautious about this.

Jab

Sorry Jabberwock, hope you don't get spam.



Here's an excerpt from their FAQ sheet, Edward:

[Quote] If FreeRice has the rice to give, why not give it all away right now?

FreeRice is not sitting on a pile of rice―you are earning it 10 grains at a time. Here is how it works. When you play the game, advertisements appear on the bottom of your screen. The money generated by these advertisements is then used to buy the rice. So by playing, you generate the money that pays for the rice donated to hungry people.

Who distributes the donated rice?

The rice is distributed by the United Nations World Food Program (WFP). The World Food Program is the world’s largest food aid agency, working with over 1,000 other organizations in over 75 countries. In addition to providing food, the World Food Program helps hungry people to become self-reliant so that they escape hunger for good. Wherever possible, the World Food Program buys food locally to support local farmers and the local economy. We encourage you to visit the United Nations World Food Program to learn more about their successful approach to ending hunger. [End Quote]




I find it challenging trying to get to the top vocabulary level. So far I've gotten to 46 out of 50.

Hi Hermione, I STILL haven't moved, and I'm still surrounded by boxes and boxes. LOL

Well...my cynicism is slightly assuaged. And as I say, I'm sure it's a fun quiz.

Dunno, though. I give direct. Not for rice. Food Aid is largely a device for offloading the surplus delivered by US farming subsidies. It trashes local economies and prevents them from becoming self-sufficient. I prefer for the sustainable programmes run by Oxfam and Unicef. But at least if the pernicious influence of advertising *must* be all over the interweb, at least it's being put to a moderately good use.

Me, I've got that Firefox plugin that removes all adverts. Everyone else is paying for my web fun.

Their FAQ also mentioned they try to buy food locally, close to the people they feed. Which I agree, makes much more sense for a standpoint of supporting their local economy.

Have you read the book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle? It's about a family that eats locally for a year. Fascinating book, but the part where they raise and kill turkeys may dismay vegetarians.

Some of us could skip those parts.

I thought it would be nice to help get some rice donated just by taking a fun quiz. I have limited funds for charitable contributions, and have already committed myself for this year and next.

Meanwhile, eating locally (or at least as best one can) might be good also because it means eating more or less seasonally, which I've *heard is better for you.


*I've no links or evidence to back that up, it's just something I've heard.

PS It's embarrassing to see at the Free Rice website that the United States is near the bottom of the list of countries donating 0.7% of national income to end hunger. Some countries like Denmark have already met the goal, while the US has not even set up a schedule. *sigh*

Hi Edward, hi PCandy, good to see you guys.

Hi JEllen, good to see you, too! I've got dinner in the oven and I'm waiting for K to get home from work. So here I am.

Yay! *scuttles over to thinking of you thread*

He's just walked in. But dinner's still in the oven.

*scuttles as well*

Oh, OK. I'll eat humble pie. I hope you all carry on helping people eat rice.

Yay for Denmark! I spent 3 hours there, week before last. Enough time for a metro ride from the airport to the city centre (see nickname) and a couple of pints of Christmas Beer.