I have to tell you that I have a secret love affair with words. For those of you who grew up reading stacks of books, was called a nerd, and aced the SAT verbal and SAT II Writing, then you will understand the delight that is contained in understanding and using words like triskeidokaphobia, jingoistic, conniption, avifauna, and chutzpah, in everyday language. However, finding a way to make this word obsession useful can be, well, difficult.

Enter in Free Rice, a website that donates 20 grains of rice to the United Nations for every word that you get correct. You play a little vocab quiz of sorts where a word is given and if you answer correctly, voila, 20 grains donated. Twenty grains may not be that much, but for word lovers, this game will have you obsessed, and soon you'll be finding yourself donating hundred to even thousands of grains of rice. Think of the empty tummies that will get filled.

It's also a great boost for your own vocabulary. You may learn valuable words like conniption (tantrum), philatelist(stamp collector), and whelp (pup). Wow your friends at cocktail parties and be called a nerd. What fun! And for a good cause too. Word.

Labels: ShoutsOfAdoration, World hunger