One Grain At A Time

I will admit that I like some game shows. Unfortunately most TV games today are a mindless waste of time.The challenge to the intellect may be guessing which briefcase holds a bunch of money. As a fan of Concentration and Jeopardy I admit to enjoying the show "Are you smarter than a 5Th grader"? Last week I wasn't, I didn't know that it was John Jay who was the first Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court. I can take some solace in the fact that the 5Th graders on the show also missed the question. A very tough 5Th grade history question. If only all the US teachers actually taught the subject matter.

Here's a question: "What is the staple food for two-thirds of the world's population?

If you guessed "rice" you are pretty smart. You are very smart if you know: How many grains of rice are in a pound?

There are about 29,000 grains of long grain white rice in pound.

Earlier today my brother made me aware of a very unique website:Freerice.com. The website, and a sister site, Poverty.com, were created "for all people around the world who want to end poverty. They were started in January 2007 by a private individual (John Breen) and have no political, religious, or corporate affiliation".

On Freerice.com you can test your intellect through multiple choice vocabulary questions. For each correct answer, you win "20" grains of rice. Your winnings are "banked" and later distributed to help alleviate world hunger. Remember the question: How many grains of rice are in a pound? I answered 8 questions correctly and won 160 grains of rice. How many more questions do I have to win to get a pound of rice? The following information was taken from the site's FAQ

Who pays for the donated rice?

The rice is paid for by the advertisers whose names you see on the bottom of your vocabulary screen. This is regular advertising for these companies, but it is also something more. Through their advertising at FreeRice, these companies support both learning (free vocabulary for everyone) and reducing hunger (free rice for the hungry). We commend these companies for their participation at FreeRice.

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 20 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.

If you are still wondering: I need to answer 1,442 more questions to reach one pound of rice.

Omnivore strictly means one who eats all things. For more about Lifestyle choices and your health read: We are indeed what we eat, and what we eat remakes the world.

Waldo County, situated in mid-coast Maine along scenic Penobscot Bay, has genuine New England character evidenced by working port towns and quaint rural villages. Visitors are awed by the area's unspoiled beauty. From striking coastal views to sweeping mountain vistas, dramatic natural settings abound. In addition great care has been taken to preserve and refurbish numerous historic landmarks, homes and buildings. Consequently, the Maine of yesteryear is still found here.

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