Play Senate Finance Committee

This swell game was made by Doctor Zaius and Derek the Jerk. You can play a larger version over at Zaius Nation, and also pass on your compliments.

Feed the World Through a Better Vocabulary

Via Gene Weingarten's chat today, here's a dangerous charity — or rather, a game for charity that's dangerously addictive. Free Rice poses vocabulary questions, and for each question you get right, they donate 10 grains of rice to combat world hunger through the United Nations World Food Programme. It seems to be on the level; the FAQ explains that the rice is paid for by the rotating ads for each screen.

So far, I've gotten up to vocab level 47. As Weingarten, who "got to 48, then tanked badly," says, anything above 44 is quite good. Plus, it's not hard to burn out for a stretch!

(Cross-posted at The Blue Herald)