The usual news from the Internet is of identity theft, porn, training for would-be terrorists, and the like. Reminds me that one of the inventors of the television foresaw a future in which all the cultural richness of the entire world would be available to everyone through his invention. It was a thrilling vision. But when the man saw what use actually was made of the television, he kept his own set turned off.
The Internet is in many ways even worse. BUT, it also can be a marvelous resource for those who want to get an education, expand their understanding of the world, and even do some good.
What's more, there are a number of sites that make it possible to do good without spending a cent.
Of these, one of my favorites is www.freerice.org. I've already made a number of converts to this site, a challenging game that helps feed the hungry around the world. I understand from the National Public Radio story from which I learned about it, that Free Rice was designed to help students improve their vocabulary and at the same time help the UN World Food Program. Each time a player gets a word correct, 20 grains of rice is donated to this program by site advertisers. You can read all about how Free Rice is set up by visiting the site--learn how it is run, how y0u can choose options for playing, and so on.
Be warned! The words in this game are not for the faint of heart! But try it if you feel up for a challenge and want to help others by enriching your own life. Because a great vocabulary is always a good thing to have.
With luck, you too will become a Free Rice addict.
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