Words that nourishFreeRice is an internet-based vocabulary game with an altruistic twist - for every word you get correct the site donates 10 grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Programme. Ten grains of rice is not going to eradicate world hunger but as the site's fame grows, so too does the scale of the donation.
FreeRice went live on October 7th, and that day a measly 830 grains of rice were donated. By the end of October the daily total was more than 30 million grains, and since the project began the organisation has donated more than 200 million grains of rice to the World Food Programme, the world's largest food aid agency. The donations are funded by the site's advertisers, whose names pop up at the bottom of the page while you play.
After a couple of easy starter questions, the level of difficulty increases as you continue to get the words right - so you will do well to get beyond a couple of hundred grains per session. Presumably this means that the advertisers aren't going to be made bankrupt by the project any time soon. Not that we'd advocate it, but you could cheat in the name of humanitarianism by having a dictionary close at hand. You could be cynical and say that it's all just a ruse to provide companies with advertising opportunities, but I'm shamelessly buying in to the whole thing and viewing it as a win-win for everyone. I get to improve my vocabulary, do some good in the process and if viewing some ads is the downside then so be it. Besides, I'm now addicted. www.freerice.com Michael Kelly
Small but beautifulWaterford Castle is a small hotel of just 19 bedrooms, located on an island on the River Suir. Although operating for decades, it has recently been redecorated by Glenna Lynch of Mimosa Interiors in Donnybrook (01-2698000). The 800-year-old castellated building has, mercifully, not been transformed into a garish, trendy hotel, full of wacky furniture. Instead, Lynch didn't tinker too much with what was there (carved stone and wood-panelled hall, Jacobean-style antiques and intricate original tapestries) but started with the basics, stripping back thick layers of paint until the interior was a gleaming foil for her traditional furniture. "The colour palette comes from the stone and wood. We've used a lot of calm colours so there are no shocks when guests walk in." Now, it's a handsome place but has a lot more comfort than before (imagine curl-up sofas and roaring fires). There's something wonderfully soft about the look: nothing seems too new or shiny. In fact, the whole place is a bit of a hidden treasure. It's reached from Waterford city by a 24/7 ferry service that takes just three minutes. The island is large enough to hold a championship golf course and a small number of holiday homes designed by architects Fewer Harrington Lawlor. Tel: 051-878203; www.waterfordcastle.com Eoin Lyons
Banish bad air daysIt seems like every time you turn on the TV these days there's an advert for some class of home fragrance product - perfumed candles, sprays, plugs-ins, air fresheners, air purifiers. In a 2002 survey the Environmental Protection Agency in the US found that pollutant levels in the home can be up to five times as high as outside, largely because of synthetic fragrances. Fragrances can contain up to 300 chemicals, including known carcinogens such as benzene and other toxic substances. Fragrant candles are typically made from paraffin wax, a cheap by-product of the petroleum industry. The chemicals in air fresheners are known to aggravate asthma and have been implicated in causing cancers, neurological damage, and reproductive disorders.
There are natural alternatives. Start by opening windows each day to let stale air (and pollutants) out. A little baking soda in a bowl is a great natural deodoriser. Add drops of orange, lemon, or lavender organic essential oils to cotton wool and leave them around the house. Or try simmering spices such as cinnamon and cloves in some water on the hob. If you are buying aircare products, steer clear of aerosols and plug-ins and opt instead for natural candles. Nádúr Organics have recently launched a range of organic treatment candles, made from natural, organic plant-wax and essential oils. There are three varieties: Soothe, which contains oils of French Rose Geranium and Indian Palmarosa; Awaken, made from extracts of Madagascan Ylang Ylang and Brazilian Orange Sweet; and Cleanse, which contains French Juniper Berry and Sicilian Lemon. At €31.99 they aren't cheap, but they burn for 40 hours. Available from health stores, pharmacies, lifestyle outlets, health spas, or online at www.nadurorganics.ie. Michael Kelly
Artists from AfricaAn exhibition of "Tingatinga paintings" is coming to the Junction Gallery in Derry on November 9th and 10th. The paintings are by an artists' co-operative in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, east Africa. The label Tingatinga paintings refers to a whole indigenous school of painting throughout east Africa, named after self-taught Tanzanian artist Edward Tingatinga, who was accidentally shot dead by police in 1972. Five of the young people Tingatinga had started to train kept on painting and selling their work after his untimely death. In 1990 they registered the Tingatinga Arts Co-operative Society. This has now grown to about 50 full-time artists and 10 students, who all earn their living from their bright and skilful artwork. Tingatinga paintings have developed into very colourful and often very elaborate works, showing African animals sometimes in stylised form, sometimes in cartoon-style paintings of local life. It's a not-for-profit venture - the money goes to the artists' co-op. The exhibition opens at 7.30pm on Friday and continues the following day from 10am to 5pm. Ciaran Murray
Clever kitchensA conventional kitchen showroom is a somewhat clinical environment, and it can be hard to imagine how everything will work when you get it all home. The new Houseworks showroom has two fully operational demonstration kitchens manned by chef Ruth Wassel. The €1.5 million premises at Upper Erne Street, Dublin 2, has been extended to more than three times its original size, featuring 12 full SieMatic kitchens, including the latest Beaux Arts range, as well as furniture from Rolf Benz, Kettnaker and Wackenhut. Houseworks also have showrooms at the Boucher Centre, Belfast and Donnybrook Commercial Park, Cork. See www.houseworks.ie Clare McCarthy
Horses for coursesAn exhibition of paintings and sculptures by Myriam Kavanagh and Julian Paltenghi is showing at 17 Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2, from today until November 25th, from 11am to 6pm at weekends and by appointment Monday to Friday. Kavanagh's new work sees her exploring her ongoing love of and fascination with horses, while Paltenghi's colourful, serene paintings of oranges, poppies and lavender demonstrate an "expressionistic vigour in the electric effect of colour". All works will be available for purchase. Tel: 01-4936869. Ciaran Murray
Ardent for ArdiffAlan Ardiff fans can spot his exquisite jewellery at 50 paces. Often whimsical, always beautifully crafted and original, he has built up a loyal following of buyers who are always on the lookout for the next Ardiff ring, necklace or brooch. While his studio is still in Dublin, he and his family have moved to Mayo, where the extra space (and the expertise found in a local foundry) has allowed him to work on a bigger scale and explore the potential of sculpture. His new exhibition, Moments of Possibility - his first in 10 years - opens today and features a collection of delicate bronze sculptures and striking paintings. The exhibition runs 9.30am-5.30pm on weekdays from Monday until December 5th, at Alan Ardiff Studio, Pearse Tower, Pearse Street, Dublin. Bernice Harrison
A fitter faceIt seems the women of Ireland have taken to facial fitness with zeal. In the current swing against the knife and Botox, good old-fashioned exercise has caught on in a big way. In a recent column on the subject, I recommended the Eva Fraser DVD, Facial Fitness Made Easy, and Eva tells me that the orders from Ireland have been rolling in. Bravo ladies! There has also been a high level of interest in private tuition at her studio in London, and with this in mind, Fraser is offering a special promotion on Irish bookings. Between now and March 1st, a special price of £95 (about €135) will apply for a one-to-one starter lesson of 90 minutes. This is a saving of £70, which could easily cover the air fare. To book your place, call 0044-2079376616 and ask for the Irish promotion. www.evafraser.com. Phyl Clarke