Growing up in the 70s and 80s, I didn’t have the joy of constant mobile applications. What I did have was a closet full of board games. As an adult, I was coached to continue to make use of some games — specifically those word oriented — to help keep growing my vocabulary and also to keep my senses sharp.
Few games keep me involved and humble as a good game of Scrabble, Words with Friends, Bookworm, or any vocabulary building app. In a day, I could have more than 10 different games of Words with Friends running at the same time.
And then, things changed. What happened? Vocabulary games began moving to a pay-for-play format. Pay enough money, and you could buy in game enhancements. What kind of enhancements? For enough out of game money, the game would do everything from tell you were good word placements were possible, potential words you could play, or even make suggestions as to how to play defense.
Suddenly, I realized, I wasn’t just playing against friendly opponents, now I was playing against an opponent and a potential in-game engine that allowed people to cheat! Oh, this isn’t fair I thought!
As time went on, I began looking for more wordplay fixes — what games could I play with word games without inbuilt fixes? And then, it hit me. My kids are still in school. They still have access to games through their school website, the kind of games where the only person you compete against is yourself. Games that look at feel a lot like Boggle, Scrabble, and others, with their own academic twists.
As someone in his mid forties, I’ve suddenly found my guilty wordplay pleasure is… logging onto student websites and playing vocabulary building word games.
I doubt I’ll give up Words with Friends anytime soon, But Jr. English wordbuilder? I’m kind of hooked.
Do you use any word games?
RSVPS
1. idlemoments, organizer (kosmail her to connect)
2. RickNelsonmn (can carpool)
3. slapshoe (can carpool)
4. Thutmose V
5.
MAYBEES :
Judeling
angry marmot
keepminnesotablue
Garrett
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WOMAN'S MARCH NYC 2017
Footage compiled from the 2017 Woman's March on New York City, directed by Joan Brooker, with support from the SVA community.
Organizers, remember to choose a place to meet in advance and that cell phone service will shut down before the events get started. Consider a sign to hold up above the crowd for people to find you with. Check with your local march organizers to find out what materials are not permitted, such as balloons or sticks.
NEW YORK RSVPS
1. joanbrooker, organizer (kosmail her to connect)
2. belinda ridgewood
3. gchaucer2
4.
MAYBEES :
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LONG ISLAND RSVPS TO RALLY AT THE INTERSECTION OF RT. 112 AND 347 IN PORT JEFFERSON STATION AT NOON
1. grannycarol, organizer (kosmail her to connect)
2.
MAYBEES :
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RSVPS
1. EagleOfFreedom
2. Bleeding Blue
3. DoingBusinessAs
4. momomia
5. ptressel
6. Kay3295
7.
MAYBEES :
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Netroots Nation 2018