The WordSmith update is easy. They've added a second item tag to their DOM tree, and you want the second (because the first is the ad).

Here's the update for Wordsmith:

Inside word.js, change
=========================
copyright = myDoc.selectNodeText("/channel/copyright");
contactInfo = myDoc.selectNodeText("/channel/webMaster");
retWord = myDoc.selectNodeText("/channel/item/title");
linkToWord = myDoc.selectNodeText("/channel/item/link")…;
retDefinition = myDoc.selectNodeText("/channel/item/description");
==========
into
=========
copyright = myDoc.selectNodeText("/channel/copyright");
contactInfo = myDoc.selectNodeText("/channel/webMaster");
retWord = myDoc.selectNodeText("/channel/item[1]/title");
linkToWord = myDoc.selectNodeText("/channel/item[1]/link");
retDefinition = myDoc.selectNodeText("/channel/item[1]/description");
======= More

I haven't updated this widget in over a year, so I suppose I wouldn't expect it to age gracefully. :-)

I'll see what I can do to fix it up.

William, you have nice code, but your interface is too much of an eye-sore. Would you consider releasing a version with no graphics? Also, the wordsmith words are usually poor, so I tend to ignore it anyway. I also hacked this widget to have a toggle switch so you can switch between the two by clicking on it.

Anyone notice, as of a few days ago, that it no longer works with Wordsmith.org? I get the text "Another Word A Day: Check out the sequel to what the New York Times called "A Delightfully Quirky Collection!"" Weird. Any ideas?

I like the simplicity of this widget, but frankly, you have to hack it to get it to work. It's out of date. If you want a word-of-the-day widget, I suggest the Ultimate WOTD widget. I wrote it as a result of being disappointed in this one.