Showing posts with label Scripps Spelling Bee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Scripps Spelling Bee. Show all posts

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Let's "Bee"-it up, y'all

Yet another wunderkind whose name we cannot pronounce (let alone, spell) walks off with the hardware and 40 grand at the Scripps National Spelling Bee on Thurday night.

Kavya Shivashankar (or in American Indian “she who generates squiggly red lines in Microsoft Office") of Kansas was the winner. And the winning word? Laodicean – which, of course, means an indifference to politics or religion… a sentiment with which we are entirely familiar around here.

And here’s Dad:

"This is the moment we've been waiting for; it's a dream come true," Mirle Shivashankar said. "We haven't skipped meals, we haven't lost sleep, but we've skipped a lot of social time."

Congratulations, Kavya – now go outside and play with your friend(s) for a few years or something.

But who are we kidding. This post was just an excuse to run one of the funniest moments in Bee history. This, from last year’s competition.

Saturday, May 31, 2008

Spelling Bee title goes to yet another kid whose name we wouldn’t be able to spell.

Congratulations to Sameer Mishra of West Lafayette, Indiana for nailing “guerdon” to take home the Scripps National Spelling Bee trophy, yesterday. Props also to Justin Song of Carmel Valley Middle School right up I-5 who finished tied for 8th and was eliminated for missing on “satyagraha”, the word that describes Ghandi’s philosophy of non-violent resistance.

The Sklar Brother of Cheap Seats were big fans of the ‘Bee as witnessed in this compilation of highlights from the '97 Spelling Bee.



UPDATE #1: The champ, Samir Mishra, fights off a curve ball much to his own relief.



Thanks to Dar' for passing this along

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Programming Alert

Bridging the gap between the Memorial Day orgy of televised sports and the start of the NBA Finals is the Scripps National Spelling Bee which will air beginning tomorrow on ESPN. Yes, ESPN.

Look, if they are going to televise Poker and professional bowling then why not a spelling bee where the dysfunctionality resulting from a 13-year old moving in with their spelling coach rivals that of women's gymnastics. Besides, spelling is apparently not a point of emphasis with some people as it is with 'Bee participants.





Many thanks to our friend Dar' for passing along this photo from the parking garage of the Mission Valley Mall.