Border security

As I type this, Marnie is watching "The 2006 Scripps National Spelling Bee," which is taking place a few blocks away from our house.

There are two contestants left. One of them is from Canada and the other one is...

Wait!

Canada?

"How can someone from Canada be in our 'national' spelling bee?" Marnie asks.

I have no answer.

Comments

Grand Marnier said…
In addition, the TV announcers mentioned that there had been 14--FOURTEEN--Canadians at the beginning of the tournament. Now, I like Canadians. Nice people. But is this like the World Series in baseball--by "world" I mean the US and Canada?

I just don't get it...
June 01, 2006
Anonymous said…
the bee is a "celebration" of english spelling---it's open to any english speaker(speller) from anywhere in the world.
June 02, 2006
Josh said…
I'm troubled by spelling bees. Watching Spellbound, I thought that if you're going to make a kid sit and memorize a bunch of stuff, it might as well be something that he or she might use later in life. No one needs to know how to spell the words used in the contest. No one uses them in real life. No one! (Okay, spelling bee judges use them during spelling bees. Name someone else.) Heck, with spellchecks, knowing how to spell regular words is less important than ever. (I didn't say UNimportant. Just less important.) I mean, wouldn't memorizing the periodic table or something be a better use of the kids' time? Nevermind soccer practice.
June 02, 2006
dl004d said…
It's true that no one needs to know how to spell "ursprache." But the learning process is more than memorizing stuff they'll never need to know.

Studying root words and etymologies is useful to learning foreign languages. And to understanding our own language.

Having said that, I can't spell worth a lick and somehow remain interested in etymology.
June 02, 2006
Anonymous said…
Why would our National Grammar Rodeo be in Canada?

(I can't believe Josh didn't make that joke already.)
June 02, 2006
dl004d said…
Josh is losing it. Last month he missed an opportunity for a "In your face, fishwife!" joke.
June 02, 2006
Grand Marnier said…
2 things--

to LAL--if this National Spelling bee is open to the world of English speakers, why not just call it the "World's English Spelling Bee"?

To ed002d--nice use of the U of R login that only dl004d seems to still use on a regular basis.
June 02, 2006
Josh said…
The joke was too easy.
June 02, 2006
Anonymous said…
Well after finishing in second place, the Canadian kid could at least claim to be the top speller from Canada. If that's worth anything, but it's a lousy exchange rate.
June 02, 2006
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