The Scripps National Spelling Bee has just gotten a bit harder, the spellers now need to know the meaning of the words they are spelling. This is a new wrinkle in bee starting this year. The spellers have to take a vocabulary test before they spell now. Before the preliminary round of spelling the 281 contestants took a multiple choice vocabulary test on computers. Most of the spellers liked the idea but wish they had known about it a little earlier.Organizers of the the contest announced the vocabulary component 7 weeks ago say that they have added vocabulary to reinforce the bee's mission to broaden students knowledge of the English language.
This new segment has made the scoring a little more complicated. Spellers now must spell and define 24 words and 12 of those are counted. There are also extra vocabulary words that count as extra points. The contestants still have the nerve wracking round of spelling where they are eliminated one by one until the winner is declared.
Organizers say there may be some tinkering with the new rules in upcoming bees but they feel that the vocabulary component is here for good.
It is an election year again and more than ever we need Pat Paulsen! Starting during the 1968 presidential campaign comic Pat Paulsen ran as a deadpan candidate for President of the United States of America. A member of the STAG (Straight Talking American Government) Party Mr. Paulsen campaigned with the slogan "I've upped my standards. Now, up yours." Pre-dating Stephen Colbert's comedic candidacy by announcing his campaign in 1968 on The Smothers Brothers' show Pat Paulsen received votes as a write in many states. His name actually appeared on the New Hampshire democratic primary ballot in 1996. He came in second.
This election year could use Pat Paulsen as the voice of reason. Sadly Mr. Paulsen died in 1997 but that shouldn't stop him for running again. You may say a dead man can't run for president but in the words of Pat Paulsen "Picky picky picky".
Sheena Monnin, the former Miss Pennsylvania claims the Miss USA pageant was rigged. Could this be? Donald Trump the owner of the Miss USA and Miss Universe Pageants says no. Miss Pennsylvania says she heard from another contestant, Miss Florida, that there was a list of the top five and that the list turned out to be spot on. The eventual winner of the crown was Miss Rhode Island.
Donald Trump claims it is sour grapes on Miss Pennsylvania's part and he saw her briefly and knew she wasn't going to make it. So the Donald thinks she's a dog and bitter. He has threatened to sue her. Let's face it if any beauty queen could rig a pageant it would have to be Miss Rhode Island. As anyone from Rhode Island can tell you anything can be rigged. Miss Florida has denied this slander.
Could this bring the Miss Universe pageant down? Could this be the pageant world's scandal like the games show scandal of the 1950's or the baseball scandal of 1919?
The people at Miss Universe say that Miss Monnin was unhappy about a transgendered contestant from Canada being allowed to compete. Could all of this be a case of both sour grapes and transgender-phobia? Miss Pennsylvania best take care; beware of any tough looking guys in a sharp suits who wants to kiss you on the lips!
