A List Of Things Thrown Five Minutes Ago

SPEAK & SPELL: They have changed the Bee process for 2008. Gone is the first-day written round of which we were big fans. Instead, at some point during the past three days (of their choosing), our spellers had this to deal with:

In the Round One test, spellers will spell 50 words using a computer keyboard. Only 25 of the 50 spellings will count toward each speller’s Preliminaries score. The 25 words that count toward a speller’s Preliminaries score were labeled “score words” by Bee officials prior to May 25, but score word status will not be apparent to a speller taking the Round One test. Bee officials will publicly identify score words following the conclusion of the Preliminaries on Thursday, May 29. A sample test was available to all spellers through a secure Web site prior to Bee Week.

The test will be proctored by a member of the Bee’s staff. Dr. Bailly will not appear in person at the test; instead, spellers will hear a recording of Dr. Bailly delivering the word information (just as in the sample test available to spellers prior to Bee Week). The test has no time limit, and spellers are given multiple opportunities to review their answers and word information prior to submitting their final answers. Access to the testing room during open testing hours will be restricted to spellers who are taking the test, Bee officials, staff, and crew.

Other items today:

1. There are lots of neat strategies for the Bee, but I can't say I'm a fan of moving to another school district primary for the purpose of preserving your son's eligibility for a second trip to D.C., even if it does mean he's now competing against his younger brother this week.


2. Not only is New Zealand represented this year, but so too are spellers from South Korea and Ghana.


3. New Mexico's Matthew Evans is back for a fifth straight year after his third straight battle against Rajat Singh. This time, "The clock struck noon when Singh was given trichinosis."


4. Tia Thomas of the Fresno area is your other five-timer. She'll be wearing #13 this year, but is no triskaidekaphobe. Thomas read the complete Book of Mormon between the ages of 5 and 6, and has now read the entire Webster's unabridged cover-to-cover seven times.


5. If you haven't read it already, or haven't committed it to memory, do take a few minutes to review guest blogger Rafael Noboa's account of his 1991 Bee experience. It's one of my favorite things we've ever published here.