National Spelling Bee Proves Spelling Is the New Sexting

Another day, another 13-year-old who would embarrass you in the ring.  In this case, the ring is a stage in a windowless hotel conference center and the embarrassment comes from you not being able to spell “palaschinken” or “huisache” while they, barely out of the first decade of life, can.  

Last night was the 82nd Scripps National Spelling Bee.  There was, as always, drama, heartbreak, words, and sexting (“can you spell ‘FMLTWIA‘?”).  There were more contestants this year than ever (293) and the event snagged a prime 8 – 10 spot on ABC last night.  What does it mean?  Spelling is the new hugging!  Trend!!  But is spelling causing a rise in underage teenager drinking drug sex on Facebook?  Keep reading for a shocking expose!

Also after the jump: the winning word!  Can you spell it?  Try it now, and then click through to see if you were right!  

It was “Laodicean.”  The word means “lukewarm or indifferent, especially in matters of faith.”  Knowledge corner: the word comes from the early Laodicean Church, criticized by St. John the Bible guy for not caring about anything.  Not to get all scholar-y, but there’s this line from the Bible from the Wikipedia that is kind of funny:

I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth.

The winner was Kavya Shivashankar of Kansas.  33 of the spellers in the finals did not even speak English as a first language.  But yeah, Kavya basically Michael Phelpsed it out there, never really flinched.  Took home $30 G’s also.  Meanwhile, second place fellow Tim Ruiter fumbled “Maecenas,” which means “a patron of the arts.”

Source: CNN, Spelling Bee website, and Deadspin for the highlights reel.