Kavya Shivashankar did a better job than the media has indicated. The press reports all say that she missed a word in the 11th round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee (5/31, A-1, “Lots of success, but then tears; Olathe girl advances into final evening of the National Spelling Bee, but an Indiana boy wins”). This does not give an accurate picture of how well Kavya did. Out of millions of spellers from many different countries, Kavya tied for fourth place — what an outstanding achievement.
She was impressive to watch as she asked the judges questions about the roots of words that the judges couldn’t answer. Her knowledge of English, Latin, Greek and French was truly amazing. Even the word she missed, ecrase, she spelled correctly right up to the last letter. Not knowing the word, she gave a highly educated guess because that ending sound in French has two possible spellings. She correctly gave one of the two. It was a 50-50 shot, and she simply guessed wrong.
To make her achievement even more impressive, Kavya is only 12. She did an outstanding job and has done her hometown proud.
Steve Crawford
Fairway
Trust you understand that the expression, "my dad could beat up your dad"
was an often used remark by grade schoolers.
I suspect that you and your comrades consider my attacks are directed at your person. In the words of Voltaire, "I disagree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
I must add the postscript that I am totally intolerant of poor spelling and the misuse of words. It tells me a great deal about the literacy - or lack thereof - of a person. I never buy a nice gift and put a crummy wrapping on it.
KATMAN
Posted by: katman | June 04, 2008 at 07:27 PM
You're probably right, my Dad, a WWII vet, passed away at 85 having lived a life never having a fistfight. Me, on the other hand........
Posted by: solomon | June 04, 2008 at 06:45 PM
You have the last word. You win. But, my dad could beat up your dad.
Posted by: katman | June 04, 2008 at 06:39 PM
BTW, You call me young man, which must mean you're an old guy as I came of age long ago, is this thread too hard for you to understand or do you just like to see KATMAN katmnan in print?
Posted by: solomon | June 04, 2008 at 06:32 PM
ey' teach,
I brought up the horserace thing because you never repsonded, which IMO was a punk position to take. Your post discrediting mine on the matter was insulting. You are just too small a person to say, "solomon, I was wrong". Thats the kind of person our kids will benefit from as teachers.
As far as instant messaging, I spend about 14-16 hours a day working and this blog is my "window" guilty pleasure. You've questioed what people do for a living who post here, I work and make money from a home office.
Once again, sorry to just try and have fun here.
Posted by: solomon | June 04, 2008 at 06:30 PM
I appreciate humor especially when it's funny & poignant. I find it interesting that you stay hung up on the racehorse meat issue which occurred more than four weeks ago when the horse was put down at the Kentucky Derby. I understand your contention that the horse is somewhere in a McDonald Happy Meal.
That, young man, is termed either OCD or paranoia.
Get a life. Besides, this Instant Messaging grows tiresome. I've spent the entire day teaching high school.
KATMAN
Posted by: katman | June 04, 2008 at 06:03 PM
BTW, I do not use a monicker.
SOLOMON
Posted by: solomon | June 04, 2008 at 05:55 PM
KATMAN
katman,
Forgive me for trying to have fun with you.
Maybe I should have pressed you for an apology when you accused me of being off base on racehorses being sold as meat. A week after you attempted to discredit my post a report aired on HBO.
BS is also a sin if we are to pick and pronounce judgement.
Posted by: solomon | June 04, 2008 at 05:53 PM
Solomon is suppposed to imply wise. Something has been lost in the translation. Can you spell p-a-r-a-n-o-i-a?
To disregard spelling as important and blame it on the keyboard is a sin.
KATMAN
Posted by: katman | June 04, 2008 at 05:35 PM
KATMAN
katman,
Just for fun, count the errors in my last post.
Posted by: solomon | June 04, 2008 at 02:05 PM
katman,
You are a spelling bigot. it is speed, drinking, drugs and sticky keyboards that result in the bad spelling on these blogs.
well at least your just a speliing bigot and knot a Capitalization bigot.
also, you sign yor name twice to every post which means you have esteem issues. :-)
Posted by: solomon | June 04, 2008 at 02:04 PM
I, too, am very proud of Kavya. Contrary to the atrocious spelling in Comments, spelling is still vital to effective communications. Spelling indicates the level of literacy of individuals. "Ya ain't gonna be nuthin" if you cannot spell.
VP Dan Quayle never got the 'monkee' off his back after he misspelled 'potatoe'.
KATMAN
Posted by: katman | June 04, 2008 at 07:27 AM