Guess what happens at 8PM Eastern on ABC this Thursday! No, I'm not going to tell you--I want you to guess. Anyone? Okay, fine: the Scripps National Spelling Bee! Yay! Some intriguing background on these dorky little munchkins:
- This year we welcome 293 spellers— the greatest number in the history of the event.
- The spellers range in age from 9 to 15 years old, but two-thirds are either 13 or 14 years old.
- The spellers' favorite words include Weissnichtwo and humuhumunukunukuapuaa.
The best is the looks on the kids faces when they got words they don't know, like "parfleche" (a rawhide with the hair removed by soaking it in water and lye). They are like "wtf, how am I supposed to know what a parfleche is?" So cute.
For a little background, I suggest watching this video of my personal favorite speller, Rebecca Sealfon.
Showing posts with label Cultural Differences. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cultural Differences. Show all posts
27 May 2009
31 March 2009
Au Revoir, Roquefort?
A long-standing trade dispute between the U.S. and the EU, if not resolved soon, will soon lead to higher tariffs on imported goods from Europe, according to the WSJ. The levies, as they often do, fall hardest on the most vulnerable and delicious of victims.
Perhaps no group is as worried as fans of Roquefort, the only item on which the duty rate is slated to rise to 300%. (The rest are bracketed to rise to 100%.)
Cowgirl Creamery of Point Reyes Station, Calif., has ordered 30 extra wheels of Roquefort, said co-founder Sue Conley. The company began carrying more domestic cheeses last year, when the euro gained strength against the dollar, and Ms. Conley has several domestic alternatives to Roquefort in mind.
I don't know if I even like Roquefort that much, and I guess switching to domestic products is sort of the whole idea of a tariff, but a 300% tax on cheese just seems unfair. What did cheese ever do to us (minor intestinal disruptions notwithstanding)? I personally am rushing out the door right now to stock up on my beloved English cheddar and Italian mozzarella, before the goatied foody hoardes beat me to it.
Perhaps no group is as worried as fans of Roquefort, the only item on which the duty rate is slated to rise to 300%. (The rest are bracketed to rise to 100%.)
Cowgirl Creamery of Point Reyes Station, Calif., has ordered 30 extra wheels of Roquefort, said co-founder Sue Conley. The company began carrying more domestic cheeses last year, when the euro gained strength against the dollar, and Ms. Conley has several domestic alternatives to Roquefort in mind.
I don't know if I even like Roquefort that much, and I guess switching to domestic products is sort of the whole idea of a tariff, but a 300% tax on cheese just seems unfair. What did cheese ever do to us (minor intestinal disruptions notwithstanding)? I personally am rushing out the door right now to stock up on my beloved English cheddar and Italian mozzarella, before the goatied foody hoardes beat me to it.
24 January 2009
Umm.. Cultural Differences?
Check out this clip from the Japanese version of American Idol. I'm not sure what to say... ummm... oh, those wacky Chinamen!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
