I'll take this opportunity to plug a brilliant
book, "Complete and Utter Failure" by Neil Steinberg
(author of the popular collegiate prank history, "If At
All Possible, Involve A Cow"). In addition to
chronicles of pre-Krakauer Everest disasters and some fun
marketing blunders (Toaster Eggs!) There's a chapter on the
National Spelling Bee and what a big joke it is. A must
read.
Greg