The National Spelling Bee Is a Dumb Thing!

An eighth grader, Anurag Kashyap, 13, of California, became the U.S. spelling champ today when he correctly spelled "appoggiatura," a melodic tone. He defeated 272 other spellers in a tough two days of competition.

We all want to know how to spell "appoggiatura," don't we? And all the other words in the spelling bee? But do we know the difference between it's and its? Or there, their and they're? Etc., etc.?

Anurag won $30,000 in prizes by coming out No. 1 in the 19th round of the 78th Annual National Scripps Spelling Bee.