A-U-T-O-D-I-D-A-C-T-I-C-I-S-M

Don't forget to tune in this Thursday evening to the 2006 Scripps National Spelling Bee, which caught the interest of the media this year by replacing the Miss America Pageant. Championship Rounds live on ABC from 7 to 9 p.m. Texas Time (that's 8 to 10 Eastern for all you non-Texas readers, both of you).

Naturally, we're all rooting for 12-year-old Samir Patel, who is both Texan and homeschooled, and so cannot possibly fail to win.