DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND OUR CONTROL — namely, the gradual but enormous shift from blogging as a means of online interaction back it the Aughts towards social media, and especially Twitter for reactions to live events — it makes no sense except for tradition itself to continue live-blogging the Spelling Bee at this site in 2018.  I wrestled with this decision last year, and you persuaded me to try it here one last time, but I fear that we've finally reached an inevitable transition point after fifeen wonderful years of creating our annual spelling brigadoon.

So I'll try using #alott5mabee for my subsequent tweets, and you can see my thoughts about the new RSVBee procedure here.  If I have something long-form to write, I will do it here.

And no one's doing a schuhplattler over this news.

NOW, TRULY, THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH:  Albert Barnes now has someone to commiserate with, because contrary to Walt Disney's express desire that his theme parks remain alcohol-free, you can now get booze at every sit-down restaurant at Walt Disney World.

FOR CHILDREN!: There's a new documentary coming out, 44 Pages, that will show a behind-the-scenes look at Highlights Magazine.  No word on how they are going to prevent some jerk kid in the first showing from circling all the spoilers for everyone who sees it after.

EAT YOUR HEART OUT, MAVIS BEACON (LITERALLY):  Want "a glacially slow [typing] tutorial punctuated by moments of disorienting surrealism?"  Then the new (and unauthorized!) David Lynch Teaches Typing is for you.

OKAY, CAMPERS, RISE AND SHINE, AND DON'T FORGET YOUR BOOTIES 'CAUSE IT'S COOOOOOLD OUT THERE TODAY: It's February 2, so it's time to talk about the movie again. Do you buy the whole Buddhist thing, or should we just quote lines for a while and generally discuss its awesomeness?

Participate in this thread, or it's gonna be cold, it's gonna be grey, and it's gonna last you for the rest of your life.

MISS BUXLEY WEEPS: I assume Mort Walker had been phoning in Beetle Bailey strips from the grave since the first Reagan Administration but learn that he had lived long enough to be dead only now. 

THE ONLY WAY IT WOULD BE MORE ON-BRAND FOR US IS IF IT INCLUDED THE EATING OF FERMENTED WHALE BLUBBER OR SOMETHING WEIRD HAPPENING ON JEOPARDY!:  Josh Radnor + true story in the Phila suburbs + high school musicals (Spring Awakening!) = Rise, airing on NBC starting this March.

DAMN IT FEELS GOOD:  Today in controversial Jeopardy! scoring decisions--a contestant was told his response of "Gangster's Paradise" was incorrect because the song title is "Gangsta's Paradise."