Spelling bee for seniors

I didn't know there was such a thing, but Salon today is reporting the results. The contest is restricted to persons over 50 years of age, and the competitors get to spell two words wrong before being eliminated with their third error. More details at the website of the AARP, which hosts the event.

The words used in the contest appear to be easier than those used for the Scripps national spelling bee for children, and included umbones, wampumpeag, crwth, petrographer, and the winning word - debouch.

Here is a complete list of the words used in the 2007 contest.

Apparently there were only 47 contestants from 24 states. Perhaps next year TYWKIWDBI should send a team...