<$BlogRSDURL$>

Wednesday, May 18, 2005

Revenge of the Spellchecker 

Computerized spellchecking was designed to improve our lives.

Sadly, one never knows when a spellchecker, like any technology, may be turned to the Dark Side. Many humans are no match for the spellchecker, and can be swayed by its evil suggestions. In today's Seattle PI review of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, the spellchecker struck back:
"From here, the movie whisks us to the city world of Coruscant, where the increasing threat of the Separatist druid army inspires the war-weary Senate to hand over its power to a dictator, and a coup is in the works that will transform the Republic into the evil Galactic Empire."

A druid army? Would this review have us believe that the members of Earth's ancient Celtic priesthood were descendants of those who lived a long, long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away?

In fact, it is a droid army that is threatening Coruscant in Episode III. Droid, a word that any self-respecting piece of computer software - or any human copyeditor proofreading a Star Wars review - should know.

As Yoda might say, the spellchecker is not stronger. No. Quicker, easier, more seductive... but not stronger.