I just received an email forwarded from my Mom that said only 55% of the general population can read the paragraph below since the letters are all out of order. I’m proud to be in the top 55%! Also, we’re ordering bumper stickers for our cars that boast, “Proud parents of pretty average kids.” =)

Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.

I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno’t mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

I’ve seen this before, but the new spin on this one was the elite feeling you get knowing that you’re part of a select group that can read those mixed up words. I think the 55% thing was just made up and tacked on by some reader a few hundred people up the email chain.

An interesting thought, though… Has the Pentagon considered using this as a code for foreign missions? I mean, it would take a foreigner weeks to figure out what in the world that said, when we (we proud 55%) can just skim through it in minutes.

Just something to consider. And while you’re considering, drop us a check for the idea. It’s so simple, I’ll bet it would work on those time-sensitive missions where minutes count and by the time the bad guys figured out the code, the bomb is about 10 seconds away.