William R. Watt wrote:
> As a former statistcal systems manager I'd be interested to know what the
> lowest scores were.
> That would tell us what kind of bell shaped grading curve the judges use,
> conscioulsy or subconsciously.
> I'd guess that to prevent entrants from feeling bad there would be no score
> less than, say, 75? Everbody gets at least a B and everyone is a winner.
> I'll bet the people who run the concessions do the same. Evryone gets a
> prize, no matter how small, so nobody goes away a loser.
> After all, people come to the fall fair to have a good time. You don't
> want people going away feeling bad.
>

Boy, you sure sound like you've never been to the carnival at a fair.
Most carnies are trying to stick it to you before you get wise to their
tricks. Our local fair gives everyone who enters a ribbon and a couple
of dollars. Ribbons run from white to blue to red to purple for the
Grand Prize. That may be why most of the entries are kids and little old
ladies. They went to that method of awards about 25 years ago and now
everyone is happy except those of that are cutthroats that crave that
big win. <VBG>

George