The Rigged Quiz Shows That Gave Birth to 'Jeopardy!'

The American quiz show scandals of the 1950s were a series of revelations that contestants of several popular television quiz shows were secretly given assistance by the show's producers to arrange the outcome of an ostensibly fair competition. The quiz show scandals were driven by a variety of reasons. Some of those reasons included the drive for financial gain, the willingness of contestants to "play along" with the assistance, and the lack of then-current regulations prohibiting the rigging of game shows.

This week, a look at the rigged quiz shows that gave birth to 'Jeopardy!'.

TTFN, Fred.

Quote of the week: "To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe." - Anatole France (French novelist, 1844 - 1924) 

   The Rigged Quiz Shows That Gave Birth to 'Jeopardy!' by fredwine on Scribd

The Hidden History of the Nutmeg Island That Was Traded for Manhattan

Nutmeg is the seed or ground spice of several species of the genus Myristica. Myristica fragrans (fragrant nutmeg or true nutmeg) is a dark-leaved evergreen tree cultivated for two spices derived from its fruit: nutmeg, from its seed, and mace, from the seed covering.

Until the mid-19th century, the small island group of the Banda Islands, which are also known under the name "Spice Islands," was the only location of the production of nutmeg and mace in the world. When something tends to be valuable, other people covet it, and nutmeg was no exception. How valuable, you may ask? Maybe not enough in today's dollars, but at the time it was worth Manhattan.

This week, a look at nutmeg and how the Dutch traded it for Manhattan Island.

TTFN, Fred.

Quote of the week: "Nothing is so awesomely unfamiliar as the familiar that discloses itself at the end of a journey." - Cynthia Ozick (American short story writer, novelist, and essayist, 1928 - )

   The Hidden History of the Nutmeg Island That Was Traded for Manhattan by fredwine on Scribd