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From: ark@alice.UUCP (Andrew Koenig)
Newsgroups: net.database
Subject: Re: a word to the wise
Message-ID: <4180@alice.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 20-Aug-85 01:36:39 EDT
Article-I.D.: alice.4180
Posted: Tue Aug 20 01:36:39 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 23-Aug-85 20:51:47 EDT
References: <578@bu-cs.UUCP>
Organization: Bell Labs, Murray Hill
Lines: 16

> Has anybody ever noticed that all the letters of the word "database" are
> typed with the left hand? Now the layout of the typewriter keyboard was
> designed to facilitate the even use of both hands. It follows,
> therefore, that writing about databases is not only unnatural, 
> but a lot harder than it appears.
> 		Edward Sciore
> 		Computer Science, BU


Ummm, not quite.  The layout of the typewriter keyboard was
designed to SLOW TYPISTS DOWN, because the early printing mechanisms
could not keep pace with skilled typists.

Puzzle:  what's the longest word that is normally typed only
with the left hand?  The right hand?  What about the longest
word with no ascenders or descenders?