Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site alice.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!harvard!talcott!panda!genrad!decvax!decwrl!ucbvax!allegra!alice!ark 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?