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- From: b.benowitz@telesciences.com (Barry D. Benowitz)
- Newsgroups: alt.lefthanders,alt.answers,news.answers
- Subject: alt.lefthanders Frequently Asked Questions
- Supersedes: <lefty-faq-1-873788882@telesciences.com>
- Followup-To: alt.lefthanders
- Date: 9 Oct 1997 03:08:05 -0400
- Organization: Securicor Telesciences
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-
- FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- FOR
- THE LEFT-HANDED POPULATION
- AND
- FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS
-
-
- I Table of Contents
- Welcome
- Introduction
- Credits
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Questions and Answers
-
- II Welcome
-
- Welcome to official Usenet Guide to Frequently Asked Questions for the
- Left-Handed Population. It is posted periodically to the alt.lefthanders
- newsgroup and the general newsgroups alt.answers and news.answers. It is
- available via anonymous ftp from:
-
- ftp://ftp.cs.ruu.nl/pub/NEWS.ANSWERS/lefty-faq
- /ftp@mirrors.aol.com:/pub/rtfm/usenet/alt.lefthanders/
-
- Also, you can find a URL version on the World Wide Web at:
-
- http://www.cs.ruu.nl/wais/html/na-dir/lefty-faq.html
-
-
- III Introduction
-
- There exists in the world a very special group of individuals who is left
- handed. This group has had to spend its life conforming to a world that
- was not designed for its benefit. In addition, this group has had to put
- up with insults and derogatory comments aimed in its direction. The intent
- of this document is to provide a source of information for the left-
- handed population and to serve as a consciousness raising tool about
- issues of special concern for lefties for the population in general. It
- is sincerely hoped that it serves its goal.
-
- IV Credits
-
- This FAQ is maintained by Barry D. Benowitz (b.benowitz@telesciences.com)
- All corrections, additions (including new questions) and suggestions
- are welcome.
-
- ===== Copyright 1995, 1996, 1997 by Barry D. Benowitz. Use and
- copying of this information are permitted as long as (1) no fees or
- compensation are charged for use, copies or access to this
- information, and (2) this copyright notice is included intact. ====
- =====================================================================
- [NOTE: this is information collected from many sources and while I
- strive to be accurate and complete, I cannot guarantee that I
- have succeeded. ]
- =====================================================================
-
- V Frequently Asked Questions
-
- Q01. What does being left-handed mean?
- Q02. What does being ambidextrous mean?
- Q03. What percentage of the population is left handed?
- Q04. Is lefthandedness inherited?
- Q05. Are lefthanders naturally clumsy?
- Q06. Is there a quick test to determine eye dominance?
- Q07. Is there a quick test to determine handedness?
- Q08. What makes a cup right or left handed?
- Q09. What makes scissors right or left handed?
- Q10. What makes a bowling ball left or right-handed?
- Q11. What makes bowling shoes left or right-handed?
- Q12. Do Lefties have an advantage in Bowling?
- Q13. Do Lefties die younger than right-handers?
- Q14. Are Lefties brain damaged?
- Q15. Do Lefties make better athletes?
- Q16. Do Lefties make inferior athletes?
- Q17. In baseball, what makes left-handed hitters so successful?
- Q18. In baseball, what makes left-handed pitchers so successful?
- Q19. In cricket, what makes left-armed Batsmen so successful?
- Q20. In cricket, what makes left-handed Bowlers so successful?
- Q21. Is there a store catering to left-handers in my area?
- Q22. Where can I acquire left-handed guitars?
- Q23. Are there any publications for left handers?
- Q24. Are there any recommended books for left handers?
- Q25. What is brain dominance anyway?
- Q26. Why does women's clothing button the opposite way of mens (left vs. right)?
- Q27. Are there any left-hander advocacy organizations?
- Q28. Why is left handedness considered something sinister?
- Q29. Will you name some left-handed celebrities?
- Q30. When is International Left-handers Day?
- Q31. I'm rightie, my child's lefty. How can I teach him/her to tie shoe-laces?
- Q32. Where can I get a left-handed fountain pen?
- Q33. Where can I learn left-handed Calligraphy?
- Q34. Why do we wear our wedding bands on the third finger of the left hand?
- Q35. Where can I get a lefthanded joystick?
- Q36. Where can I get a Left Handed Computer Keyboard.
- Q37. Where can I get a left-handed mouse?
- Q38. Why are there more Lefthanded Males than Females?
- Q39. Do Lefthanders tend to have a specific blood type?
- Q40. What percentages of Lefthanders exist in different societies?
- Q41. Why do some lefthanders use Mirror script?
- Q42. Why do Lefthanders hold the paper differently when writing?
- Q43. Why are Lefthanders sometimes called Southpaws?
- Q44. Are there any organizations concerning golf and left-handers?
- Q45. Which sports banned left-handers?
- Q46. What are left-handed playing cards?
-
-
-
- VI. Questions and answers.
-
- Q01. What does being left-handed mean?
-
- A very good question. For the purposes of this document, being
- left-handed means having a preference for using your left hand for
- a variety of tasks, including reaching, throwing, pointing,
- catching. It also implies a preference for using your left foot
- for tasks such as kicking, as well as the preferred foot with
- which to begin walking, running and bicycling. However, there are
- no hard and fast rules for determining which hand or foot the
- Lefthander prefers to use for a particular task. Most will prefer to
- use the left hand or foot for delicate work.
-
- One may also have a dominant left eye, preferring to use the left
- eye for telescopes, camera sights, and microscopes.
-
- In general, being left-handed means having a dominant right side
- of the brain.
-
- M.K. Holder <mholder@indiana.edu> clarifies that this dominance
- does not apply in the area of brain hemisphere specialization for
- language abilities: According to a neurological study published by
- Branch, Miller & Rasmussen in 1964 (Journal of Neurosurgery
- 21:399-405) indicates that perhaps half of all left-handers
- have the same left-hemisphere specialization for language
- abilities as do right-handers. See:
- http://www.indiana.edu/~primate/refs1.html for more information.
-
- Q02. What does being ambidextrous mean?
-
- To be ambidextrous means to be equally dextrous with either hand.
- That is, the ability to use both hands with equal skill and coor-
- dination.
-
- Q03. What percentage of the population is left handed?
-
- There have been many different numbers put forth, with the most
- common numbers we have seen being in the area of 13 percent. However,
- we have seen numbers as high as 30 percent, when you allow a
- very loose definition of left-handedness.
-
- Q04. Is lefthandedness inherited?
-
- While lefthanders undoubtably runs in some families, scientists
- are unsure that the issue is completely resolved. Part of the
- problem has to do whether a person's hand preference is the result
- of genetic determination or some other reason ie forced to switch
- because of convention, accident, what ever.
-
- Mark Plonsky tells me that the book "Behavior Genetics" by J. L.
- Fuller (1978) contains a 14 page section on laterality and
- handedness. It concludes ". . . it is clear that the problem of
- lateralization and its etiology is far from being solved. Since
- it is probably one of fundamental importance, further work on it
- would be very desirable." (p. 288).
-
- There is a very interesting Web site on the issue of handedness
- located at:
-
- http://www3.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/htbin-post/Omim/dispmim?139900
-
- Thanks: Mark Plonsky,Ph.D. < mplonsky@worf.uwsp.edu>
-
- Q05. Are lefthanders naturally clumsy?
-
- An emphatic NO to this. The problem most lefthanders have is that
- the world is configured for right handed people. Lefties, in the
- act of accommodating to this opposite world, may appear awkward
- using tools that have right hand preference designed into them.
- However, right-handers display even more awkwardness using left
- handed tools than lefthanders do using right handed tools. This
- is probably because righthanders are less used to adapting.
-
- Q06. Is there a quick test to determine eye dominance?
-
- Try the following to determine eye dominance. With both eyes
- open, line up the tip of your finger, at arm's length, with a
- distant object. Close each eye separately. The eye that results
- in the object and you finger remaining aligned is your dominant eye.
-
- Q07. Is there a quick test to determine handedness?
-
- No, there is not. In fact, the only sure way to determine brain
- dominance is to anesthetize one half of the brain and then see
- what functions are still handled by the still functioning hemisphere.
- There have been interesting results obtained, such as people able
- to respond to visual cues but not verbal cues. I don't know about
- you, dear reader, but I am not willing to submit to this test just
- to definitively answer the question.
-
- However, you can try this: Sitting comfortably, fold your hands
- together and notice which thumb is on top. Lefties will have the
- right thumb on top.
-
- Readers should note that this test is not completely accurate. We
- have heard about a significant number of lefties on alt.lefthanders
- who fail this test. Readers should also note that hand preference
- is usually not evident until children are age 4-6. Some children have
- been known to exhibit a preference as early as age 2.
-
- Q08. What makes a cup right or left handed?
-
- First, you must realize that (drinking) cups come in two varieties:
- symmetric and not symmetric. Cups that are not symmetric may have
- a lip to ease pouring the contents. If this kind of cup is right
- handed, the lip will be on the side of the cup which is away from
- the body, which allows for a easy neat motion. If this cup is
- picked up with the left hand, the lip is toward the body, which
- makes it awkward and messy to pour.
-
- For symmetric cups, the problem is that when the decoration is only
- on one side. When the right handed individual picks up a right
- handed cup, he is able to see and enjoy the decoration. A leftie
- using that cup presents the decoration to the world; he is unable
- to see it.
-
- Lefties would benefit with symmetric cups with designs on both sides;
- cups with lips would have to be made in both right and left handed
- varieties.
-
- Q09. What makes scissors right or left handed?
-
- You can see the difference easily, by placing the scissors on
- the table like this:
-
- \ /
- \/
- /\
- O O
-
- For right-hand scissors, the part of the scissors lying `on top' at
- the intersection of the two parts, will be the one from top-left
- to bottom-right, whereas for left-hand scissors, the uppermost will
- be the part from bottom-left to top-right. Turning the scissors around
- or up-side down won't change this relationship.
-
- Secondly the reason for this difference lies in the way the
- scissors are opened and closed by your left or right hand. When you
- close the scissors, the cutting edges close and the cutting edges
- are pressed together because your fingers holding the scissors bend
- and your thumb stretches. If the cutting edges are pushed away from
- each other, the material being cut slides in between, and is definitely
- not cut. This is what happens when you use a right-hand scissors
- with your left hand.
-
- Since your left hand is a mirrored version of your right hand,
- your scissors should be `mirrored' as well. This is why the cutting
- edges are made on the opposite side of each part, and the parts
- are assembled just the opposite way, giving you perfect left-handed
- scissors.
-
- Thanks to: Jurgen van Engelen <jurgene@eeb.ele.tue.nl>
-
- Q10. What makes a bowling ball left or right-handed?
-
- Left-handed bowling balls are different in two respects.
- The first, and most obvious, is the placing of the finger holes
- in relation to the thumb hole. What follows is the first (and
- last) square bowling ball you'll ever see <G>:
-
-
- 0 0
- 0 0
- + +
-
- 0 0
-
-
-
- The view is from the top and the spacing is highly exaggerated.
- Mark Hideo Fujimoto <fuj@uclink.berkeley.edu> points out that
- while this configuration is true for a vast majority of people,
- one cannot say it is true in the general case.
-
-
-
- The ring finger is held behind the middle finger, as it is then
- the last thing to leave the ball - imparting spin. Using a right-
- -handed ball, the middle finger, or the thumb, would be last.
- Neither of these digits will impart any spin at all to the ball.
- Spin is important to make the ball curve, or hook, into the pins
- and the rotation of the ball stabilizes it as it drives through.
-
- The second consideration, which I cannot draw (do I hear cheers?)
- is the location of the center weight with relationship to the spot
- where the holes are drilled. The ball is drilled so that the weight
- is slightly ahead of the thumb hole and to one side - left, for
- left-handers. This balancing weight provides extra momentum and
- spin to the ball.
-
- Mark Hideo Fujimoto <fuj@uclink.berkeley.edu> disagrees:
- I have to disagree here, too. The "center weight", or more correctly,
- the center of gravity of the weight block, is usually placed to the
- *left* of the (+) in my diagram for a left-handed ball. This is known
- as "positive weight", which combined with lift and spin imparted by the
- bowler, gives the ball a more pronounced hook than a ball without this
- type of weighting. Once again, this isn't the only way to drill
- a bowling ball, but it is one that tends to be conducive to getting the
- ball reaction that produces more strikes.There will be times when other
- types of weighting will prove to be more beneficial than "positive"
- weights.
-
- Throwing the ball fairly normally for a beginner, one should
- ideally see some clockwise rotation as the ball tends to drift
- toward the center (a strike!). Throwing a right-handed ball with
- your left hand places the weighting on the left side - meaning the
- ball will go straight, or even back up (a reverse curve). This
- kind of delivery makes it almost impossible to get the ball to the
- center with force and momentum, unless you are a 300-pound gorilla.
-
- Mark Hideo Fujimoto <fuj@uclink.berkeley.edu> clarifies:
- you don't have to be a "300# gorilla" in order to overcome the effects
- of various ball weightings. If a left-hander imparts a clockwise ro-
- tation to the ball, regardless of whether it's a right-handed or left-
- handed ball, the ball will hook from left to right. The weights may
- alter the way the ball hooks (i.e., earlier, later, stronger, weaker.),
- but not the direction in which it hooks. Many bowlers use "negative
- weight" (placing the weight block's CG closer to where the ball rolls)
- in order to reduce the amount of hook on lanes that promote hook (i.e.
- "dry" lanes, lanes with little oil on them).
-
- Most bowling establishments have a couple of left-handed balls
- for use. These are usually in poor shape, but a lot better than
- trying a right-handed ball, for the reasons stated above.
-
- The good news is - a left-handed ball, drilled by a professional,
- costs EXACTLY the same as the right-handed one. And, to spur your
- confidence, don't forget that the first man to earn a million dollars
- in bowling, Earl Anthony, is left-handed.
-
- Thanks to: Bob Snyder <snyderr@buffnet.net>
- Mark Hideo Fujimoto <fuj@uclink.berkeley.edu>
-
-
- Q11. What makes bowling shoes left or right-handed?
-
- Bowling shoes are "handed" by the type of sole that is on the sliding
- shoe. Since (most) left-handed bowlers slide with their right foot, the
- right shoe is soled with some type of leather or buckskin to aid in
- sliding. The left shoe will usually be rubber-soled with a leather or
- a textured rubber toe piece. This toe piece is added for extra traction
- when "pushing off" on the next-to-last step. Right-handed shoes are
- basically mirror images of the left-handed shoes. Most bowling shoes
- come in this configuration; however, some manufacturers produce their
- low-end bowling shoes in ambidextrous versions -- both shoes have some
- type of sliding sole, so they can be used by either left or
- right-handers. House shoes are typically this way.
-
- Thanks to: Mark Hideo Fujimoto <fuj@uclink.berkeley.edu>
-
- Q12. Do Lefties have an advantage in Bowling?
-
- While there is no consensus that such an advantage exists,
- here's the debate in a BIG nutshell:
-
- The surface of a bowling lane is oiled for various reasons, one
- of which is to provide a "condition" on which to bowl. Second
- only to a bowler's skill level, the manner in which lanes are
- oiled (called the "lane condition" or "oil pattern" or "shot")
- greatly determines what type of bowler and his corresponding
- style most often will prevail.
-
- Most of the time, the "shot" will be symmetric with respect to
- the middle of the lane lengthwise, i.e., the oil pattern from
- the 20th (middle) board out to each respective gutter will be
- similar in a mirror-image fashion. Thus it appears that being
- left-handed is of no advantage over being right-handed, and vice
- versa. However, there are two things that create an eventual
- disparity -- one, there are more right-handed bowlers (RHB) than
- left-handed bowlers (LHB) in most situations. Two, the lane oil
- isn't static. It migrates as bowling balls roll through it and
- gets deposited in new places on the lane before eventually get-
- ting carried off the lane. These two factors are the basis for
- argument between RHB's and LHB's.
-
- RHB's argue that LHB's have an unfair advantage because:
-
- *Bowling is a sport of repetition and consistency, and when the
- playing conditions remain stable, it is easier to maintain the
- muscle memory in order to repeat motions. Since there are fewer
- LHB's in general, the condition for them doesn't change as much
- or as dramatically as it does for the RHB. Thus a RHB must con-
- stantly adjust to the changing conditions, thereby destroying
- any consistency he has tried to develop in earlier frames or
- games.
-
- LHB's counter with:
-
- *WHEN (more correctly is IF) the "shot" is tough (an oil pattern
- that tend to make it difficult to get the ball to the pocket),
- LHB's get stuck with dealing with it for the duration of bowling;
- whereas RHB's on a tough shot have the greater numbers in which
- a shot can be "broken down" into something more scoreable.
-
- Ultimately, it comes down to a matter of respect. Many RHB's don't
- respect LHB's because they feel that the accomplishments of a LHB
- are tainted because of the unfair advantage of easier, more consis-
- tent bowling conditions than what RHB's (often) get. IMHO, it's a
- valid point, although I don't feel that this is the case 100% of
- the time.
-
- OTOH, LHB's can't argue the flip side because there is no equivalent.
- LHB's generally resort to defending themselves by asking things like
- "why do RHB's assume that when a LHB bowls well, it's because they
- have an easier "shot", and not because the LHB is talented or made good
- shots?", or "I can't help it that I'm left-handed, I don't oil the
- lanes". As you can probably figure out, this is a sore subject with
- many LHB's, as RHB's outnumber them and dare I say most RHB's have
- some sort of animosity or envy towards LHB's and their conditions.
-
- Thanks to: Mark Hideo Fujimoto <fuj@uclink.berkeley.edu>
-
- Q13. Do Lefties die younger than right-handers?
-
- Stanley Coren, who is the author of "The Lefthander Syndrome" found
- statistical evidence of this, and didn't believe it for the longest
- time. However, he remains unable to disprove it. He was able to
- demonstrate a possible reason for this might be that a left hand
- startle reflex would be much more dangerous when driving a car
- on US or Canadian road since the car would end up pointing
- against traffic while a right hand startle reflex would simply
- cause the car to drive of the road.
-
- As a double check, Coren did find a statistical difference in
- left handed traffic fatalities in countries where they drive on
- the left, such as Great Britain or Australia.
-
- Q14. Are Lefties brain damaged?
-
- Q15. Do Lefties make better athletes?
-
- Q16. Do Lefties make inferior athletes?
-
- Q17. In baseball, what makes left-handed hitters so successful?
-
- This may not be a true statement, but here is a possible ex-
- planation:
-
- A left-handed hitter faces the home plate from a different side.
- For a pitcher who is not yet used to pitching to lefties, His
- standard arsenal of pitches do not have the same affect. A normal
- outside fast-ball to a right-hander becomes an inside fast-ball
- to a leftie and the same is true for an inside fast-ball. Also,
- a curve ball curves out for a rightie would curve in for a lefty.
-
- The resulting confusion is what makes left-handers better at
- hitting.
-
- Edward Brekelbaum (eb3z@andrew.cmu.edu) adds:
- Also, batters in the right side of the plate (lefties), are about
- one step closer to first base (a righty must step over the plate to be
- where a lefty started). This may not seem like a huge advantage, but
- how many times has a runner been out "By one step".
-
- John Mianowski <jmianows@ix.netcom.com> points out that
- LH hitters are generally more successful against RH
- pitchers. As noted, a RH pitcher's breaking balls (i.e. curves,
- sliders, cutters) will break in toward the hitter. It's
- always easier to hit a ball that's breaking in on you than
- breaking away. LH hitters are therefore perceived as being more
- successful than RH hitters because the great majority of
- pitchers are right-handed.
-
- Q18. In baseball, what makes left-handed pitchers so successful?
-
- There are three factors here. First, left-handed pitchers
- stand on the mound facing first base, making it much easier to
- spot base-stealing attempts, and to throw out the runner. Secondly,
- the throwing arm of a lefty pitcher is more hidden from view of a
- righty batter, making it difficult for the batter to gauge the pitch
- as it's being thrown. Finally, lefties naturally tend to throw the
- ball towards the left side of the plate (from the batter's
- perspective), placing the pitch inside for a righty batter (which is
- more difficult to hit).
-
- Ironically, the perceived success of LH pitchers is primarily
- due to their inherent advantages over the LH hitters that the
- other teams put in their lineups to hit off the RH pitchers!
- Often, managers will bring in a pitcher to face just one
- hitter (LH-on-LH or RH-on-RH matchup), because of which
- hitters are coming up soon, or even to try to force the
- opposing manager to pinch hit to get HIS favorable matchup (the
- hitting team gets to make the last change), but taking a good
- hitter out of the game to do it.
-
- Thanks to: George Feil <george@schwing.hip.berkeley.edu>
- John Mianowski <jmianows@ix.netcom.com>
-
-
- Q19. In cricket, what makes left-armed Batsmen so successful?
-
- Left-armed Batsmen enjoy the same advantages as left-handed
- hitters do in baseball. See the answer regarding baseball
- hitters above. Note that many left-armed batsmen prefer
- to hit from the left side, for an unknown reason.
-
- Roy Lakin <cgerbil@vossnet.co.uk> provides some additional
- information:
-
- The rough patch formed by the right-arm pace bowlers is
- further away from the off side of a right-hand batsman than a
- left-hander; a (right-arm) bowler bowling over the wicket is
- closer to the stumps than one bowling round the wicket, and will
- therefore tend to run on to the pitch in the follow-through.
-
- Thanks to: Roy Lakin <cgerbil@vossnet.co.uk>
-
- Q20. In cricket, what makes left-handed Bowlers so successful?
-
- The success of the bowlers and batters is obvious and closely
- related to the similar success of the baseball players. When bowling
- against a left-handed batsman, especially if there is a right-handed
- batsman at the other end of the cricket pitch, it places the fielding
- side at a disadvantage when ever runs are made. The whole fielding
- side has to swap around to accommodate the left-hander. Similarly the
- left handed bowler, especially a spin bowler can cause havoc against
- the right-handed batsman because the ball will break opposite to a
- right-handed spinner. Also the left-handed spinner can pitch the ball
- into the rough patches on the pitch formed by the right handed pace
- bowlers on the opposite side of the wicket. This ensures an uneven or
- unpredictable bounce or movement of the ball.
-
- Roy Lakin <cgerbil@vossnet.co.uk> adds that Bowlers generally
- bowl to a batsman's off side in order to provoke a catch in
- the slips, so the left-hander will suffer from pitches in the
- rough more than would a right-hander, who would ofter leave
- wides or near-wides alone.
-
- Thanks: David Wiles <hamfast@palantir.klinies.sun.ac.za>
- Roy Lakin <cgerbil@vossnet.co.uk>
-
- Q21. Is there a store catering to left-handers in my area?
-
- We have heard of the following places, but since we have not been
- able to try them, the following list does not constitute a recom-
- mendation. They are listed in no particular order:
-
- Left Hand World, Inc.
- Pier 39
- San Francisco, California
- Phone: (415)433-3547
-
- The Left Hand Supply Company
- P.O. BOX 20188
- OAKLAND, CA 94620
- 510-658-LEFT
-
- Comfort Etc.
- 1200 Mckinney #417
- Houston,Tx.77010
- PH.713-473-5433(To send fax dial *33)
- Dr. Brad R. Lustick(retired)
- comfort@sam.neosoft.com
- http://www.icw.com/comfort/catalog.html
-
- Anything Left Handed Ltd.
- 57 Brewer Street
- London
- W1R 3FB.
- Tel: 0171 437 3910.
-
- ZURDOlandia
- Cl Bolonia, 10 (Esq. Cte. Sta. Pau)
- 50008 - Zaragoza
- Spain
- Tel : 976 22 63 80
- Fax : 976 22 63 80
- E-mail : zurdolan@encomix.es
- Contact : Jesus Capapey, Ana Lombo
-
- DE DRETA A ESQUERRA S.L.
- Copernico 85 (Tienda 2)
- 08006 Barcelona
- Spain
- Tel/Fax: *-34-(9)3-201.93.92
- email: lefty@solution4u.com (English)
- zurdos@solution4u.com (Castellano)
- geni@cybergal.com (Problems)
-
- Q22. Where can I acquire left-handed guitars?
-
- We have heard of the following places, but since we have not been
- able to try them, the following list does not constitute a recom-
- mendation. They are listed in no particular order:
-
- Route 66 Guitars
- 3579 E. Foothill Blvd., #321
- Pasadena, California 91107
- USA
- tel: (213) GUI TARS
-
- Vintage, Used & New Left and Right Handed Instruments
- Vintage Amps & Accessories
- Lists available via US Mail, FAX & eMail
- (Route66@southpaw.com)
- (http://www.southpaw.com/route66/)
-
- Southpaw Guitars of Texas
- 5813 Bellaire Blvd.
- Houston, TX 77081
- (713) 667-5791
-
-
- Q23. Are there any publications for left handers?
-
- There is one. It is published by six times a year by Lefthanders
- International and is called Lefthander Magazine. It is written in
- English so that the words appear left to right, but the columns
- are presented right to left and the pages are numbered right to left.
- Its a little disconcerting at first, but Lefties will soon get used
- to it.
-
- It contains articles about lefties of note, plus many helpful hints
- for leftie adaption problems. It contains advertising for some
- catalog items plus other products of interest to lefthanders.
-
- It is available only to members of Lefthanders International, but
- there is no additional charge to receive the magazine.
-
- Q24. Are there any recommended books for left handers?
-
- Unicorns Are Real
-
- The Lefthander Syndrome, by Stanley Coren PhD
-
- The Natural Superiority of the Left-Hander, by James T. deKay
-
- The Left-Handed Book, by James T. deKay
-
- Left-Handed in a Right-Handed World, by Jeff Goldsmith
-
- The Left Handers Guide to Life, by Leigh Rutledge and Richard Donley
- ISBN: 0-452-26845-1
-
- Germar Saule tells us of the following German language books, he is
- not aware of any translations into other languages:
-
- Linkshaendig? Ein Ratgeber (Lefthanded? An adviser)
- HRSG: Rolf W. Meyer, Fachliche Beratung,
- Dr. Johanna Barbara Sattler,ONRS;
- 1991;Humboldt-Taschenbuchverlag Jacobi KG, Muenchen;
- ISBN 3-581-66669-3;
-
- Das linkshaendige Kind in der Grundschule
- (The lefthanded child in the primary school)
- HRSG: Dr.Johanna Barbara Sattler/ Staatsinstitut fuer Schulpaedagogik
- und Bildungsforschung, Muenchen;
- 1993; L. Auer-Verlag; Donauwoerth;
- ISBN: 3-403-02532-2; 4.Aufl. 1994;
-
- Der umgeschulte Linkshaender oder Der Knoten im Gehirn
- (The "translearned"(learned from left to right) lefthander
- or The knot in the brain)
- HRSG: Dr. Johanna Barbara Sattler
- 1995; L. Auer-Verlag; Donauwoerth;
- ISBN:3-403-02645-0;
-
- Linkshaender sind bessere Menschen
- (lefthanders are better humans)
- HRSG: Nora Babel;
- 1992; Eichborn Verlag; Frankfurt am Main;
- ISBN 3-8218-2283-X;
-
- Das Linkshaenderbuch
- (The lefthander-book)
- HRSG: Diane Paul
- 1990; Bloomsbury, London;
- Uebersetzung: 1994 Droemersche Verlagsanstalt Th. Knaur Nachf.,
- Muenchen;
- ISBN 3-426-84037-5;
-
- Alles mit der linken Hand (Geschick und Geschichte einer Begabung)
- All with the left hand (skill and history of a talent)
- HRSG: Rik Smits
- 1994; Rowohlt
- ISBN 3-87134-096-0
-
- Selim oder Die Gabe der Rede
- (Selim or The gift of the speech)
- HRSG: Sten Nadolny
- 1990, R. Piper GmbH&Co.KG, Muenchen;
- ISBN: 3-492-02978-7;
-
- Geni Cabre <geni@cybergal.com> recommends the following book (in Spanish):
-
- El Nino Zurdo by Dr. Cesar Cabre and Elicia Rios
-
- Thanks: <Germar Saule> saule@hrz.uni-kassel.de
-
- Q25. What is brain dominance anyway?
-
- The term "brain dominance" was historically used by neurologists to
- describe which side of the brain (which cerebral hemisphere)
- played the greatest role in human speech & language. Neurologists
- currently prefer the term hemispheric "specialization" to describe
- how one side of the brain's neural function is specialized for a
- particular function, usually language ability. But even language
- tasks occur in both hemispheres, so this description is
- simplistic.
-
- Thanks: <M.K.Holder> mholder@indiana.edu
- See: "What does Handedness have to do with Brain Lateralization?"
- at: http://www.indiana.edu/~primate/brain.html
-
- Q26. Why does women's clothing button the opposite way of mens (left vs. right)?
-
- This goes back to the Victorian age. It seems that a proper gentleman
- would dress himself while a proper lady would require the services
- of a dresser. In order for the motion of securing a button to be the
- same, and to account for the fact that the clothing of a man would
- be fastened from behind while the clothing of a woman would be
- fastened while facing the clothing, the buttons on men's clothing
- would have to be opposite of women's.
-
- Q27. Are there any left-hander advocacy organizations?
-
- The one we have heard about (and of which we are a member) is
- Lefthanders International. They are located in Topeka, Kansas
- and can be reached at the following address:
-
- Lefthanders, International
- P.O Box 8249
- Topeka, Kansas 66608
- USA
-
- The local telephone number is: 1-913-234-2177.
-
-
- Annual dues run about US$15.
-
- There is an organization available in Germany. They can be reached
- at the following address:
-
- ONRS e.V.
- Sendlinger Str 18
- 80331 Munich
- Germany
-
- Q28. Why is left handedness considered something sinister?
-
- First, let me say that the Latin word for left is sinister. The
- connection between the the English word and the Latin word are
- obvious, but this reasoning breaks down when other languages are
- examined. Raymond <vges@smtp.belspo.be> tells the following
- story: Roman priests/fortune-tellers used to point a square wooden
- frame towards the sky and thus watch birds fly by. If the birds came
- from the left (sinister),it meant trouble (sinister).If they came from
- the right (latin dexter if I remember well),everything was OK.
-
- Raymond <vges@smtp.belspo.be> also tells me that the French word
- "sinistre" means sinister with the obvious Latin root. Also, someone
- who is considered not skillful is called "gauche" (left) in French.
-
- Rob Jordan <rjordan@u.washington.edu> offers this explanation. It
- also has to do with shaking hands. It seems that one explanation
- for the origin of shaking hands (according to a Latin teacher at the
- high school I went to) is that people would shake hands on meeting
- to show that they didn't have a dagger (or similar weapon) in their
- (right) hand so they couldn't stab you right off as they met you.
- However if you were left handed, you could shake someone's hand
- (with your right hand) and still be able to effectively use your
- left hand to stab someone. Therefore left-handed people were considered
- potentially more dangerous and "sinister".
-
-
- Erica <erica@netvision.net.il> tells me that in Hebrew, "Yemin" is
- right and "Smoll" is left. A right-handed person is
- referred to as "yemani," which means "right-handed;" a left-handed
- person, on the other hand (no pun intended. Well, ok, maybe it
- intentional), is referred to as "Eetair yad Yemino" or "Eetair" for
- short, which means, in essence, a person who is not right-handed.
- (Connotation: a shortcoming).
-
- Balthasar <bi@inside.net> tells me that in german you call
- someone 'linkisch' (meaning 'leftish') if he/she is either weird,
- strange or even mean in an antisocial sense.
-
- Wei-Hwa Huang <whuang@cco.caltech.edu> responds that a bit of
- research on Chinese etymology has turned up some interesting
- facts. The Chinese word for "left," when traced back to
- ancient pictograms, is a drawing of a hand with a drawing that
- means "work." The idea apparently was that the left hand did
- work by helping the right hand. Bruce Balden
- <balden@homegate.net> points out that the symbol "gong1" means
- work because it looks like a carpenter's set square, which
- would be held in the left hand (of a right handed person) while
- the other hand draws or saws.
-
- Wei-Hwa resumes: On the other hand (pun intended), the
- character for "right" was a picture of a hand next to a mouth,
- indicating that the ancient Chinese probably used the right hand to eat.
-
- Now an interesting fact emerges. Although there are many more words
- derived from a hand on the right side than there are words on the left
- (i.e., whenever a new word was formed and it needed a hand, it was
- invariably on the right side), at some point all the "right-handed"
- words were flipped to their mirror image! This happened sometime in
- the last 2000 years, and now all words that are "hand"-derived have
- the hand on the left side. (For etymology buffs, these characters are
- not to be confused with the ones with the actual "hand" radical, which
- went a different route.) It is an interesting fact to note that since
- Chinese writing proceeds top to bottom, then right to left, that
- left-handed writing may actually be easier. (Virtually all Chinese
- writers are taught to write with the right hand only, though...
- traditional Chinese calligraphy is done without the hand touching the
- paper.)
-
- Paul Batey <pbatey@laurel.ocs.mq.edu.au> tells us that an ancient
- Romany Gypsy word for left is bongo, which means evil.
-
- Feico Nater <effect@worldaccess.nl> provide these insights:
-
- In Dutch, Recht means right, straight, privilege (as in human rights),
- Link means left, stupid, awkward, but also keen, skilled. Een linke
- jongen means a skilled criminal, a bad criminal, or a keen man.
-
- Edward A. Spaans <spaans@orion-sys.com> offers the following idiom:
-
- De linker, de flinker
- De rechter, de slechter
-
- In Dutch, the 'er' as in linker, flinker, rechter, slechter' is the
- superlative. The meaning of 'slecht' is bad, criminal. The words
- 'link' and 'recht' are assigned a quantitative content here, which
- makes strict translation a bit difficult. The idiom could be roughly
- translated as:
-
- The more (to the, or possessing of) left, the better,
- The more (to the, or possessing of) right, the worse
-
- Paddy O'Neill <jq01@dial.pipex.com> report that the Gaelic
- (Irish) word for lefthanded is "Ciotach". It has two meanings as
- well:
-
- 1) lefthanded
- 2) Awkward or difficult
-
-
- Please respond to the FAQ maintainer a similar analysis
- of the same words in your favorite language (pro or con) for
- inclusion in this section.
-
- Second, we are able to trace this link back to the Middle Ages and
- the Renaissance. In the great religious art of the period, it was
- common for the "good" guys to be portrayed as being right-handed while
- satanic characters to be portrayed left-handed as sort of an
- antithesis to the good. It is interesting to note that Leonardo
- Da Vinci painted "good" images like Jesus and Mary to appear left
- handed, but Da Vinci is a fabled Lefthander.
-
- There are examples of people appearing to
- be left-handed in earlier art, but these are not considered to be
- symbolic of anything. Later on, handedness was considered an important
- test to determine if a person was a witch or warlock theoretically
- because of the link to Satanism.
-
- You would think that in the twentieth century, this sort of thinking
- would be non-existent, but even today some people have a hard time
- with left-handers.
-
- Q29. Will you name some left-handed celebrities?
-
- A list of more than 500 well-known left-handed people from
- around the world is maintained by Mauri Haikola
- <mjh@stekt.oulu.fi> and it can be found at
-
- http://stekt.oulu.fi/~mjh/lefties.html
-
- Some familiar names from the list are Bill Clinton, George Bush,
- Ronald Reagan, Pablo Picasso, Fred Astaire, Charles Chaplin,
- Greta Garbo, and Marilyn Monroe . Check it out.
-
- In addition, MK Holder <mholder@indiana.edu> maintains a similar
- list called FAMOUS LEFT-HANDERS at
-
- http://www.indiana.edu/~primate/left.html
-
- This one is translated into French an Spanish as well.
-
-
-
-
- Q30. When is International Left-handers Day?
-
- According to Left-handers International, August 13th has been
- designated as International Left-handers Day.
-
- Q31. I'm rightie, my child's lefty. How can I teach him/her to tie shoe-laces?
-
- Try this. In order to have the child see the hand movements in the
- proper direction, sit opposite the child rather than next to him or
- behind him. This will probably work for tying a necktie as well. I
- am also told that it applies to teaching knitting as well.
-
- Q32. Where can I get a left-handed fountain pen?
-
- Parker still offers this service by mail order. You can opt for
- needle point which is so sharp that it has no bias.
-
- Platinum Fountain Pen sets are available for left-handed people. Sets
- include nibs, barrel, cartridges and converter. John Neal, Bookseller
- (a mail order company specializing in calligraphy books and supplies)
- stocks these sets. They also provide left-handed grinding which
- converts right-handed nibs into ones suitable for left-handed use
- and can special order other left-handed materials.
-
- In addition to the fountain pens they carry left-handed nibs(dip pens).
- John Neal, Bookseller can be reached at: QSQK50A@prodigy.com or
- JNealBooks@AOL.com. Toll-free at 1-800-369-9598.
-
-
- Note: Appearance here does not constitute a recommendation.
-
-
- Thanks: Gerald McMullon <gerald.mcmullon@ukonline.co.uk>
-
- Q33. Where can I learn left-handed Calligraphy?
-
- We have heard of the following books:
-
- "Insights into Left-Handed Calligraphy" by Betsy Rivers-Kennedy 1984.
- "Pen Lettering" by Ann Camp
- the Speedball manual that comes with their pens
- AND "Left Handed Calligraphy"...
-
-
- Bella <ivcf@astral.magic.ca> reccomends the following book:
-
- "Mastering Calligraphy" by Timothy Noad, published by Simon &
- Schuster 1995. It contains chapters on the origins and development of
- calligraphy, materials and techniques, A-Z step by step and
- projects. For the first time this calligraphy a book also provides
- special notes and diagrams for left-handed calligraphers for every
- stage alongside information for right-handers, by the famous
- left-handed calligrapher Gaynor Goffe.
-
- K <kamaley@hevanet.com> makes the following suggestion:
-
- If you would like to take a class ask the teacher whether he/she has
- taught leftys before. They will either tell you it can't be done, be
- willing to work with you or have already taught "one of us."
-
- Thanks: Isabella V. Chang Fong <ivcf@astral.magic.ca>
- K <kamaley@hevanet.com>
-
-
-
- Q34. Why do we wear our wedding bands on the third finger of the left hand?
-
- The custom dates back to the early Egyptian belief that the vena amoris
- (vein of love) ran directly from the heart to the third finger of
- the left hand.
-
- Thanks to Erica Hamel <erica@netvision.net.il>
-
- Q35. Where can I get a lefthanded joystick?
-
- While you should note that real commercial and military pilots
- fly according to where they sit in the cockpit and thus must be
- able to fly equally well with either hand, this question
- is asked very frequently.
-
- According to a Usenet Survey, It is downright impossible to have
- a true lefthanded joystick. There are several ambidextrous ones
- that people use, with the consensus being that the products by
- a company called CH were the best. The complete list follows in
- no particular order:
-
- CH Flightstick Pro
- CH Flightstick
- Suncom 2000
- TM Action Controller XL
- Kraft Thunderstick
- Gravis GamePad (has a switch)
-
- Note that this does not represent a reccomendation.
-
- Q36. Where can I get a Left Handed Computer Keyboard.
-
-
- Peter Wood <paw@interserv.com> tells us that he has
- had good success using inexpensive peripheral equipment, since
- its not designed in a way that would make it uncomfortable for
- left-handers to use (or for right-handers) but avoids the
- re-learning process. He thinks that left-handed adaption
- skills are sufficient as long as the device doesn't exhibit a
- a strong bias.
-
-
- Q37. Where can I get a left-handed mouse?
-
- Logitech used to supply left handed versions, but have
- discontinued this. Symmetrical versions are getting rarer. Not all
- left handers use the mouse left handed. Many like typing or writing
- left handed using the right hand to always hold the mouse.
-
- Look for alternatives such as the Glidepoint or tracker balls. But
- where ever possible try before buying and make sure that the drivers
- for the operating system(s) that you use are available or the
- 'standard' MS software (Win3, Win95, NT) etc will work.
-
- Swap the buttons to use the left index finger with the right
- button. This confuses the hell out of right handers so much that I
- have seen fared tempers at not being able to use it even when
- explaining to them that the reason that the mouse was on the left
- was because you are left handed.
-
- Thanks: Gerald McMullon <gerald.mcmullon@ukonline.co.uk>
-
- We have recently heard of the following source for a left-handed mouse:
-
- The Contour Mouse for left-handed users can be ordered directly
- from:
- Contour Design
- 254B North Broadway, Suite 204
- Salem, NH 03079 USA
- phone 1-800-462-6678
- phone: (603) 893-4556
- fax: (603) 893-4558
- email: info@contourdes.com
- World Wide Web site (http://www.contourdes.com).
-
- Listing here does not constitute a recommendation.
-
-
- Q38. Why are there more Lefthanded Males than Females?
-
- Recent research (as from a BBC TV program) looked at the amount of
- testosterone (male hormone) present during pregnancy. All adults
- produce both male and female hormones. The amount of testosterone in a
- woman is small and there is none in a the fetus female. The fetus
- male produces small amounts of testosterone and this has been given as
- a possible reason why there are more LH males than LH females.
-
- Thanks: Gerald McMullon <gerald.mcmullon@ukonline.co.uk>
-
- Q39. Do Lefthanders tend to have a specific blood type?
-
- Some one in Cambridge questioned all blood donors about their
- background. Looking at the couple of hundred forms the distribution
- for the A, AB and O groups looked the same in the LH group as in
- the RH group.
-
- Thanks: Gerald McMullon <gerald.mcmullon@ukonline.co.uk>
-
-
- Q40. What percentages of Lefthanders exist in different societies?
-
- Middle class western (white) society is more tolerant of LH than
- some cultures. In many cultures eating with the left hand is an
- insult to the host. This is so strong that even those educated
- and living in the west does not adjust this view point. [
- possibly related to hygiene - which hand is used for toiletry etc].
-
- Thanks: Gerald McMullon <gerald.mcmullon@ukonline.co.uk>
-
- Q41. Why do some lefthanders use Mirror script?
-
- Da Vinci and others often write right to left and in mirror
- script. They feel that the writing is more fluid this way.
-
- Q42. Why do Lefthanders hold the paper differently when writing?
-
- Lefthanders turn the paper in order to more completely mimic
- the right hand style. Included in this method is using the twisted
- hand over the top of the line of writing method adopted by some
- left handers.
-
- With the advent of the biro some left handers push the nib in front
- of the hand movement. Others hold their arm at right angles to the
- line of writing and so don't cover up the writing or twist the arm
- over the top. Various forms of positioning the writing pad at right
- angles to the line of the desk or inclined at 60% are also used.
-
- Young left-handers should be encouraged to try all these styles to
- find the best fit for themselves.
-
- Q43. Why are Lefthanders sometimes called Southpaws?
-
- This is a baseball term. It seems that on many (most) baseball diamonds
- the left hand side of the pitchers mound would face south.At one
- time, most ball-parks were constructed so that the setting sun was
- behind the batter so as not to be in his eyes. The LH pitcher's
- throwing arm would then be toward the South as he faced the plate.
- With larger grandstands in modern stadia (not to mention indoor
- baseball) this is less of a concern than it once was.
-
- Thanks: Jeff Snyder <jps@tyrell.net>
-
- Q44. Are there any organizations concerning golf and left-handers?
-
- We have heard of the National Association of Left-Handed
- Golfers (NALG). It is " a nonprofit organization that
- promotes and enhances left-handed golf." Dues are US$20 per
- year. Phone number is: 1-800-844-NALG
- in Canada: 1-880-844-NALG
- and the URL: http://www.dca.net/golf
-
- Q45. Which sports banned left-handers?
-
- I don't know the answer to this one, precisely, but I believe it
- to be Polo. My reasoning is that the horses are trained to expect
- the mallot to always to be swung from the right side. To do it on
- the left would spook the horses and cause safety problems.
-
- Albert Prete <71212.1644@CompuServe.COM> thinks that the sport is jai
- alai. In jai alai a ball is thrown at walls at a very high rate of
- speed. A gourd (cesta) is used to throw the ball. I guess they're
- concerned about someone getting hit with the cesta.
-
- Scoop <scoop@pygmy.demon.co.uk> tell me that when he was in school in
- the UK he was not permitted to play Field Hockey lefthanded and that
- there is no such thing as a lefthanded Hockey Stick. He also told me
- that the Grand National Archerry Association, which is the only
- such organization in England, requires lefthanders to be segragated
- to one side during competitions. Similarly, The National Smallbore
- Rifle Association in the UK and The National Rifle Association in the
- UK segregates the lefthanders to one side during competitions as well.
-
- Q46. What are left-handed playing cards?
-
- Left-handed playing cards are cards where the numbers are printed
- on all four corners of the card. That way, no matter which way you
- fan them out, you can see the numbers. Standard cards must be
- fanned in a right-handed manner for the numbers to be visible.
-
- According to Elisa <elisacg@pacbell.net> A brand name for which you
- can search is: WADDINGTONS Number 1 Playing Cards - Superior
- Quality - Linen Finish.
-
-
- Thanks: Elisa Carlos <elisacg@pacbell.net>
-
- --
- Barry D. Benowitz - FAQ maintainer for alt.lefthanders
- Email:b.benowitz@telesciences.com
- Phone:+1 609 866 1000 x354
- Snail:Axiom Inc, 351 New Albany Rd, Moorestown, NJ, 08057-1177
-