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Posted-By: auto-faq 3.1.1.2
Archive-name: lefty-faq

            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
     /[e-mail]:/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 ([e-mail])
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 <[e-mail]> 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. < [e-mail]>

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 <[e-mail]>

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 <[e-mail]> 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 <[e-mail]> 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 <[e-mail]> 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          <[e-mail]>
               Mark Hideo Fujimoto <[e-mail]>


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 <[e-mail]>

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 <[e-mail]>

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  ([e-mail]) 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 <[e-mail]> 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 <[e-mail]>
               John Mianowski <[e-mail]>


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 <[e-mail]> 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 <[e-mail]>

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 <[e-mail]> 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 <[e-mail]>
            Roy Lakin <[e-mail]>

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: [phone]

             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)
               [e-mail]
           http://www.icw.com/comfort/catalog.html

              Anything Left Handed Ltd.
               57 Brewer Street
                London
                   W1R 3FB.
             Tel: [phone].

                 ZURDOlandia
         Cl Bolonia, 10 (Esq. Cte. Sta. Pau)
               50008 - Zaragoza
                Spain
              Tel : [phone]
              Fax : [phone]
             E-mail : [e-mail]
          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: [e-mail] (English)
                    [e-mail] (Castellano)
                    [e-mail] (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
                ([e-mail])
                (http://www.southpaw.com/route66/)

                Southpaw Guitars of Texas
                5813 Bellaire Blvd.
                Houston, TX 77081
                [phone]


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 <[e-mail]> recommends the following book (in Spanish):

    El Nino Zurdo by Dr. Cesar Cabre and Elicia Rios

    Thanks: <Germar Saule> [e-mail]

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> [e-mail]
    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 <[e-mail]> 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 <[e-mail]> 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 <[e-mail]> 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 <[e-mail]> 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 <[e-mail]> 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 <[e-mail]> 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
       <[e-mail]> 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 <[e-mail]> tells us that an ancient
       Romany Gypsy word for left is bongo, which means evil.

       Feico Nater <[e-mail]> 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 <[e-mail]> 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 <[e-mail]> 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
      <[e-mail]> 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 <[e-mail]> 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: [e-mail] or
    [e-mail]. Toll-free at 1-800-369-9598.


    Note: Appearance here does not constitute a recommendation.


    Thanks: Gerald McMullon <[e-mail]>

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 <[e-mail]> 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 <[e-mail]> 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 <[e-mail]>
                K <[e-mail]>



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 <[e-mail]>

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 <[e-mail]> 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 <[e-mail]>

     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 [phone]
            phone: [phone]
            fax:   [phone]
              email: [e-mail]
       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 <[e-mail]>

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 <[e-mail]>


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 <[e-mail]>

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  <[e-mail]>

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 <[e-mail]> 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 <[e-mail]> 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 <[e-mail]> A brand name for which you
    can search is: WADDINGTONS Number 1 Playing Cards - Superior
    Quality - Linen Finish.


    Thanks: Elisa Carlos <[e-mail]>

--
Barry D. Benowitz - FAQ maintainer for alt.lefthanders
Email:[e-mail]
Phone:[phone] x354
Snail:Axiom Inc, 351 New Albany Rd, Moorestown, NJ, 08057-1177