More OT stuff: Keyboard fun w/words

[Kibitzer]

Rather than fill up the Boneyard with yet more talk about that other board, let's have some fun with words.

Most people know that all ten letters to type TYPEWRITER are on the top line of our keyboards (plus a "q" and a "u"). A couple other words you can type using only that top line are REPERTOIRE and PROPRIETOR. (If you know any others, at least eight characters, speak up.)

Some long words can be typed using only the left hand: DESEGREGATE, STEWARDESS, and SWEATER DRESSES.

Still others can be typed using only the right hand: MINIMUM, PUMPKIN, and LOLLIPOP.

While we are at it, I know of only two words that contain all vowels (A, E, I, O, and U) in sequence: FACETIOUS and ABSTEMIOUS. (You could add -LY to either include the "Y.")

One word with five consecutive vowels: QUEUEING.

And one (longest I know of) 15-letter word with no letters repeated: UNCOPYRIGHTABLE.

Hang in there, fellow 'Yarders, only about 130 days until we can sit on the Gampel bench seats once again!

 

[meyers7]

All the words I use can be typed using two fingers.

 

[Bestiarius]

Most people know that all ten letters to type TYPEWRITER are on the top line of our keyboards

Supposedly done to make it easier for early typewriter salesmen to type that word when demonstrating this wonderful new invention.

 

[Kibitzer]

Supposedly done to make it easier for early typewriter salesmen to type that word when demonstrating this wonderful new invention.

Now you've got me thinking about typewriter keys and sports, and I recall one of the finest pieces ever writen by Red Smith, still arguably the greatest sportswriter of all.

The piece was Red's account of one of the most remarkable baseball games ever played. Permit just a couple quotes:

"At the risk of shattering this gazette's reputation for probity, readers are asked to believe these things happened at Ebbetts Field.

"After 136 pitches, Floyd Bevens, of the Yankees, had the only no-hit ball game ever played in a World Series. But he threw 137 and lost, 3 to 2.

"With two out in the ninth inning, a preposterously untidy box score allowed one run for the Dodgers, no hits, ten bases on balls, seven men left on base, and there were two more aboard waiting to be left. There still are two out in the ninth."

[Skipping ahead.]

"And finally, [Yankees manager] Bucky Harris. . . violated all ten commandments of the dugout by ordering Bevens to put the winning run on base. . . . Lavagetto. . . then demonstrated why this maneuver is forbidden in the managers' guild. Cookie hit the fence."

[At this point, Gionfriddo and Miksis scored, Bevens' no-hitter was ruined and Dodgers miraculously won, 3-2.]

"Dodgers pummeled Lavagetto, Gionfriddo and Miksis pummeled each other. Cops pummeled Lavagetto. Ushers pummeled Lavagetto. Ushers pummeled one another. In the tangle, Bevens could not be seen.

"The unhappiest man in Brooklyn is sitting up here now in the far end of the press box. The 'V' on his typewriter is broken. He can't write either Lavagetto or Bevens."

- Red Smith. October 4, 1947.