Hi all,
On Sun, 26 Dec 1998, janet paterson wrote:
> ...
> >* I will use the carriage-return frequently and guarantee that no lines
> > in any message I send will be longer than 80 characters.
>
> hmmm
> i use the 'carriage-return' [aka the 'return' key] all the time
> for my 'style of writing'
> but otherwise i have my 'eudora light' e-mail software set
> so that there are no return commands embedded in the text
> thus ensuring [i hope] that the receiver's settings
> as to line width will take precedence -
> i may be right or wrong here -
> i arrived at this conclusion by guess and by golly
> due to lack of de-geeked instructions
>
> quick nerd question: where does the term 'carriage-return' originate?
> ...
The reason for this (and other) guidelines that I use is that
the lowest common denominator for all Internet e-mail programs is
a 24 line by 80 character ASCII text window. Now, I know that
there are all kinds of "better" ways of sending, receiving, and
displaying messages across the Internet, but if this guideline is
followed, then it is guaranteed that *anybody* can read it.
But, I really wanted to address the "nerd" question ... :-)
The term "carriage return" dates back to the days of manual
typewriters. The "carriage" was the part of the typewriter that
you rolled the paper into and moved back and forth for typing
characters on the paper. A "carriage return" often involved man-
ually pushing a lever that advanced the paper (actually rolled
the carriage) and at the same time could be used to push the car-
riage back to the left side of the paper.
When electric typewriters started becoming popular, there was
a "carriage return" key which accomplished the same task electri-
cally with no manual intervention necessary.
Now you see why I don't post often ... ;-) what probably could
have been said in four or five words I took four or five para-
graphs to explain. ;-) It's a curse, I tell you a curse! ;-) I
can never explain things in a few words -- I have to explain
things in excruciating detail (not to mention using the biggest
words I can find ;-) ).
We now return you to your regularly scheduled Parkinson's
chat. May you always grok in fullness ...
Bill--
...who heard a wise man say "Never play leapfrog with a Unicorn."
(42) __,
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