White House leans again to the left(ies)

Christina, Union NJ — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:54:45 GMT

Hmmmm. The article states that the odds of two right-handed parents having a left-handed child is about 9.5% and that men are slightly more likely to be left-handed than women. My parents, both righties, have THREE left-handed daughters!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Joanna, Emmett, Idaho — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:55:12 GMT

I am left handed and proud of it. I see that I am in good company. Left handed people adapt to situations quickly because we live in a right handed dominate world. I am amused when a right hander uses my computer and is totally baffled by my left handed computer mouse.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Joanna, Emmett, Idaho — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:55:49 GMT

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Dave Gosslee, Mt. Juliet, Tennessee — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:00:46 GMT

My wife is left handed which gives us some advantages, for example, we can hold hands and still eat dinner. But obviously since she married me this clearly shows left handers have excellent judgement.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Kristina, Massachusetts — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:04:39 GMT

Does the bible really say the left is bad? Well I guess we better start persecuting the lefties then...

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Paul Vanatta, Tucson, Arizona — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:07:09 GMT

Also note that "sinister" comes from the Latin "sinistra", which means left; "ambidextrous" has its root in "dextra", or right ("both right hands").

White House leans again to the left(ies)

WV — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:09:07 GMT

I've always swore that the most intelligent people I've known are lefties - my favorite math and grad school professors, for example. Alas, I'm a rightie, so please excuse any typos or incoherent thoughts!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Mike Mc, Seattle, Wash. — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:13:41 GMT

There is no real mystery here.. Lefties are witches!!!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Bob R, Tuxedo, NY — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:16:53 GMT

Being a "South paw" I appreciate the vindication of my handedness. I've always looked at the world from a different perspective and after reading this, understand I'm in good (not sinister) company. Thank you.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

n mcgregor — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:17:02 GMT

power to the lefties!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Glenn M, Ephrata, WA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:32:12 GMT

I have five children, three boys who are left handed and two daughters who are right. My mom informs me I was going to be left handed when I was a little tyke, but my dad did not want that so he changed me to be right handed, but I am not ambidextrous.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Ron F. Phila, Pa. — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:39:44 GMT

It's simple "LEFTIES RULE" I write, eat and play drums left handed. Play ALL sports right handed (also, if I played guitar IT WOULD BE RIGHT HANDED).....Use tools (hammers, saws, etc)with both hands. WHAT'S UP WITH THAT!!!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Joe Musick Gurnee, IL — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:58:41 GMT

I’m a leftie and I think the greatest advantage is that living in a rightie world, we’re forced to do things right-handed. This makes lefties more adept at using their right hand than a rightie is at using his left. Also, baseball teams are always looking for left-handed hitting. I’m ready if anyone needs me.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Elena Trumbull, CT — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:03:17 GMT

Hey Christina from NJ! My parents were both right handed and had 3 lefty daughters too. The legend goes that actually 4 out of the 5 of us were lefties but one of my sisters was switched by our "off the boat" great grandmother. I am proud to be a lefty and have a habit of noticing other people who are as well. Though unlike a previous comment, I can use my right hand to work my mouse and even use my can opener. Just because I am left handed doesn't mean I lack all use of my right hand.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Ronald, MI — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:10:54 GMT

I had a teacher in first grade who would smack my hand if she noticed me writing with my left hand. Whatever, I'm still left handed and racking up the points on my physics degree. The advantage we hold over righties is not even fair!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Bob Schwochow, Woodville, Ohio — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:13:26 GMT

That only applies to females; therefore, I must be a warlock according to your capitulating deduction.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Silvio Tempe AZ — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:13:46 GMT

my daughter is left handed and both her mother and I are right-handed. I find it adorable that she writes with her left.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Glenn Lurie, Lawrenceville, New Jersey — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:17:21 GMT

I'm finally in lefty - heaven...My wife bought me a left-handed planner for 2009 - it's really convenient; plus it cites famous (or infamous) lefties throughout history.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

life republiccan california — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:19:26 GMT

White House leans again to the left(ies)

GN, Landenberg, PA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:19:47 GMT

It was the first thing I noticed last night on the news - that Obama is left-handed.
Our family also beats the odds - with one parent left-handed and two out of three kids left-handed - well above the 10% mark. In grad school - 6 out of 8 grad students in our office were left-handed.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

life republiccan california — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:20:44 GMT

White House leans again to the left(ies)

manny johnson — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:22:04 GMT

i am lefty and i am also proud of it....even if i am not there is nothing i can do about it

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Diana Owens, Tacoma, Wash. — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:27:16 GMT

It is interesting how we find ways to differentiate ourselves. I think most of the difference are created by our perceptions. I kn't there should be a value put on which is better or more creative, intelligent, ect. When I first read this ad, it gave the impression that the President was moving more toward so called lefist idealogy, and policies. Which would have been divisive, and pollorizing. I was glad it didn't have this type of substance. However, I do think the aricle, is interesting but no news, just some trivial.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Pam Campos — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:31:58 GMT

What about Bill Clinton? Did you leave him out? He's a leftie Prez, too!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Susan Moore, Florida — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:35:53 GMT

My exhusband was a leftie and my current husband is a leftie. Very strange.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Jennifer, Portland OR — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:36:58 GMT

To answer Geschwinds question, left-handedness offers the same survival advantages as being gay - little to none - its just something that happens. The human body has a genetic blueprint that builds whatever it has, and if something goes wrong in the phenotype, nature doesn't judge or care.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Paul Ezelle, Exeter, CA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:38:08 GMT

Why was JFK not listed with the lefties? I'm relatively sure that he was left-handed.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Karen, Anaheim, CA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:39:00 GMT

My son is left-handed. When he was about 18 months old, I noticed he always kicked a ball with his left foot. I thought "Hmmm....I wonder if he's going to be left-handed." I didn't think it would happen since both his dad and I are right-handed, but it did. I agree that lefties are special. Makes me wish I was left-handed! Is it too late to change?

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Glenda Stansbury Oklahoma City OK — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:40:10 GMT

My parents, too, were both righties and they had 4 daughters--2 were lefties, including myself. My first grade teacher tried to get me to change to the right hand and, while it did not scar me for life, it did give me the advantage of learning how to be ambidextrious so I can play sports, cut and eat with my right hand while writing with my left.
I was thrilled to see that Pres Obama has that same "upside down and backwards" writing style that we lefties have been so ridiculed for.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Kat L, Minneapolis, MN — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:42:29 GMT

Ironic. I'm a righty, although I have a little more handedness-flexibility than some, but for years, my favorite family member, best girl friend and boyfriend were all left handed.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Bonita, Charlotte, NC — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:47:46 GMT

I love being left-handed. My parents tried to make me right-handed as a child because they felt there was something wrong with it, but I was not having it. They almost made me ambidextrious (spelling) because I do as much with my right hand as I do my left.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

jdoye@msnbc.com): — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:47:58 GMT

Lefties are kinda like shorties... Needing to prove something...

White House leans again to the left(ies)

sally , indianapolis indiana — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:49:16 GMT

On the science channel I saw a program that stated children that are left handed a certain percentage were going to be a twin. In the womb one egg comsumed the other thus single birth.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Winwenia, Nashville, TN — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:50:09 GMT

Both my parents were right handed people and they had 6 children and every other one was left handed. My father's sister was left handed so many he had the recessive gene. You can always see a true left handed person because they make their check mark backwards.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Deanna, Cranbury, NJ — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:52:19 GMT

My husband and I are both left-handed, and proud of it. Both of us have right-handed parents and siblings, and both of our children are right handed. We had to have a rightie teach our daughter how to tie her shoes, since we both do it 'backwards.'

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Jessica, Reno, NV — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:52:20 GMT

Great article. I am left handed and proud, I always notice other lefties too. Although I am not creative I believe my mind thinks differently than that of right handed people.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Randee Papush, Atlanta, GA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:55:01 GMT

What is the reason that liberal thinking is referred to as leftist and more conservative leanings to the right?

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Rhonda, Gastonia,NC — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:56:02 GMT

"If you can't do it right then do it left" I'm a lefty also we tend to be very resouceful individuals.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

A reader, West Coast. — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:56:12 GMT

Through implication, the Bible says the left is bad. That is the direction to which the goats were separated for eternal punishment, whereas the sheep went to the right for eternal life (Matthew 25:31-46).

White House leans again to the left(ies)

MM, Minnesota — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:04:28 GMT

Two of our 3 children are left handed, and both my husband and I are right-handed. Really unusual I think... One child is a pianist and CPA and the other a vet and wonderful writer.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Dave, Wichita, Ks — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:08:08 GMT

Being left-handed myself, I always wanted to meet a left-handed female to see what was possible or different....but it never happened. Oh well....

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Dave, Wichita, Ks — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:08:59 GMT

Being left-handed myself, I always wanted to meet a left-handed female to see what was possible or different....but it never happened. Oh well....

White House leans again to the left(ies)

JC Sonnier — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:09:23 GMT

Left-Handed U.S. Presidents
James A. Garfield (1831-1881) 20th
Herbert Hoover (1874-1964) 31st
Harry S. Truman (1884-1972) 33rd
Gerald Ford (1913- ) 38th
Ronald Reagan (1911 - ) 40th
George H.W. Bush (1924- ) 41st
Bill Clinton (1946- ) 42nd

Left-Handed U.S. Politicos
Senator Bill Bradley, Rhodes scholar, basketball star
McGeorge Bundy, presidential advisor
Benjamin Franklin, statesman/publisher/scientist
Steve Forbes, businessman/publisher
Jean-Marc Froidevaux ?, Suiss politician
Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Supreme Court Justice
Senator Daniel Inouye
Anthony Kennedy, Supreme Court Justice
Brigadier Gen. Lee Hsien Loon, Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore
Robert S. McNamara, Secretary of Defense
Col. Oliver North, White House aid
H. Ross Perot, businessman
William Perry, Secretary of Defense
Nelson Rockefeller, Vice President
Senator Hugh Scott
Robert Wagner, New York mayor
Henry Wallace, Vice President
[Senator Bob Dole - switched to left due to injury]

Miscellaneous Left-Handers
Joan of Arc (?), French heroine
Lloque Yapanqui (?), Inca monarch
Ramses II (?), Egyptian pharaoh
Tiberius (?), Roman emperor
Alexander the Great
Charlemagne, Holy Roman emperor
Julius Caesar, Roman general
Napoléon Bonaparte (?), French emperor
Josephine de Beauharnais
King Louis XVI of France
Queen Victoria of England
King George II of England
King George VI of England
Prince Charles of England
Prince William of England
Fidel Castro, Cuban leader
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli prime-minister
Nicole d'Oresme, mathematician
Henry Ford, automobile manufacturer
David Rockefeller, banker
Dwight F. Davis, founder of the Davis Cup in tennis
Helen Keller, advocate for the blind
Dr. Albert Schweitzer, physician/missionary
August Piccard, inventor of stratosphere, bathosphere
Edwin Buzz Aldrin, astronaut
Wally Schirra, astronaut
Dr. Mark Silver, surgeon
Paul Prudhomme, chef
Cecil Beaton, photographer/costume designer
Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scouts (ambidexterous)
Dave Barry, journalist
Edward R. Murrow, correspondent
Ted Koppel, journalist
Forrest Sawyer, journalist
Ray Suarez, journalist
John F. Kennedy, Jr., lawyer/publisher
Caroline Kennedy, lawyer/author
Ron Reagan, son of Ronald Reagan
Vin Scully, sports broadcaster
David Letterman (?), host
Jay Leno, host
Lenny Bruce, comedian
Allen Ludden, host
Joel Hodgson, host of Mystery Science Theater 3000
Wink Martindale, game show host
Uri Geller, psychokinetic performer
Richard Simmons, exercise guru
Euell Gibbons, naturalist
Marie Dionne, one of the Dionne quintuplets
General H. Norman Schwarzkopf
Clarence Darrow, lawyer
F. Lee Bailey, lawyer
Melvin Belli, lawyer
Marcia Clark, lawyer
Alan Funt, television producer
Milt Caniff, cartoonist
Bill Mauldin, cartoonist
Cathy Guisevite, cartoonist
Matt Groening, cartoonist
Jean Plantureux (Plantu), political cartoonist
Pat Oliphand, political cartoonist Ronald Searle, cartoonist
Pat Robertson, evangelist/politician
N.B. Forrest, Confederate general
John Dillinger, criminal/bank robber
Boston Strangler (Albert Henry DeSalvo), serial killer
Jack-the-Ripper, serial killer
John Wesley Hardin, Western gunslinger
Bart Simpson, cartoon character
[King Edward III of England, due to stroke]

Left-Handed Authors
James Baldwin, novelist
Bet Bowen, horror novelist
Peter Benchley, novelist
Lewis Carroll
Richard Condon, novelist
Jean Genet
Marshall McLuhan
Diane Paul
Helen Hooven Santmyer, novelist
Viktoria Stefanov
Mark Twain, novelist
Samuel C. Warner (?), poet
H.G. Wells
Jessamyn West
Eudora Welty, see One Writer's Beginnings (1983:27)
[Thomas Carlyle - switched to left due to injury]

Left-Handed Musicians
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, composer
David Byrne (Talking Heads)
Glen Campbell
Vicki Carr
Natale Cole
Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)
Phil Collins (Genesis)
Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins)
Dick Dale (guitarist)
Don Everly (The Everly Brothers)
Phil Everly (The Everly Brothers)
Bela Fleck, jazz musician
Glenn Frey (the Eagles)
Eric Gale, guitarist
Noel Gallagher (Oasis) (?)
Errol Garner, jazz pianist
Judy Garland
Crysal Gayle
Kevin Griffin, guitarist & lead singer (Better than Ezra)
Thomas Hedley, vocalist/musician
Jimi Hendrix
Isaac Hayes
Tony Iommi, guitarist (Black Sabbath)
Albert King, guitarist
Melissa Manchester
Chuck Mangione, trumpet
Martina McBride ?, country music singer
Paul McCartney (the Beatles; Wings)
Christie Marie Melonson (opera)
George Michael (Wham!)
Peter Nero, conductor
Joe Perry ? (Aerosmith)
Robert Plant (Led Zepplin)
Cole Porter, song-writer
Sergei Rachmaninoff ?, composer
Maurice Ravel ?, composer
Lou Rawls
John Lydon a.k.a. Johnny Rotten (Sex Pistols / Public Image Ltd.)
Rich Szabo, trumpeter
Seal
Ringo Starr (?) (the Beatles)
Paul Simon (Simon & Garfunkel)
Tiny Tim
Rudy Valee
Lenny White, drummer
Paul Williams, song-writer

Left-Handed Artists
Albrecht Dürer
M.C. Escher
Hans Holbein
Paul Klee
Michelangelo
LeRoy Neiman
Raphael
Leonardo da Vinci (RH paralyzed?)

Left-Handed Actors
Don Adams
Dan Aykroyd
Eddie Albert
Tim Allen
June Allyson
Harry Anderson
Amitabh Bachchan, Indian actor
Herschel Bernardi
Robert Blake
Matthew Broderick
Bruce Boxleitner
Carol Burnett
George Burns, comedian
Ruth Buzzi, comedienne
Sid Caesar, comedian
Keith Carradine
Khaled Chahrour, Egyptian actor
Charlie Chaplin
George Gobel, comedian
Chuck Conners
Hans Conreid
James Cromwell
Tom Cruise
Quinn Cummings
Daniel Davis
Bruce Davison
Matt Dillon
Marty Engles, comedian
Olivia de Havilland
Robert DeNiro
Michael Dorn
Fran Drescher, comedian
Richard Dreyfuss
W.C. Fields
Larry Fine ? (of the Three Stooges)
Peter Fonda
Greta Garbo
Terri Garr
Paul Michael Glaser
Whoopie Goldberg
Betty Grable
Cary Grant
Peter Graves
Mark Hamill
Rex Harrison
Goldie Hawn
Joey Heatherton
Tippi Hedren
Jim Henson, puppetteer
Kermit the Frog
Rock Hudson
Angelina Jolie
Shirley Jones ?
Gabe Kaplan
Danny Kaye
Diane Keaton
George Kennedy
Nicole Kidman
Lisa Kudrow
Michael Landon
Hope Lange
Joey Lawrence
Peter Lawford
Cloris Leachman
Hal Linden
Cleavon Little
Shirley MacLaine
Andrew McCarthy
Kristy McNichol
Steve McQueen
Howie Mandel, comedian
Marcel Marceau, mime
Harpo Marx
Marsha Mason
Mary Stuart Masterson
Anne Meara, comedian
Sasha Mitchell
Marilyn Monroe
Robert Morse
Anthony Newley
Kim Novak
Ryan O'Neal
Sarah Jessica Parker
Estelle Parsons
Anthony Perkins
Ron Perlman
Luke Perry
Bronson Pinchot
Joe Piscopo, comedian
Robert Preston
Michael J. Pollard
Richard Pryor, comedian
Robert Redford
Keanu Reeves
Don Rickles, comedian
Julia Roberts
Mickey Rourke
Eva Marie Saint
Telly Savalas
Jean Seberg
Jerry Seinfeld, comedian
Christian Slater
Dick Smothers, comedian
Brent Spiner
Slyvester Stallone ?
Terence Stamp
Jessica Steen
Rod Steiger
Alan Thicke
Terry Thomas, comedian
Emma Thompson
Rip Torn
Peter Ustinov
Brenda Vaccaro
Karen Valentine
Rudy Vallee
Dick Van Dyke
Graham Walker a.k.a. Grumbleweeds, English comedian
Wil Wheaton
James Whitmore
Treat Williams
Bruce Willis
William Windom
Oprah Winfrey
Mare Winningham
Joanne Woodward
Keenan Wynn
Stephanie Zimbalist

and me ...

White House leans again to the left(ies)

E Ruffner — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:16:26 GMT

The question to me would seem to be not "why has left-handedness has stayed around" but why isn't there more left-handedness. Seems to me all things being equal it should be about 50-50.
Oh and I'm a righty - in both regards.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Annie, Massachusetts — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:17:47 GMT

I am a lefty. Both of my parents were right-handed. They had 6 children - 3 right handed and 3 left handed with every other child left handed. What's even more trivial is that the 3 right handed children are named Peter, Paul & Mary.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

E Ruffner — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:19:49 GMT

The question to me would seem to be not "why has left-handedness stayed around" but why isn't there more left-handedness. Seems to me all things being equal, it should be about 50-50.
Oh, and I'm a righty - in both regards.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Brandy, GA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:21:48 GMT

My 10 year old son is left handed. His father and I are both right handed. I agree that left-handers have some intellectual advantages. He was speaking full sentences before he was one. He is now a straight "A" student and is in every "gifted" program available. He excels in ALL sports and thinks very deep.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Jeff D., Atlanta, GA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:23:10 GMT

Like Karen from Anaheim, one our three children is left handed, coming from two right handed parents, a total surprise to us. He's very special, thinks totally "out of the box" and is very artistically talented. While we "righties" do well in life, I agree, the "lefties" raise the bar to a whole other level. It's therefore not surprising that our new President is a lefty, he's totally special and on another level.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

sdbrat rapid city sd — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:23:13 GMT

I work on a military base in a civil engineering squadron and it seems that the majority of the engineers (a good 80% or so) are lefties, which kind of poo-poos the idea of the artistic/musical angle.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Liz, Anaheim Hills, CA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:27:09 GMT

note President Obama has the left-handed hook, writing with the left hand hooked over, (my dad had the same hook, rest his soul). I'm a 3rd generation lefty, and was taught to write without hooking my hand (and have only printed ever since).

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Teri, Pittsburgh PA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:29:35 GMT

I am a leftie, my husband is a rightie. Our daughter is a rightie, but our identical twins are split--one's a leftie, one's a rightie. Interesting! I was beginning to feel a bit outnumbered til they were born....

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Sam Huddleston — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:32:19 GMT

I also noticed that President Obama writes as I do, with his hand (left) above the line being written. As to why I do that, I attributed it to the fact that my teachers in grade school attempted to get me to write 'right' handed but when they were not watching, I switched to my left hand causing the paper to be turned wrong from my left hand, thus, my hand is above the line. Since President Obama is of a generation that does not attempt to make people write 'right' handed, I'm sure this not the reason he writes with his left hand above the line being written.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Dan, Chicago, IL — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:33:31 GMT

"Out of left field" refers to a place you wouldn't have wanted to be when Babe Ruth was playing, because he was in right field. It has nothing to do with handedness.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Bill Cochran, Lafayette, IN — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:37:10 GMT

We needed a new pair of scissors at home. I found a pair of left-handed ones and bought them. I told my wife that I hope she is as good at using them as I have been using her right-handed scissors!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Roger, Denver — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:40:47 GMT

Being left-handed, I find it interesting that the term for left-handedness, sinistrality, has the same root as sinister, perhaps there were too many righties coming up with such a term. And why is it if you can't dance, or are uncoordinated, it is said that you have two left feet? When I turn that around to say two right feet, meaning the same thing, most people have
no idea what I'm talking about. Having two left feet to me would seem like a good thing.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Lisa — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:43:33 GMT

Isn't Bill Clinton left handed?

White House leans again to the left(ies)

BJB Fond du Lac, WI — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:50:30 GMT

Both of my parents where right handed. My father was one of those people who thought I should be right handed and tried to change me. That is until I started to say, "My name, My name, My name" when asked who I was. My mother put a stop to the attempt to change me from left to right handed. The world is still slanted toward right handers, and every so often I find another thing that makes being left-handed more difficult. i.e. the way necklaces are strung, can openers, railings on stairs, and the like.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Ellen Smith Columbus Ohio — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:51:25 GMT

I use both hands to write with and do house work with my lift more then my right. Both my Sons do both hands also.My Sons are 35yrs and 38yrs.Nothing wrong with us.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

David Dee — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:53:12 GMT

...and don't forget Ned Flander's Leftorium

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Chris Bart, Arvada, CO — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:53:51 GMT

For years, I've been saying that I'm ambisinistrous, because lefties are not right, they're better!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Gretta, Alabama — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:55:23 GMT

As a left-hander, I was so excited when my second child indicated that he too was going to be left handed. I noticed in law school that in a small class of 20 students, HALF were left-handed. Maybe that's why lefties get a bad rap - so many of them are lawyers! Which is probably why so many presidents are left handed.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

lee, fredericksburg, va — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:56:22 GMT

I can use both hands except for writing, never practiced.I think to develop both side of your brain
by using both ends on various task makes for a larger brain web of neurons connections, in turn that help cognitive,strategic and spatial abilities that helps the being to have wider perspective of the world and is able to synthesize at a higher speed and accuracy.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

lefty in her right mind — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:56:58 GMT

everyone is born right handed. only the GREAT ones overcome it!!! :o)

White House leans again to the left(ies)

PAB, St. Petersburg, FL — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:57:20 GMT

Very interesting. So where does that leave us ambidextrous ones? I grew up writing mostly with my right hand, but can almost as easily write with my left. I do so much with my left that many people assume I am a soutpaw. Turns out when I was little my parents and teachers forced me to write with my right hand. Actually I have found it to be very useful-especially when cutting in while painting a room. It makes the job alot easier!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Colorado — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:57:57 GMT

My ex-hubby and I (both left handed) had 2 children together....One left handed, one right handed.

I'm sure that stats are a national average, not a family average.

For the person wondering about Bill Clinton, read the article again...you missed something.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

AndyReno — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:58:13 GMT

I don t approve of your banner, White House leans to the left, such a minor thing at a historic time. I am a liflong died in the wool Republican and I greatly like what President Obama has done so far.
life republiccan california (Thursday, January 22, 2009 11:19 AM)
_________________________________________________He hasn't done anything yet, of what do you speak of "life republican"(which I high doubt)

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Lupe, Los Angeles, Calif. — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:02:54 GMT

I too am proud to be a lefty. I think we are very special, and now I'm sure with Prez. Obama in Office.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Lynnette Athol Id — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:04:20 GMT

my sister is left handed and her twin brother is right handed and the rest of the siblings are right handed.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Mike B., Richmond, Va. — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:06:26 GMT

Ronald Reagan was right-handed.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Robin, Columbia, SC — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:08:13 GMT

I, too, am left-handed - and I love it! Interestingly, though, I iron, bat, shoot (I am in law enforcement), and use my computer mouse with my right hand. To try to write or eat right-handed doesn't work, though. I remember my second grade teacher actually letting me write on the back of spiral notebook pages, because the spiral hurt my hand and made writing awkward. I loved her for it and have never forgotten her (I'm now 47, so that was quite a few years ago). Just one generation ahead of me, though, my uncle was forced to learn everything right-handed.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Amanda, Minneapolis, MN — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:09:25 GMT

I've been wondering if my 2-1/2yo will be left handed since he started eating with his left hand at 9 months old. Now, he kicks a ball, colors and draws and continues to eat with the left. Very little doubt now that he's left handed.

He also has above average language skills and is displaying some early aptitude for sports...hmmm, makes me wonder.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Susi - Scottsdale, AZ — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:12:04 GMT

I always thought that lefties were smarter. In the days of Phareses who were the only ones who could right - they developed languages that wrote from left to right; i.e Hebrew, Aramaic. When the masses learned to write, the written word switched the other way. Makes you wonder!!

My father was left handed and was of the era that made their chilkdren write w/ their right hand. Although, he did everything else left handed. The only descendent that is left handed is one grand-daughter out of 4 grandchildren.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Floretta, Auburn NY — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:14:37 GMT

We had mixed parents (rightie Dad and leftie Mom) who produced nine kids, 5 of whom are left-handed. My husband is also left-handed but our two kids are righties, though we did think our son might turn out ambidextrous. I had a left-handed college roommate, obstetrician, and numerous acquaintances. For us, left is the norm.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Mike, Wheaton,Ill — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:14:38 GMT

My wife and I are both left handed and all 4 of our children are also, what are the odds of that?

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Alan Sharples, Jonesboro,Georgia — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:14:48 GMT

Good article, but I didn't care for the statement about lefties "preferring" their left hand, as though it is a "lifestyle choice". It isn't, its orientation.
BTW, while my father is right-handed, my mother, brother and I are left-handed, and I like the distinction of having a trait that sets me apart from most people.
I joke with righties that lefties belong to a higher class of people!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Helen, Pepin, WI — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:15:44 GMT

2 sons, one fully left-handed, one left-handed for writing and eating only, 2 different fathers. No lefties that I can find in my family and none in their fathers' families. This subject fascinates me.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Emm. Anchorage, Alaska — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:16:21 GMT

Gee whiz, folks; it's six of one, half-dozen of the other. Either, or. No mystery.
My daughters and I are righties; my son and his father are lefties. We're all functional, creative, smart and talented people.
Where's the story, here?

White House leans again to the left(ies)

brian.kerrigan@msn.com — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:17:49 GMT

my next wife will probably be a lefty.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

RN, Chicago, IL — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:19:03 GMT

Everyone in my family is right-handed....parents, grandparents, siblings....except me. Proud to be a Lefty!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Lisa, Clinton, NJ — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:20:47 GMT

My husband and I are both left-handed and come from multi-lefty families. Both of our children are righties, to our surprise. Maybe all of our grandchildren will be lefties. We can be the ones to teach them how to tie their shoes!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Gillian, New York — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:23:10 GMT

I went to MIT as an undergrad -- 10 of us were sitting around a table eating lunch and we decided to see who was left-handed. 9 of us were.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Karen Banta, Ponca City, OK — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:23:55 GMT

I am left handed, my twin sister is left handed, our husbands are left handed, our oldest children are both right handed and our youngest children are both left handed. Go figure!!!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Karla, Apex NC — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:28:58 GMT

Our 13 year old daughter is a lefty. My husband and I are both right handed and no one as far back in our family tree as we can go has ever been a lefty. She started showing signs shortly after she was born.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Christi, Niceville FL — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:31:14 GMT

I have an interesting if un-scientific observation...I know or have known a number of dyslexic folks....all of them were lefties is there a correlation?

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Elizabeth, Scarborough, ME — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:32:26 GMT

My husband and I are both righties and we have one son, a lefty. Yet I hang my clothes and use my computer mouse the same as a lefty? What gives?

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Bea — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:33:04 GMT

I'm feeling pretty special after reading that article. My parents are both righties and of 3 children, I'm the only lefty! We still have no idea why I was inclined to use my left but whatever the case, I'm a communications major and have played the piano since age 6, so there seems to be some merit in the article's content! However, I have absolutely no aspirations to be President. : )

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Maxxine Kurtzbein — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:34:40 GMT

Sorry to see that Obama learned to write incorrectly.. Not the left-handed thing, but the position of his hand. My father, many years ago went to my 1st grade teacher and said, "She is left-handed, she will turn her paper in a position for the left hand. Consequently, I dont' write as though my wrist were broken. Thanks Dad.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Erin, Gray Summit, Missouri — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:38:26 GMT

My husband is a lefty and I am an ambidextrous. Our daughter appears to be able to use both of her hands equally. When she draws she will use both hands. She tends to lean more on her right though. His family is full of lefties though, he has about 8 cousins and his sister are lefties. Both of his parents are righties. So I don't believe his family fits into the 10% rule at all.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

sekhar,marion,ia — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:38:30 GMT

Bill Clinton uses left hand !!!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Abe, Whittier CA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:39:41 GMT

I am an engineer working in the aerospace business. In my line of work I know enough lefties who are coworkers that I often find myself counting the number of lefties present in a staff or project meeting or in the lab. Including myself we run pretty close to 50% and in some cases, we have constituted a majority.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Scott, Minneapolis, MN — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:40:29 GMT

I had read an article about left-handed CEO's a few years back, It had commented that a large percentage of them were left-handed. After that I began to wonder why such a disproportioned amount of left-handed people had risen to such levels. As a lefty myself, I began to remember how I learned to do regular tasks, writing, using a scissors and such. Soon I realizing that I have to constantly adapt to my surroundings to be successful and that I have a willingness to attempt to complete tasks from a different angle. This in turn keeps my mind open to doing thing differently and analyzing issues from multiple perspectives on a constant basis. With all that said, “GO LEFTIES!!”

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Barb, Albuquerque,, NM — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:43:14 GMT

My ex-husband and I are righties and my daughter is a leftie. My brother and his wife are righties and all three of their kids are lefties. My sister and her husband are righties and 2 od their four children are lefties. And my other brother and his wife are righties and one of their two children is a leftie, and a political science degree holder! Maybe in a few years, we'll be voting for him!!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Nancy B, Wheaton, Illinois — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:44:45 GMT

When I was little (back in the 1960s) I wanted to be left-handed just to be different in school, so I prayed and prayed for God to make me left-handed. Well He didn't make ME a lefty but years later He gave me a left-handed son, who is bright, insightful, intelligent, compassionate, and leans toward being a born leader. He both support President Obama, so all the good traits aren't exclusive of lefties!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Kate, Wichita, KS — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:47:32 GMT

I love that so many Presidents, including Mr. Obama are left-handed! My mother was one of those that was forced to use her right hand instead of her left; I am left-handed and my brother is ambidextrous; our right-handed father is very proud of us! Alas, my sons are righties, but I'm hoping for a left-handed grandchild one day!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Erica, Philadelphia, PA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:49:08 GMT

We have learned to adjust in a right-handed world, so it's only natural we adapt to a lot of things. Left handed and proud of it!!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Jason, Omaha, NE — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:50:35 GMT

My mother was a righty and my father was a lefty. They had five kids and I'm the only one that's left-handed.

I think one thing with leftie's is, as in my case, growing up you learn how to do a lot of things from a right-handed perspective as well as left-handed. When you're already right-handed, living in a right-handed dominated society, you only learn the right-handed perspective. Makes you think twice as much which I guess could end up being some kind of advantage. Or cause you to overthink which could be considered a disadvantage sometimes.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Scot Childress, Dallas, TX — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:51:47 GMT

regarding the Biblical reference...

it seems that most ancient middle eastern cultures considered the left hand dirty because, well, it was...this was the hand primarily used when wiping one's behind. Eating on the other hand used the right hand.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

June, Danbury, CT — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:53:33 GMT

My parents, both righties, have two left handed daughters and two right handed sons. And grandma on dad's side was ambidextrous!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

dragoncane, Illinois — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:55:10 GMT

There are still instances of teachers "forcing" children to use their right hand over their left. One of those instances is my 10 year old son. In pre-school, he would color with either hand, depending on what side of the table the crayon was on. The teachers told me he had to pick one or the other. I argued because isn't advantageous to be able to use both? They didn't think so. So, I picked left, because he was dominant left in my opinion. He held his fork with his left hand, he picked up toys with his left hand, etc. But, the teachers disagreed and picked his right. Not a whole lot I could do to stop them unless I took him out of school, which was/is not an option. He's now 10, eats with either hand, but uses a knife with his left, spoons with his left, bats with his left and has horrid handwriting (with his right). So, every conference I've had since, when the teacher says, his handwritting is unacceptable, I say, then you might want to go down the hall to the pre-school and discuss that with them. His handwriting is never mentioned again until the next year with a new teacher.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Gary, Pittsburgh, PS — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:56:40 GMT

Lefties have shorter life spans and a much higher than average rate of accidents. Perhaps it is because the righties have all the benefits and we are forced to make do..

White House leans again to the left(ies)

harry groome arlington, ma — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:57:21 GMT

i am a lefty and my elementary teachers tried to get me "to switch" by tying my left hand to my chair. this ended when my parents (both righties) found out. additionally, i was forced to sit at a righty desk, use righty scissors, and was graded on penmanship which as all lefties know is not one of our strengths. i survived and am stronger for it.
i am confident that obama is going to use both his left and right to get the job done.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Marisa, Austin, TX — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:59:14 GMT

My father is ambidextrous and writes mostly with his left hand. I am also ambidextrous and write mostly with my right hand. I wonder what that means.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

BayAreaHMFWIC, Calif — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:59:57 GMT

to "LifeRepublicanCalifornia" ...you can't possibly be a true "republican" unless you can spell it! haha (You like what BO has done so far?! Paleeeeeze! What exactly has he done in one day that gives you such joy?!!!!) (rhet.)

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Jessica, Columbus, OH — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:00:40 GMT

It's very interesting how the whole left- and right-handedness pans out in families. My maternal grandparents are both righties. The oldest and youngest of their three daughters are left-handed and both had right-handed children. The middle daughter who is right handed has a left-handed child. Go figure!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

DH, Bellevue Ky — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:04:03 GMT

I am the only lefty in my family of 5 brothers/sister. My parents and grandparents all write with their right hands. None of my three kids are lefties either. That was one thing I wanted to pass down to my kids. Maybe..grandchilden!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Michelle, Atlanta, GA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:04:17 GMT

I am left handed from two right-hand parents.I tie my shoe laces and bat (baseball/cricket) right-handed. They only girl with five brothers all right-handed.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

SSgt. USMC — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:04:44 GMT

In terms of hand to hand combat, or sport fighting for that matter, being left handed does have a slight advantage. Because most people are right handed, right handed defensive and offensive styles are taught in training, and most times defending against a left handed style is either overloked or its importance is not given where it's due. I'm a Marine, and being left handed has been too my advantage.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Janet Withrow, Cape Coral, FL — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:05:27 GMT

Both my son and daughter are lefties, while both parents are righties, so I guess we beat the odds as well. My son bats right handed, can catch with either, plays guitar like a righty and both my kids are very artistic, musically inclined and are very creative. Thanks for the article, I'm going to print it out and show them both that they could be the next leftie pres!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

bob snyder erie pa — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:07:06 GMT

left handed people are in their right mind

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Stefanie, Chicago, IL — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:07:23 GMT

Just an FYI, the phrase "out in left field" isn't really a lefty jab. It is reference to the Chicago Cubs field. Before the Cubs moved to Wrigley their field was where the University of Illinois College of Medicine now stands. The neuropsychiatric building was built where left field used to be. Hence someone out in left field is a not quite right in the head.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Linda Alexandria, Kentucky — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:09:04 GMT

I believe I was born left handed. When I was in school, my teachers encouraged me to use my right hand but I refused. I have beautiful penmanship, I have excelled in my career for 30 years and I am very creative in crafts and music. I'm soooo glad to be left handed. I knew our President was a very special guy, this just confirms it more for me.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Tonia Best, East Orange, NJ — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:09:21 GMT

I have two left-handed parents and I am left-handed. Although my mother was forced to write right-handed, she does everything else left-handed.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Robert, Fairfax, VA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:10:21 GMT

I am right-handed myself, but have been training myself to use both hands with equal frequency. This has been a necessity, since I have painful carpal tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome in my right arm.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

James McG, NY, NY — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:10:21 GMT

44 presidents. 1 in 10 are left handed. Do the math. No big conspiracy.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

FWHIK, PA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:10:47 GMT

This is a very interesting story and a well-worth time observation.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

BAC in WV — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:12:45 GMT

My parents were born in 1927. Both of them were left-handed until their teachers changed them to right-handers by forcing them to write with the right hand. I guess rulers across the knuckles will do that fairly quickly. My dad made a complete change, my mom did not. She writes with her right hand but eats with her left hand. My sister is right-handed. I am ambidexterous. It came in really handy when my babies were small. I could feed them and myself at the same time.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:13:45 GMT

LOVE IT. US LEFTIES WILL TAKE OVER THE WORLD!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Randall G. Hansen, Sturgis, South Dakota — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:14:42 GMT

I recently read an article that said a study completed at an university found that percentage wise left handed people had more individuals with IQa over 140 than right handed people.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

carol, Hightstown NJ — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:15:12 GMT

Lefties rule! I am lefthanded, my husband is a rightie. Despite the fact that we went to school together and have the same degree, we think entirely differently.....of course he is a man(LOL)

Interestingly, we have four children and three of them are left handed. The daughter in the middle who is our only rightie is the most like my husband in personality hhhhmmmmm!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Mike, Brooklyn, NY — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:15:22 GMT

I'm wondering if there is any research linking left-handedness with grandparents, not just parents

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Jim,Pleasanton,CA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:16:42 GMT

I'm a lefty for most things, but I do many other things righty and lefty both. Like computer mouse (right), use right hand for pliers, use either for hammer, golf left, bat both, throw left, kick left, eat left but use knife in right.Left eye dominant. ALL MESSED UP!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Ana Cubilla Khamo — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:17:56 GMT

My daughter Jasmine is a lefty, she is the most amazing daughter ever. She is creative, smart, a great cook, pretty and a happy young lady. She is also an amazing actress, yes I am the mom but this is something others have said to me about her. Everyday I thank God for her in my life. Lefties rock!!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Kathy, Roseville, CA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:18:23 GMT

Everyone is born right-handed; only the greatest overcome it.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Bill, Niceville, FL — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:18:43 GMT

I'm a leftie born of two righties. All three of my siblings are right handed as well. I write and eat left handed but everything else (sports, shooting, computer mouse) is done right handed. I guess it has to do with how one is taught as well.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Sheri-Minnesota — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:18:50 GMT

My son is right-handed, but dribbles a basketball predominantly left(although is almost equally adept), switch hits in baseball, and kicks with his left foot. Athletic scholarship recruiters may be interested in him some day! I just find it confusing..

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Mindy, FL — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:19:12 GMT

My moms left,dads right. Out of 2 boys and a girl only my one brother is a leftie like our mom.
I have identical twins but one is leftie and ones a rightie. Someone called them mirror twins.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Dix Hills, NY — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:19:15 GMT

I am left handed - and i have always beleved we were special people --; ) as noted in this piece Besides the US presidents stated here (Yes, Bill Clinton too)-- many other world leaders, artists and great minds thru the ages have been left-handed -and to those offended by the title od this piece -PLEASE --it was just in fun & to get your attention --which it did!) Light heart- fact bases and fun! All the best to all us "lefties" and much Good Luck & success to President Obama!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

steven wagner, Yorba Linda,Calif. — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:19:35 GMT

As Geschwind already knows unfortunately tested cognitive ability among lefthanders generally forms a binomial curve. I never let my right handed friends in on that fact. Better to let them think all lefties are on the upper curve.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Lefty Tom, NYC, NY — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:19:52 GMT

Well Mike Mc,

Based on your comment it's obvious what you've been vigorously doing with your right hand. Perhaps too much.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Amit, Atlanta, GA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:20:02 GMT

Thankfully, we do not see the Koran say that lefties are bad, had that been the case we all know what the consequence of that would have been in Radical Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia, Pakistan's Waziristan, etc!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Ms. Audrey, Atlanta,Georgia — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:20:50 GMT

I guess I have the best of both worlds....I eat(using a fork or spoon) with my left hand and I do everything with my right hand. Since I use a fork and/or spoon with my left hand I assumed that I could/would use chop sticks with my left hand as well but to my surprise I use my right hand for that. I found this out after practicing in vain to use them with my left hand and by
chance thought hmmm ....let me try using the chop sticks with my right hand and see what happens. Voila I learned just like that. I thought that was odd yet funny.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Noah Radnor, PA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:21:32 GMT

This article has a stunning amount of statistical misinformation. It ignores the fact that handedness like eye color is genetic. Lefthandedness is a recessive gene, two lefthanded parents would have 100% left handed children, just as two blue eyed parents (also a recessive gene) would have 100% blue eyed children. Is it interested that a disportional number of presidents are left handed ? yes. does it explain why ? no

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Greg, Columbus, Ohio — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:22:05 GMT

Here's an interesting story about a left-handed Biblical figure:

The Israelites were subject to Eglon king of Moab for eighteen years. Again the Israelites cried out to the LORD, and he gave them a deliverer—Ehud, a left-handed man, the son of Gera the Benjamite. The Israelites sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab. Now Ehud had made a double-edged sword about a foot and a half long, which he strapped to his right thigh under his clothing. He presented the tribute to Eglon king of Moab, who was a very fat man. After Ehud had presented the tribute, he sent on their way the men who had carried it. At the idols near Gilgal he himself turned back and said, "I have a secret message for you, O king." The king said, "Quiet!" And all his attendants left him. Ehud then approached him while he was sitting alone in the upper room of his summer palace and said, "I have a message from God for you." As the king rose from his seat, Ehud reached with his left hand, drew the sword from his right thigh and plunged it into the king's belly. Even the handle sank in after the blade, which came out his back. Ehud did not pull the sword out, and the fat closed in over it. Then Ehud went out to the porch; he shut the doors of the upper room behind him and locked them.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Jim Wasicek, Conway AR — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:22:59 GMT

The evidence is overwhelming. From now on the first question every presidential candidate should be asked is; Which hand do you write with?

White House leans again to the left(ies)

LD Bpt, CT — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:23:04 GMT

My parents had 3 children me being the only girl and I am left handed as my father. Also my own daughter is left handed to. I remember going to a catholic elementary school the nuns used to hit my left hand and tell me to write and eat with my right. Say the least I still write with my left, eat with my left. But I throw with my right, and can use the computer mouse on either side. When I was younger I also write with my right hand.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

ARN, Boston, MA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:23:21 GMT

It is said that 2 right handed parents have a 9% of having lefties? Well my parents bat that out of left field! 4 kids (2 girls 2 boys) both boys lefties. Way to go! As the desk plaque I gave my brother says: "Everyone is born righ handed, onyl the genius can overcome it!" GO LEFT!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Roxanne Shockley, Houston, Texas — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:24:37 GMT

My mother and father are both right handed and they have two daughters and one son that are left handed

White House leans again to the left(ies)

tina, Utah — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:26:20 GMT

lefties learn to do things their way in a righty dominated world, so early on, they march to their own beat. They get creative & like to solve problems & find different ways of doing things. As it's said, "lefties are in their right mind." I'm a lefty, but also learned to use my right hand for different tasks. I also find it fun that my birthday is on the national left hander's day..

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Gloria, Keaau, HI — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:27:09 GMT

My parents were both right handed, my mother had 5 children. Three boys and two girls. My middle brother is the only one that is not left handed, and he is the only one with mental problems.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Linda, Iowa City, Iowa — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:28:09 GMT

Another left-handed person here from two right-handed parents. As soon as I saw Barack was also a left hander, I was thrilled! Lefty Power!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

CE — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:28:11 GMT

Actually, Ronald Reagan was right-handed. He did some things left handed but he wrote with his right hand.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Phil, Columbus, Ohio — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:28:30 GMT

I do some things strictly left handed, other things strictly right handed and some things left or right handed. I catch left handed but bat and throw right handed which causes me problems. On the other hand, my mother was left handed and I could stimulate her handwriting when I wanted to get out of class in school. LOL
The teachers did try to make me "right handed" in school but my mother refused to allow that. Thank God for that!!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

M Fletcher, Alberta, CDN — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:29:33 GMT

I've also heard that statistically there are a high majority of lefties in prison and state/provincial Penitentiaries. Upwards of 75%. Another interesting stat.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Jennifer, Port Carbon, PA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:29:37 GMT

My son's father & I are both left-handed but our son is right-handed. so much for the odds

White House leans again to the left(ies)

J. Langtot, BIllings, MT — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:29:42 GMT

I bat left and play golf left handed, kick left footed, but shoot right handed as my right eye was tested in the military and is the dominate eye for shooting a rifle. Also my strength is in my right arm and I throw a ball right handed.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Lee Scott, San Francisco, CA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:30:11 GMT

what records do you have showing Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar were left handers.?

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Bill, Lenexa, KS — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:30:26 GMT

I am a proud lefty, and the product of two right-handed parents. In light of this list of talented leaders and dignitaries that are left-handed, it is clearly a characteristic of greatness. I feel confident that if more people were left-handed, the world would be a better place!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

dot maners vermilion oh — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:30:32 GMT

I am kinda both I eat and write left handed.
I bowl play soft ball and use my mouse right
handed.what does that mean?

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Jamaal Oldham Nashville, TN — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:31:50 GMT

This article proves the point I've been telling people forever; lefties are better at everything.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Husker Mom, Grand Island, NE — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:32:02 GMT

I found the statistics on genetics links funny too. My husband and I are both right-handed but have 2 out of 3 kids that are left-handed. I guess we defy the odds. :-)

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Joan, Savannah, Ga — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:32:45 GMT

Being an old Greek who held old beliefs my Grandmother forced my left-handed father (her son) to change to his right hand, it left him with a speech impediment, stuttering and also robbed him of his life long dream and the family's of their eldest being a priest.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Moshe,Paso Robles,CA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:34:01 GMT

Interesting,this is stuff I didn't know.Both my mother and I are ambidextrous so I wonder if that runs in the family or how it affects the brain?

White House leans again to the left(ies)

R, Monterey, CA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:34:50 GMT

I am a leftie and proud of it. Interestingly, me & my sister are lefties, my two brothers are righties and my parents are righties along with all of our aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. I always thought that was unusual. I wonder if the milkman was a leftie????

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Gary Torrance, CA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:35:48 GMT

It's not always been easy being left handed in a (mostly) right handed world, so you learn at an early age to adapt to right handed scissors, school desks with arm rests on wrong side, etc. I also found it very interesting to discover that my Army helicopter flight training class was about one third lefties.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

George Jacksonville Fl — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:35:55 GMT

Left handed people are the only people in their right mind.George Jacksonville Fl

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Jennifer, Seattle, WA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:36:52 GMT

In school it was difficult to be a lefty. Everyone had to grab a pair of scissors during craft time and the right ones just weren't cutting it :) As an adult, I am proud of being a lefty. I have learned to adapt to the right-handed world which gives me an advantage.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

poseyrose@ymail.com — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:37:25 GMT

my Bible says A-L-L men were created equal

Sharon G.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Kevin O. Philadlephia, PA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:37:27 GMT

Both my wife and I are left-handed and I'd be curious about leadership with this trait. We have three children all born right-handed. What are those odds?

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Steve, Griffith, Indiana — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:37:28 GMT

There is a theory that lefthandedness is determined at the moment of birth -- a difficult delivery with even minor complications seems to be a common thread amongst lefties -- I was yanked out with forcepts...pure lefty all my life ---anyone else have similar stories ??

White House leans again to the left(ies)

drc, maryland — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:39:12 GMT

one of my older sisters is left-handed and still remembers being slapped in 3rd grade everytime she used her left hand. (no wonder she has a problem with authority figures)
I wrote with my left hand through 4th grade when I had a teacher who would take my pencil out of my left hand and put it my right hand, saying "We write with our right hand" the result? I am ambidextrous with right vs. left confusion...

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Kathryn, Raleigh NC — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:39:21 GMT

I'm a leftie. My mom is a leftie, but her identical twin sister is a rightie ... they are mirror twins. I think lefties have the advantage because we are forced to live in a right-dominated world. For example, I insist on using a certain computer mouse (with programmable buttons.) The manufacturer has contoured the mouse to fit the right hand (something they no doubt thought was a nice touch, but obviously didn't care how it affected us lefties.) I have not re-programmed the buttons for a leftie. I've simply adapted to using a mal-formed mouse (IMHO) with my left hand. And I'm expert at it! I wouldn't doubt that lefties have the advantage in fighting. If you're a rightie and you constantly train with other righties then you learn to anticipate their moves. But when you're fighting a leftie you're not used to how they approach you.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Cher, NC — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:41:03 GMT

It seems to skip a generation with my family. My paternal grandmother (and her sister and brother) were lefties, her only child (my dad) is a rightie. He and my rightie mom had an only child (me) who's a leftie, my righty husband and I had a rightie only child. Now he has two toddler children with his rightie wife, and we're waiting to see if one (or both!) of them is left-handed!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

VA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:41:46 GMT

Apparently Jonna hasn't gottne used to her own left-handed mouse, as she clicked twice to post her comment! - LOL

White House leans again to the left(ies)

ndkasco@hotmail.com — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:42:06 GMT

How many right handed people are among the greats? Let them be leaders, polititions, actors, artists, etc. Most likely they outnumber the lefties greatly. Being lefty doesn't put you in a special category, you are just lefty, or gay, or whatever. Andy Kasco, Orlando, FL

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Thayne Gish, Providence, UT — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:42:45 GMT

Wonder what it means for those of us that had well intentioned parents and teachers desperate to change us to right handed to help us avoid any possible social stigma and now we use our left and right hands? Are we more messed up than normal?

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Jason, St. Louis, MO — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:43:00 GMT

Is this newsworthy?

White House leans again to the left(ies)

diane, wisconsin — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:44:25 GMT

What do you think this might mean. We have an office of seven people and four of us are lefties...personally I think that's pretty cool!
Also, my parents are both right handed and of three children two of us are lefties.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Jennifer, Bedford, NH — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:44:29 GMT

I am very left handed and proud of it too. I have noticed that I tend to come to the same conclusions as my rightie friends but sometimes take completely different routes. I love the computer comment- our little dose of revenge on dealing with a right favored world!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Cheryl H., Milwaukee, WI — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:45:53 GMT

My parents are right handed, but my Mom says she was forced to be right handed in school. My sister and I are 2 of 4 children that are left handed. I've become somewhat ambidextrous. I use a right handed mouse and keyboard ( cuz that's what I learned on ) and I use scissors with my right hand ( cuz that's what was available ) I also wear my watch on my left wrist because when I first got a watch, I saw that's where everybody else was wearing theirs. I use my right hand to do the calculator, which saves time since I write with my left. Righties have to pick the pen back up after using the calculator.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

elee, sacramento, ca — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:46:23 GMT

Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Ross Perot were all lefties running for the same office at the same time. Made some of the televised debates interesting to see limbs in awkward positions while they wrote their rebuttals...

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Sandy, Richmond, VA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:46:43 GMT

I am left handed as is my mother. However she was forced to write with her right hand when she was in school. She is ambidextrous. I find that I do most things left handed but I bat right handed. I pitch and catch left handed, hold a tennis racket in my left hand, bowl left handed but knit right handed and crochet left handed. I do not write in the position that Obama does. I write straight up like a righty.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Bill, Gainesville, FL — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:46:52 GMT

We lefties suffer one continuous disadvantage/barrier...doors seemingly always tend to lock and swing in the interests of the right-handers. Perhaps overcoming that seemingly minor obstacle plays in our favor. LOL! I had two righty parents...and am the only lefty out of seven children. Some of us are just born great....the rest of you are righties. Hehehe.... :~)

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Keith C. VA. Beach VA. — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:46:56 GMT

I am left handed but I still do a lot of things right handed. I guess its from growing up with right handers.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Russ, Boise, ID — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:47:52 GMT

It should be mentioned that two rightie parents don't effectively denote that both are "left brained" given the statistics that many teachers "forced" lefties to be righties. Thus, a rightie may in fact be a leftie at heart. My mother tried to write leftie and was taught to be a rightie. I'm a mix. I write left handed and do most other things right. It's decided that I'm probably ambidextrous. So where do I fit?

White House leans again to the left(ies)

doris sullivan covington kh — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:48:00 GMT

it is like a breath of fresh air

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Steve, St Paul, mn — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:48:43 GMT

it's a well known fact that everyone is born left handed and when you commit your first sin you become right handed

White House leans again to the left(ies)

James, Toledo, OH — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:49:03 GMT

My great grandmother was a lefty, my grandmother was a lefty, my mother was a lefty, I'm a lefty, and my daughter is a lefty. 4 out of 5 of us play/played the piano. Put THAT in your stat book and smoke it!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

angelatodo@hotmail.com — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:49:41 GMT

where in the Bible does it say that the left people are not of God creation??? God created all
creatures each with their own uniqueness. We should embrasse all the blessings we have and I think the lefties are extra special. I'm a rightie
but love the lefties very much. Angela Vancouver,Canada

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Stan the man, Oxnard, CA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:50:05 GMT

Lefty here. My grade school teachers would slap my pencil out of my hand in front of the class to embarass me-to no avail. Taking notes in college with a ball point pen led to ink smears because of the position of my hand-small price to pay. Does Obama play ball lefty? Love it!!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Pat O. — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:50:56 GMT

The discrimination against lefties is everywhere:
Cameras--you have to use your right hand and eye
Scissors--oh, the trauma of those kinder years
Prefab school chairs/desks--no place to rest left arm.
And so much more!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

theo, seattle — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:51:26 GMT

i was born left handed but my grandmother "re-educated" me to be a "normal" rightie.

to this day, my left hand is stronger. i write with my left. i can sort of use the mouse with both. i communicate well verbally and read veraciously. i'm curious about everything and just love the fact that i can read a hard core economics treatise one moment and the next just tell a nice funny dirty joke.

i dunno. wonder what it would've been like if i didn't turn normal...

White House leans again to the left(ies)

JS, Missouri — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:52:21 GMT

Being lefthanded in baseball is only beneficial to the first baseman and the pitcher. It's awkward for all other infield positions. It doesn't really matter which side you throw from in the outfield. I suppose as far as batting, you're closer to first base, but you also have to turn around...

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Mike Goulet — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:53:54 GMT

Everyone is born right-handed. Only the greatest can overcome it.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Lou,Seattle,Wash. — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:53:55 GMT

The only bad thing about lefties is they smear the ink!!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Dean Engelhardt, Covina, CA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:53:56 GMT

I was originally left-handed, but my parents forced me to change to right-handed (in the 1940s). Consequently, I have very poor handwriting or printing. Until I was in high school, I was ambidexterous.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Jacquie, Prince George, BC CANADA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:53:57 GMT

What about Bill Clinton? Did you leave him out? He's a leftie Prez, too!
Pam Campos (Thursday, January 22, 2009 11:31 AM)

PLEASE REREAD THE ENTIRE ARTICLE CAREFULLY. IT DOES MENTION CLINTON

White House leans again to the left(ies)

ALA, Chicago, Illinois — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:54:24 GMT

My parents were both right handed and out of three children two are left handed and they are both girls.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

F, L. Price V — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:55:35 GMT

Since the sides of the brain control the opposite sides of the body, lefties are the only ones in their right mind.

We ambidextrous individuals are the only ones that have control over both hemispheres of the brain!!!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Kate, Tallahassee, FL — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:56:11 GMT

Two more. Oprah Winfrey and Angelina Jolie are left-handed. If you'd notice in a lot of movies, most actresses are left-handed.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Scott, Seattle Wa. — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:56:56 GMT

I am left handed, my parents are both right, and I am the only one left handed in my entire family.
we lefties I have found are the creative part of society.I am a mechanical engineer, professional artist, and a musician and writer. None of these talents were inherited, so I would have to say being a leftie has something to do with it.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Holly, Lubbock, TX — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:57:45 GMT

Both my parents are right-handed and I'm the only left-handed out of three girls. I say I'm left-handed but writing is just about the only thing I do with that hand. I wonder what that means?

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Annie, Phila., PA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:57:47 GMT

My brother is left-handed and the last of 10 children of two right-handed parents. I guess my parents always went with the odds!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Sandy, So. Plainfield,N.J. — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:58:17 GMT

My son is right handed and both my husband and I are left handed. Now thats different huh?

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Erin, Maumee, OH — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:58:50 GMT

I've only ever heard left-handed people bring up the issue of left-handedness versus right-handedness, and unfailingly with an air of superiority.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

CMD, New Jersey — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:59:38 GMT

In response to Paul in Exeter, JFK was right-handed but his son (John, Jr.) was left-handed.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Sabrina, Windsor, NC — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:00:02 GMT

I am left handed and so is my daughter. I have always been proud of it. Left is right!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

CCM Florida — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:03:34 GMT

I was thrilled when my son, as a toddler, reached for items and used his left hand more than his right. A south paw for sure we thought (Both my husband and I are right handed) but alas, when he began to write it was with his right hand not his left. I've always thought maybe that's why his handwriting, to his day and he's 21, is ATROCIOUS. He's writing with the wrong hand.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Paul Wise, Parkersburg, W.Va. — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:04:37 GMT

I am a lefty. My wife is a lefty also. We are the parents of two perfectly normal right handed children. In addition to being lefties we are the same inentical age and are born on the same day. I don't know the odds of this but I'll bet it is rare.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Andrea, Hackensack, NJ — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:05:42 GMT

Nature versus nurture will remain a question for some time, since we lefties (me too) have to develop inventive versatility to get by in a predominantly right-hand-oriented environment. Most of us are at least partially ambidextrous because of that (I eat and use a computer mouse right-handed). There definitely is a difference in thinking, though; my mother was ultra-right-handed, to the point that the left was virtually a vestigial appendage good chiefly as a paperweight, and we had communication problems when I was a child; she explained things in a manner that made no sense to me at all. At that point, my father, who was genuinely ambidextrous, would say, "What your mother means is..." and translate for me--or translate what I was saying back to my mother. My right-handed brother got the visual-artistic skills, but I'm the musician; we're both agile wordsmiths.

I was pleased to see that President Obama is left-handed; I think there really is some difference in how the minds work, and his seems to have the eclecticism and balance that I enjoy among favorite left-handed friends and colleagues. While I voted for The Other Left-Hander (despite his misjudgment in selection of a running mate), I'm 100% behind the Our Lefty President.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Bob, Atascadero, CA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:06:36 GMT

The biggest secret of all is that all of us lefties have kept the same secret, handed down, leftie to leftie for thousands of years, and we're not tellin any righties!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Jane, Portland, ME — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:08:08 GMT

Too bad the author is not a lefty researcher. I am one, and over the years have found many lefties in the research field. I think we are able to bridge the hard quantitative data with more qualitative psychology.

Separately, I don't think a leaning toward left-handedness is focused just on the White House - I think it can be seen in many areas of leadership. I remember sitting in the board room with all of the senior management of a Fortune 500 company. More than one-third in the room were lefties. Isn't Bill Gates one as well?

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Joseph N, Fort Lauderdale, FL — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:08:55 GMT

This is maybe the 10th article I've read on this subject and they all say that Ronald Reagan was left-handed. I've googled his image and I cannot find a single picture of him doing anything left-handed

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Becky, Madison WI — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:09:10 GMT

What about us ambidextrous folks? I believe we have the best of both worlds!!!!!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Dolores, Marquette, Michigan — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:09:15 GMT

I am a fraternal twin and my twin sister is right handed and I am a leftie. My mother and Dad (both right handed) had another set of twins in which one was a leftie and one a rightie. Anyone else have any info on something like that? I have had 4 children and 2 are left handed.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Deborah — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:09:40 GMT

I think lefties are great problem solvers. We tend to evaluate and process things differently that righties. We definitely had quite a road to hoe growing up with our notebooks bound with wire on the left side of the paper. Why do you think so many lefties write the way Obama does? He had to find some way to write in the margin!!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Donald Cobb, Rickman, TN — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:09:52 GMT

I, too, am left handed, and grateful that no one tried to change me when I was just a lad (I am now 71 years young). It is fun being left handed. But I am sure most righties would have a big problem adjusting to a left handed world, like we have to for a right handed world. Actually, anything I do left handed I can do right handed, though not always as well.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Bob Eufinger, St. Louis, Mo — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:10:05 GMT

I read somewhere that within leftie, there is a higher incidence of genius than within righties (even though there are more righties). About the time I felt good about that (I'm a leftie), I read that there is almost the same percentage more of schizophrenics in the lefties. Maybe there's a correlation? My brother was also a leftie, both parents righties.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Chip Henderson, La Vergne TN — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:11:28 GMT

Florida Gator, Heisman and 2 time National Champion Tim Tebow is a lefty!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Al — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:11:34 GMT

the odds are re-set to 9.5% with every go round....so your parents had a 9.5% shot each respective time......looks like they beat the odds 3 times.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

John Doe, Scottsdale, Arizona — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:11:51 GMT

The only thing I have in common with Mobama is that we are both left handed. Makes me wish I was right handed.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Kevin S, Pennsauken, New Jersey — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:12:30 GMT

I did notice that Pres. Obama was left handed a long time ago when I watched him sign an autograph. I'm ambidextrous to some degree. I write left handed and do everyting else right handed. It does come in handy as I am able to switch to the other hand for many tasks.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Jeff Bolen, Polo, Illinois — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:12:37 GMT

I am Left handed, My Wife Right handed, Our 3 Sons, twins age 16 and our youngest age 9 are all 3 Left handed.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Betsy, Alexandria, VA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:13:13 GMT

My parents are both right handed and I am left handed. But, my grandfather was left handed. In private school, they would tie his left hand behind his back so he had to write with his right hand. He played sports with both right and left and could later right with either his right or left hand.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Wendy, Lancaster, CA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:14:59 GMT

My Father was left handed, my parents had 12 children and only 3 ended up being lefties, but the odds are not important. I do recall when I was in the 1st Grade, (yes, back in the 50's), being reprimanded for using my left hand, but my lefty tendencies won out. I am somewhat ambedextrous. It comes from living in a right handed world.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Beth Shields, Springfield, IL — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:17:06 GMT

Well here we go again lefties are always in there right mind. I am a leftie and so is my father-inlaw. however both of my children are right handed. but my oldest son uses his left hand to throw wiht and on other things as well he could have been both I think a teacher forced him to be right handed in pre-school.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Kaelene, Mesa, AZ — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:17:10 GMT

I have a friend that was born in the late 1930s, and "they" (schoolteachers, parents, anyone in authority!)FORCED her to be right-handed, because of all the negative stigmas related to being left-handed. She feels that she has NEVER been able to organize her thoughts with her actions, or even her home, because of the confusion that changing hands caused her brain.
I wonder about such foolish traditions! I guess segregation comes in MANY shapes and forms!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Carol, Woodlyn, PA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:17:14 GMT

My dad was a lefty. My sister and I are right handed and we both have only one child (male) and both are lefties. Is that weird or what?

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Jon, Santa Rosa, CA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:17:24 GMT

As a child, I did everything right handed except kick a ball,play hockey, and bat a baseball. When I was 7, I broke my right arm and spent 6 months in a cast. I learned to throw left handed and never went back. So, kick left, throw left, bat left and everything else right handed. I think I was probably always left handed, but I was also Catholic.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Linda, Bowling Green, KY — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:18:26 GMT

Both of my daughters are right handed. Their father and myself are both lefties!!!!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

onthe mark, KCMO — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:18:30 GMT

I would give my left arm to be ambidextrous...

White House leans again to the left(ies)

a poulad bogota, colombia — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:18:40 GMT

you forgot the greatest lefty of them all LEONARDO

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Karen Boyce, Ontario, Canada — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:19:26 GMT

I guess that we have beat the odds as well. My husband and I are both right handed and we have 3 daughters that are all lefties. Teaching them to tie shoes and knit were very confusing.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Judith, Reading, Pa. — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:19:45 GMT

My mother was left handed; my father was one of the students that was forced to wright with his right hand otherwise he was a true lefty. My sister is right handed I'm left handed buy the oddity is that I do most everything else with my right hand throw a ball, hit with a bat, bowl, point, catch, etc. I do however use a fork with my left hand.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

mickey, Phx, AZ. — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:19:57 GMT

I have a friend who is left-handed. He not only
writes upsidedown, but backwards as well.
It is fun to watch him write.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Cindy, Mahomet Illinois — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:20:24 GMT

I am left handed but both my parents are righties. I have 4 children and only one is a leftie. I was watching a show on The Discovery Channel and they said that people that are left handed had a twin at one time in the womb. Lots of twins are one twin a leftie and one twin a righty.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Tanya, Cherryville, NC — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:20:26 GMT

Both my ex-husband and I are left-handed, yet our child is right-handed. Just wondering what the odds of 2 lefties having a right-handed child would be?

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Betsy, Berlin VT — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:20:52 GMT

The article states that the odds of two right-handed parents having a left-handed child is about 9.5% and that men are slightly more likely to be left-handed than women.

Well there are no lefties on either side of the family as far back as great great grandparents and yet I have a grand-daughter who is a lefty.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

SSD, Birmingham, Al. — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:21:11 GMT

My parent's both righties have two of each. My sister & I are twins, born in the 50's. She's righthanded, our ped gave my mother a note for my school records recommending that they not try to make me righthanded because I was a twin. He was very forward thinking.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Henry J. Reimer, Saskatoon, SK Canada — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:21:36 GMT

My wife and and I are both right-handed people. We have three children. Two of them are very left-handed.
Henry J. Reimer
Saskatoon, Canada

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Jim Stevens, Victor, ID — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:21:57 GMT

I don't know why people are getting snippy about this. It is a fun fact to know. I am left-handed too, but I also do a lot of things right-handed. Maybe doubly blessed!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Judith, Reading, Pa. — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:22:01 GMT

My mother was left handed; my father was one of the students that was forced to wright with his right hand otherwise he was a true lefty. My sister is right handed I'm left handed but the oddity is that I do most everything else with my right hand throw a ball, hit with a bat, bowl, point, catch, etc. I do however use a fork with my left hand.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Tommy, New York, NY — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:22:37 GMT

Like most lefties (I am one), Obama holds the pen in a strange way.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Henry J. Reimer, Saskatoon, SK Canada — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:22:37 GMT

My wife and and I are both right-handed people. We have three children. Two of them are very left-handed.
Henry J. Reimer
Saskatoon, Canada

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Gale Los Angeles, CA Gale@sstravel.com — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:22:52 GMT

Ronald Reagan was not left handed. The only thing he did left handed was to shoot a gun.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Linda E — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:23:30 GMT

I am left handed and so are both my daughters. My husband should have been left handed but forced by his parents to be right handed. I love being left handed.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Bosco -Winchester, Virginia — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:23:37 GMT

My 3 year old little girl was always favoring her left hand when first learning to eat. My son would hold his fork in his left hand and then shove the food in with his right. But she would use the fork in her left hand. She started to color and I noticed that she favored the left hand again. I figured she was a lefty and was comfortable eating and writing that way so I didn't want to change her or interfere in her learning process. I can remember when teachers, doctors and others recommended you teach lefties to use the right hand but why this was such an issue I never did get..

White House leans again to the left(ies)

KARLA MASON, WICHITA KANSAS — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:23:47 GMT

It's great to be lefthanded. It gives people spmething to talk about. To the right handed person,it appears that everything we do is backwards but we actually think with a different side of the brain than the norm.
WE ARE SMART AND VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

ra.flint@verizon.net — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:24:33 GMT

They saying goes that lefties always use the "right as in smart" side of their brain!

I'm a smartie!

Ruth, USA

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Regan, Bothell, WA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:24:37 GMT

Don't forget - Ned Flanders and Mr Burns are lefties too!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Michael, Cranston, RI — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:24:51 GMT

How's this for odd? My parents are righties and both of my brothers and I are lefties.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Karen Homer, Seattle, WA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:24:55 GMT

My right-handed parents had two left-handed daughters, I married a right-handed man and have a right-handed and left-handed daughters. My left handed daughter broke the spell - she married a right-handed man and has four right-handed sons!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Barry, San Francisco, CA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:25:57 GMT

Even the greatest Baseball Players are Lefties!!!
Just Look at Barry Bonds!!!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Jim, Tulsa, OK — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:26:07 GMT

JFK JR. was and Caroline is left handed. JFK wan not.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Terri, Newark, CA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:28:00 GMT

I am left handed and proud of it, however, I have had to learn to do things in the right handed world. It's great because I can be writing something with my left hand while I am using the 10 key to add something up, or scroll thru the computer. I am the only one in my immediate family of parents, brothers, sister, nieces and nephew and children that is a lefties. Proud of it.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Paul, Azusa CA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:29:08 GMT

My daughter is lefte handed and so is her daughter
I am too but my ex was right handed. I am told that I was the first lefty born in the family
We are all in the right frame of mind (Lefties that is)

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Carolyn Berry, Oklahoma City, OK — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:29:57 GMT

i too am a lefty. what i noticed about President Obama is he keeps his paper straight. i always and still do turn my paper to the right to write with my left hand. my teachers always tried to force me to keep my paper straight and write but to this day it is uncomfortable and i always turned my paper when they were not looking.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Gary — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:30:19 GMT

I think Sir Paul is a lefty, too...he was left out (shame) of the musicians group.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Bill Mt. Juliet, TN — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:31:28 GMT

Everyone is born left-handed, you turn right handed after you've sinned.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Diggs — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:31:28 GMT

where exactly does the Bible say lefties are bad? Please give me the verse if you could?

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Mo'ale Finau,Sacramento,California — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:31:37 GMT

My son is a lefty and enjoys the gift.He at times seems to eat a lot and I believe that lefties have bigger stomach than the righties.I suggest that parents with lefties should make sure that enough food is on the table for lefties.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

lavernecash@yahoo.com — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:33:09 GMT

I am a leftie. One of my biggest frustrations is the world is still set up right handed. I.E. Computer classes are all set up with the mouse on the right side. Classrooms have desk with those tiny tops all on the right side.

LaVerne Cash, MD

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Mike ,Houston TX — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:33:25 GMT

Diana Owens should check her spelling.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

HLL7575 — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:34:12 GMT

My daughter is a leftie so we are not surprised that she has been very artisitcally talented since her childhood. Even though I use my right hand, my parents vaguely remember they forced me to use my right hand while I was a toddler. The suspicion was amplified by my stuttering as a child, but later overcame the disability. Now I am still using my right hand, but feel my left hand could pick up the slag any time if something happened (hope not) to my right hand.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Joseph Marks, Pasco, WA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:34:48 GMT

One event that seems not to appeal to lefties are the Bowling Lanes. The lanes appear to be oiled for righties and the lefties have to struggle far more on the left side with a lack of oil. Every bowling establishment I have bowled in is usually owned and run by righties, therefore the oil is administered for the right handed bowlers. I would prefer to think I am wrong.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

gj, shelbyville, IN — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:37:07 GMT

9.5% for 2 righties to have a left handed child. I am right handed, my husband is right handed and we have 5 left handed daughters. I think we beat the odds.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

dave, pocono lake — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:37:10 GMT

all babies are born right handed.....only us gifted ones overcome it!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Wanks — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:37:14 GMT

Wanks...you and our President are lefties!
Just thought I'd share...

Wanks!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Tom D Phoenix, AZ — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:37:38 GMT

Interesting. My wife and I are both left-handed and yet had three daughters, all righties.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

diggs — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:37:51 GMT

well if the Bible says lefthandedness is bad, at least its better than the koran which says 'that which your right hands possess' i.e. slavery; especially little children and taking the women as sex-slave/concubines. The poor men are usually beheaded.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

BV, Joliet IL — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:39:03 GMT

I don't think the Bible necessarily implies lefties are bad. I think the impression comes from Jesus's teaching that in Heaven the good souls will be seated to his right, and the evil souls to be condemned to his left.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Marlene Parker, Hyattsville, MD — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:39:33 GMT

i too am left-handed and proud of it. However, I scuk at math and I am not big on the social scene. I am a left-handed introvert. I could never run for president. I would die from the stress of it all.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

David, Atlanta, GA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:39:49 GMT

Actually the part about Jimi Hendrix is somewhat incorrect. He was able to play guitar with his left and right handed but wrote right handed.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Lisa, Washburn, Wisconsin — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:42:53 GMT

Using both our left and right hands has been said to help exercise and stretch the brain. I believe many people use both hands for different things -- buttoning a coat, pulling up a zipper, etc. Just like our new leader in Washington, being flexible and versatile are valuable skills!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

MO, El Reno, OK — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:43:31 GMT

Lefties are the only people in their right minds!!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

jon marton brewster ohio — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:43:48 GMT

left handed people are in their right minds.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

joe, portland, or — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:44:02 GMT

I have always done everything lefty except cut with scissors. Scissors were always righty. When I tried lefty scissors they were awkward.

Pens and pencils with text on them are upside-down to lefties. Debit machines tend to have the little pen attached on the right hand side. You've got to reach across the machine...

I'm thinking of suing... :)

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Laurie, Newcastle, WY — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:44:13 GMT

My parents were both right handed, but three out of five of their children are left handed, including myself. Yes, left handed people's brains have been shown to work a bit differently. Whether or not this is an advantage seems to depend on the individual.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Nita , Bangs, Texas — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:44:43 GMT

I believe that left-handed people are more tolerate of others and are better adjusted than right-handed people. We have lived in a world that is made for the right handed and have HAD to adapt our way to the right handed way and we are just more understanding and creative about finding a way to get things done. I think we have had so many presidents that are left handed because they have had to adapt to the right handed world and that they see things differently than most other people

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Linda Gonzalez, Los Angeles, CA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:44:51 GMT

We're the only ones in our right minds! Go lefties, i.e. Leonardo Da Vinci, Benjamin Franklin, Helen Keller, Julius Caesar, Mark Twain, and BARACK OBAMA! I'm in pretty good company.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Mike Virginia Beach, va — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:45:34 GMT

I am left handed and proud of it.
Not only am I a self employed professional Artist, but i run a staff and handle stress quite well.
I and other lefties I know have always picked things up quickly and approach everything with a outlined plan before we start.
Is this common in all left handed people?

When I was a kid the schools tried to get me to use my right hand. My mom pushed for it. But I kept drawing left handed and they gave up.
I have often thought about the left right difference myself and I have noticed that social abilities are very good in lefties. Mainly in the ability to be more extroverted and conversational with new people.
They should do a study on it as suggested in the article.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Angela Blondeau, St. Amand, France---Soon Maryland — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:46:07 GMT

I'm also a leftie lady from two right parents, and I do think that we perceive the world a little differently. Creativity, fairness, and love of nature and peace is my place on Earth.

Pam, Bill Clinton is mentioned in the article.

I think our new left-handed president has already shown himself to be a great leader by his new reforms, just 2 days into the office. He will be excellent for our country and follow in the footsteps of other great leaders.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Elizabeth,Florida — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:47:56 GMT

My husband and i are right handed and our boys
six years apart are right handed and our daughter
in middle is right handed.They are all gifted with talent!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Angela Blondeau, St. Amand, France---Soon Maryland — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:48:04 GMT

White House leans again to the left(ies)

leslie_whitbread@yahoo.com — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:48:37 GMT

My paternal grandparents had 10 children, one of the ten, their 7th child, a son was born left handed. The 10 children all married, having 3 - 6 children, and in each home 1/2 the children were left handed.

I myself being left handed has always been an advocate of left handers living in a right handed world. We lefties have to think fast on our feet.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Carrie Romero, Omaha, Nebraska — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:49:11 GMT

I am a female lefty and a recent graduate of Engineering College, and something I noticed in many of my classes was that about half the engineering students seemed to be left handed. Hardly a scientific study, but it must mean something?

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Karsten Runkle, EL Dorado Springs, MO — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:50:13 GMT

I am a rightie, my wife is a lefty. Right now our 6 month old daughter is showing signs of being a lefty. She uses her left hand more often to reach for something or when she plays. I guess I am out of the loop if she is a lefty when it comes to helping her write and tie her shoes, but her mom will be able to help her with that. Also my sister is a lefty and both my parents are righties.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Thomas, Horn Lake, MS — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:51:13 GMT

What about those of us who write with our left hand but prefer to use our right hand for everything else? I'm not ambidextrous because I can't write with my right hand, and I can't do most anything else with my left. Is that weird or what?

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Jen B St Paul, MN — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:51:27 GMT

My father was forced to be a righty by nuns in the Catholic schools. They taped the pencil to his right hand. My mom was left handed and not forced to change. They had 4 left handed kids- I am the oldest of the four. I married a righty and have two kids who are right handed. Slightly disappointed, but my son golfs and bats left handed in baseball.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Larry, Wausau, WI — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:51:38 GMT

Maybe we could ease our financial crisis if we ate more "left" overs! Don't laugh, I might be right.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Ronnie, Flossmoor, IL — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:52:32 GMT

I noticed long ago that President Obama was left-handed (just like me). I've also noticed several of our presidents, though lefties, have worn their watches on their left wrist. Why is that?
Being left-handed has given me an advantage playing tennis because I learned how to bat on my right when I was young (forced to by my dad)which is my backhand. My forehand is easy and natural.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Nelson Andrade, Santa Clara, Calif. — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:53:36 GMT

Myself, I am a rightie, but over the years I have notices a higher percentage (i.e. greater than the general population 10%), of the people I work with, that are lefties - to be sharper, in leadership roles, or greater intellectual capacity. This is just an anecdotal thing I have noticed from time time to time.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Karsten, EL Dorado Springs, MO — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:53:59 GMT

White House leans again to the left(ies)

KG, Charlotte, NC — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:54:09 GMT

Lefties seem to dominate some professions. I worked in prosthetics for several years. At first I worried that being a lefty would be a problem. I quickly realized that many prosthetists are lefties. I worked in one office where 9 out of 11 employees were lefties--only the secretaries were right-handed. I always thought it would be interesting to find out why lefties dominated--the prevalent theory was that lefties tended to have excellent spatial skills, some artistic talent, and a bent toward creative problem solving.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

J B, Orange County, CA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:54:19 GMT

I'm ambidextrous - equally handed... and disappointed the article didn't mention anything about this 3rd type of handedness. Ambidexterity and creativity run strongly in my family-- none of us are Penwald ambidextrous(leftys forced to use their right hands), & we are not brain damaged(!!!), nor are we schizophrenic, psychotic criminals or have memory problems! Some of the assumptions and skewed research out there are truely ridiculous! Society and scientists believed those same falsehoods about Leftys in the early 20th century... There are no hard statistics on ambidexterity , but the numbers generally run at under 3% or are are listed as "extremely rare".

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Red — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:54:19 GMT

Vlad Lenin...need i say more?

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Kathleen, Garland, TX — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:54:39 GMT

Right-On, I mean Left-On Christina. My parents, both righties, have 2 left-handed daughters.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Lorraine Hanks, Greensboro, NC — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:55:08 GMT

I am a leftie; in school in the late 50's, nuns tried to switch me to being right handed and I got "switched" by the nuns with a ruler when I didn't use my right hand. Needless to say, the leftie in me won out -- however, I play sports right handed -- in golf, bowling and softball. I am sure I must have a few screws lose somewhere in this situation since I can now use both hands :)

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Mike D — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:55:14 GMT

Left-handers are in their right mind.
Power to the Lefties.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Nelson Andrade, Santa Clara, Calif. — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:56:13 GMT

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Edward Rogers Vancouver, B.C. Canada — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:57:47 GMT

There are two types of people in this world. All of us left handed people, and those right handed people that wish they were left handed. We left handed people have to stick together.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Bill Newsome, Elkins Park, PA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:58:19 GMT

The artical failed to mention that Ronald Reagan was originally a Lefty, but was switched during those dark days of the early 20th century. Also the first George Bush is a Lefty and former presidental hopeful Bob Dole is a lety; though only by a WWII wound that disabled his right hand. There are lots of us!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

RMyers, Hbg, PA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:58:21 GMT

My family is against the odds also..... 2 out of three lefty children with both parents being righties :o)

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Linda Cox, Colton, CA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:58:27 GMT

I also am a left-hander. I am amused when women appear surprised because I crochet left-handed and, I might add, make some gorgeous table cloths, etc. One such person told me she just didn't know how I could do that left-handed. I also had a second grade teacher (many moons ago) whack my knuckles with a ruler because I was using the wrong hand to write. My students of today don't seem to notice so it must not be a big deal in the 21st century.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Krystyn Knights, Atlas, WI — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:58:59 GMT

I am the only leftie of 4 kids, both parents righties. I was the most creative, and the highest IQ, although I flunked all the way through school, it because we lived in the country and there were no classes I was interested in. But, I did pass college entrance exams and went on to learn what I wanted to learn. I studied comparative religions and philosophies, also the only one in the family to be a searcher-thinker.
I am so very proud to have thatin common with Obama! Gotta love that guy!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Ann B, Left-handed in Anaconda, MT — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:59:16 GMT

I was wondering too, why JFK was not listed? I am next to positive he was left-handed. There are other ways he and President Obama are alike; being "firsts," JFK being the first Irish-Catholic and the first to utilize a "new" technology: TV, to his advantage (Nixon-Kennedy debates). As Obama has realized the importance of the Internet.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Gail, Aspen CO — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:59:56 GMT

Well, now I know why my memory is terrible! For a couple of years the teachers tried to get me to write with my right hand!! That explains a lot.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Margaret, Texas — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:00:43 GMT

It has been easy for me to be a lefty. My mother is one who had to fight teachers so she was always on my side. My husband is right handed and one of our three sons is right handed. Of the other two, one eats and writes left but bats and plays golf right, the other eats and writes right, bats and plays golf left.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

AW, Va — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:00:50 GMT

My parent are both left & right handed. My brother and I can write with both our left and right hands and they are both very legible. We could both do this from a young age. I guess it from your parents teaching how to do things..like helping your color, draw, write, throw a ball etc..

White House leans again to the left(ies)

JBR — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:01:07 GMT

Interesting, but lets get to the meat of the argument. Lets provide a chart of all comparable people who make these different tasks or careers both right and left handers, and compare them by a percentage of the total #. That is the only conclusive way of determining if there is a measurable deviation of the 10% average left-handedness by population. Until such a chart is provided, including all the famous leaders, politicians, musicians, or any other group deemed gifted or special; any assertion of being left handed as overly gifted in some way would be an erroneous assumption.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Betty Fredericksburg, VA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:01:54 GMT

Both my husband and I are both right handed and we produced two daughters that write with their left hands. My mother & sister are both left handed but it skipped me. Both of my sister's kids are left hand.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Cat, Cape Coral, Florida — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:01:58 GMT

Having grown up (a very long time ago) in a right-handed world (Mother , father, sister, brother)was not always easy. Right handed scissors, right handed direction appliance doors, and good grief! Right handed slot machines! I wrote backwards early on, had to read everything I wrote in the mirror. And sports? Forget it, I finally had to learn to throw a ball, catch, bow and arrow, golf, right handed. But we lefties did have some advantages...never had to switch my fork to my other hand!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Megan, Reno NV — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:02:04 GMT

My whole family is left handed!!! People always trip out when I tell them that. One of my brothers uses both hands, but that's only cause he couldn't get food into his mouth fast enough when he was little. I love being left handed and I would say I'm one of the few that doesn't write with a hook either.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Mom of AK — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:02:05 GMT

My son is left-handed too. When he started feeding himself, my husband kept correcting him for using his left hand. I told him that was not good for his brain development, etc. So he left him alone. My son is 4 year old and he not only knows his ABC and 123, he knows multiplications!!! Isn't that amazing? I actually read an article on this very website (MSN) just few months ago that all US presidents since 1981 were/are left-handed, except G. W. Bush. That kind of figures.
Here is the link to this article:

http://isittrue.msn.com/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=13198387&imageindex=1&cp-searchtext=Are+left-handed+people+smarter&FORM=MSNIIT&GT1=46001

White House leans again to the left(ies)

David, Easley, SC — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:03:44 GMT

I am still the only lefty my family has ever had or known of, and I am 56. I write with my hand curved around like our new President.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

wiccan wolfess, Omaha, NE — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:03:47 GMT

To Mike MC: I can tell by your comment that you 1) are very intelligent and insightful, and 2) must be left-handed because I am both left-handed AND a witch!!!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Connie L. Kent 464 Wickford Point Road, North Kingstown, RI — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:04:10 GMT

Even though I was persecuted when I was growing up because I was a leftie,,,,,,,,,,,as I came into my own I chose to believe that lefties were brighter than the righties of the owrld people!!!!!!!!!!That being said it is important to note that lefties are frowned up on for multiple religions ie Muslin and Jewish among others. Connie Kent
Wickford RI

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Judy Gay, Tega Cay,S.C. — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:05:30 GMT

My parents are right handed and they had 4 children, all of whom are left handed. Because of this there were a lot of things done using our hands which our parents couldn't teach us.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Jamie, Trumansburg, NY — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:06:10 GMT

I'm a leftie and very proud of it. I am the only one in my direct family as well. I've read figures that 13% of the world is left handed.

I also work at a university and at least 1/2 of the faculty members I work with are lefties as well.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Lloyd, Milwaukee, WI — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:06:11 GMT

I would like to note that the Bible does not "decry the left." Yes, Christ sits at the rigt hand of the Father, and the goats are held in the left hand, but it is a cultural thing. The Bible isn't saying that lefthandedness is a bad thing, more the culture of ancient Israel held much the same customs as the rest of the world. You know: honored guests sit on the right side of the host?

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Carla, Tustin, CA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:06:52 GMT

My husband is left-handed and I fully believe two of our children should be based on how they hold the pencil and write with their right hand. Our son bats left and right and our youngest daughter throws with both hands. Every left-handed person I know is really smart and they shouldn't be left out.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Catherine, Knoxville TN — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:07:11 GMT

I read somewhere that the ratio of lefties was one in six! Both my parents were righties and they had three righties and three lefties. I am married to an ambidextrous man - we have two daughters- one right-handed and the other left-handed.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

SJ Tacoma, WA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:08:42 GMT

As a lefty, i have always been fascinated by tidbits and facts regarding this. 10 percent of the population is left-handed... funny thing we realized at my work about a year ago. There are 9 employees on my office and 4 of us are southpaws... well above and beyond the norm.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Fatima, Cypress, CA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:09:16 GMT

I am also a lefty, even though in Grammar school when I was still in Europe the teachers used to spank me everytime I wrote with my left-hand. The only thing I do with my right-hand is write (can use both hands). I noticed President Obama and Senator McCain were both left-hand people during the debates.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

VM, Houston, Texas — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:10:06 GMT

Being left-handed has its downside. Try writing in a spiral notebook!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Leslie, Atlanta, GA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:10:13 GMT

I found the statistics interesting as well. I'm left-handed, and in my family, it seems to jump around. My grandfather was left-handed, but none of his kids were. Then I was born the only left-handed of his grandchildren. My neice and nephew were born left-handed (and neither of their parents are left-handed), so the family gene things needs another set of eyes when it's being passed down in such an odd configuration.

Oh, and I find myself to be quite brilliant, so this article doesn't surprise me too much. :)

White House leans again to the left(ies)

WI — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:11:17 GMT

Is Michelle or the 2 daughters lefty?

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Moe, Seattle, WA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:11:34 GMT

Also, if you skateboard or snowboard "left-footed" (i.e. right foot forward, left foot in back) they call this being "Goofy-Footed." I'm right handed, but I board goofy-footed.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

bob brightman biloxi ms — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:11:49 GMT

it is simple left handed persons are in their right mind

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Art, Louisville KY — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:12:07 GMT

Lefties thing on the right side of their brains!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

CAH, Park City, UT — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:12:09 GMT

My husband, (now ex-husband), and I are both left handed. Interestingly, our biological son is right handed while our adopted daughter is left handed. Our son used to say, when he was much younger, "Mom I think I'm really left handed even though I write with my right hand." I've noticed he gestures almost exclusively with his left hand and seems to think like a lefty (reads people well and is a literature professor for example).

White House leans again to the left(ies)

michael matthew gabriel sr, struthers, ohio — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:12:28 GMT

i'm a lefty.. see how i spell... anyway... i have tried to use my right and left since i was a little kid... i can now do everything with both hands... even feed myself.. sometimes i use both hands so i can feed myself faster... i get really hungry sometimes... peace to all... good for obama..

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Joyce, Homer, AK — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:13:36 GMT

I have always heard that lefties are more creative, hence artistic. Perhaps being Prez takes creativity. I have alsoheard that a larger proportion of the alcoholic population is lefthanded. Frustrated creatives? Hmmm. A distinct posibility!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Helena, Redlands, CA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:13:48 GMT

My maternal grandmother was the only lefty that I know of, she used to tell about having her hand tied to the school desk and being forced to use her right hand. Along came my brother, nephew, and grandson and they are all left-handed. All the girls are right-handed....

It was cool opening the refrigerator door from the left side when I was a kid :o) It made me appreciate what my grandmother went through.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Drew, Corona, CA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:13:50 GMT

My wife and I are righties and one of our kids is a lefty. Funny thing is he only rights with his left. Everything else is done with his right (baseball, football, basketball, etc.). He also plays kickball with his right foot.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Chuck H WA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:14:41 GMT

Father was rt. handed... Mother was left handed.. I'm a leftie. one other sister left handed.. one sister rt. handed. I can use either hand for writing or eating.. or tools use.. I favor left for eating and writing, but all other functions I'm a rightie. i e playing ball or kicking ball!.. I don't write upside down like most leftie's but straight up as a rightie but tilt the paper slightly to the right.. go figger huh??

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Randy, Emmitsburg,Maryland — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:14:59 GMT

There's no way to know for sure but it is estimated that the world population starts with estimates at around 100,000 years ago (a very conservative date for the first "people" or modern humans), and so since the begining of man it comes out to somewhere around 30 billion. given that your going to have to do better then 15 or 20 lefties for it to mean anything. but today we have to make or fake a reason to feel special about ourselves.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Kay, Seattle, WA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:15:08 GMT

Hmm I'm a leftie as well however I do everything else with my right hand...go figure. I am the "odd ball" in my family.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Shane , Garden City KS — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:15:11 GMT

Lefties RULE! Both my wife and myself are left handed. My mom and her mom are left handed as well. Funny thing is our 2 kids are right handed.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Bryan, Tampa, FL — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:15:41 GMT

I am a left-handed male with a lefty sister and a lefty mother. Looks like our family doesn't fit the statistics.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Nichole, Boise, ID — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:15:47 GMT

As a proud lefty and pre-school teacher, a good portion of my career has been spent fighting for the rights of my left-handed pupils. You'd be amazed how some people consider things like left-handed scissors a non-necessity. As for President Obama, I've always known there was something special about him! I wonder if either of his daughters are lefties?

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Brick NJ — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:16:02 GMT

i am the only member in my family and very proud of it.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Jimmy, Mount Airy, MD — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:16:11 GMT

ONLY LEFT HANDERS ARE IN THEIR RIGHT MIND.....

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Duncan Daniels — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:17:38 GMT

LEFTIES FOR OBAMA!!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

John Doe, Seattle Wash. — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:18:26 GMT

Sooooooo!!!!!!!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Eugene, New York, NY — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:18:45 GMT

Lefties do it better too!
My brother and I are left handed and both our parents are right handed. So maybe this article has some creditability.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Dan Tampa FL — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:18:49 GMT

I wore a lefthanded pencil when I was in grade school. Paper was placed on the desk for righthanders so I would hook my wrist so I could see what I was writing. When the paper was placed for a lefthander I hooked my wrist even more. I was given a pencil with a brace on it by the traveling county nurse because I coldn't be broken to write properly.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Karen, Cincinnati — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:19:31 GMT

I'm left handed too, from 2 right handed parents. My brother is right handed as well, but my son took after me. I'm wondering how my twin grand daughters will turn out.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Dan Tampa FL — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:22:47 GMT

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Shiferaw Kebede, North Cambridge, MA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:23:18 GMT

Ms Eden, my beautifil daughter is the only lefy from my side of the family as well as my wife's.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Pat Bouley, Tucson, AZ — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:23:21 GMT

I am the only lefty in a family of 7. Besides the obvious razzing I notice most lefties come to a clarity of thought or conclusion much faster than our right handed friends. I just think we cut through the garbage better for some weird reason.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Betty Scruggs, Durham, N.C. — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:23:59 GMT

Just yesterday I(left-hander) asked my right-handed husband, if he knew how many Presidents had been left handed. I knew there had been more then the "norm", considering how out numbered we are.
One other thing, God was not down on lefties, he gave instructions for an entire army to be made up of "lefties" only. (I do not have my reference Bible with me at work, or I would give more details.)

White House leans again to the left(ies)

John Doe, Seattle, Wash. — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:24:29 GMT

I previously worked in electronics repair. Half of the team members were left handed.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Alan Daggett, Conroe, TX — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:25:12 GMT

Jennifer from Portland - Are you saying something goes wrong & that is why people become left-handed? Just joking. Obiously, I am left-handed. There was T-Shirt that I saw a few times in the '70's which said, "If the left side of the brain controls the right side of the body, & the right side controls the left, then only left-handed people are in their right minds."

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Lori-Ann, Massachusetts — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:25:37 GMT

Kristina from Massachusetts - Personally, I think we should start persecuting idiots like you.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

James K, St. Joseph, MO — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:29:18 GMT

Lefties Unite! My father is left-handed, as well as two of my three siblings. It made dinner interesting for the two righties! My son is mostly right-handed though is more ambidextrous than his sister (pure righty). Being left-handed does have its distinct advantages. Historically, there are castles with stairwells that are 'backwards', making it easier to defend by lefties. And it being a right handed world, lefties tend to adapt better, because they have had to their whole lives!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Harris, Columbus Ohio — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:29:43 GMT

Explain this, I do everything right handed except playing pool, shooting guns, and steering a bike with one hand. I am sure there are many people that aren't completely left handed or right handed. Is this story based on only the hand you write with, if so, it is unfounded.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Mary Libertone, Wellsville, New York — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:31:15 GMT

My mom & dad were righties - My youngest sister & me are lefties - 2 out of nine children. My brother & his wife are righties - All 3 of their children, 2 boys & 1 girl - are lefties. My husband is a rightie - we have 4 daughters & 1 son - none are lefties.
Let me remind everyone: Left handed people are the only ones in their right minds.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

clif oliver, atoka tn — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:31:32 GMT

I'm part of 4 generations of lefties in my family. My son, me, my father, my father's mother.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

B. Watson, St. Louis, MO — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:31:44 GMT

I am left-handed as well. I have seven siblings and I am the only one that is left-handed. I love it!!!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Michele, Sutton, Ma — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:32:30 GMT

Both my husband and myself are righties....All my family is rightie...My husband's family is mostly all lefties. Boys & girls. One of our sons is a leftie. I think lefties are cool..Just look at our new president...

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Ali — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:32:30 GMT

My dad and brother are lefties, but not me. I married a righty with lefty tendencies (ie golf, shooting, pool done w/ left hand) His hand writing even looks like my dads. We have a lefty daughter. Is this thru my side or was my husband supposed to be a lefty? His great aunt swears her sister (his grandmother) made him use his right hand when he waws younger. I think the genetic line would be interesting to follow. MAybe it's like baldness

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Mari, Chicago, Il — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:32:38 GMT

"Teachers and parents routinely forced left-handed kids to write with their right (aka their “wrong” hand), which some psychologists believe could have compromised the brain’s language functions and disrupted both memory and concentration." I'm one of them...I was born a leftie, but learned to write with my right hand forcefully. (My right hand was tied to a chair.) However, I still use my left hand to eat and do other things. I've adjusted to being both a rightie and a leftie.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Anna, New Jersey — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:33:05 GMT

A law firm I recently worked for had close to 50% of employees (on the floor I worked) being left handed. I thought it was very unusual.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

stevens, sd ca — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:33:42 GMT

Is this what the news has come too...... WHO CARES!!!!!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Michele, Sutton, Ma — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:33:44 GMT

White House leans again to the left(ies)

H Neas Greensboro, NC — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:34:24 GMT

I'm left handed and have always felt slightly discriminated against living in a right handed world. I work for a publishing company and we all use Macs because of the graphic capability...and would you believe it-you can't make the mouse left handed! With so many left handed creative types, you'd think the powers that be at Apple would be more accomodating!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Adara — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:35:10 GMT

Pam C. ...Bill Clinton IS clearly listed in this article!
"Interestingly, his opponent, John McCain, is also left-handed, as were former presidents Harry Truman and Bill Clinton, former vice presidents
"

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Philip Eckerberg Gering Nebraska — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:35:18 GMT

In the bible in Judges 3:12-22 Ehud was chosen to kill King Eglon. Ehud was left handed and hid his sword on the left side. The guards assumed everyone was right handed and only searched the right side. Ehud served God with his left handedness.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Caley, Pittsburg, PA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:35:26 GMT

I'm a lefty, have no problem with it, except when my pen ink smears while i'm writing. Also, I think Einstein was a lefty! Why do they call us southpaws?

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Bill Eastham, Albuuerque, NM — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:35:28 GMT

I belong to a weekly Scrabble club and play in the annual national chamionship tournaments and regional tournaments. It seems an inordinate number of Scrabble players, including myself, are left-handed.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Angela, Monroe, LA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:36:07 GMT

I am a lefty when it comes to writing and batting softball. I do everything else right-handed. I can't hit a softball right-handed and I can't hit a tennis ball left-handed.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Holly,McLaughlin,NC — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:37:12 GMT

My husband and I are both left handed and our son is right handed (much to my husbands disappointment).

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Dee — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:37:14 GMT

We had 10 adults for a diiner party and 9 were left handed!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

dennie, minneapolis mn. — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:37:40 GMT

The Bible says:
Judges 20:16
Among all this people were seven hundred select men who were left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair’s breadth and not miss.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Bakary, Detroit, MI — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:38:04 GMT

My experience growing up playing and hunting with left handed kids has made me believe that they are sharp shooters and have good penmanship. They caliographed and drew pictures with much ease and precision. I find them more creative in thought and tool making. I also noticed that they tend to have better luck and are generally liked by many. This has been my experience and observation.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Neal Hebert, Philadelphia, PA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:38:22 GMT

Not only is he a "southpaw" but he's also a Leo (August 4th), as is Bill Clinton, if I remember correctly. It would be interesting to see how many other world leaders past and present are/were "sinister Leos" as well.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Elsy, Antioch, CA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:40:07 GMT

I'm a very proud leftie and OOOH YEAY!!! LEFTIES IN THE WHITE HOUSE!!!! WOOOHOOO!!!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Toney Cooksey, Sylacauga, alabama — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:40:27 GMT

My parents were both righthanded, my sister & I are both left handed. I use a calculator, computer, throw a ball & numerous other task right handed. I have always wondered why. My sister does everything left handed.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Jaclin Greenwood, IN — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:41:08 GMT

I've always heard left-handed people predominantly use their right brain more. Therefore, they're more creative liars making it much easier to succeed in politics. ...haha... You laugh, but it may just be true.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Jennifer, Greenville, SC — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:41:54 GMT

I don't think there's necessarily an advantage to being left-handed. However I would like to note that I am 35 and when I was in 1st grade, my teacher not only insisted, but punished me for not using my right hand. I was the only leftie in the class and my writings were never displayed because they were illegible (as I was writing with my non-dominate hand). She even called my mother and said I was a disruption to the class and definitely had the idea that I was "disabled" (even though I grew up to be an honors student with academic scholarships to college). The stigma of being a leftie was present in my lifetime.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Mike, Gresham, OR — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:42:22 GMT

Adding to the odd-generational aspect; My parents and grandparents were all right-handed. My Dad had 2 brothers and a sister, the oldest and youngest of which were lefties. In my generation, I have two brothers and a sister, and the oldest and youngest are...lefties. Someone care to calculate the odds on that?

White House leans again to the left(ies)

kevin- brampton-canada — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:44:24 GMT

i am left in writing, eating, playing snooker,cutting,cooking,cleaning, but hey
when i play baseball and cricket its the right hand.. The tissue is also in the right hand by the way! :)

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Bernie Misiura, Town of Tonawanda, NY — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:45:34 GMT

Christina, Union NJ (Thursday, January 22, 2009 9:54 AM),

My wife is a righty and I am a lefty and two of our three kids are lefty.
---
Joanna, Emmett, Idaho (Thursday, January 22, 2009 9:55 AM),

I change the mouse at work and when I forget to change it back people become mad at me and complain to supervisors, I simply tell them now you know how I feel. We also had a CAD (computer aided dispatch) program that would not allow you to change the mouse. I asked them when they went to CAD many years ago to make sure this could be done and they did not.
---
Dave Gosslee, Mt. Juliet, Tennessee (Thursday, January 22, 2009 10:00 AM),

Very funny as are many of the comments here. When I am out with family or friends for dinner they always same the head chair for me so that I do not elbow a righty when they have a fork in their mouth
---
Kristina, Massachusetts (Thursday, January 22, 2009 10:04 AM),

Catholics have gone to war over less. Also that is not so far fetched I remember being an advocate of a group that was fighting auto insurance companies. They wanted to charge us more because we use our left hand on the steering wheel so if we have a medical, or over tired issue they claim that when our hand dropped we would go head on in to on coming traffic, causing more damage, injuries, and death.

Of course it was deemed unconstitutional.
---.
Paul Vanatta, Tucson, Arizona (Thursday, January 22, 2009 10:07 AM),

Right you are!
---
WV (Thursday, January 22, 2009 10:09 AM),

Funny you mention that; because I have read articles that lefty's and intelligent people make more typos because their brain moves faster than their motor skills. This results in the finger that is closest to a letter key punching it first and the former letter coming after causing reverse letter typos. They did not say why but I think that it is a “time saver” that being that choosing the letter closest to a finger saves the lag time from going to the further key then to the closest. Hey the fingers do not know that this would cause a spelling error.
---
Mike Mc, Seattle, Wash. (Thursday, January 22, 2009 10:13 AM),

You to funny
---
life republiccan california (Thursday, January 22, 2009 11:19 AM),

What could Obama have done in 2 days? In my personal opinion this time is no more historic than the other I think 58 times a president has been sworn in. My reasons are as follow: First the man is not first, there is no such thing as a second first because that would be second. In the Olympics do we say when a Russian crosses the finish line first and then an American crosses it second that he is the first American to cross the finish line and give them both gold metals? No. Also he is not black he is mulatto.
---
GN, Landenberg, PA (Thursday, January 22, 2009 11:19 AM),

I notice that he was also taught to right improperly because teachers taught us (people of his same age) to wright with the paper slanted the way a right handed person would which makes a left handed person wright over the letters so he can see what he is doing. The paper he is writing on should be slanted from the upper left of the desk to the lower right and then he would not have to wright over the top of what he is writing. I did not learn that until I was a senior in collage when a left handed sophomore girl taught me that.

My freshman year I went to Nazareth Collage Rochester, NY. They were a heavy arts school with about 25-33% left handed populace. We formed a group because we had the chair desks that were designed for right handed people only. We petitioned the school to get left handed chairs so that we did not get marked off for sloppy penmanship and to help prevent when the teacher was lecturing or walking the isles during a test from bumping into our elbows and causing long pen lines across our papers. We won.
---
manny johnson (Thursday, January 22, 2009 11:22 AM),

You go lefty!
---
Diana Owens, Tacoma, Wash. (Thursday, January 22, 2009 11:27 AM),

It is a good human interest story.
---
Pam Campos (Thursday, January 22, 2009 11:31 AM),

Um, they did mention Bill Clinton, you must be a righty, LOL
---
Susan Moore, Florida (Thursday, January 22, 2009 11:35 AM),

What your husbands are strange or that they were both lefties? LOL
---
Jennifer, Portland OR (Thursday, January 22, 2009 11:36 AM),

I do not think it was a question it was more of a statement. Geschwinds was right unless it is advantageous in even some minor way it would have been bread out of us. Besides the number of lefties is increasing.
---
Paul Ezelle, Exeter, CA (Thursday, January 22, 2009 11:38 AM),

Nope not Kennedy
---

Karen, Anaheim, CA (Thursday, January 22, 2009 11:39 AM),

We are special all right, LOL

THANKS FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT ALL,

b

White House leans again to the left(ies)

bill stigall norfolk ,va. — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:45:53 GMT

i write right and bat left so what!!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:46:14 GMT

My wife and I are both right-handed but I have a tendency for ambidexterity at times. We have a set of 4 yr old twins both right-handed, however one is somewhat ambidextrous like me...funny how genetics works.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Donna, Rockford, IL — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:46:35 GMT

I've always heard left-handers are the only ones in their right mind. I am a leftie (right handed parents and 4 right handed siblings). My husband is a leftie (right handed parents and 3 right handed siblings). We have 3 children, all righties. Have 6 grandchildren and, bless her heart, one granddaughter is a leftie!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Jack, Estes Park, CO — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:48:05 GMT

I can relate to this. I am dominate left, but I was pressured by parents and teachers to write with my right hand. Made my first several teachers nuts. When one hand got tired I would put the pencil in the other. They won sort of since I write with the right. I bat left, shoot a pistol left, shotgun right, racket ball either one, hammer with both, mouse with both and eat left. Feel sorry for the folks who have one useless hand. Maybe they did me a favor?

White House leans again to the left(ies)

john Tucson AZ — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:48:10 GMT

I am left handed, even thought my parents tryed to force me to be the other. I also share the same birthdate as oue new president. I do believe i have been a sucess, I was fortunate to make my first million by age 25. A Small voctory for lefties.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

mac lake orion, mich — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:48:18 GMT

I am also a lefty,although in all sports I use my right side. As a painting contractor I recently had a woman question my skills because she noticed I used my left hand to handle the brush while cutting in around the celing. She stated she had 5 kids and when 2 of them used their left hands to eat as children she would make them change hands or they could not eat. Warm and fuzzy mom,eh?

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Norma, Auburn, GA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:48:34 GMT

According to my LEFT HANDER'S CALENDAR, Martin Luther King, Jr., was also left-handed.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

C.A. Vroom, Cranford, NJ — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:52:00 GMT

I am a left handed person born to two righties. My maternal grandfather was a "forced" lefty. My sister and her former husband are both right handed, yet their daughter is a lefty as well.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Sarah, Springfield, IL — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:52:59 GMT

Both of my parents are righties, and of the four kids, the only boy is left-handed. However, he doesn't bat or golf left-handed. How many lefties do certain things with their right hands?

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Joyce Anna, Texas — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:58:11 GMT

Answer to Pam Campos- reread Bill Clinton is mentioned.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Angie, KY — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:59:14 GMT

I'm a leftie and my ex-husband is a righty that always complained that the house was turned around backwards....handle of coffee pot turned to the left, soap on left of sink....Time to make them adapt to a left-handed world!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Louie Buses, Leonard, TX — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:59:59 GMT

Actually the Bible treats righties and lefties pretty equal. David even had a special squadron of fighters who were all left handed. The only passage that seems to riles lefties is Mat. 25, the separation(placed on the left hand of God)of those meant for destruction from those headed for heaven (placed on the right). But then, if you are seperating sheep and goats, you have to put them somewhere. If you are going to try and pick on the Bible at least read it and get your facts straight.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Mary Ann, Newcastle, CA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:01:26 GMT

after 8 years in Search & Rescue, I had noticed a higher than average number of lefties involved. I started wondering if lefties were somehow prewired for the challenges of SAR, K9 & ground-pounders.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Ginny, Colorado Springs, Colorado — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:02:23 GMT

I'm lefthanded and very fortunate to have a family that did not do anything drastic like tie my arm behind my back and force me to write righthanded...like I have heard of from some of my acquaintances..
I'll have a better opinion of President Obama once he has been in the White House after a year or so and not because he is lefthanded.
Calling someone or a group a witch or witches has absolutely nothing to do with which hand they write with or eat with or whatever with. The reply that lefties should be persecuted because you think that that is what the Bible is saying or even to have to ask this question - is evident that you haven't picked it up lately and read it - start with the Gospel of John first and then read the remainder of the Gospels and so forth-nor do I see any comparison between being lefthanded and being gay... or what it has anything to do with one's sexual orientation, unless you are gay and want to be accepted based solely on your choice of sexual orientation than on who you are as the person God formed you to be while you were in your mother's womb... This brings up a point then that if gays want special rights solely based on them being gay then lefties should have special rights solely because they are lefties? What about the righties? They should then have special rights too because of them being righties...etc...give me a break!
There is already persecution going on in America.
Above all, Obama is a Jesus Christ follower no matter his personal/private moral standings/beliefs that you or I may agree with or disagree with. I may not be totally happy that he is the new president but I am relieved that he is a Jesus Christ follower and is open about it. I applaud him for being an open Christ follower and I am one, too. I will pray for him as I have for our past presidents. Being an open Jesus Christ follower is not an easy thing to do in a country that persecutes Christians openly. We are all sinners and we recognize our need for a savior which is Jesus Christ. We all do the best we can and instead of tearing each other down we need to be lifting each other up.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

jake gumm — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:09:37 GMT

im related to Judie Garland (AKA JUDY GUMM) and i figure thats were i get my left handiness from also i was a pitcher in my youth, and not to mention im a great singer. Things are starting to make sense. i always thought i was special.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Emilie, Port Orchard, WA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:13:00 GMT

I think those in authority tried to get left-handers to use their right hands in order for everyone to be consistent, being that most people are right-handed---You had to modify or adapt some things just for the use of left-handers, and that was seen as inconsistent.

I also noticed that it was difficult for me to teach girls to knit and crochet. I had to use a mirror to see if they were doing it the way I would only backwards. Lefties also slant their handwriting to the left.

I tried writing with my left hand, just to see if I could do it, and my brain guided my hand and I ended up writing from right to left, and when I held it up to the mirror, it was alsmost as if I had written it with my right hand, the way I normally write. Strange phenomenon; I clearly had intended to write from left to right, but with my left hand. They say that DaVinci used to do that too. I think he enjoyed toying with what the body could do.

Emilie
Port Orchard, WA

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Richard Davis, Little Rock, AR — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:13:14 GMT

I am a 63 year-old (3/7/45) male. I attended school in rural Northeastern North Carolina. My 4th grade teacher forced me to write right-handed, all the while giving me failing grades in writing. Consequently, I cannot write in cursive. Organizing my thoughts has always been somewhat scattered although I am a dissertation away from a PhD. I like being left-handed.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Sondra, Portland Or — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:16:24 GMT

Both my parents were right handed and out of six kids , four boys and two girls, both girls are left handed. I alway said some day we would rule the world.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

robin bond, park ridge il — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:17:23 GMT

I think it's a misnomer to call someone just a lefty or rightie. I use my left hand for dexterity (writing) and my right hand for strength (throwing or hitting a ball). That's why I'm lousy at playing pool.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Doug O'Brien, Detroit, Michigan — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:17:46 GMT

My Father was left handed and at Catholic School the nuns would tie his left hand behind his back and try and make him write with his right hand.
They said the devil was left handed !!!!!!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Dr. Lynn R. Hartz, Charleston, WV — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:20:53 GMT

I am a lefty, as is my brother. No one else in our family were, including our parents, but our grandmother was. When I was in the second grade, my teacher was left handed. There were two lefties in her class and she taught us to write cursive before we went to third grade because she wanted to make sure we never "hooked" or had other problems with writing. I love being a lefty! I tell people lefties are smarter than righties and we're always in our right mind!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Claudia Epstein, Boca Raton, FL — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:46:38 GMT

Almost all of the oldest children in my husband's extended family are lefties, including our daughter (we are both righties), his brother, cousins, etc. Years ago I saw my daughter's name on a list on her pre-school class blackboard, and asked the teacher what the list was for. She said those were the lefties, they got special scissors. There were about 10 names on that list, out of maybe 30 kids total in that classroom. I've always thought 10% is too low an estimate.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Virginia, USA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:50:24 GMT

I'm a lefty except when it comes to throwing a ball and shooting an arrow then I use my rightie...I'm also right eye dominant. My parents, brother, sister, exhusband, 2 daughters,and son are righties. I had to teach myself how to crochet (thanks to crocheting for dummies) because sitting in front of my mom trying to learn that way was totally confusing!! At work I use my right hand to move the mouse and I can 10-key type with my right hand...I've had to adapt to the right-handed work environment in order to succeed. I had to learn how to write righthanded after shattering my left elbow in a car accident - I have better penmanship writing left handed, though. :-)
I think I have been persecuted enough for being a Christian that I don't need to be perscuted for being leftie, also. I did practice Witchcraft for a while before becoming a born-again Christian but I don't contribute that to being a leftie.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Margaret Whiteside, Asheville, NC — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:53:52 GMT

I am a lefty, but only use my left hand to write. I peel, iron, hit a baseball, etc. with my right hand. I can paint with both hands, but do not eat with my left hand. I turn my paper to the left so that I do not write like the President over-handed. No one notices that I am left-handed because I turn my paper to write just as a right-hander would.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

wiccan wolfess, Omaha, NE — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 23:13:49 GMT

Left handed people are better sex partners too :-)

White House leans again to the left(ies)

JESSICA, ANAHEIM, CA — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 23:52:48 GMT

ME AND MY BROTHER ARE BOTH LEFT HANDED AND OUR PARENTS ARE BOTH RIGTH HANDED

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Chance, Maryland — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 00:02:41 GMT

DRC:
I, too, was born and raised in Maryland, and experienced a similar lack of tolerance and understanding from my teachers. As a result, 30 years later I can still easily switch from left to right for most tasks (though my handwriting is awful with either hand). I still have difficulty distinguishing my left from my right. It drives my two righty parents crazy.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Tonia,Robbins,Ill — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 00:16:19 GMT

I was born alefty and my mother switched me but I still function as a left brainer and if you are a lefty your are right because their is a cross over process inthe brain,I too was impressed to see president Obama was a lefty

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Sabina Cragg Ottawa Canada — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 00:42:36 GMT

Not to be a nitpicker but your list of the presidents left out the fact that both Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford died. In 2004 and 2006 respectively.

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Andrea, Vernon, NJ — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 01:32:46 GMT

I am left handed also. Only one of three children and the oldest. No one else in family left handed; also I only eat and write (and not back hand either; just like a rightie) with my left everything else is with my right including my sports.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Laura H., Seattle, WA — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 03:03:08 GMT

I thought the reason many lefties write with a hook is that it prevents them from smearing the ink as they go. Since they still have to write left to write, this is a problem.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Sarahbones Dayton Ohio — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 03:27:23 GMT

Left-Handed people are always in their right minds.
Left-Handers have MANY advantages over righties: everyone assumes that we're the same as them. Surprise! We're unique

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Alex, Chicago, IL — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 03:30:33 GMT

interesting thing about the 9.5% in my family. Both my parents are right handed and they had 3 lefty sons, and this seems to be a trend which skips every other generation in my mom's side. My Grandpa and his Grand-dad and their brothers were lefties as well.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Heather, Phoenix, AZ — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 03:33:59 GMT

My Hubby was "converted" to right handedness by the nuns in grammer school, but he throws left and eats as a lefty, and can use chop sticks in either! I'm a lefty too, and one of our children is also a lefty - we noticed at 14 mos when he started imitating his big sister. Friends and family have a hard time in our house becuase our scissors, can opener and veggie peeler are all for "lefties" now they know how i feel! :)

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Andy Hospador, Center Valley, PA — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 03:36:54 GMT

We left-handers write with the hand hooked around in order to see what we just wrote. In drafting class I had to learn to print with the hand vertical, so now I can write either way, but my legal signature is with my hand hooked around. Sinister was because a left-handed swordsman was dangerous because right-handers carried a shield to fend off another rightie's blows, but it wasn't effective against lefties. I believe it was a rule of warfare to not use lefties. I was recruited by the fencing coach because I'm leftie. I'm an engineer, and have observed about 20+ % of engineers are leftie. Lefties are more observant of small detail and analytical because that's what they need to get along in a right-handed world.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Sara, NJ — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 04:44:33 GMT

Cool article....I'm right handed but def. lean towards right brain dominance. What's also interesting is that I'm left EYE dominant..i.e. cannot take photos with my right eye and have found most "photographers" also left eye dominant. :)

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Barbados — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 04:47:09 GMT

im left handed and so is my sister my daughter is not. and i was disappointed... but geing left-handed is also talented and smart. look at the USA presidents

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Cindy LA CA — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 05:02:24 GMT

I am a leftie also. I write w/my left hand, use my right hand for the mouse at home, left hand for the mouse at work, and my right hand for the 10 key calculator at work. This seems to amuse my co workers.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Gorma, san antonio tx — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 05:16:25 GMT

I'm 4 years younger the President Obama; I'm a leftie but I don't write "upide down" or with the hooked hand.
I wonder when the schools stopped teaching that style...or if I just had a progressive teacher!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

jen, florida — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 05:29:51 GMT

according to a program i viewed on the discovery channel, scientists theorize that left-handedness is determined in the womb. they have found that a fetus sucks its thumb in the womb and whether it sucks the right or left thumb determines which hand will be dominant in life. i also saw the program afforementioned in which the twin theory may also suggest left-handedness.

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betty hasenbeck — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 06:01:51 GMT

When folks give me a hard time about my left-handedness, my standard remark is:

"But I'm in my RIGHT mind". It shuts them up!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

JBR STL, MO — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 06:43:28 GMT

Interesting, but lets get to the meat of the argument. Lets provide a chart of all comparable people who make these different tasks or careers both right and left handers, and compare them by a percentage of the total #. That is the only conclusive way of determining if there is a measurable deviation of the 10% average left-handedness by population. Until such a chart is provided, including all the famous leaders, politicians, musicians, actors or any other group deemed gifted or special; any assertion of being left handed as overly gifted in some way would be an erroneous assumption.

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angelosdaughter Reno, NV — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 08:34:45 GMT

I'm primarily lefthanded. It was the trend when I was young for teachers to discourage use of the left hand. I iron with my right hand and use a right-handed computer mouse. I can also write legibly with my right hand; my right-handed penmanship is not as even, but it is readable.
Both of our parents were right-handed; my sister and I are lefthanded.

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richard harris saugus, mass — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 09:14:26 GMT

i had a blast playing basketball. i would fake right going to the hoop and then go left. the guy defending me said," wow you can go to your left pretty good." somebody yelled out, "he's left-handed for crying out loud". my secret was out.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Kayla, Warren, Pa. — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 09:57:05 GMT

Neither of my parents is left handed, but my grandmother is left handed. For the most part, she was the one who taught me how to write, color, use scissors, etc. I'm right hand dominate, but I refuse to identify myself as soley right handed because there are certain things I cannot do, at least completely, with my right hand. I can't open a bottle at all with my right hand, and I drive primarily with my left. I used left-handed scissors until kintergarten, and I couldn't comfortably cut with my right hand until about the 3rd grade. I would have kept using lefty scissors but there were only 2 pair in the class, and there were 2 complete lefties in my grade, so they got to use them.
I am left-footed, sort of, I kick with my right foot, but lead with my left for any type of running excersize. When I played basketball, I was the first person to comfortably and correctly learn left-handed layups and I had little trouble dribbling with my left. I frequently do things "backwards". I also sleep on my left side.
But I cannot quite call myself ambadextrious. I cannot write, draw, or comfortably use utensils with my left hand. So, I believe that I am right-hand dominate, but not completely. As far as nature vs. nuture goes, I also believe that my left-handed grandmother had a lot to do with my handedness. If she hadn't taught me to use my left, I doubt that I would have the proficiency I do with it now.
I don't believe that we should ever try to change our children's hand dominance, but we should encourage them to learn to use both. You never know when you could break or injure your dominant hand and need the other. Simple tasks such as buttoning ones pants, tying shoes, or pouring milk could prove extrememly difficult if one does not have some amount of skill with the other hand.

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Donna Torrisi Patterson NY — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 11:22:37 GMT

I've been hearing the rightie/leftie ratio as the same as this article since just after they stop "fixing" lefties in schools. I think it's time for a new survey to see how many of us their really are. I believe there are more and more of us and what a great thing that would be.
I took an art class last night and after 24 years after teachiing my teacher said I did something he hasn't seen yet. "very creative"

White House leans again to the left(ies)

aleftieinhouston — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 14:38:16 GMT

Note to sdbrat. I work in the electrical engineering field and have noticed a dispropriate percentage of fellow lefties. There is a strong correlation to "creativeness" and "engineering/design". I always count the number of lefties in meeting, and it is usually greater than 25%.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Kathleen O, Tallahassee, FL — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 14:45:11 GMT

Being a leftie who has reasonably good use of my right hand, I have told people that I am ambi-sinistral, since ambi-dextrous would not be very positive. I have two computers in front of me and use a mouse in each hand, although I prefer to use one right handed since that frees me left hand for making notes with a pen.

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John, Florida — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 16:16:10 GMT

How did they know Alexander the Great was left handed. Can anybody cite a source?

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Bret Holtz — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:19:06 GMT

The Bible doesn't decry left-handedness or left-handed people. In fact, the only left-handed person specifically mentioned in the Bible is portrayed heroically. While it is true that the "the left" is considered a lesser position, a cultural norm still prevalent in the mideast, that doesn't equate to left-handedness. Bigotry against left-handers predates the Bible...probably because of resentment for our superior cognitive ability.

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Joel Moses, Cambridge, MA — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:58:12 GMT

It's interesting that you quote Geschwind. Norm Geschwind, who I assume is his father,wrote the book on handedness "Cerebral Lateralization."

I believe that one reason recent presidents have been disproportionately left-handed is that the US public was looking for outsiders, and left handedness is associated with outsiders.

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Joel Moses, Cambridge, MA — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 18:00:51 GMT

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Aimee, Vermont — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 18:06:57 GMT

I am left handed, and I write holding my paper sideways, writing in a vertical manner. I have done this all my life. The surprising part comes when I do calligraphy the same way, but when I draw, it is not sideways.....

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Doug, Nashville, TN — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 19:02:01 GMT

I'm proudly left-handed, as is my mother. My father briefly tried to make me right-handed as a child (bought me a right-handed baseball glove), but that didn't fly with my mother being a leftie. Oddly, I swing a baseball bat and golf club rightie, and my atheletic friends always said they envied that, as my lead hand; the left, was stronger and more dominant and an advantage. Even so, I doubt I'll be honored in either Hall of Fame. But I do keep up with prominent lefties and also immediately noticed President Obama's left hand writing.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Donna Scott, Amarillo, Texas — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 19:23:33 GMT

I'm left-handed, and was not forced to change or write a different way, even in the '60s when I was in elementary school. We were given left-handed desks and our left-handedness was encouragaed. As a result, I don't have the "left-handed hook" that President Obama and others have. Also, when I was a child, I was the only left-hander that anyone in the family ever knew of in our history; I guess someone has to start it! Since then, my first-born daughter is left-handed, as is her first-born son. My other two children are righties.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Kathryn Miller, Millerton, OK — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 20:00:03 GMT

The Bible isn't against left handed people. One of the early Judges for the Israelites, Ehud was left handed(Judges 3:14-30). He saved the people from Eglon a King of Moab. There was also mention of in the Bible 700 left handed stone slingers and a group of archers in the army (Judges 20:16, 1 Chronicles12:2, Jeremiah $: 24). I'm left handed and my husband is right. We have three right handed daughters who are very talented in many areas, I believe that comes from learning to think like both a left handed and right handed person. If you are ever around people of both types you will notice they think differently.

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Laura Rabbeth, Houston, TX — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 20:42:18 GMT

I'm a lefty too!!!

Yeah, power to the Right-minded people!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Mark, Tacoma, WA — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 20:45:33 GMT

I'm a leftie, with no hook, and I can't write in cursive if I try. I always see lefties with a hook, and think "They must really get soar wrists after writing". My only problem being a leftie without a hook, is my hand dragging over what I just wrote leaving ink marks all over my pages. When I fill in forms, I always start of the right side of the page and work my way to the left.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

James Davis, Oklahoma City, OK — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 21:31:35 GMT

In the old testment it talks of 300 or so left archers that the Lord picked to do battle! I can not remember the book or verse at present.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

D. De La Fuente, Atlanta, FA — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 21:49:31 GMT

Neither of my parents are lefties, and interestingly, I am the only one of nearly two hundred extended family members who is. I like the distiction.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

vive le resistance, Los Angeles, CA — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 22:44:10 GMT

hey, anyone else hate those high school desks or lecture hall seats with the desks attached? always on the right except for maybe the ones on the aisle! but who wants to sit on the aisle all the time? yeah, can openers never gave me a problem, scissors i eventually figured out, even three-ring folders I can work with, but those desks! (ended up having to the do the leftie lean in lecture halls and commandeer the neighboring desk)
also, totally don't write with the left-handed hook, never really understood it. is it because those lefties are trying to pull the pen across the page like righties instead of pushing it?
anyway, I'm the only left-hander in a family of five and find doing anything with my right hand very awkward even if i don't notice for ten minutes that someone has been using my computer and didn't bother to put my mouse back to the right (left) side.
and taking a sign language class was a very interesting experience, the teacher had to always repeat the gestures again just for me (i felt so special). do you think that's like having a weird accent in terms of signers?
in any case, go lefties! the fruition of our top secret plan to take over the world and change the meaning of right to left and left to right shall be upon us shortly! soon everyone will know left from wrong!

heh heh

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Jon, St. Louis, MO — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 22:47:22 GMT

The Bible does not condemn left-handedness. The Book of Judges describes Ehud as a left handed man who saved the nation of Israel.

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Joyce V, Morehead City NC — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 14:17:44 GMT

Both our parents are left-handed and my brother and I are right-handed; one of three grandchildren (only girl) is left handed. Mother can actually write forward with her left hand while simultaneously righting the same time/text backwards with her right hand. Anyone have abilities like this?

White House leans again to the left(ies)

angelosdaughter Reno, NV — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 21:02:04 GMT

Mike Mc. The article you read makes sense to me. I make typos with reversed letters all the time. I do feel that my brain works faster than my fingers.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Donald Thek East Stroudsburg, Penna — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 01:52:07 GMT

My grandmother could tell befor the baby left

The cradle if it would left or right handed.

She proved it many times over.

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Mike Vickers, Port St. Lucie, Florida — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 02:24:01 GMT

I'am a lefty my x-wife was a lefty, we had two children a boy and girl both lefties. My present wife of 32 years is a lefty. I bat lefty but golf right handed due to a lack of lefty clubs in the 1950's, which may indicate my ability to adapt to a right handed world.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Deborah Fuquay NC — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 06:03:46 GMT

My 73 year old mom was left handed but her 1st grade teacher taught her to write right handed. She does everything right handed. I, too, am right handed but do several things left handed such as play pool and sweep w/ my left hand. I can also write left handed although it's more comfortable and neater with my right hand.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

dparker4058@yahoo.com — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 15:13:51 GMT

When I was younger my grandmother tried to teach me how to knit (at my request) she being right handed and me being a southpaw, couldn't get our stitches together. She finally gave up--and I have spent my life not knowing the skill. Are there any left handed knitters?
"Dan Parker, Austin, TX

White House leans again to the left(ies)

M. McElhannon Texarkana, AR — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 21:15:19 GMT

I am ambidextrius because I have had to adapt to a right- handed environment. I can write with both hands at the same time. As a nurse, I noticed many doctors and nurses are left-handed. I, too, believe that left -handed people have an advantage in the "smarts" field.

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sam smith — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 23:39:49 GMT

i am the only lefty in my whole family and i feel special about it, like i am different and unique. YEAH OBAMA! LEFTY'S RULE!!!!!!!! :)

White House leans again to the left(ies)

MW, Dallas,TX — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 05:15:21 GMT

My parents are both right-handed, my sister (middle) as well. But my (oldest) brother and I (youngest daughter) are left-handed. With all of these left handed people in the world it amazes me that the amount of right handed desks in schools are still being used today! :) I was very aware of "being different" because of these desks and no one else I knew was left handed. I was taught to play golf right handed because left handed golf was not "right". It wasn't until my senior year in college that I saw a left handed desk for the first time. I remember a few of us 'fighting' over it because there was just one. Even though I use my left hand for most things, I use my right for the mouse, golf and both for putting. I also found I am also observant now whether someone is left or right. I am proud to be a leftie!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Merlin, Columbus, OH — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 21:14:21 GMT

I'm left handed and proud of it. My parents were each from families of 8 children, one in each was a lefty, but neither of my parents were. My parents had 4 children, 2 left handed, one male and one female. My right handed brother has 2 boys, one is left handed. I've noticed the presidential handed preference in this race and the Clinton race when all 3 candidates were lefties. Thanks for the article on how many presidents were lefties.

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Doris Palmer, Osborne, Kansas — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 17:39:52 GMT

My husband is right handed and I am a lefty. Our first of three sons was born prematurily and opened this left eye first - yes he is very left handed. But our second son is right handed and left eyed. No one has mentioned the any one being right handed and left eyed. His eye doctor says that he will read slowly and retain above 90% and do very well in math. This is so with him. He does very well thinking thing out.

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Gerry Lytle, Salt Lake City, Ut — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:49:46 GMT

I write lefthanded but do everything else righthanded. What can I consider myself--a freak?

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Dan WVC, Utah — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 01:29:42 GMT

I am the left handed son of two righthanders. My current posterity consists of twenty nine. There is not a left hander in the group and I feel bad for each of them.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

John Phillips, Scotia, NY-- phillipsosopher@nycap.rr.com — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:04:42 GMT

Good added info on lefties. It helps explain my long-held observation that they are special (or above average) in some way. Only one that I recall was unremarkable. My brother is a leftie and probably led me to my fascination with left-handedness;I seem to notice automatically, despite being a righty myself.

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Roy Welsandt, Bloomington, MN — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:09:42 GMT

I am a proud lefty! As a computer professional of over 25 years experience, I have noted that the percentage of lefties in the computer field is somewhat more than double that of the general population. My theory is that computer programming is more an "art" than a "science". It involves a lot of "intuitive" thinking / problem solving. These are characteristics that typically reside in the right hemishpere of the brain which, of course, controls the left side of the body. My wife and I are both left handed, but our two daughters are both right handed. SO much for left-handedness being a "recessive" genetic trait. POWEER TO THE LEFTIES ! ! ! ! !

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Elle, Palm Coast, FL — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:39:50 GMT

I'm a proud leftie (in hand an ideology), My Parents were both Righties -- until you looked a little closer. My father was born a leftie, and forced to use the right hand only. The cruelty applied to force him to so that still chills my soul. When my handedness was discovered, my grandfather (father's father) attempted to "correct" the issue, upon which my mother delcared that he would do so "over her dead body".
I'm glad she did. :-) One of many sayings goes: "If the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then left-handed people are in their right minds!"

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Margaret S. Cody, Wy — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:29:37 GMT

I'm a lefty and had loads of fun while in college and used left handed notebooks - righties would ask to borrow my notes - never worried about them using my work - they usually could not figure it out - on top of that, I would sometimes write backwards, not spelling the words backwards, but actually starting on the right side of the page and moving to the left. I believe that we lefties are not only smart but ingenious and devilish as well.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Dan, Kansas — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 05:24:20 GMT

This article is incorrect in it's assertion that "the Bible decries the left." Quite the opposite, the Bible clearly states that God is left-handed. The book of Hebrews say: "Jesus is sitting on the right hand of God" so clearly God has to use his left hand for eveerything.

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Juanita, Compton, California — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:45:07 GMT

I'm a leftie, and both parents are right handers. And all my siblings are right handers, and I must say that I am proud to be the leftie. I am the total opposite of all. I'm a neat freak, my handwriting is very unique, and I totally think outside the box. Hmmmm.

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deborah rempala st.clair shore michigan — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:58:30 GMT

i'm a leftie and everyone eles in my family is righthanded. that study proves nothing.

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jessica seattle — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 02:00:26 GMT

to answer randee's question, in medieval courts, the liberal thinkers would sit on the left, and the conservatives on the right.

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Doris M. Enck, New Providence, PA — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:47:34 GMT

All-righta for lefties! We're truly unique!

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Robert A. Barrett, Hadley, MA — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 18:49:08 GMT

Some of us with left-handed parents have mixed-dominance, e.g., I write with my right hand, but perceive sounds more accurately with my left ear (right brain). My son wrote easily with both hands and kicked accurately with both feet. Neither daughter is either ambidextrous or ambipodal.

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Karl, Hamburg, NY — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 21:23:32 GMT

Well...you know...God only created a few perfect people...the rest he made right-handed!

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Eliot, Orlando, Florida — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 06:41:53 GMT

Lefties have shorter life spans and a much higher than average rate of accidents.
____________________________________________________
When threatened people go into fight or flight mode, our natural reaction is to pull into a defensive posture (put your hands up like your going to fight) left handed people keep their left hand closer to their body in this defensive posture. When driving that reaction would turn the car to the left, and into oncoming traffic. Hence greater number of accidents, and more fatalities in the process. In Europe they drive on the left, inverting the concept making righties more likely to die in accidents, though at 9 to 1 they're statistically more likely anyway due to sheer numbers.

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Dion, Brooklyn,Newyork — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 08:59:32 GMT

I am Ambidextrous, my mother is Ambidextrous and my father is Ambidextrous My sister is right dominant and Ambidextrous, I was originally left and was forced by my teachers to use my right, my mother found me confused and told my teachers to leave me to use my dominant hand, found out in 9th grade that I can right better with my right than my left so I started using my right evenly with all my task.

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Steve, Eldersburg, MD — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 04:08:50 GMT

i agree with Maxxine, seeing a fellow lefty writing with a hooked arm makes me sad. I have no clue how anyone could have learned to write this way.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Mary, Northeast Pa. — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 05:21:57 GMT

I'm a proud and frustrated leftie - very creative but flummoxed by all the gadgets that are either impossible to use with your left hand, or in the case of chef's knives and power tools, downright dangerous. I note with interest that strange upside down and cramped style of other lefties - in school i was almost the only one all through school,and discouraged. But i hold a paper tilted to the right and write as normally as a rightie, without that infamous "crab-hand" or "crab-crawling" upside down style many lefties learned to use.In order to avoid smearing the ink. Because they were told in school to tilt the paper the opposite and uncomfortable way.People look at me funny when they hand me a paper to sign or write on tilted for righties and i take it and tilt it the other way to write.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

lynn haven ,Florida — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 22:54:44 GMT

I am left-handed. I am an artist,poet and sing gospel in a tenor voice
I was often beaten in school to make me right -handed.
The only time I wrote with my Right hand was when I broke my left hand. I took my finals in high school with my right hand. I doubt anyone could read it. I recieved a regents diploma from this endeavor.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Catlover, Okemos, MI — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:39:59 GMT

I see Robert Preston listed as a left-handed actor. I think he was actually ambidextrous. He wrote with his right hand and in some movies used his right hand more than the left - in westerns the pistol was on his right side. Yet in other westerns he wore it on his left. In the tv movie "Finnegan Begin Again" there is a scene in which he is eating soup. In one shot he was eating it with his left hand and in the next he was eating it with his right hand. He must have been quite a challenge to the continuity people!

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Raymond Belanger,Las Vegas, nevada, — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 03:30:05 GMT

It isn't that people are left or right HANDED, It is that people are left or right EYED, if you want to know what they are when they are very young just check out what eye they look at things with primarily. the other eye is just making the picture three dimentional, and you CAN see it.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Laura, Portage, Indiana — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 22:49:42 GMT

There's also a study that says left-handed people are somewhat more intelligent than right-handed people. I asked my doctor, who's a lefty, if he had ever heard of it and he says it's true.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

Rachael , D.C. — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 04:55:07 GMT

I'm a triplet and all three of us are lefties :).

White House leans again to the left(ies)

LMiller — Sun, 24 May 2009 16:46:28 GMT

Both my right handed grandparents had two lefty sons... both were beaten by the nuns to turn right handed - my father being the only one that could. Out of us 4 kids, I'm the only lefty, but I actually use my right hand more than my left.

All sports (baseball, golf, etc.) I play right handed, and while in the military, I shot equally the same with both hands, (both sharp shooting) but stayed with my right. I can iron, vacuum, all that stuff using both hands, which is nice when one gets tired, I just switch. My mom gets a kick out of that.

Someone bought me a 'left handed' coffee mug when I was younger knowing I was the only lefty in my family - it had a hole on the right side so if you drank from it it would dribble down your shirt. Unfortunately, I drink right handed most of the time and didn't think about it, until I dribbled on myself... needless to say I got rid of the mug.

I can't use a left handed mouse on my pc, because when they first came out, I used it just like everyone else - righthanded. Makes it difficult when I'm trying to edit/draw pictures that I need to be done properly. I'm an artist too - the only one in my family, and a writer.

I do believe we lefties have certain advantages, but lots of disadvantages too - school notebooks, binders, all with the metal things on the left side, not to mention the school desks I had while in school were all made for righties. Very difficult to use as a lefty. Though I'm one of the few that doesn't write like Obama with my hand twisted around and all funky like. I write normal, just with my left hand.

My daughter is right handed though, even though I hoped she'd be a lefty like me... her father was right handed too.

White House leans again to the left(ies)

christina, chatham, nj — Sat, 30 May 2009 03:29:20 GMT

I'd like more information on ambidextrious people...as in - how many people are ambidextrious vs. lefties?

I'm in a gray area - I do most things left handed (write, eat, etc.) but I play almost all sports right handed (tennis, boxing, baseball, etc.). Am I ambidextrious, or predominantly lefty?