And just remember that although the mouse is one of the most marvelous inventions in computing, it's been the source of wonder, puzzlement, and rude jokes since it was invented.

The first mouses had balls of steel, that tended to pick up crud from the desktop (even before the other invention - the mouse pad). Service reps, who actually came to the computers, became practiced at "washing your balls."

It was discovered quite quickly however that freshly washed balls got dirty again much quicker than fresh new ones, and the damage was progressively, with less performance recovery each time the balls were dunked in the alcohol rinse. This was known as "drunken mouse syndrome."

Service reps were trained to always have a few extra balls with them, so that they could replace ones that were past rehabilitation. No one knows what the reps did with their recovered drunken balls, but they were teased about their recovery program.

Because of the need for service reps always to have enough balls, IBM was noted for REQUIRING that service offices post by the door, where reps had to go past on the way out, the prominint sign that asked:

       HAVE YOU CHECKED YOUR BALLS?

Times have changed however, and widespread opinion holds that modern technical service reps have no balls at all. (And they won't come to the office when you need them.)

John