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%% AR Contest Winner                                by  David Tiberio  %%
%%                                     dtiberio@libserv1.ic.sunysb.edu %%
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Here is the second puzzle used in the second Amiga Report contest.
Along with it you will find one possible solution and the winner!


THE PUZZLE:

       The ASCII table contains the alphabetic characters from A
    to Z, in sorted order. This character set is the basis for many
    languages, and should be common knowledge to anyone reading this.
    However, there exists a commonly used set of 26 characters, using
    these letters, in non-sorted order. Each character appears once
    and only once. In this non-sorted set, some of the characters do
    appear in alphabetic order, however there exist two characters
    which appear in reverse-sorted order. Where is this set found,
    and what are the two characters?


         To enter, simply let your fingers do the talking and type up an
    email and send it to dtiberio@libserv1.ic.sunysb.edu, or send a post
    card or letter to:


THE WRONG ANSWERS:

        ROT13 (NOPQRSTUVWXYZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ) is not correct.
    Although it is not in perfect sorted order, in a way it is. There
    are two characters in reverse-sorted order, namely Z and A at the
    middle two locations. However, the puzzle states that "some of the
    characters appear in sorted order", while ROT13 has nearly all of
    them in sorted order.


THE WINNING ANSWER:

        The prize winner is Daniel Lapine, drawn from the winning
    answers. And he entered by snail mail too!

            "The code is called the Murray (commonly known as the
        Baudot) code.  The two letters in reverse order are N and M."

                        - from a previous winner who describes it best!

        Or commonly known as the QWERTY keymap. Some characters are in
    sorted order, such as FGH JKL OP, etc. However, the N and M are in
    reverse sorted order on the keymap! Another entry suggested the
    German kaymap, which contains the Z and Y in non-sorted order as
    the QWERTY keymap has the N and M.


THE BREAKDOWN:

        - The ASCII table contains the alphabetic characters from A
       to Z, in sorted order. This character set is the basis for
       many languages, and should be common knowledge to anyone
       reading this.

            Hopefully to set a standard term, so I don't get entries
            like "the Martian alphabet has only 8 letters" and stuff
            like that.

        - However, there exists a commonly used set of 26 characters,
        using these letters, in non-sorted order.

            This being the keyboard on most Amigas.

        -  In this non-sorted set, some of the characters do appear
        in alphabetic order, however there exist two characters which
        appear in reverse-sorted order.

            This being the QWERTY keymap and the letters N and M,
            which most people correctly identified.

        - To enter, simply let your fingers do the talking and type
        up an email and send it to dtiberio@libserv1.ic.sunysb.edu.

            This phrase was purposely put in as a clue: "type up".


THE DISCLAIMER:

    DISCLAIMER: This contest is being provided as a service to the
    Amiga community and all persons involved in running this contest
    cannot be held liable for anything that costs you money or
    lifetime pain and anguish. Rules are subject to change. All entries
    must be received by April 30th, 1994. Any entries beyond this date
    will be entered into the next contest, if any.


THE APOLOGY:

    None for this month!


dtiberio@libserv1.ic.sunysb.edu