Why is a raven like a writing desk?

I watched Alice in Wonderland. The Depp/Burton team never fails to amuse and entertain me and I loved it. Of course, Lewis Carroll's riddle was heard throughout the movie and I wanted to see what the internet made of it. It is the riddle with no answer that drives everyone crazy or is it?

From The Straight Dope:
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1173/why-is-a-raven-like-a-writing-desk

"Lewis Carroll himself got bugged about this so much that he was moved to write the following in the preface to the 1896 edition of his book:

Enquiries have been so often addressed to me, as to whether any answer to the Hatter's Riddle can be imagined, that I may as well put on record here what seems to me to be a fairly appropriate answer, viz: 'Because it can produce a few notes, tho they are very flat; and it is never put with the wrong end in front!' This, however, is merely an afterthought; the Riddle, as originally invented, had no answer at all.

Did this discourage people? No. They figured, that dope Carroll, he's too dumb to figure out his own riddle, setting aside the halfhearted attempt just quoted. So they ventured answers of their own......."

Some of their attempts and more about the riddle and Carroll's book are located at the link above. It is enjoyable reading for insomniacs like myself.

Nite Nite

Linda B in TN:)