Thanks for the great question. The answer still seems counterintuitive to me - I expected that selecting COUNT(*) would return at least one row (the count result, whether 0 or more), but I guess it works differently in these rare cases.
Thanks again - I've been learning a lot lately with these questions.
- webrunner
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A SQL query walks into a bar and sees two tables. He walks up to them and asks, "Can I join you?"
Ref.: http://tkyte.blogspot.com/2009/02/sql-joke.html