The Evil That is Select *

I agree with this. However, typing all of the columns can be tedious! Now imagine you are working with a table with DOZENS of columns?!

SELECT * FROM DENORMALIZEDTABLE1

If you are using MS-SQL or writing a query in MS Visual Studio then there is a trick. You can:
* write the select * like above
* hilight the query
* right click
* and select "Design query in editor.."
* Click Ok to close the query editor

Poof! The SELECT * has been replaced with explicit column names! No excuses!