# "Dumb but impressive tricks" Whats yours? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 12, 2010, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-but-impressive-tricks-whats-yours/524670 "2010-01-12T16:15:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Zulema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/db5fbb/32.png) [@Zulema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zulema)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-but-impressive-tricks-whats-yours/524670/61 "2010-01-13T05:27:43Z")
> [@Maiira](#): > > I can cross one eye at a time. OK, then you can probably do what I was going to submit as my trick. From a cross-eyed position move one of your eyes around all over while keeping the other eye crossed. It’s easiest moving it just side to side but if I want to make my eyes really achy I can move it around a little up and down. I was better at it in middle school, now I don’t practice enough. I can also mirror or upside down handwrite. ---
**Author:** ![Trick\_Rider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Trick\_Rider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trick_Rider)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-but-impressive-tricks-whats-yours/524670/62 "2010-01-13T05:28:48Z")
I’m pretty good at impressions of singers. I can do Antony Hegarty, Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Lou Reed, Gord Downie, and a few others I can’t remember at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![Kneepants\_Erasmus\_the\_Humanist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/54ee81/32.png) [@Kneepants\_Erasmus\_the\_Humanist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kneepants_Erasmus_the_Humanist)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-but-impressive-tricks-whats-yours/524670/63 "2010-01-13T08:24:00Z")
I can stick my hand through the holes in a chain link fence. Comes in handy when you are playing catch and the ball is thrown over into the next yard. My hands are quite bendy. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-but-impressive-tricks-whats-yours/524670/64 "2010-01-13T08:33:10Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > I can to the ridiculously easy but extremely impressive “quarter catch”: > > 1. Lift your arm, bent at the elbow, so your forearm is nearly flat. > 2. Place a coin (a quarter is best, but any size will work) about two inches past your elbow. > 3. Now swing your arm down. The coin will fall into your hand. > > It takes about 30 seconds of practice to master this. I can do that too. Pretty soon I got to where I could do it with a stack of poker chips 2 or 3 inches high. Slightly missed once. It was like someone fired a shotgun loaded with poker chips across the room. 😃 Also, re the OP, I can blow bubbles (1/4 inch or so) with my saliva. Learned it from my 9th grade woodwork teacher. ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-but-impressive-tricks-whats-yours/524670/65 "2010-01-13T08:36:27Z")
> [@SmellMyWort](#): > > If you were doing this as a bet, how do you prove that you’re not just letting the beer flow out into the tub? Aside from it being your hottub and not wanting beer in the water. Well, you’d still have to displace the hot tub water by exhaling into it, which I suspect is actually more difficult than just drinking it. You see, the bottle is filled with air when completed. ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-but-impressive-tricks-whats-yours/524670/66 "2010-01-13T08:44:00Z")
I can do the tongue cloverleaf thing, touch my nose with my tongue, twiddle my thumbs in both directions simultaneously, and move my eyes independently - though that one does cause achy muscles! I can also write with both hands simultaneously - but whatever I write with my left hand is written backwards. At age 40, I can still do a backbend, much to my daughter’s amazement! (Even I have to admit that it looks pretty funny now that I’m early in my third trimester!) And I can stick out my tongue and touch my ear! :dubious: \<- But I can’t do this. My eyebrows don’t move independently. ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-but-impressive-tricks-whats-yours/524670/67 "2010-01-13T08:57:39Z")
> [@Palo\_Verde](#): > > I can sing the names of all the states in alphabetical order. > > Alabama > Alaska > Arizona > Arkansas > California > Colorado… > > etc Me, too! Did you also learn the song ‘50 Nifty United States’ in 6th grade? And I can also tie a cherry stem into a knot in my mouth. My kids automatically hand me their maraschino cherries when they get a kid’s cocktail. ---
**Author:** ![wolf-alice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9e8a1a/32.png) [@wolf-alice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf-alice)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-but-impressive-tricks-whats-yours/524670/68 "2010-01-13T10:54:02Z")
You know how people put their finger into their mouth and flick it out to make a _pop_? I can do that. … With my ear. I also had a septum piercing at one point which has never healed over, so I can thread paperclips through my nose. I look pretty “vanilla”, unexpected holes-wise (Ha!), so this seems to surprise. Also; [QUOTE=Kobal2] - crack ankles, elbows, hips, shoulders and neck. All 20 fingers and toes go without saying, but knees, jaw and wrists still elude me. [/QUOTE] I currently crack my ankles, elbows, hips, back, neck, toes and fingers each in three places, a place in my foot where I’m not even sure I _have_ a joint, _and_ knees, jaw and wrists. We should hang out. And disgust people. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-but-impressive-tricks-whats-yours/524670/69 "2010-01-13T12:51:39Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I can recite the alphabet backwards as fast as others can recite it normally. I taught myself to do that during history class in high school. I’m always surprised that once I learned I never really forget it. I can still do it. ---
**Author:** ![NBYodo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a9a28c/32.png) [@NBYodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NBYodo)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-but-impressive-tricks-whats-yours/524670/70 "2010-01-13T14:17:39Z")
> [@SP2263](#): > > … > > From a cross-eyed position move one of your eyes around all over while keeping the other eye crossed. It’s easiest moving it just side to side but if I want to make my eyes really achy I can move it around a little up and down. > > … I tought my Mom this one once. We were out and about once and she was practicing, and someone passing by made some comment to us like she thought my Mom had a mental problem. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Arglefraster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3bc359/32.png) [@Arglefraster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arglefraster)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-but-impressive-tricks-whats-yours/524670/71 "2010-01-13T14:30:43Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > I can cut a deck of cards one handed. I hold the deck in one hand between my index and forefingers and use my thumb to cut it and slide the top half under the bottom half. My dad can do that. I’ve tried to learn it, but I just can’t quite get it. I think my hands are too small. I can bend my thumb backwards and push the joint forward. It looks like I’m popping it completely out of the socket, but really I’m just pushing it way far forward. You know how those “random trivia” chain emails always include the thing about how you can’t kiss your own elbow? I used to know a woman who could. She was actually surprised to learn that other people can’t. Her shoulders would bend in ways that human shoulders were not meant to bend. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-but-impressive-tricks-whats-yours/524670/72 "2010-01-13T14:55:03Z")
> [@freckafree](#): > > Note that **Lost4life** did NOT say he could touch his ear with his tongue. He said he could stick out his tongue and touch his ear. I believe anybody can do that! 😛 Funny how people automatically add that extra step 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Rafe\_Hollister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/fbc32d/32.png) [@Rafe\_Hollister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rafe_Hollister)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-but-impressive-tricks-whats-yours/524670/73 "2010-01-13T15:19:59Z")
Knuckle, toe, ankle popping. Ear wiggling, together & independently. Eyebrow raising. Bend my toes backward and touch my feet. Freethrow shooting. ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-but-impressive-tricks-whats-yours/524670/74 "2010-01-13T15:31:45Z")
Parlor trick: “Choose a three digit number. Write it down. Pass it to the person on your right.” “Copy the number to the right of itself, you’ll get a 6-digit number with a repeating sequence, yes…? Now pass it to your right.” “Divide the number by 7. What? Yes, it’s divisible by 7. Trust me! See? Now, pass it to your right.” “Divide the number by 11. Yes… it _is_ See? Now, pass it to your right” “Divide the number by 13. Not many numbers are divisible by 13, no… but I can just **divine** that this one is…! … See? I told you it is! Pass it back to the first person.” “This is your original number… right?” ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-but-impressive-tricks-whats-yours/524670/75 "2010-01-13T16:08:04Z")
> [@](#): > > I can recite the alphabet backwards as fast as others can recite it normally. > [@](#): > > I taught myself to do that during history class in high school. I’m always surprised that once I learned I never really forget it. I can still do it. Yes! I taught myself this many, many years ago, and every few years I check to see if it’s still there. It amazes me that it is. ---
**Author:** ![Rafe\_Hollister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/fbc32d/32.png) [@Rafe\_Hollister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rafe_Hollister)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-but-impressive-tricks-whats-yours/524670/76 "2010-01-13T16:40:48Z")
My grandma is 94 and can still recite the alphabet backwards. I can do it, but have to pause once in a while to make sure I’m still on track. Grandma can get through it in about 6 seconds. ---
**Author:** ![Jumpbass](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jumpbass/32/147_2.png) [@Jumpbass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jumpbass)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-but-impressive-tricks-whats-yours/524670/77 "2010-01-13T17:14:47Z")
Okay, I made a video of my eyebrow “wave”.[Here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTS89tdUvRs) I, too, can cross either eye, but I’ll have to work on moving the other one up and down. Whee! ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-but-impressive-tricks-whats-yours/524670/78 "2010-01-13T18:19:31Z")
I got another one. I’m really good at flinging rubber bands. Back in college my roommate and I made a rubber band ball (with IIRC about 10,000 rubber bands on it) which means there was always an abundance of them around. So we’d sit on our respective couches each with a bag of rubber bands, put up small targets on the TV (items that were about an inch cubed) and spend all night getting high and shooting rubber bands. This was about 8 or 9 years ago and we’re both still pretty good. I can still hit, say, a light switch or door knob from across the room without much of a problem. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-but-impressive-tricks-whats-yours/524670/79 "2010-01-13T18:22:48Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Yes! I taught myself this many, many years ago, and every few years I check to see if it’s still there. It amazes me that it is. The strange thing for me is my cadence. It comes out in weird groupings. It must be how I memorized it. zyx wvut srq pon mlk jih gfedbca and I always, ALWAYS get tripped up at hgf that’s the only part I have to slow down and really think through it, the rest just spills out of me. I have to say it’s nice to be able to do that, looking things up (like in a dictionary or phone book) is twice as fast when you can flip backwards or forwards. ---
**Author:** ![kapri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4491bb/32.png) [@kapri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kapri)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-but-impressive-tricks-whats-yours/524670/80 "2010-01-13T18:26:56Z")
> [@lost4life](#): > > I can stick out my tongue and touch my ear. Wow. I came in here to say I can touch my nose with my tongue, but you win. Do you have TMJ like I do? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-but-impressive-tricks-whats-yours/524670.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-but-impressive-tricks-whats-yours/524670.md?page=5)