# Poll: Weird skill you learned long ago you can still do **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 19, 2007, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-weird-skill-you-learned-long-ago-you-can-still-do/388547 "2007-01-19T02:44:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-weird-skill-you-learned-long-ago-you-can-still-do/388547/21 "2007-01-19T06:54:40Z")
I can recite pi to 100 digits. I have no useful physical skills other than being able to write backward cursive with my non-dominant hand. Okay, I can also write upside down and backward legibly. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-weird-skill-you-learned-long-ago-you-can-still-do/388547/22 "2007-01-19T08:45:13Z")
[QUOTE=olivesmarch4th] Hey you took mine! My record is 4 seconds. [/QUOTE] Is [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSprK4MoG4E) you, by any chance? šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-weird-skill-you-learned-long-ago-you-can-still-do/388547/23 "2007-01-19T10:26:01Z")
I can carve a wooden chain with a jack knife and piece of soft pine. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-weird-skill-you-learned-long-ago-you-can-still-do/388547/24 "2007-01-19T10:33:27Z")
In sixth grade, I found a book in a ditch, walking home from school. It was a book on Gregg Shorthand. I carried it home, and after looking at a couple of pages, I thought what the hell. I might as well learn this. It was pretty easy to pick up. Itā€™s no different from a third-grader learning cursive. I used it throughout school to take notes, but my reading skill is much better than my writing skill. Anyway, I didnā€™t use it much after that. But any time I do think about it, I can see it all in my head. I havenā€™t forgotten it. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-weird-skill-you-learned-long-ago-you-can-still-do/388547/25 "2007-01-19T10:33:43Z")
I can put on lipstick by holding the lipstick tube between my boobs. I learned it at camp. Wait. ā€¦ Iā€™m a guy. I donā€™t have red hair and I donā€™t even have boobs. Thatā€™s not me. Thatā€™s Molly Ringwald who can do that. Why do I always get us confused? ---
**Author:** ![cooky173](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71c47a/32.png) [@cooky173](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cooky173)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-weird-skill-you-learned-long-ago-you-can-still-do/388547/26 "2007-01-19T13:02:02Z")
I third the alphabet backwards, and also in the form of Z A Y B ā€¦ Why i learnt to do that is something I am still trying to figure out. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-weird-skill-you-learned-long-ago-you-can-still-do/388547/27 "2007-01-19T13:37:41Z")
I too can cut a deck of cards with one hand. And I can roll a coin across my knuckles. ---
**Author:** ![Martha\_Medea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/43a26b/32.png) [@Martha\_Medea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martha_Medea)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-weird-skill-you-learned-long-ago-you-can-still-do/388547/28 "2007-01-19T13:40:47Z")
Juggle three balls, bite my toenails, write mirror writing upside down backwards (Iā€™ve posted the latter before). ---
**Author:** ![krisolov](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/krisolov/32/3724_2.png) [@krisolov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/krisolov)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-weird-skill-you-learned-long-ago-you-can-still-do/388547/29 "2007-01-19T14:06:29Z")
I can brew beer, as well as catch food items (goldfish crackers, cheese cubes, etcā€¦) in my mouth when thrown from some distance away. Say up to 25 feet or so. ---
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-weird-skill-you-learned-long-ago-you-can-still-do/388547/30 "2007-01-19T14:12:39Z")
[QUOTE=Sampiro] I can also rolling jump a car but hopefull Iā€™ll never need to again. [/QUOTE] Do you mean jump out of a car and hit the ground rolling, or drive a car over a ramp so that it rolls? Iā€™m confused. Among my other useless talents, I have an outie bellybutton that I can ā€œsuck inā€ and make it an inny. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-weird-skill-you-learned-long-ago-you-can-still-do/388547/31 "2007-01-19T14:30:51Z")
[QUOTE=LifeOnWry] My husband can roll a coin back and forth across his knuckles. Never fails to impress the kiddies. [/QUOTE] Havenā€™t done it years. I pulled out a quarter and tried it and after a few cycles itā€™s going fairly smoothly. If I had a half dollar (or old UK penny) it would be perfect since my hands are too big for a quarter to be comfortable. I wiggle my ears all of the time. It freaks people out. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-weird-skill-you-learned-long-ago-you-can-still-do/388547/32 "2007-01-19T14:34:54Z")
I can spell words in sign language alphabet. Iā€™ve been waiting 40 years to walk into a situation where Iā€™d need it, but so far, no opportunities. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-weird-skill-you-learned-long-ago-you-can-still-do/388547/33 "2007-01-19T17:42:31Z")
I can do black metal vocals pretty well. Thatā€™s a useless skill unless youā€™re a vocalist in a black metal band. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-weird-skill-you-learned-long-ago-you-can-still-do/388547/34 "2007-01-19T18:44:35Z")
When I was in eighth or ninth grade, I saw a commercial for Downy fabric softener in which a little boy sniffs at his bathrobe sleeve, and he twitches his nose. The moment I saw that, I thought, ā€œI should be able to do thatā€, and BAM! I twitched my nose. Been able to do it ever since. I can also lift either eyebrow independently of the other. Oddly, though, wiggling both eyebrows in tandem requires definite concentration. ---
**Author:** ![According\_to\_Pliny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@According\_to\_Pliny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/According_to_Pliny)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-weird-skill-you-learned-long-ago-you-can-still-do/388547/35 "2007-01-19T20:17:34Z")
I can and do fix all appliances. Did you know that if your $18 Mr. Coffee fails you can get parts for it? People think Iā€™m nuts to spend time on old things, but I love to solder. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-weird-skill-you-learned-long-ago-you-can-still-do/388547/36 "2007-01-19T20:21:11Z")
[Malienation], we were apparently separated at birth. Juggling and one-handed card cutting are my only skills. Iā€™d love to be able to roll a coin across my knuckles. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-weird-skill-you-learned-long-ago-you-can-still-do/388547/37 "2007-01-19T20:54:35Z")
[QUOTE=LifeOnWry] Point your two index fingers at one another in front of you. Now draw a clockwise circle in the air with one hand, and a counterclockwise circle in the air with the other, keeping your index fingers pointed inward - you have one hand rotating toward you, the other away from you. [/QUOTE] I can do this. One of the side benefits of extensive movement training in acting school. šŸ™‚ [QUOTE=Shagnasty] I can squeeze my hands together to make these controllable fartish notes (my aunt can play songs). [/QUOTE] I can play the fiddle solo from ā€œDevil Went Down to Georgiaā€ on my farting hands. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-weird-skill-you-learned-long-ago-you-can-still-do/388547/38 "2007-01-19T21:27:46Z")
I can perform the [beshkan](http://ajabanzaban.com/culture/beshkan.html), the Persian Two-Handed Finger Snap. ---
**Author:** ![Faruiza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@Faruiza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Faruiza)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-weird-skill-you-learned-long-ago-you-can-still-do/388547/39 "2007-01-19T22:11:50Z")
[QUOTE=Fiddle Peghead] I can perform the [beshkan](http://ajabanzaban.com/culture/beshkan.html), the Persian Two-Handed Finger Snap. [/QUOTE] Yay! Now I can, too! How oddā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![conurepete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e57/32.png) [@conurepete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/conurepete)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-weird-skill-you-learned-long-ago-you-can-still-do/388547/40 "2007-01-19T22:12:17Z")
I taught myself face-painting in my early teens. I can face-paint faster then almost anybody (around 600 in one 10 hour span). I can also paint with my toes, but slower. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-weird-skill-you-learned-long-ago-you-can-still-do/388547.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-weird-skill-you-learned-long-ago-you-can-still-do/388547.md?page=3)