# What little tricks can you do that mildly impress others? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 14, 2017, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-little-tricks-can-you-do-that-mildly-impress-others/788948 "2017-06-14T16:42:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![blindboyard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blindboyard/32/2833_2.png) [@blindboyard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blindboyard)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-little-tricks-can-you-do-that-mildly-impress-others/788948/61 "2017-06-16T09:28:01Z")
Shuffle a deck of cards one handed. Put my feet behind my head. > [@Ambivalid](#): > > I can cock up one dubious eyebrow. :dubious: For the life of me tho, I can only do it on one side. I find it fascinating, fascinating and a little frustrating, how completely unable I am to move my other eyebrow in the same direction. Like not even a little bit. Actually, when I concentrate on cocking my left eyebrow, I inadvertently end up cocking my right. I also, but I am left eyebrowed. ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-little-tricks-can-you-do-that-mildly-impress-others/788948/62 "2017-06-16T09:38:56Z")
I can raise both eyebrows independently, juggle 3 objects (and pass juggle 6 in a few patterns if supplied with a suitable partner), move both little toes and the second smallest toe on my left foot all independently. I can make origami flapping birds under 1cm long, or I can make slightly bigger ones one handed behind my back; I can do a different origami model simultaneously in each hand as well, but not very fast. ---
**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:** [June 16, 2017, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-little-tricks-can-you-do-that-mildly-impress-others/788948/63 "2017-06-16T09:44:22Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > I can shuffle poker chips. For me the major hurdle was that I was applying too much pressure pushing the chips into each other. The trick seems to be to apply only as much pressure as needed to contain them and keep them from going anywhere else. I originally was using my middle finger to perform the lift but it’s easier with the index finger. The middle, ring, and little fingers kind of surround one stack while the thumb gently presses the two stacks together. Start with 10 chips (2x5) as fewer actually make it more difficult (not enough weight) and more chips eventually become unwieldy. I am improving, but I wanna be smoooooooth. Not there yet. Thanks for the info. I’ve been learning with 6 chips, will try your advice. mmm ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-little-tricks-can-you-do-that-mildly-impress-others/788948/64 "2017-06-16T13:45:30Z")
> [@Filbert](#): > > I can make origami flapping birds under 1cm long, or I can make slightly bigger ones one handed behind my back; I can do a different origami model simultaneously in each hand as well, but not very fast. I can’t make them quite that small, but I can make flapping birds from beer bottle labels. It’s quite tricky because the material isn’t crisp, often wet, and my fingers are fat. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-little-tricks-can-you-do-that-mildly-impress-others/788948/65 "2017-06-16T14:54:35Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > As a former amateur magician, I can do a number of slight of hand stuff. And as I lived in Japan forever, I do the spin the pen around my thumb while I’m thinking. Apparently, it drove other people in school nuts because they would try a couple of times and give up. I do that too, but never graduated to the other fingers like some people can (sometimes rotating it forward and back between all fingers successively.) I sometimes mix it up by rotating larger objects (which are actually easier as they move slower) or try to get the least amount of contact with my thumb, sometimes flipping the pen around my thumb and back into the same position without making any contact with the top of my thumb. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-little-tricks-can-you-do-that-mildly-impress-others/788948/66 "2017-06-16T15:17:07Z")
I can tell you the day of the week for any date, from 1900 through 2030 or so. It takes about five seconds, less if I can get the year, month, and day separately in the discussion. ---
**Author:** ![eulalia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eulalia/32/457_2.png) [@eulalia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eulalia)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-little-tricks-can-you-do-that-mildly-impress-others/788948/67 "2017-06-16T20:04:45Z")
I can pick things up with my toes and throw them. I can still remember the social security number of my ex-husband whom I haven’t seen for 40 years. Not going to recite that at parties though. ---
**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:** [June 17, 2017, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-little-tricks-can-you-do-that-mildly-impress-others/788948/68 "2017-06-17T00:29:40Z")
> [@CurtC](#): > > I can tell you the day of the week for any date, from 1900 through 2030 or so. It takes about five seconds, less if I can get the year, month, and day separately in the discussion. Is there a technique or formula for this? mmm ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2017, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-little-tricks-can-you-do-that-mildly-impress-others/788948/69 "2017-06-17T04:30:24Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Is there a technique or formula for this? Yes, it’s one I figured out myself. It involves some memorization, and some arithmetic. ---
**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:** [June 17, 2017, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-little-tricks-can-you-do-that-mildly-impress-others/788948/70 "2017-06-17T11:50:51Z")
> [@CurtC](#): > > Yes, it’s one I figured out myself. It involves some memorization, and some arithmetic. Care to share the specifics? mmm ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2017, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-little-tricks-can-you-do-that-mildly-impress-others/788948/71 "2017-06-18T07:29:56Z")
I can wiggle the little toe on my left foot independently of moving my other toes. That’s all I’ve got. ---
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2017, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-little-tricks-can-you-do-that-mildly-impress-others/788948/72 "2017-06-19T00:02:00Z")
When I was in graduate school, I got to be very, very good at balancing old-fashioned salt shakers on their beveled edges, [like this](http://c8.alamy.com/comp/AA81W3/salt-shaker-balancing-on-edge-AA81W3.jpg). I could do it within a few seconds using only a tiny amount of salt. My friends would try to do the same trick and always ended up spilling salt all over the table. Eventually I was also able to do the same thing with pepper shakers. I can still do it, although not as quickly. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2017, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-little-tricks-can-you-do-that-mildly-impress-others/788948/73 "2017-06-19T00:54:30Z")
> [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](#): > > I can touch my tongue to my nose. As can I. Hard to work it into conversation though. My younger sister can flare her nostrils and move the dimple on her chin in and out - at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2017, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-little-tricks-can-you-do-that-mildly-impress-others/788948/74 "2017-06-19T03:45:56Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Care to share the specifics? I’ve memorized a list of years that are “zero-years” as I call them. The ones since 1950 are: 1951, 1962, 1968, 1973, 1979, 1990, 1996, 2001, 2007, 2018, 2024, 2029. Notice the pattern of differences is 6, 5, 6, 11, 6, 5, 6, 11, … Then there’s a number for each month: 6 2 2 5 0 3 5 1 4 6 2 4 for January through December respectively. That’s all the memorizing, now it’s just quick calculations, where you add one for each year past a zero-year, add one for each leap year you covered (Feb 29 specifically), add the month number, add the day of the month, and do a modulo-7 (remainder after dividing by 7). Monday would be zero, up to Sunday which is six. For example, I was married on August 6, 1983. 1979 was the most recent zero-year, so that’s four for the four years between them. But 1980 was a leap year, so that’s one more: we’re up to five. The number for August is 1, so we’re up to six. Add six more for the day of the month being six, so we’re up to 12. Modulo-7 makes that five. A five means Saturday, so I got married on a Saturday. My first son was born on November 3, 1996. 1996 is a zero-year, so that’s zero, but it’s a leap year and November is after Feb 29, so that makes one. The number for November is 2, so we’re up to 3. Add three for the day, and we’re at six. Six means Sunday, so my son was born on Sunday. With some practice, it’s pretty quick. You can also figure out some shortcuts, like for 2017, instead of counting ten since the last zero-year (2007), plus three more for the leap years in-between, you can simply figure a negative one because 2018 will be a zero-year. Figuring the number for the year is the hardest part, so if you can pull out the year ahead of time and be figuring the year number while talking is going on, it makes the perceived time faster. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2017, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-little-tricks-can-you-do-that-mildly-impress-others/788948/75 "2017-06-19T13:17:31Z")
I used to be able to type faster than a computer. Seriously. I would be typing on the computer and suddenly a line of nonsense would appear. I’d stop typing, and the computer would go back and correct it. People who saw the machine do that would be totally drop jawed. Unfortunately, snapping off my left wrist put a end to that talent. However, people were amazed to see me typing with the cast on my arm. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2017, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-little-tricks-can-you-do-that-mildly-impress-others/788948/76 "2017-06-19T13:27:51Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > As can I. Hard to work it into conversation though. Here’s how you get it into a conversation with kids: you challenge them to stick out their tongue and touch their nose. Watching them try is hilarious. Then, with great drama, you stick out your tongue, and you poke your nose with your finger. They’ll groan and/or giggle. That’s when you touch your nose to your tongue. Similar trick: challenge kids to make a hole with their thumb and forefinger, and poke their head through the hole. After they try (kids are remarkably dumb sometimes, it’s great), you make the hole, put it next to your forehead, and with your other forefinger, you poke your head–through the hole. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2017, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-little-tricks-can-you-do-that-mildly-impress-others/788948/77 "2017-06-19T13:29:09Z")
One more fun trick, mostly for kids: challenge them to cut a single piece of copy paper so there’s a hole in it big enough to walk through. No tape, no glue, just one piece of paper. [Here’s the template](http://www.kidzone.ws/magic/walkthrough.htm). ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2017, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-little-tricks-can-you-do-that-mildly-impress-others/788948/78 "2017-06-19T15:07:07Z")
Another simple trick I do involves either a sheet of paper towel, a Kleenex, or a paper napkin. I roll up my sleeves slowly, demonstrating that there is “nothing up my sleeves”. I then ask an audience member for a tissue/napkin/etc. I carefully show everyone that my hands are empty as I take the tissue. Then I show the tissue from all possible angles, stressing that it’s just a common Kleenex that I have not prepared in any way. I repeatedly show each person the Kleenex, turning it to prove that both sides are normal and that I have nothing else in my hands. As the tension builds, I bring the tissue toward my face, holding it pretty taught against my nose and chin. Then I stick my tongue through, pull it away while yelling, “tada!” (that’s magician talk). Then I take a bow. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2017, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-little-tricks-can-you-do-that-mildly-impress-others/788948/79 "2017-06-19T15:18:08Z")
Another magic trick I do a la Slydini is disappearing a rolled up tissue, wad of paper, or any small soft object in front of person eyes. Several times, while others watch. I tell the subject I have them hypnotized and only they cannot see the obvious way in which it is done, which is true except for the hypnotized part. Everybody else laughs, the subject is baffled. As usual: > [@Barney's father](#): > > …a magician’s best friend is a drunk audience. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2017, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-little-tricks-can-you-do-that-mildly-impress-others/788948/80 "2017-06-19T15:45:04Z")
I can bark like a dog and shake my eyeballs back and forth. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-little-tricks-can-you-do-that-mildly-impress-others/788948.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-little-tricks-can-you-do-that-mildly-impress-others/788948.md?page=5)