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Obscure new skills or tricks to learn?

Sycamore Tree

Has anyone ever learned/mastered a new trick or skill that most people would not be able to do?
Something odd or obscure that might take months or years to master.

For example, my brother bought a set of throwing knives several years ago and became very proficient at using them.

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Aceandstuff

Snotaul Goodman wrote: »

Whistling. Not the horrible, annoying type where you badly whistle a song. The one that is so high pitched that you possibly damage your own hearing to beckon or warn a dog or in some cases a person. I have gotten the attention of the emergency services several times by whistling and they were grateful for it. I spent a good 90% of my time in 6th class teaching myself how to do that. Don't do it to a waiter or waitress though :pac:

I can do something similar, but I took years to learn how to whistle "normally", an I'm still not good at that. With some practice, I managed to perfect my car alarm impressions, and I can mimic several species of birds well enough to get into an argument with them. Also, I can move my ears without moving any other part of my face. All completely useless and totally obscure skills that just creep people out...

[Deleted User]

Sycamore Tree wrote: »

To be honest I think people spend way too many hours looking into laptops these days. I was looking for more physical skills or tricks.

How about car or motorcycle maintenance? I had great craic stripping down an old bike with a friend before.

[Deleted User]

Sycamore Tree wrote: »

To be honest I think people spend way too many hours looking into laptops these days. I was looking for more physical skills or tricks.

Well learning to fight or learning some non combat martial arts are always long term projects you can get into. I do BJJ and Capoeira for example. The former has been useful over the years. The latter is more a dance form but it feeds into any other martial arts you might learn.

I also do a mix of close up magic and NLP/Hypnotism study which when combined can have some nice effects. I was talking recently about a kind of social NLP patter I have been practicing which more often than not tricks sales clerks to give me change of a 50 when I actually handed them a 10.

I have an annual weaponised go kart race with my mates too which is a great project for DIY diversion coupled with some pretty obscure objects and tools.

Hunting and knots were mentioned on the thread but also something I have spent time on so I can second those.

Irish Guitarist

AllForIt wrote: »

OP, I learned how to download something called mp3 files for free. Comes in handy now and again.

Can I come along to the next meeting of cool people so I can learn what hobby I should give up next?

fortwilliam

Learn the complete lyrics to "Rappers Delight" by The SugarHill Gang:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKTUAESacQM

[Hook 1: Wonder Mike]
I said a hip hop the hippie the hippie
To the hip hip hop and you don't stop
The rock it to the bang bang boogie
Say up jump the boogie to the rhythm of the boogie, the beat

[Verse 1: Wonder Mike]
Now, what you hear is not a test, I'm rapping to the beat
And me, the groove, and my friends are gonna try to move your feet
See I am Wonder Mike and I'd like to say "hello"
To the black, to the white, the red and the brown, the purple and yellow
But first, I gotta bang bang the boogie to the boogie
Say up jump the boogie to the bang bang boogie
Let's rock, you don't stop
Rock the rhythm that'll make your body rock
Well so far you've heard my voice, but I brought two friends along
And next on the mic is my man Hank; come on, Hank, sing that song

[Verse 2: Big Bank Hank]
Check it out, I'm the C-A-S-AN, the O-V-A and the rest is F-L-Y
You see, I go by the code of the doctor of the mix and these reasons I'll tell you why
You see I'm six foot one and I'm tons of fun and I dress to a tee
You see I got more clothes than Muhammad Ali and I dress so viciously
I got bodyguards, I got two big cars, that definitely ain't the whack
I got a Lincoln continental and a sunroof Cadillac
So after school, I take a dip in the pool, which is really on the wall
I got a color TV so I can see the Knicks play basketball
Hear me talking 'bout checkbooks, credit cards, more money than a sucker could ever spend
But I wouldn't give a sucker or a bum from the Rucker, not a dime 'til I made it again

[Hook 2: Big Bank Hank]
Everybody go: Hotel, motel, whatcha gonna do today (say what?)
Cause I'ma get a fly girl, gonna get some spank and drive off in a def OJ
Everybody go: Hotel, motel, Holiday Inn
You see, if your girl starts acting up, then you take her friend

[Post-Hook: Big Bank Hank]
Uh Master Gee, my mellow?
It's on you so what you gonna do?

[Verse 3: Master Gee]
Well it's on and on and on, on and on
The beat don't stop until the break of dawn
I said M-A-S, a T-E-R, a G with a double E
I said I go by the unforgettable name of the man they call the Master Gee
Well, my name is known all over the world
By all the foxy ladies and the pretty girls
I'm going down in history
As the baddest rapper there ever could be
Now I'm feeling the highs and you're feeling the lows
The beat starts getting into your toes
You start popping your fingers and stomping your feet
And moving your body while you're sitting in your seat
And then jam you start doing the freak
I said damn, right outta your seat
Then you throw your hands high in the air
You're rocking to the rhythm, shake your derriere
You're rocking to the beat without a care
With the sure-shot emcees for the affair
Now, I'm not as tall as the rest of the gang
But I rap to the beat just the same
I got a little face and a pair of brown eyes
All I'm here to do ladies is hypnotize
Singing on and on and on, on and on
The beat don't stop until the break of dawn
Singing on and on and on, on and on
Like a hot ready to pop the pop the pop dibbie dibbie
Pop the pop, pop, you don't dare stop
Come alive y'all gimme what you got
I guess by now you can take a hunch
And find that I am the baby of the bunch
But that's okay, I still keep in stride
Cause all I'm here to do is just wiggle your behind
Singing on and on and on, on and on
The beat don't stop until the break of dawn
Singing on and on and on, on and on
Rock rock y'all get on the floor

[Hook 3: Master Gee]
I'm gonna freak ya here I'm gonna freak you there
I'm gonna move you outta this atmosphere

[Post-Hook: Master Gee]
Cause I'm one of a kind and I'll shock your mind
I'll put t-t-tickets in your behind
I said 1-2-3-4, come on, girls, get on the floor
Uh, come alive, y'all gimme what ya got
Cause I'm guaranteed to make you rock
I said 1-2-3-4, tell me Wonder Mike what are you waiting for?

[Hook 1: Wonder Mike]
I said a hip hop the hippie the hippie
To the hip hip hop and you don't stop
The rock it to the bang bang boogie
Say up jump the boogie to the rhythm of the boogie, the beat

[Verse 4: Wonder Mike]
Skiddlee beebop a we rock a scoobie doo
And guess what, America: we love you
Cause ya rock and ya roll with so much soul
You could rock 'til you're a hundred and one years old
I don't mean to brag I don't mean to boast
But we like hot butter on a breakfast toast
Rock it up, uh, baby bubbah
Baby bubbah to the boogie the bang bang the boogie
To the beat beat, it's so unique
Come on, everybody, and dance to the beat

[Bridge: Intro sound: 16 measures]

[Hook 1: Wonder Mike]
I said a hip hop the hippie the hippie
To the hip hip hop and you don't stop
The rock it to the bang bang boogie
Say up jump the boogie to the rhythm of the boogie, the beat

[Verse 5: Wonder Mike]
I said I can't wait 'til the end of the week
When I'm rapping to the rhythm of a groovy beat
An attempt to raise your body heat
Just blow your mind so that you can't speak
To do a thing but a rock and shuffle your feet
And let it change up to a dance called the freak
And when ya finally do come into your rhythmic beat
Rest a little while so ya don't get weak
I know a man named Hank
He has more rhymes than a serious bank
So come on Hank, uh, sing that song
To the rhythm of the boogie the bang bang the bong

[Verse 6: Big Bank Hank]
Well, I'm Imp the Dimp the ladies pimp
The women fight for my delight
But I'm the grandmaster with the three emcees
That shock the house for the young ladies
And when you come inside, into the front
You do the freak, spank, and do the bump
And when the sucker emcees try to prove a point
We're treacherous trio, uh, with a serious joint
A from sun to sun and from day to day
I sit down and write a brand new rhyme
Because they say that miracles never cease
I've created a devastating masterpiece
I'm gonna rock the mic til you can't resist
Everybody, I say it goes like this
Well I was coming home late one dark afternoon
Reporter stopped me for a interview
She said she's heard stories and she's heard fables
That I'm vicious on the mic and the turntables
This young reporter I did adore
So I rocked a vicious rhyme like I never did before
She said "damn fly guy I'm in love with you"
The Casanova legend must have been true
I said by the way baby what's your name
Said "I go by the name of Lois Lane"
And you could be my boyfriend you surely can
Just let me quit my boyfriend called Superman
I said he's a fairy I do suppose
Flying through the air in pantyhose
He may be very sexy or even cute
But he looks like a sucker in a blue and red suit
I said you need a man who's got finesse
And his whole name across his chest
He may be able to fly all through the night
But can he rock a party 'til the early light
He can't satisfy you with his little worm
But I can bust you out with my super sperm
I go do it, I go do it, I go do it, do it, do it
An I'm here and I'm there I'm Big Bank Hank, I'm everywhere
Just throw your hands up in the air
And party hardy like you just don't care
Let's do it, uh, don't stop y'all, uh, tick a tock y'all you don't stop

[Hook 2: Big Bank Hank]
I go: Hotel, motel, what you gonna do today (say what)
I'm gonna get a fly girl gonna get some spank and drive off in a def OJ
Everybody go: Hotel, motel, holiday inn
You see, if your girl starts acting up then you take her friend

[Post-Hook: Big Bank Hank]
I say skip, dive, what can I say
I can't fit em all inside my OJ
So I just take half and bust them out
I give the rest to Master Gee so he could shock the house

[Verse 7: Master Gee]
It was twelve o'clock one Friday night
I was rocking to the beat and feeling all right
Everybody was dancing on the floor
Doing all the things they never did before
And then this fly fly girl with a sexy lean
She came into the bar, she came into the scene
As she traveled deeper inside the room
All the fellas checked out her white Sassons
She came up to the table, looked into my eyes
Then she turned around and shook her behind
So I said to myself, its time for me to release
My vicious rhyme I call my masterpiece
And now people in the house this is just for you
A little rap to make you boogaloo
Now the group ya hear is called phase two
And let me tell ya something we're a helluva crew
Once a week we're on the street
Just a-cutting the jams and making it free
For you to party, got to have the moves
So we'll get right down and give you a groove
For you to dance you got to be hype
So we'll get right down for you tonight
Now the system's on and the girls are there
You definitely have a rocking affair
But let me tell ya something there's still one fact
That to have a party ya got to have a rap
So when the party's over, you're making it home
And trying to sleep before the break of dawn
And while ya sleeping you start to dream
And thinking how ya danced on the disco scene
A name appears in your mind
Yeah, a name you know that was right on time
It was phase two just a doing a do
Rocking ya down cause ya know we could
To the rhythm of the beat that makes ya freak
Come alive girls get on your feet
To the rhythm of the beat to the beat the beat
To the double beat beat that it makes ya freak
To the rhythm of the beat that says you go on
On and on into the break of dawn
Now I got a man coming on right now
He's guaranteed to throw down
He goes by the name of Wonder Mike
Come on Wonder Mike do what ya like

[Verse 8: Wonder Mike]
Like a can of beer that's sweeter than honey
Like a millionaire that has no money
Like a rainy day that is not wet
Like a gambling fiend that does not bet
Like Dracula with out his fangs
Like the boogie to the boogie without the boogie bang
Like collard greens that don't taste good
Like a tree that's not made out of wood
Like going up and not coming down
Is just like the beat without the sound, no sound
To the beat beat, ya do the freak
Everybody just rock and dance to the beat
Have you ever went over a friend's house to eat
And the food just ain't no good
I mean the macaroni's soggy the peas are mushed
And the chicken tastes like wood
So you try to play it off like you think you can
By saying that you're full
And then your friend says "momma he's just being polite
He ain't finished uh-uh that's bull"
So your heart starts pumping and you think of a lie
And you say that you already ate
And your friend says "man there's plenty of food"
So you pile some more on your plate
While the stinky food's steaming your mind starts to dreaming
Of the moment that it's time to leave
And then you look at your plate and your chicken's slowly rotting
Into something that looks like cheese
Oh so you say that's it I got to leave this place
I don't care what these people think
I'm just sitting here making myself nauseous
With this ugly food that stinks
So you bust out the door while its still closed
Still sick from the food you ate
And then you run to the store for quick relief
From a bottle of kaopectate
And then you call your friend two weeks later
To see how he has been
And he says "I understand about the food
Baby but bubbah we're still friends"

[Hook 1: Wonder Mike]
With a hip hop the hippie the hippie
To the hip hip hop and you don't stop
The rock it to the bang bang boogie
Say up jump the boogie to the rhythm of the boogie, the beat

[Post-Hook: Wonder Mike]
I say "Hank can ya rock?
Can ya rock to the rhythm that just don't stop?
Can ya hip me to the shoobie doo"
I said "come on, make uh, make the people move"

[Verse 9: Big Bank Hank]
I go to the halls and then ring the bell
Because I am the man with the clientele
And if ya ask me why I rock so well
I'm Big Bank, I got clientele
And from the time I was only six years old
I never forgot what I was told
It was the best advice that I ever had
It came from my wise dear old dad
He said "sit down punk I wanna talk to you
And don't say a word until I'm through
Now there's a time to laugh a time to cry
A time to live and a time to die
A time to break and a time to chill
To act civilized or act real ill
But whatever ya do in your lifetime
Ya never let a MC steal your rhyme"
So from six to six 'til this very day
Ill always remember what he had to say
So when the sucker emcees try to chump my style
I let them know that I'm versatile
I got style, finesse and a little black book
That's filled with rhymes and I know you wanna look
But there's a thing that separates you from me
And that is called originality
Because my rhymes are on from what you heard
I didn't even bite and not a godd--m word
And I say a little more later on tonight
So the sucker emcees can bite all night
Uh, tick a tock y'all, a beat, beat y'all
A lets rock y'all, ya don't stop

[Hook 2: Big Bank Hank]
It go: Hotel, motel, whatcha gonna do today (say what)
Cause I'mma get a fly girl gonna get some spank and drive off in a def OJ
Everybody go: Hotel, motel, holiday inn
You see if your girl starts acting up then you take her friends

[Post-Hook: Big Bank Hank]
A like that y'all to the beat y'all
A beat, beat y'all ya don't stop
Uh, Master Gee am I mellow?
Its on you so whatcha gonna do?

[Verse 10: Master Gee]
Well like Johnny Carson on the late show
A like Frankie Crocker in stereo
Well like the barkay's singing holy ghost
The sounds to throw down they're played the most
Just like my man Captain Sky
Whose name he earned with his super sperm
We rock and we don't stop
Get off y'all I'm here to give you whatcha got
To the beat that it makes you freak
And come alive girl, uh, get on your feet
A like a Perry Mason without a case
Like Farrah Fawcett without her face
Like the barkays on the mic
Like getting right down for you tonight
Like moving your body so ya don't know how
Right to the rhythm and throw down
Like coming alive to the Master Gee
The brother who rocks so viciously
I said the age of one my life begun
At the age of two I was doing the do
At the age of three it was you and me
Rocking to the sounds of the Master Gee
At the age of four I was on the floor
Giving all the freaks what they bargained for
At the age of five I didn't take no jive
With the Master Gee its all the way live
At the age of six I was uh, picking up sticks
Rapping to the beat my stick was fixed
At the age of seven I was rocking in heaven dontcha know I went off
I got right on down to the beat you see
Getting right on down making all the girls
Just take of their clothes to the beat the beat
To the double beat, beat that makes you freak
At the age of eight I was, uh, really great
Cause every night you see I had a date
At the age of nine I was, uh, right on time
Cause every night I had a part to rhyme
Going on and on and on, on and on
The beat don't stop until the break of dawn
A saying on and on and on, on and on
Like a hot buttered the pop the pop the popcorn
A saying on and on and on on and on
Cause I'm a helluva man when I'm on the mic
I am the definite feast delight
I'm a helluva man when I'm on the mic
I am the definite feast delight
Call me the master gee you see
The brother who rocks so viciously

[Hook 3: Master Gee]
I'm gonna freak ya here I'm gonna freak ya there
I'm gonna move you outta this atmosphere

[Outro: Master Gee]
.....The east to the west, I rock you the best....

Ray Palmer

Irish Guitarist wrote: »

I've fixed a few cassette tapes. I'm not an expert and it often goes wrong but most people wouldn't even have any qualms about throwing perfectly working tapes in the bin.

I recently bought a job lot of tapes on eBay. One was covered in mould. I removed the mould by wrapping an alcohol pad around a cotton bud, placing it under the tape, and spooling it to the end. I then pried the tape apart and cleaned inside the plastic shell and then glued it back together. Tapes held together with screws are easier to fix.

Tapes sound terrible and if not kept right they sound even worse. The tape stretches and distort the sound if it was played much. After removing mould which I doubt you will do completely you are going to damage your player.

Rhyme

Irish Guitarist wrote: »

I've fixed a few cassette tapes. I'm not an expert and it often goes wrong but most people wouldn't even have any qualms about throwing perfectly working tapes in the bin.

I recently bought a job lot of tapes on eBay. One was covered in mould. I removed the mould by wrapping an alcohol pad around a cotton bud, placing it under the tape, and spooling it to the end. I then pried the tape apart and cleaned inside the plastic shell and then glued it back together. Tapes held together with screws are easier to fix.

I worked in a film archive for a few years and learned all about 8mm, 16mm and 35mm film and the related machines. How to clean film, repair it and prep it for restoration. Some chemical knowledge, a lot of physical knowledge like how to cut a piece of film to allow it to play smoothly and how to recognise different types of damage and how to deal with them. Very hands-on and very interesting.

I worked with a guy who leaned more towards the digital encoding area of things, metadata etc and taught himself some related coding snippets to better represent encoded media as a side interest. From what I know, maybe 2 or 3 years ago, his manager encouraged him to push it a bit further. He's now winning international awards and speaking at really big conferences. Very smart guy.

FanadMan

Got a horrible cheap set of lockpicks online and taught myself how to pick locks. Was something that fascinated me since childhood. Since I got that set, I've made more picks and tension wrenches myself out of metal scraps around the house.

Most of the lockpicking you see on TV or in films is rubbish.....none of this "stick in a hairpin and jiggle it for two seconds and the door magically opens. It takes patience and a delicate touch. Find it a great way to relax.

_Whimsical_

FanadMan wrote: »

Got a horrible cheap set of lockpicks online and taught myself how to pick locks. Was something that fascinated me since childhood. Since I got that set, I've made more picks and tension wrenches myself out of metal scraps around the house.

Most of the lockpicking you see on TV or in films is rubbish.....none of this "stick in a hairpin and jiggle it for two seconds and the door magically opens. It takes patience and a delicate touch. Find it a great way to relax.

Have you put it to any practical use so to speak?

FanadMan

_Whimsical_ wrote: »

Have you put it to any practical use so to speak?

Only once. Neighbour lost the key to their garden gate so rather than cut it off I picked it. Was one of those occasions that would have looked great on tv - took about a minute to open......cheap and crappy lock

Mostly it's just salvaged door locks and padlocks that I've collected over the years.

[Deleted User]

FanadMan wrote: »

Only once. Neighbour lost the key to their garden gate so rather than cut it off I picked it. Was one of those occasions that would have looked great on tv - took about a minute to open......cheap and crappy lock

Mostly it's just salvaged door locks and padlocks that I've collected over the years.

Do you use bump keys?

Ipso

Fly tying, just in case fish survive the zombie apocalypse.

Canis Lupus

FanadMan wrote: »

Got a horrible cheap set of lockpicks online and taught myself how to pick locks. Was something that fascinated me since childhood. Since I got that set, I've made more picks and tension wrenches myself out of metal scraps around the house.

Most of the lockpicking you see on TV or in films is rubbish.....none of this "stick in a hairpin and jiggle it for two seconds and the door magically opens. It takes patience and a delicate touch. Find it a great way to relax.

My mate when he had his house built needed access to the property for various bits and bobs before he actually was given the keys by the builders. He bought picks on ebay, watched a youtube vid and was inside in under 5 minutes with no prior experience on his first go although he said sometimes when he went back he'd balls it up and it'd take him a while. Interesting and scary really.

Stab*City

I just learned how to pop shuv it. Ill be 42 on saturday.

Sycamore Tree

Stab*City wrote: »

I just learned how to pop shuv it. Ill be 42 on saturday.

No idea what that is and I am afraid to google it...:)

harry Bailey esq

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I am absolutely useless at making things, fixing things, erm doing things. I tried to teach myself how to code once but I couldn't get the hang of it at all. Juggling doesn't work for me either because I have terrible hand/eye coordination. Knitting, sewing, cooking, sport, card games, puzzles, nope can't do any of them.

I know from previous interactions that yer an expert at keeping barstools warm :b:
Learn some bar tricks, great craic. An easy one is that you can keep your head underwater for three minutes, when this is inevitably questioned, offer to demonstrate it on the proviso that the doubting Thomas buy the next round on completion of your seemingly impossible task. Then, you go to the bar and get a shot glass of water, then carefully balance it on your head for three minutes. Drinks are on them.

sbsquarepants

Graces7 wrote: »

water divining,,, from a master

Water divining in Ireland......dig a hole.... there it is!:D

zoe 3619

Sycamore Tree wrote: »

No idea what that is and I am afraid to google it...:)

Skateboard trick?

TheMilkyPirate

Sycamore Tree wrote: »

No idea what that is and I am afraid to google it...:)

It's a skateboard trick and hearing it has just taken me back years

o1s1n

I had to learn a few years back how to safely discharge a CRT monitor as I got into collecting arcade machines and their monitors can go on the fritz at times. (so you've to discharge them to disconnect the chassis to work on etc)

There's nothing quite like the fear the first time you stick a metal screwdriver under an anode cap which is potentially storing 20-30,000 volts :eek:

The Tetrarch

I can analyse thoroughbred pedigrees, and have written simple programs to do it quickly and in volume.

FutureGuy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKdV5FvXLuI

I learned Alphabet Aerobics after seeing thos just to help improve pronunciation and speaking clarity. Not sure if it worked but at least it's a party piece.

kneemos

sbsquarepants wrote: »

Water divining in Ireland......dig a hole.... there it is!:D

Every stand alone house in the countryside has a well by using exactly this method.

Hope those diviners don't charge for their services?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

kneemos wrote: »

Every stand alone house in the countryside has a well by using exactly this method.

Hope those diviners don't charge for their services?

My uncle used to do it and 'taught' me. There's no skill to it and all a piseóg. But he earned many a pint doing it.

A 1990 double-blind study was undertaken in Kassel, Germany, under the direction of the Society for the Scientific Investigation of the Parasciences. James Randi offered a US$10,000 prize to any successful dowser. The three-day test of some 30 dowsers involved plastic pipes through which water flow could be controlled and directed. The pipes were buried 50 centimetres (19.7 in) under a level field, the position of each marked on the surface with a coloured strip. The dowsers had to tell whether water was running through each pipe. All the dowsers signed a statement agreeing this was a fair test of their abilities and that they expected a 100 percent success rate. However, the results were no better than chance, thus no one was awarded the prize.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

I recently taught myself to recite the alphabet backwards, in under 20 seconds.

Ipso

sbsquarepants wrote: »

Water divining in Ireland......dig a hole.... there it is!:D

Avoid the digging and just look up.

Feisar

I can:

Whip up a decent meal from f all.
Sharpen knives to scary sharp.
Hunt for the pot, very different to sport shooting/fishing
Fell a large tree
Apply my fav skill to any task at hand, pure ignorance!

Simply Red

Canis Lupus wrote: »

I learned how to do a rubix cube but it's not actually hard. I haven't tried to speedcube yet, that I imagine will be more of a challenge and take a while to master.

Same here, bought one a few months ago, not actually that difficult once you learn a method. When other people see you doing it though they assume you're a genius :pac:

mikhail

o1s1n wrote: »

There's nothing quite like the fear the first time you stick a metal screwdriver under an anode cap which is potentially storing 20-30,000 volts :eek:

Charge isn't measured in volts.

Ave Sodalis

_Whimsical_ wrote:

Have you put it to any practical use so to speak?

I got the same cheap set and learned. I've had to use it twice. Once when my brother lost the key to his school locker and the caretaker charged a fiver to break locks, and once for a shed that was padlocked with the key inside.

I may never have to use them again, or I might used them several times but I think it's a very useful trick to know. I still find it a bit unsettling how easy it can be once you know how. I've yet to try them on the house though, only padlocks.