Stupid party tricks..

[Gothicsmurf]

When I lived in Minnesota, I used to be able to drive around with friends and yell out zip codes. I was accurate to about 2 blocks. I was able to do that because of the quoting and policy maintainence I used to do on a regular basis.

Now, I'm able to look at area codes and be able to name the state with out looking it up. Now I'm not good on ALL states but I do get quite a bit of them.

I think it's time for me to get out of insurance and get a life... *sigh*

Has anyone else been able to pick up stupid human tricks like that because of their job?

[Saydrah]

I can look in your dog's ears and tell you fairly accurately what grade (grocery, premium, super-premium, raw) of food he eats.

I can handle parrots- including ones that bite everyone else- without getting my ears taken off.

That's about it.

[PuckishOne]

Add me to the list for being able to recognize area codes, and for the same reason. :o

I can pronounce (and sometimes spell) a lot of southeast Asian names that give other Americans migraines, thanks to having worked with a lot of Thais and Laotians a couple of jobs ago.

Damn, that's not even as interesting as parrots. (sigh) Ah, well. :)

[crazylegs]

I used to be able to work out which foil/cutter block you needed for your electric shaver just by the model number, but since I stopped working for the Chemists I've had skill fade...

[daleduke17]

- Just by listening to the background noise I can usually tell you which dispatch center is talking on the radio out of the ones in this area (Christian Co. has a VERY distinct buzz on their fire paging channel).

- From being around the fire department I used to be able to (and sometimes still can) tell you what department is getting paged just by listening to the pager tones on the scanner (at least where my dad lives I can - up here it is too difficult).

- From working in pricing at my first Kroger store I could tell you, within about 4 feet (one section of shelving) where an item is located. Some of the utility clerks would try to stump me, but fail...horribly. :-p

[draftermatt]

I can do the area code thing too.

I used to be able to memorize license plates. I could tell you all of my friend's license plate numbers, and even for vehciles that no longer owned.

[crazylegs]

I've just dredged this one up...

When I was taking my A levels the college was next to an ambulance station, so I can now tell the difference between
Ambulance
Fire
Police

Just by the sirens...

Not bad when they 'all sound the same' over here.

[blas]

From my factory job, I can rattle off 2x tables off the top of my head no problem....

And I know every single factor of 48.

[Meadhands]

I am sure about 150 of you have this one too, but I might as well mention it since no one else has: I can tell exactly how much something is going to cost after taxes from my days in retail. I am accurate for prices up to $100

[Chanlin]

I can do the area code thing as well, not surprising since I work for a phone company.

I can also tell you the make of most CDMA phones if you tell me the serial number.

I can also rattle off the back end codes for most CDMA phones from memory of course most techs can do the same with computers and the like :)

[PuckishOne]

And I know every single factor of 48.
I gotta know...what is knowing 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 24 and 48 good for? Is that also something to do with the factory? (Can you tell I've never worked in a factory, too? ;) )

[Andara Bledin]

Ah, stupid human tricks.

Back when I was still doing Ren faires, I had a knack for cinching up my bodice or corset (depending on how I was dressing that day) in such a way that you could bounce a quarter off my chest.

^-.-^

[Igorina]

One from work and one not.

Not from work: I can fit my fist in my mouth.

From work: As soon as I see an insect (trick only guaranteed in North America), I can typically identify it to family, and quite often to species.

[worddork]

Tell me your child's age, reading level, and interests and I can find a book he or she will not only like, but it will also be one he or she can read on his or her own.

[hecubus]

After working at my dad's drug store when I was in high school, I can pronounce virtually any long, scientific name of a medication with very little problem. This also comes in handy reading ingredient labels on food.

[unholypet]

Not work: I can kiss my own butt, and rattle about five different diseases for a symptom.

Work: I can tell about 80% of the time wht a person likes on their pizza by watching/listening to them for a few sentences. (and not regular customers, you'd be surprised how stats fall here)

[crazylegs]

Not work: I can kiss my own butt,

Prove it! :D;)

[MystyGlyttyr]

I can look at a page of text and tell you to within a column inch how much space it would take up on a newspaper page.

I can also see a pro wrestling move one time and mimic it right away (this is provided, however, that the person I'm performing the action with knows how to do their part, as well.)

[Geek King]

From my time working Moneyroom at Kings Island:

I can dump a large canvase sack of coins onto a flat surface and tell you if there are any silver or foriegn coins by the sound. I may have to shift them a bit if there are really a lot before I find them.

See, we had this coin sorter named "Big George" that was tempermental with foriegn coin, and would jam horribly. Part of being allowed to head the games counting room was the ability to run George and clear out the coin before dumping it into the sorting hopper. I got very good at it, with the fringe benefit of being able to buy the odd coins I found, so now I have some nice coins in my collection, including several silver quarters, a silver dime, and a really old Deutchmark--the stamping is almost worn off.

[PuckishOne]

I can look at a page of text and tell you to within a column inch how much space it would take up on a newspaper page.
From my past life in journalism, I can do this too, as well as tell you the size of a font by looking at it (and probably the font name as well).

Although if I could do the wrestling stuff it'd be cooler. :D

[unholypet]

Prove it! :D;)

You know, I have a picture of that (taken as a joke) but my boyfriend forbids me to post it XD I must obey!

[Gothicsmurf]

unholypet-

Are you able to guess what I like on my pizza?

[unholypet]

unholypet-

Are you able to guess what I like on my pizza?

I would have to be physically looking and listening to you =p