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Re:Experiments to do with your baby by wxs on Friday December 06, 2013 @03:50PM (#6863695)
My parents taught me to count on my fingers with binary, which lets you get to 31 on one hand, and 1023 on two. I've found that to be a small thing of huge value when doing simple counting tasks, such as counting syllables or words in a short text, where you can't just keep a count in your head.
Re:Experiments to do with your baby by jawns on Friday December 06, 2013 @04:07PM (#6863804)

    ELDERLY LADY: How old are you, little boy?
    YOU: (middle finger)
    ELDERLY LADY: WHAT?!?
    YOU: It's 4 in binary.
    ELDERLY LADY: Oh, for a second, I thought you ...
    YOU: (two middle fingers)
    ELDERLY LADY: WHAT?!?
    YOU: Oh, sorry, I was just guessing your age.
Re:Experiments to do with your baby by jdangu on Friday December 06, 2013 @10:31PM (#6865346)
Anyone fascinated by this will find this wikipedia article convenient to get going!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finger_binary

Re:Experiments to do with your baby by lifeformed on Friday December 06, 2013 @03:59PM (#6863763)
Just don't stop at 132 when people are around!
Re:Experiments to do with your baby by lutorm on Friday December 06, 2013 @11:11PM (#6865444)
I just tried it and I have the problem that it's very difficult for me to extend only my ring finger. I vaguely remember someone saying that this is because some fraction of the population don't have fully independent 4th and 5th fingers...
Re:Experiments to do with your baby by DEinspanjer on Monday December 09, 2013 @08:10AM (#6874100)
I hadn't heard about anyone having naturally occurring fourth and fifth fingers without the linkage. I do remember reading a story about a piano player who devised a set of stretches intended to develop the independence of his ring fingers but it ended up damaging the (tendons|ligaments|<insert medical term here>) and he could no longer effectively play the piano.
Re:Experiments to do with your baby by ironcoal on Saturday December 14, 2013 @11:09AM (#6905993)
Re:Experiments to do with your baby by pisarzp on Saturday December 07, 2013 @10:53AM (#6866649)
I never thought of that, it's really cool. But I'm not able to show 8 or 9... :(
Re:Experiments to do with your baby by untothebreach on Friday December 06, 2013 @06:22PM (#6864522)
How have I never thought of this? I am using this from now on...