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.
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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.Anyone fascinated by this will find this wikipedia article convenient to get going!
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!
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.
http://musicthing.blogspot.de/2006/09/finger-stretching-for-...
That was Robert Schumann.
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...