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SinisterPants

(89 posts)
Wed May 6, 2020, 06:30 PM May 2020

What's the stoopidist thing you've tried to do or learn lately? For me...

Juggling, no doubt.

Always wanted to, had the time, found a you-tube video.

Didn't have juggling balls or tennis balls, figured handballs would work.

Handballs are HARD.

I now owe my landlord for a new window.

Fortunately he's a good guy.

9 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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What's the stoopidist thing you've tried to do or learn lately? For me... (Original Post) SinisterPants May 2020 OP
I have a list of things TlalocW May 2020 #1
This message was self-deleted by its author SinisterPants May 2020 #2
Sorry, hit the wrong button... SinisterPants May 2020 #3
I didn't even know you could compete with others on Duolingo. The Velveteen Ocelot May 2020 #7
Start with scarves. Cracklin Charlie May 2020 #4
Flag Semaphore Kaleva May 2020 #5
now that's cool! Canoe52 May 2020 #6
I signal to myself using a full length mirror. Kaleva May 2020 #9
I look forward to seeing TlalocW May 2020 #8

TlalocW

(15,380 posts)
1. I have a list of things
Wed May 6, 2020, 07:42 PM
May 2020

I'm currently learning German (and reviewing Spanish) with the DuoLingo App. The stupid part is that the programmers have put in a lot of badges for different accomplishes (getting a certain number of points, 100 lessons with no errors, etc.). Most of them are pretty benign, and you'll eventually get them no matter what. However, they have "leagues" where every Sunday, you're placed with 49 other people in your timezone (randomly) in a league - starting with Copper. You go for seven days, and if you're in the top 15 (later 10), you advance to the next league. Not a problem, but there's one badge for getting first in the Diamond League (the last one) that's going to be highly competitive. I can't NOT try for it. It's just my nature. So while I'm still learning, I'm doing a lot of point-grinding to stay within the top 10, but on a few leagues, I've decided to see what it takes to finish first, and it can be a task. Right now, I'm in the 3rd-to-last league, and I experimented with a way to get a lot of points really fast (no hacking - actually by doing lessons), and it worked so I'm in first place with currently over 6000 points for the week. The most I've gotten was just over 10,000 to place first. The previous league I was content to be in the top ten, but I watched two people battle it out for the top spot, each getting over 22,000 points.

So why this is doubly stupid: I'm dedicating most of my free time to this (and I'm learning a lot), but I've also consciously put off the other things I came up with to learn which includes:

Piano (I bought a suite of online lessons from a site called Udemy over a year ago because it was on sale know I'd get to it eventually)
Python Programming Language (same thing - bought from Udemy)
Blowing a bubble with gum
Whistle loudly with fingers in mouth - started this yesterday. So far I'm just slobbering on myself.
Roll my Rs. I have an undergrad degree in Spanish and have never learned how to do that. May be physically impossible for me.
Learn to solve a Rubiks Cube (need to order on from Amazon first)

I also juggle - I'm an entertainer - mainly magic and balloon twisting for local events (not so much right now), and I also want to get back into doing more of that. Here's a hint - actually two. Order some beanbags. Face a wall while learning. It will help train you to get your pattern under control. Good luck!

TlalocW

Response to TlalocW (Reply #1)

 

SinisterPants

(89 posts)
3. Sorry, hit the wrong button...
Wed May 6, 2020, 08:09 PM
May 2020

It was longer, but I'm in awe of your ambition. Thanks for the juggling tips, and I'm plonking along on Duo-lingo too (just not at your level).

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,674 posts)
7. I didn't even know you could compete with others on Duolingo.
Thu May 7, 2020, 12:49 AM
May 2020

I haven't been paying attention to the badges and doodads, I've just been doing the lessons (Norwegian). Maybe I'll take a look at that feature but I'm not very competitive and probably wouldn't bother after a bit. It's a pretty good way to review vocabulary and grammar that I've been learning in a class.

TlalocW

(15,380 posts)
8. I look forward to seeing
Thu May 7, 2020, 01:02 AM
May 2020

Your production of the semaphore version of, "Wuthering Heights."

TlalocW

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