During my time away from the forum, I acquired a new skill. I taught myself how to make headbands / bracelets / other stuff out of paracord and steel wire. They are customizable to fit any head shape and can be twisted to lay flat on the head regardless of where it sits. The quality of this ability is dependent on the pattern chosen. I could do virtually any pattern and make a headband or bracelet or something else. I also made a belt and a 7 to 8 foot real cracking whip for Halloween. I would post a picture but I'm not sure how.

What neat skills do you know?

One of my best skills is making connections with people who have demonstrated excellent skills and other connections.  Networking and other collaborative processes are essential for activists and organizers.  Other than that, some simple skills I picked up recently involve computers that i love and loathe as necessary evils.

Great thread idea and thanks for the upbeat post.

I am learning how to be a really good cook.

Learned to drive manual transmission cars my next car will be manual for sure.

Well I'm skilled with computers (hardware and networking.) but recently I've been learning about electric engines etc. (been turning old computer fans into a giant electric fan engine.) I want to learn more about gas powered vehicles but they really aren't my thing. (I'm skilled at finding their weak point though on paper.) :3 I've learned some more japanese. So I've learned a few things recently.

I've learned how to listen and not interrupt...

I have learnt about patience.... Not been very good at that in the past, except coming out to all, but then, that's just plain scared!

L Katy

I taught myself how to do CG modeling and compositing. And to build a PC.  I also taught myself how to pick handcuffs and locks.Right now I am learning how to drive a semi truck and I'm a top student in my class. After that, maybe I'll try progressing on to a pilot's license. or something. I can weld, fabricate and machine and I know some blacksmithing. I also enjoy shooting. I've had some experience with swords but I'm not bad with a lightsaber. ^_^

I'm a great tutor for pretty much any subject I've previously learned. My latest accomplishment there is teaching a 13-year-old all there is to know in math all the way through trigonometry in about a month. He only knew a little bit of algebra and no geometry before then. He was a good student, though; he loved to learn. We even had one session go as long as 5 hours because he was having that much fun with it. After that, I helped him with his spelling, grammar, and story writing. He was a low-C student before; now he has perfect scores in all of his classes. His parents kind of love me now.

I think I've unlearnt more then I've leant since HRT I was both very technically and mechanically minded, I did alot with electronics, scripting, audio and acoustics, but it just seems like I can't concentrate on any off that and I don't find enjoyment in it anymore. I have become a lot better at cooking, I now love socialising which I use to find draining and that has allowed me to find much more meaningful connections with people. So what I've learnt is how important friends and people are in life and how much more fulfilling a connection with someone can be in comparison to any individual achievement.

Quote from: Talim on December 20, 2014, 04:40:37 AMI also taught myself how to pick handcuffs . . .

You can't just throw that in the middle of a post and pretend that nobody would notice.  Please elaborate!  I'm absolutely intrigued as to why one might do this?  Planning on being arrested anytime soon?

Quote from: Hanazono on December 20, 2014, 06:32:16 AM
I'm glad I drive a Manual Car too. Every time I pass a gas station they have this sign "Manual Car Wash". I think they won't wash cars with automatic transmissions!

I think they mean you wash your car yourself....   I would like to say that I learn quickly, but I'm not sure.

hmmm... besides learning make-up techniques (which I still really need help with, I have deep set eyes), I'd say the only thing i've learned recently worth mentioning is creative writing related things.
In my school we learned how to create a rough novel draft about 80,000 to 100,000 words and edit it down and refine it. How to create a story line and create events based on a single sentence plot idea, etc...
Last semester I wrote 4 short stories ( about 9-12 pages each) and submitted a 40 page edited and refined first chapter to a novel.

OH~! I have a commercial licence to drive limos and taxis too

Quote from: Valerie Rose on December 23, 2014, 11:13:03 PM
hmmm... besides learning make-up techniques (which I still really need help with, I have deep set eyes), I'd say the only thing i've learned recently worth mentioning is creative writing related things.
In my school we learned how to create a rough novel draft about 80,000 to 100,000 words and edit it down and refine it. How to create a story line and create events based on a single sentence plot idea, etc...
Last semester I wrote 4 short stories ( about 9-12 pages each) and submitted a 40 page edited and refined first chapter to a novel.

OH~! I have a commercial licence to drive limos and taxis too

That's impressive! :3 I need to learn about makeup too! So if you find any good tips let me know! :3

Quote from: Talim on December 20, 2014, 04:40:37 AM
I taught myself how to do CG modeling and compositing. And to build a PC.  I also taught myself how to pick handcuffs and locks.Right now I am learning how to drive a semi truck and I'm a top student in my class. After that, maybe I'll try progressing on to a pilot's license. or something. I can weld, fabricate and machine and I know some blacksmithing. I also enjoy shooting. I've had some experience with swords but I'm not bad with a lightsaber. ^_^

I so wish I had experience in most of the stuff you listed such as machining etc. :3 I would use it to make car parts lol. Picking locks that's also impressive! :3 lol

You can teach yourself using tutorials on YouTube. That's how I learned how to get out of handcuffs. I know 2 methods for that actually. But for anything you want to learn, you just need the tools, the time, the patience and the perseverance to succeed. Your local college may have a machining course. You can buy lathes, milling machines, etc.

I just don't want to be a damsel in distress. People always let me down if I rely on them. So, I'm not doing it anymore.

Things that I taught myself....hmm....

Well, I bought parts and built my workstation pc, which I named Wheatley. I taught myself how to fix cars, motorcycles, ATVs, dirtbikes, minibikes, snowmobiles, gas and electric RC cars, electronics, computers. I taught myself how to ride/drive those vehicles. With the many friends I have had, I've always ended up helping them in their time of need. All of my artistry skills were mostly self taught, I am really good at drawing mythical creatures and vehicles.

Well Jeez, I was riding along with some friends headed to a sword fight and got lost it is comforting to know that our coarse could be mathmatically worked out, and if we broke down, the transmission or anything else could get fixed.  If God forbd the part was not available we have someone who can machine a new part.  I'm sure this wait would be boring though so someone could teach me how to use my phone and 'maybe' if were in a no phone zone, thank goodness someone could dismantle the phone and make a computer from the parts, yeah again, I'm probably going to get bored, thankfully I have a friend to teach me patience.
  Dare I say it?  If worse comes to worse  and we are still stuck we can pick the lock on another vehicle to 'use', and if we get caught.....well those cuffs can't hold us.  We are invincible, even if the cops name is Darth.  Boy all this just cause someone wanted to stop at a gas station/car wash and buy some handmade accessories.  What a day, excuse me while I put on some makeup. 

That's pretty cool.
Can't say I've learened some neat skill from my absence unless you consider how to play WoW as an arcane mage cool. I've gotten rather addicted to that game :/
But in my not absence time I guess skills I could do are graphic designing and video editing. Don't have a degree in them though. I like doing lots of things with computers though. Also write comedic sketches with a few friends. Finally getting together and filming them. Maybe one day I'll post them on here idk. Still have to edit them and get some green-screen images to use. And do the audio.

Quote from: Sam314 on December 24, 2014, 10:16:21 PM
That's pretty cool.
Can't say I've learened some neat skill from my absence unless you consider how to play WoW as an arcane mage cool. I've gotten rather addicted to that game :/

I got so addicted to that game when I used to play, lost track of time like it was going out of style.

I forgot to say some things about my self taught stuff.

I design objects for games and art. I right stories for my friends, whether they be comedic or... eh... a bit private. I think up video games, most of which could change the gaming industry overnight if they were ever created.... really want to get into that industry. I starting to teach myself Swedish and Japanese. I modify things on a regular basis, my car now has 50 more hp than it did before, and it's going to be green and black. My $3,000 pc was all self funded, has 3 monitors, multiple light-up and glow-in-the-dark features, and can run just about anything I want it to. I'm going to be teaching myself the art of rally racing as soon as I get my car project done.

I'm sorry if I sound braggy or like I'm gloating.... needed a huge confidence boost, and this is helping that a little bit.

Quote from: Talim on December 24, 2014, 05:47:02 PM
You can teach yourself using tutorials on YouTube. That's how I learned how to get out of handcuffs. I know 2 methods for that actually. But for anything you want to learn, you just need the tools, the time, the patience and the perseverance to succeed. Your local college may have a machining course. You can buy lathes, milling machines, etc.

I just don't want to be a damsel in distress. People always let me down if I rely on them. So, I'm not doing it anymore.

They do have a machining class although I can't afford it lol. I have a feeling the machines are expensive also lol. I also understand being the damsel in distress I feel like that when it comes to car repair. D: computer repair though I'm like a goddess at that. it's second nature for me. Lol