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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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HICCUP, HICCUP GO SOMEBODY I LOVE.

Submitter comment: THIS IS USED TO GET RID OF THE HICCUPS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Method of Curing
SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 01-28-1979

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BREAK A LEG.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Good luck
SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 04-11-1979

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LEAVE-TAKING

SEE YA LATER ALLIGATOR, AFTER A WHILE CROCODILE.

Submitter comment: MY DAD WOULD SAY THIS TO ME WHEN I WENT TO BED, AND I WOULD
REPLY AFTER A WHILE CROCODILE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 04-11-1979

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Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE POLOCK WHO:
THOUGHT "NO KIDDING" MEANT A FORM OF BIRTH CONTROL?

Where learned: DETROIT ; REGINA HIGH SCHOOL

James Callow Keyword(s): PUN ON KID ; SLANG: KID FOR CHILD

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Poli
SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 00-00-1979

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PROVERB

BREAK A LEG

Submitter comment: ALWAYS SAID TO A PERFORMER FOR GOOD LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS

James Callow Keyword(s): THEATER

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 01-00-1979

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PROVERB

SLOW AS MOLASSES.

Submitter comment: IF YOU WERE ALWAYS WAITING FOR SOMEONE, OR IF SOMEONE WAS LAZY, YOU
WOULD SAY THIS TO EXPLAIN THEIR ACTIONS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula
PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison

Date learned: 01-00-1979

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MAKE THE SEA ANGRY

IF YOU YELL AT THE OCEAN, MARIA LA O TU MADRE ES PUTA Y LA MIA NO,
WHICH MEANS, MARIA O YOUR MOTHER IS A WHORE BUT MINE IS NOT, YOU WILL
DOUBT CAUSE THE FURY OF THE SEA.

Where learned: PUERTO RICO

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Still water Large body.
SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 00-00-1979

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MNEMONIC DEVICE: RESISTOR COLOR CODE

"BAD BOYS RAPE OUR YOUNG GIRLS, BUT VIRGINIA GIVES WILLINGLY"

Submitter comment: THE ABOVE MNEMONIC DEVICE IS USED TO AID REMEMBERING THE COLOR
CODING SYSTEM FOR AN ELECTRONIC COMPONENT KNOWN AS A RESISTOR.
THE DEVICE IS TOO SMALL TO BE STAMPED WITH ITS ELECTRICAL VALUE
IN NUMERICAL FORM, SO COLORED BANDS ARE PAINTED AROUND IT. EACH
COLOR REPRESENTS A DIFFERENT DIGIT. THE FIRST LETTER OF EACH WORD
IN THE MNEMONIC IS THE FIRST LETTER OF A COLOR. THUS "BAD" STANDS
FOR BLACK, WHICH STANDS FOR "OF" "BOYS" STANDS FOR BROWN, WHICH
STANDS FOR "1;" "RAPE" STANDS FOR RED, WHICH STANDS FOR "2," ETC.
THE OTHER COLORS ARE ORANGE, YELLOW, GREEN, BLUE, VIOLET, GRAY, AND
WHITE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; R.E.T.S. ELECTRONICS SCHOOL

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

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MNEMONIC DEVICE ; ELECTRICAL BEHAVIOR OF INDUCTORS AND CAPACITATORS

"ELI THE ICE MAN"

Submitter comment: THE ABOVE MNEMONIC DEVICE WAS DEVELOPED TO AID IN REMEMBERING THAT
VOLTAGE (MATHEMATICAL SYMBOL: E) LEADS THE CURRENT (I) THROUGH
AN INDUCTOR (L) AND THAT CURRENT (I) LEADS VOLTAGE THROUGH
A CAPACITATOR (C).

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; R.E.T.S. ELECTRONICS SCHOOL

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 00001963 CA

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CAR THEFT MNEMONIC DEVICE

"CYMBAL"

Submitter comment: THE LETTERS IN THE MNEMONIC STAND FOR ITEMS DESCRIPTIVE OF
THE STOLEN CAR. THEY ARE: COLOR, YEAR, MAKE, BODY STYLE, AND
LICENSE NUMBER. THE "A" IS NOT PART OF THE MNEMONIC; HOWEVER, ITS
LETTER POSITION IS USED TO REPRESENT THE CAR'S SERIAL OR "VIN"
NUMBER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; POLICE DEPARTMENT

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 04-00-1979

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PROVERBIAL COMPARISON

"GOODER'N SNUFF, AND NOT HALF AS DRY AND DUSTY."

Submitter comment: AN EXPRESSION OF APPROVAL.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; TELFORD

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula
PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison

Date learned: 00-00-1969

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IF BULLSHIT WERE MUSIC YOU'D BE THE BAND.

Submitter comment: THIS SAYING ORIGINATED FROM THE INFORMANT'S GRANDFATHER AND IT HAS
BEEN PASSED DOWN IN HER FAMILY SINCE THEN. THE INFORMANT LEARNED TH
SAYING WHEN SHE WAS APPROXIMATELY FOUR YEARS OLD.
THIS SAYING IS USED AS A RETORT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; REDFORD

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 00-00-1963

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SWIMMING CHEER

YEA PINEBROOK,
YEA PINEBROOK,
SWIM, SWAM, SWUM.

Submitter comment: THIS IS A POPULAR SWIMMING CHEER THAT IS YELLED OUT AT THE END OF A
SWIM MEET BY ONE TEAM AND IS DIRECTED TO THE OPPOSING TEAM. THE NAM
"PINEBROOK" IS THE NAME OF THE INFORMANT'S SWIM TEAM AND IS USED HER
SIMPLY AS AN EXAMPLE. WHEN THE CHEER IS GIVEN, THE TEAM THAT SHOUTS
IT OUT USES THE OPPOSING TEAM'S NAME IN PLACE OF "PINEBROOK" IN THIS
EXAMPLE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

James Callow Keyword(s): GRAMMAR ; PRINCIPAL PARTS OF IRREGULAR VERB

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Custom Festival Custom Festival
SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: CA00001971

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RETORTS

HI DREAMBOAT,
NOT YOU SHIPWRECK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; REDFORD

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: CA00001959

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IRISH SALUTATION

MAY YOU BE IN HEAVEN A HALF HOUR BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOUR'E DEAD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BLOOMFIELD HILLS

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 11-22-1979

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IRISH SALUTATION

MAY THE WIND ALWAYS BE BEHIND YOUR BACK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 11-22-1979

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IRISH PROVERB

IF SOMEONE DOES NOT MEET HIS PROMISES YOU TELL HIM,
LIVE, HORSE, AND YOU'LL GET GRASS
THIS IS A REVERSAL OF THE IDEA THAT YOU GET GRASS SO YOU WILL LIVE.
IT IS INSULTING TO THE PROMISE BREAKER BECAUSE IT IS TELLING HIM HIS
LIFE IS USELESS.

Submitter comment: THE ABOVE EXPLANATION IS IN THE WORDS OF THE INFORMANT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 11-22-1979

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TOAST: VERSE

MAY HE/SHE BE IN HEAVEN ONE-HALF HOUR BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS
THAT HE/SHE IS DEAD.

Submitter comment: THIS TOAST IS GIVEN AT A GATHERING AFTER A FUNERAL SERVICE.

Where learned: DETROIT

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Custom Festival C840.546
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial
SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 00-00-1968

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BELIEF

SOME PEOPLE IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS BELIEVE THAT WHEN A PERSON
SNEEZES HIS SOUL HAS ESCAPED. TO GET THE SOUL BACK, THEY SHOUT VERY
LOUDLY, "SOUL, COME BACK HERE."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): RELIGIOUS BELEF SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 10-02-1967

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JEST ANECDOTE

I ONCE KNEW A MAN SO OLD HE WAS OLDER THAN HIS MOTHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): HYPERBOLE

Subject headings: Favorites
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale
SPEECH -- Formula
PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.

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