… two bits!
Shave and a Haircut
51–60 of 155 posts
Re: Shave and a Haircut
#52[flagged]
Re: Shave and a Haircut
#53Interestingly Wikipedia says the Morse version of it is
Morse code "dah-di-di-dah-di, dah-dit" ( –··–· –· )
https://lcwo.net/ext/player?z=MjR%2BfjIwfn42MDB%2BfkVTRSBFRQ...
"ESE" is a popular Amateur radio call-sign suffix among Morse enthusiasts for that reason.
Re: Shave and a Haircut
#54It's used unironically/noncomedically as a final banjo lick in many bluegrass picking songs (the article does mention this). I heard it first there and I've always assumed it originated from American folk music. Interesting that it's quite a bit older/more general.
Re: Shave and a Haircut
#55regarding “bits” as a monetary term: it took me a solid decade to get the joke in “Making Money” regarding why Reacher Gilt taught his parrot to say “12.5%”
For those who don't get it, it's a reference to Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island which features a parrot that repeats "Pieces of Eight" (also known as a bit).
If your bird repeats "Pieces of Seven" you should check its settings; it might have a parroty error.
Re: Shave and a Haircut
#56[flagged]
[flagged]
Re: Shave and a Haircut
#57Earlier quoted context omitted.
I imagine they would have to be hyper-local at this point. You could authenticate someone from a major metropolis, maybe, but not likely the whole of the US.
The whole of the US would be hard since national level news and culture is what is getting exported, but local knowledge by state/region is a possible source. Like pronunciation of location names pronunciation (like pronunciation of Tilamuk Oregon, Miami Oklahoma, etc.), songs and chants for university sports teams, and jingles and phrases from local commercials. Rock Chalk...
I enjoy watching recent Seattle arrivals attempt to pronounce Mukilteo, Sequim, and Sekiu.
I grew up in Long Island, New York, and there used to be a radio commercial for a local insurance company that bagged on national competitors for not being able to pronounce Ronkonkoma. Other local place names that were difficult for some to pronounce, mostly indigenous language derived, were Quogue, Patchogue, Cutchogue, Yaphank, Massapequa, Secatogue. If you can rattle those off in 1 or 2 seconds, and still throw in a four letter epithet, you can pass as a local. F'n Quogue.
Re: Shave and a Haircut
#58Earlier quoted context omitted.
I never understood that either. It only took me about 30 years to get the joke.
This is the funniest scene in the entire movie IMHO. Roger's compulsive, uncontrollable need to respond with "Two Bits" kills me every time.
I've seen dozens of memes using the same gag but with a popular song or catch phrase.
Re: Shave and a Haircut
#59It's used unironically/noncomedically as a final banjo lick in many bluegrass picking songs (the article does mention this). I heard it first there and I've always assumed it originated from American folk music. Interesting that it's quite a bit older/more general.
Sounds like it comes from a minstrel show so it’s definitely American folk.
Re: Shave and a Haircut
#60> The former prisoner of war and U.S. Navy seaman Doug Hegdahl reports fellow U.S. captives in the Vietnam War would authenticate a new prisoner's U.S. identity by using "Shave and a Haircut" as a shibboleth, tapping the first five notes against a cell wall and waiting for the appropriate response. With the mass export of western culture, I wonder if there are any songs, tunes, or patterns like this that would still…
Maybe 800-588-2-300?