The message on this mortarboard has us a little stumped. Not the Booya! part, we got that, but the spanish phrase the three, las tres, could refer to anything at all. It could be the Catholic Church's Holy Trinity, it could reference solidarity with two other friends, shorthand for the common phrase, The Three Amigos. It could be the name of a local restaurant or just about anything.

But Booya, that is a phrase of exaltation that has been made really popular by America's celebrity stock advisor, Jim Cramer. Mr Cramer is the host of a popular television show on the cable television program, Mad Money. He is also the author of several best selling books on the stocks and investing strategies.

We here at Shades of Fun are big fans of his and were among his earliest audience members. He has even made us a little money! He used to guard the origin of the phrase Booya but since we are avid fans we were listening one day to his now defunct radio program when he let the secret out of the bag. A caller told Cramer that KMart had made him a lot of money and to thank Cramer for the recommendation, the caller cited a local New Orleans phrase and remarked, Booya! Subsequent callers liked the word and with great vocal punctuation copied the Cajun caller with their own versions of the word Booya!

Cramer does not own the phrase, nor did he invent it, this he readily acknowledges. But we think this college graduate was also a fan and celebrated that in the decorations on top of the cap!

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