Falling Stars

I got to see a falling star this morning, the first time in many years, and immediately made a wish.

Partway through, though, I stopped myself and changed the object of my wish.

Instead of seeking some inner peace for myself, I wished happiness and contentment to come to my wife (who has the onerous task of having to put up with me more than anybody else), and then for the long list of people who despise me so that they can be relieved of the ill will that must be hard to carry around.

(It soon dawned on me that I have actually being wishing for my own quick demise, but what’s done is done….)

I like to think of myself as something of a fallen star, having skyrocketed into an apparently stellar career only for it all to come tumbling down. The reality is nothing of the the sort, and that I was never nearly as brilliant as I imagined myself to be and that, in fact, I am at my 適層…the level appropriate for who I am: a bitter, grumpy, selfish, rank-and-file employee unwanted by their employer and lacking the skills needed by society today.

Once I’d stopped thinking about the stars, I got back to reality and did what I always do while riding: prayed for the willingness to do whatever is required of me today, whatever that may be. (I haven’t gotten off to a good start, blogging through procrastination rather than doing the huge amount of work that is currently on my plate. I am sure to get yet another bollocking from the boss for that.)

Cop A Gander At These Rippers Too...

  • |

    豪キャブラリー:Bewdy

    Bewdyは典型的なオージー英語のひとつ。素晴らしいこと及び良いことを示す言葉だ。 喜びを示すためによく使われている言葉でもあり、ほとんどの場合は形容詞と共に使い、You little bewdyやYou bloody bewdyのような感じだ。 Bewdyはbeautifulの省略であり、オージー鉛の発音でbeatyの変形した形だ。

  • There’s Something Coincidental About Serendipity

    Serendipity has shaped my life much more than I would ever have expected. Two of the most fateful moments of my existence arose by coincidence, both of which involved bumping into someone I’d never expected to see again. These accidents led to me spending most of my life in Japan, and for now doing so clean and sober. Anyway, I’m digressing from what I really want to talk about, which is coincidence. Over the weekend, I was at a meeting when a neighbor walked in with his wife trailing behind him. The wife looked familiar as it turned out she should….More than three decades ago, she had kindly been one…

  • Why Do Aussies Call The Drive-in A “Passion Pit”?

    Aussieがドライブインシアターを「Passion Pit」と呼ぶのはなぜ? 映画を観に行く? それともデート? 今ではすっかり数が減ってしまったドライブインシアターですが、かつてのAussieでは若者の人気デートスポットでした。 そのため、映画を観ることよりも、カップルがイチャイチャする場所というイメージが強くなり、皮肉を込めて Passion Pit(情熱の穴、恋人たちの巣窟)と呼ばれるようになりました。 もちろん、映画を真面目に観ていた人もたくさんいました。でも、「本当に映画を観てるの?」という冗談が飛び交うのも、Aussieらしいユーモアです。 🦘 Expression Passion Pit 発音 /ˈpæʃən pɪt/ 🦘 Meaning ドライブインシアター(drive-in theatre)の俗称。 特に、 「若いカップルのデートスポット」 というイメージを込めて使われます。 現在では少し懐かしい言葉として耳にすることが多くなりました。 🦘 Example Mum reckons Dad took her to the Passion Pit on their first date. 「母の話では、父は初デートでドライブインシアターに連れて行ったらしい。」 🦘 日本人ならどう言う? 日本にも昔は各地にドライブインシアターがありましたが、「Passion Pit」のような愛称はあまり定着しませんでした。 Aussieでは場所そのものよりも、そこで若者が何をしていたかを面白おかしく表現するのが好きなのです。 Aussie × Japan 日本でも1980年代から1990年代にかけてドライブインシアターが人気を集めました。 しかし、Aussieほど恋人たちの場所というイメージは強くありませんでした。 同じ施設でも、文化が違えば愛称まで変わるのは興味深いですね。 Strineには、正式名称よりニックネームのほうが有名なものがたくさんあります。Passion Pitもその一つ。言葉の背景を知ると、昔のAussieの暮らしや価値観まで見えてきます。だからStrineは、単なる英単語ではなく、Aussie文化そのものなのです。🦘 関連記事

  • |

    「やばいリンガル」Game (ゲーム)

     米・英語では、ゲームは遊ぶ事や遊ぶ物の意味だという事は誰でも知っているが、オージー英語でgameというと、単なる遊びじゃなくなっちゃう!使い方がどのように違うか見てみよう。 Outside of Australia, games imply fun and play when used in English, but to be game Down Under takes on an entirely new meaning. Read further to find out how.

  • What To Do?

    When Kangaeroo started back in 2010, the aim was probably to help students understand that American was not the only form of English and that Australians speak Strine. What the aim intended to accomplish remains unknown. At some point, the blog became an area to examine lesser-known aspects of the Japan-Australia relationship. For the first five years of its existence, Kangaeroo.com was updated almost daily. It’s initial aim was not accomplished because I couldn’t get enough people to read it. Same goes for its subsequent purpose, I guess. That probably goes some way to explaining why updates have been sporadic at best over the past several years. But I am…

  • Enshittification

    Enshittification has been chosen by Australia’s preeminent dictionary as the word of the year for 2024. The Macquarie Dictionary, which is regarded as the main chronicler of Australian English, defines enshittification as “the deterioration of a service brought about by a reduction in the quality of service provided, especially of an online platform, and as a consequence of profit seeking.” Most Strine speakers would probably refer to enshittification as things going to the shits. Macquire notes that the term is now being used to describe many things in life, not just tech-related, citing the example of shrinkflation of products as a case of enshittification. Canadian journalist Cory Doctorow, editor of…