2003年12月24日(水) Flattery will get you somewhere! お世辞の大効用
身に余るおほめの言葉には、

 Flattery will get you nowhere.
 (お世辞なんておっしゃっても何も出ませんよ)

というお返しがあります。文末の抑揚は上げます。

お世辞を言われて嫌な気持ちになることはあまりないのは僕だけでしょうか。

ほめるという表現の中に、

 give someone a pat on the back(誰かの背中をポンと叩く)

がありますが、やはり自画自賛をすることこそ人生大切です。

なぜって周囲の人は周囲の人で自画自賛に忙しいか、賛辞を待つのに忙しいからです。

で、

 give oneself a pat on the back(自分自身の背中をポンと叩く)

ことが大切。

そういうビジネスがあればいいのですが、FLATTERERS Inc.とか。

でも頼むと高そうだし契約も面倒くさそうです。

ぼくはお世辞人間というのを持っています。
YESMANという、明るいビジネスマンかモチベーターのような顔をした電池の人形でスイッチを入れるとこちらの音声に反応し、中から声がします。

たとえば、Am I wonderful! と言うと、

I couldn't agree with you more!
You can say that again!
I'm behind you all the way!

などを明るく言ってくれます。(ときに意図がずれますが)。

ただ、椅子がキーとなっても、How do you do it?と反応しますから、遊びすぎれば寂しさがこみ上げてきます。

ところが、なんと、無料で、それも何度もほめてくれて、最高の気分にしてくれる、そういうサイトがあります。

僕もやってみました。短い英語でほめてくれます。いい気分です。

ウイルスフリーです。お試しください。

最初に名前を書き込めという指示があります。

ファーストネームを入れたほうがいいです。

苗字を入れると上からほめられたようでいい気分になりません。

このあたり異文化エントリー時の注意というか。

以下へどうぞ。THE HAPPIER HOLIDAYS!

http://www.cse.unsw.edu.au/~geoffo/humour/flattery.html




2003年12月07日(日) Schultz's Test 答えなくてよいテスト

答えなくてよいテスト。
恩師からのメールです。
タイトルはぼくが勝手につけました。

The following is the philosophy of Charles Schultz, the creator of the "Peanuts" comic strip.

You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just read the e-mail
straight through, and you'll get the point.


1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.

3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.

4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.

5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winner for best actor and
actress.

6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.


How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday.

These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields.

But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten.

Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.



Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:



1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.

3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.

5.. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

6. Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you.




Easier?

The lesson:

The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards.
They are the ones that care.


Pass this on to those people who have made a difference in your life.

"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today.

It's already tomorrow in Australia."

(Charles Schultz)



2003年12月04日(木) A Doctor Writes ある医師の回答

恩師からのメールで知ったネットで小ブームの”インタビュー”。
80歳を超えてお元気な恩師は、そのユーモアは厚く皮下に沈殿し、ジャズクラブからスタンダップ・コメディーに呼ばれるという。
これはヘルスコンシャスなトレンドを皮肉ったもの。
Stay loose.そのものです。真似をしないほうがよいかもしれません。
最初の「心血管を強化するエクササイズ」のくだりから、最後の「もし水泳がシェイプアップによいなら・・・」まで。必死に抵抗を試みている。

Q: I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?

A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it...don't waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?

A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?

A: Well, if you have a body, and you have body fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating a regular exercise program?

A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain...Good.

Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?

A: You're not listening. Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil.
In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?

Q: What's the secret to healthy eating?

A: Thicker gravy.

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?

A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.

Q: Is chocolate bad for me?

A: Are you crazy? HELLO .....!. Cocoa beans .... another vegetable!!! It's the best feel good food around! Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets. Now go have a cookie...flour is a veggie!
If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.

最後の素晴らしい?セリフ。「もし水泳がシェイプアップによいなら、鯨のことを説明してほしい」


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