The Glowing Scroll

Tell me if you've heard somebody say something like this: "The universe must be watching out for me!" Or, "The universe must have something in mind." Obviously, they're attributing personal, godlike qualities to the cosmos —usually without really examining their presumptions. It's actually a hangover from the sloppy pantheism and mysticism that were common in the '60s. But don't tell them that. (Thank you, Alan Watts, Allen Ginsberg, Timothy Leary, Paramahansa Yogananda, Steve Gaskin, Richard Alpert, etc.) But it's worth asking: Does the universe really care about you? Here's a thought experiment: Imagine you actually "slipped the surly bonds of earth" and ventured out into the benevolent universe, far from the atmosphere and gravity that we're all used to. What would happen? Your body would explode into billions of undetectable particles. And you'd be gone. And the universe wouldn't bat an eye. ...

–Winston Churchill

Bombast. Maybe it’s because it has that word bomb in it, but bombast is often misused to describe harsh, exaggerated, or over-the-top rhetoric. Actually, it refers to speech that’s pompous or pretentious. Originally, bombast was a name for the cotton padding used in clothes. So when you hear a speech with lots of padding or filler—that’s bombastic. Or, (ahem) it could describe writing that has the same qualities.   Hypocrite. We all know that a hypocrite is someone who says one thing and does another. Right? Well, actually, no. The word derives from the Greek word for a stage actor—someone who’s pretending to be someone else. So, if you‘re not living up to your own standards—that just means you’re human. If you’re pretending to do so—then yes, you’re a hypocrite.   Diffident. This word is sometimes used as a synonym for arrogant or aloof . Actually, it describes someone who is timid or shy ( dif -fident—the opposite of con -fident).   St...

People have spent years analyzing the song lyrics of Bob Dylan and the Beatles, looking for hidden messages. But the real deep content can be found in the pop and doo-wop records of the '50s and early '60s. Take a look at these lyrics. Recite them, out loud. Preferably with other people around. Do it over and over. Then, you'll understand ... Shoobie doobie wah doowop eewobbie wobbie Shoop shoop shanga langa shingabop Wop wop padda padda wop wop shoobop doobop Dum di di dee dum de dum dee dee dum di di dee dee dee dum Dum dum diddly dum Doo wah diddy diddy dum diddy doo Doolang doolang doolang Yakadula yakadula Dum dum dum dumbie doowah Sha la la doobie wah dum dum dum Bo bo bo dimbodeeay Da dee da dee da deeyah Dum dum dum dumbie doowah oh yay yay yay ah oh wo wo wo-ah Sha na na na sha na na na na Shoo doo shoobedoo Scoobie doo