We're also obsessed with having the perfect body. But did you know just how young we are when the obsession begins?

One of my favorite thinkers/writers/bloggers/critics—Brett McCracken—has written a good piece for Relevant magazine on how culture has produced in us a short attention span faith.

Each year, Beloit College releases the Beloit College Mindset List, a look at "the cultural touchstones that shape the lives of students entering college." Be sure to check out this year's list for the Class of 2013.

I'm aware you might have hit your limit on Ted Kennedy coverage—and I'm also aware there are a myriad of opinions about the man—but if you're interested, there are some moving anecdotes in this editorial by Time's Nancy Gibbs.

Scot McKnight's latest post for Out of Ur—"Self in a Castle"—takes a telling look at the times in which we live. A slice from the piece: "Here we are. Staring at a unique cultural product: humans turned inward investing sanctity in the Self. We have constructed a postmodern castle wall around that Self believing it is so sacred that no one may violate your choice—you determine what to believe and what is right and wrong. The Self is protected by the Wall of Individual Relative Choice."

According to recent studies, the recession has been good for our physical and relational health.

It's amazing what we'll hold on to in our ignorance of true value. Consider a piece of moon rock that has been showcased in an Amsterdam museum for forty-some years, for instance. It's really just a hunk of petrified wood.

Did you hear about the font change in Ikea's catalog? If you did, did you care? Probably not. But a lot of folks were livid about it. A little reminder that the smallest of changes can set people off—especially when those changes come after 50-plus years of tradition.

Beth Hollis is a 53-year-old reference librarian in Akron, Ohio, who moonlights as a bloodthirsty roller-derby girl. Brings new meaning to "never judge a book by its cover," eh?

Get it? Librarian? Book?

Admit it: you missed me.