Beloit College's annual "Mindset List" is a list of truisms about the historical context of the incoming freshman class — all the things that have existed "forever" for them and all the things they never knew firsthand. It's a fast train to self-doubtsville for those of us who feel like we are still young and with it. Here's some I liked:
# Salsa has always outsold ketchup
# Tattoos have always been very chic and highly visible.
# They have been preparing for the arrival of HDTV all their lives.
# The KGB has never officially existed.
# Babies have always had a Social Security Number.
# Women have always outnumbered men in college.
# We have always watched wars, coups, and police arrests unfold on television in real time.
# Britney Spears has always been heard on classic rock stations.
(via Charlie Stross)
