My friend Abigail has been living in Germany for 10+ years now.  Before her infrequent trips back to the States she tries to play catch-up with some of the more salient cultural touchstones, but it is losing game, that. Prior to her last visit she ended an email or FB chat thread with, “And WTF is a Kardashian?”

I’ve been using that phrase frequently of late as a pop culture palate cleanser, whenever there is something in that pseudo-celebrity/tabloid/gossip world I find inexplicable. “WTF is a Kardashian?” I think to myself. Then I move on.  It’s a mantra; it’s a balm.