A couple months ago on a plane to Florida I noticed an attractive teenage girl sucking a pacifier. She also had a funky skin condition, so I attributed the sucking to a medical condition. Since then I’ve seen more teenagers with pacifiers, baby clothes, and now sucking thumbs. I can’t find any news reports, but the Internet tells me it either began in the East or with ravers.

Is it a need for comfort in uncertain times? A reaction to the New York City smoking-ban-in-public-places? Or just the latest trend? Next I expect drinking from baby bottles, carrying blankets, and wearing diapers.