Intellectual future? How about the intellectual present? We rank 36th in the world in reading, math, and science.

Can somebody tell me what a 'Kardashian' is? I used to think it was some kind of Persian rug. Any thoughts?

I've moved on from fear. Then there was anger, then bargaining, depression and finally acceptance.

That's a lie. I'm still on anger.

I owned a new/used bookstore in Athens, Ohio which is home to Ohio University. I had the store for over 25 years and watched sales slowly go down year after year. Our store was named one of the top 5 used bookstores in Ohio and was voted best bookstore in the city in our local paper. Why is my store no longer there? I do blame things partially on the rise of Amazon since once loyal customers would come in for a company and without a hint of guilt, tell me how they had just gotten that new best seller from Amazon and how is it selling in my store.....sigh. But the real reason my store, like so many other independent bookstores closed was the almost total lack of young adults (20s) that stopped buying books. I watched the slow decline of that customer base while I also watched the avid bookbuyers of the older generation pass away, not to be replaced by younger buyers. I had no answer. Yes, Harry Potter and the Hunger Games helped, but they were but rogue waves in the sea of book buying.

The dumbing down of America began in 2000 with W’s educational program, then the media began to remove shows that promoted intellectual self awareness especially in music.

I know that most of you aren’t into rap/hip hop but if you were to track the lyrics from the late 80’s to the early 2000’s you can see that any and all messages of seeking intelligence and social awareness and development have transferred to money, drugs, bitches, guns and displays of wealth.

And it just wasn’t in rap music either rock and metal who have been outspoken about social awareness and politics has also gone the way of don’t think just party. And with Carlin dead John Stewart being pushed out and the metoo movement taking out several others there’s little to no comedians calling out the system as a whole.

They’re choosing sides and in some cases admitting that it’s for their own job security. So this country has been on a greased track to dumbfuck U S A for nearly two decades and sadly there’s been so many distractions that most people have barely noticed it.

well, on one good note. There will be another season of Cosmos coming out around April.
looking very forward to that.