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spin

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26. Idiocracy is one of the best movies I have watched in years. ...

Wed Mar 6, 2013, 07:39 PM

Mar 2013

Idiocracy
Idiocracy is a 2006 American film, a satirical science fiction comedy, directed by Mike Judge and starring Luke Wilson, Maya Rudolph, Dax Shepard, and Terry Crews. The film tells the story of two ordinary people who take part in a top-secret military hibernation experiment, only to awaken 500 years in the future in a dystopian society full of extremely dumb people. Advertising, commercialism, and cultural anti-intellectualism have run rampant and dysgenic pressure has resulted in a uniformly stupid society devoid of intellectual curiosity, social responsibility, and coherent notions of justice and human rights.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idiocracy

Unfortunately I fear that it might not be just satire but closer to prophesy.

Is pampered humanity getting steadily less intelligent?
Humans reached a peak of intelligence more than 2,000 years ago and it's been downhill ever since, a scientist speculates

Since modern humans emerged from the evolutionary brambles of our ancient ancestry, our bodies and minds have been transforming under the pressures of natural and sexual selection. But what of human intelligence? Has our cognitive ability risen steadily since our forebears knapped the first stone tools? Or are our smartest days behind us?

Gerald Crabtree, a geneticist at Stanford University in California, bets on the latter. He believes that if an average Greek from 1,000 BC were transported to modern times, he or she would be one of the brightest among us. Our intellectual prowess has probably been sliding south since the invention of farming and the rise of high-density living that it allowed, he claims.

In two articles published in the journal Trends in Genetics, the scientist lays out what might be called a speculative theory of human intelligence. It is, he admits, an idea that needs testing, and one that he would happily see proved wrong.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2012/nov/12/pampered-humanity-less-intelligent

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Highlight:

History Channel: "Pawn Stars". A&E: "Duck Dynasty". [View all] trof Mar 2013 OP

I like Duck Dynasty. tammywammy Mar 2013 #1

OK, then i guess that qualifies as 'entertainment'? trof Mar 2013 #2

Sure, I think it's entertainment. tammywammy Mar 2013 #5

I like Duck Dynasty, too. melody Mar 2013 #42

Duck Dynasty is cool. Pararescue Mar 2013 #4

Uncle Si is so funny. tammywammy Mar 2013 #7

My wife's is Pararescue Mar 2013 #12

Hey ohheckyeah Mar 2013 #64

For gods sake. Really? n-t Logical Mar 2013 #43

Yes, I really do like it. tammywammy Mar 2013 #51

You know most the stuff is scripted and discussed? They manufacturer scenes. n-t Logical Mar 2013 #58

Yes, I know, and don't really care either. tammywammy Mar 2013 #59

Who cares? melody Mar 2013 #71

Hey, If You're Going To Watch Hillbilly Shows, Might As Well Go For The Best: Paladin Mar 2013 #114

Justified is the best... ileus Mar 2013 #119

You can learn something from history on Pawn Stars. Dawson Leery Mar 2013 #3

yes, at least they do focus on the history even though it's mostly fake JI7 Mar 2013 #15

I was just at their store a couple months ago. former9thward Mar 2013 #19

How long did you stand in line? enlightenment Mar 2013 #52

I walked right in. former9thward Mar 2013 #74

Interesting. enlightenment Mar 2013 #92

While I do rather like Pawn Stars, I can't help but wonder Peter cotton Mar 2013 #16

In most cases, they would. Dawson Leery Mar 2013 #27

Cash money, in your hand, ta-day! n/t Mopar151 Mar 2013 #30

i think on certain rare, more expensive items people want to be sure it's authentic JI7 Mar 2013 #50

That is, in large part, what feedback is for. Peter cotton Mar 2013 #65

but a lot of people who bring something in to pawn shops don't do it regularly JI7 Mar 2013 #69

But you can't always be sure. Xithras Mar 2013 #96

The type of item being sold does make a difference, granted. Peter cotton Mar 2013 #109

I like Duck Dynasty. That and Big Bang Theory are the only two shows I watch. Autumn Mar 2013 #6

It's the History Channel especially that breaks my heart. annabanana Mar 2013 #8

History Channel used to have a show that did exactly that. Brigid Mar 2013 #14

Now THAT'S entertainment!. . .n/t annabanana Mar 2013 #20

No one can run Argo on free cable right now, but Discovery did a show about the real operation Bluenorthwest Mar 2013 #18

The history channel has definitely changed shanti Mar 2013 #87

The National Geographic SHOULD have taken their name OFF annabanana Mar 2013 #90

That and Discovery loyalsister Mar 2013 #112

Pawn can be interesting at times, but Duck?... TheCowsCameHome Mar 2013 #9

Broke people need to pawn stuff, and Guns are "In". NYC_SKP Mar 2013 #10

Did Rupert Murdoch buy it?. pwb Mar 2013 #11

Well, that certainly explains a lot LibertyLover Mar 2013 #110

too many complaints about all the Hitler, NAzi documentaries JI7 Mar 2013 #13

... NutmegYankee Mar 2013 #17

Idiocracy is one of the best movies I have watched in years. ... spin Mar 2013 #26

The movie has electrolytes and shit! hatrack Mar 2013 #35

plants crave it frylock Mar 2013 #29

It was bought by A&E Television networks a few years ago DearHeart Mar 2013 #21

What did anyone expect? Cheap & sensationalistic, with an emphasis on cheap. hatrack Mar 2013 #22

I will also admit to one guilty (and short-lived) pleasure from this kind of TV. kentauros Mar 2013 #36

And then you have both the NYT and WaPo eliminating environmental reporting hatrack Mar 2013 #38

Thankfully, there's TreeHugger.com kentauros Mar 2013 #41

+1000! trof Mar 2013 #45

Speaking as a former Alabamian myself, I can only say, "Aw, shucks!" hatrack Mar 2013 #70

History channel, Tru TV, the larnin' channel: Goober TV rustydog Mar 2013 #23

I learn important things on Ancient Aliens Prism Mar 2013 #24

Pitch the theory to Discovery LadyHawkAZ Mar 2013 #31

I already have a project with them Prism Mar 2013 #37

Whats a platypi? nt darkangel218 Mar 2013 #83

Ugh nevermind, its short for platypus. nt darkangel218 Mar 2013 #86

What happened is something called "branding". kentauros Mar 2013 #25

Yeah, and I'm sure The Ascent of Man would really pull in the eyeballs! hatrack Mar 2013 #28

SyFy is pretty much horror movies. trof Mar 2013 #46

In regards to The Learning Channel..... Mike Daniels Mar 2013 #79

That's what most of them do. kentauros Mar 2013 #80

"Home and Garden Television is for people with more money than brains (and no gardens.)" CrispyQ Mar 2013 #93

I just overheard part of a conversation here at work. kentauros Mar 2013 #97

No different than Honey Boo Boo on The Learning Channel. Teaching appleannie1 Mar 2013 #32

Point made. 'Honey Boo Boo'. trof Mar 2013 #47

That's what the acronym TLC stand for? For real? Jamaal510 Mar 2013 #67

Yeah... Blue_Tires Mar 2013 #76

I loved it 15 years ago. Now I don't watch it and mute "Honey" commercials on other channels. appleannie1 Mar 2013 #78

When The Learning Channel first started, kentauros Mar 2013 #99

I like 'Moonshiners' on Discovery Kingofalldems Mar 2013 #33

I think this series is cooked. Zax2me Mar 2013 #68

Jim Tom was comedy gold! shanti Mar 2013 #91

What is Jim Tom's favorite meal? Kingofalldems Mar 2013 #94

oh crap, i dunno! shanti Mar 2013 #102

A baloney and cheese sandwich with pork and beans on the side. Kingofalldems Mar 2013 #105

One day Pawn Stars will be history. Lint Head Mar 2013 #34

It's embarassing stuntcat Mar 2013 #39

The history on the so-called History Channel is garbage BainsBane Mar 2013 #40

Fucking unbelievable. History Channel is a joke. But look how many people love this shit. n-t Logical Mar 2013 #44

Pawn Stars and American Pickers are marginally historical, unlike Ancient Aliens Recursion Mar 2013 #48

Here's the real shame, trof. Jack Sprat Mar 2013 #49

I get local programming with rabbit ears.... llmart Mar 2013 #57

Some of us don't have that option anymore. Jack Sprat Mar 2013 #62

Ratings liberal N proud Mar 2013 #53

Classic race-to-the-bottom capitalism. When nothing else matters but the $$$$. reformist2 Mar 2013 #54

"Duck Dynasty" is on A&E. Apophis Mar 2013 #55

tlc, discovery channel, a&e = related. i would have thought history channel owned by same company Liberal_in_LA Mar 2013 #63

Why do we need public television? 6000eliot Mar 2013 #56

With a few notable exceptions, cable TV is about lowering standards. CBHagman Mar 2013 #60

The Biography Channel use to have bio's of historical figures and now.... WCGreen Mar 2013 #61

america the stupid. sell, sell, sell to the lowest common denominator spanone Mar 2013 #66

CNN Headline News kills me the most. Tommy_Carcetti Mar 2013 #72

I use stuff like this to point out why PBS, etc is still needed and deserves public funding Mike Daniels Mar 2013 #73

my pitch to the cable networks: CAJUN SPERM BANK!!! datasuspect Mar 2013 #75

cocaine still powers the entertainment industry datasuspect Mar 2013 #77

I like Pawn Stars. darkangel218 Mar 2013 #81

Geez, who cares? Texasgal Mar 2013 #82

Just remember: we MUST NOT be allowed to choose channels ala carte. Romulox Mar 2013 #84

TLC used to stand for The Learning Channel. CrispyQ Mar 2013 #85

It's now shanti Mar 2013 #88

~lol CrispyQ Mar 2013 #95

*snicker* kentauros Mar 2013 #100

When you mentioned the cheapness of the production values, kentauros Mar 2013 #101

never thought I'd say it but I miss Hitler... TeamPooka Mar 2013 #89

This book explains why this happened to t.v. olddots Mar 2013 #98

You forgot that fine piece of artistry "Dog the Bounty Hunter" whathehell Mar 2013 #103

Also don't forget Hoarders, and Intervention. Truly "time well spent". Erose999 Mar 2013 #116

Certainly not, though whathehell Mar 2013 #118

It's the latest thing in entertainment. Ganja Ninja Mar 2013 #104

Some how I thought better of the HISTORY channel. You know to tell us about history. southernyankeebelle Mar 2013 #106

Dumb fuck tv .... that is all it is Botany Mar 2013 #107

The History Channel is a joke LittleBlue Mar 2013 #108

I'm guilty of watching a lot of them TlalocW Mar 2013 #111

Wait! What about Lizard Lick? Ligyron Mar 2013 #113

Well at least its not "The Hitler-y Channel" anymore. And I remember when A&E used to be highbrow, Erose999 Mar 2013 #115

I still enjoy The First 48 on A&E. great white snark Mar 2013 #117