Are you smarter than a fifth grader?

I always just thought that this show existing was a sad commentary on the degrading intellect of our country. Then I watched part of an episode. It's worse than I thought.

Question: When standing on the equator, which way would you look to see the sun rise.

Contestant (a frat boy bio chem major): Well, since I was an Eagle Scout, I know it's either east or west... I'll go with east.

the fact he got it right is immaterial. he prefaces not being sure which way the sun comes up with "I was an Eagle Scout..."? Where's the standards for scouting going? I mean... Gah! This just pains me in a way I can't express...

Host: Let's see what your fraternity brother thought... "North". pause Wrong.

What the hell? This is a college student! WHAT THE HELL? A poli sci major, and there for possibly a future world leader.

The contestant has a "Cheat", the first time he gets a question wrong, but his fifth grade partner gets it right, he's safe. This guy whispers to his partner "I hope you got it." I... I... I just don't know what to say. I turned it off after the second question. I fear for the world.

Tech center

Silicon Valley has its definite oddities. I drove into work today behind a bus with free wi fi on board. I see someone on a Blackberry every morning on the elevator. There's an endless amount of technology here, it's built into the culture to a point I didn't think possible. Some of it's state wide. I can (and just did) schedule an appointment at the DMV online. But it's undeniably local too. It's funny being in the middle of all these tech companies. I can see Oracle from my cubicle. One of the gaming groups I found meets at the Yahoo headquarters. It's funny giving up programing in the programing capital of the US. Speaking of which, tomorrow is likely my last full day as a code monkey. After that it's on to analyzing.