We 'Mericans are too consumed with our shallow, media puntuated lifestyle, with endless soundbites to worry about anything remotely intellectually stimulating.

Heck, even Robot Wars is an English program. Watched that one while I was visiting my in-laws who have cable. (BTW, Robot Wars is a technical version of the WWF. Geeks built robots, put cool names and coverings on them, and then they "fight" until one or the other is disabled. Then the "house" robots come in from the outside and finish the job. It's so hilarious because most of the contestants are serious engineer types and the host and hostess really do try to make it like the WWF.

We did have William F. Buckley ( a conservative Brit relocated state side), but he's getting too old to do the shows and maybe he's even moved on to the great afterlife.

Our "deep thought" runs along the veins of Wall Street Week, This Week with Cokie, Sam, and George Will, and Politically Incorrect.

Otherwise, you live through primetime of Dharma and Greg, The Practice, and all the "survivor" shows like Suvivor, Temptation Island, and Big Brother.

It's no wonder that people are turning off the TV and getting on the Internet.

Glen Austin