Oh, man!

Here are some absolute gems from Elvis Mitchell's review of the new film "The Core" in today's New York Times.

"The cast of "The Core" deserve Oscar nominations just for being able to speak most of the lines without succumbing to the chortles."

"Sections of "The Core" drag so sullenly that the crew's six-day mission seems to be taking place in real time. And the vaulting obviousness becomes so dreary that a real-life core shutdown seems like an act of mercy."

"The brazen silliness of "The Core" is becalming and inauthentic, like taking a bath in nondairy coffee creamer. The Earth core's inability to turn is mirrored in the cast's inability to give the picture any spin."

I, for one, think it's gonna rule!

Nothing stays very cold in the refrigerator in my dorm room. This morning, after another half gallon of milk spoiled far before its time, I got fed up.

There's a dial inside to set the level of cooling pleasure. It was set to the very safe "3." I can choose a level between 1 and 5.

The problem is, I have no idea which way to turn it to make it colder. 1? 5? Pick one and pray all the food doesn't go bad?

I set it to 5. We'll see.

[Update: 5 worked. Colder. Thank you for your time.]

One more interesting thing from Adbusters.

Do I agree with how they're going about it? No.

Do they have a really good point? Oh yeah.

Wow. Can you believe it? I'm posting to davidjmcgee.com. A dream come true, today!

Here's something I wanted to share with you from the most recent issue of Adbusters. It's an article by Nicholas Jenkins, and it's really beautiful.

I know that Adbusters has some critics, and more that are wary of it (for example, my brother). It is good to be wary of things; one is less easily duped and misled that way.

Last semester, I was in a "class" that revolved around the worship... I'm sorry, I mean the "study" of Ralph Waldo Emerson. I was getting really pissed because he was a total hypocrite. He wrote instructions for living yet lived his life in a completely different manner. But as a wise person told me during that class (my brother) there's still something useful, beautiful, and meaningful to be found.

Even if you disagree with the extent to which Adbusters sometimes goes (which I do, as well) the same is true in this case, I think. There's something important here.

"Is it possible to withdraw from a system while living within it? I'm no longer sure...

We must be aware of each action, and only then will we begin to breathe. Without totally removing ourselves we must live with hypocrisy, and it is perhaps that which we must ultimately acknowledge; to live here, in this society, surrounded by heated homes and hot coffee, cinemas, Nike shoes, SUVs, computers, Gap stores, malls, grocery stores, subsidized beef, tobaccoand prescription drugs, makes us guilty. If we acknowledge this guilt, then perhaps we can begin to take control over our actions. But as the addiction researches know, the first step is to recognize the problem.

At the end of the day you vote with what you consume. Curb your consumption, and that vote means a hell of a lot more than staying home on election day."

The question is one that I ponder endlessly. How do I live a meaningful, happy life in a world plagued by so many problems? How can I stop feeling guilty?

Well, Jenkins theorizes that I shouldn't stop feeling guilty. He also doesn't say that I need to wallow in it. How can we strike a meaningful balance between acknowledging our guilt and living our lives?

I heartily recommend picking up this most recent issue of the magazine, guys. Share it with a friend and it's only $4 a piece. I want to have some spirited discussion about the better topics raised in it. Do my bidding. :)

It's good to be back.

I'm looking for Mr. Sneller.