Real Life Horror: Car Accidents

As the day may be I got in my first car accident today. Before I continue further no one was hurt, the other passenger and I are okay. Unfortunately though it was my fault. I was distracted while driving and ran a red light on accident. I was paying attention to the road but my mind was in other places, so luckily I braked which didn't cause much worse to happen. I did hit his car though, damaging his wheel, but essentially wrecking the front of mine. At the most I'm upset and angry at myself for the happening. He was somewhat helpful but seemed more irked that I hit him than anything. Which he has a right too be.

There's not much reason to this post I suppose outside that its to remind people that accidents happen and to drive safely. I also was going to post a review this Thursday but it wont be up until next week with all this stuff happening. But as I said the main reason of this is to remind people that real life horror happens everyday, luckily mine didn't end a lot worse than it could have.

Just a reminder to be safe.

Real Life Horror: Irrational Fears

Happy Follow Friday and I'm not dead. I'm aware that I've not only been more horrible about posting than usual but I've also been horrible about Follow Friday. I just fell a little bit behind this month. I'm sorry, I would like to promise that I'll be more committed from here on out but if that doesn't happen than I'll have lied to you on top of not doing it. Therefore just know that I have full intent to do so but it may not happen. But I will try, I'm watching three films this weekend, hopefully four.

Besides that it's Irrelevant Post Friday and I thought I'd share with you my fears. Not in a horror film related sense but in an actual real life fear. There's three that are consistent and always anxiety provoking. And of course they are all irrational.

Number Three: The Royal Gorge Bridge

I'm not even afraid of heights per say but this bridge I find rather upsetting. I went here once as a kid and not only do they allow cars to drive over the bridge while you walk but there really is nothing stopping anyone from running up behind me and throwing me over the side of it. This is a reoccurring thought I had a child which would keep me up a night. It's irrational, why would anyone want to throw a ten year old over a bridge? Who knows but it upsets me.

Number Two: Animatronics That Don't Move

It makes absolutely no sense, I know. More logically the ones that move should prove more fear as they resemble more realism, but no it's only when they are still that I start to lose it. In particular the animatronic T-rex on the Jurassic Park Ride at Universal Studios. If it ever broke down when I was in it I'd probably cry. Just looking for pictures of this thing my phone vibrated and I about pissed myself and flew out of my seat. It simply just freaks me out. 

Number One: People/Social Contact

There's clearly something wrong with my wiring, not only do I seek out to be afraid being an avid horror lover as I am but my real life fear is something I come in contact with DAILY, forcing me to induce fear often. It's likely the most irrational fear of them all but I argue that if you can be afraid of something you drink (water) or spiders than I'm entitled to be afraid of people. People are much more capable of hurting you than a spider, physically or worse emotionally. I'm a social-phobic to the extent of having Social Anxiety Disorder, which includes a lot of strange fears like public restrooms but also the common public speaking. That cartoon picture is scarily acurate, that's every thought, with every person, all day. I'm don't have it as bad as some do, I leave the house, but I do have bad anxiety from it and if the situation proves so I can go into an anxiety attack. 

If you are reading post your own irrational fears. Or rational. 

Real Life Horror, Unapologetically Wrecking my Childhood

It's not such a rare occurance anymore, as Hollywood studios go out of their way to ruin my childhood memories. Taint them with the poorly constructed remakes, give half the effort and heart to make a few dollars. It's nothing new. But they really went out of their way this time and essentially impaled me. I'm not being dramatic either, they are shutting down the Jaws Ride at Universal Studios.

Admittedly the shark looks horribly fake and I've been on the ride so many times that its not even a surprise anymore when he pops up. Hell I could probably count the exact seconds it takes from when the barn doors close to when the people on the front right side scream. But my first trip to Universal this was the only adult ride I got on. I was tricked by my mom and my brother, who told me it was a boat ride. And as typical horror lover I was enthralled when the shark blasted through the water and started eating the wire right next to my brother. It was lucky how we picked the exact seats the big action stuff happens on for our first time there. I didn't stop talking about the ride for weeks. And like usual everyone was annoyed with me for not being able to shut my mouth.

As I got older and went on the ride again I was able to appreciate the homage to the film and the entire section dedicated to the town of Amity. And even when it became apparently fake and the tour boat guide's gun shot aim became painstakingly worse it was still fun. Especially for new people who had never been on the ride before. But it could be worse. It could be this version of Jaws:

I'm not an expert but either she really hated George or she's just awful at her job. Not to mention she gives away a huge spoiler "I'm going to stop talking after the shark comes up because they are filming Desperate Housewives down the street."  .... Or whatever she said to that nature. And Bruce looks more like a dolphin with that trick than as an intimidating shark.

If anything Universal just needed to update the ride, and maybe bring a little bit more cohesion to that part of the park. But in life its just easier to destroy part of my childhood than it is to repair it for new memories. Whatever Universal. I do note though that if they ever get rid of the Terminator ride they've lost me as a customer. That ride is fucking awesome. Oh and please get rid of the Simpsons and bring back Back To the Future.

A little bit of history and trivia on the ride. It was built in 1990 to many failures and technical difficulties, which eventually lead to the ride being redesigned to a small, and admittedly less scary, extent. The former attraction included a much more active shark who was strong enough to spin the boat around, and also a more gory ending where the shark dies similar as in the film. The ride is five minutes long and the shark is seen seven times, three times in full and four with the fin. Universal hasn't released what will replace the Jaws ride but I'm skeptical, agreeing with others that they haven't hard anything too iconic to replace Spielberg's box office massacre.