Why am I so afraid to write something? It doesn’t HAVE to be my best, but I’m sure it would be excellent.

After finishing New Moon, I’m pretty much living on the assumption that every author can be published (if Meyers can be).

Tim Burton, step aside, you have pleased me with Sweeney Todd; it’s time for a more formidable travesty to grace my dear pages. Readers, meet Stephanie Meyers. I’m sure at least one Barnes & Noble lackey has tried to shove her down your throat at the cafeteria table. Never fear, I’ll save my insults for my next blog.

Film at the end of this post.

The manifestation of overwhelming obsessions, whether thoughts or actions, and compulsions is called Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD); classically defined as an anxiety disorder characterized by unwanted and repetitive thoughts and/or actions. OCD is classified as an anxiety disorder, psychological disorders characterized by distressing persistent anxiety or maladaptive behaviors that reduce anxiety. A simple crooked painting on the wall can be the equivalent to a giant elephant in the corner. Where a normal individual may be obsessed with why the elephant is there and how they can get rid of it, an OC sufferer can not rest until the frame is straight. 1 in 50 adults in the United States suffer from OCD, while many more hide their disorder because they believe they will be labeled as socially unacceptable, or they are uneducated on what they’re experiencing. It’s hard to understand what someone with OCD is experiencing; they are troubled with obsessive thoughts that are uncontrollable.

OCD usually becomes visible in males at the ages of 6 to 15 and females in their late teens and early twenties. OCD usually does not appear after the age of 25 unless the patient is predisposed and goes through a traumatic event. There are many different types of OCD, which does not always come in pairs of obsessions and compulsions. OCD can be diagnosed if only one obsession or compulsion is expressed. Typical OCD types are sufferers who obsessive over washing, cleaning, hoarding, checking, scrupulosity, and aggression. Examples of manifesting OCD symptoms are irrational checking of door locks, washing hands, or obsession with symmetry. Though these are typical symptoms, OCD can also manifest as thoughts of offending a higher power resulting in repetitive praying and confessing. (more…)

I would like to announce the opening of my LOST fanvid account, YourCerberus

Follow the cut to watch The Shape of Things to Come Music Video (more…)

Here is the first seven minutes of Ben Stein’s documentary on Intelligent Design. Most of you don’t know this, but for the majority of my high school life I went to a private Christian school. I was taught about Creationism, Intelligent Design, and Darwinism; but we spend the majority of our time in Life Science and Biology on Intelligent Design. I’ll be watching the full version of this documentary sometime this week.

I already have some problems with the first seven minutes, mostly with the presentation. It’s no secret that Ben Stein is an active Republican, maybe that’s why the first seven minutes felt more like propaganda. Stein seems to be taking the martyr’s route (which, I guess, some Christians are good at). He’s speaking as if scientists don’t have a right to be weary of Creationism or Intelligent Design, as if they are willfully being ignorant and trying to squash his freedom of speech. I think scientists have a very real reason to be angry at anything that even smells like dogma, not that I think they shouldn’t tell ID into consideration. But, it was religious dogma that ostracized Science and caused this massive break between Science and Religion.

Full thoughts later this week.

If you don’t remember, I rated Funny Games as something to make you look forward to 2008. For me, it was something that did make me look forward to this year. I’ve been waiting for this movie to be released ever since 2007. My expectations were exceeded for this film. It is a remake of the 1997 German film Funny Games, both with the same director (Michael Haneke). I have yet to see the German version, but I would really like to.

Summery: This film begins with the typical American family who go out to their cabin for vacation. When stopping to chat with their neighbors, they notice that the neighbors are acting odd around two new guests. The plot slowly moves on when Anne (the mother, played by Naomi Watts) is confronted with one of the first guests who asks to borrow eggs. He clumsily ends up breaking eight eggs before the next guess arrives along with the father and the son. The two young men (Peter and Paul) attack the father and break his leg. They then make a bet with the family that the family will not be alive tomorrow by 9 o’clock.

Rating: Four stars out of Five This was a superbly written and directed psychological thriller. It reminds me of Red Eye and the French film Merci Pour le Chocolat, if you enjoyed those two films you will also enjoy Funny Games. I must warn you, this movie is not Black Dahlia, Saw, or Hostel. Don’t expect fast pace scenes with blood and gore. This is an intelligent movie, and will not be received well by the typical movie goer. If you have already seen the movie (more…)