Living in a place surrounded by natural beauty, was one of those things, like a mouth full of strong, healthy, pain-free teeth or not having any debt, that I only truly learned to appreciate once I began to know it’s absence. I’d spent much of my childhood and formative years in places that were scenic, the houses I lived in as a kid were places from whence any amateur photographer wouldn’t have to drive more than 30 minutes to find a shot worthy of a postcard that tourists would want to buy. These were places near state parks that were frequented by tourists who came from less pristine areas to…

I do not like films that focus on gore. There are many kinds of films I do not care for at all, but for which I can at least appreciate why people find them appealing:   Transformers/Marvel-esq fantastical blockbusters can be fast-paced and dazzling,   Romantic comedies can be cute and heartwarming,   Pixar animated features can be VERY cute as well as funny and captivating to children,   but horror movies that focus on the threat of slow disembowelment of still-living victims and that tease (via previews) said disembowelment will be in the center of the frame for much of the film’s running time, well, I just can’t understand…