Articles written by Brian Russell

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About me - Brian Russell

Brian Russell is a writer/director/producer/composer living in Chicago. He recently licensed his song "Stay With Me" (with lyrics by Margaret McClure) to MTV's popular reality-TV show "My Super Sweet Sixteen." His short story "Rutherford" received first place

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Creative Writing > Short Stories Short stories: Facing death: 34 of 214
RUTHERFORD "In the event of my death," the letter to his wife began, "the following should ease your burden to the degree that I am able to predict." Rutherford Brace Hillman was sixty-four as he wrote the letter, and in relatively good health for a man his age, but he'd seen enough of his friends die unexpectedly to know th... More..
Food & Drink > Recipes (Other) Recipes: Simple suppers: 7 of 38
A simple, yet impressive dish - your guests will think it took you hours to prepare! I made this dish last night for my wife and a dear friend, and it was absolutely delicious, and surpriisingly simple. Chicken Parmesan. Start by putting a large pot of water on the stove to boil for the pasta. You can use just about any past... More..
Pets & Animals > Dog Care & Health Explaining seizures in dogs: 3 of 7
There are a number of different reasons that a dog can have a seizure. Assessing what's causing a seizure can be difficult and time consuming. The age of the dog is a factor, as is his or her overall health. If the dog is more than two years old, it is possible, but less likely that a seizure is related to Epilepsy - it happ... More..
Arts & Humanities > 19th Century US History The 1989 film 'Glory' and how it helps expose an epic post-Civil War myth: 1 of 2
Considering the 1989 film Glory: Or, How A Previously Untold Story Helps Expose an Epic Myth I set out to evaluate the merit, or lack thereof, of the 1989 Edward Zwick film, Glory. Along the way, I discovered a powerful and, frankly, breathtaking myth that was created in the aftermath of the Civil War. Never in my earlier ed... More..
Arts & Humanities > American Authors Book reviews: The Ghost Writer, by Philip Roth: 1 of 1
The experience of reading Philip Roth's The Ghost Writer is not unlike the sensation one experiences in a room with mirrors on opposite walls - when you look into one mirror at just the right angle you see an endless series of cascading reflections in the other. The Ghost Writer presents layer after layer of texts, of famili... More..
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Struggle in life: 224 of 425
PROBABLY Maybe it's just as well, she says though I don't really believe her. I understand the birch are all gone now. She takes my hand to lead me away. Maybe it's just as well I hear myself say, believing it less than her. Let's go in honey, it's getting cold. We'll sit here by the fire. It's warm and cold on the floor. I ... More..
Arts & Humanities > Theater & Drama Exploring the fine art of theater: 12 of 15
In beginning work for a book in process with the working title, PRACTICING THEATER, a friend and colleague asked me a simple question. Here is the question and my answer: What is your first memory of theater? Why is a seemingly so simple question so difficult to answer? I have several competing early memories of theater rush... More..
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Christmas: 210 of 231
Christmas In These United States In Cohasset, Minnesota, the young man and his wife ride in an old-fashioned sleigh, by the banks of Pokegama Lake. Their laughter and the sound of the bells on their horses' tails pierce the night. It is December the twenty-fourth. Billy and his brother Jud are out for a swim in Polacca Wash,... More..
Food & Drink > Coffee How to make great coffee in a drip coffee maker: 37 of 39
It's very simple. It comes down to the coffee and the water. First make sure you have a nice blend of coffee - preferably in bean form that you grind right before you brew the coffee. Second, the water you use must be cold and fresh and, almost most importantly, filtered. Some coffee makers, like mine, have a filter built in... More..
Politics, News & Issues > War & Peace Why countries go to war: 66 of 69
Attacking the Myth of War: Why Understanding the Myth of War is Critically Important Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 10th Edition offers a definition of the word "myth" that reads, "an unfounded or false notion" (770). In his book, War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning, author Chris Hedges, a veteran foreign correspo... More..