Articles written by Russ Austin

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About me - Russ Austin

I moved to my current home in Brighton, Colorado on October 23rd, 2008. Up 'til then, I lived in downtown Denver for just over 10 years. I moved mainly for physical reasons. I liked my place downtown, for the most part, but things needed to change.

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Religion & Spirituality > Religious Concepts (Other) Dealing with evil around us: 1 of 27

Below the stars is a piece from my 1996/1997 writing sessions. Like others written at the time, I wanted it to be a part of my book on Heavy Metal. That, of course, never happened. However, this piece on what evil is, particularly the letter from Marilyn Manson, has to be seen. Even though he probably didn't have Brian Hugh ...
Society & Lifestyle > Society & Lifestyle (Other) Disabled people in society: 2 of 21

I went to Independent Records in Denver in May or June of 2007 to buy the then new Ozzy CD, "Black Rain." Not his best, but a good album. Inside the "Back Rain" CDs at that time (including mine) was a code for 2 free tickets to Ozzfest 2007. In Denver, the concert was at Coors Ampitheater (formerly Fiddler's Green) on Saturd...
Entertainment > Music Genres, Trends & Scenes What is heavy metal?: 1 of 10

Below the stars (asterisks, snowflakes, funny dots, whatever) is the "Preface" to a piece of writing I did on metal during 1996 and 1997 when I was trying to be a 20 something freelance writer. At the time, I was actually trying to write a book on Heavy Metal. As you may have guessed, that didn't happen. When I see my stuff ...
Entertainment > Music Genres, Trends & Scenes Defending heavy metal music: It's not just screaming: 4 of 29

You'll see in this piece below the stars how the description of Heavy Metal music by Robert Duncan can get your blood boiling. I know when I first read it, I was pissed. But, as I'm sure many of you know, it's all too typical. Duncan is just more articulate and wordy than your average ignorant scum. At the time, I thought it...
Entertainment > TV Genres & Trends Best current television series: 9 of 49

The late great comedian/social commentator Bill Hicks referred to Television as "Lucifer's Dream Box." I'm certainly not against TV but the older I get (I'm 38 going on 90), the less I like to watch it. There's just not a lot on there that peaks my interest. Sure, "The Simpsons" and "South Park" are still g...
Entertainment > Music (Other) Is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legitimate or a joke?: 4 of 13

Yes, the Hall of Fame is there, as far as I know. I understand it's in Cleveland, Ohio. Should the Hall be there? After all, Alice Cooper, who has never been inducted, is from Detroit. KISS, who has never been inducted, is from New York. RUSH, who has never been inducted, is from Canada. Thin Lizzy, who has never been induct...
Entertainment > Music Genres, Trends & Scenes What makes good music?: 15 of 38

Below the stars is a piece about liking and respecting all kinds of music. It's from my 1996/1997 writing sessions. At the time, I was going to have this as a section in my never-completed book on Heavy Metal. However, metal is really only a part of this piece. While I did do some editing, I wanted this piece to look how it ...
Entertainment > TV News & Commentary The censorship of Bill Hicks on The Late Show with David Letterman: 1 of 1

The original version of the piece below the asteriks is from my 1996/1997 writing sessions. At that time, we were only a few years removed from what happened to Bill Hicks on CBS' "The Late Show with David Letterman" on October 1, 1993. Whatever people may think about the incident now it was, and arguably still i...
Entertainment > Celebrity Commentary Celebrity commentary: Axl Rose moves forward from abuse: 1 of 1

Below the stars is a short story, if you will, that I put together from interviews I read about Axl Rose from Guns N' Roses. These come from my 1996/1997 writing sessions, and I had intended on using this material in my never-completed book on Heavy Metal. The abuse Axl dealt with as a kid, and the effects it had on him well...
Health & Fitness > Emotional Health & Wellbeing How it feels for wheelchair-users to be helped: 1 of 1

In April 1997, I was involved in an e-mail question and answer session with Gary Karp. He was doing research for his book "Life On Wheels." Since February 1996, I had been using a wheelchair part-time and I knew because of the progression of Friedreich's Ataxia (FA), the neuro-muscular disorder that I have,&...