Gregory Curtis



Up, Up, and Away

The death of a federal program in Amarillo shows that cutting the budget isn’t the answer to everything.

Prince “Tex” Charles

Donald Trump is one. So are Boris Yeltsin and John Gotti. So was Emily Dickinson. What are they? Texans of course.

What Does “Jolt” Mean?

Why are so many students in Texas unable to read? The answer is obvious: because the school system has failed them.

Poets and Pedestrians

Two poets, well versed in the ways of Houston, reflect on the city’s effect on lives and letters.

Shots in the Dark

Two grim incidents involving guns, three dead teenagers: Reflections on self-defense.


The conventional wisdom is that the independents are good and the national chains are evil—but don’t judge a bookstore by its cover.

The Fourth Tramp

A new book about Lee Harvey Oswald reveals that conspiracy theorists are still straining to repackage old news into something new.

Blow by Blow

The art of throwing punches, the science of skipping rope, and other reasons why boxing is a hit with me.

Education • Charles Miller

Head of the class.

Principals, Not Heels

Why good schools have clean bathrooms and principals who don’t wear high heels.