Darrell Curtis

The Slim That Outran Wisdom

THE TRUTH: This is a work of fiction. It’s inspired by real reports about popular weight-loss injections like Ozempic and Wegovy (both use a drug called semaglutide). These shots were first made for people with type 2 diabetes, but lots of people use them just to lose weight—often 15% or more of their body weight—becauseContinueContinue reading “The Slim That Outran Wisdom”

The Amazing and Totally Useless Power of “Thoughts and Prayers”

Ah yes, the universal panacea! The easy answer. The spiritual duct tape slapped on every crisis.Just close my eyes, whisper something vaguely hopeful, and watch the world magically fix itself. Poverty disappears. Crime vanishes. Corrupt leaders feel conviction. All from the safety of my recliner. I love the optics of compassion. Post it on social media—maybeContinueContinue reading “The Amazing and Totally Useless Power of “Thoughts and Prayers””

Thoughts on a Fallen Steeple

A wind came without warning, strong enough to take a steeple clean off a church and yet restrained enough to spare everything else. When it was over, a sanctuary stood as it always had. No shattered windows. No collapsed walls. Only a steeple, white and fiberglass, torn by force, lying in pieces, carefully gathered andContinueContinue reading “Thoughts on a Fallen Steeple”

Ivan & Alyosha – Running For Cover (Live on KEXP) – YouTube

We (The Plain Travelers) heard this band with the odd name of Ivan & Alyosha back in the mid-2010s at a club in Austin called The Parish. I’m rediscovering them today, and this tune, “Running for Cover” has some heavy lyrics wherein I’m hearing about a garden, a fall, and taking the blame… If IContinueContinue reading “Ivan & Alyosha – Running For Cover (Live on KEXP) – YouTube”

Christopher Tolkien Remembered: Steward of Middle-earth

As January unfolds, a season often reserved for reflection and new beginnings, we remember Christopher Tolkien, who passed on January 16, 2020. For many, he was more than a scholar or editor; he was the quiet guardian of a world that had captured our hearts for generations. Though he rarely sought the spotlight, his workContinueContinue reading “Christopher Tolkien Remembered: Steward of Middle-earth”