Author: Quintus Curtius

Getting A Point Across With Tact And Authority

Quintus Curtius Thought ,

One feature of great men is that they generally know how to handle themselves in a variety of situations. They tend to be flexible and agile; they will know when to scold, when to chastise, when to use the velvet glove, and when to use the hammer.  Only the experience of life can impart this kind of wisdom.  But we can at least prepare ourselves in some ways.  One of these ways is to read the letters of such men.  See how they interact with their peers.  Study how they solve various problems or issues that fall on their desks.  You will spend a good part of your life “putting out fires” at work and at home, so you might as well learn from the masters.

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Knowledge Cannot Be Confined Within Official Limits

Quintus Curtius Thought , ,

Information is like a living organism; it expands to fill the container in which it is kept.  Put some life form (it does not matter which) in some environment, and it will instinctively probe the outer limits of its habitat.  Knowledge is like this, too.  It can be suppressed for some time, but in the end, it cannot be held back forever.  It always disseminates in one way or another.  No matter how effective propaganda, official lies, and ideological correctness may seem, they can never hold back the tide of truth for an indefinite duration.

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The Legal Merits Of The Michelle Carter “Texting Suicide” Appeal (Podcast)

Quintus Curtius Podcast ,

In this podcast (a companion piece to my article posted here yesterday), we discuss the legal merits of Michelle Carter’s appeal of her involuntary manslaughter conviction in the notorious “texting suicide” trial.

What were the relevant issues in the case?
Was the conviction proper?
What is the likelihood of the conviction surviving appellate review?

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Steven L. Myers’s “The New Tsar: The Rise And Reign Of Vladimir Putin” (Book Review)

Quintus Curtius Biography, Politics ,

For many years in the West there has been a lack of understanding of Vladimir Putin and his policies.  His personality, motivations, and objectives have been clouded in obscurity by the Western press, which almost always reverts to its simplistic “black and white” view of the world.  Not all of the fault for this lies with the West, of course.  The Russian president’s own media apparatus has little interest in encouraging critical analysis or speculation that falls outside the range of permissible opinion.  But leadership is as much about perception as anything else, and every leader in the modern age must take care to cultivate his image.  In this regard, Russia is no different from the United States, France, or England.  In the media age, it cannot be otherwise.

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How To Deal With The “Dirtbag Shuffle” (Podcast)

Quintus Curtius Podcast ,

Our society seems to be producing more dirtbags than ever before. They’re everywhere, and they love to seek out people to take advantage of. We discuss how to spot a dirtbag, and how to deal with the common games (the “dirtbag shuffle”) that dirtbags love to play. The only person who cares about you is you, and knowing a few key points will help you protect yourself from their connivance and trickery.

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Some Wise Sayings Of The Philosopher Al-Turtushi

Quintus Curtius Biography, Literature , , ,

Abu Bakr Al Turtushi (ابو بكر محمد بن الوليد الطرطوشي‎‎‎) was a political philosopher and doctor of the Malikite sect.  He was but one of that avalanche of philosophers, poets, writers, scientists, and theologians produced by the energy and brilliance of Andalusian Spain in the medieval period.  Many–probably most–of these Andalusian writers are completely unknown today in the West, a fact that I have made efforts to change in previous articles here.

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Observations On Some Myths About War

Quintus Curtius Politics, Thought , ,

The Army Times recently published a post discussing some comments by Army Chief of Staff Mark Milley on current popular myths about war.  I liked his comments very much, and I take them as my starting point in this article.  More than anything else, we should see his remarks as a warning.  The United States has not faced a military adversary worthy of the name since Vietnam, perhaps not even since China and North Korea in the early 1950s.

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We Should Seize The Present Hour For Action

Quintus Curtius Thought , ,

At the beginning of this month I bought the special director’s cut of the Michael Mann film Collateral.  I don’t usually buy movies, having learned from past experience that it makes more sense to rent them.  But every rule should have exceptions; and it is a good thing to collect those movies that transport you to a specific place or mood.  And when you recall the mood, you revisit certain pleasurable sensations.  There is just something about the way Collateral is shot, the way it glimmers, that gives it a cool but intense patina.

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A Few Traditional Irish Recipes

Quintus Curtius Travel & Exploration, Uncategorized

I recently picked up an interesting cookbook at a used book sale:  George L. Thomson’s Traditional Irish Recipes.  Thomson apparently traveled all over the country to select the most traditional representations of the nation’s cuisine.  Hearty and relatively straightforward in preparation, many of these recipes make great additions to your kitchen arsenal.  I’ve decided to present a few of them here.  The average person may find it difficult to obtain traditional Irish ingredients like eel, cockles, nettle tops, and carragheen moss, so I’ve made an effort to pick recipes that are likely to be more practical.  I’ve prepared each of these dishes and can tell you that they are very good.

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