Author: Quintus Curtius

The Wisdom Of Mercy From Ibn Hazm Al-Zahiri

Quintus Curtius History, Thought , ,

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We turn now to those founts of wisdom who have lessons to teach us.  Abu Muhammad Ali Ibn Ahmad Ibn Sa’id Ibn Hazm (أبو محمد علي بن احمد بن سعيد بن حزم) is known to history as Ibn Hazm Al-Zahiri.  Born in Cordoba, Andalusia (Spain) in 994, he achieved enduring fame for his incredible intellectual achievements in a number of disciplines, including jurisprudence, theology, philosophy, and poetry.  He even composed a manual on love known as The Ring of the Dove (طوق الحمامة).  Here was a man of substance, a man who could appreciate the virtues of the passions as well as those of the mind.

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The Lizzie Borden Murders

Quintus Curtius History , ,

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Writing recently about the O.J. Simpson murders has rekindled an interest in another infamous American crime story, one that is not as well-known to modern readers.  The Lizzie Borden axe murders of 1892 were in their day somewhat comparable to the Simpson case:  both trials were highly publicized, the jury’s perceptions were skewed by preconceptions about race and gender, and–most importantly–in both cases the killers got away scot-free.  The equivalence is not absolute, however.  If the murders in the Simpson case were crimes of passion, the Borden killings were all about profit.  It is this fact, perhaps, that makes the Lizzie Borden story even more chilling and despicable than the Simpson case.

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There’s Nothing Shameful In Having Problems (Podcast)

Quintus Curtius Film, Podcast , ,

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I recently saw the 2004 documentary Metallica: Some Kind Of Monster.  The film shows the group trying to keep itself together in the wake of band tension, personal issues, and creative deadlock. How these problems are confronted and solved make this a film very much worth watching. We discuss some of the lessons learned.

There is nothing wrong or shameful in having problems.  The measure of a man is how he confronts and handles those problems.

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Wednesday Movie Roundup (2/28/2017)

Quintus Curtius Film , ,

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These are the latest two films I’ve check out in recent days.  Both of them are very good, if somewhat maddening in not resolving some plot twists I would have liked to see resolved.

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The Lazarus Taxon: Something “Raised From The Dead”

Quintus Curtius History, Thought , ,

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There is a concept in biology called the Lazarus taxon.  The word taxon (plural taxa) means a taxonomic category, as a species or genus.  The term is used to describe animals or plants that vanish from the fossil record for long periods of time, only to “reappear” at a different point in history.  Organisms long thought to be extinct suddenly appear on the scene.  Why does this happen?  The biologists tell us it can be for many reasons:  the fossil record is sporadic, and not all species are preserved in it.  Some are; and some are not.  The reason why the word Lazarus is used is because it refers to the New Testament story of Lazarus being “raised from the dead.”

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Revisiting the Simpson Case: Netflix’s “The People Vs. O.J. Simpson”

Quintus Curtius Film , , ,

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I was a first-year law student in 1995.  When the whole O.J. drama broke, I followed it (off and on) in the media like everyone else.  I don’t remember exactly what my feelings were about the case at that time, other than the fact that I didn’t think things were going to turn out well for the prosecution.  Not because of any legal issues or evidentiary technicalities, but simply because it was a celebrity trial.  Things always get distorted when it comes to celebrities in American culture.

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Why Every Man Should Read “Robinson Crusoe”

Quintus Curtius Literature, Thought , ,

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By any standard Daniel Defoe (1659?-1731) is one of the most remarkable authors in English history.  In versatility, energy, and practical wisdom, few can claim to be his peer in life experiences or in skill with the pen.  He came to writing by a circuitous route.  After fathering seven children, he threw himself into business and politics; bankruptcy was the result in 1692, but his repayment plan would eventually compensate his creditors almost in full with an amount of 17,000 pounds.

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Six Ethical Principles To Rejuvenate Societal Health

Quintus Curtius Thought , , ,

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I read recently that a very rare animal was observed in the wild in the state of Iowa for the first time in over one hundred fifty years.  It is called a fisher; I had never heard of it before, but the biologists tell us that it is a predatory mammal related distantly to the mink and the otter.  The story reminded me of a similar one I had heard about some years ago, when a bird believed to have been long extinct was spotted in Arkansas.

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Some Questions From An Ex-Military Reader (Podcast)

Quintus Curtius Podcast ,

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I received a great email the other day from an accomplished ex-military man who is currently enrolled in a higher degree program at a major US university.  He wanted to know my thoughts on these questions:

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