Quintus Curtius

In this podcast we give short reviews of five movies I've seen recently: Hell or High Water (2016) Life (2017) Son of a Gun (2014) Black Snow (2017) Michael Clayton (2007)

A reader who is doing volunteer work says he's feeling underappreciated and taken advantage of in his work. He wants to know to maintain his focus and positivity, and at the same protect himself from being used. We discuss some strategies and insights.

In this podcast we talk about Denis Villenueve's new film, the visually dazzling "Blade Runner 2049."  In conception and execution, this film accomplishes the rare feat of being a sequel that is entirely worthy of its original.  We'll give a few reasons why this movie is worth a careful viewing, and why I think it is a triumph of cinematic art.

In this podcast, we discuss some questions about the role of "Adrastia" or "Nemesis," the ancient goddess of retribution. We also talk about the redemptive power of struggle as the theme of the compelling 2011 film "The Grey."

What is the motive behind North Korea's belligerent behavior? Who is pulling the strings in the background? And what is the best way to resolve this situation? We discuss the power realities in East Asia and explore some options for the United States at home and abroad.

The Italian astronomer Galileo was examined by the Inquisition for heresy in 1633. At issue was his advocacy of the heliocentric (sun-centered) view of the solar system. What was the significance of the trial, and what were the motivations of the participants?

Is there any truth to the proposition that paranormal phenomena are real? If so, in what way? Is there more to this world than just physical material? And does science have all the answers? We discuss these issues.

This podcast accompanies my most recent article. In it, we explore two additional dimensions of the "plutocratic conspiracy": the techno-palaces of the global elite, and the creeping confiscation of public lands by private actors. The end result of these two trends is to accelerate already destabilizing wealth imbalances.

In this podcast, 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?

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 games.

When you are faced with a serious problem or issue, you need to spring into action to deal with it. Anyone who "sleeps on his rights," and thinks the problem will go away by ignoring it, is in for a rude awakening. The "dirtbag shuffle" never works in the real world. Legal rights, once constructively waived, can be very difficult to reassert later. This is the basis of the legal theory of laches.

As individuals and as a society, we are steadily losing our long-term memories. Endless stimulation and "choices" have nearly turned us into the protagonist in the film "Memento," whose memory-loss condition puts him at the mercy of others' manipulations. Rote memorization--unfairly maligned by modern educators--has its merits and deserves a reconsideration.

One big frustration we can experience in life is having unrealistic expectations. We can want people to behave in ways that are just not within their desires or capabilities. What is the best way to deal with this? We use the example of the humanist Petrarch's strained relationship with his son.

This podcast is a reading and commentary on Julius Caesar's speech found in Sallust's "Conspiracy of Catiline." Caesar's address to the senate made important points about the value of precedent, leniency, and how abuses of power can follow from seemingly good intentions.

We deal with two reader questions in this podcast. The first one is about mentors and mentorships. The second question concerns career advice for someone who's feeling a bit down about his current situation.

A recent news article talks about how young, unemployed urban Greeks are leaving the city to return to agricultural work in the countryside. It's part of a wider economic trend that has a lot of positive features.

My book "Sallust: The Conspiracy Of Catiline and The War Of Jugurtha" is now available for purchase. In this podcast, I read the book's foreword.

A reader who is a teacher is troubled by the fact that one of his teenage students firmly believes in in fascist government. The teacher seeks advice on how to deal with this situation. He relates this situation to similar experiences he had as a soldier in Afghanistan when he was dealing with local villagers.

A former NKVD agent describes a meeting with Joseph Stalin and the special assignment he was given. We reflect on the fact that power and glory are fleeting, and that they can vanish faster than most people believe.

A reader wonders whether nature or nurture is more important in shaping our identities. The answer, of course, is complicated. We give some details. I close by reading the epilogue to my book "Thirty-Seven."

A reader from Italy writes to say he is frustrated and angry with the deceit and fraudulence of a certain political figure on the world stage. We explain why it is best to take a detached, philosophical view of such men, since experience shows that they eventually bring about their own ruin. What matters is to be a man of substance, not a man of straw, a hollow man. We close by reading T.S. Eliot'...

Two different readers ask questions from their own personal experience: 1. One man is trying to overcome feelings of discomfort when ordering his men to go places where they may face certain harm. 2. Another man is trying to deal with a boss whose passive-aggressive comments may mean trouble for him.

When your back is against the wall, you need to fight back however you can. Don't ever allow society or other people to denigrate you. Sometimes the best way to get people to listen is to force them to listen.

I've written before on the extreme social dangers that come about from excessive concentrations of wealth in the hands of a few. A very important series of articles by Robert and Pamela Bunker in Small Wars Journal has taken this idea one step further: they have identified the current vast income disparities as a form of insurgency warfare. This condition--in all its forms--they call the plutocrat...

I recently saw the 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.