Archive - Words For the Wise

Deadly Israeli attack on Iran's Evin Prison kills 71 but mainstream media bury the lede.

Prisoners, prisoner families, prison staff are reportedly among the dead. New York Times puts the story on page 11. Washington Post does a bit better.

Jun 30 •

Human Evolution: A new face for the Denisovans?

A cranium found in China more than 90 years ago gives up its molecular secrets.

Jun 22 •

Musical Moment: "Closer to You" by Dennis Quaid, featuring Bonnie Raitt

In "The Big Easy" Dennis Quaid's character tries to make love to Ellen Barkin's character while this song is playing in the background. A treasure.

Jun 21 •

Musical Moment: "Slave Driver" by Bob Marley and the Wailers.

In honor of Juneteenth, and in artistic remembrance of the horrors of slavery.

Jun 19 •

Musical Moment: The greatest version of one of Van Morrison's greatest songs.

"Angeliou" featuring a singer with an angelic voice.

Jun 18 •

"Those to whom evil is done."

The latest article by Yahia Lababidi, an Arab-American writer of Palestinian heritage. Don't use the Holocaust as a shield against criticism of what…

Jun 18

Today is the 10th anniversary of the killing of nine members of a Charleston church.

Unfortunately, hate has a home everywhere. We as a society have given it way too warm a welcome.

Jun 17 •

Musical Moment: Brandee Younger Trio. You heard that right, jazz harp.

A new discovery for "Words for the Wise."

Jun 13

Is genocide good for the Jews?

Maybe the best way to fight antisemitism is to convince the world that Jews are not natural born killers, despite the massacres in Gaza.

Jun 11 •

May 2025

Étienne-Émile Baulieu, "father" of the "abortion pill," dies at age 98. A profile.

Republication of a profile of Baulieu we published in Science 25 years ago, on the occasion of FDA approval of RU-486 (mifepristone)

May 31 •

Federal judges are not "judicial activists." They are the Talmudic scholars of the law--and often they are poets as well.

An exegesis of the latest court decision in the Mahmoud Khalil case.

May 30 •

Is the New York Times up to the job of reporting on the Democratic Party's future?

The first article in an "occasional series" on this topic is woefully inadequate. A lesson in how not to do journalism.

May 29 •

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