Words For the Wise

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January 2025

Music corner: Five minutes of transformative bliss with Van Morrison
A new occasional feature of “Words for the Wise” — music that sends us way out there, exactly where we don’t know, and probably never will.
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Michael Balter
2
Evidence continues to mount that the pesticide glyphosate is harmful to humans, animals, insects, microbes, etc.
Despite well financed campaigns by the manufacturer of Roundup, of which glyphosate is the key ingredient, to obfuscate the science, an avalanche of…
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Michael Balter
Fuck nuance? Gaslighting in a time of genocide, let us count the ways.
Two UK-based scholars explore four ways that academies and academicians avoid looking war crimes and mass slaughter fully in the face.
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Michael Balter
2

December 2024

Chronicles of Holocausts foretold.
The death of a French survivor of Auschwitz is a reminder of other genocides, and how "Never again!" has become an empty phrase.
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Michael Balter
Reality Winner, whistleblower and American hero, deserves a pardon
The Trump administration tried to make an example of her and also to send a warning to other whistleblowers not to do it. President Joe Biden can make…
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Michael Balter
Some words for bad times, by Joan Didion
For better or worse, "Words for the Wise" is back. Thanks for your patience.

November 2024

Colin Renfrew and the Illicit Incantation Bowls of Iraq. A true archaeology story.
One of our greatest archaeologists has gone to that great dig in the sky. Many are telling stories about him. Here is one that says much about who he…
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Michael Balter
1
Wisdom on this site is dispensed freely, but a gratuity is always appreciated.
You don’t have to pay for “Words for the Wise,” and for the past year you couldn’t even if you wanted to. Starting on December 1, you can again.
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Michael Balter
Another toxic lab: Akito Kawahara, entomologist at U Florida and director of the Florida Museum's McGuire Center. [Update: Details of…
A leading expert in the evolution and diversity of butterflies and moths has allegedly left a trail of depressed and disillusioned young scientists. Is…
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Michael Balter
61
Keep the mourning period short, please.
Once again Democrats have failed to learn the real lessons of 2016.
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Michael Balter

September 2024

© 2025 Michael Balter
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