Cheers the absence of Dignitas clinics in the US.… Read the rest
Welcome to our archive of news stories relevant to the project of fighting fashionable nonsense. The stories are drawn from the electronic pages of the world’s media. On this page, you’ll find links to those stories that have been featured on Butterflies and Wheels during the current year. At the bottom of the page, you’ll find links to separate archives of stories from previous years.
We’re always pleased to hear about news stories that you think should be featured on Butterflies and Wheels. Just send an email here, if you want to point one out to us.
A note about links
Inevitably links go out of date. We suggest, therefore, that you make hard-copies of the stories that particularly interest you.
Grayling, Dawkins et al. start new college 
Jun 5th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Grayling will be the first Master of the New College of the Humanities, which will give a degree from the University of London.… Read the rest
PZ in Dublin: Maryam Namazie rocks the conference
Jun 5th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
She made a fierce, impassioned, reasoned criticism of Islamism and its degradation of humanity — she was wonderfully clear and humane.… Read the rest
Poet and publisher summoned to appear in court
Jun 5th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
For saying that Ponnar and Shankar, two figures revered by the kongu vellala gounder community as deities, are dalits. Srsly.… Read the rest
The discovery of arsenic-based Twitter
Jun 5th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The true significance of the aliens-that-weren’t will be how it helped change the way scientists do science, Carl Zimmer reports.… Read the rest
Chicago Cubs to make It Gets Better video
Jun 4th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The Cubs have contributed to several gay groups and hosted an annual Pride Day at the Cubs’ home park, Wrigley Field.… Read the rest
Boston Red Sox make It Gets Better LGBT Video
Jun 4th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Joining the San Francisco Giants and the Chicago Cubs. Booya!… Read the rest
Nigerian ‘baby farm’ raided
Jun 4th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The proprietor is undergoing interrogation over allegations that he normally sells the babies to people who may use them for rituals.… Read the rest
Nigeria: “baby farm” girls rescued
Jun 4th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Aged between 15 and 17 years, the girls were locked up and used to produce babies, said Abia state’s police chief.… Read the rest
Punjab state tells women what to do
Jun 4th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Says newly-married women should cut down on phone use. Doesn’t say newly-married men should do that.… Read the rest
Giles Fraser finds a new way to snipe at new atheism
Jun 4th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Something about not hating humanism enough, and not caring that Freud said humans are etc.… Read the rest
Malaysia: women launch ‘The Obedient Wife Club’
Jun 4th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“We just want to ask all the wives to be obedient wives so that there will be fewer problems in our society.”… Read the rest
Nonchurchgoers save a church
Jun 4th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
That’s what I call generous.… Read the rest
Appeals court lifts ban on Texas graduation prayer
Jun 4th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The school’s valedictorian had filed an intervention lawsuit that claimed she was being deprived of her right to pray for her classmates and community during her speech.… Read the rest
Felice Gaer asks pointed questions
Jun 3rd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“I think that voluntary means that one is free to leave,” she tells the Irish government.… Read the rest
Women politicians urged to support Magdalenes
Jun 3rd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
One Department of Justice official said most women entered the laundries voluntarily. Srsly!… Read the rest
High school atheist is bullied and threatened
Jun 3rd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Wait, isn’t it only new atheists who bully people?… Read the rest
A force beyond, giving our lives meaning
Jun 3rd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It’s not god though, Ronald Aronson notes. It’s the vast web of social processes that make human lives better.… Read the rest
Kids with bombs
Jun 3rd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
An alarming number of children in Pakistan and Afghanistan believe immortality is at their fingertips – provided they’re detonating the bombs strapped to their bodies.… Read the rest
Jack Kevorkian dies at 83
Jun 3rd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The desperation that drove dozens of dying people to travel to Michigan to be hooked up to his “mercy” machines helped convince many of the need for a right-to-die.… Read the rest
