This is an error so basic and obvious that someone scientifically trained should not miss it; Harris would probably not miss it, if it weren’t his own reasoning he’s defending.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Aikin and Talisse on Warnock on god [link fixed] 
May 3rd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
No discussion of the merits of religious practices and institutions should be permitted to evade the fundamental question of the truth of distinctively religious claims.… Read the rest
Ahmed Rashid on what’s next for al-Qaeda
May 3rd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Today every European country has an al-Qaeda cell. Hundreds of European Muslims have travelled to Pakistan for training and returned to Europe. … Read the rest
In the compound: how the bin Ladens lived
May 3rd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Their newspaper guy says every now and then he saw a red pick-up vehicle, with a goat inside, being driven to the compound.… Read the rest
“How dare you” aka “Patrick’s fallacy”
May 3rd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
P makes an analogy between X and Y. A spots a way in which X is not like Y, and expresses shock-horror.… Read the rest
Atheists and freethinkers in Africa
May 3rd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Leo Igwe and Adebowale Ojowuro in Nigeria, Kwadwo Obeng from Ghana, Ayaan Hirsi Ali from Somalia, Annette Nalunga and Betty Nassaka in Uganda.… Read the rest
Salman Rushdie on Pakistan’s deadly game
May 2nd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
We are supposed to believe that Pakistan didn’t know he was there, while he ran al Qaeda, with couriers coming and going, for five years?… Read the rest
Questions arising
May 2nd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Who owned the land on which the house was constructed? How was the land acquired, and from whom? Who designed the house, purpose-built to secure bin Laden?… Read the rest
Jeffrey Toobin: was the killing of ObL legal?
May 2nd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
If it was an assassination, then no.… Read the rest
Nick Cohen on Charles the Meddler
May 2nd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
To say that Prince Charles’s views are reactionary is to libel honest conservatives.… Read the rest
ObL’s location an embarrassment for Pakistan
May 2nd, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Oh gee, there’s a huge mysterious walled compound a few hundred meters from a military academy – what could possibly go wrong?… Read the rest
Child “beauty pageants” arrive in Australia
May 1st, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
”The title is ‘child beauty pageant’ but if you look at the way the children are dressed and required to act, it’s actually a child sexualisation pageant.”… Read the rest
A mystery solved; Behe please note
May 1st, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Researchers unravel the molecular mechanism whereby sickle cell hemoglobin confers a survival advantage against malaria.… Read the rest
The high cost of low teacher salaries
May 1st, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It’s grueling work, for low pay, with little respect and lots of blame. Surprise surprise: lots of teachers quit!… Read the rest
How Goldman Sachs created the food crisis
May 1st, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The more the price of food commodities increases, the more money pours into the sector, and the higher prices rise.… Read the rest
Jill Lepore on Ben Franklin’s sister
Apr 30th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Bright but uneducated, married early, constantly pregnant. She wanted more and never got it.… Read the rest
Mugabe in Rome for “beatification” of JP2
Apr 30th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Hoping it will rub off on him?… Read the rest
Blood of pope JP2 to go on display
Apr 30th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It will be used for his “beatification” tomorrow. The blood is from his body, so it is a “relic of the first degree.”… Read the rest
Why do Americans still dislike atheists?
Apr 30th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“Our nonreligious compatriots should be accorded the same respect as other minorities.”… Read the rest
Assisted suicide abroad puts families in legal limbo
Apr 30th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Eric MacDonald knows all about that, CTV British Columbia reports.… Read the rest
