The draft Defamation Bill will propose a new defence of “honest opinion.” It’s about time!… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Pakistan: Xian convicted of “blasphemy” dies in prison 
Mar 16th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Qamar David was serving a life sentence for insulting the Koran and Muhammad.… Read the rest
Cairo: the army is above the nation, especially women
Mar 16th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
11 women arrested in Tahrir square were stripped and forcibly examined to determine whether they were virgins.… Read the rest
The Italian government swears the cross is neutral
Mar 15th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A gathering place for Jew and Gentile, believer and non-believer. The most ecumenical goddamn thing you ever saw. How can you not just love it?… Read the rest
Thomas Nagel reviews David Brooks
Mar 15th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Brooks seems willing to take seriously any claim by a cognitive scientist, however idiotic.… Read the rest
Senegal, Mali villages to ban female genital mutilation
Mar 15th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Representatives of almost 90 villages in Senegal and Mali agreed to ban FGM at a ceremony in eastern Senegal, a local NGO said Monday.… Read the rest
MP wants “responsible neutrality” on honor killing
Mar 15th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Liberal MP Justin Trudeau said the government should not call honour killings “barbaric” in a study guide for would-be Canadian citizens.… Read the rest
Ben Goldacre on science journalism
Mar 15th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“Having a science degree” is partly just a proxy for “caring enough about science generally that you also care about not getting stuff completely wrong.”… Read the rest
Problems in science journalism
Mar 15th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
We ought to have a rule: if you can’t read the research and comprehend it, you shouldn’t be writing about it.… Read the rest
Grayling and Coyne discuss evidence for “God”
Mar 15th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Could there be such a thing?… Read the rest
A C Grayling on God and disaster
Mar 14th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
If he is powerful enough to stop an earthquake, but created a world that inflicts agonizing sufferings arbitrarily on sentient creatures, then he is vile.… Read the rest
Pastor Terry Jones is back
Mar 14th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
He enjoyed his taste of fame and he wants more.… Read the rest
Newsflash: wood smoke is toxic
Mar 14th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Lots of chumps still think it’s “environmentally friendly,” but it’s actually as friendly as car exhaust.… Read the rest
Xian group launches petition against equality legislation
Mar 14th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Is it true that “individuals who hold to mainstream Christian teaching” are “being barred from different areas of public life and employment”?… Read the rest
NY Times says “gang rape story lacked balance”
Mar 13th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Balance?… Read the rest
Tarek Fatah, in hospital, gets death threats
Mar 13th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
He calls the cops. Two cops arrive to ask questions, then two intel officers arrive to shut the investigation down.… Read the rest
Stephen Schwartz explains about Deniers
Mar 13th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Of evolution, climate change, and nonlocal consciousness. Srsly.… Read the rest
Oh look, it’s NeuroQuantology
Mar 13th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Check out the table of contents.… Read the rest
Eric MacDonald on John Polkinghorne
Mar 13th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A particle physicist turned Anglican priest, who writes consecrated pap for those who think that religion somehow completes or fulfils the scientific project.… Read the rest
Gingrich worked so hard his pants fell off
Mar 12th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
That is, things happened that were not appropriate. But now he’s converted to Catholicism, so his pants will stay on.… Read the rest
