All are welcome, all shall have prizes, right? Yes. No.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Dr Mehmet Oz completes journey to the dark side 
Feb 16th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Diet and exercise are part of science-based medicine, yet CAMsters appropriate them as “alternative,” the better to bring in the real woo along with them.… Read the rest
Paula Kirby on religion as the ultimate tyranny
Feb 15th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
If you value freedom, you should flee from religion as the antelope flees the lion.… Read the rest
Go ahead, call me soppy
Feb 15th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
James Croft has done an inspirational Humanist video. So I’m inspired, so sue me.… Read the rest
S Dakota Moves To Legalize Killing Abortion Providers
Feb 15th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A bill under consideration in South Dakota would make murder to prevent an abortion a “justifiable homicide” in many cases.… Read the rest
Chopra says “spirituality” and science are converging
Feb 15th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Also says atheists are too noisy and loud. What is he, silent?… Read the rest
News flash: the Taliban violate human rights
Feb 14th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The next stage—may it come soon—will be the realization that the Taliban does not “violate” human rights, but entirely lacks the concept of their existence.… Read the rest
Syria: continued detention of ‘Ali al-‘Abdullah
Feb 14th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
English PEN considers that the journalist is being targeted solely for the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression.… Read the rest
Happy Valentine’s day Salman Rushdie
Feb 14th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
He’s working on a memoir of his decade in hiding. He’s flourishing, thank you.… Read the rest
The fatwa was 22 years ago today
Feb 14th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Salman Rushdie is still here, so yaboosucks!… Read the rest
Irish church is tottering
Feb 14th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Ireland has good hope of “becoming like other European countries” where religion is marginal to society. Woot!… Read the rest
Mubarak used those 18 days to stash the money
Feb 13th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“They can lose the homes and some of the bank accounts, but they will have wanted to get the gold bars and other investments to safe quarters.”… Read the rest
Adam Gopnik on whither the internet books
Feb 13th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Our trouble is not the absence of smartness but the power of pure stupidity, and no machine, or mind, seems extended enough to cure that.… Read the rest
Priest rejoices at plane crash deaths
Feb 13th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It’s horrid for the relatives but it’s a wonderful day for the stiffs.… Read the rest
NY Times cheers prospect of political Islam in Egypt
Feb 13th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“In Egypt, the uprising offers the possibility of an accommodation with political Islam rare in the Arab world.”… Read the rest
An epidemic of woo at universities and museums
Feb 12th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A “center for integrative medicine”; an obsession with Anthroposophy; a Center for Sprituality and Healing; the Science Museum…… Read the rest
More on the science wooseum
Feb 12th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Are science museums obliged to present only a scientific, empirical view of the world in their exhibitions? Yes.… Read the rest
CBC Marketplace on superbugs on chicken
Feb 12th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
They tested 100 packages of chicken; 2/3 had bacteria, and most of those were antibiotic-resistant. Be afraid.… Read the rest
Al Jazeera on the post-Mubarak dawn
Feb 12th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Everyone cried, laughed and embraced in the hope of a new era.… Read the rest
Ian McEwan: change the law to allow choice in dying
Feb 11th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“Some of the hardest arguments are coming from religious quarters and I think they really have to be resisted.”… Read the rest
