He punched and throttled her and called her a slag; her mother called her a prostitute; she was dating a Hindu boy.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Humans are forgetting how to walk 
Jan 21st, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
They stare at objects in their hands instead of the ground and surrounding objects, so they fall down or collide with people/cars/walls.… Read the rest
The report [pdf]
Jan 20th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Some Catholic hospitals delay treatment for women having miscarriages until there is no fetal heartbeat.… Read the rest
NWLC reports on religious restrictions at hospitals
Jan 20th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The Center’s findings apply to any institution or individual delaying or denying treatment based on religious beliefs rather than medical considerations.… Read the rest
Catholic takeover of hospitals causes problems
Jan 20th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Catholic official says there is no problem at all, cites “respect for each and every life in our care.”… Read the rest
NY Times: the Vatican is bullshitting
Jan 20th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Rome officials insist that the letter from Rome is outdated, misinterpreted, and superseded by tougher church rules. It’s not.… Read the rest
Baroness Warsi to talk crap
Jan 20th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Will say stupid things about “Islamophobia” in a future speech.… Read the rest
Russian cleric to women: it’s your fault
Jan 19th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
If she wears a miniskirt and gets drunk and seeks contact with people “and is then surprised when that contact ends in rape she is wrong.”… Read the rest
RTÉ Would You Believe on the Vatican letter
Jan 19th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“Bishops should be fathers to their priests, not policemen.”… Read the rest
Ben Goldacre talking very fast at Nerdstock
Jan 19th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
How the nocebo works and why it’s so interesting.… Read the rest
Vatican says the letter is misunderstood
Jan 19th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It was actually a coded recipe for eggplant Parmigiana.… Read the rest
Alabama: new governor separates sheep from goats
Jan 19th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“Anybody here today who has not accepted Jesus Christ as their savior, I’m telling you, you’re not my brother and you’re not my sister.”… Read the rest
Russell Blackford reviews The Moral Landscape
Jan 18th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Unfortunately, Harris sees it as necessary to defend a naïve metaethical position.… Read the rest
The debut of Sans [Swedish]
Jan 18th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A magazine that highlights philosophy, reason, and critical thinking, from Fri Tanke. Includes an interview with me.… Read the rest
Bishop: “a mandate to conceal the crimes of a priest
Jan 18th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A 1997 Vatican directive rejected a recommendation by the Irish church that priests who abused children should be reported to the civil authorities.… Read the rest
Vatican told Irish bishops not to report abuse
Jan 18th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
1997 letter found. Smoking gun. “The letter undermines persistent Vatican claims” – to put it mildly.… Read the rest
Joseph Hoffmann on Jesus legends on tv
Jan 18th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The obliging scholars know better, but they perform on cue.… Read the rest
Review of Habermas, An Intellectual Biography
Jan 18th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Much of what Habermas has written as a philosopher first took shape in the rough-and-tumble context of post-war West German ideological and legal debate.… Read the rest
Johann Hari interviews Kenneth Tong
Jan 17th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
He says that being a sociopath is a good thing – it “can make you highly successful in business, and I am going to make a fortune with my Size Zero pill.”… Read the rest
Steven Novella on CBC Marketplace on homeopathy
Jan 17th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Marketplace took the consumer protection angle, so there was no need for nonsensical “balance.” The pills have no active ingredient. Period.… Read the rest
