Salmaan Taseer was butchered for protecting Pakistan’s religious minorities from its own blasphemy law.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Aatish Taseer on his father and Pakistan 
Jan 8th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Unless Pakistan finds a way to turn its back on Islam in the public sphere, the memory of the late governor of Punjab will fade.… Read the rest
Giffords opponent held “shoot an M16” event
Jan 8th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“Get on Target for Victory in November. Help remove Gabrielle Giffords from office. Shoot a fully automatic M16 with Jesse Kelly.”… Read the rest
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz, shot
Jan 8th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Now it’s happening here.… Read the rest
Ben Goldacre on putting a number in its context
Jan 8th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Words can do harm, just as surely as hormones can.… Read the rest
Brian Deer responds to Wakefield’s wild charges
Jan 8th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
CNN video and transcript.… Read the rest
Nonaffiliation is not un-American
Jan 8th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Whether they are organized, cohesive or disgruntled, the unaffiliated are the fastest-growing religious category in America.… Read the rest
Who is to blame for murder of Salman Taseer?
Jan 8th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
By using words like “ghazi” (warrior) and “shaheed” (martyr) for cold-blooded killers, are we trying to placate the jihadi within?… Read the rest
Orac on Wakefield and his defenders
Jan 7th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
With extra added homage to Anderson Cooper.… Read the rest
Pakistanis mourn a once tolerant nation
Jan 7th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Pakistan is a country where fundamentalism is becoming mainstream, leaving even less room for dissent, difference, and equality.… Read the rest
Is Pakistan past the tipping point?
Jan 7th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A lawyer said “the law that says that Mr Qadri is a murderer was not drawn in accordance with Islam.”… Read the rest
Wot’s a power balance band?
Jan 7th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Something that works every bit as well as a lucky charm.… Read the rest
Brian Deer on “Piltdown medicine”
Jan 7th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The modus operandi was essentially the same: the dishonest representation of pre-assembled artifacts.… Read the rest
Science-based Medicine on Andrew Wakefield
Jan 7th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
These latest two articles will grind to dust any remaining “scientific resepctability” Wakefield might have enjoyed.… Read the rest
BMJ: How the case against the MMR vaccine was fixed
Jan 6th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Brian Deer exposes bogus data behind claims that launched global MMR scare, and how the appearance of a link with autism was manufactured at a London medical school.… Read the rest
Mainstream Pakistan religious organisations applaud Taseer murder
Jan 6th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Both the large religious political parties declared that he had deserved to be killed for his views.… Read the rest
This man will pay you $6000 to commit murder
Jan 6th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Yousuf Qureshi has never met or seen Aasiya Bibi. Yet his heart is so full of hatred that he is willing to give anyone Rs. 500,000 to kill her.… Read the rest
How Pakistan responded to Taseer’s murder
Jan 6th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“But you see these are sensitive matters. He should have watched his words. He shouldn’t have spoken so carelessly.”… Read the rest
Qadri told other cops of plans to kill Taseer
Jan 6th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Many religious leaders, even those from so-called moderate groups, were angered by Mr. Taseer’s support in recent months of Asia Bibi.… Read the rest
