She was arrested “on suspicion of inciting religious hatred.”… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
£415 fine for “offensive comments” about Allah 
Nov 27th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Prosecutor said the comments were bound to cause harassment, alarm or distress because of Leicester’s multicultural society.… Read the rest
Hitchens defeats Blair in audience vote
Nov 27th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Blair talked the usual wool, Hitchens noted the usual difficulties.… Read the rest
PZ on GQ and “Jerry’s Kids”
Nov 27th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
We get a throw-away gimmick of having smart people stand next to popular entertainers, as if glitz were infectious.… Read the rest
Iran is about to execute Shahla Jaahed
Nov 26th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Shahla is one of many victims of a misogynist and tyrannical regime.… Read the rest
Believers are desperate for atheist approval
Nov 26th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
They think their religion is a special snowflake.… Read the rest
HRW on rights abuse in Western Sahara
Nov 26th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Moroccan security forces repeatedly beat and abused people they detained following disturbances on November 8, 2010 in El-Ayoun.… Read the rest
Jesus and Mo throw a party
Nov 26th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonBut attendance is sparse.… Read the rest
Salman Rushdie in conversation with Maria Tatar
Nov 26th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The scholar of folklore talks to “the powerful creator of a new syncretic mythology that offers an alternative to the clash of civilizations.”… Read the rest
UK: plan to measure national well-being
Nov 25th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Potential indicators include how people view their own health, levels of education, inequalities in income and the environment.… Read the rest
Facebook wants to trademark the word “face”
Nov 25th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Face! Face face face face face face. Face face face face face. Face. Come and get me.… Read the rest
Kasha Jacqueline at Oslo Freedom Forum
Nov 25th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“People complained at school that I was not behaving like a proper African woman.”… Read the rest
Who will stand up to the superrich?
Nov 25th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“How can hedge-fund managers who are pulling down billions sometimes pay a lower tax rate than do their secretaries?”… Read the rest
Thor Halvorssen on that UN vote
Nov 25th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The resolution voted on in the General Assembly is significant for its clarity of message: “It’s okay to kill the gays.”… Read the rest
Nick Cohen on that UN vote
Nov 25th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Rival dictatorial ideologies – African Nationalist, Islamist, Communist, crony capitalist – will sink their differences and unite in opposition to liberalism.… Read the rest
Theologians puzzle over pope’s meaning
Nov 24th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Catholic church opposed contraception because Protestant churches didn’t, and it wanted to be Special.… Read the rest
Little girls wearing hijab
Nov 24th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Getting a little girl “used to” the hijab effectively obliterates the “free choice” element by the time the girl is old enough to think.… Read the rest
Martin Robbins on “rockstars of science”
Nov 24th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Oh look, a scientist standing next to a rapper. That will make everyone think science is cool, right?… Read the rest
Unmarried women banned from using cell phones
Nov 24th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
They might use them to arrange “forbidden” marriages for themselves.… Read the rest
Panorama part 2
Nov 23rd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Islamic and Evangelical schools were allowed to opt out of the inspection system.… Read the rest
