“There are discrepancies between some of the information that appeared on Ms Dorries’ blog and the information she supplied to the Commissioner.”… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Allah honored wives by instating beatings 
Nov 8th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Don’t make them ugly now, the helpful deity said.… Read the rest
Joan Smith on romanticized violence
Nov 8th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Today’s Islamists display a familiar sense of grievance, self-aggrandisement and contempt for democratic processes.… Read the rest
Freethought Kampala on reporting on witchcraft
Nov 7th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Our concern is that the local media tend not to take a skeptical-enough approach to stories pertaining to witchcraft.… Read the rest
Italian women are not amused by Berlusconi
Nov 7th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
He says it’s better to chase women than to be gay, then he says he’s a victim of the mafia.… Read the rest
My Jesus is bigger says Polish priest
Nov 7th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
He looks meaner, too.… Read the rest
Famous 900 foot Jesus appears in Polish town
Nov 7th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Ok it’s 108 feet, but that’s close enough.… Read the rest
New resource to confront misleading CAM claims
Nov 6th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The Nightingale Collaboration seeks volunteers to help challenge misleading claims made by practitioners on websites and elsewhere.… Read the rest
Some things children should not be taught
Nov 6th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Leaders at Soul Survivor meetings have told children that witch doctors can stunt the mental and physical capacities of children by cursing them.… Read the rest
Jerry Coyne reviews “What Technology Wants”
Nov 6th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Technology is teleological, but evolution is not.… Read the rest
Hitchens on the phenomenology of cancer
Nov 6th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It’s no fun to appreciate to the full the truth of the materialist proposition that I don’t have a body, I am a body.… Read the rest
Philosopher and psychologist discuss brain training
Nov 6th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Through brain training we may be able to develop new ‘second’ natures, and reprogram our responses to things.… Read the rest
Joseph Hoffmann ponders the election
Nov 5th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
We can never count on the American people to do the right thing, whether they choose kings over republics or republics over kings.… Read the rest
Could there be evidence of a god?
Nov 5th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Greta Christina says yes, but we need a coherent god-hypothesis to begin with.… Read the rest
How to write about gnu atheists: a guide
Nov 5th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Gnu atheism shouldn’t be presented as an intellectual position. Repeatedly emphasize hostility to organized religion as the source of their disbelief.… Read the rest
Politics: sexism hasn’t disappeared yet
Nov 5th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It discourages a lot of women from running for office.… Read the rest
Charles Freeman reviews “God’s Philosophers”
Nov 4th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Hannam has no understanding of the intellectual inhibitions that arise from ring-fencing large areas of knowledge as “faith.”… Read the rest
Is Britain an anti-Christian country?
Nov 4th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Of course not, but it’s fun to pretend it is and make a big fuss.… Read the rest
YouTube takes down al-Awlaki videos
Nov 4th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
There’s an issue with incitement to murder.… Read the rest
Student gets life sentence for stabbing MP
Nov 4th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
She watched Anwar al-Awlaki on YouTube and decided to kill the Labour MP for East Ham.… Read the rest
