Most of Uganda’s freethinkers keep their skepticism in the closet, but not James Onen.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
“Halal” hairdressing 
Oct 26th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Once your hair is dressed, you plaster it down with bandages. All very sensible.… Read the rest
Leo Igwe pays tribute to Norm Allen
Oct 26th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Allen encouraged many Western humanists to look beyond their borders and appreciate humanism from an African perspective.… Read the rest
Ayaan Hirsi Ali at National Press Club
Oct 26th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“Is Islam a Religion of Tolerance?” No.… Read the rest
Michael Zimmerman scolds Jerry Coyne
Oct 26th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
But the goal is more than just getting people to accept evolution and science. The goal is the promotion of reason.… Read the rest
Mo is upset about militant atheists
Oct 26th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Always complaining, never helping.… Read the rest
Stanley Fish on sharia and liberal universalism
Oct 26th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Liberal universalism has superficial respect for everyone (as long as everyone is superficial) and deep respect for no one, according to Fish.… Read the rest
Statement from counsel in lawsuit against Timonen
Oct 25th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
No direct donations have been misappropriated.… Read the rest
The numerology of real estate
Oct 25th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
These buyers are happy to pay a premium or forgo a better apartment just to get that “lucky” number.… Read the rest
Wilders trial has backfired in every possible way
Oct 25th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
His defense includes calling expert witnesses to testify on the accuracy of his views of Islam.… Read the rest
The rise of “Taliban Catholicism”
Oct 25th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Reactionary Catholic bloggers monitor “traitorous” nuns and priests who are not Catholic enough.… Read the rest
Blair’s sister-in-law converts to Islam
Oct 24th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
She went to Qom and felt “a shot of spiritual morphine,” so now she doesn’t eat pork.… Read the rest
Dawkins’s foundation sues Timonen for embezzlement
Oct 24th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
RDF filed suit in California calleging that Timonen, who ran its online operation in America, stole $375,000 (£239,000) over three years.… Read the rest
Speakers at the Global Peace and Unity shindig
Oct 24th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Home page says “it’s recognised as the biggest multi-faith gathering of its kind anywhere across Europe.” Multi-faith?… Read the rest
Tories shun the “Global Peace and Unity Event”
Oct 24th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It’s billed as “multicultural” but it features a lot of homophobic misogynist fans of al Qaeda.… Read the rest
Gay woman forced to marry to “protect honour”
Oct 24th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The Forced Marriage Unit has received hundreds of calls from young gay men and women who fear being forced into marriage by their family.… Read the rest
Pakistan: Islamists resist sexual harassment law
Oct 24th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
If a woman doesn’t obseverve “modesty in accordance with the teachings of the holy Quran and Shariah” she deserves to be harassed.… Read the rest
Clarence Thomas, how about an apology?
Oct 23rd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Another witness steps forward. “He has manufactured a different reality over time. That’s the problem that he has.”… Read the rest
“Hang them”: Uganda tabloid names gays
Oct 23rd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A list of Uganda’s 100 “top” homosexuals, with a yellow banner athat read: “Hang Them.” Alongside their photos were the men’s names and addresses.… Read the rest
