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Inevitably links go out of date.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.


Saudi couple “hammer 24 nails” into Sri Lankan maid *

Aug 26th, 2010 | Filed by

X-rays showed one- to two-inch nails in her hands and legs, with one over her eyes, officials said.… Read the rest



On religious texts and the modern world *

Aug 25th, 2010 | Filed by

 Only in religion do ancient texts brimming over with superstition and ideas contrary to modern human rights get a pass.… Read the rest



R Joseph Hoffmann on pedantic multiculturalism *

Aug 25th, 2010 | Filed by

A zealous mullah and a zealous priest wear different tunics, but the intolerance that makes their lives happy has the same source.… Read the rest



Sam Harris on what “moderate” imams should say *

Aug 25th, 2010 | Filed by

“Our traditional ideas about martyrdom, jihad, blasphemy, apostasy, and the status of women must be abandoned…”… Read the rest



Scientists criticize stem cell ruling *

Aug 25th, 2010 | Filed by

But Tony Perkins of the “Family Research Council” welcomed it.… Read the rest



Ben Goldacre wonders: are exams getting easier? *

Aug 25th, 2010 | Filed by

Some people say they are, some say they aren’t, but how do they know?… Read the rest



Soldiers required to attend evangelical concert *

Aug 24th, 2010 | Filed by

“Spiritual Fitness Concert” featured a band “who aren’t afraid to take an aggressive stance when it comes to spreading the gospel.”… Read the rest



IHEU condemns attack on Leo Igwe’s family *

Aug 24th, 2010 | Filed by

Protests to the Nigerian government.… Read the rest



Priest suspected in bombing was protected *

Aug 24th, 2010 | Filed by

Seán Brady said he accepted the report’s findings, but said the church did not engage in a cover-up.… Read the rest



NY Times says stoning is misunderstood *

Aug 24th, 2010 | Filed by

It’s not prescribed by the Koran. It’s rare. It requires strict conditions. Anyway societies evolve.… Read the rest



Forced adoptions in East Germany *

Aug 24th, 2010 | Filed by

All it took to be judged a bad parent was to infringe on vague “socialist guidelines.”… Read the rest



Swaziland: albino girl, 11, murdered *

Aug 24th, 2010 | Filed by

Witch doctors think the blood and body parts of albinos can bring good luck when used in potions.… Read the rest



Sex segregation for Jerusalem light rail? *

Aug 24th, 2010 | Filed by

Not a problem, says CEO Yair Naveh. A problem, says Rachel Azariya of Jerusalem city council.… Read the rest



Smug self-satisfied atheism shock-horror *

Aug 24th, 2010 | Filed by

“Unlike you, a believer,” the smug atheist boasts, “I lack the hubristic will to know about life, the universe, and everything.”… Read the rest



Judge rules against Obama’s stem cell policy *

Aug 24th, 2010 | Filed by

“Embryos are preborn human life that should be protected and not destroyed,” said one of the Christian zealots who sued.… Read the rest



Terry Glavin on telling lies about Aisha *

Aug 23rd, 2010 | Filed by

Reactionary scum are reactionary scum, the world round.… Read the rest



Lauryn Oates on Day of Action Against Stoning *

Aug 23rd, 2010 | Filed by

How does one write a law mandating burying a woman up to the neck and throwing jagged stones at her head while she screams through a death by torture?… Read the rest



AI urges Saudis not to sever a spinal cord *

Aug 23rd, 2010 | Filed by

A court in Tabuk asked hospitals about cutting a man’s spinal cord to carry out the punishment of qisas requested by the injured victim.… Read the rest



Do you believe in Zeus? *

Aug 23rd, 2010 | Filed by

Kali? Athena? Loki?… Read the rest



Phil Plait on reactions to his “don’t be a dick” speech *

Aug 23rd, 2010 | Filed by

Oddly enough, many of them pointed out the lack of evidence and examples. Hey there are lots, ok?!… Read the rest