Made no mention of child-rape by priests in Ireland, Germany, Austria, the US and elsewhere.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
More Guardian god-coddling
Jun 14th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘The concepts of equality, democracy and the right to be treated justly were gifted to the nations by the Bible.’… Read the rest
Oliver Kamm on Sholto and sharia
Jun 14th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonByrnes’s views are reactionary and illiberal, and illustrate a fundamental difference of values within the Left.… Read the rest
Madeleine Bunting is excited about something
Jun 13th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonBig Ideas, insights, intriguing, failed, soul-searching, progressive, Enlightenment, Eurocentrism, Islam, the west, progress, optimism.… Read the rest
One version of Center for Inquiry ‘schism’
Jun 13th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWith plenty of rude language for overt atheists and tender language for the people who hate them.… Read the rest
Gender equality in Sweden
Jun 13th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘Society is a mirror of the family. The only way to achieve equality in society is to achieve equality in the home.’… Read the rest
Steven Pinker on moral panics over new media
Jun 13th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonMedia critics write as if the brain takes on the qualities of whatever it consumes.… Read the rest
Ben Goldacre on the superstition effect
Jun 13th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonConfidence tends to improve performance.… Read the rest
Bangladesh: paper allowed to resume publishing
Jun 12th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonBut the editor of the opposition daily is still in jail, charged with sedition.… Read the rest
A colour never before seen?
Jun 12th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWhat would it be like to see a really new colour?… Read the rest
Mary Midgley on evolution and “anti-god warriors”
Jun 12th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonA philosopher should not start with a strawman.… Read the rest
If the BP disaster had happened in the Channel
Jun 12th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWe would not be hearing about “anti-British rhetoric.”… Read the rest
Press conditions deteriorate in Iraqi Kurdistan
Jun 11th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonSardasht Osman, 23, a reporter for the opposition semi-monthly Ashtiname, was found shot to death in the city of Mosul on May 6.… Read the rest
Sholto Byrnes replies to critics
Jun 11th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonBy ignoring everything they said.… Read the rest
Right-wing loonies fume at “Britain-bashing”
Jun 11th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThey’ll be demanding Obama’s birth certificate next.… Read the rest
“Has US bloodlust for BP gone too far?”
Jun 11th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIf a US corporation destroyed all of Sussex, the British would not say a word. Right?… Read the rest
“Is Obama being anti-British?”
Jun 11th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIs that a stupid question?… Read the rest
What would Jehovah do about Gaza?
Jun 11th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonPaula Kirby notes, the Bible is full of helpful examples to follow.… Read the rest
Syrian women ponder rare political victory
Jun 10th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWomen’s rights groups successfully resisted a proposed new personal status law.… Read the rest
Johann Hari on human rights as universal
Jun 10th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIt is never the “culture” of a torture victim to want the torture to continue.… Read the rest