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Inevitably links go out of date.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.


Home-schoolers Respond to Jerry Coyne *

Mar 7th, 2010 | Filed by

Thou shalt not say that creationist textbooks are garbage.… Read the rest



The Home-schoolers Respond *

Mar 7th, 2010 | Filed by

Some of it is ugly stuff.… Read the rest



Virginia: Public Colleges Cannot Ban Anti-gay Bias *

Mar 7th, 2010 | Filed by

Most of the state’s public universities have policies prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation.… Read the rest



Russell Blackford on Gary Bouma on Secularists *

Mar 6th, 2010 | Filed by

Contrary to Bouma, attempts to use political power to impose religious views are highly divisive.… Read the rest



Catholic School Expels Toddler: Parents are Gay *

Mar 6th, 2010 | Filed by

Denver Archdiocese posted a statement: the parents are ‘living in open discord with Catholic teaching.’… Read the rest



Hitchens on the Ten Commandments *

Mar 6th, 2010 | Filed by

When you hear people demanding that the Ten Commandments be displayed, always ask which set.… Read the rest



Academic Challenges Priest’s Homophbic Rant *

Mar 6th, 2010 | Filed by

‘To justify its persecution of homosexual people the Catholic Church draws on just three brief texts.’… Read the rest



Liverpool Post on Airportoons Trial *

Mar 6th, 2010 | Filed by

Chaplain was ‘insulted, deeply offended, alarmed, concerned.’ Oh well then, there’s no more to say!… Read the rest



No Freedom of Expression for UK, Thank You *

Mar 5th, 2010 | Filed by

Atheist convicted of ‘religiously aggravated intentional harassment’ for cartoons; maximum sentence 7 years in prison.… Read the rest



George Carey Says Politicians Bully Christians *

Mar 5th, 2010 | Filed by

It’s the other way around.… Read the rest



Atheists Are the Source of Conflict in Society *

Mar 5th, 2010 | Filed by

Monash University Professor Gary Bouma says people without a specific faith fuel sectarian conflict.… Read the rest



Atheism is Illegitimate and Evil, Act LXXXVII *

Mar 5th, 2010 | Filed by

Ken Miller is good. Atheists are bad.… Read the rest



No Venus de Milo for Rahway NJ, Thank You *

Mar 5th, 2010 | Filed by

Neighbor complained of naked snow statue, police told sculptor to cover it up.… Read the rest



Madrid: Israel Protests Anti-Semitic Postcards *

Mar 4th, 2010 | Filed by

The Israeli embassy received postcards from schoolchildren accusing it of killing Palestinian babies.… Read the rest



Lawyers’ Fees in Libel Cases Reduced *

Mar 4th, 2010 | Filed by

Scientists and journalists will be able to write in the public interest without giant legal bills.… Read the rest



The Origin of Atheism *

Mar 4th, 2010 | Filed by

If theistic belief comes naturally, then it is atheism that needs to be explained.… Read the rest



Teach the Controversy, on Everything *

Mar 4th, 2010 | Filed by

If somebody somewhere contradicts a scientific claim, that’s a controversy, so add it to the curriculum.… Read the rest



Douglas Murray on Homophobia in Mosques *

Mar 4th, 2010 | Filed by

‘Only in a mosque in Britain could routine hatred like this pass by unnoticed and largely unobjected to.’… Read the rest



Meera Nanda on ‘The God Market’ *

Mar 4th, 2010 | Filed by

Markets are said to be exorcising the demons of religiously inspired fanaticism, patriarchy and oppression.… Read the rest



What We Celebrate When We Mark March 8th *

Mar 4th, 2010 | Filed by

Feminism has a compelling lens through which to understand marginalisation, as women have long occupied the margins.… Read the rest