Wakefield is being blamed by journalists as if he were the only one at fault; the media are equally guilty. … 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
As Close as Private Eye Gets to a Mea Culpa? 
Feb 7th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
For its ‘largely uncritical and unquestioning adherence to the Andrew Wakefield school of junk science.’… Read the rest
The People Speak on Autism and MMR
Feb 7th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
My kids aren’t vaccinated and they don’t have autism. Explain that, smarty! [The Onion]… Read the rest
The Role of Program Code in Climate Research
Feb 7th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
We really do need to be sure that we’re not getting any of our sums wrong.… Read the rest
Gita Sahgal and Amnesty International
Feb 7th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Sahgal suggests AI supports Begg and Cageprisoners out of fear of being branded racist and ‘Islamophobic.’… Read the rest
Richard Bartholomew on Gita Sahgal
Feb 7th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Amnesty has suspended her in the wake of the article.… Read the rest
Skepticism is not Enough
Feb 6th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
David Mikics finds Derrida most instructive in his failure to move from doubt to any feasible ethics or politics.… Read the rest
Enlightenment, Yes
Feb 6th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The counter-Enlightenment was really the anti-Enlightenment.… Read the rest
Girl Buried Alive and Awake for Talking to Boys
Feb 6th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Medine Memi was found in a sitting position with her hands tied, in a small hole dug outside her home.… Read the rest
Mary Midgley Sets ‘Neo-Darwnists’ Straight
Feb 6th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
She’s still fretting about the metaphors.… Read the rest
Taliban Blow Up Girls’ School in NW Pakistan
Feb 6th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
They are opposed to girls’ education.… Read the rest
Jerry Coyne on Building Bridges to Anti-vaxxers
Feb 5th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Can there be a compromise between science and ignorance?… Read the rest
Turkish Girl Buried Alive and Probably Awake
Feb 5th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Most such killings happen in ‘conservative Muslim communities’ but it’s custom not religion, BBC insists.… Read the rest
Life With the Taliban
Feb 5th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘My brother used to tell me that the place for a woman is either at home or in the grave.’… Read the rest
Wole Soyinka is Not Impressed by Islamism
Feb 5th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘We should assemble all those who are pure and cannot abide other faiths, put them all in rockets, and fire them into space.’… Read the rest
NSS Files Complaint Against Cherie Booth
Feb 5th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
NSS complained to the Office for Judicial Complaints, suggesting Booth acted in a discriminatory way.… Read the rest
But Of Course Religious People Are Better
Feb 5th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Not superior; just better. Any fule kno that!… Read the rest
Hugo Rifkind Slept Through Philosophy Class
Feb 5th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
His philosophy degree taught him in week one: ‘If God isn’t the ultimate answer, what is?’… Read the rest
How to Convince ‘Vaccine Skeptics’
Feb 5th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
They will never heed evidence, so ‘we need to encourage moderation,’ says Chris Mooney.… Read the rest
