An adult woman who made the mistake of setting foot in Saudi Arabia; her father is holding her prisoner.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
HRW to Canadian Embassy in Riyadh
Jan 25th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWe look forward to your cooperation in this very urgent matter.… Read the rest
The Theological Language of Punishment and Mercy
Jan 24th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonEither God is punitive and interventionist, or as capricious as nature and so absent as to be effectively nonexistent.… Read the rest
Homeopathy By Very Very Very Big Numbers
Jan 24th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonHow much arnica is in Boots-brand 84 arnica homeopathic 30C Pills for £5.09?… Read the rest
Xians Vow to Get Culture Minister Out of Her Job
Jan 24th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThey say she is betraying Christ.… Read the rest
Islamist Cleric to Tour UK Universities
Jan 24th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonHe has described Jews as ‘monkeys and pigs’ and universities are ‘plural societies’ therefore…something.… Read the rest
Al-Qaeda Has Trained Female Suicide Bombers
Jan 24th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThey believe in gender equality.… Read the rest
‘Religious Man’ Allowed to Commit Assault
Jan 24th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonCherie Booth let a guy who broke someone’s jaw in a fight to go free because he is ‘a religious man.’… Read the rest
Iraqi Interior Ministry Still Backs ‘Bomb Detector’
Jan 24th, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonDespite total lack of actual detection capability.… Read the rest
Obama Disputes Supreme Court Ruling
Jan 23rd, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonConservative majority said limits violated ‘corporations’ constitutional right to free speech.’… Read the rest
Jim McCormack Arrested on Suspicion of Fraud
Jan 23rd, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonSold ‘bomb detectors’ to Iraq for $40,000 apiece.… Read the rest
Phil Plait on the Arrest of Jim McCormick
Jan 23rd, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonSay it twice: he has been arrested on suspicion of fraud. … Read the rest
150 Bodies Found in Nigeria After Religious Riots
Jan 23rd, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonMany of the bodies found in Kuru Karama had massive burns, other victims were hacked to death or shot. … Read the rest
McCormick Planned Improvements to ADE-651
Jan 23rd, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘The machine does look a little primitive. We are working on a new model that has flashing lights.’… Read the rest
Paula Kirby on Suffering and Significance
Jan 23rd, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonTheologians start with their desired answer – God is good! – then contort themselves to make the evidence fit.… Read the rest
No More Jesus Rifles
Jan 23rd, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘It is not the policy of the Department of Defense to put religious references of any kind on its equipment.’… Read the rest
Wall St Journal Gloats Over Freedom of Bribery
Jan 22nd, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘Corporations are entitled to the same right that individuals have to spend money on political speech.’… Read the rest
National Association of Muslim Police Protest
Jan 22nd, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonStigma, communities, faith, black, ethnic, wrong to blame Islam.… Read the rest
Nick Cohen on Chomsky
Jan 22nd, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonChomsky doesn’t seem to get the nature of clerical fascism.… Read the rest
Jesus and Mo on Science and Religion
Jan 22nd, 2010 | Filed by Ophelia BensonReligious scientists do exist, as do pedophile priests. That’s simply a fact.… Read the rest