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Inevitably links go out of date.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.


RSF on Culture Minister Farouk Hosni *

Sep 8th, 2009 | Filed by

He is part of a censorship system that relentlessly controls newspapers, literature, Internet commentary. … Read the rest



Sudan: Lubna Hussein ‘Guilty’ of Trousers *

Sep 7th, 2009 | Filed by

A fine instead of lashes; Hussein says she will not pay the fine, she will go to prison. … Read the rest



He’s Free! *

Sep 7th, 2009 | Filed by

Sayed Pervez Kambaksh is out of prison and out of Afghanistan.… Read the rest



Phil Plait Quits Bloggingheads *

Sep 7th, 2009 | Filed by

Bloggingheads had full-blown creationists being interviewed, and it called that science. Bzzt: done.… Read the rest



Life is Still Shit for Women in Afghanistan *

Sep 7th, 2009 | Filed by

Afghan women can now work and become MPs, but they risk their lives to do it.… Read the rest



Terry Glavin on His Comrade Nick Cohen *

Sep 7th, 2009 | Filed by

‘What the world needs now is an uncompromisingly militant feminist movement.’ Yeah.… Read the rest



Extract From The Greatest Show on Earth *

Sep 6th, 2009 | Filed by

Imagine trying to teach Roman history to people who think history started 50 years ago.… Read the rest



PZ Myers Quits Bloggingheads *

Sep 6th, 2009 | Filed by

The softball interviews made creationists look reasonable, because their peculiar ideas were never confronted.… Read the rest



Greg Fish on Sticking a Fork in Bloggingheads.tv *

Sep 6th, 2009 | Filed by

Why not to teach the controversy.… Read the rest



Sholto Byrnes on Religion and the New Statesman *

Sep 6th, 2009 | Filed by

We know nothing, therefore let’s talk about God a lot.… Read the rest



Richard Dawkins Talks to The Herald *

Sep 6th, 2009 | Filed by

The teaching of science is under threat by well-funded creationists on both sides of the Atlantic.… Read the rest



Guardian Reviews The Greatest Show on Earth *

Sep 6th, 2009 | Filed by

‘Still he plugs away at the fundamentalist opposition, courageously getting nowhere.’ Really?… Read the rest



Yale Graduates Circulate Letter to Yale Press *

Sep 5th, 2009 | Filed by

Letter calls on Press to include toons. Note correction: free speech is not a ‘conservative’ issue.… Read the rest



Some Catholics Outraged by Kennedy Funeral *

Sep 5th, 2009 | Filed by

Because he was a ‘pro-abortion extremist.’… Read the rest



Roeder Considering ‘Justifiable Homicide’ Defense *

Sep 5th, 2009 | Filed by

Is it justifiable homicide to shoot an abortion doctor?… Read the rest



Mediawatchwatch on Saudi Money and Yale *

Sep 5th, 2009 | Filed by

It was the university that called in the ‘experts’ who advised against publishing the toons.… Read the rest



Religions Class Does Not Infringe Religious Freedom *

Sep 5th, 2009 | Filed by

What parents were demanding was the right to ignorance. This right is certainly not protected under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.… Read the rest



Khamenei Warns of Danger of Education *

Sep 4th, 2009 | Filed by

Humanities and liberal arts based on ‘materialism and disbelief in godly and Islamic teachings.’… Read the rest



The Ayatollahs Fear the Students *

Sep 4th, 2009 | Filed by

Khamenei told students and teachers that study of social science ‘promotes doubts and uncertainty.’… Read the rest



Lunatics Freak Out Over Obama School Speech *

Sep 4th, 2009 | Filed by

Socialism! Propaganda! The speech will urge students to work hard and stay in school.… Read the rest