He is part of a censorship system that relentlessly controls newspapers, literature, Internet commentary. … 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Sudan: Lubna Hussein ‘Guilty’ of Trousers
Sep 7th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonA 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 Ophelia BensonSayed Pervez Kambaksh is out of prison and out of Afghanistan.… Read the rest
Phil Plait Quits Bloggingheads
Sep 7th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonBloggingheads 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 Ophelia BensonAfghan 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 Ophelia Benson‘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 Ophelia BensonImagine 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 Ophelia BensonThe 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 Ophelia BensonWhy not to teach the controversy.… Read the rest
Sholto Byrnes on Religion and the New Statesman
Sep 6th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWe know nothing, therefore let’s talk about God a lot.… Read the rest
Richard Dawkins Talks to The Herald
Sep 6th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe 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 Ophelia Benson‘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 Ophelia BensonLetter 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 Ophelia BensonBecause he was a ‘pro-abortion extremist.’… Read the rest
Roeder Considering ‘Justifiable Homicide’ Defense
Sep 5th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIs it justifiable homicide to shoot an abortion doctor?… Read the rest
Mediawatchwatch on Saudi Money and Yale
Sep 5th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIt 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 Ophelia BensonWhat 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 Ophelia BensonHumanities 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 Ophelia BensonKhamenei 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 Ophelia BensonSocialism! Propaganda! The speech will urge students to work hard and stay in school.… Read the rest