Judge Garzon cites universal justice: crimes committed in one country may be prosecuted in another.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
No One Investigated the Origins of Waterboarding 
Apr 30th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The consensus was possible because no one investigated the gruesome origins of the techniques.… Read the rest
Ben Goldacre on Swine Flu and Hype
Apr 30th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Media pundit-seekers wanted him to say it’s all hype. But it isn’t. But they wanted him to say it is.… Read the rest
Tough Enough?
Apr 30th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The claim of courage in the commission of deeply immoral acts is to be deplored and not admired.… Read the rest
NY Court Rejects Men’s Studies Lawsuit
Apr 29th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Plaintiff claimed Columbia was violating the first amendment because ‘feminism is a religion.’… Read the rest
Judge Calls Claim Absurd
Apr 29th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Feminism is no more a religion than physics, and at least the core of the complaint therefore is frivolous.… Read the rest
New Hampshire Senate Passes Gay Marriage Bill
Apr 29th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It is unclear whether the governor will sign the bill or veto it.… Read the rest
Ireland Considers Blasphemous Libel Amendment
Apr 29th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A new crime of blasphemous libel is to be proposed in an amendment to the Defamation Bill.… Read the rest
Secular Summer Camp
Apr 29th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
But where are the camps for children who don’t want to go to camp?… Read the rest
Review of Eagleton on ‘New’ Atheism
Apr 29th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Calls it a fascinating, original, prickly work of philosophy.… Read the rest
Charles Abusing his Power Again
Apr 28th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Some of the world’s leading architects say he is abusing his position to unfairly influence planning decisions.… Read the rest
Charles v Rogers
Apr 28th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
PC has rarely, if ever, attacked the rape of small towns by inappropriate housing developments.… Read the rest
Guardian to Charles: Shut Up or Step Down
Apr 28th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Charles is circumventing the proper procedure by exploiting privilege he enjoys purely through fluke of birth.… Read the rest
Ronald Aronson on the Rise of Atheism in America
Apr 28th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The impressive increase among those willing to check atheist or agnostic is dramatic tribute to the success of the ‘new atheist’ writers.… Read the rest
Steven Lukes on the Right to Judge Others
Apr 28th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Who are we to apply our standards to the adherents of other moral and religious systems?… Read the rest
Paul Krugman on Looking Forward not Backward
Apr 28th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Laws aren’t supposed to be enforced only when convenient.… Read the rest
Israeli Oranges for Sale in Iran Shock-horror
Apr 27th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Sinister Jaffa oranges arrived in boxes marked as Chinese…but surely that’s a ploy…… Read the rest
Jaffa Oranges Actually From China
Apr 27th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The ‘citrus plot’ wasn’t; the Sweeties came from China, where faking the origin of goods is a common practice. … Read the rest
What We Owe to Mary Wollstonecraft
Apr 27th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The long, hard struggle for women’s rights teaches us that tradition and sexual equality often collide.… Read the rest
Christina Lamb Returns to Herat
Apr 27th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘In the past three years, going back and forth to Afghanistan, I have watched the situation for women deteriorate.’… Read the rest
