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Inevitably links go out of date.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.


Advertising Complaint Against Duchy Herbals *

Mar 24th, 2009 | Filed by

Upheld. … Read the rest



Bad Science: Scumbag Caught Fabricating Data *

Mar 24th, 2009 | Filed by

If you’re planning a career in scientific fraud, then medicine is an excellent place to start.… Read the rest



Venal, Misleading, Dangerous, Stupid, Busted *

Mar 24th, 2009 | Filed by

Journalists cherry pick evidence, then explain risks and benefits in the single most unhelpful way possible.… Read the rest



Believers in No Hurry to Meet the Deity *

Mar 24th, 2009 | Filed by

JAMA finds they dawdle more rather than less.… Read the rest



Islamists Threaten Bangladesh Schools *

Mar 24th, 2009 | Filed by

Principals of several English-language schools told police they had received threats from Islamists.… Read the rest



Sindh: Illegal Jirgas Declare Women Kari *

Mar 23rd, 2009 | Filed by

Jirgas are being held in Sindh despite a ban; they declare women karis for getting higher education.… Read the rest



Concern Over Proliferation of Fatwas *

Mar 23rd, 2009 | Filed by

‘Anybody can say anything to anybody? Kill your own family because they are not “real Muslims”?’… Read the rest



Juan Cole on Saudi Arabia and Wahhabism *

Mar 23rd, 2009 | Filed by

We have them all wrong, he says.… Read the rest



Normblog on Truth and Postmodernism *

Mar 23rd, 2009 | Filed by

Postmodernism opposes not only the absolute truths of mere authority but also the fallibilist truth of rational inquirers.… Read the rest



Dentist Wants Creationism Taught in Texas *

Mar 23rd, 2009 | Filed by

God’s teeth! The dentist is also a Sunday school teacher and chair of the state board of education.… Read the rest



Nick Cohen’s Day With the Roundrobinocracy *

Mar 23rd, 2009 | Filed by

Is all well with the liberal consensus?… Read the rest



Round Robin to the Observer *

Mar 23rd, 2009 | Filed by

Lots of liberals do challenge Islamism, therefore…they all do? Is that the claim?… Read the rest



Salil Tripathi: Pakistan’s Long March to Normality *

Mar 22nd, 2009 | Filed by

Securicrats and communal leaders on both sides of the border succeed in keeping the people apart.… Read the rest



Center for Naturalism Newsletter *

Mar 22nd, 2009 | Filed by

Hours of reading.… Read the rest



Amnesty Int on Deaths in Custody in Iran *

Mar 22nd, 2009 | Filed by

The death of a blogger raised renewed fears that prisoners are being denied medical treatment.… Read the rest



Angola: Evictions Linked to Catholic Church *

Mar 22nd, 2009 | Filed by

The Angolan authorities evicted thousands of people from land belonging to the Catholic Church.… Read the rest



HR Defenders in Middle East and North Africa *

Mar 22nd, 2009 | Filed by

Human rights defenders are all too often vilified, persecuted and criminalized for their peaceful activities.… Read the rest



Army Rabbis Framed Gaza as Religious War *

Mar 21st, 2009 | Filed by

Rabbis urged troops to reclaim what they said was God-given land and ‘get rid of the gentiles.’… Read the rest



The Pope’s Claim is Absurd and Irresponsible *

Mar 21st, 2009 | Filed by

The Pope’s statement about condoms is a threat to public health.… Read the rest



Islamist Governors Tore Apart a School *

Mar 21st, 2009 | Filed by

Two governors campaigned to make the school more Islamic, accused the head of ‘Islamophobia.’… Read the rest