It was bad.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Nick Cohen Argues With Todd Gitlin 
Mar 9th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A left that no longer shows solidarity with the victims of totalitarianism is not a left worth having. … Read the rest
BBC Finds ‘Old Sensitivities’ in Sudan
Mar 8th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Joyous smiles of religious fervour – the Mahdi – Gordon – Churchill – Islam – colonialism. See?… Read the rest
Cultural Events ‘On the Rise’ in Saudi Arabia
Mar 8th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Sort of. But only if you start with very low standards.… Read the rest
Saudi Men Arrested for Seeking Signed Book
Mar 8th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The writer is a woman, so accepting a signed book from her is a criminal act.… Read the rest
David Aaronovitch Tracks Down a Statistic
Mar 8th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘The average Brit is caught on security cameras some 300 times a day’ – really? No.… Read the rest
Ben Goldacre Looks at Pepsi’s Sciencey PR
Mar 8th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘The Pepsi DNA finds its origin in the dynamic of perimeter oscillations.’ Ooooh.… Read the rest
Blogging the Bible
Mar 8th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The Song of Solomon is no allegory. Yee-ha!… Read the rest
Mary Kenny Declares Atheism Immoral
Mar 7th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Catholic church in Poland ‘upheld moral values in opposition to the official culture of atheistic materialism.’… Read the rest
Hindu Fundamentalists Attack Women
Mar 7th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Sarah Aboobacker, a Muslim social critic in Mangalore, says all fundamentalists want to control women.… Read the rest
Anti-sharia Demo in London
Mar 7th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Demand one secular law and an end to cultural relativism and racism, and defend universal rights.’… Read the rest
Vatican Defends Brazilian Archbishop
Mar 7th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Cardinal says ‘the twins’ had ‘a right to live.’ … Read the rest
Hitchens on UN Resolution 62/154
Mar 7th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The OIC is demanding through the UN that Islam be officially shielded from any criticism of itself.… Read the rest
Namazie and Ahadi at European Parliament
Mar 7th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
To discuss the women’s rights situation in Iran, concerns about execution cases and Sharia in Britain.… Read the rest
Church Tries to Block Raped Child’s Abortion
Mar 6th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Brazil: 9-year-old girl was pregnant with twins; the Catholic church tried to prevent an abortion.… Read the rest
Grayling on Polkinghorne and Beale
Mar 6th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A scandal that the Royal Society is allowing its premises to be used for the launch of this book.… Read the rest
Dawkins on Purpose
Mar 6th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The brain is a complex adaptive system with a purpose that emerges from its developmental history.… Read the rest
Brazil: Health Minister Rebukes the Church
Mar 6th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘This religion, wrongly saying it is defending a life, puts another life in danger that is as important as any other.’… Read the rest
Kenyan Human Rights Activist Killed
Mar 6th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Oscar Kamau Kingara was known for his criticisms of the Kenyan police, whom he accused of torture and murder.… Read the rest
Blair Did God a Lot
Mar 6th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Blair had a team of ‘faith advisors’ who checked that his politics were in line with his religious beliefs.… Read the rest
