Medical workers will have to do their jobs.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
An Atheist Writes a Commentary on the Bible 
Mar 2nd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Even if the principles of morality were in need of foundations, the Bible would be too nefarious for the purpose. … Read the rest
Paween Mushtakhel in Hiding as Taleban Return
Mar 2nd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Her husband was murdered after defying months of phone warnings to stop his wife appearing on television.… Read the rest
Cherie Blair Says Christians Are Marginalized
Mar 2nd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Also notes that women are marginalized by Christianity. She seems a tad confused.… Read the rest
Forced Religion in the US Military
Mar 2nd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Federal lawsuit accuses military of ignoring laws and policies banning mandatory religious practices. … Read the rest
CIA Destroyed 92 Interrogation Tapes
Mar 2nd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
As Congress and the courts were intensifying scrutiny of CIA’s detention and interrogation program. … Read the rest
Bobby Jindal the Exorcist
Mar 1st, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Hey, he’s governor of Louisiana, a state full of charismatic Christians and religious hysterics.… Read the rest
Ben Goldacre on Datamining for Terrorists
Mar 1st, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Even with the most brilliantly accurate test imaginable, your risk of false positives increases to unworkably high levels.… Read the rest
Japan Tobacco Offers Perks to Researchers
Mar 1st, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Fun evening for parliamentary aides as legislation to ban the display of cigarettes is before MPs.… Read the rest
Julian Barnes on Eric Blair
Mar 1st, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The national Orwell is that of plain writing and moral clarity, but things are never so simple.… Read the rest
Philosophers Hate an Untenable Dualism
Mar 1st, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Is there a principled difference between memories and notebook entries?… Read the rest
Williamson ‘Apologizes’ But Not Really
Feb 28th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘The one thing he doesn’t say, and the main thing, is that the Holocaust occurred, that it is not a lie.’… Read the rest
David Colquhoun on the Opposite of Science
Feb 28th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
As soon as you apply science to homeopathy or naturopathy, the whole subject vanishes in a puff of smoke.… Read the rest
Recruiting for Jesus Camp
Feb 28th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Church sends ‘youth leaders’ into schools to flatter children into attending meetings.… Read the rest
Obama Admin Says No to Durban II
Feb 28th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The document being negotiated has gone from bad to worse, and the current text is not salvageable.… Read the rest
US Joins Canada in Boycotting Durban II
Feb 28th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Proposed drafts include assaults on free speech under the guise of defending religions from ‘defamation.’… Read the rest
Amartya Sen on the UDHR
Feb 28th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The UD took the firm view that human rights do not depend on legislation for recognition. … Read the rest
Jesus and Mo on the Westboro Baptist Church
Feb 27th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
They’re right, but they’re so tacky.… Read the rest
Questions of Truth
Feb 26th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The god of the gaps was grandfathered in; discuss.… Read the rest
Nigel Warburton on God and the Buses
Feb 26th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
There probably isn’t, there definitely is; the epistemology of advertising.… Read the rest
