And sexist vocabulary never left the New York Times, apparently.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Ben Goldacre on How to Get the Figures Wrong
Feb 22nd, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIt’s a tricky process, and then at the end you still have to inflate at will.… Read the rest
The Chimpworks Z-1000 Taurean Stool Detector
Feb 22nd, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonQ-zone crystal quantum z-rays in its homeopathically-advised dodecahedron-shaped water molecule engine. … Read the rest
Libraries Should Put ‘Holy Books’ on Top Shelf
Feb 22nd, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘No offence is caused, as the scriptures of all the major faiths are given respect in this way, but none is higher than any other.’… Read the rest
Goldacre on the Dangers of an Ill-informed Media
Feb 21st, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThis is a ‘debate’ where one person asking stupid questions has complete control over the microphones.… Read the rest
Free Speech or Freedom to Hurt?
Feb 21st, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘If playing with people’s beliefs and trampling on all that they hold sacred is freedom, then we’re better off without it.’… Read the rest
Women Fought Fundamentalism Before the Fatwa
Feb 21st, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWomen are the first to feel the chill of religious fundamentalism when their freedoms begin to atrophy.… Read the rest
Vatican Attempts to Censor ‘Blasphemy’
Feb 21st, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonAn Israeli comedian jokes about Jesus, Vat lodges a formal complaint with Israeli government.… Read the rest
Jesus and Mo on Creationism
Feb 21st, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonOf course Jesus does not believe the earth is six thousand years old.… Read the rest
Ben Goldacre on Pay to Play
Feb 21st, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIn an ideal world, all drugs research would be commercially separate from manufacturing and retail.… Read the rest
Pakistan: 32 Bullets in Murdered Reporter
Feb 20th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonHundreds of journalists protested the murder of Musa Khan Khel in Swat.… Read the rest
Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists Protests
Feb 20th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘A journalist has become the first victim after the peace deal in Swat, which is most alarming.’… Read the rest
Mental Torture and Bullying in an Indian Convent
Feb 20th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘There are many nuns undergoing ill-treatment from the order, but they are afraid of challenging it.’… Read the rest
A C Grayling on Secularist Students
Feb 20th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘This critical, evidence-based, enquiring mindset also thinks afresh about the good for human lives and societies.’… Read the rest
Atheism is on the March
Feb 20th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘Public statements of non-belief are treated as threatening, an affront to the religious, while the reverse is not true.’… Read the rest
Andrew Brown Notes That Differences Matter
Feb 19th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe difference between a theocracy and a secular state with bits of religious ornament is important.… Read the rest
Dawkins, Dennett, Coyne, Myers to New Scientist
Feb 19th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWhat on earth were you thinking when you produced a garish cover proclaiming that ‘Darwin was wrong’?… Read the rest
HRW on Censhorship and Repression in Sudan
Feb 19th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIt is unsafe to criticize the Khartoum government or call for justice for victims of horrific crimes in Darfur.… Read the rest
More Vatican Wisdom on ‘Sin’
Feb 19th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonHow each sex scores on ‘the seven deadly sins.’ Does the Vatican have nothing better to do?… Read the rest
UK Home Secretary Bans Westboro Preachers
Feb 19th, 2009 | Filed by Ophelia BensonPeter Tatchell disagrees with the decision to ban the Phelpses and Geert Wilders… Read the rest