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Inevitably links go out of date.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.


‘Vixen’ Returns to the Stage *

Feb 22nd, 2009 | Filed by

And sexist vocabulary never left the New York Times, apparently.… Read the rest



Ben Goldacre on How to Get the Figures Wrong *

Feb 22nd, 2009 | Filed by

It’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

Q-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

‘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

This 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

‘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

Women 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

An 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

Of 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

In 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

Hundreds 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

‘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

‘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

‘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

‘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

The 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

What 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

It 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

How 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

Peter Tatchell disagrees with the decision to ban the Phelpses and Geert Wilders… Read the rest