In secular Denmark and Sweden rates of violent crime are among the lowest on earth.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Taliban Destroying Education in Swat 
Jan 28th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Destroying the education infrastructure is part of the Taleban’s campaign to uproot the existing system.… Read the rest
Johann Hari on ‘Respect’ for Oppressive Religions
Jan 28th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The right to think and speak freely failed to ‘respect’ the ‘unique sensitivities’ of the religious.… Read the rest
Trial for Parents Who Chose ‘Faith’ Over Medicine
Jan 28th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Parents of child dying of diabetes prayed for her recovery but did not take her to a doctor.… Read the rest
Natalie Angier on Geek Chic, Obama, Women
Jan 28th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Now that ‘smart is the new cool’ how about seeking out starry women in science?… Read the rest
Hindutva Bullies Attack Women in Mangalore
Jan 28th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
SRS mob assaulted women at a bar because they are ‘the custodians of Indian culture.’… Read the rest
India: Congress Attacks BJP Ideology
Jan 28th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Whether you call it BJP, RSS or Ram Sena…it is the same thing. Wherever this philosophy has travelled, it has manifested in such incidents.’… Read the rest
Islamists Kidnap Teachers in Southern Philippines
Jan 27th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Officials warned: the kidnapping would discourage others from teaching poor children in Muslim areas.… Read the rest
Attenborough Gets Hate Mail From God Fans
Jan 27th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
They tell him to burn in hell for not giving God credit for hummingbirds.… Read the rest
Jerry Coyne on Seeing and Believing
Jan 27th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The real question is whether there is a philosophical incompatibility between religion and science.… Read the rest
John Updike 1932-2009
Jan 27th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
David Foster Wallace consigned Updike, with Mailer and Roth, to the authorial category of Great Male Narcissists.… Read the rest
Obama Tells Regulators to Tighten Auto Rules
Jan 27th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The directives make good on a campaign pledge and signal a sharp reversal of Bush administration policy.… Read the rest
New Guy Ditches 8 Years of Bad Policies
Jan 27th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Moves on freedom of information, presidential archives, all in direction of more transparency.… Read the rest
Islamists Take Baidoa, Promise Sharia
Jan 27th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘We shall make changes in the town and will rule by Islamic law,’ spokesman told hundreds at stadium.… Read the rest
A Step Forward in Texas Science Education
Jan 27th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Texas State Board of Ed elected to get rid of bogus ‘strengths and weaknesses’ claim in textbooks.… Read the rest
Tom Hanks Calls Prop 8 Un-American
Jan 26th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘I do not like to see any discrimination codified on any piece of paper in any of the 50 states in America.’… Read the rest
Tom Hanks Apologizes to Mormons
Jan 26th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A Mormon said it is ‘un-American to tell people that they shouldn’t vote their conscience.’… Read the rest
Atlanta: Father Accused of ‘Honor’ Killing
Jan 26th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Sandeela Kanwal wanted out of her arranged marriage, father thought a divorce would shame the family.… Read the rest
Thailand: Writer Sentenced for Lèse Majesté
Jan 26th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Harry Nicolaides alluded in a novel to the way King Bhumipol’s son treated one of his mistresses.… Read the rest
Thailand Bans Current Issue of The Economist
Jan 26th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The issue contains an article about an Australian writer who was jailed for slandering the monarchy.… Read the rest
