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Inevitably links go out of date.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.


No Reiki Without Permission *

Nov 2nd, 2008 | Filed by

You need permission on an energetic level to move into the client’s energy field.… Read the rest



Somali Woman Stoned to Death for ‘Adultery’ *

Nov 2nd, 2008 | Filed by

She was buried up to her neck and then pelted to death with stones in front of thousands of people in Kismayo. … Read the rest



AI Reports Stoned ‘Woman’ Was a Girl, 13 *

Nov 2nd, 2008 | Filed by

Sources say she had been raped and had attempted to report this rape to the militia who control Kismayo.… Read the rest



Rape Victim, 13, Stoned to Death *

Nov 2nd, 2008 | Filed by

Militia members opened fire when some of the witnesses to the killing attempted to save her life.… Read the rest



Studs Terkel 1912-2008 *

Nov 1st, 2008 | Filed by

His searching interviews with ordinary Americans helped establish oral history as a serious genre.… Read the rest



‘She’s Godless!’ ‘I Am Not Godless!’ *

Nov 1st, 2008 | Filed by

Notion that it’s actually permissible to be godless does not get a hearing.… Read the rest



Muslim Artist Gets Muslim Death Threats *

Nov 1st, 2008 | Filed by

‘Some sections of the Muslim community’ are pissed off at Sarah Maples.… Read the rest



Susan Jacoby on Religion and US Politics *

Nov 1st, 2008 | Filed by

Republicans have tapped into fundamentalist resentment of educated, sceptical ‘elites.’… Read the rest



Museum Head Angers Pope, Is Sacked *

Nov 1st, 2008 | Filed by

Pope, Vatican, local pol pitched fits over frog that ‘injured the religious feeling of many people.’… Read the rest



Potential President Gets First Amendment Wrong *

Nov 1st, 2008 | Filed by

Thinks it protects ‘our ability to ask questions without fear of attacks by the mainstream media.’… Read the rest



Tens of Thousands of Refugees in DR Congo *

Oct 30th, 2008 | Filed by

Some observers say that the fighting in eastern DR Congo is really over control of mineral resources.… Read the rest



Purdy Loses Assisted Suicide Case *

Oct 30th, 2008 | Filed by

Wants her husband with her but fears he may be prosecuted, says she may have to go earlier than she wanted.… Read the rest



Normblog on Aronson on Choosing to Know *

Oct 30th, 2008 | Filed by

The obstacles to knowledge, both within us and without, are many and various.… Read the rest



Barak Calls for Crackdown on Settler Violence *

Oct 30th, 2008 | Filed by

There has been an increase in attacks on Palestinians during this year’s olive harvest. … Read the rest



Israel and Settler Threats *

Oct 30th, 2008 | Filed by

Reports of violence by the right-wing activist groups have increased in recent months.… Read the rest



Women as Bombers Once Thought Immodest *

Oct 30th, 2008 | Filed by

‘We were created to become martyrs for God,’ says insane woman.… Read the rest



Assisting Suicide Could Be Prosecuted *

Oct 29th, 2008 | Filed by

‘If the DPP does publish guidelines it will make it more likely that the decision will be made to prosecute.’… Read the rest



Ben Goldacre Asks: More Crap Journals? *

Oct 29th, 2008 | Filed by

You’re not supposed to take everything in an academic journal as read, final, and valid.… Read the rest



Duplicate Publication is a Serious Problem *

Oct 29th, 2008 | Filed by

If you think there are two trials showing that something works, that’s more impressive than if there’s just one.… Read the rest



Anthony Cox on BBC Churnalism *

Oct 29th, 2008 | Filed by

Churnalism – rewriting press releases rather than news reporting – is common at BBC online news.… Read the rest