It’s not Spellberg’s fault, it’s Random House that made the decision.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Professor’s Helpful Warning 
Aug 12th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Faegheh Shirazi, of UT’s Department of Middle Eastern Studies, understands decision not to publish.… Read the rest
Child Starved to Death for not Saying ‘Amen’
Aug 12th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Members of ‘Mind Ministries’ viewed the child, age 21 months, as a ‘demon.’… Read the rest
Mick Hume on Pre-emptive Grovelling
Aug 12th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Fearful self-censorship in the name of liberal values is worth intellectual rioting.… Read the rest
Solidarity Against Western Colonialism
Aug 11th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Feminists who think hijab is oppressive to women want to bomb them into submission. Yee-ha.… Read the rest
Fruitlessly Mocking Nutriwoo
Aug 11th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The newspapers are so overrun with food pseudoscience there’s no point in documenting it any more.… Read the rest
Blame Everyone but Yourselves
Aug 11th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Food has become the bollocks du jour, with no regard for accuracy whatsoever.… Read the rest
Debating Democracy Promotion in China
Aug 11th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Daniel Bell and Michael Walzer on whether liberalization and democracy should be imported.… Read the rest
HRW Urges: Press Zimbabwe to End Abuses
Aug 11th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
HRW report ‘They Beat Me like a Dog’ describes killings, beatings and arbitrary arrests by ZANU-PF.… Read the rest
BBC on Jewel of Medina
Aug 10th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Spellberg said she felt it was her duty to warn the press of the novel’s potential to provoke anger.… Read the rest
Threats of Violence Force Conference to Close
Aug 10th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Kuala Lumpur: ‘protesters’ say forum on conversion would undermine Islam, threaten to storm building.… Read the rest
Malaysian Court Rejects Bid to Leave Islam
Aug 10th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Appellant not legally recognized because her Chinese name no longer existed after conversion to Islam… Read the rest
Court Rejects Convert’s Renunciation of Islam
Aug 10th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Lim sought ruling that she had the right to renounce Islam under Article 11 of the Malaysian Constitution.… Read the rest
Total Politics Interviews Johann Hari
Aug 10th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
We’re all born involved in the political world, whether we like it or not. … Read the rest
Denise Spellberg Explains She is an Expert
Aug 9th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘I felt it was my professional duty to warn the press of the novel’s potential to provoke anger among some Muslims.’… Read the rest
‘Quite Deliberately Provocative’ Says Spellberg
Aug 9th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Spellberg told the Guardian she is receiving hate mail accusing her of acting as a censor for Muslim jihadis.… Read the rest
NPR Visits Camp Inquiry
Aug 9th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
If skeptics are in the majority at Camp Inquiry, they’re often alone in their schools and neighborhoods.… Read the rest
New Sharia Marriage Contract in UK
Aug 9th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘A married Muslim couple will now have equal rights.’… Read the rest
Dawkins Takes Issue With Libby Purves
Aug 9th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Unjust, to the point of outright mendacity.’… Read the rest
Shahed Amanullah Speaks Up for Free Speech
Aug 8th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
No one has the right not to be offended, nor to live without the uncomfortable opinions of others.… Read the rest
