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Inevitably links go out of date.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.


Hitchens on How to be a Public Intellectual *

Jul 13th, 2008 | Filed by

An intellectual is someone who does not attempt to soar on the thermals of public opinion… Read the rest



New Legal Threat to School Science in US *

Jul 13th, 2008 | Filed by

Barbara Forrest says Louisiana’s ‘Science Education Act’ is designed to slip ID in through the back door.… Read the rest



Anti-same-sex Marriage Registrar Wins Case *

Jul 13th, 2008 | Filed by

Tribunal rules Christian registrar who refused to marry gays was discriminated against on grounds of religious beliefs.… Read the rest



BBC Does Darwin *

Jul 13th, 2008 | Filed by

The BBC today announces a season of landmark content to mark the life and work of Darwin.… Read the rest



Bernard-Henri Lévy on Obama *

Jul 12th, 2008 | Filed by

He is the most gifted politician produced by the Democratic machine in a long time.… Read the rest



Catholic League Demands Expulsion of Student *

Jul 12th, 2008 | Filed by

The UCF administration needs to act swiftly and decisively in seeing that justice is done.’… Read the rest



Bible Professor Suspended by Seminary *

Jul 12th, 2008 | Filed by

Requires faculty to pledge not to teach anything contrary to the 1646 Westminster Confession of Faith.… Read the rest



Jesus and Mo Discuss the Wafer Kidnapping *

Jul 12th, 2008 | Filed by

Jesus was kidnapped? Mo thought he’d just gone down the pub.… Read the rest



A Defect in the International Legal System *

Jul 12th, 2008 | Filed by

Some of those charged with looking out for international law are shielding those who flout international law.… Read the rest



China and Russia Veto Zimbabwe Sanctions *

Jul 12th, 2008 | Filed by

No threat to world peace; mustn’t meddle in internal affairs.… Read the rest



Andrew Anthony Reviews Kenan Malik *

Jul 11th, 2008 | Filed by

A stalwart defender of free speech, Malik is a formidable enemy of fuzzy or wishful thinking. … Read the rest



Ian McEwan on the Apocalyptic Mind *

Jul 11th, 2008 | Filed by

Common threads run between medieval and contemporary apocalyptic thought.… Read the rest



Farc Denounces ‘Betrayals’ *

Jul 11th, 2008 | Filed by

Betrayal of revolutionary principles ended brutal unlawful imprisonment. Shock horror.… Read the rest



Catholic League Angry at PZ Myers *

Jul 11th, 2008 | Filed by

League has contacted president of UM and state legislature, wants them to act quickly and decisively.… Read the rest



Catholic League is Afraid, Very Afraid *

Jul 11th, 2008 | Filed by

Wants extra security in Minneapolis so that Catholics ‘can worship without fear of violence.’… Read the rest



Rorty and the ‘Intellectual Self-concept’ *

Jul 10th, 2008 | Filed by

Academics make intellectual choices in part because of what sort of intellectual they think they are.… Read the rest



Obama’s Books *

Jul 10th, 2008 | Filed by

He’s a reader.… Read the rest



Vatican Outrage at End to 16 Year Coma *

Jul 10th, 2008 | Filed by

Eluana Englaro has been comatose for 16 years, Vatican wants that to continue.… Read the rest



Jesse Jackson Apologizes *

Jul 10th, 2008 | Filed by

Accused Obama of ‘talking down to black people,’ expressed desire to cut his nuts off. Tho thorry.… Read the rest



Atheist Soldier Sues Pentagon for Discrimination *

Jul 10th, 2008 | Filed by

Some former soldiers say the Pentagon tacitly encourages evangelical proselytizing to create a ‘godly army.’… Read the rest