Both speakers have devoted space in their life’s work to plumbing the mysteries of conversation.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Report Marred by Errors in Arithmetic 
Jun 10th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A frightening decline in the quality of maths in reports of the frightening decline in the quality of maths.… Read the rest
Prison for ‘Violation of Religious Sensibilities’
Jun 10th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Accused acted to blaspheme and desecrate that which the Islamic religious community deems holy.’… Read the rest
Clinton Makes an Odd Feminist Martyr
Jun 10th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Clinton benefited from having married a successful political man. What’s feminist about that?… Read the rest
Philadelphia Mississippi Ponders Obama
Jun 10th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Bloody Neshoba’ is anxious.… Read the rest
Ben Goldacre on Blogs v Mainstream Media
Jun 10th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
MM pushed the Dore ‘miracle cure’ for Dyslexia, bloggers dug deeper.… Read the rest
The Reality Tests
Jun 9th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The world is real, but we don’t perceive it as it exists fundamentally.… Read the rest
HRW: Runoff Vote in Zimbabwe Will Be DOA
Jun 9th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Campaign of violence and intimidation against MDC has killed any chance of a free and fair vote.… Read the rest
Bullets for Each of You
Jun 9th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
HRW report on state-sponsored violence since Zimbabwe’s March 29 elections.… Read the rest
Sec-Gen of OIC Urges Action on ‘Islamophobia’
Jun 9th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Mere condemnation not enough, as long as they remain free to continue ‘on the plea of freedom of expression.’… Read the rest
Texas Board of Ed Uses Creationist Code
Jun 9th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A creationist system of science is not science at all. It is faith.… Read the rest
Government Ignores Church, Says Church
Jun 8th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
They love Muslims more than they love us, whimpers bishop.… Read the rest
BBC Afghanistan Reporter Murdered
Jun 8th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Abdul Samad Rohani worked with the Kabul bureau, was the Pashto service reporter in Helmand. … Read the rest
Reporter Murdered in Kismayu, Somalia
Jun 8th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Suspected Islamist insurgents shot Nasteh Dahir, a freelance reporter for the BBC and AP.… Read the rest
RSF Shocked at Murder of Nasteh Dahir Farah
Jun 8th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Somalia is Africa’s deadliest country for journalists. Eight were killed there last year.… Read the rest
RSF on Mugabe as Predator of Press Freedom
Jun 8th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Mugabe orders the arrest of local and foreign journalists, uses threats to silence them. … Read the rest
Zimbabwe’s High Court Overturns Ban on Rallies
Jun 7th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Aid groups believe the government does not want them out in the rural areas witnessing what is happening.… Read the rest
Mbeke Exhibits Sinister Solidarity With Mugabe
Jun 7th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Mbeke’s coddling of Mugabe has made him complicit in Zimbabwe’s devastation.… Read the rest
Zimbabwe’s Ban on Aid Puts Many in Peril
Jun 7th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Doctor with USAid says no one will talk for fear of jeopardising access to people who still need help.… Read the rest
K. Anthony Appiah Reviews Susan Neiman
Jun 7th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
If you’re a philosopher, the easiest way to introduce yourself is not by elaborating a doctrine, but by telling a story.… Read the rest
