Makes certain kinds of research mortal rather than venial sin. Why mess around? … 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
American Psychological Association and Torture 
Mar 9th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
APA ignored evidence that psychologists designed and provided training for ‘enhanced’ interrogation.… Read the rest
Pope Pretends to be Liberal
Mar 9th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Convinces no one.… Read the rest
Surveys Probably Undercount Atheists in US
Mar 9th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Surveys of unpopular opinions offer dubious results.… Read the rest
Autism Payout Reignites Vaccine Controversy
Mar 9th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
US government decision to compensate case may undermine public confidence in vaccines.… Read the rest
Kafka Fraud Revealed
Mar 9th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘The Metamorphosis’ wasn’t fiction at all. Literary critics turn pale with shame.… Read the rest
Ben Goldacre on Drug Companies and Truth
Mar 9th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
To make sensible decisions, doctors need information. But drug companies have repeatedly been shown to bury unflattering data.… Read the rest
The Placebo Effect: the Coolest Thing in Medicine
Mar 9th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Many people with your kind of condition have been helped by ’sugar pills’; we feel a sugar pill may help you.… Read the rest
Fundamentalist State School ‘Worst in London’
Mar 9th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
First non-Anglican non-Catholic ‘faith’ school to get state funding is in meltdown.… Read the rest
Afghanistan: Thousands Protest Motoons Again
Mar 8th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Good to know they have nothing more important to worry about.… Read the rest
3,000 UK Women a Year Forced Into Marriage
Mar 8th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The study found at least 300 cases in Luton where victims had contacted community organisations.… Read the rest
Lords Approve Abolition Of Blasphemy
Mar 8th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
After an acrimonious debate in which the bogeyman of secularism was repeatedly invoked.… Read the rest
Debate on Blasphemy Abolition: Column 1118
Mar 8th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
York: ‘the protection of society is achieved by ensuring that the Christian religion is treated with respect.’… Read the rest
Women’s Day in Afghanistan
Mar 8th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
When the Taliban took over, the public lives of women effectively came to an end.… Read the rest
Bush Vetoes Limits on Torture
Mar 8th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The bill would have limited all American interrogators to techniques allowed in the Army Field Manual.… Read the rest
Normblog on Appiah on Moral Obligation
Mar 8th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The socialist idea is that we sign up to a code according to which people do not die unrescued.… Read the rest
International Women’s Day Protests
Mar 8th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Italy, Iraq, Colombia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Indonesia, China.… Read the rest
Wired Talks to Philip Zimbardo
Mar 7th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Understanding why somebody did something leads to a totally different way of dealing with evil. … Read the rest
Universal Human Rights: Origins and Development
Mar 7th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Human rights law is not a product of western hegemony. In fact, Stephen James argues, the opposite is true.… Read the rest
Moses Saw God Because He Was Stoned
Mar 7th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
When Moses climbed Sinai and received the Ten Commandments and the Bible, he was tripping. … Read the rest
