At the UN.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Catholic Cabinet Ministers Kick Up a Fuss 
Jan 28th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Over Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, claiming the ‘ethical issues’ it raises are matters of conscience.… Read the rest
Free Expression Does Mean a Right to Offend
Jan 27th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Is Wilders asserting a right to free speech or dressing up a gratuitous religious insult in constitutional language? Both.… Read the rest
Charlie Hebdo Editor Back in Court Over Motoons
Jan 27th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Union of Islamic Organisations of France and World Muslim League appealed last year’s acquittal.… Read the rest
Cherie Blair Disses the Pope
Jan 27th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Without contraception women are screwed. … Read the rest
Mathematics and God
Jan 27th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
How easily nonsense proffered in an earnest and profound manner can browbeat someone into acquiescence.… Read the rest
Jacob Weisberg on Bush’s Religion
Jan 27th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
He swears, he doesn’t pay tithes, he doesn’t try to convert others – he’s not much of an evangelical.… Read the rest
Women Lose in Indian Rights Gain in Mexico
Jan 27th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
All-male town board tore up ballots cast for Cruz, saying that as a woman, she wasn’t a citizen of the town.… Read the rest
Secularism on the Skids in Turkey
Jan 26th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Islamist ruling AK Party, nationalist MHP call ending hijab ban an issue of human rights and freedoms.… Read the rest
Deborah Cameron on Myth of Gendered Speech
Jan 26th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
She combats the cliché by example, writing in an enjoyable mode of pugnacious sarcasm.… Read the rest
Margaret Drabble Follows J B Priestley
Jan 26th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
His chapter on the Potteries is humane, indignant, charged with the energy of his restless curiosity.… Read the rest
More Criticism of Journalist’s Death Sentence
Jan 26th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
RSF appeals to Karzaï to respond to the many appeals for clemency for Sayed Perwiz Kambakhsh.… Read the rest
Petition in Support of Sayed Perwiz Kambakhsh
Jan 26th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Death penalty on on charges of blasphemy and ‘disseminating defamatory comments about Islam.’… Read the rest
Another Prosecution of Agos Journalists
Jan 26th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
RSF regards this prosecution as yet another case of improper use of the press law.… Read the rest
Christian Couple Tortured Their Children
Jan 25th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Father sliced the boys’ mouths with a scalpel, put safety pins through their lips – because God had his tongue cut off in the Bible.… Read the rest
Jesus and Mo Are Amazed by Tom Cruise
Jan 25th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
He really seems convinced that he has access to some kind of special knowledge.… Read the rest
Ben Goldacre on Stupidity With Statistics
Jan 25th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
How not to do a careful survey: count comments on a badly-worded question at a chat site.… Read the rest
Alarmist TV Drama on Autism and Vaccination
Jan 25th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
New legal drama comes down on the side dismissed by prominent scientific organizations.… Read the rest
Cruel Nanny Had Fake Qualifications
Jan 25th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Claimed to hold numerous childcare diplomas from organisations that denied knowledge of her. … Read the rest
Nick Clarke on Opening of CFI London
Jan 24th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
He reports on talks by Stephen Law, Mark Vernon and Azar Majedi.… Read the rest
