‘Saudi money is now a major source of income for London libel firms. School fees and second homes depend on it.’… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Vatican Incredulous About Our Lady of Surbiton
Sep 24th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonArchbishop says the supposed revelations are highly questionable. Tsk.… Read the rest
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown on Muslim Obscurantism
Sep 24th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘They write to me, bright and ambitious students who feel spied on, coerced, hounded and tormented.’… Read the rest
Secularism not Allowed in UK Schools
Sep 23rd, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonDaily ‘act of worship of a broadly Christian nature’ must remain mandatory in all state schools.… Read the rest
Jesus Must Remain Sacrosanct
Sep 23rd, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonJesus-irony is ‘like walking by a funeral and shouting obscenities at a family.’… Read the rest
Are Sacred Texts Sacred?
Sep 23rd, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘In many respects, the Bible was the world’s first Wikipedia article.’… Read the rest
What Alex Knew
Sep 23rd, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonA thinking bird would topple everything we’d previously assumed about animal intelligence.… Read the rest
US Election Campaigns are All About Narrative
Sep 23rd, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonOnce the narrative is determined, it’s virtually impervious to revision. … Read the rest
Women and Islam
Sep 22nd, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonHouzan Mahmoud of the Organization for Women’s Freedom in Iraq. … Read the rest
Bad Media Coverage Carries a Cost
Sep 22nd, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe media commentariat has not earned privileged early access to scientific knowledge and information. … Read the rest
Ben Goldacre on a Fishy Reckoning
Sep 22nd, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonNonsense research undermines the credibility of trial research in general.… Read the rest
Jesus and Mo Interpret a Goddy Revelation
Sep 22nd, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonPut a grand on red, and see what happens.… Read the rest
Ian Hacking on ID as Degenerate Science
Sep 22nd, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonDegenerate programs paint themselves into smaller and smaller corners, skirting problems they’d prefer not to face. … Read the rest
Libel Laws Silence Bloggers
Sep 22nd, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonA worrying precedent.… Read the rest
Keep Virgin Births and Gold Plates out of Politics
Sep 21st, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonChristianity believes in resurrection yet it taunts Mormons about adding gold plates into the mix. … Read the rest
Life Sentence for Surjit Athwal Murder
Sep 21st, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘The pair of you decided that the so-called honour of your family members was worth more than the life of this young woman.’… Read the rest
Ferzanna Riley on Growing up Terrorized
Sep 21st, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonFor 14 weeks we were held against our will and threatened with murder and gang rape unless we agreed to marriage.… Read the rest
There is no Atheist Pope
Sep 21st, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘New Atheism’ isn’t all that new, either.… Read the rest
Mary Midgley Still Misunderstanding Dawkins
Sep 21st, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonOne crude mistake after another.… Read the rest
Peter Tatchell on Indifference to Human Rights
Sep 21st, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonPalestinian Arabs get the support of progressives; Iranian Arabs swing from nooses in public squares.… Read the rest