The revolution is proceeding with breathtaking impatience; it is Jacobin in its disdain for tradition and precedent. … 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Pope Demands Respect for Sunday 
Sep 9th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Tuesday and Thursday are offended, Wednesday is an apostate, Monday has become a Mormon.… Read the rest
‘Embrace Islam’ Says Persuasive Mass Murderer
Sep 9th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
No thanks.… Read the rest
Swedish PM Meets With Muslim Ambassadors
Sep 9th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Causing offence does not belong to the concept of freedom of speech,’ said Iran’s ambassador.… Read the rest
Parody Dawkins Review on the Valve
Sep 9th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Dawkins cannot afford to entertain the possibility that Fascism fills a deep-seated need in people.… Read the rest
Battle of Ideas: The Resurrection of Religion
Sep 9th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Stephen Law, Frank Furedi, Ruth Gledhill. October 27, Upper Gilbenkian Theatre, the RCA, London.… Read the rest
Stephen Law on Galileo and Bruno
Sep 9th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
They were hauled before the Inquisition for their scientific views as well as their theological views.… Read the rest
Celibate Priest Urges More Breeding
Sep 8th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Pope warns Europe not to ’embrace’ abortion, urges it to embrace Xianity.… Read the rest
Scott McLemee on The Last Intellectuals
Sep 8th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The zeitgeist overlooked features of Russell Jacoby’s argument that did not fit into a simplified history.… Read the rest
Ben Goldacre on Conflict of Interest
Sep 8th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It is extremely common for journalists to take money from pharmaceutical companies.… Read the rest
Iraq Freezes Funds of Women’s Rights Group
Sep 8th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The Organisation for Women’s Freedom in Iraq shelters women who are threatened by honor killing.… Read the rest
Bible Study More Important Than Doing the Job
Sep 8th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Says head of U.S. government agency that pays benefits to disabled veterans.… Read the rest
Two Women Beheaded in Pakistan
Sep 7th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A note found on the bodies said ‘We have started doing this to end obscenity in the area.’… Read the rest
Secular Group Sues Round Rock School District
Sep 7th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Americans United for Separation of Church and State: allowing a majority vote on prayer violates federal law.… Read the rest
More Kack from Madeleine Bunting
Sep 7th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Dawkins doesn’t understand myth, he’s arrogant, Cornwell’s book is a powerful riposte.… Read the rest
Excerpt from Grayling’s Towards the Light
Sep 7th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A Western citizen is a possessor of rights and opportunities that only an aristocrat could hope for in the past.… Read the rest
Primates Expect Others to Act Rationally
Sep 7th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A new study shows that non-human primates infer others’ intentions in a sophisticated way.… Read the rest
Man Jailed for Taking Woman to Hospital
Sep 7th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
His neighbor was ill, he helped her, so he was accused by religious police of immoral behaviour.… Read the rest
Charlie Savage on the Imperial President [audio]
Sep 6th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Boston Globe reporter’s book describes how the Bush-Cheney admin has expanded executive power.… Read the rest
On Consequentialism
Sep 6th, 2007 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Brad Hooker, a consequentialist himself, outlines and defends his position in this interview with Nigel Warburton.… Read the rest
