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Inevitably links go out of date.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.


‘Honour’ Killing in the UK [audio] *

Jun 27th, 2007 | Filed by

‘This is about murder in the name of the father, the son, the blessed male members of the family.’… Read the rest



Egypt’s Grand Mufti Says FGM is Forbidden *

Jun 27th, 2007 | Filed by

After an 11-year-old girl died while being chopped at a private medical clinic in southern Egypt.… Read the rest



Jonathan Edwards Stops Believing in God *

Jun 27th, 2007 | Filed by

‘In some ways I feel more human than I ever have.’… Read the rest



Akbar Ahmed is not Optimistic *

Jun 27th, 2007 | Filed by

Deoband thinking is winning.… Read the rest



Petition to Congratulate PM for Rushdie’s K *

Jun 26th, 2007 | Filed by

This honour stands as a symbol of our commitment to ignoring Rage Boy.… Read the rest



Belated Move to Ask Muslim Women to Speak Up *

Jun 26th, 2007 | Filed by

‘Oh, right – some of them are women, aren’t they; let’s ask them.’… Read the rest



Islamist Groups Prompt Some ‘Honour’ Murders *

Jun 26th, 2007 | Filed by

‘They told her husband that if he didn’t put his wife in her place then they would do it themselves.’… Read the rest



Ten Men Rage at Rushdie *

Jun 26th, 2007 | Filed by

We strongly deplore, say ten bullies.… Read the rest



Let’s Stop Channeling Rage Boy *

Jun 26th, 2007 | Filed by

We may have to put up with the Rage Boys of the world, but we ought not to do their work for them.… Read the rest



Paul Davies on the Goldilocks Enigma *

Jun 26th, 2007 | Filed by

We will never explain the world by appealing to something outside it that must be accepted on faith.… Read the rest



Nick Cohen on the Anti-Rushdie Alliance *

Jun 25th, 2007 | Filed by

It remains astonishing how many people who profess liberal sympathies don’t get it.… Read the rest



Pakistan Says Rushdie K Breaks UN Resolution *

Jun 25th, 2007 | Filed by

Claims Britain acted against the spirit of UN resolution 1624.… Read the rest



That’s the Scale of the Error *

Jun 25th, 2007 | Filed by

Creationism is equivalent to believing that the width of North America is 7.8 yards.… Read the rest



George Felis on What Atheism Isn’t *

Jun 24th, 2007 | Filed by

People who believe in God arrive at their moral views by exercising their own judgment.… Read the rest



Jesus and the Barmaid on Theodicy *

Jun 24th, 2007 | Filed by

The barmaid is no match for the eloquence of Jesus.… Read the rest



Do They Have Effigy Shops in Pakistan? *

Jun 24th, 2007 | Filed by

Jesus and Mo discuss the blasphemous knighthood, or is it the chivalric blasphemy.… Read the rest



The New Physics Exam *

Jun 24th, 2007 | Filed by

1) Here is the equation; how does it make you feel? 2) Suggest how the two scientists could compromise.… Read the rest



Tonight on Irrational Scare Program: WiFi Routers *

Jun 24th, 2007 | Filed by

After eating babies, the WiFi Routers will grow to enormous size and attack our cities.… Read the rest



Garton Ash Gets It *

Jun 23rd, 2007 | Filed by

‘The issue is whether people should be killed, or face a serious threat of being killed, for what they say or write.’… Read the rest



Rushdie Has Nothing to Apologize For *

Jun 23rd, 2007 | Filed by

Not the merit of his books, not his failure to be ‘grateful,’ not blasphemy, not apostasy; nothing.… Read the rest