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Inevitably links go out of date.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.


Molly Ivins *

Feb 2nd, 2007 | Filed by

Damn!… Read the rest



Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s Life as an Infidel *

Feb 2nd, 2007 | Filed by

‘I’d been a Muslim myself and I’d reacted in the same way when Islam was criticised.’… Read the rest



Timothy Garton Ash Replies to Pascal Bruckner *

Feb 2nd, 2007 | Filed by

‘We also need a large tolerance for cultural diversity.’… Read the rest



Ian Buruma Replies to Pascal Bruckner *

Feb 2nd, 2007 | Filed by

‘Women should be protected from abuse.’ Oh good.… Read the rest



The Meaning of ‘Groundhog Day’ *

Feb 2nd, 2007 | Filed by

Is it torture or a path to enlightenment?… Read the rest



Grayling Reiterates the Challenge *

Feb 2nd, 2007 | Filed by

To explain what Christianity, a body of supernatural beliefs, had contributed to science. … Read the rest



Russell Jacoby on the Seminar That Failed *

Feb 1st, 2007 | Filed by

The humanities are eroding everywhere thanks to: not lefty academics but market forces.… Read the rest



Andrew Murray Pitches a Fit at Nick Cohen *

Feb 1st, 2007 | Filed by

Chair of Stoppers is very cross indeed.… Read the rest



Gym Tints Windows at Behest of Synagogue *

Feb 1st, 2007 | Filed by

‘We have a belief in being dressed modestly, and we want our kids to see women dressed modestly.’… Read the rest



So Tint Your Own Windows *

Feb 1st, 2007 | Filed by

‘The congregation’s rabbi said public nudity is not acceptable to his members, nor to any religious Jew.’… Read the rest



David Thompson Interviews Windbag *

Feb 1st, 2007 | Filed by

Why does ‘Why Truth Matters’ inspire peevish emails?… Read the rest



Spotting Abused Children Accused of Possession *

Feb 1st, 2007 | Filed by

Number of cases linked to spirit possession is small compared to total number of cases.… Read the rest



Steven Pinker on the Mystery of Consciousness *

Jan 31st, 2007 | Filed by

Some of our deepest convictions about what it means to be human have been shaken.… Read the rest



Critics Ignoring Most of Nick Cohen’s Book *

Jan 31st, 2007 | Filed by

The story of the Stop the War coalition fills just half of one chapter in a 13-chapter book. … Read the rest



A Poem *

Jan 31st, 2007 | Filed by

The sympathy and support jihadists attract is traceable to failures on which we can act.… Read the rest



Is Nick Cohen Right About the Left? Critics Reply *

Jan 31st, 2007 | Filed by

‘There is another left,’ Sunder Katwala says.… Read the rest



The Truth About 9/11 Conspiracy Theories *

Jan 31st, 2007 | Filed by

There’s the ‘official conspiracy theory’ and then there’s the ‘truth movement.’… Read the rest



Peter Singer Says Activists Have Had an Impact *

Jan 30th, 2007 | Filed by

McDonald’s asked questions, Smithfield slightly improved conditions for its sows.… Read the rest



A Visit to the Scary People *

Jan 30th, 2007 | Filed by

The scary people are scary.… Read the rest



Mark Vernon on Christianity and Science *

Jan 30th, 2007 | Filed by

‘Essentially theological ideas’ underpin science, e.g. that the universe is coherent. … Read the rest