Damn!… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s Life as an Infidel
Feb 2nd, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘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 Ophelia Benson‘We also need a large tolerance for cultural diversity.’… Read the rest
Ian Buruma Replies to Pascal Bruckner
Feb 2nd, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘Women should be protected from abuse.’ Oh good.… Read the rest
The Meaning of ‘Groundhog Day’
Feb 2nd, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIs it torture or a path to enlightenment?… Read the rest
Grayling Reiterates the Challenge
Feb 2nd, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonTo 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 Ophelia BensonThe 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 Ophelia BensonChair of Stoppers is very cross indeed.… Read the rest
Gym Tints Windows at Behest of Synagogue
Feb 1st, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘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 Ophelia Benson‘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 Ophelia BensonWhy does ‘Why Truth Matters’ inspire peevish emails?… Read the rest
Spotting Abused Children Accused of Possession
Feb 1st, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonNumber 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 Ophelia BensonSome 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 Ophelia BensonThe 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 Ophelia BensonThe 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 Ophelia Benson‘There is another left,’ Sunder Katwala says.… Read the rest
The Truth About 9/11 Conspiracy Theories
Jan 31st, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThere’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 Ophelia BensonMcDonald’s asked questions, Smithfield slightly improved conditions for its sows.… Read the rest
A Visit to the Scary People
Jan 30th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe scary people are scary.… Read the rest
Mark Vernon on Christianity and Science
Jan 30th, 2007 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘Essentially theological ideas’ underpin science, e.g. that the universe is coherent. … Read the rest