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Inevitably links go out of date.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.


Peter Tatchell on Death Threats from Fanatics *

Sep 6th, 2006 | Filed by

Anti-gay hatred is free speech, but anti-homophobia is hate crime against religion.… Read the rest



Zoe Williams on the HPV Vaccine *

Sep 6th, 2006 | Filed by

As vaccine for cervical cancer becomes available in the UK, conservative opinion mobilises.… Read the rest



Pharmacists and Plan B *

Sep 6th, 2006 | Filed by

‘If a person’s purpose is to kill a fertilized egg, then I disagree with that.’… Read the rest



Left Should Forget Diversity, Heed Inequality *

Sep 5th, 2006 | Filed by

Critics say left can do both; Walter Benn Michaels says it hasn’t happened.… Read the rest



Newsflash: Fay Weldon is Silly *

Sep 5th, 2006 | Filed by

Her new book beats up on nasty materialists and ‘Darwinians’; she has Found God.… Read the rest



More on Bruce Hood *

Sep 5th, 2006 | Filed by

Says difference between valuing sentimental objects and believing in magic is only one of degree.… Read the rest



Frederic Jameson on Slavoj Žižek *

Sep 5th, 2006 | Filed by

‘Theory has no vested interests inasmuch as it never lays claim to an absolute system.’… Read the rest



Jesus Camp, the Movie *

Sep 5th, 2006 | Filed by

Evangelical asks audience to ‘raise hands in prayer’ towards a life-size photo of Bush.… Read the rest



Image of Virgin Mary Appears on Turtle Underside *

Sep 5th, 2006 | Filed by

Or not.… Read the rest



Ignatieff Frontrunner for Liberal Party Leadership *

Sep 4th, 2006 | Filed by

‘Many Liberals are now hoping the writer and academic will be the next Trudeau.’… Read the rest



Psychologist Says Humans Hardwired for Religion *

Sep 4th, 2006 | Filed by

But seems to equate religious belief with sentiment, which is dubious.… Read the rest



Honour Killings OK *

Sep 4th, 2006 | Filed by

10% of young British Asians thinks ‘honour killings’ can be justified, according to BBC poll.… Read the rest



Vaccine Stops 75% of Cervical Cancer Deaths *

Sep 4th, 2006 | Filed by

Gardasil was found to be effective on more strains of HPV than first thought. … Read the rest



Nick Cohen on Why Language Matters *

Sep 4th, 2006 | Filed by

‘The Left can’t talk in a way that convinces outsiders that it is honest.’… Read the rest



Scott McLemee Says Adios to Deadwood *

Sep 3rd, 2006 | Filed by

The characters delivered intricate arias of Victorian syntax and repetitive obscenity.… Read the rest



Witches Have to Pay Tax *

Sep 3rd, 2006 | Filed by

‘If they sell something, whether it’s a potion or a curse, they need to pay tax.’… Read the rest



MPs Worry About Rising Hatred of British Jews *

Sep 3rd, 2006 | Filed by

Accuse some left activists and Muslim extremists of using criticism of Israel as ‘pretext’ for anti-semitism.… Read the rest



What John Adams Scribbled in his Books *

Sep 3rd, 2006 | Filed by

‘What he most dislikes is breezy confidence; the pieties of both left and right set him off.’… Read the rest



Richard Wolin on Foucault’s Change of Mind *

Sep 3rd, 2006 | Filed by

Later Foucault was a human-rights activist, contrary to his canonization as the progenitor of identity politics.… Read the rest



Lila Abu-Lughod on ‘Western’ Feminism *

Sep 2nd, 2006 | Filed by

Images of veiled women make it hard to think about the Muslim world without thinking about women.… Read the rest