She rejects attempts to silence all criticism of theocratic regimes as ‘racism’ or ‘Islamophobic.’ … 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Football, Race and ‘Identity’
Apr 4th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonLeipzig fans spit and hoot at Nigerian footballer. There’s solidarity for you.… Read the rest
Christians in Afghanistan
Apr 4th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonPersecution has turned Afghan converts into a closely knit underground organization. … Read the rest
Dude, I Bedazzled These Jeans
Apr 4th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonPadma Lakshmi like talks to a Times reporter.… Read the rest
Phyllis Chesler Talks to John Sutherland
Apr 4th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonSutherland quotes the wisdom of Islamophobiawatch.… Read the rest
Dennett Replies to Bunting and Ruse
Apr 4th, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonReporters should avoid being complicit in publicity stunts by the likes of Dembski.… Read the rest
Empire of Pseudoscience Peddled in Schools
Apr 3rd, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonJust kicked Brain Gym Teacher’s Edition around the room for two minutes and feeling minty fresh.… Read the rest
Exercise Brain Without Pseudoscientific Nonsense
Apr 3rd, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonA popular technique with a scientific explanatory framework that is barkingly out to lunch.… Read the rest
Ronald Aronson: the Left Needs More Socialism
Apr 3rd, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe left is doomed without a vision, a sense of direction and an effective call to arms.… Read the rest
Peer Review and ‘Media Science’
Apr 3rd, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonHow do we tell good science from bad? By looking at how it is published.… Read the rest
Study Finds Prayer Non-medicinal
Apr 3rd, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIntercessory prayer doesn’t help and, if mentioned, may hinder.… Read the rest
Fouad Ajami on Sen’s ‘Identity and Violence’
Apr 2nd, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe Almohads’ pitiless warriors put to the sword the fabled world of Andalusian tolerance.… Read the rest
Professors Called Liars and Bigots
Apr 2nd, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonLRB article on Israel lobby set off firestorm, drawing condemnation from left and right.… Read the rest
LRB Editor Defends Article
Apr 2nd, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonSome charge anti-Semitism, others call article a shoddy piece of pseudo-academia.… Read the rest
Stephen Greenblatt on Marlowe
Apr 2nd, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIs there any connection between his spying and his writing?… Read the rest
An Alumni Mag Profile Gone Horribly Wrong
Apr 2nd, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonScott McLemee notes a confusion between sententious comments and profound thought.… Read the rest
Yardley Reviews a Memoir by John McGahern
Apr 2nd, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘In that one life of the mind, the writer could live many lives and all of life.’… Read the rest
Pakistan Considers Extraditing Blasphemers
Apr 1st, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonOregon bloggers on the list because they published the Motoons.… Read the rest
Catholic Bishop Questions Vatican Condom Ban
Apr 1st, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonBishop notes papal teaching also includes the law: ‘You should not kill.’… Read the rest
Danish Muslim Organizations Sue Editors
Apr 1st, 2006 | Filed by Ophelia BensonLawyer calls text and drawings ‘gratuitously defamatory and injurious’.… Read the rest