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Inevitably links go out of date.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.


‘Contrarian’ Views on AIDS and One Dead Child *

Sep 28th, 2005 | Filed by

HIV-positive woman who refused to have her children tested still refuses to ‘second-guess.’… Read the rest



Ishtiaq Ahmed on a Difficulty in Democracy *

Sep 28th, 2005 | Filed by

What if a parliamentary majority wants to take away other people’s rights?… Read the rest



Another Mock Dictionary *

Sep 28th, 2005 | Filed by

Leadership: An undefined quality attributed to bosses on public occasions. … Read the rest



Scott McLemee Reads the Classier Tabloid *

Sep 28th, 2005 | Filed by

How does anyone keep up with all the secondary literature, let alone the two-headed alien babies?… Read the rest



‘Inspiring’ Biographies of Suicide Jihadists *

Sep 27th, 2005 | Filed by

Biographies of jihadists contain many elements of the mythic cult of martyrdom.… Read the rest



Tate Defends its Decision; Artist Says it’s Daft *

Sep 27th, 2005 | Filed by

‘You can’t act stupidly and not make the opposition feel that they have a case.’… Read the rest



Writer’s Choice: Christopher Hitchens *

Sep 27th, 2005 | Filed by

A life of solidarity on the part of a defeated nation and an oppressed class.… Read the rest



Psychological Warfare Over le Livre Noir *

Sep 27th, 2005 | Filed by

Critics say Freudian techniques have been elevated to an ‘untouchable dogma’. … Read the rest



Weird Choices *

Sep 27th, 2005 | Filed by

Hollywood leery of comedy with ‘Muslim’ in title, happy with sexist displays and penis jokes.… Read the rest



Religion Not Necessary to Morality After All *

Sep 27th, 2005 | Filed by

New research says religious belief can contribute to social problems.… Read the rest



Tate Bans Work for Fear of Offending Muslims *

Sep 26th, 2005 | Filed by

‘The Muslim Council of Britain was not consulted on the issue.’… Read the rest



London Does Not Need Art to Tiptoe Around *

Sep 26th, 2005 | Filed by

Consider, rather, the rest of us who demand, now more than ever, intelligent, challenging thought. … Read the rest



Tate Cites Cutting of Books as Causing Concern *

Sep 26th, 2005 | Filed by

Sacranie wishes MCB had been consulted first on what offends Muslims. … Read the rest



Science Can’t Produce Instant Answers *

Sep 26th, 2005 | Filed by

A single year’s observation does not permit the divination of a long-term trend.… Read the rest



Richard Wolin on Jürgen Habermas *

Sep 26th, 2005 | Filed by

Are contemporary philosophers up to explaining post-secular societies?… Read the rest



Sensitivity is Today’s Soft Despotism *

Sep 26th, 2005 | Filed by

The notion of sensitivity led to less toleration rather than more.… Read the rest



Amputation for Stealing a Motorbike *

Sep 25th, 2005 | Filed by

Nigerian Islamic judges have ordered that a teenager from Niger have his hand cut off.… Read the rest



Scruton and Midgley Write Memoirs *

Sep 25th, 2005 | Filed by

Between confidence and anxiety.… Read the rest



The Washington Times Reviews Scruton *

Sep 25th, 2005 | Filed by

For Burke, society is held together by custom, tradition, and prejudice.… Read the rest



Tobacco Companies Turn to Subliminal Advertising *

Sep 25th, 2005 | Filed by

Red and white furniture, pictures of cowboys, that kind of thing.… Read the rest