HIV-positive woman who refused to have her children tested still refuses to ‘second-guess.’… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Ishtiaq Ahmed on a Difficulty in Democracy
Sep 28th, 2005 | Filed by Ophelia BensonWhat if a parliamentary majority wants to take away other people’s rights?… Read the rest
Another Mock Dictionary
Sep 28th, 2005 | Filed by Ophelia BensonLeadership: An undefined quality attributed to bosses on public occasions. … Read the rest
Scott McLemee Reads the Classier Tabloid
Sep 28th, 2005 | Filed by Ophelia BensonHow 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 Ophelia BensonBiographies 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 Ophelia Benson‘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 Ophelia BensonA 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 Ophelia BensonCritics say Freudian techniques have been elevated to an ‘untouchable dogma’. … Read the rest
Weird Choices
Sep 27th, 2005 | Filed by Ophelia BensonHollywood 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 Ophelia BensonNew 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 Ophelia Benson‘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 Ophelia BensonConsider, 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 Ophelia BensonSacranie wishes MCB had been consulted first on what offends Muslims. … Read the rest
Science Can’t Produce Instant Answers
Sep 26th, 2005 | Filed by Ophelia BensonA 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 Ophelia BensonAre contemporary philosophers up to explaining post-secular societies?… Read the rest
Sensitivity is Today’s Soft Despotism
Sep 26th, 2005 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe notion of sensitivity led to less toleration rather than more.… Read the rest
Amputation for Stealing a Motorbike
Sep 25th, 2005 | Filed by Ophelia BensonNigerian 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 Ophelia BensonBetween confidence and anxiety.… Read the rest
The Washington Times Reviews Scruton
Sep 25th, 2005 | Filed by Ophelia BensonFor Burke, society is held together by custom, tradition, and prejudice.… Read the rest
Tobacco Companies Turn to Subliminal Advertising
Sep 25th, 2005 | Filed by Ophelia BensonRed and white furniture, pictures of cowboys, that kind of thing.… Read the rest