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Inevitably links go out of date.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.


Collagen Using Skin of Executed Prisoners *

Sep 14th, 2005 | Filed by

‘I was very shocked that western countries can make such a big fuss about this.’… Read the rest



Opinion Poll on Iraqi Constitution *

Sep 14th, 2005 | Filed by

84% of sample support women’s rights.… Read the rest



FEMA List Ignores Secular Agencies *

Sep 14th, 2005 | Filed by

Has Pat Robertson’s ‘Operation Blessing’ in top three.… Read the rest



The Da Vinci Code and Nonsense *

Sep 14th, 2005 | Filed by

‘The story of the Priory of Sion is an elaborate hoax that first materialised in the 1950s.’… Read the rest



Some Opinions Have Changed on Some Things *

Sep 14th, 2005 | Filed by

Fancy that.… Read the rest



Conrad, Chesterton, the ‘Anarchist Epidemic’ *

Sep 14th, 2005 | Filed by

Taking the bus not as ‘a small act of courage and defiance’ but to go from Victoria to Green Park.… Read the rest



Bin Laden Appeals to the ‘Devout and Dissatisfied’ *

Sep 14th, 2005 | Filed by

He ‘sounds like somebody who would be a very high-minded and welcome voice in global politics.’… Read the rest



Žižek! the Musical *

Sep 14th, 2005 | Filed by

Scott McLemee talks to Astra Taylor about her film and popularizing the unpopularizable.… Read the rest



Meera Nanda on Pseudoscience in India *

Sep 13th, 2005 | Filed by

Radical disconnect between science superpower and superstitions pervading all levels of society. … Read the rest



Legal Implications of JAMA Study on Fetal Pain *

Sep 13th, 2005 | Filed by

Providing misinformation to patients is medical malpractice.… Read the rest



The Academic Novel and its Addressivity *

Sep 12th, 2005 | Filed by

Its wot? English teachers writing about each other, that’s what.… Read the rest



Academics With Asperger’s *

Sep 12th, 2005 | Filed by

When does eccentricity become mental illness?… Read the rest



Compassionate Conservatism in Utero *

Sep 12th, 2005 | Filed by

JAMA article on fetal pain awareness irritates anti-abortionists.… Read the rest



Sociologists Question Extent of Looting in N.O. *

Sep 12th, 2005 | Filed by

‘There was no evidence for a lot of what was being reported.’… Read the rest



Newsflash – No Sharia in Ontario! *

Sep 12th, 2005 | Filed by

“There will be no Shariah law in Ontario. There will be no religious arbitration in Ontario. There will be one law for all Ontarians.” … Read the rest



Atwood, Barlow, Callwood Join Protest *

Sep 12th, 2005 | Filed by

In open letter the group said protest is about keeping religious matters separate from state.… Read the rest



Gender Equality, Gay Rights a ‘Charade’ *

Sep 12th, 2005 | Filed by

Madeleine Bunting says concern for gay rights and gender equality is ‘moral grandstanding.’… Read the rest



Simon Schama: Bush as Archbishop of Washington *

Sep 12th, 2005 | Filed by

Comparisons with 9/11 only reinforce differences between what the two calamities said about America.… Read the rest



Rushdie: Let the Enlightenment Begin *

Sep 12th, 2005 | Filed by

Nine thoughts on reform.… Read the rest



‘Shinaz’ and her Experience With Sharia *

Sep 11th, 2005 | Filed by

Hint: it wasn’t good.… Read the rest