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Inevitably links go out of date.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.


The New Republic on the ‘Life’s Tough’ View *

Sep 4th, 2005 | Filed by

True that life is tough, not true that there’s nothing that can be done about disasters.… Read the rest



FEMA Head Fired From Previous Job *

Sep 4th, 2005 | Filed by

GOP activist Mike Brown had no significant experience to qualify him for the job. … Read the rest



Katha Pollitt on Theocracy Lite *

Sep 3rd, 2005 | Filed by

How can women be equal before Islamic law, according to which they are unequal? … Read the rest



Jytte Klausen on the Aslam Affair *

Sep 3rd, 2005 | Filed by

Guardian allowed Aslam to espouse a wholesome version of Islamic extremism on its pages.… Read the rest



New Orleans Crisis Shames Americans *

Sep 3rd, 2005 | Filed by

Devastating consequences of Katrina have revealed poverty and neglect.… Read the rest



Joshua Knobe and Experimental Philosophy *

Sep 3rd, 2005 | Filed by

The field uses the empirical tools of psychology to address philosophical questions.… Read the rest



Pharmacists and ‘Conscience’ *

Sep 3rd, 2005 | Filed by

Pharmacists claim a right to refuse to fill prescriptions based on their religious beliefs.… Read the rest



Red Cross Not Allowed into New Orleans *

Sep 3rd, 2005 | Filed by

The goal is to evacuate unlivable city; relief operations might keep people there.… Read the rest



Godbotherers Form Climate Group *

Sep 3rd, 2005 | Filed by

‘We have a good biblical mandate to be involved in climate change.’… Read the rest



Bassam Tibi on Jihadism and Islamism *

Sep 2nd, 2005 | Filed by

‘It is wrong and even deceitful to argue that jihadism has nothing to do with Islam’… Read the rest



Bush Claims No One Foresaw the Levees Breaking *

Sep 2nd, 2005 | Filed by

But everyone foresaw it, including FEMA.… Read the rest



New Orleans Mayor Issues Desperate SOS *

Sep 2nd, 2005 | Filed by

Thousands of people stranded at convention center with no water or food.… Read the rest



Hell on Earth *

Sep 2nd, 2005 | Filed by

Dead bodies, human waste, no water, rape, heat, illness, no food, fear, despair. … Read the rest



Hurricane Turns Glaring Light on Inequality *

Sep 2nd, 2005 | Filed by

The Third World side of the US is suddenly visible.… Read the rest



Scientific American on Drowning New Orleans *

Sep 2nd, 2005 | Filed by

Article from the archive. … Read the rest



Ziauddin Sardar on Reform in Islam *

Sep 2nd, 2005 | Filed by

Why is the change under way Islam’s best kept secret?… Read the rest



Observer Accused of Islamophobia *

Sep 2nd, 2005 | Filed by

Martin Bright was asked on Muslim cable TV to declare his links to Zionist media lobby.… Read the rest



London Bomber Leaves Bloodthirsty Video *

Sep 2nd, 2005 | Filed by

MCB gives opinion; no other group is quoted. … Read the rest



Updates from New Orleans Times-Picayune *

Sep 1st, 2005 | Filed by

On the scene.… Read the rest



Teach the Right Controversy *

Sep 1st, 2005 | Filed by

ID a waste of time: evolutionary science is bountifully endowed with genuine controversy.… Read the rest