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Inevitably links go out of date.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.


Crusades Not a Brilliant Idea *

May 14th, 2005 | Filed by

Which then got worse. Typical.… Read the rest



Crusade Movie Not Box Office Dynamite *

May 14th, 2005 | Filed by

Because of rightward tilt in US, or inaccuracy, or secularism, or something.… Read the rest



Pope Rushes to ‘Beatify’ His Predecessor *

May 13th, 2005 | Filed by

Usual five year wait for ‘sainthood’ may be skipped.… Read the rest



Singapore Hangs Man for 1.03 kg of Cannabis *

May 13th, 2005 | Filed by

Amnesty International: Singapore may have highest population-relative execution rate in world.… Read the rest



Fractal Relations, Hegemonies, Ethnic Studies *

May 13th, 2005 | Filed by

How English transformed itself into wannabe sociopoliticophilosophy.… Read the rest



The Science of Gender and Science *

May 12th, 2005 | Filed by

Steven Pinker and Elizabeth Spelke discuss the subject by discussing the evidence.… Read the rest



New Skeptics’ Circle at Pharyngula *

May 12th, 2005 | Filed by

Should keep you busy for a few days.… Read the rest



Ungolden Silence on Golden Rice *

May 12th, 2005 | Filed by

Funny how silent the media are about research that offers evidence favorable to GM crops.… Read the rest



Bullshit Guru *

May 12th, 2005 | Filed by

Surely there is more than one of those.… Read the rest



Church of Fictionology Claims 450 Billion Members *

May 11th, 2005 | Filed by

Worship of Kool Aid man encouraged, unlike hidebound old Scientology.… Read the rest



Even Slavery is Culturally Relative to Some *

May 11th, 2005 | Filed by

To others, ‘To excuse it as a cultural or religious normality is equally indefensible.’… Read the rest



It Was Julian Wot Won It *

May 11th, 2005 | Filed by

Lib Dems owe their success to Baggini’s changes of constituency.… Read the rest



Not Satan, Just Guy Who Changed Mind *

May 11th, 2005 | Filed by

Goat heads would look nice on wall. No they wouldn’t.… Read the rest



‘Commonweal’ Editor Told ‘You’re Next’ *

May 11th, 2005 | Filed by

Editor’s forced resignation has shocked Catholic journalists and academics.… Read the rest



Vatican Dismisses Editor of Catholic Magazine *

May 10th, 2005 | Filed by

Scholars fear Vatican intends signal: disagreement with church is forbidden.… Read the rest



Revenge of the Republic of Letters on Sartre *

May 10th, 2005 | Filed by

He had lots of disgust and no artistic sense of play.… Read the rest



Elaine Showalter on the Academic Novel *

May 10th, 2005 | Filed by

Sociological interest of pope-crowning-like search for new university president.… Read the rest



Carlin Romano on Pope’s Lack of Indignation *

May 10th, 2005 | Filed by

Quickly sealing Ratzinger ‘Hitler Youth’ file with ‘compulsory’ is too simple.… Read the rest



Scientists Boycott Kansas Evolution ‘Hearings’ *

May 9th, 2005 | Filed by

Boycott of ridiculous carnival led by AAAS and Kansas Citizens for Science.… Read the rest



Kansas Heads Backward *

May 9th, 2005 | Filed by

Well into 21st century Kansas earnestly discussing whether schools should teach science.… Read the rest