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Inevitably links go out of date.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.


Fatuity Knows no Bounds Department *

Jan 18th, 2005 | Filed by

Humans pay someone actual money to talk to their pets.… Read the rest



Muslim Schools Promote Education for Girls *

Jan 18th, 2005 | Filed by

Chairman of Association of Muslim Schools disagrees with Ofsted chief’s comments.… Read the rest



Replies to Hobsbawm *

Jan 18th, 2005 | Filed by

Valid truths only emerge from free, fair and open discussion.… Read the rest



The Pretty Woman Theory of Prostitution *

Jan 17th, 2005 | Filed by

Takes Paglia’s claim that prostitutes are not victims but outlaws at face value.… Read the rest



Interview with Astronomer Royal Martin Rees *

Jan 17th, 2005 | Filed by

‘One idea many of us are pursuing is a grander concept of the physical world.’… Read the rest



Center for Inquiry for Secularism and Science *

Jan 17th, 2005 | Filed by

US universities need counterweight to Campus Crusade for Christ.… Read the rest



Therapy for Addiction to Therapy *

Jan 17th, 2005 | Filed by

Making addiction an identity is not all that therapeutic.… Read the rest



Metaphors Comfort in Face of Big Scientific Ideas *

Jan 17th, 2005 | Filed by

Making figures of speech out of our problems is not the way to solve them. … Read the rest



Eric Hobsbawm in Defence of History *

Jan 16th, 2005 | Filed by

Not true that ‘my truth is as valid as yours, whatever the evidence.’… Read the rest



Letter to Guardian Condemns Murder of Hadi Saleh *

Jan 15th, 2005 | Filed by

He fought for a democratic, peaceful and federal Iraq. … Read the rest



Livingstone to be Reported to Watchdog *

Jan 15th, 2005 | Filed by

After calling assembly member dishonest and Islamophobic.… Read the rest



‘The Transgressive Pleasure of Critique’ *

Jan 15th, 2005 | Filed by

Oliver Kamm on misreading Shakespeare.… Read the rest



WHO Reports Polio Cases Spreading in 2004 *

Jan 15th, 2005 | Filed by

Boycott of vaccine in northern Nigeria caused spread to neighboring countries.… Read the rest



Nigeria, Sudan Vow to Stop Polio Spread *

Jan 15th, 2005 | Filed by

Nigeria had 763 cases, India 129, Sudan 112.… Read the rest



WHO and African Health Ministers Discuss Polio *

Jan 15th, 2005 | Filed by

Internal conflicts hamper immunization and monitoring.… Read the rest



The Compassion of Fahrenheit Jesus? *

Jan 15th, 2005 | Filed by

Mike and Mel pair to make buddy-road-docudrama about flagellation of audience.… Read the rest



Spacecraft Lands on Titan, a Moon of Saturn *

Jan 15th, 2005 | Filed by

First landing on another planet’s moon; only moon in solar system with a substantial atmosphere. … Read the rest



Bad Timing For Livingstone’s Defense of al Qaradawi *

Jan 14th, 2005 | Filed by

Who says tsunami victims deserve punishment from Allah.… Read the rest



Woman Pardoned in Iranian Rape Case *

Jan 14th, 2005 | Filed by

Be raped or kill the rapist: either way you get the death penalty.… Read the rest



Shirin Ebadi Summoned to Court *

Jan 14th, 2005 | Filed by

Lawyer and human rights activist tells BBC summons is unlawful.… Read the rest