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Inevitably links go out of date.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.


Burma Death Toll Much Higher Than Officials Say *

Jan 4th, 2005 | Filed by

Government sealed off parts of coast after tsunami, fueling public suspicions.… Read the rest



Kenan Malik Questions Islamophobia *

Jan 4th, 2005 | Filed by

Is hatred of Muslims being exaggerated to silence critics of Islam?… Read the rest



Kenan Malik on Islamophobia *

Jan 4th, 2005 | Filed by

And religious hatred law, on Start the Week. audio… Read the rest



Francophobia Cool in US *

Jan 4th, 2005 | Filed by

Don’t speak French, don’t have French relatives, don’t eat or drink French, don’t think French.… Read the rest



The Edge Annual Question *

Jan 4th, 2005 | Filed by

What do you believe is true even though you cannot prove it?… Read the rest



NY Times: a Few Answers to Edge Question *

Jan 4th, 2005 | Filed by

Dawkins, Sapolsky, Harris, Zimbardo, LeDoux, Humphrey.… Read the rest



Geography Lesson and Girl, 10, Save 100 *

Jan 3rd, 2005 | Filed by

Knowing what the start of a tsunami looks like can save lives.… Read the rest



Dawkins on the Murderous God *

Jan 3rd, 2005 | Filed by

It could be more consoling to realize that no malicious being slaughtered 125,000 people in South Asia.… Read the rest



How to Be the World’s Largest Corporation *

Jan 3rd, 2005 | Filed by

Underpay, overwork, bully, spy on, and discriminate against your work force.… Read the rest



Good Things and Bad Things in Book World *

Jan 2nd, 2005 | Filed by

Richard and Judy, Foyles cheers; Random House, supermarkets boos.… Read the rest



Westboro Baptist Church Thanks God for Tsunami *

Jan 2nd, 2005 | Filed by

Because some of the Swedes who died may have been gay. … Read the rest



The Conflict Between Religion and Free Speech *

Jan 2nd, 2005 | Filed by

‘Murder in the Community Centre’ – it doesn’t sound quite right, somehow.… Read the rest



Be Careful Not to Get Too Much Education *

Jan 1st, 2005 | Filed by

Uncensored exposure to science, philosophy, literature ruins ‘values.’… Read the rest



Royal Society Plans to Put Archive on Display *

Jan 1st, 2005 | Filed by

‘a unique collection charting the history of science.’… Read the rest



The Independent: Year’s Best Books *

Jan 1st, 2005 | Filed by

A list of three or four thousand to choose from.… Read the rest



Richard Dawkins Points Out that Science Saves *

Dec 31st, 2004 | Filed by

Not only does science know why the tsunami happened, it can give precious hours of warning.… Read the rest



Newsflash: Believers a Minority in UK *

Dec 31st, 2004 | Filed by

Fully 35% ‘admits’ it does not believe in god.… Read the rest



Florida Medical Professors Resist Chiropractic School *

Dec 31st, 2004 | Filed by

And create parody map with Bigfoot Institute, Tarot Studies and similar.… Read the rest



Angry Fathers Resort to Intimidation of Court Staff *

Dec 31st, 2004 | Filed by

Threats; publication of names; rotten meat and maggots sent to office.… Read the rest



A Benevolent God? Not Very Plausible… *

Dec 31st, 2004 | Filed by

Perhaps compassion is the only meaning to be found.… Read the rest