Perhaps compassion is the only meaning to be found.… Read the rest
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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
How Could a Benevolent Omnipotent God Do This? 
Dec 31st, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A reminder from god that he created the world and can destroy the world. … Read the rest
German MEPs Demonstrate Against Stoning
Dec 30th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Many Iranian exiles joined demonstration outside Iranian embassy in Berlin.… Read the rest
Hajieh Esmailvand Stoning on Hold?
Dec 30th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
That was the report on December 24…… Read the rest
Bad Faith Words
Dec 30th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
And other ways to hide nonsense or vacuity.… Read the rest
Irfan Khawaja on the Madrasacracy in Pakistan
Dec 30th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Why haven’t US journalists looked into reports of sex abuse in madrasas?… Read the rest
Laurie Taylor on Dictionary of FN
Dec 29th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Too many cheap shots, but some funny bits too. (Cheap? Moi?)… Read the rest
Why Thai Officials Did Not Warn of Tsunami
Dec 29th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
High tourist season, hotels full, no way to tell direction of waves.… Read the rest
Philip Stott on the Disaster
Dec 29th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Geology and poverty meet on Asian coasts; failing governments don’t do the necessary.… Read the rest
Julian Baggini Does a Mr Manners
Dec 29th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Be considerate, be quiet, close mouth when chewing, pipe down on mobile.… Read the rest
Oh But Indeed There is a Right to Offend
Dec 29th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Warped version of ‘tolerance’ surrounds belief with hands-off halo of sanctity.… Read the rest
The Guardian on Susan Sontag
Dec 29th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘She had a deeply solitary and precocious childhood.’… Read the rest
Susan Sontag in the Times
Dec 28th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Stanley Aronowitz called her ‘the critic as star’; Sontag was ambivalent about this status.… Read the rest
Sontag in the New York Times
Dec 28th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Arthur Danto: ‘she dealt as a literary and philosophical intellectual with the deep problems of human life in our times.’… Read the rest
NY Times Retrospective on Sontag
Dec 28th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Links to reviews, interviews, profiles.… Read the rest
Physics Envy, Biology Envy, Quantum Flapdoodle
Dec 28th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Cartesian dreams fade in the face of the complexities of biology.… Read the rest
Rushdie Disgusted Ministers Did Nothing
Dec 28th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Bookshops and theatres are full of things that would upset an interest group.’… Read the rest
Gurharpal Singh on the Real Losers from Behzti
Dec 28th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
This is a multiculturalism which promotes religion and stifles dissent.… Read the rest
NY Times Tries to Be Scott McLemee, Fails
Dec 28th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Very lame MLA-tease, falls flat.… Read the rest
