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Inevitably links go out of date.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.


Munchausen’s by Proxy That Wasn’t *

Aug 8th, 2004 | Filed by

Doctor banned from child protection cases for three years.… Read the rest



European Secularism is the Enemy *

Aug 7th, 2004 | Filed by

‘We are a menace to Al Qaeda just because of who we are.’… Read the rest



Idleness is Good *

Aug 7th, 2004 | Filed by

People who work too hard don’t think. So there.… Read the rest



More Cells in the Brain Than Stars in the Sky *

Aug 6th, 2004 | Filed by

Gerald Edelman on consciousness.… Read the rest



Carlin Romano on Lichtenberg *

Aug 6th, 2004 | Filed by

A spy on humanity.… Read the rest



Terry Eagleton Sounding Like a Neocon Pundit?! *

Aug 5th, 2004 | Filed by

‘In his view, we have nothing to lose but our postmodernism.’… Read the rest



Porn Studs and the Job Market *

Aug 5th, 2004 | Filed by

Sure studying dirty movies is enlightening but will the kid be able to get a job?… Read the rest



Smorgasbord or Prix Fixe? *

Aug 5th, 2004 | Filed by

Quantity or quality, breadth or depth, freedom or discipline? The quandaries of higher education.… Read the rest



True Lies and the Quest for ‘Authenticity’ *

Aug 5th, 2004 | Filed by

Yes the difference between truth and fiction does matter. (Despite provenance of site.)… Read the rest



Book About Honour Killing is a Fake *

Aug 5th, 2004 | Filed by

Has ruined cause of fighting ‘honour’ killing, Rana Husseini says.… Read the rest



BBC Favourite Blogs Thing *

Aug 5th, 2004 | Filed by

Okay so there’s one obvious omission here. Okay two.… Read the rest



British Council Investigates Columnist *

Aug 4th, 2004 | Filed by

Pseudonymous writer criticised Islam in Telegraph, could be Council employee. Naughty.… Read the rest



Martha Nussbaum on Disgust *

Aug 4th, 2004 | Filed by

Have we sufficiently investigated the thoughts involved in shame and disgust?… Read the rest



Reading is Risky *

Aug 3rd, 2004 | Filed by

People read to remake themselves, Mark Edmundson says.… Read the rest



Gribbin Reviews Penrose *

Aug 3rd, 2004 | Filed by

No specialist knowledge needed – any more than to do a PhD on string theory.… Read the rest



Sidney Morgenbesser 1921-2004 *

Aug 3rd, 2004 | Filed by

‘Why is there something not nothing?’ ‘Even if there were nothing, you’d still be complaining.’… Read the rest



Is Prince Charles Bad For People’s Health? *

Aug 2nd, 2004 | Filed by

New study finds people may be sentencing themselves to death by choosing alternative therapies.… Read the rest



UK Universities Give Degrees to Failing Students *

Aug 2nd, 2004 | Filed by

‘Science graduates who cannot do what their certificate implies are potentially dangerous.’ … Read the rest



Wishful Thinking *

Aug 2nd, 2004 | Filed by

Hoaxes are swallowed by people who want them to be true.… Read the rest



Masks and Disguises *

Aug 2nd, 2004 | Filed by

Milosevic was framed and Darfur is about oil. Right?… Read the rest