David Blunkett wants to outlaw ‘inciting religious hatred’.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
The Nuances of That Word 
Jul 7th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
You? Yourself? Or off? Hitchens suggests off is best.… Read the rest
In Biology Everyone Stands in Mayr’s Shadow
Jul 7th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Mayr’s life defies the myth that elderly scientists are incapable of changing their minds.’… Read the rest
Interview with Ernst Mayr
Jul 7th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Biology is an autonomous science and should not be mixed up with physics.’… Read the rest
On Alexis de Tocqueville
Jul 7th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The physics of democracy.… Read the rest
Is There a Shortage of Scientists in the US?
Jul 7th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The inaccuracy of past pronouncements creates a woof-woof problem.… Read the rest
BHL Has Views That Annoy
Jul 7th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘The Palestinian “victimocracy” has a tendency to hide wars that are infinitely longer and more murderous.’… Read the rest
A Theosophical Heir to the Throne
Jul 7th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Much of this assault on contemporary rationalism flows from the prince’s rather eclectic spiritualism.’… Read the rest
Sucking Up to Judith Butler
Jul 6th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Superstar, classic, defining work, platinum album, seminal work, provocative, immense success, etc.… Read the rest
Open Democracy on Multiculturalism
Jul 6th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Does multiculturalism lead to cultural relativism? What about the universal standards of human rights?… Read the rest
The Hubble’s Last Years?
Jul 5th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
NASA has canceled missions to service telescope.… Read the rest
High Art v Low is a False Dichotomy
Jul 5th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘In America, even the intellectuals are anti-intellectual.’… Read the rest
Tupac Shakur not Some Sort of Byron
Jul 5th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
John McWhorter says rap teaches ‘recreational outrage.’… Read the rest
The ‘No Ectoplasm Clause’
Jul 5th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Massimo Pigliucci on the neurobiology of regret.… Read the rest
Arab News Media and the ‘Blood of Martyrs’
Jul 5th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘al Qaeda has become mainstream and being part of the movement is “cool” in the eyes of young people.’… Read the rest
Moore Could be Better and Still Be Moore
Jul 5th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘He could show us that war kills and Bush is appalling, and yet be more scrupulous.’… Read the rest
Louis Menand is a Tosser, Publisher Says
Jul 4th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Helps to have a sense of humour, to get point of Eats, Shoots & Leaves.… Read the rest
John Sutherland Deplores Soggy Platitudes
Jul 4th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
No one reading this blah-ridden document would guess how serious the crisis in arts funding is.… Read the rest
Carl Zimmer on a New Hominid Find
Jul 3rd, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Is human development straight or branching? How important were long legs and big brains?… Read the rest
Skull Fuels Homo erectus Debate
Jul 3rd, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Small skull could show diversity within species, or different species.… Read the rest
