National ideology or characters cannot be criticized. The father of the nation cannot be criticized. Actually pretty much nothing can be criticized.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Saudis deport radical Islamist to Norway 
Sep 12th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Wait…what?… Read the rest
Pres Jonathan orders military to end unrest in Jos
Sep 12th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
More than 100 people have been killed in Plateau state in the past two weeks in
conflict between Muslims and Christians from rival ethnic groups.… Read the rest
Numerous holes in the oversight of scientific publishing
Sep 11th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A committee has been trying to find out what was happening at Duke that allowed the problems to continue undetected for so long.… Read the rest
“Shaman” jailed for supplying psychedelic “cancer drug”
Sep 11th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“If this drug had been given to someone who was weakened through cancer it could
have made them seriously ill.”… Read the rest
Vyckie Garrison on the new style of quiverfull courtship
Sep 10th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
As Quiverfull Believers search for the truly “biblical model” for godly marriage, ideas about courtship and “betrothal” are becoming increasingly savage and brutish.… Read the rest
Mississippi voters can decide ‘personhood’ of embryo
Sep 9th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The measure would amend the constitution to extend “personhood” to the unborn, likely rendering abortions illegal in the state if upheld.… Read the rest
The problem with dressing a toddler like a prostitute
Sep 9th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
If a producer from Toddler and Tiaras calls you, that is not a good thing.… Read the rest
Science, The Tea Party and The Dunning-Kruger Effect
Sep 9th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Tea Party members are much more likely to say that they are “very well informed” about global warming than the other groups.… Read the rest
Cristina Odone threatens Christian revenge
Sep 8th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
If you make the Christians angry they will vote you out of office as they did Evan Harris so neener neener.… Read the rest
Groupthink is not simple
Sep 8th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
When people conform to group expectations, they are not concealing their own preferences; they actually have aligned their minds.… Read the rest
What would Jesus ban?
Sep 8th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
At the very least, the Advertising Standards Authority seems to have an alarmingly low threshold as to what constitutes “offence” where religion is concerned.… Read the rest
Shafilea Ahmed’s parents charged with her murder
Sep 7th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The inquest heard she was a bright and intelligent young woman who wanted to go
to university and become a lawyer.… Read the rest
Church of Ireland in fits over gay clergy
Sep 7th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The development has made the Church of Ireland the latest battleground in the Anglican debate about clergy in gay relationships.… Read the rest
Six people hanged in Iran yesterday
Sep 7th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Three of them were convicted of “sodomy.”… Read the rest
NHS reforms: is support as strong as Cameron claims?
Sep 7th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Full Fact presents some facts.… Read the rest
Jesus phone advert banned
Sep 7th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Advertising Standards Authority said Phones 4U ad was “disrespectful” to “the Christian faith” and must not be used again. Company apologized to everyone everywhere.… Read the rest
Broken Daughter on “dying to self”
Sep 6th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
” I grew angrier and angrier with the God who hated me so much for wanting a few minutes of peace and silence.”… Read the rest
The Skeptic’s Dictionary Newsletter
Sep 6th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Quack of the month award to Michael Longo for his “pages of truth,” his “centering tree chair,” and especially his neo-Hegelian page of truth art charts.… Read the rest
Molly Ivins can’t say that about Rick Perry, can she?
Sep 6th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“Now he’s trying to disguise the fact that the schools are in free-fall by proposing that we teach creationism in biology classes.”… Read the rest
