People aren’t going to mass any more so they aren’t giving the church money any more.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Spain ‘foils gas attack on anti-Pope protesters’ 
Aug 17th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The suspect planned to attack a march with “asphyxiating gases and other chemical substances”, police said.… Read the rest
The London riots and folk psychology run amok
Aug 17th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
None of the researchers interviewed are working on crowd psychology, yet all are quoted as using discredited psychological theories.… Read the rest
Blogzero on Boiron and the Streisand effect
Aug 17th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Boiron is getting lots and lots of publicity, all of it bad.… Read the rest
Steven Novella on homeopathic thuggery
Aug 17th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
They are using their resources and their corporate lawyers to try to silence completely legitimate criticism of their pseudoscientific products.… Read the rest
Homeopathy multinational threatens to sue blogger
Aug 17th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A letter sent by the Italian arm of multinational company Boiron threatens to sue a blogger over remarks he made about homoeopathy.… Read the rest
On Midnight’s Children and “one of each” reading
Aug 16th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A novel is not an unreliable reference book. … Read the rest
What Bachmann’s submission theology really means
Aug 16th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It’s common for Christian politicians questioned about their adherence to submission theology to dodge a scriptural explanation.… Read the rest
Christian candidate’s guide to infidels
Aug 16th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Academics who study the evangelical movement note that atheism and secular culture seem to be a particular bugaboo.… Read the rest
Bishop says suicide inquiry won’t shed light
Aug 15th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Police believe at least 26 victims of sexual abuse at schools in which one convicted priest taught have committed suicide. Bishop shrugs.… Read the rest
The full HRW report on Somalia
Aug 15th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
This report documents numerous abuses during renewed fighting in the past year by parties to the 20-year-long conflict in Somalia.… Read the rest
HRW on war crimes in Somalia
Aug 15th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
All sides should immediately end abuses against civilians and ensure access to aid and free movement of people fleeing conflict and drought.… Read the rest
NSS conference on secularism
Aug 15th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Conway Hall, London, 10 September. Mary Warnock, Jonathan Miller, Nick Cohen, Anne Marie Waters (One Law for All), Diana Nammi (IKWRO).… Read the rest
Madrileños up in arms at cost of pope’s visit
Aug 15th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Many are angry at the use of public funding and tax breaks to help finance a religious celebration during an economic crisis.… Read the rest
Malise Ruthven on the new European far-right
Aug 14th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
There is a fresh urgency to the question of whether highly charged political rhetoric can play a part in motivating extreme forms of violence.… Read the rest
Wendy Kaminer on “the slut walk”
Aug 14th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
As a practical matter, we can control the way we present ourselves but not the ways in which we are perceived.… Read the rest
Spain: toilet paper in Vatican colors for sale
Aug 14th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Each pack contains two perfumed rolls of toilet paper, one yellow and the other white, which can be used as giant streamers to welcome the pope.… Read the rest
Is it ok to ask Bachmann about her religious beliefs?
Aug 13th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Hell yes. Bachmann has publicly said that “the Lord says: Be submissive, wives. You are to be submissive to your husbands.”… Read the rest
Catholic nurses win “right” not to do their jobs
Aug 13th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Lawyer from Thomas More Legal Centre claimed their belief in “the sanctity of life” from conception onwards was a philosophical belief protected under the Equality Act.… Read the rest
Pope’s visit to Madrid animates secular protesters
Aug 13th, 2011 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Protesters are particularly incensed by official attempts to block social media sites where demonstrations are being planned.… Read the rest
