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Inevitably links go out of date.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.


Ayaan Hirsi Ali on surviving rage over “blasphemy” *

Sep 27th, 2012 | Filed by

Having renounced Islam and openly criticized its political manifestations, she was condemned to a life cordoned off from the rest of society.… Read the rest



Catherine Deveny on the dangers of being outside *

Sep 27th, 2012 | Filed by

Men are far more likely to cop violence on the street. So why is no one telling them not to walk alone? Don’t tell me not to walk alone at night. Tell people not to rape and kill.… Read the rest



Mars Curiosity Rover finds evidence of flowing water *

Sep 27th, 2012 | Filed by

The finding is based on the presence of rounded pebbles and gravel near the rover’s landing site in Gale Crater.… Read the rest



India: woman beaten to death for practising ‘black magic’ *

Sep 27th, 2012 | Filed by

A man beat K Jamuna to death because he suspected she practised some witchcraft on a teenager son of his close relative.… Read the rest



Afghan burqa-opponent wins Swedish rights prize *

Sep 27th, 2012 | Filed by

Afghan human rights activist, ex-minister and burqa opponent Sima Samar won the Swedish Right Livelihood Award honouring those who work to improve the lives of others.… Read the rest



Lahore judge orders police to charge everyone with blasphemy *

Sep 27th, 2012 | Filed by

Everyone. YouTube, Google, everyone.… Read the rest



Tunisia: cops accused of rape accuse victim of ‘indecency’ *

Sep 27th, 2012 | Filed by

There is widespread outrage after 27-year-old victim was summoned by the investigating judge to face chargers of “indecency” from the two men accused of raping her.… Read the rest



Saudi detains Nigerian women on hajj without male boss *

Sep 27th, 2012 | Filed by

Nigeria has suspended all Hajj flights to Saudi Arabia after the authorities there deported more than 170 women who had arrived without a male escort.… Read the rest



Soraya Chemaly on Facebook’s misogyny problem *

Sep 27th, 2012 | Filed by

Facebook has a “12-Year-Old Slut Memes” page which posts photographs of girls and women so that others can comment on their sluttiness.… Read the rest



Austin Dacey on blasphemy fusses *

Sep 26th, 2012 | Filed by

Those who study the history of blasphemy laws are condemned to repeat themselves: These laws don’t work.… Read the rest



Greg Lukianoff notes: We Are All Blasphemers *

Sep 26th, 2012 | Filed by

We are quick to forget that all of us hold beliefs that are rejections of sacred cows of the past, present, or future.… Read the rest



Catholic priest bans yoga from church hall *

Sep 26th, 2012 | Filed by

Because it’s “spiritual,” not just lolling around on mats.… Read the rest



Mona Eltahawy arrested for defacing “savage” poster *

Sep 26th, 2012 | Filed by

The poster states: “In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man.” Mona spraypainted it.… Read the rest



Oklahoma has a blasphemy law *

Sep 26th, 2012 | Filed by

Representative Randy Grau intends to file legislation that would repeal the blasphemy law in the upcoming legislative session.… Read the rest



The rise of the atheist pendant *

Sep 26th, 2012 | Filed by

It started with the “evolve fish” in 1992, and now includes pendants by Amy Roth of Surlyramics and Rachelle Wirfs of ArtAfire.

 … Read the rest



SPLC on misogyny on the Internet *

Sep 26th, 2012 | Filed by

Many of the articles that appear at Itsguycode.com under the heading “Women’s Studies” and “Whiny Feminists” are overtly political — and grossly misogynistic.… Read the rest



Petition Greek parliament to free ‘Geron Pastitsios’ *

Sep 24th, 2012 | Filed by

And to abolish Greek anti-blasphemy laws.… Read the rest



Pakistani politician calls on US to ban blasphemy *

Sep 24th, 2012 | Filed by

The government declared this Friday a national holiday and named it ‘Love of the Prophet Day.’… Read the rest



Greece: man arrested for “blaspheming” a monk *

Sep 24th, 2012 | Filed by

Unconfirmed reports say Golden Dawn agitated for his arrest and the government complied. #FreeGeronPastitsios… Read the rest



Rushdie talks about his memoir of the fatwa years *

Sep 24th, 2012 | Filed by

Raising their voices against known enemies is precisely what writers have done honorably throughout the history of literature.… Read the rest