A statement suggested she had been cleared but a private letter to the NSS said the complaint was partly upheld. … 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Inevitably links go out of date.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 AAAS “Dialogue on Science and Religion” 
Jun 19th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Some of the scientists said unfriendly things about “the new atheists” – surprise surprise.… Read the rest
Michael De Dora on science and religion
Jun 19th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The “appeal to common practice” is a fallacy.… Read the rest
Women’s rights and “peace” in Afghanistan
Jun 19th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
We are told that violations of women’s rights are part of someone else’s culture, and that we have no business interfering.… Read the rest
Ben Goldacre on the Independent on bad science
Jun 19th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A worrying resistance to the idea that anyone should dare to engage in legitimate criticism.… Read the rest
If the earth quakes, blame the scientists
Jun 19th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Italian seismologists are now being indicted and investigated for manslaughter, because they failed to shout “earthquake!”… Read the rest
Matt Ridley on rational optimism
Jun 19th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
At some point in human history, ideas began to meet and mate, to have sex with each other.… Read the rest
Do you care if what you believe is true or not?
Jun 19th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Greta Christina wonders about people who explicitly say they don’t care whether the things they believe are true.… Read the rest
George Pitcher “leaves” the Telegraph
Jun 19th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Did he jump, or was he pushed? Were his attacks on Evan Harris too much even for the Telegraph?… Read the rest
New report on sharia in Britain
Jun 18th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Sharia courts work against rather than for equality, and are incompatible with human rights.… Read the rest
Ireland: rights groups tell bishops where to go
Jun 18th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
ICCL seriously doubts that the Irish Catholic bishops retain sufficient moral authority to pontificate on the Civil Partnership Bill.… Read the rest
TV imam Zakir Naik banned from UK
Jun 18th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
BBC is oddly evasive about why.… Read the rest
Clash of “communities” in Israel
Jun 18th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Ultra-orthodox Ashkenazi parents don’t want their daughters going to school with Sephardim.… Read the rest
Bunting thinks the MCB is “the Muslim community”
Jun 18th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Still. After all this time.… Read the rest
Journalists face obstacles
Jun 17th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
And harassment and intimidation tactics by federal officials and local police, as well as BP employees and contractors.… Read the rest
BP and government still blocking media access
Jun 17th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
BP says they’re not, but they are.… Read the rest
FGM at Cornell
Jun 17th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
But at Cornell they call it clitoroplasty, so it sounds sciency.… Read the rest
Oxytocin promotes parochial altruism
Jun 17th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Researchers at U of Amsterdam find that oxytocin appears to lead to “defensive” aggression against threatening outgroups.… Read the rest
OIC states push for UN action on ‘Islamophobia’
Jun 17th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The new mandate is likely to see increased UN pressure to prevent criticism of Islam.… Read the rest
Teenage couple tortured to death in Delhi
Jun 17th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
By the girl’s father and uncle, because the boy was of a “lower” caste.… Read the rest
