Why? Well there was that guy with the dagger in the market, asking who wants to be beheaded first.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Australia’s Fun Imam Vandalizes Own Mosque 
Mar 24th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Taj Din al-Hilali, the ‘women are uncovered meat’ guy, kicked his door in then reported vandalism to police.… Read the rest
Westboro Baptist Will Picket Richardson Funeral
Mar 24th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Church will picket Natasha Richardson’s funeral for a variety of reasons, all of them stupid.… Read the rest
Norwegian Art Exhibit Closed After Attack
Mar 24th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Ahmed Mashhouri worked for human rights in Iran; exhibit was called ‘It’s not forbidden to think.’… Read the rest
Saudi Rights Group Criticizes Religious Police
Mar 24th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The report urged an end to the marriage of underage girls and demanded a faster pace for judicial reform.… Read the rest
Sindh: Illegal Jirgas Declare Women Kari
Mar 23rd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Jirgas are being held in Sindh despite a ban; they declare women karis for getting higher education.… Read the rest
Concern Over Proliferation of Fatwas
Mar 23rd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Anybody can say anything to anybody? Kill your own family because they are not “real Muslims”?’… Read the rest
Juan Cole on Saudi Arabia and Wahhabism
Mar 23rd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
We have them all wrong, he says.… Read the rest
Normblog on Truth and Postmodernism
Mar 23rd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Postmodernism opposes not only the absolute truths of mere authority but also the fallibilist truth of rational inquirers.… Read the rest
Dentist Wants Creationism Taught in Texas
Mar 23rd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
God’s teeth! The dentist is also a Sunday school teacher and chair of the state board of education.… Read the rest
Nick Cohen’s Day With the Roundrobinocracy
Mar 23rd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Is all well with the liberal consensus?… Read the rest
Round Robin to the Observer
Mar 23rd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Lots of liberals do challenge Islamism, therefore…they all do? Is that the claim?… Read the rest
Amnesty Int on Deaths in Custody in Iran
Mar 22nd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The death of a blogger raised renewed fears that prisoners are being denied medical treatment.… Read the rest
Angola: Evictions Linked to Catholic Church
Mar 22nd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The Angolan authorities evicted thousands of people from land belonging to the Catholic Church.… Read the rest
HR Defenders in Middle East and North Africa
Mar 22nd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Human rights defenders are all too often vilified, persecuted and criminalized for their peaceful activities.… Read the rest
Salil Tripathi: Pakistan’s Long March to Normality
Mar 22nd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Securicrats and communal leaders on both sides of the border succeed in keeping the people apart.… Read the rest
Center for Naturalism Newsletter
Mar 22nd, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Hours of reading.… Read the rest
Army Rabbis Framed Gaza as Religious War
Mar 21st, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Rabbis urged troops to reclaim what they said was God-given land and ‘get rid of the gentiles.’… Read the rest
The Pope’s Claim is Absurd and Irresponsible
Mar 21st, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The Pope’s statement about condoms is a threat to public health.… Read the rest
Islamist Governors Tore Apart a School
Mar 21st, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Two governors campaigned to make the school more Islamic, accused the head of ‘Islamophobia.’… Read the rest
