‘There is no doubt that she makes a fortune saying very serious, cruel, show-stopping things to people in distress.’
Category: Latest News
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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
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She Brought the Killing on Herself, Husband Says
A man who murdered his wife and three children in an ‘honour’ killing feels ‘totally justified in what he did.’
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Ben Goldacre on Infant Survival Statistics
Science is about clarity and transparency, especially for public policy – such as abortion law.
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Wichita Disenchanted With Political Evangelicals
Secular sociologists say evangelicals’ changing view of society reflects their changing place in it.
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Disgrace: Is the Shunning of Watson Justified?
Dawkins, Blakemore, Wilson say no; politicians worry about aiding racist fringe.
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BJP Dismisses Gujarat Riot Claims
Video footage shows BJP politicians describing how they carried out the violence against Muslims.
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Olivier Roy on Secularism and Islam
‘Today’s religious revival – fundamentalist or spiritualistic – thrives on the loss of cultural identity.’
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Polly Toynbee on Women’s Same Old Enemies
All the Abrahamic faiths find the key to morality in keeping women and their fertility under control.
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No Free School Bus Pass Without Baptism
Why ‘faith’ schools are such a good idea.
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Haleh Esfandiari on the Crackdown in Iran
It has criminalized the activities of academics, journalists, and activists for women’s and human rights.
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Westboro Baptist Church Sued Over Funeral
The case raises difficult free speech issues.
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Johann Hari Talks to Mina Ahadi
‘From the age of 12 onwards I was basically not allowed to leave the house. I hated it.’
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Iran Closes Cafés in Bookshops
Critics suspect the move is aimed at restricting the gathering of intellectuals and educated young people.
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Hitchens Defends the Term ‘Islamofascism’
Both movements are based on a cult of violence that exalts death and despises the life of the mind.
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Watson Retires From Cold Spring Harbor Lab
The laboratory suspended him after his comments appeared.
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Grayling on Public Duties v Religious Scruples
When individuals cannot allow their religious loyalties to be trumped by their public responsibilities, they should resign.
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‘Return of the Muslim Other’
Soumaya Ghannoushi is nostalgic for the ‘tradition of post-colonial studies and radical critique of Orientalism.’
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Congo’s Rape Fields Will Thrive
In Eastern DRC, it is easier to get raped or killed than jailed for breaking the law.
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Teacher’s Murder Increases Fear in NW Pakistan
‘If such things can happen in broad daylight, then what safety is there for us teachers?’ asked Uzaira Afridi.
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‘Saint’ Faked His Stigmata With Carbolic Acid
Except he was canonized by the pope, and the pope is infallible, so that can’t be right.