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Inevitably links go out of date.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.


Poll on Greatest Science Books *

Nov 18th, 2006 | Filed by

Vote and offer write-in candidates.… Read the rest



Fundamentalist Optimism and Historical Progress *

Nov 18th, 2006 | Filed by

A historian disputes the claim that atheism derives from Protestantism.… Read the rest



AU Reports New Attacks in Darfur *

Nov 18th, 2006 | Filed by

The Sudanese government and Janjaweed militia have launched new attacks.… Read the rest



Nicaragua’s Ban on All Abortion Signed into Law *

Nov 18th, 2006 | Filed by

President signed law in presence of Catholic bishops and Protestant evangelist leaders. … Read the rest



Some Dutch Muslims Condemn Burqa Ban *

Nov 18th, 2006 | Filed by

The issue of Muslim women’s clothing is a hotly-debated subject in several European countries. … Read the rest



Dawkins on ‘I’m an Atheist But’ *

Nov 18th, 2006 | Filed by

But get over it, but what’s the point, but you’re too strident, but religion is consoling.… Read the rest



25 Greatest Science Books *

Nov 18th, 2006 | Filed by

Darwin, Newton, Galileo lead the pack.… Read the rest



Nick Cohen Talks to Ted Honderich *

Nov 17th, 2006 | Filed by

He is not entirely won over.… Read the rest



Jürgen Habermas on Opening Fortress Europe *

Nov 17th, 2006 | Filed by

The liberal state demands that all religious communities recognise universal principles of modern law. … Read the rest



Kicking the Headscarf Habit *

Nov 17th, 2006 | Filed by

Why is it religious to put on a headscarf but never to take one off?… Read the rest



Chapter of Why the French Don’t Like Headscarves *

Nov 17th, 2006 | Filed by

‘This book’s title is intended to be provocative, not sociologically precise.’… Read the rest



Jesus and Mo Talk About Atheists *

Nov 17th, 2006 | Filed by

Jesus is reading Dawkins’s book, Mo is reading Dennett’s. They feel cross.… Read the rest



Hitchens Reviews Clive James *

Nov 16th, 2006 | Filed by

London would have been far less amusing without Clive James’s willingness to take chances.… Read the rest



The Phenomenology of Smell *

Nov 16th, 2006 | Filed by

Visual clues are more reliable than olfactory ones for a two-legged fallen human. … Read the rest



Scott McLemee Reviews New Thomas Pynchon *

Nov 16th, 2006 | Filed by

To discuss the book adequately would demand a seminar lasting four months.… Read the rest



Pope’s Secretary Declares Pope-jokes Not OK *

Nov 16th, 2006 | Filed by

‘Satire is fine. But these things do not have any intellectual quality and offend men of the church. They are not acceptable.’… Read the rest



New Think Tank to Promote Thinking *

Nov 16th, 2006 | Filed by

Brainchild of Paul Kurtz will lobby for science-based decision making and against religion in government.… Read the rest



Declaration in Defense of Science and Secularism *

Nov 16th, 2006 | Filed by

Cultivation of critical thinking essential not only for science but also for an educated citizenry.… Read the rest



Two Historians Win Prize for Study of Humanity *

Nov 16th, 2006 | Filed by

John Hope Franklin and Yu Ying-shih share the Kluge prize.… Read the rest



Frank Kermode on Haffenden on Empson *

Nov 15th, 2006 | Filed by

He just thought that people who took what he regarded as ‘disgusting’ views should be corrected.… Read the rest