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Inevitably links go out of date.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.


Tax Exemptions for Religious Organizations *

Oct 10th, 2006 | Filed by

Many have been granted in the last 15 years — sometimes added to legislation with little attention.… Read the rest



Rod Liddle Reviews The God Delusion *

Oct 10th, 2006 | Filed by

Resorts to familiar drivel about atheism as religion and god-shaped holes.… Read the rest



BBC Wonders About Papal Limbo-banishment *

Oct 10th, 2006 | Filed by

‘Then, of course, there is the argument that if this can be abolished, what else is disposable?’… Read the rest



Honour, Beatings, Migraines, Forced Marriage *

Oct 10th, 2006 | Filed by

Every year, hundreds of schoolgirls disappear from UK classrooms.… Read the rest



BBC Analyst Remembers Anna Politkovskaya *

Oct 9th, 2006 | Filed by

Despite huge pressures on Russia’s media to submit and conform, she investigated and reported abuses.… Read the rest



Bush Injects Religion into Foreign Aid *

Oct 9th, 2006 | Filed by

Has systematically eliminated or weakened rules designed to enforce separation of church and state.… Read the rest



Religious Right Shapes US Foreign Aid *

Oct 9th, 2006 | Filed by

Secular groups are losing funding.… Read the rest



Why the Face Matters *

Oct 9th, 2006 | Filed by

Times readers offer reasons.… Read the rest



Polish Consulate Cancels Talk After Phone Calls *

Oct 9th, 2006 | Filed by

Kasprzyk said ADL and American Jewish Congress phoned; he concluded Judt was too controversial.… Read the rest



The Goldilocks Problem *

Oct 8th, 2006 | Filed by

Why is the universe ‘just right’?… Read the rest



Jack Straw was Right to Lift the Veil on a Taboo *

Oct 8th, 2006 | Filed by

A symbol of women’s oppression which stretches back to the times of classical Greece.… Read the rest



Cristina Odone on the Amish *

Oct 8th, 2006 | Filed by

It’s not just TV and iPods they reject: it is schooling beyond 14 and the emancipation of women.… Read the rest



Domestic Violence Among the Amish *

Oct 8th, 2006 | Filed by

‘One person came to me for protection, but she can’t go to court because they don’t believe in it.’… Read the rest



Dennis Hastert’s Real Estate Deals *

Oct 8th, 2006 | Filed by

Speaker’s net worth went from c. $300,000 to $6.2 million, partly thanks to an earmark he authored. … Read the rest



The Sunlight Foundation on Dennis Hastert *

Oct 8th, 2006 | Filed by

The Prairie Parkway will run right past his new property. How handy.… Read the rest



Russians Mourn Anna Politkovskaya *

Oct 8th, 2006 | Filed by

Politkovskaya was due to publish an article on torture and kidnappings in Chechnya on Monday.… Read the rest



Anna Politkovskaya 1958-2006 *

Oct 8th, 2006 | Filed by

Her reporting won international recognition for exposing human rights abuses in Chechnya.… Read the rest



Fanatiques sans Frontières Are on the March *

Oct 7th, 2006 | Filed by

Timothy Garton Ash says enemies of freedom are manifold and ubiquitous.… Read the rest



Infallible Pope Undecided on Limbo Question *

Oct 7th, 2006 | Filed by

So for now limbo is neither here nor there.… Read the rest



Cardinal Protests BBC ‘Attack’ on Pope *

Oct 7th, 2006 | Filed by

Archbish says viewers will recognize ‘a deeply prejudiced attack on a revered world religious leader.’… Read the rest