It’s a trial in the press, but when questions are asked, it’s not.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Why Music Matters – to Humans 
Sep 9th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Did a taste for music evolve? Or is it just a by-product of other adaptations?… Read the rest
ACLU Condemns Approval of H.R. 2679
Sep 9th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Public Expression of Religion Act’ would discourage enforcement of a specific constitutional protection.… Read the rest
George Alagiah Sees Tensions in Multiculturalism
Sep 9th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Institutionalised tolerance for diversity may have led to institutional indifference to separation.… Read the rest
Scott McLemee on Fresh New Ideas in Conspiracy
Sep 8th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
9/11demands new theoretical approaches to explain the evidence, or even to bring it into existence.… Read the rest
Jesus Asks Mo a Question
Sep 8th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘What kind of ‘believer’ considers anal rape a suitable punishment for sin?’… Read the rest
Hitchens on Robert Hughes’s Memoir
Sep 8th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Anyone found haunting an art gallery or a library would be suspected of being a snob and an elitist.’… Read the rest
AU Criticizes ‘Public Expression of Religion Act’
Sep 8th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
US H.R. 2679 will make it more difficult to challenge church-state violations in court.… Read the rest
No Free Transport to ‘Faith’ School for Unbaptized
Sep 8th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
State pays for ‘faith’ transport provided the transportee is baptized. Seems generous.… Read the rest
Jerry Coyne Reviews Follies of the Wise
Sep 7th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Crews takes on fields of inquiry which have caused rational people to succumb to irrational ideas.… Read the rest
Life at a ‘Faith’ School
Sep 7th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Teacher questioned about her virginity by school’s owner.… Read the rest
Sad to See Usual Response of Scientists
Sep 7th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Yet again, certain selfappointed gatekeepers of science are attempting to halt progress.’… Read the rest
Chomsky and Trivers Discuss Deception
Sep 7th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
We can see self-deception in others but not in ourselves.… Read the rest
Seyran Ates Quits Law Practice After Attack
Sep 7th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Has handed in her law licence and quit women’s rights organisation Terre de femmes.… Read the rest
Peter Tatchell on Death Threats from Fanatics
Sep 6th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Anti-gay hatred is free speech, but anti-homophobia is hate crime against religion.… Read the rest
Zoe Williams on the HPV Vaccine
Sep 6th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
As vaccine for cervical cancer becomes available in the UK, conservative opinion mobilises.… Read the rest
Pharmacists and Plan B
Sep 6th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘If a person’s purpose is to kill a fertilized egg, then I disagree with that.’… Read the rest
Aids Experts Condemn SA Health Minister
Sep 6th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Manto Tshabalala-Msimang tells those with HIV to eat garlic and beetroot.… Read the rest
Rupert Sheldrake Claims Evidence of Telepathy
Sep 6th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘The odds against this being a chance effect are 1,000 billion to one,’ he says cautiously.… Read the rest
Woolly BA Sessions Criticized
Sep 6th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Robust challenge was lacking. … Read the rest
