Conservative group is offering students at UCLA money to tape lectures by professors.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Scott McLemee: Academic Bloggers do Lunch 
Jan 20th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Continuing discussions that hadn’t started at the restaurant and wouldn’t end any time soon.… Read the rest
Dutch MPs Consider Burqa Ban
Jan 20th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘It’s a medieval symbol, a symbol against women,’ says MP Geert Wilders.… Read the rest
Imperial College Bans Veil Over Face
Jan 20th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Federation of Student Islamic Societies says ban is ‘unacceptable’.… Read the rest
Science ‘Not for Normal People’
Jan 20th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Students questioned said science is important but demanding.… Read the rest
Spot the Orientalist
Jan 19th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
When Afary and Anderson deconstruct the follies of Foucault, they disconcert many on the left.… Read the rest
Jesus Invented Everything
Jan 19th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Everything, Rodney Stark insists. Nobody else invented anything. Jesus did it all.… Read the rest
Open Letter to Congress on NSA Spying
Jan 19th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Dworkin, Tribe, Sullivan, Nolan, Lederman et al.… Read the rest
‘We Are All One’ is Sentimental Eyewash
Jan 19th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Many important concepts are subject to problems of vagueness between one and many.… Read the rest
Iris Young on Blame v Responsibility After Katrina
Jan 19th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Arguably, more harm and injustice result from thoughtless negligence than from malevolence.… Read the rest
Meera Nanda on Vedic Creationism in America
Jan 18th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
ID-ers have enthusiastic allies among Hare Krishnas propagating their theory of ‘Vedic creationism.’… Read the rest
Gazette des Femmes Names Woman of the Year
Jan 18th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Ontario came within a hair of passing Sharia; Homa Arjomand is an incredible campaigner.… Read the rest
Hollywood on a Mission to Homosexualize America
Jan 18th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘If America isn’t watching these films, why are they winning the awards?’ asks loony.… Read the rest
Celibate Priest Lectures World on Lust
Jan 18th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Pope thinks ‘you can’t really be free and happy unless you accept God’s plan for human life.’… Read the rest
New Orleans Mayor Says God is Angry at US
Jan 18th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
So he throws hurricanes at it.… Read the rest
What’s All This Then?
Jan 18th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Excess of zeal allows tabloid right to yell weariest of cliches: political correctness gone mad.… Read the rest
Carlin Romano on Differing Views of Ben Franklin
Jan 17th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Wave of hagiography in Franklin biography marginalizes issues like slave-trade activities.… Read the rest
Bishop of Motherwell Talks Dangerous Crap
Jan 17th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Says Church needs to stop cowering before government’s politically approved doctrines.… Read the rest
Ian Bell Reviews ‘Root of all Evil?’
Jan 17th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Agrees that ‘Atheism is life-affirming in a way that religion can never be.’… Read the rest
Supremes Uphold Assisted Suicide Law
Jan 17th, 2006 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Justices voted 6-3; ruling could free other states to pass laws like Oregon’s.… Read the rest
