Don’t speak French, don’t have French relatives, don’t eat or drink French, don’t think French.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
The Edge Annual Question 
Jan 4th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
What do you believe is true even though you cannot prove it?… Read the rest
NY Times: a Few Answers to Edge Question
Jan 4th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Dawkins, Sapolsky, Harris, Zimbardo, LeDoux, Humphrey.… Read the rest
Philip Stott on Voltaire and Earthquake Theology
Jan 4th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Lisbon challenged both religion and enlightenment beliefs in an ordered and predictable universe.… Read the rest
Burma Death Toll Much Higher Than Officials Say
Jan 4th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Government sealed off parts of coast after tsunami, fueling public suspicions.… Read the rest
Kenan Malik Questions Islamophobia
Jan 4th, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Is hatred of Muslims being exaggerated to silence critics of Islam?… Read the rest
Geography Lesson and Girl, 10, Save 100
Jan 3rd, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Knowing what the start of a tsunami looks like can save lives.… Read the rest
Dawkins on the Murderous God
Jan 3rd, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It could be more consoling to realize that no malicious being slaughtered 125,000 people in South Asia.… Read the rest
How to Be the World’s Largest Corporation
Jan 3rd, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Underpay, overwork, bully, spy on, and discriminate against your work force.… Read the rest
Good Things and Bad Things in Book World
Jan 2nd, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Richard and Judy, Foyles cheers; Random House, supermarkets boos.… Read the rest
Westboro Baptist Church Thanks God for Tsunami
Jan 2nd, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Because some of the Swedes who died may have been gay. … Read the rest
The Conflict Between Religion and Free Speech
Jan 2nd, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Murder in the Community Centre’ – it doesn’t sound quite right, somehow.… Read the rest
Be Careful Not to Get Too Much Education
Jan 1st, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Uncensored exposure to science, philosophy, literature ruins ‘values.’… Read the rest
Royal Society Plans to Put Archive on Display
Jan 1st, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘a unique collection charting the history of science.’… Read the rest
The Independent: Year’s Best Books
Jan 1st, 2005 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A list of three or four thousand to choose from.… Read the rest
Angry Fathers Resort to Intimidation of Court Staff
Dec 31st, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Threats; publication of names; rotten meat and maggots sent to office.… Read the rest
A Benevolent God? Not Very Plausible…
Dec 31st, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Perhaps compassion is the only meaning to be found.… Read the rest
How Could a Benevolent Omnipotent God Do This?
Dec 31st, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A reminder from god that he created the world and can destroy the world. … Read the rest
Southall Black Sisters Support Behzti
Dec 31st, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘As Asian women of Sikh, Muslim and Hindu backgrounds, we have been struggling for many years against attempts to silence our voices’… Read the rest
Richard Dawkins Points Out that Science Saves
Dec 31st, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Not only does science know why the tsunami happened, it can give precious hours of warning.… Read the rest
