Vandals attack Bhandarkar oriental research institute, staff, books and manuscripts.… 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Inevitably links go out of date.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.
Enlightenment Against Empire 
Jan 7th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Introduction to Sankar Muthu’s book on 18th century anti-imperialism.… Read the rest
Indian Historians Given Police Protection
Jan 7th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
OUP withdrew book, author apologized, but protesters attacked anyway.… Read the rest
The Dangers of Studying Mythology
Jan 7th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
James Laine on why he wrote about Shivaji.… Read the rest
Should NGOs be Accountable?
Jan 6th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Who decides, and what are the criteria, and who decides that?… Read the rest
Adonis on the Veil
Jan 6th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Arab poet has harsh words for the hijab and its fans.… Read the rest
Daniel Mendelsohn on Donald Kagan
Jan 6th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
What does the Peloponnesian War mean in a world with only one superpower?… Read the rest
Ha’aretz Meets Judith Butler
Jan 6th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
She’s a celebrity, she exudes charisma, followers line up for her talks. Hmm.… Read the rest
Anthropocentric Conceit
Jan 6th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The creator of the fifteen-billion-year-old, multibillion-star universe thinks we’re just swell. Right?… Read the rest
Incautious Precautionary Principle
Jan 5th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Philip Stott on morally bankrupt opposition to GM crops in developing world.… Read the rest
‘Superstars’ at the MLA
Jan 5th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
English professors used to criticize the Taliban, but that was then.… Read the rest
Uh, Er, Um, Like, You Know
Jan 5th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Disfluency matters, but wait for tenure before studying ‘like.’… Read the rest
Football Coach Millionaires
Jan 5th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Many wonder how healthy it is to pay a football coach more than the president of a university.’… Read the rest
What’s Wrong With US Schools?
Jan 4th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Three new books examine the problems.… Read the rest
The ‘Little People’
Jan 4th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
It’s fashionable to turn down a gong, but what does that say to unfashionable recipients?… Read the rest
Reports From the MLA
Jan 4th, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Interviews, paranoia, clothes, panels no one attends – life at an academic convention.… Read the rest
Washington, Jefferson and Slavery
Jan 3rd, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Gordon Wood reviews Gore Vidal, Garry Wills and others.… Read the rest
Meera Nanda in Frontline Part II
Jan 3rd, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Postmodernism, Hindu nationalism and `Vedic science’ get together.… Read the rest
BBC on Bam Earthquake
Jan 3rd, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Authorities blame builders, Iranians blame authorities.… Read the rest
Why Did Bam’s Houses Fall Down?
Jan 3rd, 2004 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘Iran is still being ruled by a useless, incompetent semi-theocracy…’… Read the rest
