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Inevitably links go out of date.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 Big Belief, Britain’s Greatest Tits, etc *

Dec 18th, 2003 | Filed by

The possibilities are endless.… Read the rest



Desmond Tutu v. Mbeki and Mugabe *

Dec 18th, 2003 | Filed by

‘Human rights are human rights and they are of universal validity or they are nothing.’… Read the rest



Oliver Taplin Reviews Mary Lefkowitz *

Dec 17th, 2003 | Filed by

How important are the classical Greek gods to understanding Homer and Euripides?… Read the rest



Desire, Excess, Lust *

Dec 17th, 2003 | Filed by

Is there any problem with living in a sexualized culture?… Read the rest



Whither Theory? *

Dec 17th, 2003 | Filed by

And how did theory become synonymous with literary and cultural theory?… Read the rest



Let’s Have a Circumcision Party! *

Dec 17th, 2003 | Filed by

Malyasia has a new plan for bringing Muslims and non-Muslims together.… Read the rest



Lomborg Decision Overturned *

Dec 17th, 2003 | Filed by

Danish Ministry has repudiated findings by Danish Committees on Scientific Dishonesty.… Read the rest



That Pesky Enlightenment Rationalism *

Dec 16th, 2003 | Filed by

Why wasn’t Jefferson as environmentally sensitive as we are?… Read the rest



Kenan Malik on ‘Hear the Silence’ *

Dec 16th, 2003 | Filed by

Conspiracy theories used to be a right-wing item, but now the left likes them too.… Read the rest



Drama Increases Worry Over Jab *

Dec 16th, 2003 | Filed by

Difficult for audience to know what’s true and what isn’t.… Read the rest



Snakes Croaking under the Irish Coconut Trees *

Dec 15th, 2003 | Filed by

Mix the Osbournes, the Simpsons, Don DeLillo and Eminem: an anthology of media cliches.… Read the rest



Skepticism is All Very Well But *

Dec 15th, 2003 | Filed by

But taken too far, it can lead to perverse outcomes.… Read the rest



Science and Corruption *

Dec 15th, 2003 | Filed by

There are flaws in LA Times article about industry funding of researchers at NIH.… Read the rest



Her Views as a Mother *

Dec 14th, 2003 | Filed by

Doctors criticize Juliet Stevenson for comments on MMR jab; Channel 5 says she has every right to speak.… Read the rest



Ding Dong the Witch is – Captured *

Dec 14th, 2003 | Filed by

Iraqi tyrant found in hole in ground.… Read the rest



Reactions *

Dec 14th, 2003 | Filed by

The nightmare fear of a return of Saddam Hussein is over.… Read the rest



From Evasion to Denial *

Dec 14th, 2003 | Filed by

Has the Left abandoned the Enlightenment ideal of universal freedom?… Read the rest



Bendy Yellow Fruits for Sale *

Dec 13th, 2003 | Filed by

Eats, Shoots & Leaves offers overheated whimsy and forensic quibbling.… Read the rest



The Brains Are Under Construction *

Dec 13th, 2003 | Filed by

Brain research casts doubt on lowering voting age to 16.… Read the rest



Headscarves and Secularism Clash *

Dec 12th, 2003 | Filed by

French commission of inquiry recommends banning very visible religious clothing, including crosses and headscarves.… Read the rest