The persecution of atheists exceeds the power reduction of religions

For those religious people that think atheism is taking away their power over society, I ask you what dissent - of any kind - justifies this sort of action:

"I stabbed him because he humiliated my prophet," said Jikrullah, a 20-year-old student at Hathajari Madrassah in the southeastern district of Chittagong, without elaborating.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/police-say-blogger-hacked-to-death-in-bangladesh-1.2303602

Who teaches people that this is an acceptable form of counter argument?  To kill someone in cold blood for speaking their mind is not acceptable under any circumstance.  This is the tyranny of religion that gives people more justification to hide their wicked and foul actions under a cloak of religious obedience.

 "I was just following religious orders."  is very similar to another justification often given.

 http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/Arbeit_Macht_Frei_Dachau_8235.jpg/220px-Arbeit_Macht_Frei_Dachau_8235.jpg

"Work Makes Free"

 
"I was just following orders," was claimed by many guards at Nazi concentration camps.

Death is a justified response for insults and hurt feelings? A crime not even approaching the level of rape, theft, or murder?

So to any religious group that complains they are not being given the respect they are due, it is because you have been given more respect than you deserved for many many years.  Do not expect any more in the future.

One can think good...

but to be good
one must do good

Commercial airline planes need a "fly safe mode"

In the wake of this tragedy, new ideas are needed on how to prevent preventable plane accidents.

All modern planes can fly themselves in normal operating conditions.  That shouldn't shock anyone, if you are unaware how much advanced control systems exist, the computer cores are a significant part of the avionics. They can be commanded to land themselves.  All modern airlines have GPS and the best satellite reception for the best position estimates. 


Instead of ignoring this reality, it should be used as a last resort.

If the air traffic control thinks the pilots are not able to fly the plane, why not allow them to send a remote control override that is ONLY capable of commanding the plane to fly to the nearest airport and circle the field? It could override commands to change course until the crew reconnects with the air traffic control and the air traffic control unlocks the plane controls. After a designated time window, or when the fuel reaches critical levels, then the plane can make the landing.


If the plane is full of fuel, there is no rush to land it as they can circle for hours. That is ample time for an intercept jet to see whats going on in the cockpit. That gives lots of time to assess the situation if there is no need to panic.  To unlock the controls, the air traffic control has to be satisfied that the plane is in good hands and then control is given back. 

There is no rush to land if there is no urgent need to land.

As a final last resort, the plane can land itself.  I would rather trust the automation than a sick pilot.  I would rather use the computer control than trust a suspect crew.