The FAA in the US has decided to begin research into how UAV technology can be used inside national airspace. A Military UAV will typically be used over hostile territory, and will be part of a larger command and control network. They also tend to have pilot supervision. As UAV technology becomes more advanced we will see more and more responsibility being passed to the UAV itself. Ironically current commercial aircraft are largely automated and have collision avoidance technology. [Update] New Scientist has a story on this topic.

Recently I had a discussion with a Muslim over Draw Muhammad Day. His central thesis is that free speech should not offend the religious. My position was that such a limitation destroys free speech, including the free speech of the religious. Although it was a private discussion he decided to post portions in a public forum, so I took that to mean he didn't object to it's publication, and have copied it here.

Free Speech is a critically important right in a free and democratic society. When South Park showed the Prophet Mohammed as a bear various Muslim groups threatened to kill the makers of the program. In response to this many of those incensed by the attempt by the religious to intimidate proposed a "Draw Mohammed Day" in protest against Muslims who threaten and commit violence in the name of their god.

It is interesting to me that ideas I thought were unique are in fact very old. Since I was a teenager I have held a philosophy about life which in essence says that we have control over our emotional state. Contentment isn't a factor of how much stuff we have, but decided within ourselves. Now I have a name for this belief; Stocism.