The Road To Hell

...is paved with good intentions, or so the saying goes. This couldn't be more true for Light Yagami, main character of the Japanese anime series "Death Note". Light is a 17 year old student of an exceptional intellect and impeccable reputation whose life changes when he comes across a strange notebook. The notebook was dropped into the human world by one of the Death Gods, Ryuk, who was looking for some entertainment, and Light was quick to provide it. The Death Note has the power of killing any person whose name is written in it, provided its owner knows that person's face. Numerous rules also allow control over the time and the circumstances of someone's death. Light sees this as an opportunity to rid the world of evil; by disposing of criminals and people he judges as evil himself, he will create a better world. And Light, being the judge and creator of this world, will naturally be the world's God.
Things don't stay easy for long, though. The large number of deaths draw the attention of the mysterious detective known only as "L", while the media dubs Light as "Kira". L is as brilliant as he is eccentric and makes life very hard indeed for Kira. The two of them engage in an exciting chase as they try to outwit each other, L needing evidence, Kira needing just a name for his Death Note. Things get complicated when FBI agents, Kira's family and even more Death Gods get involved.
"Death Note" stands out for its unique story and the timeless questions it raises but also for the exciting plot lines that don't allow you to watch just one episode at a time. I read somewhere that it's the "Prison Break" of anime, and I can definitely understand the comparison. I am only half-way through the series so I can't give you a definitive opinion. So far, I am disturbed by Kira's emotionless sense of justice and intrigued by L's weirdness and powers of deduction. For now, I will speculate that L may have a connection with the Death Gods and I will get back on you later!

The 3+1 Musketeers Of Atheism

Atheism is rising fast as a coherent, self-reliant thinking and moral framework. You may not have noticed because, in western societies, religion is a topic of casual tradition that is of little consequence to everyday life. Of course, this is slightly generalizing - the difference between european and american societies is not subtle. In any case, atheism is no longer an abstract unbelief held by a few eccentrics, but a promising ideology for the future, with a rapidly rising number of followers. Some very remarkable individuals have taken the lead in this paradigm shift, all with their own unique style.
There is Richard Dawkins, who is a renowned zoologist and professor at Oxford University. He has authored numerous books about biology, zoology and evolution. His contribution to the public understanding of the theory of evolution is immense and his own understanding is that evolution strikes a death blow to foundational religious beliefs about the specialness of humankind. His latest book "The God Delusion" is the first that deals specifically with religion and has sold about 1 million hardcover copies already. Dawkins deals with religion in a most scientific fashion, demanding proof for every claim and demolishing popular but false philosophical arguments for the existence of God. His style is calm, clear and only mildly sarcastic.
Sam Harris was an unknown philosophy graduate (who is currently completing a doctorate in neuroscience) before he published "The End Of Faith" and most recently "Letter to a Christian Nation". In those books, he highlights the dangerous irrationalities of religious belief and makes a case for separating spirituality from religion, as a genuine human need that can be addressed without invoking the supernatural. Personally, I haven't yet read a writer that delivers or demolishes arguments with such direct and devastating clarity. As is evident in the many debates he has taken part in, Sam Harris's style is very polite, calm and controlled as the effectiveness of his arguments doesn't require him to raise his voice.
Daniel Dennett is an accomplished philosopher who has made a lot of research in the matter of consciousness and his insights will probably be monumental in the future development of cognitive sciences. While not a vocal atheist, his book "Breaking The Spell" explains religion away in a thorough fashion that highlights the necessity of atheism. His style is somewhat more difficult as he addresses the philosophy-curious person as well as the general reader. Nonetheless, his contribution is important as it deals with territory that is unexplored and severs what few ties religion holds with reality.
Christopher Hitchens is probably the most fearsome of the four. A renowned author and columnist, he is an odd defender for atheism considering he politically leans to the right. In his latest book with the provocative title "How Religion Poisons Everything", Hitchens uncovers religious atrocities across history and the immoralities that underlie religious beliefs in a direct and brutal fashion. In his debates, Hitchens avoids niceties and unearned respect for his opponents. His controversial attitude though is also important because ridicule is a potent weapon that religion hasn't yet faced.
There are other notable writers like Victor Stenger ("God, The Failed Hypothesis") and Michel Onfray ("The Atheist Manifesto") but the 4 above are the most prominent. I am not sure whether these people are leading the wave of rising atheism or simply riding it, but it is clear that things are changing in areas that remained static for a very long time indeed.