Say it ain't so!

There are times that I really, really look toward the long flight... especially a home-bound flight after a tough week at a client site. I love the fact that I sit in the midst of strangers who try their best to mind their own business, free of any obligations to answer calls or check voice mail (because you can't!), a pocket of peace and idleness that is interrupted only occasionally to be served beverages or to be reminded that my iPod can crash this plane (obviously, the first type of interruption is more preferrable to the other one). Stepping across the little gap between the jet bridge and the airplane cabin, eyeing my designated seat (preferrably a window seat) as I pass the rows to get to it, I look forward to the two hours of total isolation. Sure, the emails will silently pile up in the Inbox, and text messages and voice mails might force my attention on them when I turn on my cell phone when I land; but for the next couple of hours, to me, everything temporarily suspended and I am just by myself. Lost in blissful isolation.

Today, however, I encountered a disturbing article in the Wall Street Journal about a rather disturbing changes in communication technology and FAA regulations that might enable wireless phone services in flights as early as next year! (similar article here)

Yeah, two hours of being sandwiched between to obnoxious business guys, yapping into their cell phones... NO THANK YOU.

Please don't take away my last refuge from calls and emails...