In-flight cell phone usage inches closer

"Airplanes are the next frontier for the wireless industry,"

according

to the San Diego

Union-Tribune

, with a "new technical report [making] it more likely that the U.S. government will rescind the cell phone ban on commercial flights." This comes on the heels of Dubai-based carrier Emirates' claim that it will become the world's first passenger airline to allow in-flight cell phone calls by early February.

To which I have to ask: Does anyone

really

want this to happen? I thought we

already established

that this is a bad idea.

I mean, really. Put the phone down and read a book, people. The last thing I want to deal with from the person sitting next to me is listening to a cell phone conversation.

Now, in-flight Wi-Fi …

that

I'm all for. But ixnay on the cell phones.

Seriously.