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Here's another "wonder of capitalism story. Yes folks, Internet connections on passenger airplanes. As Patrick Crozier of Transport Blog, who piloted me to the story, puts it:

Look, no Ministers of Transport, no Euro-directives, no dirigisme. Isn't greed good.

I suppose, what with Samizdata being in the gloomy mood it's in just now, various among us will find ways to be depressed even about this. Either (a) it will offer terrorists new ways to hijack airplanes, blow them up or even fly them into famous landmarks, without even being on them. Or else (b) it will be annoying to have to sit next to a surfer or emailer, especially if he has a sound card. Like portable phones on trains all over again, in other words.

But I'm impressed. Patrick has now bestowed upon me automatic posting rights to Transport Blog, for when he isn't in the mood. So maybe one day I'll do a celebratory posting to TB from an airplane:

"Patrick and transportsmen everywhere, how are you my old mates? How's things? Trains all late as usual, are they? Cars and buses and lorries all jammed up? Good, good. I'm now two and half minutes away from landing at Stanstead. I estimate I'm somewhere north of Watford. I've been delayed by strong cross winds but I'll be at arrivals in thirty three minutes and expect to be back at base in one hour and forty seven and a quarter minutes, approximately, can't be sure exactly. You may have to delay the meeting by three and a bit minutes, maybe four. Or so. I'm doing my final approach now. The flaps are coming out into flap mode. The wheels are now down. No, I tell a lie. Yes, here they come. Oops. Rather bumpy, my son, rather bumpy. But mustn't grumble, know what I mean? Have to unplug now. See you at head office in one hour, forty two and eleven sixteenths minutes. Give or take. Gotta rush."

Maybe not. Seriously, when I'm actually on that airplane I'll have something better than that to say, and it will be good to keep up with the blogs. I think this is very good news.