Remember that plane that had mechanical problems which the passengers were unaware of until they turned on CNN? The plane landed safely but none of the passengers on that flight felt warm and fuzzy all over to learn about it on TV. Can you imagine the cell phone usage on that flight? JetBlue has added another form of communication to remind those at home to walk the dog in case you don't make it: e-mail...
The upstart airline on Tuesday will release information on the "innovative onboard product" they will launch that day aboard a flight leaving JFK. According to the Wall Street Journal, JetBlue will offer free inflight e-mail and instant messaging on a flight to San Francisco. The airline conducted a test flight yesterday in which a JetBlue spokesman was able to send and receive a reply to his e-mail. Rumor has it that the spokesman asked a reporter from the WSJ whether he thinks Mitt Romney's religion really will make a difference. It was either that or he wanted to know if John Kerry's meddling will get the NFL to carry the last Patriots (vs. Giants) game on other channels in addition to the NFL channel, which no one gets...
Several airlines have discussed making planes e-mail compatible and what to charge for them but JetBlue is the first airline to implement a plan on a passenger-filled airline. Can't you just hear it now? "This is your pilot with a reminder that e-mail wills are acceptable if sent while flying over any U.S. state but are not legal outside the boundaries of the United States. Thanks for flying with us and I hope to God we see you again"...
10 Timeline Memories:
- 1776] What did Delaware?: General George Washington crosses the Delaware River with retreating American Revolutionary Army troops, from New Jersey to Pennsylvania, apparently in only one boat (12/8)...
- 1940] Scalped: The Chicago Bears annihilate the Washington Redskins 73-0. It's not only the biggest one-sided score in NFL history but the Bears were forced by officials to run for their final extra point because there was only one football left (12/8)...
- 1940] Radio's first FM timebuy: The Longines Watch Company signs the first FM radio advertising contract with experimental station, W2XQR in New York City (12/9)...
- 1941] Day of Infamy: Japan attacks Pearl Harbor which puts us into WWII. Some 2,400 Americans are killed, 200 wounded. Much of our Pacific Fleet is destroyed along with more than 200 planes. FDR calls it "a day of infamy" (12/7) Here's footage of the attack: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Nt13c3olXkU ...
- 1952] TV history is made: For the first time a pregnancy is used on TV's "I Love Lucy". Here's the classic scene of Lucy and Ricky arriving at the hospital (12/8): http://youtube.com/watch?v=MJS6iy1hoIQ&feature=related ...
- 1963] Instant Replay: During the Army-Navy game on CBS-TV, Lindsay Nelson announces, "This is not live, ladies and gentlemen. Army did not score again." Meanwhile viewers are mesmerized by Lindsay's jacket (12/7)...
- 1964] "Happy Trails" for 12/8: Actor William Bendix dies of lobar pneumonia at 58...1978] Former Israeli prime minister Golda Meir passes away from cancer in Jerusalem at 80...1982] Singer Marty Robbins dies from heart failure at 57...(For 12/9): 1979] Religious broadcaster Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen dies from natural causes at 84...1981] Orioles lead singer Sonny Til dies from a heart attack at 51...
- 1975] Don't "Drop Dead": President Gerald Ford signs a $2.3 billion seasonal loan authorization to prevent New York City from defaulting despite the "Drop Dead" headlines in tabloids. For years Ford said he never said that (12/9)...
- 1980] Rock & Roll Tragedy: John Lennon is fatally shot by Mark David Chapman (12/8): http://youtube.com/watch?v=kYv5n3cmDVc ...
- 1993] The 5:33 from Hell: Colin Ferguson murders 6 and injures 19 others on the 5:33 p.m. Hicksville Local of the LIRR. Ferguson is currently drawing on his Attica jail cell wall with crayons, something he will do for the next 200 years (12/7)...
Music Memories:
- 1961] Released on this date: The Beach Boys release their first single (12/8). You'll have to watch this video to find out what it was: http://youtube.com/watch?v=t_bwdjDtscI ...1963] "Meet The Supremes" LP (12/9)...1972] "Crocodile Rock" - Elton John (12/9)...1978] "Soul Man" - Blues Brothers (12/9)...1995] "Anthology I" - Beatles (12/9) was released following the 6-hour ABC Rockumentary. "Free as a Bird", the first new Beatles song in 25 years is part of the package...
- 1964] The best part of breaking up: Brian Wilson stops touring with the Beach Boys after suffering a nervous breakdown on a flight from L.A. to Houston (12/7)...1968] Eric Burdon announces the break-up of the Animals effective 12/23. He will pursue acting interests and although that didn't pan out, he had a nice run with War (12/7)...
- 1966] That's my girl: Nancy Sinatra joins daddy Frank on the CBS-TV special, "Frank Sinatra: A Man & His Music Part II". They sing "Something Special" which will top the charts... (12/7)...
- 1968] "TCB": The Supremes and Temptations team up on NBC-TV (12/9): http://youtube.com/watch?v=a7NFTFW4xV4&feature=related ...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
(12/7) Mervin Phillips (31), Terrell Owens (34), Larry Bird (51) but he'll always be 33 to me, Johnny Bench (60), Gerry Cheevers (67), Ellen Burstyn (75) and Eli Wallach (92)...
(12/8) Dominic Monaghan (31), Sinead O'Connor (41), Teri Hatcher (43), Kim Basinger (54), Gregg Allman (60), Jerry Butler (69), James ("Book em Dano") MacArthur (70), David Carradine (71) and Maximilian Schell (77)...
(12/9) Jakob Dylan (38), Felicity Huffman (45), Donny Osmond (50), John Malkovich (54), Dick Butkus (65), Beau Bridges (66), Dame Judi Dench (73), Buck Henry (77), Dick Van Patten (79), Dina Merrill (82) and Kirk Douglas (89)...
Timeline Countdown for Sunday, December 9, 2007: Happy 6th night of Hanukah tonight, 14 days until winter, 15 days until Festivus, 16 shopping days until Christmas, 22 nights until New Year's Eve and 27 days until the NFL Wild Card Playoffs...
