Airline internet, freeters

First, it has been a bit since my last post. I have several in draft form, but none posted because of time, travel and work.

Airline Internet -
I was on a flight this week which was 3 hours 20 minutes each way. Further, we sat on the ground (common these days) for a total of 1 hour 30 minutes waiting to take off. This is a grand total of 8 hours and 10 minutes (a working day) which could have been spent doing something far more productive than reviewing PDF files, editing power point presentations and reading the airline magazine.

I want Internet access on commercial airlines tomorrow.

Top things I want to do with commercial airline Internet:
- Catch up on email. All of it; work, GMail, Yahoo, etc.
- Register and manage domains. Every time I come across a neat name and idea, I cannot register it until I hit the airport. Very frustrating.
- Work on websites. No phones, so a great time to get some web work done online.
- Blog and manage blog postings.
- Catch up on favorite, yet ignored blogs and websites.

This is 2007. Why can't we have this service today?

Freeters -

Have you heard of this? Freeters (combination of Free and Arbeiter - Deutch for work) are a Japanese phenomenon coming to a town near you.

Apparently, there is a trend among young people, called freeters, in Japan to work sporadically or at contract jobs and live, literally live, in Internet cafes. Yes, freeters sleep and eat in these places when not at work or doing other socializing.

Seems there are several Japanese internet cafes which cater to freeters. These cafes provide semi-private cubicles with recliners to sleep in, showers, and clothes hangars for a few dollars a night.

Although social activists in Japan are decrying the freeter situation, they seem to be missing the point. Many of these young freeters are living this life by choice (according to what I have read).

Rather than living the traditional business life of long hours and company loyalty expected in Japan, freeters choose to work part time when they please. Yes, there is a high cost of living in Japan and long commute times which many freeters cite as reasons for their living situation, but the key reason is that freeters drop out on purpose.

I expect we will see a version of this soon in the U.S., perhaps in some of the more costly cities like San Francisco, Boston or New York.

What do you think?