ICE, scream

One of the benefits of paying for a data plan for my cell phone is that I get to read the news while I'm on the bus heading to and from work. This one happened to catch my eye, and I hope you'll find it as disturbing as I did.

The Associated Press, courtesy of MSNBC.com, reports that Jazz, a subsidiary of Canadian airlines Air Canada, will be removing life jackets to save on fuel.

TO SAVE ON FUEL.

Is this what's it's come to? Jeopardizing lives to save a few bucks on fuel?

One plane, which carries up to 50 people for regional flights, contains 55 pounds of life jackets. The company is now telling passengers to use the seat as a floatation device.

Um... does that mean I need to stay buckled into my seat until the airplane captain says it's OK for me to release my seatbelt?

I hope Air Canada doesn't try to play this as being an environmentally friendly solution. I really don't think losing 55 pounds on a flight will decrease fuel consumption any more than if they stopped serving Pringles and gin on the plane.

Or, maybe they should've told everyone on the plane that they can't use the bathroom the entire flight. I mean, c'mon, the airline only flies a short distance. Customers can hold it in for a few hours, right? Puh-lease.

P.S. The acronym ICE (in case of emergency) is a handy contact in a cell phone. Many police and emergency teams know that the acronym stands for "in case of emergency."

For example, if you're out partying on a Wednesday night because, hell, it's a Wednesday night, and just to happened to pass out on the sidewalk, the police or a medical crew could call your contact(s) listed under ICE. What better way of letting people know that last night was a night to remember... or completely forget...

... Or... um, how'd I get here?