Photos, Videos and Full Recap of Storm Chasin' from July 17

As promised, here are a few shots (finally uploaded!) from my storm chasing travel adventure west of Minneapolis on July 17, 2010. This first image, one of the last from the trip, was of a rapidly approaching shelf cloud south of Anoka, MN. In one of the videos (link below) you see me drop the camera and hear my car racing away to take cover. Pretty scary stuff for a California native.

Here is a map and summary of the severe weather events of the day, and specific incidents reported to the National Weather Service in Minneapolis.

This blog from the Minneapolis Star Tribune provides outstanding graphical updates throughout the day (latest entry first) as the storms progressed throughout the region.

Video to my YouTube site with a few videos including footage of the shelf cloud approaching and sitting it out (in both fear and excitement) as severe weather passes overhead.

Half-dollar sized hailstones pounding on my windshield will be a sound to never forget. The helpless feeling and thought the windshield might shatter at any moment was enough for me temporarily withdraw from this particular storm chase. On my escape out, I captured these after-the-fact shots of golfball size hail lying around on a baseball field near Rockford, MN. There were reports of baseball, even SOFTBALL size hail in the region earlier in the day. (Yikes!)

Although I fared well, other windshields in the path of these severe storms provided little to no barrier as shown in this image from the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

What Happened in Your Hotel Room Before You Checked in?

Enjoy the humor in this, but also imagine the possibilities of what happened in your hotel room before you arrived. =) Something I learned a long time ago: Always remove the comforter from the bed as those are not usually washed after each guest checks out. This is a good first step toward limiting exposure to germs - or something worse.

Also see: TripAdvisor's Ten Dirtiest Hotels in America (Video).

United Breaks Guitars: Band Takes UA Baggage Complaint to YouTube

Some might call it a taste of sweet revenge, but for musician Dave Carroll, it was a creative way of expressing his disappointment with United Airlines baggage handling, after they smashed his guitar and refused to pick up the $1200 tab to fix it.

Carroll and his band, based in Halifax, NS, were changing planes at Chicago's-O'Hare airport March 31, 2008, when the heard a passenger exclaim, "My God, they're throwing guitars out there," Carroll said. After spending nine months of unsuccessfully reasoning with United Airlines, including with representatives from the United States and India, he finally decided to write a few songs to describe his experience.

Meanwhile, United officials who have seen the video are asking Carroll for permission to use it internally to help change its culture.

Flashback: Carol Burnett Show "No Frills Airline"

I've had tons of hits from this old Carol Burnett clip titled, "No Frills Airline," first posted last Summer. So, for some good ol' Friday funnies and flashbacks, thought I'd bring it back for ya.

Enjoy, and welcome aboard the No Frills Airline.

End of the Week Laughs. TGIF

Here are a couple travel related videos we came across that bring out the funnier side in travel.

The first, and one we've shown before, is of commuters in Asia "gracefully" packing into overflowing trains. The other, part of a video series on travel etiquette, offers humorous solutions to common annoyances in air travel. Enjoy!

Continental Airlines 'Take Away' Commercial

This Continental Airlines ad, posted two years ago on YouTube, pokes fun at other airlines for taking away some of the basic amenities passengers are accustomed to - ones still offered at Continental.

Virgin Atlantic 747 Landing at SFO (Friday Fun)

Here is a special treat for all the airline fans out there. From the Laughing Squid comes this video of a Virgin Atlantic 747 landing at San Francisco International - viewed from the cockpit. Leading up to the touchdown you get to watch the pilots in action as they go through each of the steps to gently lower this big bird onto the runway.

Flashback: Carol Burnett Show - 'No Frills Airline' (Friday Fun)

Originally posted this past summer, this video continues to be watched time and time again by inFLIGHTout'ers. For those new to the site, or others just wanting a good afternoon laugh - here it is again: A classic from the Carol Burnett show; a fun poke at the dreadful service passengers receive riding in economy class. Enjoy.

Friday Fun: World's Highest Waterfall Dive

Check out this video on YouTube of a man in China attempting to make the Guinness Book of World Records for highest waterful dive.

People Pushers and Diving Into the Antarctic (Friday Fun)

Have two amusing videos for you today. The first, people pushers, comes from Japan, illustrating the rush to catch the train. The second, a Lonely Planet TV video of a man truly enjoying his vacation to the Antarctic. Enjoy!

How Its Made: Airline Meals (Friday Fun)

While heavily focused on airline meals in the front of the plane (business and first), this video nevertheless enlightens us on the comprehensive steps followed in order to produce a tasty and enjoyable dining experience in the air.


Want to see what meals are dished up by each of the airlines? Visit airlinemeals.net for pictures and reviews of airline food in the sky, and in the airport lounges around the world.

Rhett and Link's BBQ Song (Friday Fun)

(Thanks Tommy)
Nothing like taking a trip to the great South and munching away on gool ol' BBQ. But not all BBQ's are created equal. So help educate us on the finer points in BBQ, Rhett and Link came up with this catchy, but not spicy, BBQ Song. Sing along!
(This video is suitable for work)

End of Week Humor: Where Is Your Bag?

Here are a couple video clips of lost luggage that should give you some end-of-the-week chuckles. Enjoy-and have a great weekend.

Flashback: Carol Burnett Show - 'No Frills Airline'

In response to the MAD TV clip of the "No Frills Airline," I posted last week, a reader forwarded this classic from the Carol Burnett show; a fun poke at the dreadful service passengers receive riding in economy class. Enjoy.