See Airplanes Land on Google Maps

How cool is this? A satellite just happened to catch a jet landing at Sky Harbor International Airport (where I used to work) in Phoenix.

Thanks to Roger Verschraegen, who pointed out a similar shot at the Frankfurt airport. That one is much cooler because successive images got the 747 taking off from Frankfurt three times.

Check out "Frankfurt airport" on Google maps and then scroll to the right (east of the airport) to see the Lufthansa 747 take off.

Free First Class Liquor Hardly Justifies This

I already hate to fly. Airlines have among the worst customer service of any industry in the world, and now they have added a new reason.

It seems that, "A BRITISH Airways passenger travelling first class has described how he woke up on a long-haul flight to find that cabin crew had placed a corpse in his row.

"The body of a woman in her seventies, who died after the plane left Delhi for Heathrow, was carried by cabin staff from economy to first class, where there was more space. Her body was propped up in a seat, using pillows."

Now that's what you pay for when you upgrade to first class.

Read the entire story here.

Reasons to Never Travel by Air

I hate to fly. I used to like it. Now I don't.

Perhaps it is because I am a control freak, and you have no control on a plane.

Right now, my half brother is stuck in Denver under two feet of snow. He has been there since 8 a.m. Wednesday. He has no idea when he will be able to leave.

Two other friends are stuck on the tarmac in Houston. They were flying here to see us ... due to arrive at 4:02 p.m. Instead the Houston airport is closed due to lightning. They are on the runway watching the light show.

This map shows current lighting activity (thanks to ultra cool site, Vaisala). Note how the country is almost free of lightning ... except for friggin' Houston.

To summarize, I know three people traveling by air today. All three are being hosed by fate.

Airlines: boo, hiss!