-- S. Gomez, Mississauga
A: Taking a laptop along allows you to stay connected with home, check your e-mail, Twitter and other social networking sites, and upload photos.
Here are some tips collected during my travels:
Some of my colleagues swear by Gmail, Google's web-based e-mail service that allows you to check your mailbox from anywhere in the world.
Another colleague likes Carbonite online (carbonite.com) to backup files frequently -- something recommended by techies.
For cheap long-distance phone calls, Skype (skype.com) is the way to go. You'll need to mount a high-quality video webcam on your laptop to capture your image and use a headset with a microphone combination. We used Skype on a trip to Europe and were able to chat with my cousin in Boston for pennies.
For uploading digital photos, have your photo management software installed on your laptop. Adobe Photoshop is a great program for those who want to edit images along the way.
If you do take your laptop, use a good computer bag that will stand up to the rigours of travel. Messenger-style bags are pretty popular and Timbuk2 (Timbuk2.com) makes one that is very sturdy.
Q: Where can I find out more about geocaching?
-- N. Jamieson, Toronto
A: The official global GPS cache hunt website is Geocaching.com. Once you visit this site, you'll find there are links on getting started, Hide and Seek a Cache, Find a Benchmark, Trackables, along with blogs, forums, resources and membership information. At press time, there were 1,241,316 active geocaches around the world. To find out the geocaching sites nearest you, simply enter your postal code on the homepage.
Q: Do you have any news on upcoming Super Bowl events? We're not sure whether we'll attend but we'd like some details. Any information is appreciated.
-- G. Graziano, Toronto
A: The 45th Annual Super Bowl will kick off at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington on Feb. 6, 2011. (Arlington is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area.)
Dallas is beaming for a couple of reasons. Believe it or not, this big city in the big state of Texas will be hosting America's favourite sport for the first-time. This means you can expect plenty of surprises from a city that likes to call itself "The Football Capital of the U.S."
Sixteen key events will be held in conjunction with the Super Bowl XLV. These include the 20th Taste of the NFL. Scheduled for Feb. 5 at the Fort Worth Convention Center, the event will bring together an expected 3,000 foodies and 40+ NFL players. Organizers say proceeds from Taste of the NFL will go toward hunger relief.
"Taste is the party with a purpose," said founder Wayne Kostroski.
For more on Dallas, see visitdallas.com. For other news on the Super Bowl and related events, visit northtexassuperbowl.com.
Q: Are coloured photographs acceptable for Canadian passports? My current passport has a coloured photograph. I also wear glasses.
-- C. Huggins, Markham
A: Yes, a colour photograph is acceptable to Passport Canada. The government website reports glasses, including tinted prescription glasses, may be worn as long as the eyes are clearly visible. Sunglasses are unacceptable.
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