Jonathan S

Also, I'm coming in on Asiana, departing on Air China. Will I have to pull my bags and re-check them in Chengdu?

I'm flying into Lhasa airport in September and want to bring, among other lenses, my 500mm f/4.5, which is fairly large. My Tibetan agent warned against bringing "too big camera," as my bags will likely be searched upon arrival, and a professional journalist permit is nearly impossible to obtain.

I've read on this forum about people having no problems with pro-looking gear in other parts of Tibet, but what about flying into Lhasa? Does anyone have any experience in this regard? Do they give all the bags a thorough once-over, or is it a cursory pat-down?

I've been told not to take pictures of military, and any uprisings, but I'd like to bring the big lens for wildlife. Will that freak the Chinese out?

THANKS!

We're considering a trip to Mongolia in the fall of 2012 and look for suggestions on "must-see's" in that country, and for recommendations on Mongolia-based travel agents from people who have been there. Thank you for your ideas.

I'm a hobbyist with a nice point-and-shoot who travels to some of the world's most extreme environments. I'd like to get a camera worthy of capturing the beauty of these places, mostly the mountains, without having to sacrifice too much in terms of weight. It should be durable, easy to use for a beginner, and a step-up in quality from point-and-shoots. Can you please recommend a good DSLR for me?

In the World Cup game against South Africa, they called offsides even though there was a defender standing on the goal line. Was that a just a blown call or did the keeper coming out have something to do with it?

How backed up is the bureaucracy at the land border crossings going into Bolivia from Peru? Would I be better off getting my visa in advance, or is it no big deal at the border? Will I need to bring all the requirements listed (yellow fever card, hotel reservation, photo, financial info)?

I can't figure out what song this is. It's not on the movie soundtrack, but was used as filler on the t.v. show. Check out this link for a soundbyte: http://www.entertonement.com/clips/yyppzrppcs--Eth...

My ex-wife, approaching 40, was spotted slamming them back at a bar full of 20-somethings. When I saw the pictures, all I could do was laugh, but my current wife thinks I was out of line. So when does it become inappropriate for a woman to hang out in a bar full of people nearly half her age?

I'm looking for a geotagging device that will be compatible with my Mac. I'd like to be able to stick my SD card in there to sync up the photos with the geographic data, then import my photos to iPhoto and have the location data appear there (also in Smugmug when I put them online). Does anybody know of a reliable device out there that will work in this way?

I can't figure out how to tilt the image. I have three controls in the upper left: one spins the map around, the other moves it up/down/right/left and the other zooms in and out. But there is no tilt. How do I tilt the map? I had no problem in the PC version, only the Mac.

Please help. Thanks.

I need help finding reliable, durable handheld radios for use in mountaineering expeditions. The FRS radios we've used in the past have limited range for our needs. I'm totally ignorant on the technology out there. Please help!

What's your favorite line from the feature motion picture "The Big Lebowski?" Convince me for 10pts.

I'm booked for this 15-hour enduro-flight in coach class, actually connecting from Los Angeles. Does anybody have any tips for survival on this flight? Just how bad is AA coach on #292? How are Indian customs formalities?

Whenever a celebrity dies (most recently the figure skater Bowman), the press says we have to wait weeks for the toxicology reports. Why? Why can't it be like a regular drug test that is nearly instant? What is different post-mortem?

I got an ipod shuffle for X-Mas and the earbuds fall out and are uncomfortable. Any recommendations for some good earbuds for running that are not too heavy and stay comfortably inside the ear with all the bouncing of running? They should be tough too. Thanks.

Stevie Ray brought blues to the masses. He was a preternaturally talented, honest and soulful player. So why do I find his brother's playing more interesting and original? Your opinions on who you like more and why, please.

He had some catchy pop tunes ("Are You Experienced," "Voodoo Child," "All Along the Watchtower," "Purple Haze") but on those rare occasions where he played serious blues, he so often relied on "nonsense" playing and noise. No doubt he had some chops, but does anybody else think his place in guitar history is distorted? And why or why not?

I already play the guitar and so I'm musically inclined. How hard would it be to pick up that instrument?

We've seen a desire to temper support for the U.S. war in Iraq, and pulling of troops, plus reconciliation with Germany and Russia. But how far will Poland go?