Next month we are flying BA to Phoenix. I have heard that they are very strict on hand baggage on BA flights.
I'm wondering what to do about a camera bag. At the moment I have a Tamrac Adventure 5 back pack, which in theory meets their size requirements, but when full may not fit into the frame they use. KLM never had a problem with it as they allow an extra bag for photographic gear anyway, but As I said I am hearing that BA are really strict. Does anyone have experience of BA recently and can you tell me how they were with hand baggage?
Do I risk using my Tamrac backpack or should I search for a bag which I am sure will fit?
I have considered getting a rolling case (especially as thanks to the T5 fiasco we now have to change terminals at Heathrow) but I'm not sure how useful that will be once we get to Arizona - can't see me towing one at the Grand Canyon for instance.
Any suggestions - it has to be able to fit a Bigma as well as (hopefully ) a K20D and a few other lenses - are welcome.

It's true looking at tripods online is confusing and not very helpful. I went to a big camera shop here in the Netherlands having narrowed my choice down somewhat. Once there and having played with a few I came away with the one which was actually third on my list. It just felt right and met all my needs. I took the Bigma and the head with me (I'd already bought the head for a good price online) to test it.
I would never go to a shop unless I was intending to buy from them.

Unlocker, that is exactly why I took months over deciding on a tripod, and spent a small fortune on one when I did buy - actually the head cost as much as the tripod (or would have done if I hadn't got a good deal on it).
It is very tempting to go for something lightweight, as it is easy to carry, but as your lens collection grows and gains in weight it becomes clear that a lightweight tripod isn't good enough.

First decide what sort of photography you want the tripod for, then what sort of head is suitable for that photography and which head is strong enough to carry the heaviest lens you are likely to use on it, then choose the longest, sturdiest tripod you can afford to put under it all.

Benro are indeed Chinese copies of Giottos. They are good quality copies but copies nonetheless. It all depends on how you feel about buying such a blatant copy.
I know a professional who has one, and a Benro ball head and is very happy with them. He uses his Sidekick (a genuine one!) on it quite happily, and recommends them to everyone he meets.
I'm not so sure of the morals of it all, that's why I ended up with the Velbon.

Choose a carbon fibre tripod if you can afford one. Choose one which is tall enough that you don't need to use the centre column, but which will also go low enough you can use it on the ground for macro if that is your thing. A removable centre column is useful. Choose one which can take the weight of the camera + your heaviest lens + the ball head + a bit extra.
Choose the best ball head you can afford. Good ball heads cost as much if not more than the tripod they are attached to.

Gitzo make superb tripods, Manfrotto and Velbon make more affordable tripod which are still very good. Benbo now only make one lightweight model. There are Chinese copies of Manfrotto/Gitzo tripods around under the name Benro. They also make ball heads. Depending on how you feel about these they are very good I'm told, but they do rely on stolen technology.

I have a Velbon Sherpa Pro CF 630 with a Markins Q ballhead. I am very happy woth this combo, although I miss clips on the legs (mine has screws). It is a rock solid combination and holds my Bigma with ease.

I use Photoshop Elements 6. I like it a lot though the RAW developer is pretty basic. One of these days I plan on buying Bibble to do that as I really like it.
Photoshop Elements comes with an organiser - but it still relies on you having a good file storage organisation to work well.
PSE also enables you to do backups easily.

I back up to DVD or archive quality CD (depending on the photos) and to a separate hard drive.

I'm not sure that Marc (Pentaxke) will see this posting but I believe he found the same thing as you Don.

I have an IST Ds, (still ) so no dust removal system. I have taken it to dust laden Tanzania, whale watching in the US to our local sand dunes, sailing and on beaches. I change lenses frequently. Yet I only got dust on my sensor to the degree of it being annoying more than 18 months after first buying the camera. Even now I rarely need to clean it, and when I do I just use my Arctic Butterfly on it. If you always change lenses with the body facing down, in as dust free an area as you can manage you will reduce the risk of dust. If you never change lenses you will reduce it further. Also make sure the camera is switched off when you change lenses.

I have never used Eclipse but if you have a K10D or later you must make sure you buy the right fluid, as the original one can damage the sensor.
Also I believe you are not allowed to fly with Eclipse fluid. I am a Acrtic Butterfly user myself. I am very happy with it and making good use of it here in the dusty SW USA.

I'm not sure what number 4 is called in English, in Dutch it is a wants, I think in English it is a true bug, the family is Heteroptera. There are loads of different varieties, which one this is I don't know. We have similar ones here but I've never seen one exactly like the one in the photo.

Good to see you have some not so scary beasties in Oz too