USA

To photograph the lakes and mountains of New York state's Adirondack Park, David John Weber did more than just hire a seaplane; he paid attention to certain techniques in photography. Learn some camera vocabulary as you learn the story behind his photos.

Inez Sharp shares her photos of this colourful city in southern Florida, where Cuba and America meet. You can almost hear the waves on the beach and the salsa music playing in the background!

The Conflict Kitchen seeks to educate Americans about countries hostile to the US. Its events have included a teleconferenced meal: diners in Pittsburgh (pictured) and their counterparts in Tehran ate the same food while they talked via webcams.

Thinking about visiting the US? Go online and fill out the ESTA (electronic visa) form right away. This security authorization lasts for two years and costs nothing. Wait until next month, however, and you'll have to pay $14 for it.

In 1909, Mark Twain said: "I came in with Halley's Comet in 1835. It is coming again next year, and I expect to go out with it." The author of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn died on 21 April 1910, a day after the comet's closest approach to Earth.

Sixty years ago, the Beat writer Jack Kerouac arrived in Denver and found a gritty city of hard-drinking Rocky Mountain outlaws. Today, it is a vibrant mix of art galleries, restaurants, clubs, parks, bike paths and family neighbourhoods.

Experts are now saying that there is little evidence that body scanning machines would have prevented the attempted Christmas Day bombing of Northwest Airlines flight 253. The technology has problems detecting explosive powder.

To accompany Claudia Hellman's article "Shop and save in New York City" in the January issue of Spotlight, we've prepared an online Big Apple experience that uses video, old and new, to convey the magic, myth and drama of this extraordinary place.

Clam chowder, maple syrup, turkey, cranberries, baked beans, Grüner Veltliner wine and miso soup can all be found on the Boston menu. The cuisine is influenced by the region's seaports and farms and the cultural links between Massachusetts, Europe and Asia.