● Laptop thieves beware: Whether it’s scouring Craigslist and calling the cops on the seller with your stolen laptop  or finding your theif’s name and address yourself by activating a tracking software, we’re loving these stories of intrepid travelers looking out for themselves. [MSNBC, BBC]

● Happy New Year to us. United Continental Holdings has just announced their plans to install satellite-based wireless internet on their entire fleet between 2012 and 2015. The satellite technology will ultimately mean that they could enable wireless internet access on international flights instead of just domestic. [BTN]

●One of our favorite luxury travel operators, Black Tomato, has won yet another accolade—that would be Best Online Tour Operator at the British Travel Awards. Specializing in custom and insider tours tailor-made for their customers, both individual and corporate, they’ve also spun off Beach Tomato and Epic Tomato to specialize in lifestyle and adventure trips. [Travel Daily News]

●When’s the last time you depended on a giant department store for your shopping? If your answer is “childhood,” well, ours too. So in cities where real estate and building is expensive and space is tight, some developers are looking to these former grande dames for their latest hospitality projects — expect to see converted stores opening in New York and New Orleans, or check out properties in St. Louis and Portland, Oregon, where similar developments have already opened. [Travel Weekly]