Here’s a video I just completed for my friend Erna, who used to take her kids to Kiddyland in LA in the 60’s and early 70’s, and where her husband Ken shot lots of 16mm film of this fondly-remembered but long-gone attraction.

I think the images and music combine to make a very poignant little piece. I was never there and I get a little misty-eyed watching it!

This is the last of a series of four Kiddyland videos, all of which are available on the Kiddyland Facebook page.

I was editing a friend’s video yesterday, and when I uploaded it to YouTube I came across the strangest thing.

As I’ve done many times, I used one of the supposedly royalty-free, “use however you like” music tracks, provided by Apple as part of their iLife suite, for the background. I’ve done this before and uploaded to YouTube with no problems.

(When I’ve used commercial music in the past, the videos were either prevented from uploading until the music was changed, or had popup ads applied as a tradeoff for using copyrighted music. The first is a deal-breaker, and the second is still less than ideal, so I prefer to use either original music or the reliable Apple backing tracks when possible to ensure no ads get in the way.)

This was my first time using a particularly lovely piano theme called “Newborn” – it was perfect for the tone of nostalgia I wanted to evoke.

But when I watched my freshly-uploaded masterpiece on YouTube… an ad popped up. That couldn’t be right, could it? After all, I used royalty-free stock music, cleared for any use.

Then I noticed, below the video, there was something else new: the name of a song and artist, and a link to “Buy on iTunes”. It wasn’t “Newborn” – it was called “Lose You”, by Lazylectric.

Clearly a mistake by the tune-recognizing robots at YouTube, I assumed. This was not a commercial track. It must just sound very similar to something else.

I clicked through to iTunes to give “Lose You” a listen – and was startled.

This was the “Newborn” piano track… with a vocal added over top! And it was for sale at a standard iTunes price of 99 cents!

How could this happen? I didn’t think you even could make a commercial track out of an iLife song. (Isn’t that part of the terms of use?) Actually, I hadn’t had an opinion on this at all, as the thought never even occurred to me.

And now it’s causing my video to be cluttered with a popup ad banner. Ugh.

I’m going to try and contact YouTube and see if I can get some clarity on this – and maybe even a reversal of their decision. I seem to be caught in the middle of a “sampling” conflict that I never imagined possible. I’ll keep you posted on what I find out.

If you attended and enjoyed the Broadway Chorus musical, “Priscilla, Queen of the Damned” last month, here’s your chance to have a truly unique keepsake. I took my custom promo art for the show and expanded it into a full-on, glossy poster!

It’s jam-packed with pictures of the colourful citizens of Zarnesti. Besides Dr. Frankenstein and his monster, resident diva Carlotta Castafiore, and Edwards, Bella and Stela, it also includes the three “Drague” queens, manly Prince Marku, the three princesses, the Housekeeper, “Crazy Fiona”, and more! You’ll relive the hilarity of “Priscilla” every time you look at it.

The posters are printed on heavyweight, glossy paper and are very suitable for framing.

And you can have one of these delightful posters for only $10!

If you’d like one, just email me and we’ll work out the details of payment and delivery.

A final word from Yuri: “I hope you enjoy poster! Is good poster!”

I assembled this brief video to show the incredibly charming house and garden that I visited a couple of weeks ago. From the winding paths and secret nooks of the garden to the old, cottage-style house filled with charming and quirky bric-a-brac, plus a breathtaking ocean view, this was my idea of a true “dream home”. Enjoy!

(Sorry about the ads, but my use of Andreas Vollenweider on the soundtrack makes them pop up…)

What just happened this morning was like something out of a comedy sketch.

I had just dropped Christine’s car off for service at the Honda place on Marine Drive and was walking back alongside the busy road towards the bus stop. Suddenly a minivan pulled up and a slightly befuddled-looking middle-aged couple asked me for directions to Tsawassen. I leaned in and did my best to guide them, but a sharp honk from a motorist behind us reminded me that this was a traffic lane – so I suggested they meet me around the corner, back by the car dealership. I jogged back and we had a little chat. I offered my best guidance, and in a few moments they were on their way.

I turned and strolled back along the empty sidewalk as traffic whizzed by.

Within ten seconds, a car pulled up to the curb. In it was another couple looking every inch the tourist. The woman at the passenger window had her window down. I walked over with a strong feeling of deja vu. She clutched a batch of Google Maps printouts in her lap; I glanced at them and saw they were in German. This should be interesting.

Luckily she spoke English and, unlike the other couple, they actually had some maps on them (though just simple ones, which explained why they were a little lost).

Again, a horn honk behind us. Again, a jog back to the corner. These folks were headed not to Tsawassen but east to Chilliwack. We figured out the most direct way to Highway 99. And then… attempt #3 (for those of you scoring at home) to actually make it along that short stretch of sidewalk without being stopped for directions!

I felt like taking the newspaper I was carrying and holding up to my face. As it was, I sped up into a slight trotting pace, furtively glancing at the onrushing traffic, hoping I didn’t look very helpful.

This time it worked. But now I had a new challenge: there was no crosswalk and if I didn’t somehow nip across the busy street, it appeared I’d be forced to walk all the way up the overpass an over to the airport.

Across Marine Drive, in the curved access ramp arcing toward Oak Street, there was a lone bus stop. And looking east, I saw my bus approaching it. A gap in the traffic appeared. I zipped to the median, then burst across the remaining lanes. I’d made it!

Then I looked over to see my bus breezily passing the empty bus shelter. Noooooooo!

Luckily it wasn’t long until the next one.

Riding home, I couldn’t help but laugh at my double-dose of navigation requests. Maybe I’ve stumbled upon a hotspot for lost travelers. Or could it be that I just look especially helpful and friendly?

June 16th (preview) to 19th at the Waterfront Theatre, Granville Island

Transylvania’s only modern musical theatre group battles the undead in Priscilla, Queen of the Damned, an uproarious, outrageous musical “monster mashup”!

It takes a queen to fight a queen, so when the Vampire Queen next door abducts the entire second soprano section, a trio of cross-dressing crowd-pleasers turn hero and wage war.

In this, its 20th production, The Broadway Chorus has pulled out all the stops. There’s fabulous costumes, beautiful princesses, spectacular dances, slapstick comedy, great drag performances, foreign accents, stairs, and beets. And of course drag queens versus vampires … you know, for kids! The terrific score includes gems from such musicals as Legally Blonde, Shrek the Musical, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels as well as a couple of original songs from Gil and Sarah Jaysmith.

To reserve tickets e-mail ashley.lm@ubc.ca or call 778-322-7182. Tickets are $20, and $15 for seniors, students, and children (and $15 for the preview night). All shows begin at 8:00pm.

The Waterfront Theatre is located at 1412 Cartwright St. on Granville Island, beside the Kid’s Market; there is plenty of free parking after 7:00pm.