Being Published

Yesterday I received an email from a publishing company in Singapore that had seen my blog and the posts I wrote following my trip to Singapore in April this year. They contacted me specifically about the short entry I wrote as an introduction to my Universal Studios Singapore video and asked if they could have permission to publish it in the second volume of their English Empowers Learner's textbook for Singapore schools (primary and secondary).

At first I was taken back and had to go check out the entry again. It's not even that long at only 350 words, but now I think it makes sense why they chose it. Obviously the fact that I'm talking about Singapore and the brand new theme park that just opened this year is the biggest feature, but also the way I'm talking about where we're going, what we're doing, and the fact that I used a lot of descriptive words and comparisons actually makes it fairly pertinent for someone learning the language - go figure!

In any case, I gave my permission for them to freely use the entry and will be credited for it. It's one of those little things that's worth it just for the story. I like the idea that kids in Singapore could be reading aloud about my afternoon spent at Universal Studios in one over 15,000 textbooks. I never would've imagined it.

Here is the original entry being published. My Universal Studios Singapore video is below.

Vanguard on Current

It's refreshing to find a news journalism program that isn't just fueled by flashy effects or hype. Instead, Vanguard on Current is a show that allows its correspondents to tell a story and get you interested in the bigger picture. In my opinion, they successfully balance informative commentary and entertainment without feeling the need to dumb-down the argument or take their subject matter too lightly.

Their guerrilla documentary style approach also makes it feel more personal. I love how the correspondents actually get involved with their subjects, whether traveling to unique locations or spending a day in their life, you feel like those involved have actually invested a lot in getting to understand why people are saying and/or doing the things they are.


Current TV has become an online staple for me in the last year with shows like Infomania, Rotten Tomatoes, and now Vanguard. In its 4th season already there is plenty of material and full seasons of episodes to watch online. For those interested in everything from the recession to pirates to robots and even a bus trip across America - Vanguard is worth checking out. I've posted a few of my favorite episodes below, for more click here.

Lost Vegas: Vanguard


The Great American Detour: Vanguard

Salton Sea: North Shore Yacht Club

Late in the summer of 2009 my friend Dave and I went on a road trip to Southern California. One of the highlights of the trip was traveling out to the Salton Sea to check out the rundown buildings and remnants left from the tourist boom that fizzled out in the late '70s and '80s because of the ecological state of the sea itself.

The North Short Yacht Club was once a million dollar resort facility that saw celebrities and tourists using the marina. Throughout the 1960's this place saw a lot of traffic, but as the salt levels in the water continued to rise the desirability of the location weakened. After several floods in the decades that followed, the marina was eventually unusable and the yacht club was finally closed.

Dave and I visited in August 2009 when renovations were just beginning - everything was still in a rough state and the yacht club was still very much abandoned. Today, however, the yacht club looks much like it did back in the 1960's (see the picture of the renovated facility below). Supposedly there's now a museum and community centre inside.

Recently renovated North Shore Yacht Club.

I wanted to post this because it has quickly dated the footage that I shot just last year. Check out my Salton Sea videos to see what the rundown building looked like for over a decade - sitting empty on the shore of the Salton Sea in California. For more on our experience and the entire road trip (labeled Indio Outio), you can read my full post about visiting North Shore here.