SSAB – August 1 2022
Humidity and connection issues! Knife Sharpener actually sings! Compound clarified with pesticide! New month! Civic holiday in Canada, Dauphin’s CNUF and Folklorama kick off this week. Looks like it’s in full swing, I’ve never seen another city put on a show for each culture in the city. Food, traditional clothing and dance, items for sale from that country. I don’t think I ever went to the Chinese one. Greek and Ukrainian (Lviv) pavilions were always huge, same with Italy. If you have the chance, go. Learning country names! Usually intuitive IF you know how Chinese would represent the sound. Continuing on with the live streams. Worked Saturday so not much free time.
Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com
This show was live streamed at https://youtu.be/hfoaney1u0w
SSAB – August 2 2022
Reading some articles on Germany before the war… Foreign Affairs between 1931 and 1940. They saw what was happening. Have a few other articles I want to read on the subject as I find it fascinating and just a touch of a warning in some way. Just something to look out for. Cyncism is popular, but why don’t people reject their passports? They choose to live somewhere else yet they hold on. Bike ride easy today. 10 miles just under an hour. Didnt want to run after work today either but did the 2 miles… in under 20 minutes. August animation begins! But this one I want to work on two things: cell by cell animation and claymation. I will stray away from After Effects Motion and instead focus on real world stuff. New SLV video up – three questions: what language learning troubles are you having, does technology make your studies easier, and what was some of the best advice you’ve received about learning another language? Do you think you could replace your current income with something online?
Show notes tracks n vids up on stevensirski.com Have a good one!
This show was live streamed at https://youtu.be/SnNneDKE-uw
SSAB – August 3 2022
Humidity high! Affecting workout performance. Few more animations done, need to soundtrack. Leaving open the idea of using anything to animate, but I want to focus on animation this month. A guy I know wrote a few improvised songs for his kid so I used them as inspiration. China elections coming up, bet you didn’t think they happen but yes, they do. Coincidentally, Evergrande executives forced to resign and arrested. Looks like 2015 all over again. Oh, and why is the internet so spotty? Not just my connection either! Pelosi is visiting Taiwan. Vocab vocab vocab! Only focusing on vocab these days.
Show notes tracks and vids up on stevensirski.com Have a good mid week!
This show was live streamed at https://youtu.be/2snIpnlatxw
SSAB – August 4 2022
Qixi day… another Valentine’s Day in China Pelosi gone, internet a little bit better, but not much Half bike ride today, lots of mobility work. Humidity high, rainstorm finally to cool things down!
Show notes tracks n vids on stevensirski.com Have a good one!
This show was live streamed at https://youtu.be/D4_DCOvcHYI
SSAB – August 5 2022
Nice and quiet today! No generator! Slow n twenty workout today, focused more on technique and going slow Early cause invites to go out More people leaving but staying in Beijing ‘Because if you don’t you’ll have to update your resume’ – a little quote or saying I came up with to motivate myself. Animations continue… animating bean makes it look like a ball sack some times. Show notes tracks n vids up on stevensirski.com Have a great weekend!
This show was live streamed at https://youtu.be/AWwZAgf-GWw
SSAB – August 8 2022
Humidity hits 84%?! Internet problems… is it just me? Internet repair in Chinese! Thank goodness for translatation and multiple connection lines! Setting up some new channels for the podcast and possibly will keep the audio blog separate. Also thinking of how to spin off May You Make Your Movie into a separate project. Sanya hit by THE VIRUS! When will this end? And… turns out some universities in the US had contracts with multiple unis here in China tp research… you guessed it. Bat viruses! And they had some wording in there that meant each side could shimey away from blame.
Show notes tracks n vids up on stevensirski.com Have a good start of week!
This episode was NOT streamed live. (Connection problems :()
SSAB – August 9 2022
11 mile bike ride in the morning, get up n get it done Gotta use up Russian lessons Never seen anti-Russian sentiment so high before amongst the people I know. Foreign Affairs article. What would it take? 生闷气 (-悶氣) shēng mènqì – sulky -Are the Chinese people you know a little downtrodden? Sky miles are disappearing Metaverse for F1?! Pro sports?! NFTs are hockey players you create and train Vodka’d garlic… still good after all these months! Show noted tracks n vids up on stevensirski.com Have a good day!
This episode was streamed live at https://youtu.be/rbmtc1rwOyk
SSAB – August 10 2022
Ukraine hits Crimea… why they cant use the weapons to go further into Russia double workouts… TWO rounds of skip n ballz! Vocab review, it’s all I do Sanya 80,000 tourists kept from leaving… there could be worse places I guess On travelling and tourism: since Tibet is closed, they have suggested alternative routes -would you rather travel on your own (no guide) or go on a packaged tour? New cam set up for livestreaming. It’s a bit of a cobbled-together affair but it’ll do for now. Old cell phone, Zoom H4n, and the Reincubate Camo Studio software (free). Looks better already. Show notes tracks n vids up on stevensirski.com Happy Hump Day!
This episode was streamed live at https://youtu.be/JDx9gkDmsJs
SSAB – August 11 2022
Joe Rogan reads TikTok’s TOS: is it just a data mining app? Contrast Gary Veynarchuk’s ‘get on TikTok’ and his claim that China will surpass the US within the next decade or so. You on it? Writing a book in 30 days by James Altechur -Could I write a book for ESL learners? Language learners? Given the big push towards audio, do you really want to hear everything? Or what about these services that offer to summarize books? Those might work for news or other things where words may be filler, but what about the authors who actually put thought into their words to stand the test of time, not just to meet a deadline or capitalize on he latest ebook topic? Show notes tracks n vids up on stevensirski.com. Have a good one!
This episode was NOT streamed live, but you can see me try at https://youtu.be/8ejF0f-V4DQ
SSAB – August 12 2022
Listening to PT Barnum’s “The Art of Getting Money”. Known for his Barnum & Bailey circus that ran until 2017. USAmerican entrepreneur, in his introduction to this book he says alcohol and tobacco are two of the biggest problems that young people face, especially those who think themselves business savvy. Turns out he was a big smoker and boozer before a visit to Europe which changed his mind.
Dual workouts, did NOT feel like getting up this morning… ‘what if I just sleep in till 7 then go for a walk?’ OR YOU CAN GET UP, PUT YOUR SHOES ON, AND GO FOR A FKG RUN. So, two mile run for warmp up followed by a no-weight vest HALF Murph.
My deal was that I’d bring down my steel club if I felt really lazy but ended up going for an unweighted attempt at the Half Murph. The result? 10 rounds 5 pull ups, 10 pushups (no knees), and 15 air squats. A LOT easier without the vest! One mile on either side. Afternoon consisted of another 2-mile run plus skipping plus a slow kb workout.
Why so lazy? My calves have been knotting, like… very close to seizing up. I did’nt want to push it lest I make it knot and just make things worse.
Tried an Argentinian arepa and empanadas today. Alright, but heavily deep fried so not sure I’ll try this again. Got them from Andino’s.
Getting trolled on my language vlog! Haaaa apparently some don’t like my beard. WTF? Really? Haaaaa Smells like smoke in the Beej… ghost month continues and people are burning the money and other offerings for their ancestors.
Episode 31 is done but yet to be posted. Since I promised you something to listen to I’m instead giving you the Introduction to PT Barnum’s Art of Getting Rich. NOT read by me… though that is a thought.
Show notes vids n tracks up on the site stevensirski.com Have a good weekend!
This episode was streamed live at https://youtu.be/BFpOLUIPQg8
SSAB – August 15 2022
World population to hit 8 billion, so? Are people still not having kids because it hurts the environment? Havent heard that argument in a while Salman Rushdie stabbed! I remember when Satanic Verses came out… still havent read it Double workouts HSK vocab… 97 minutes on Sunday! Have I been slacking that much? Still no HSK results just yet. 24 miles around 2nd ring road! YouTube shorts seems to be where its at. Lots of views, faaaar more than anything else Lex Fridman’s podcast with Andrew Bustamante, great listen and well worth the time.
Show notes tracks n vids up on stevensirski.com, have a good start of week!
This episode was streamed live at https://youtu.be/OBxp2KUNo58
SSAB – August 16 2022
Humidity down so it is cooler and much nicer than a week ago! Power brownouts in parts of the country, should I feel bad about using my fan? Realize that it’s difficult to fall asleep with it on and… even with the crickets outside! 18 hour work days, could you do it? Dr. Jordan Peterson talks about this especially as it pertains more to men than women in the late 30s. Well, sheeit, am I going through a midlife crisis? First, I hope it’s not midlife! Second, if you could get paid or at least entertain the idea of getting paid for your hobbies or ideas, would you spend the time after work working on them? Been writing a few soundtracks as of late. Thinking of putting these all up on a website. Chinese percussive therapy! Jiggling and whacking and clapping. No bike ride this morning but did go for a three mile run… cause I was waiting for Starbucks to open!
Show notes tracks n vids up on stevensirski.com Have a good day!
Streamed at https://youtu.be/OBxp2KUNo58
SSAB – August 17 2022
ANDREW BUSTAMANTE! Not what I said before. Watching Prehistoric Planet on Apple TV. Everything seems to either eat or kill something else. How do they remember that one or another creature will eat you? If you have to ask what an 18-hour work day is… Doing the DELTA! Aaaannnndddd… EPISODE 31 IS FINALLY UP! Rachel Weiss from the Date night China podcast joins me to talk about podcasting, being an expat especially now in Beijing, and some plans for the future. Stay tuned for a listen after today’s show and then head to stevensirski.com to download the episode.
Show notes tracks vids and big podcast up on stevensirski.com. Have a good one!
Streamed at https://youtu.be/SmCJieVc1i4
SSAB – August 18 2022
Raining all day! No bike ride, slept in, but did some mobility work in the morning SSP31 up! You can download the mp3 through Google Drive on my website or hit me up on Wechat and I’ll send it to you. Language learning channel brainstorming… Metaverse n nft classroom, is it something teachers to use? Send yourself to the classroom? Can students use it or is it just for an ‘open office hour’ classroom? Unity game development – this is the next thing in creative filmmaking Let’s check those HSK scores! EEEEECH…. listen to what happened! (138/300) Study plan going forward…
Show notes tracks n vids up on stevensirski.com Have a good one and I hope your studies are going better than mine!
Streamed at https://youtu.be/wUJs1nHfDeY
SSAB – August 19 2022
If i had the money, what would I do with my time? Learn languages -never talked about this yesterday New SLV vids up TikTok and YouTube Shorts: okay to poat old travel videos? A walk down memory lane for me! Dual workouts, -Half Murph this morn but with 4.? kg, about 8 lbs or so. 10 rounds: Mile 1: 9m 46s Workout: 26m 11s Mile 2: 10m 28s Continue to watch Prehistoric Planet. This is soooo cool! Oh, and Unity… one other reason I think it’s in the future… cause it’s difficult. Music: easy, movies: easy, APPs: easy (-ish), but 3D character generation and application? A little more difficult! And a new JingA on the hood!
Show notes tracks n vids up on stevensirski.com Have a good weekend!
Streamed at https://youtu.be/uxkavZwJw1Y
SSAB – August 22 2022
Out Saturday night, went on for a bit, new place opened up Last full week of August already, are you having fun? Humidity has moderated Workouts arent as intense, feeling a little sluggish but still putting in the time Tired of not being able to travel if only just to see something SLV vids up Using YouTube shorts to post more travels vids, bike rides on hethe weekend Where could you live for $1000 or 1000 Euros a month? That’s 7000 RMB per month The value of some time off
Show notes tracks n vids up on stevensirski.com Have a good start of week!
Streamed at https://youtu.be/VjZTLTdVAqI
SSAB – August 23 2022
Smells like smoke? Nearing the end of ghost month No mirrors to decorate the room or else you’ll see a ghost… yea, your own face in the middle of the night! Watched the 2015 Murph challenge, they do it all at once, no sets! He ran the last mile in 8 minutes! Nowhere near this level of fitness! Need to work out how I’ll get the morning workout done as I have to be across town in the morning. Another lesson with the language that cannot be named. Another couple weeks of this. USD is kind of high right now so I dont want to buy any more credits just yet. Was looking for a cheap Chinese teacher for convo or tone practice
Show notes tracks n vids up on stevensirski.com Have a good Tuesday!
Streamed at https://youtu.be/8UpbE6jKcR0
SSAB – August 24 2022
Ukrainian independence day A reading of some Ukrainian Today’s bike ride, subway was packed going there Had to sign two documents and do it in person because of my foreign passport. The lady I know there I havent seen in years and she was surprised at how thin I was compared to before. A drop of 18kg! Workout completed A little bit depressing to see and hear so many people leaving. Do you think we will meet again? Sure can keep in touch and I’d like to think the world is a rather small place, but this is like a death. Even if they came back, would it be the same? What has changed so much?
Show notes tracks n vids up on my website stevensirski.com Slava Ukrainii!
Streamed at https://youtu.be/ASrJLIph3OY
Ukrainian reading streamed at https://youtu.be/Zaa9Jw53yqs
SSAB – August 25 2022
Internet issues so no livestream 🙁 DELTA module to begin, lots of reading and theory to go through. Was told to plan to go through the whole thing, not just one part HSK 5 and language proficiency -how do you know when it’a good enough? PLUS! A reader’s comments! And when HR leaves, is it all over?
Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com Have a good end of week!
Not streamed.
SSAB – August 26 2022
Murph:
2.08 mile warm up – 20.52
Unweighted 1 mile – 9.17
Workout 16x – 29.37
5 pull ups 10 pushups 15 air squats
1 mile – 8.55
Felt pretty good after and did think of doing the whole 20 rounds but was wanting to leave some left for the afternoon. But did get me thinking that it is possible, unweighted, to complete the whole thing.
Language convo class at 5.30, wanted to try pure conversation practice rather than lesson-based. Largely failed, but I could see how this could be done for Mandarin instead.
The future of education: you will have to be in a big city because you will need to have access to the information highway (the internet) at decent speeds, but your choice of who to learn from will be huge! And what about IP blocks? That will also play into it.
Prehistoric Planet: what if aliens sound like dinosaurs? Are we sending the right messages?
Show notes tracks n vids up on stevensirski.com. Have a great weekend!
Streamed at https://youtu.be/Fb99DQ0nNeU
SSAB – August 29 2022
Getting cool outside Double workouts plus a bike ride to sign another contract extension. Thinking of adding some more equipment DELTA terminology! Started in, one hour a day is my goal Learning the language and culture… must be necessary -do you ever feel as if you just want to go back to where you can understand everything? -THAT’S what needs to happen if you live overseas. Otherwise not only will you BE the outsider, but FEEL it as well. And… a move to Taiwan? Show notes tracks n vids up on stevensirski.com Have a good start of week!
Streamed at https://youtu.be/RR15PpRWZBE
SSAB – August 30 2022
End of the month already! One more day just in case you didn’t know Allergies! Same thing happened last year If should maybe another backpacking trip… how would I get home? And where is home? Reading up on the Ukrainian war, sounds like it’s either stalled or more preparations are happening. The fact remains, Russia has more ammunition and supplies that it makes on its own and doesnt seem to be letting go of this battle. Ukraine is still depending on the West for help. One of these has to tip in one direction. Loading up on guests and some gotta be on quick or else they’ll be gone! Show notes tracks n vids up on stevensirski.com Have a good one!
Streamed at https://youtu.be/kEC0jCpbeaI
SSAB – August 31 2022
More cases and people leaving! The bloodletting continues! China is the first place I’ve for so long in one place, literally! I wanted to see how things would turn out, but I still haven’t really been attracted to anywhere else just yet. And do I really want to live out of backpack again? Workouts, could a change be in the works? What if I shifted my eating window? Another language class, need lots of work with conjugations and declensions. May hold off on booking any more other language lessons till after I’m a bit more secure in HSK 5. Google Meet… apparently you can record audio n video too. 60-minute time cap, more than the Zoom meeting. Game plan for HSK 5: does it have to be done by November? The important thing is to get it done and I’ll be busy until the middle of September at this rate. Show notes tracks n vids up on stevensirski.com! Have a good one!
Streamed at https://youtu.be/bpCfPP1nK0s