The Audio Blog of Steven Sirski

Good Friday along with a Ukrainian-Canadian hymn to start the show. A description of Easter weekend as I remember it from my childhood including Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday. Church critics move along, this one isn't for you. Historians and travellers will find it interesting. Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com. Have a Good Weekend!

The mental aspect of starting a blog or podcast: what would I talk about?

Hosting provider: bluehost, dreamhost, godaddy, squarespace

It's like teaching a writing class

Obvious candidates: your skills, hobbies, interests, your job (but you need to be careful if you don't own the business cause you might now know the whole situation)

Brainstorm, mind map, free form writing

What do you want to learn more about? It doesn't even have to be very specific it could be as simple as 'I want to learn how social media works'.

Regional social media. In China: Weibo, WeChat, Bilibili, Douyin, Xiao Hong Shu, Qingting, NetEase, iQiyi, Ximalaya, Kuaishou

Blog, vlog or podcast? Which do you think is easiest for you right now?

I've had the best success when I wanted to learn something because then I don't feel disappointed if no one else likes it. I still learned something along the way.

Show notes and tracks up on stevensirski.com

Talking about starting a blog or a podcast, what would I do? This episode focuses on the practical aspects in terms of which social media outlets should be considered. For example, taking a longer class-lecture and breaking that into different pieces of shorter content for each individual platform: 15 minutes for Youtube, 3 minutes for Tiktok or Instagram, 1 minute for Twitter, both spoken and written word. I don't think you can be exclusive (only written or spoken) but that may also depend on what you're comfortable with and how much you want to put into it. Look for free platforms and be willing to test them out even if it means creating a dummy account so you can at least become familiar with the process involved. Show notes and tracks up on stevensirski.com. Thanks for listening!

Two years since I started my podcast! Have a listen as the first episode is still up! You can skip the first nine episodes or so and head over to Episode 10 or 11 to take you back to the year 2020. How have things changed since then? What am I doing differently? Am I still enjoying it? Yed. Russian class: teacher was in France and was able to observe the election Chinese: two more chapters read, written. Where are my mornings going? THAT'S where! Show notes n tracks (and first episodes from years ago) up on stevensirski.com. Thanks for listening!

Hurt my back! Impedes running

Crypto conference... heard about it but haven't watches much. Bitcoin was down all of last week. Gold is up? Why? Seasonal play?

Shanghai lockdown, could that happen here?

The idea to broaden scope of work and reach beyond just one place, one visa, the new freedom? Consequences?

One reason I became an ESL teacher was to travel, now?

Ukraine... if you read the news you hear such things like 'So and so travelled to this place to meet with officials...', and yet there are lockdowns after mass vaccinations and mask wearing? Something isn't adding up.

Why do govt officials from around the world get to travel but others get locked down? How long will this last? Not too busy in Beijing at least which leads me to panic studying to cram everything before we (may) start work again. Hope we don't get locked down! Eat your vegetables and get some exercise! Be safe out there! Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com!

DMX and the dancing Ayis for Friday night. Two a days and cookies (remember baking sheets aren't an option). The differences between Apple Motion and Adobe After Effects: ease of use, cost, installed libraries, workflow integration, ownership, flexibility. Show notes up on stevensirski.com. Have a good weekend!

Haircut done, but beard still there! Skritter and writing Chinese. Still like to have something I can see. Put the time in and get it done.

To review the APPs I've been using...

For Chinese:

-Pleco (dictionary)

-HelloTalk (not often, social media posts

-HSK 5 books (not the newest version)

-Qingting (online radio broadcasts, various channels)

-Douyin (for colloquial Chinese)

-Short term spoken Chinese book (for class)

-Three-hour class once a week (now finished

-notebook for dictation exercises and class notes

For Russian

-Notepad (for Russian text copies)

-iTalki for Russian lessons and vocab

-Поехали! textbook

-Russian in Exercises

-Classes 1-3 times a week

-pen and paper for class notes

Website updated: stevensirski.com. Have a good end of week!

What do I even do in Beijing any more? And yes, that was the Ukrainian National Anthem you heard at the beginning of this episode sung by yours truly. A little clarification on how the (Russian) media is skewing things to meet their ends: basically anyone saying Ukraine is a nation is a nationalist. But what does that term mean and refer to? That's where the skew is being played. Passport renewal here in Beijing, guess I should get a haircut and get some photos taken. Need to remember to tell them NOT to hole punch my current valid (and necessary) visa and work permit. I don't want to even think of what could go wrong. Chinese lessons are heavy: euthanasia on Sunday, feelings about life today, being busy, appearing to be busy and... playing Chinese chess. Continuing with writing out the characters and reading the texts for the first time. Need to then go back through all of the chapters and review the grammar and THEN, most importantly, start WRITING. Getting this test done! Hope your week is going well so far. Show toes n kracts on stevensirski.com!

A reading from Marcus Aurelius' Meditations... Why are you reading Marcus Aurelius? His name has come up a bit, thought I should finally take a look. MA wrote down his thoughts on life and the people who had taught him something, anyone can do this. I wrote a blog post about some of the things I remember my Dad saying. The difference in saying 'I can do that' and doing it? The people who do have something tangible that can be taken and remembered by others. Will try to read more. Qingming Festival ends today so back to work tomorrow... at least for most people. Show notes n tracks on my site stevensirski.com. Have a good Tuesday!

Cold doesnt sting as much in the morning

Cold inside, warm outside

Russian class, will use italki for my Russian posts

Chinese classes over for now, but studying isnt!

After Effects begins!

March Motion updates

Start a newsletter? I already have a title for it

Two a days continue, weights in morn, cardio in the aft

Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com

Have a good long weekend if you're in China!