The Audio Blog of Steven Sirski

By Steven SirskiSociety & Culture Places & Travel

The Audio Blog of Steven Sirski episodes

February 01, 2022 SSAB - January 31 2022
Last day of the Lunar New Year and the first day of the week! Is Beijing any different? What do you do for the Lunar New Year? End of the Ox Year and into the Tiger New Year which means... ? A week off and able to get some things done. Jiaozi done. Yuanbao done. Penzi done. Eating early and then onto the Gala tonight! Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com!
29 min
February 01, 2022 SSAB - January 30 2022
Just jamming around! A really peaceful Sunday afternoon as the city prepares for the Spring Festival. Though it is a make-up work day, lots of people have already left the city for their home towns. Such atmosphere inspired this here track in which I thought of the Detroit Garage drum kit in Logic pro and had a play around with it. With this track I wanted to learn how to separate all of the different elements of a drum beat to create a cohesive whole. I then overlaid a simple bass rhythm and guitar track. Guitars are something I'll have to work on since it's not something I've usually played. Enjoy this lazy Sunday! Show notes and tracks up on stevensirski.com.
3 min
January 29, 2022 SSAB - January 29 2022
Out to the pub we go, or is it a watering hole? Pint house? Local brew bar? Anyway, night went on longer than expected but that was because we were just so smart! Ended the night with some fantastic Korean fried chicken doused in sauce! Automating work, automating life, how much can be done and using which tools? Read up on using Apple Automator and Apple Scripts, how can these work with Python? Jamuary continues and it's almost over. Tried a Chinese-inspired soundtrack recently. Spring Festival coming up, one week off! Back to work the Tuesday after! Show notes and tracks up on stevensirski.com. Have a great weekend!
23 min
January 29, 2022 SSAB - January 28, 2022
Trying out the Chinese instruments on the iPad: GuZheng and the drums. A bit spacey, relaxing, and probably not what purists would call "real" but, it's cinematic and would make for a good soundtrack to a few images... which I just might do later on in the year. Hope you enjoy this track titled "A Chinese Soundtrack" as we get ready for the Spring Festival. Show notes and tracks up on stevensirski.com.
3 min
January 27, 2022 SSAB - January 27 2022
Thinking about... how to automate myself as an ESL teacher? For all of the month-long challenges I've gone through, would it be possible to build a program to at least deal with the introductory back and forths for a language learner? Not just an English learner, but a language learner in general? What questions would you ask? How would you know when they've stopped speaking? How would you know when they need help? Or, could it be programmed to do all this without the learner feeling like shit for not knowing? Show notes and tracks up on stevensirski.com, thanks for listening folks!
29 min
January 26, 2022 SSAB - January 26 2022
Reading JP Getty's book again, what does it take to succeed? What is success? What habits do I need to form? A podcast for ESL learners to supplement class? An extra service to students? The job will end, it's not a matter of if, it's when and how prepared I will be for that. Jamuary continues with new tracks up and lining up podcast guests. Show notes and tracks up on stevensirski.com. Hope you're having a great week so far and staying warm and safe out there!
26 min
January 25, 2022 SSAB - January 25 2022
Why do I even read these books?! End of the Universe? My descendents will have to make the jump? Yet all I'm worried about is my next paycheck. And reading some books I may never have an actual use for. This was inspired by Michio Kaku's The God Equation. Maybe I should have just had a beer instead? Bought a Russian grammar book... in Chinese. The idea is to study both at the same time. Eech. Chinese went slow today, will finish it up on Saturday. Will I hit my April goal for the HSK 5 test? Jamuary continues with new tracks up. Coming to the end of 90 days of creative anxiety output. Time for a break? And, would a move to another city really be a good idea? Show notes n tracks up on my website stevensirski.com. Have a good one!
24 min
January 25, 2022 SSAB - January 24 2022
Parts of Fengtai locked down, city-wide testing, Omicron has been found in the Olympic loop. How and why? Good thing my books arrived. Jamuary continues with the website updated. Looking forward to Finish February. Beijing has snow, is it even real if it doesn't stick to make snowballs? Snowman 2022 done. And... what if still China, but not Beijing? Where else would I go within China? Would I want to go? Time is flying, I hope you're being productive. Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com!
24 min
January 25, 2022 SSAB - January 23 2022
What would it be like to sit and chill and jam in a garage? This here uses the Detroit Garage drum kit and a few other elements to replicate what might be played on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Playing along to a click but using it as another instrument, nice and chill. Show notes and tracks up on stevensirski.com
2 min
January 25, 2022 SSAB - January 22 2022
Riding through the streets of Beijing on a Saturday evening. Slippery and snowy, pretty, but not too bad. Here be the soundtrack to my ride, trying to play guitar... Show notes and tracks up on stevensirski.com
2 min