The compound is silent… why?

Russian done, Chinese reading done, English livestream done… about Chinese visas!

Green cards and visas, am I eligible? Marriage & employment are the easiest… but are they?

Watch here: https://youtube.com/live/uZQ8b727OaY

And then you read how young Chinese men are having vasectomies or are marrying their landlords.

Finished 画皮, another Chinese ghost story. This time about a girl who is saved from a battle and then tries to take over the household, or courtyard. Set in old times, not modern times.

David is back! Part 1 today, Part 2 tomorrow! Discussing his model answers, responding to an episode I did way back on August 6, 2024!

Donate to the show! PayPal link below!

https://www.paypal.me/stevensirski?locale.x=en_CA

***

Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com

And on Notion: https://stevensirski.notion.site/SSAB-The-Audio-Blog-of-Steven-Sirski-00acfe344e164bfab191d3cddf6952b2?pvs=4

Newsletter over at stevensirski.substack.com

Have a good Wednesday!

00:00 Introduction and Opening Remarks

00:16 Chinese Visas and Green Cards

01:47 Silent Compound and Generator Mystery

04:47 Daily Routine and Language Learning

04:59 Live Stream on Chinese Visas

07:02 Green Card Eligibility and Requirements

11:28 Discussion on Vasectomies

16:28 Chinese Ghost Story: Hua Pi

18:56 Interview with David Harrison Horton

36:58 The French Guy and Big Bird

37:24 Who is Jacques Cousteau?

38:07 David's Writing Style

39:29 Complexity in Simplicity

40:14 Reading and Interpretation

43:39 John Cage and Boredom

50:00 Taylor Swift and Music Preferences

58:21 Turtles and Stability

01:01:28 Conclusion and Farewell

Watching another Chinese ghost movie: 画皮

Chinese reading done, haven’t yet done writing. Russian done, but no livestream.

Visa applied, will I receive?

Why don’t I leave China?

Donate to the show! PayPal link below!

https://www.paypal.me/stevensirski?locale.x=en_CA

***

Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com

And on Notion: https://stevensirski.notion.site/SSAB-The-Audio-Blog-of-Steven-Sirski-00acfe344e164bfab191d3cddf6952b2?pvs=4

Newsletter over at stevensirski.substack.com

Have a good Tuesday!

00:00 Introduction and Daily Life

00:29 Visa Application Process

02:50 Challenges and Procedures

05:34 Talent Program and Office Visits

11:41 Speculations and Concerns

14:33 Reflections on Living in China

15:53 Job Experiences in China

17:18 Choosing China Over Other Countries

18:06 The Importance of CELTA Certification

19:12 Tax Deductions and Financial Considerations

20:25 Why I Stayed in China

22:01 Reflections on Teaching and Career Choices

26:23 Personal Life and Relationships

29:11 Daily Routine and Language Learning

29:39 Upcoming Projects and Final Thoughts

AQI over 185 again today, so indoor run at lunch time.

Russian AND Chinese done today, though did Russian later because I got out late in the morning.

Is this Week 5 or 6? Either way, will take it easy this week, and then start again next week the big workout cycle.

Watching movies in Chinese… had to watch again cause I fell asleep. 聂小倩 from 聊斋志异, the 1987 version. About a young student who falls in love with a female ghost. Buddhist monk has to save him. Xigua link in today’s show notes:

https://www.ixigua.com/6551332127013601799?id=6551333768857125390&logTag=82eb7dde22af6f8e364e

Stonks a going… up?

SLV newsletter and podcast out! Thinking of a good naming scheme.

More donations!

And now in the process of renewing my visa… will it go through?!

Donate to the show! PayPal link below!

https://www.paypal.me/stevensirski?locale.x=en_CA

***

Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com

And on Notion: https://stevensirski.notion.site/SSAB-The-Audio-Blog-of-Steven-Sirski-00acfe344e164bfab191d3cddf6952b2?pvs=4

Newsletter over at stevensirski.substack.com

Have a good start of week!

00:00 Introduction and Thanksgiving Confusion

01:59 Air Quality and Stock Market Observations

04:47 Indoor Workouts and Language Learning

11:05 Workout Regimen and Gym Reflections

19:12 Chinese Movie Night and Cultural Insights

25:20 Market Trends and Podcast Updates

28:59 Visa Renewal and Closing Remarks

Quiet day… outside that is. No generator? Always worries me.

Another donation! Got a coffee! We’re rolling in it deep now!

Russian done, Chinese done, Chinese writing done!

TWO workouts in:

Morning:

35 min bike (reading Chinese)

Then some warm up sets on the pull down machine and split your leg machine thingy.

Then, down to do some bar work finishing with deadlifting 100kg five times, about 220 lbs.

Afternoon:

7.00 km run in 1hr 16m 43s

Pull ups 2, 10, 10, 20, 20

Push ups 4, 20, 20, 40, 40

Squats 6, 30, 30, 60, 60

-Last set I did straight pull ups, then push ups, then squats.

Add in all the lunges and step ups etc.

Tried to pull all my YouTube Shorts so I could work on that book but, as soon as often happens with coding, ended up spending more time figuring out the code rather than actually getting something done.

Have you ever used those mud masks or baths? Tried some from Lush from Korea, skin does feel smoother.

Donate to the show! PayPal link below!

https://www.paypal.me/stevensirski?locale.x=en_CA

***

Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com

And on Notion: https://stevensirski.notion.site/SSAB-The-Audio-Blog-of-Steven-Sirski-00acfe344e164bfab191d3cddf6952b2?pvs=4

Newsletter over at stevensirski.substack.com

Have a good weekend!

00:00 Introduction and Daily Reflections

00:33 Language Learning Journey

01:01 Quiet Day Concerns

02:38 Gratitude and Donations

03:43 Language Study Routine

15:33 Fitness and Workout Insights

31:09 Mud Mask Experience

35:12 Conclusion and Farewell

Russian reading and a live stream today!

Chinese… NOT done. Said I would do it later and never did.

Stocks a dropping, but is it over?

Got an idea for a book that might actually work…

And the limits of brain switching…

Donate to the show! PayPal link below!

https://www.paypal.me/stevensirski?locale.x=en_CA

***

Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com

And on Notion: https://stevensirski.notion.site/SSAB-The-Audio-Blog-of-Steven-Sirski-00acfe344e164bfab191d3cddf6952b2?pvs=4

Newsletter over at stevensirski.substack.com

Happy Thursday!

00:00 Introduction and Daily Routine

00:54 The Struggles of Language Learning

05:58 The Race Against Boredom in Chinese

12:02 Methodology for Language Mastery

15:07 Russian Language Challenges

19:07 Book Idea and Creative Projects

26:35 Market Trends and Predictions

29:13 The Limits of Brain Switching

30:54 Conclusion and Farewell

Recording earlier on so I can get other things done in the evening. What about the evening’s festivities?? I can talk about what I plan to get done too… might give me a bit of a deadline, too.

No workout this morning, got up on time but spent some time reading and reflecting on things as they stand now: what prompts change: internal or external?

What is the natural progression of a business? Make money first? Or initial investment? What and when is the initial investment?

For example, do I pitch a podcast idea and get sponsors, or do I start producing podcasts (using what and how much do I spend?) and then look / accept sponsorships, etc.? (Not that I’m looking for sponsors.)

Smoggy day, so went to the gym in the afternoon instead.

-35 min on the bike (reading Chinese)

-awkward ab/aductor thingy

-hamstrings

-squats:

20kg bar

15+15+20kg x 5 reps

25+25+20 x 5 x3

20+20+20 x 5 x 3

Bench:

bar

15+15kg+20 x 5

25+25+20 x 5 x3

20+20+20 x 5

GOLD going down, STONKS, a pausing… but this doesn’t look like this is it. I think what we just saw was an initial rally, possibly a response to potential US election results. Dip into the rest of October, then pop a pop a pop?

Donate to the show! PayPal link below!

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***

Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com

And on Notion: https://stevensirski.notion.site/SSAB-The-Audio-Blog-of-Steven-Sirski-00acfe344e164bfab191d3cddf6952b2?pvs=4

Newsletter over at stevensirski.substack.com

Have a good Wednesday!!

00:00 Introduction and Daily Routine

01:59 The Five-Year Plan Dilemma

10:11 Preserving Memories Through Podcasts

12:42 Creative Challenges and Funding

26:24 Fitness and Health Reflections

30:42 Market Trends and Predictions

33:34 Conclusion and Call to Action

GOLD again? Buying that is through the Bank APP.

Stonks a poppin, when will it end?

No gym workout, but languages done!

No Russian livestream, should I make these into webinars?

LIVE photos on WeChat… thoughts?

Looking at products or books to make, ideas? Transcripts? Hardcover books? What else are you going to dream of?

Big podcast background scenery, from Pinduoduo?

Donate to the show! PayPal link below!

https://www.paypal.me/stevensirski?locale.x=en_CA

***

Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com

And on Notion: https://stevensirski.notion.site/SSAB-The-Audio-Blog-of-Steven-Sirski-00acfe344e164bfab191d3cddf6952b2?pvs=4

Newsletter over at stevensirski.substack.com

Have a good Tuesday!!

00:00 Introduction and Opening Remarks

00:44 Daily Life in Beijing

01:17 Work and Travel Dilemmas

06:00 Exploring New Features and Ideas

10:00 Gold and Stock Market Insights

21:08 Language Learning and Live Streaming

24:29 Podcasting and Content Creation

32:16 Concluding Thoughts and Farewell

Back at it! Not really. Was still quiet on the compound as most people didn’t have to work.

TWO WORKOUTS in! Is this Week 4 or 5? I can’t remember.

Morning:

Bike - 35 min (with Chinese)

4 rounds of

-kettle bell carries (16kg)

-battle ropes (30 seconds)

-ball slams (6kg)

-dips x4

Afternoon:

6.44km in 42.33

4 rounds of

-40 double unders (new jump rope!)

-10 bench jumps

-5 one arm push ups each side

-pistol squats

New language vlog podcast out! Newsletter too!

More long form videos in the works!

And a livestream done n done reviewing Chinese characters.

Donate to the show! PayPal link below!

https://www.paypal.me/stevensirski?locale.x=en_CA

***

Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com

And on Notion: https://stevensirski.notion.site/SSAB-The-Audio-Blog-of-Steven-Sirski-00acfe344e164bfab191d3cddf6952b2?pvs=4

Newsletter over at stevensirski.substack.com

Happy start of week and return to work!

00:00 Introduction and Setup

00:51 The Noise Battle

03:53 Work and Routine Reflections

06:22 Workout Philosophy and Routine

13:42 Automation and Work Changes

24:11 Language Vlog and Podcasting

30:50 Conclusion and Farewell

Over 900 episodes! Is this a public service?

+SSP 48 episodes

+SLV 617 videos

Apparently I produce a lot of content.

Workout in! Only one.

7.02 in 1 hr 4 min 47 s

Pull ups: 4, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10

Pushups

Squats

Lunges

Etc

Met a guy from Seattle on the compound, was out for a run and he was locked out of his apartment. Visiting China on vacation, I asked why?? His gf is from Shanghai. Got talking about life in China, life in the US, etc. He suggested we could have recorded our conversation! I was like… not all of it. hahah

No reading, but watching! Mr. McMahon Netflix series… THAT’S why so many wrestlers were on Joe Rogan this past year: new doc all about the WWF / WWE and “pro wrestling”. Interesting to see and hear all about the backstage antics that were going on and how McMahon screwed a lot of wrestlers over, even though he made them huge.

Aaaand labour strike over… that was quick! USD going up, GOLD going down, and OIL stonks a rallying.

Donate to the show! PayPal link below!

https://www.paypal.me/stevensirski?locale.x=en_CA

***

Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com

And on Notion: https://stevensirski.notion.site/SSAB-The-Audio-Blog-of-Steven-Sirski-00acfe344e164bfab191d3cddf6952b2?pvs=4

Newsletter over at stevensirski.substack.com

Happy weekend!

00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene

00:30 A Chance Encounter in Beijing

01:45 Fitness Routine and the Murph Challenge

08:09 Unexpected Guest and Cultural Exchange

13:05 Reflections on Life in China

25:53 Wrestling with Nostalgia

30:01 Market Insights and Financial Musings

35:50 Podcasting and Content Creation

37:34 Conclusion and Farewell

Getting cold outside!

Reading Russian in the morning, is this a good idea?

No livestream today.

Chinese for an hour at Starbucks, practicing writing!

Worked on the podcast but found some problems! May have to change my approach to recording.

Reading some more, can I actually get through a book before the end of the break?

Port workers strike in the US! How will this ripple through? They are against automation… I don’t see them winning that argument. There’s no place for it. They’ll get their raises, but if the automation isn’t put in obviously, then it’ll be subtly introduced.

Donate to the show! PayPal link below!

https://www.paypal.me/stevensirski?locale.x=en_CA

***

Show notes n tracks up on stevensirski.com

And on Notion: https://stevensirski.notion.site/SSAB-The-Audio-Blog-of-Steven-Sirski-00acfe344e164bfab191d3cddf6952b2?pvs=4

Newsletter over at stevensirski.substack.com

Happy Thursday!

00:00 Introduction and Technical Glitches

00:16 Weather and Life in Beijing

04:14 Internet Woes and Language Learning

06:59 The Struggles of Live Streaming

08:18 Language Learning Strategies

24:39 Podcast Production Challenges

28:55 Reading and Relaxation

31:18 Port Workers Strike and Automation

39:30 Conclusion and Farewell