Summer continues and it’s getting hot! Getting up at 3 am again… why don’t I just stay up?

Cleaning begins, what else can I throw away? More clothes, shoes, cables and studio stuff. Still finding it hard to depart with some stuff.

Talking with people around the compound, is 36 almost 40? And a Mother encourages her son to leave Beijing… the economy here is no good!

Making plans for the summer months… every time I’ve done this it never works, so why bother?

And listening to the first few episodes of the No Agenda Show, quite the development! How long per segment?

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

Language vlog on http://www.youtube.com/@stevenslanguagevlog

Google Stock Tracker Sheet

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kbpCC2cieuq23zYyr0-WznPRogVX0aS86BF4_vPvgMY/edit?usp=sharing

Hope you have a great one!!

00:00 Summer Heat Opener

00:35 Who Am I Now

03:23 Podcast Origins and Format

05:32 PayPal and Expat Mission

08:09 Visa Overstay Story

11:06 No Agenda Lessons

15:18 Cadence and Workflow

17:29 Chinese Study Struggles

24:41 Summer Weather and Sleep

29:14 Gym Pass and Flight Dates

31:28 Visa Paperwork Stress

35:35 Summer Plans and Seminars

40:53 Decluttering the Apartment

43:16 Wrap Up and Links

Didja make it back, Steve? Didja make it back? Yes, I did. Hello from Beijing, China. Which connections are working now?

Happy 250 US America!

England wins! Canada loses!

How was the flight back? OOF!

Final thoughts on Singapore?

Hello to Sebastian from Dublin! Came up to me after recording Friday’s episode and then we were seat mates on the plane!

And great news over the weekend as Final Cut Pro newest release now includes AUTOMATIC SUBTITLES!

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

Language vlog on http://www.youtube.com/@stevenslanguagevlog

Google Stock Tracker Sheet

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kbpCC2cieuq23zYyr0-WznPRogVX0aS86BF4_vPvgMY/edit?usp=sharing

Hope you have a great start of week!

00:00 Back in Beijing

01:24 Singapore recap and visa fallout

04:18 YouTube focus and going online

09:35 VPNs that work in China

12:11 America 250 and media bias

14:24 World Cup talk and responsibility rant

21:32 Flights home and China job logistics

26:11 Meeting Sebastian on the plane

31:05 Overnight flight strategy and Singapore thoughts

39:05 Final Cut Pro captions breakthrough

42:14 Wrap up and links

And out of Singapore we go! Three days, is that enough, eh? Yes. I’m tired.

Final day walk around the city, Little India, Chinatown, and the Raffles Hotel (no Singapore Sling for us this time). Owie my feet hurt!

Neat little find, some oils from India. Like cologne but not as strong. Trust the people who sweat! Did we buy anything else? Just chocolates from Singapore, 8 for $10! Yesterday we paid more per box. I guess we’ll see how each tastes.

SILVER a popping! How do we know? A stop at Bullion Star. People a shoppin!

And how is Changi airport? Yes, it’s the airport with the big waterfall inside of it. No food shops near A Gates in Terminal 3, just fyi.

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

Language vlog on http://www.youtube.com/@stevenslanguagevlog

Google Stock Tracker Sheet

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kbpCC2cieuq23zYyr0-WznPRogVX0aS86BF4_vPvgMY/edit?usp=sharing

Safe travels back!

00:00 Leaving Singapore

00:33 Changi Airport Setup

02:42 No Food at A Gates

04:37 Waterfall and Terminals

07:45 Trip Recap Overview

10:12 Little India Morning Walk

11:24 Scented Oils Find

15:05 Raffles Hotel and Long Bar

20:24 Chinatown and Coffee

24:23 Durian Redemption 99 Trees

27:29 BullionStar Gold and Silver

36:56 Midnight Flight Wrap Up

39:15 Final Sign Off

Another busy day walking around and back to Sentosa. Beaches (Siloso, Palawan, Tongjeng), billy carts (luges), and the southern most point of continental Asia. And almost lost my phone. That was scary.

Today’s food samplings included:

-Tim Hortons for coffee and donuts, which were as good as what’s available in Canada.

-Then up to the food court at Vivocity at the Sentosa sky train for water jiaozi, roast duck, and kaya sandwiches by Toast Box. Lots of carbs!

-Evening time we tried Mr. Coconut, a coconut milk shake.

-Popiah = some sort of roll

-And A&W… which was nothing like in Canada.

Off to the Gardens by the Bay for a light show at night and a walk back to the hotel with a stopover at the Merlion.

And the underground skate scene in Singapore… how is it? Quite in the open.

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

Language vlog on http://www.youtube.com/@stevenslanguagevlog

Google Stock Tracker Sheet

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kbpCC2cieuq23zYyr0-WznPRogVX0aS86BF4_vPvgMY/edit?usp=sharing

Safe travels!

00:00 Day Plan Teaser

00:32 Visa Run Mishap

01:50 Heat And Tourist Pace

03:36 Early Start No Window

04:26 Sentosa Luge Basics

06:43 Chairlift Nerves

08:36 Tourism Staff Vibes

10:43 Beach Hopping Tour

13:09 Cleaners And Crowds

16:44 Phone Lost And Found

18:47 Singapore Food Mix

20:05 Tim Hortons And Toast Box

22:16 VivoCity Food Court

23:11 Douyin Coupons Debate

25:22 Basement Food Finds

25:46 Mr Coconut Shake

25:56 Papaya Popiah Rolls

26:50 Mochi Rice Treats

28:24 A&W Expectations Clash

31:38 Food Court Drink Drama

33:29 How It Tasted

34:29 Michelin Popiah Recap

36:03 Gardens Light Show

38:36 Singapore Versus China

39:23 Merlion And Marina Walk

44:44 Underpass Youth Scene

46:45 Anti Drug Messaging

48:58 Wrap Up And Links

Happy Canada Day!

Made it to Singapore and enjoying my time.

How was the flight over? Did you get over the visa incident? Had a few people reach out to commiserate, empathize and sympathize.

Off to Universal Studios Singapore AGAIN! Did we get all the rides in? YES! Well… I did. The gf’s niece and sister didn’t want to go on the super fast rides, but we went on a few of the moderate ones and the big screen rides as well. A few shows, but Waterworld is closed until the end of December. Despite what I said yesterday, none of the rides seemed closed today, though the Battle Stare Galactica had technical issues throughout the day which meant they closed… then reopened with much shorter rides.

What’s the plan for tomorrow?

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

Language vlog on http://www.youtube.com/@stevenslanguagevlog

Google Stock Tracker Sheet

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kbpCC2cieuq23zYyr0-WznPRogVX0aS86BF4_vPvgMY/edit?usp=sharing

Safe travels!

00:00 Canada Day Arrival

00:28 Visa Overstay Story

03:27 Law Lessons and Fines

08:36 Singapore Heat and Hotel

09:53 Audio Podcast vs Video

13:39 Midnight Flight Review

18:09 Why Singapore Works

21:36 Universal Studios Day

25:22 Rides Lines and Food

37:50 Tomorrow Plans and Wrap

Well, happy pre-Canada Day, now pay 500 RMB and leave the country within the next 24 hours.

So what happened and why? What’s the solution and where to next?

Will it still be Singapore or… will you renew your visa?

Anything else happy to talk about? VPN’s dead. AND… you can take 50 grams of gold and silver out of China without declaring it. Duly noted.

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

Language vlog on http://www.youtube.com/@stevenslanguagevlog

Google Stock Tracker Sheet

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kbpCC2cieuq23zYyr0-WznPRogVX0aS86BF4_vPvgMY/edit?usp=sharing

Hope you have a great one!!

00:00 Cold Open Visa Panic

00:39 Who I Am And What Happened

01:52 Airport Stop At Passport Control

05:46 No Onsite Fix Flight Lost

07:29 Police Pickup And Charge Translation

08:56 Station Intake Translator And Emotions

10:40 Inventory And Phone Concerns

12:10 Inside The Holding Cell

16:37 Waiting Lunch And Rule Double Standards

20:26 Manager Interrogation Fine And Visa Extension

25:40 Visa Overstay Shock

26:51 Taiwan Visa Argument

28:43 How China Counts Days

31:15 Fine Before You Leave

34:26 Paperwork and Cameras

36:44 500 RMB and Transcript

39:03 Holding Cell Waiting

42:54 Released and Family Fallout

44:46 Rebooking Singapore Flight

47:57 Lessons and Final Warning

End of the month and preparing to go yet again! Don’t be late, though this time the gf paid!

Sorting stuff and throwing out! When we get back it might be time to get serious

Read a book on how to make it on YouTube, I think I’m doing it wrong. WHERE’S YOUR STORY??

And went to see an acrobatics performance… WOW! What would you do if one of them showed up late to class, or missed it entirely??

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

Language vlog on http://www.youtube.com/@stevenslanguagevlog

Google Stock Tracker Sheet

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kbpCC2cieuq23zYyr0-WznPRogVX0aS86BF4_vPvgMY/edit?usp=sharing

Hope you have a great start of week!!

00:00 Packing and deadlines

00:38 China visa countdown

01:51 Singapore flight mixup

04:06 Decluttering travel wardrobe

08:33 Sentimental shirts

11:33 Selling stuff and lease risk

14:04 Life speeds up in your 40s

18:32 Universal Studios plans

21:16 YouTube grind and blueprint

25:07 Aristotle and Storycraft

26:39 Vlog Inspirations and Formats

29:25 Story Versus Plot Basics

30:01 YouTube Blueprint Takeaways

34:21 Passion Versus Teaching

37:51 Document or Present Language Learning

40:50 Singapore Plans and Video Ideas

41:58 Chinese Acrobat Show Highlights

49:31 Packing Up and Sign Off

Markets slammed! Why? Who knows! Chinese stonks a dropping even HARDER!

Building up the website bit by bit, why not just use Wordpress? Let’s try to vibe code it.

Workout in! Deadlifts.. OWIE! 120kg for 3 reps. Should’ve warmed up first. Still managed to get the weighted run done in: 6.51 km in 1hr 2 min 17 sec. 70 pull up, 140 push ups, 210 squats… what about the others? Did 30-40 weighted pull ups in the gym this morning.

Using DeepSeek on my evening walks! New little routine is record this podcast then head on out for a walk, a listen and a read using all China-based APPs.

Throwing stuff out and in need of new gym clothes!

And a new TV!

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

Language vlog on http://www.youtube.com/@stevenslanguagevlog

Google Stock Sheet

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kbpCC2cieuq23zYyr0-WznPRogVX0aS86BF4_vPvgMY/edit?usp=sharing

Hope you have a great weekend!

00:00 No Warmup Regrets

00:33 Deadlift Back Scare

04:34 Murph Run Breakdown

08:14 New TV Upgrade

11:10 Waking Up at 3AM

14:18 Markets Get Slammed

16:34 Chart Patterns and Moving Averages

19:56 Tracking Stocks and Disclaimers

21:44 Gold Options Check-In

23:56 China Stocks Oversold Play

27:35 Market Snapshot Chaos

28:13 Building a Simple Website

34:29 Teaching vs Consulting Pivot

37:55 DeepSeek Language Walk Routine

42:10 Decluttering Before Singapore

43:00 Links Thanks and Sign-Off

To the embassy I go to get not ONE, but TWO copies certified of my degree. What’s the latest? It IS an authentication that can be used IN CHINA! What does HR lady do? Goes to CSCE to check and lo and behold, YES it can be used! Does she even know what she’s doing? “I’ve never had someone apply from within Beijing before.” Maybe you should have said something.

GOLD hitting 873 SELL 887 BUY per gram RMB. What about that China article?

https://sinocism.notion.site/Implementation-Opinions-of-the-Ministry-of-Commerce-and-8-Other-Departments-on-Accelerating-the-Deve-38384ece41d781d5b4fde17458782cf9?pvs=27&qid=1%3Ad6203849-c2e4-498b-a64b-0e7e40c90763%3A0

-basically says everything should be AI, wired up and “intelligent”

-elderly care

-smart technologies of all sorts (school cafeterias, home appliances, tourist destinations)

Collagen gone, how’s the supplement stack now? Still taking ashwaghanda, fish oil, MCT coconut oil, Maca, Ubiquinol, Milk Thistle, Magnesium and Zinc. How’re you feeling?

Waking up at 3 am for some reason.

And Steve, didn’t you say you had to leave the country. Where are you going next?! SINGAPORE!

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

Language vlog on http://www.youtube.com/@stevenslanguagevlog

Google Stock Tracker Sheet

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kbpCC2cieuq23zYyr0-WznPRogVX0aS86BF4_vPvgMY/edit?usp=sharing

Hope you have a great one!!

00:00 Embassy Paperwork Quest

00:34 Job Offer and Visa Clock

02:05 Apostille Confusion and HR Drama

06:26 Embassy Visit and Certified Copies

10:38 The $700 Police Check Mistake

17:18 Deadlines and Decision Fatigue

20:17 Gold Prices and Buying in China

22:55 China Stocks and AI Push

30:05 Supplement Stack Breakdown

38:51 3 AM Wakeups and Anxiety

41:08 Singapore Visa Run Plans

45:10 Wrap Up and Links

Apostille update, re yesterday’s confusion. 1) Still have to send it to Ottawa, but then it has to go to the Chinese embassy to be authenticated. I’m ready to give up. Don’t care any more. I don’t think they even know what’s going on. Tomorrow I’ll go to the Canadian embassy anyway to get some documents in order.

Stonk market a dropping! China stonks getting SLAMMED! Do they PROCEED a US sell off? That would a North American sell off into November. But look at those banks… wow. Let this be a lesson!

China article: https://sinocism.notion.site/Implementation-Opinions-of-the-Ministry-of-Commerce-and-8-Other-Departments-on-Accelerating-the-Deve-38384ece41d781d5b4fde17458782cf9?pvs=27&qid=1%3Ad6203849-c2e4-498b-a64b-0e7e40c90763%3A0

Alan Greenspan passes away at age 100.

Getting points deducted from TikTok! Can’t live stream while displaying other documents?? Still using these as rehearsals for other publications.

Thinking… if one minute shorts pull 1000 views and 10 cents, what about 6-8 minute daily vlogs? What if… what if they were daily musings on the life of an expat in China?

Workout in! Upper body rows and shoulder presses, some legs for good measure. 7km run in 44.06. Should you do cardio before or after weights? And this thing has a recovery time. Ok?

Building websites… bro, do you even know how to HTML?

And yes, I forgot to put the audio file at the end of yesterday’s episode. Here’s another test.

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

Language vlog on http://www.youtube.com/@stevenslanguagevlog

Google Stock Tracker Sheet

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kbpCC2cieuq23zYyr0-WznPRogVX0aS86BF4_vPvgMY/edit?usp=sharing

Hope you have a great one!!

00:00 Mic Check Cold Open

00:32 Podcast Setup And Rebrand Thoughts

04:31 Substack Interviews And Audio Cleanup

05:36 Xiaomi Watch Recording Test

10:38 Workout Stats And Running Challenges

13:10 Degree Apostille Visa Headache

23:37 Markets Slide And Greenspan Obit

29:42 China Stocks Signals And Bank Trades

36:52 TikTok Points And Daily Vlog Plan

43:47 Wrap Up And Mic Comparison Outro