The Audio Blog of Steven Sirski

Spent the morning reading books. Bilahari Kausakan’s Singapore is Still Not an Island. Also reading The Unspeakable Loss by Nisha Zenoff… about losing a child. Why am I reading this? Rained all day, but that didn’t stop the workout! Bought a 4-day pass for 88 RMB, but gotta keep the APP topped up over 50 RMB. Deadlifts today, some weighted hangs, then out for 7km run in 48min 19 sec followed by 50...

Wow what a sleep! After yesterday’s episode I tried to do some Chinese then decided to lie down for a bit… 12 hours later I get up! Feel pretty good! What’re these new accounts you’re setting up and how are you social media plans going? What are your plans for the summer? Thinking, wondering about how to scale back yet get more from each post. And going through more stuff with a view to getting ri...

Colombia and Switzerland! To penalty kicks! Didn’t realize they still did these. Woken up at 1.50 am by an excited neighbour… Argentina won. The funny thing about Chinese sports commentary is that none of them look like they know what they’re talking about. Where are the former Olympians or professionals? What about being almost 40? And how is the Beijing economy? And funny thing about listening t...

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 mont...

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...

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...

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,...

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 b...

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:/...

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?? Donat...

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 u...

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...

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?...

Steve, if people wanted to pay you for your services, where would they go? Good question. Website building 101, here we go. Can’t I just AI this? Workout in, how’s the watch holding up? Good, but the APP is slow. It does have a food tracker, particularly good for Chinese foods, but doesn’t seem to have a function to add custom entries. Apparently has a 21-day battery. The apostille process continu...

Authentication continues, can’t I just get this done here? Paying $300 for a certified photocopy?! Why DID my TikTok video get so many views? Apparently there was some sort of trending song with “Taiwan museum”… no idea. Most of the views were only a second or two long. Re-assessing how often I’ll post, and thinking it might be time to scale back. We got the watch! Discount and all! But we had to...

Some rain! Finally things will cool down. Up and out to the gym I go! The cleaning lady… didn’t really clean. Barbell rows, shoulder press and then 100 pull ups (no push ups or squats). 7km run done in two parts. Update on the Beijing ID card sale: you have to choose whether to get it in store (more expensive) or buy it online. Once you choose, you can’t change it. And not applicable to foreigners...

Ow, I’m sore! Guess the leg workout was good enough. Steve, sounds like you don’t like Warren Buffett, nor Mohnish Pabrai. But what if they offered you a job? Would you take it? What would YOUR value proposition be? (Or what if Codi Sanchez offered you a job, would you take it? What would your offer be? She has a podcast studio!) Key takeaways:-Keep your job (Buffett was employed in several capaci...

Workout in! Leg day truncated by a tweak in the back. Did get a run in Hey, Steve, did you buy SpaceX?! NO! Why not?! Stupid buying GOLD! Warren Buffett and the circle of competence… WTF does that even mean?!? I don’t know SpaceX so I shouldn’t buy? But who am I to disagree with a billionaire who got stock investing right? And I don’t mean Mr. Buffett, but Mr. Mohnish Pabrai on the Cody Sanchez Po...

Back to the regular set up, it’s just easier. Rough cuts done! Gotta work on those AI prompts! More people playing and downloading! What does that mean? There are more plays and downloads overall, but I don’t know those exact figures.-320 impressions-84 plays (can only be 30 seconds)-97.5% completion rate… meaning those who tune in finish listening. Trump signs a deal, OIL goes down and GOLD goes...

Workouts in! The QR scanner worked! So… how long do you stay in the gym if you know it’s priced PER VISIT? Thinking about a YouTube rebrand… something a little more… generic? Or, generically specific! You’re doing social wrong! Boost those posts that go viral! Send them to your website! TikTok shorts going crazy! New podcast app for Chinese! Thanks teacher! And why did that Video Night in Taipei v...

Is GOLD dead?! Let’s take a look at those options. And a note about option pricing, especially after-market. Workout in! Went to the gym but couldn’t get in! The scanner wouldn’t recognize my QR Code! (I bought a coupon!) Pull ups done! 106, 212, 318! 1hr 1 min 34 sec, no weight vest today. Live stream in! Continuing on with the TikTonks! Sports games a go go! World Cup starts! NHL wrapping up! An...

Hey, is podcast equipment a tax write off? Only if it makes money, Steve. Is this the benefit of working from home? Publishing continues. A difference in numbers, but YouTube is the only one that pays. Video night in Taipei TikTok = 0YouTube = 79Instagram = 118XHS = not published yet How long do you stay in a museum? TikTok = 27194 (and climbing)YouTube = 49Instagram = not published yetXHS = 180 G...

Chinese classes continue! How is your Chinese? Bought a few packages in an effort to bolster my speaking. Thinking… new YouTube series? Speaking to a Billion? One man’s quest to speak with every single Chinese-speaking person? Chinese subtitle workflow getting easier to do, continuing on with the basic FCP caption workflow. FM! Missed DELL! Micron! Markets continue to crash! (I put them on the lis...

The YouTube dream is dying! Down to 5 cents a day! Steve, what would you do if someone gave you $1000? Not sure Substack live will continue. It feels a little weird. Maybe something to do every now and then. Following up from yesterday’s episode:“Money you hold with Wise, in any currency, is not insured by any deposit protection scheme, including the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC) and...

Let’s live stream this one! Will it work?! Got some ideas… Feeling sniffly! What a weekend! Is it sickness? Is it the heat? Is it China? Or is it allergies?! Off to the gym this morning, how much did it cost? (33 RMB, up from 14 RMB when I put more money on it.) Run done, 4.5 km a struggle in 35min 34 sec. Still hurtin form Friday’s workout anyway! Markets get slammed! Sell in May and go away, not...