4:39 AM View: Up and at ‘em?

 It seemed like a good idea at the time to volunteer.  Now, I’m not so sure.  Don’t know what I should wear.

7:46 PM View: Going to bed early on a Saturday night!

 Tomorrow, I got to get to my dear friend Noel’s apartment at 5:20 AM so we can get to the marathon course by six AM.

Today, at 4:00 PM, I took a Didi to downtown Jiangyin (JJ).  

In DT JJ, I went to the Yaohan mall. I waz looking for a Miniso to see if they sold those wireless phone chargers.

Above is the view from the Yaohan entrance.

Anywho! Turned out there was no Miniso at the Yaohan.  And the Yaohan supermarket was expensive.

There was a Miniso at the Jiangyin Wanda.  So, I took a Didi there.  The driver was female and acted strangely, it seemed, on account of having a Laowai fare.  She learned I was from Canada. Jianada!  加拿大！

At the Wanda， I bought bread at the 85 degree bakery.  The Miniso didn’t have the wireless charger I was hoping to purchase.  So, I was able to get one of four things I wanted to get done, done.

The third thing I wanted to do was get light bulbs for this:

I couldn’t find any 

From the Wands, I took a Didi to the Monte Carlo’s Western Restaurant.  I had a big Carlsberg draft, onion rings and the Pork Ribs.  好吃的！There were some Canadians there, but they weren’t going back to Canada for a few weeks; so that hope of getting them to take my mail in ballot to a Canadian mail box was dashed,

So, one of four goals achieved!

I took the Didi back to the JJ apartment and I was picked up by the driver who had earlier dropped me off

好久不见了！  I said and he laughed.

你喝啤酒吗？  I told him 我喝一瓶啤酒！

We discussed other things.

Just before he dropped me off, I thought to ask him if he liked electric cars.  你喜欢电车吗？

When he understood what I meant.  He shook his head side to side and said 不行！I then said 加油！ He told me he preferred 加油 cars，

11:32 AM View: Windy and Turbulence

 It’s windy outside.  Here are two videos to prove it.

The two videos are different.  Trust me on this,

The turbulence is coming from my son Tony who is in Wuxi (WJ).  The wind howling in the 27th floor WJ apartment is making him nervous.  He actually wanted to come back here to the Jiangyin apartment (JJ).  I talked to him on the phone about it and trying to get his logic only made him angry and he hung up on me.  I learned later from Jenny, my wife, that he will instead go to downtown WJ.

Listening to a Viva Frei podcast where he is discussing Mark Carney saying he didn’t meet with some group called the Jiangsu Business Council of Canada.  Whether Carney meets with these sort of groups is no skin off my ass.  I object to Carney being fully on board with the response to the COVID panic and Carney’s support of the repression of the truckers’ protest.

9:08 AM View: Discarding and Two Videos

 I am sort of walking around like a chicken with his head cut off.  So many things to do and so many things I want to do.  

One thing I have done is start to discard 

I will take this crap to the rubbish bin in the courtyard.

I have also posted these videos:

And I’ve listened to Molly Hemingway talk about tariffs.  Those who paste a rosy view of the American economy in order to deride tariffs aren’t convincing me.  The system as it is set up now has to be challenged.  Thank God, Trump is doing that.

 I’ve also listened to Trish Wood and Julius Ruechel talk about the state of Canada.  They are sadden by it.  I’m sadden by it.  Viva Frei is angered by it.  But that is snothet story.  The Conservatives and PmP have been utterly disappointing.  Trump is not the problem.  The system that the Tories pretend to rally against is.

5:32 AM View: Saturday Sleeping In

 

Actually, this is not a run of the mill view photo.  I like the color of the clouds combined with the morning light.  The possibilities of this day seem mysterious.

What am I going to do today?  What plans do I have?  Does the look of the sky mean that maybe the ideas I have for plans won’t come to fruition ?

I have uploaded my daily quote video.  It is a NGD quote.

I will extend my Duolingo streak to 1903.  This I can guarantee.  The sky cannot change that.

I will post a video to YouTube and Rumble.  The sky is worth recording.  It puts Jiangyin into perspective.

7:00 PM View: Not in WJ!

 I’m not going to WJ this weekend.  I am volunteering for the Jiangyin half-marathon.

What is WJ?  Well the stupid poopy pants A.I. doesn’t know!  But I’m sure that there is a rare loyal visitor of this blog who does know what it is.  If you don’t, I’ll give you a clue:  J is for Jiangsu.

Any who!  I have an exciting evening planned.  I will do some reading and podcast listening.  I’ll spend time with Z-Man.  In the episode, I’m listening to, he is discussing why he isn’t an ideologue.  I’ll give one example of how he isn’t.  He talked about how he was watching a cooking show and seeing the cook say that a dish he was preparing was good for the environment.  That cook was being an ideologue.  Ideologues, said the Z-Man only think there is one way to do and think about anything in life.  Thinking about this and reading his book Values I can see that its author Mark Carney is an ideologue.  Carney thinks that governments have to fight climate change.

I’ll listen then to the Red Scare Podcast.  Anna & Dasha will review a book by Andrea Dworkin.  A & D talk like girls and reactionaries like me enjoy their common sense and witty views.

I’ll read some Nicolas Gomez Davila, Czeslaw Milosz, St. Francis of Sales and Coventry Patmore.

Here is a photo of the moon.

4:57 PM View: Not going to WJ

This blog entry will be A.I. analysed:

On account of my volunteering for the Jiangyin Half Marathon this Sunday, I’m gonna stay in JJ this weekend. and not take the train to WJ.  I apologize profusely for the inconvenience this may cause my rarer than rare readers.  You can read the Bible or perhaps consult a Self Help book for advice and inspiration for what, I am sure is for you, a very trying time, a stressful time.

I am writing this way to satisfy the A.I. which is saying that my thoughts are too short and too train of thought for its taste.

À.I.  says:

The blog entry you provided is brief, informal, and laced with a touch of humor and self-awareness. Here's an analysis of its content, tone, and structure:

### Content

- **Purpose**: The author is informing their audience (likely a small group of readers) that they won't be traveling to WJ (possibly Wujiang or another city) as usual because they’re volunteering for the Jiangyin Half Marathon. The mention of staying in "JJ" (likely Jiangyin) suggests a change in routine.

- **Apology**: The writer humorously apologizes for any inconvenience this change might cause their "rarer than rare readers," implying a small or niche audience.

- **Suggestions**: In a tongue-in-cheek manner, the author suggests readers turn to the Bible or self-help books to cope with the supposed "stressful time" caused by the blog's disruption.

- **Meta-Commentary**: The final sentence reveals the author is adjusting their writing style to meet the expectations of an "A.I." (possibly a content analysis tool or writing platform algorithm) that finds their usual thoughts "too short and too train of thought."

### Tone

- **Humorous and Self-Deprecating**: The exaggerated apology and the description of readers facing a "very trying time" are clearly sarcastic, poking fun at the idea that anyone would be significantly affected by the author’s plans. The phrase "rarer than rare readers" further emphasizes the author’s awareness of their limited audience.

- **Casual**: The use of abbreviations like "JJ" and "WJ," along with conversational phrases like "gonna" and "profusely apologize," gives the post a laid-back, chatty vibe.

- **Slightly Defensive**: The mention of the A.I. critique suggests the author feels pressured to modify their natural writing style, and they address this with a hint of playful defiance.

### Structure

- **Short and Fragmented**: The entry is concise, almost like a quick note or status update. It jumps from the announcement to the apology, then to the humorous suggestions, and finally to the A.I. critique without much transitional flow.

- **Stream-of-Consciousness**: The post feels like a direct reflection of the author’s thoughts, aligning with the A.I.’s supposed complaint about it being "too train of thought."

- **Meta-Reference**: The closing line about the A.I. serves as a self-referential nod to the writing process itself, breaking the fourth wall and adding a layer of irony.

### Themes and Implications

- **Routine and Change**: The post revolves around a minor disruption in the author’s routine (staying in Jiangyin instead of traveling), which is presented as a big deal in a humorous way.

- **Audience Awareness**: The author is acutely aware of their small readership and plays with this fact, turning it into a source of humor.

- **Technology’s Influence**: The mention of A.I. critiquing the author’s writing hints at the growing role of algorithms in creative processes, possibly reflecting frustration or amusement at having to adapt to machine-driven standards.

- **Self-Expression**: Despite the A.I.’s feedback, the author retains their quirky, authentic voice, suggesting a resistance to fully conforming.

### Strengths

- **Engaging Voice**: The humor and self-awareness make the post relatable and entertaining, even if the subject matter is mundane.

- **Brevity**: It’s short enough to hold attention while still conveying personality.

- **Clever Meta-Commentary**: The nod to A.I. adds a modern, tech-savvy twist that could resonate with readers familiar with content creation tools.

### Weaknesses

- **Lack of Context**: For readers unfamiliar with the author’s life, abbreviations like "JJ" and "WJ" or the mention of the marathon might be confusing without more background.

- **Niche Appeal**: The humor and references (e.g., to a tiny readership) might not land with a broader audience.

- **Abrupt Ending**: The shift to the A.I. critique feels tacked on, and the post ends without tying the ideas together cohesively.

### Broader Context

This blog entry seems to come from a personal blog, likely maintained as a hobby rather than a professional endeavor. The mention of A.I. suggests the author might be using a platform with built-in writing analytics (e.g., Grammarly, Medium, or a similar tool) that provides feedback on style or length. The informal tone and lack of polish indicate the blog is a space for casual self-expression rather than a formal publication.

If you’d like, I can dig deeper into any specific aspect—like the cultural context of Jiangyin or the implications of A.I. in blogging—or even search for similar posts to compare. Let me know!

12:25 Non Standard View: How to get my ballot back to Canada?

 Bugger.  Getting the ballot back to Canada is a problem.

Courier costs are over my budget.

I have to find a Canadian who is in China and is going back to Canada next week.  All they have to do is put the envelope in a mailbox for me.

Another option is for me to hook up with some Canadians in my area of China and save on courier costs.

So, there’s still hope.

Most of the students are bailing on afternoon classes so I will have light attendance for the 3:10 class.  Hopeless.

9:20 Non Standard View: Now what?

 Another view from my classroom.  Not much to do.  I may or may not have a 15:10 class.  Either way, I’m prepared.

I just did an invigilation for a IG Chemistry MCQ.

Took this photo.

It looks much better in person.

The Ayi will clean my apartment.

This morning’s inspirational NGD quote video.

6:38 AM View: Non Standard View

 On my todo list, I require myself to make two AM blog entries.  This is the second entry.

Oh yeah!  I forgot to mention that I got my mail-in ballot for the Canadian federal election via DHL.  I used to work at DHL.  Hopefully, I can send it out today.  The ballot that is.

Listening to news clips about Trump’s dealings with China.  Panicking is what I’m hearing.

5:11 AM View: Trade War?

 There was thunder and lightning yesterday evening but no rain, no pouring down, as it were.

I joked with the students that since they were in a trade war with America, they could hold the Center Principal, since he was American, prisoner.

6:10 PM View

 

6:07 PM View: Electrical Storm

 A thunderstorm is coming.  I’ve seen the lightning and I have heard the thunder.  No photos of it however.  These are the photos I’ve taken.

4:40 PM View: 6/20, Fast Train 照片， Dinner

 This afternoon, only six out of my twenty grade 11 sideshows up for my English class.  I was expecting something like that to happen which is fine:  a lot of the students are just trouble.  I tried to discuss the Trump tariffs with the few who showed up.  Half of them have parents who own factories  though most of their business was domestic or not American.  One student said their parents were selling to Africa.  After that “discussion” , I showed them the rest of Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey.  It got off to a good start but then lost steam and became lame.

After that class, I walked down the road to buy cigs.  I was able to get photos of the fast train!

Can you see it?

How about now?

I then went to Casa JJ and made dinner,

Beans and eggs and cheese.

11:58 AM View: Thursday Lunch

 Oh yeah!  I may have mentioned that I am reading the Mark Carney book Values.  And I find it as dull as the Global Perspectives Scheme of Work.  Carney’s book is chalked full of left wing jargon.  One word I came across was “Robust.”  I was reminded of Trudeau talking of a “robust” Liberal leadership race.  I then checked to see how many times the word “robust” appeared in Carney’s book. A search came back with 26 instances.  I then checked to see if James Joyce ever used the word in Finnegan’s Wake.  A search reveled never.

Any who.  I fine the frequent use of that R word rather curious.

6:09 AM View: Now at school

Now, I am at school.  Below is a photo I took getting here.

 

5:36 AM View: 100, 1901

 I can see from one of my daily reading’s books that it’s is the 100th day of 2025.  It’s also the 1901st day of my Duolingo learning streak.

5:11 AM View: Tariff Discussion?

 I do have a class to teach today; not just invigilation   I wonder if I will be able to have a discussion with the grade 11s about tariffs.  It would be nice but with these kids, you never know.

5:35 PM View: Supper Eaten!!

 I should say super supper!  My wife is with her boys tonight!

4:03 PM View: Sorry!

 

I’m trying to upload the latest view photo but blogspot is not working.  If you see a photo above, pretend you didn’t read this.  Mum’s the word!  Sssshhhhh!!!!

I came home at lunch, but I forgot to take a view photo.  Sorry for the inconvenience this may have caused.

Let’s see if I can upload my latest YouTube.

5:41 AM View : Going through the motions

 And now there’s light.

The test, I suppose, is not how you do on your good days, but on the days you feel down in the dumps.  I am feeling that way now.  Thank god, I have ways and reasons to stay busy,

Here’s today’s video:

4:46 AM View: Dark, 1900

 Didn’t use the flash for this morning’s view photo.

A little earlier, I did this:

3:58 PM View: Busy

 Those speaking tests I conducted (Did I mention it?) meant I didn’t get my daily personal requirements done.  So I’ll do ‘em tonight.

A role play I did during the speaking test required the student to talk about going to a museum.  The student immediately said they didn’t have time and it made it hard to continue on with the scripted questions.  Funny!!

Here are some videos I just uploaded to YouTube.

10:40 AM View: My Ballot is Coming

Doing things a little differently this late morning and lunch time.  I have speaking tests to conduct from 1:00 PM on and I’ll have to deal with Tony…

Good news!  I’m getting my mail-in ballot for the upcoming Canadian federal election.  Also, the chunk of change we will have to pay in income taxes has been reduced.  They did a recalculation.

5:40 AM View; To do list

 Extended my Duolingo streak to 1899 days. Yo hablo un poco español.

I read some poetry: 

WHEN Jessie comes with her soft breast, And yields the golden keys, Then is it as if God caress'd Twin babes upon His knees--

Twin babes that, each to other press'd, Just feel the Father's arms, wherewith they both are bless'd.

I can’t copy text but I can take a screen shot.

This morning’s posted video:

4:54 AM View: Tuesday Morning

 Too many sad days; too many Tuesday mornings.  So goes a song by the Pogues.

I needed an alarm to wake me.  I would happily have stayed in bed.

4:31 PM View: China Forthnight

 

Back in the day, the Laowai I knew would be talking of having China Days which basically meant bad days because of their being in China.  I would scoff at this because these people did chose to come to China and really shouldn’t have complained.

But China can annoy a visitor because many of the locals are uncouth and don’t follow rules.  Today, I learned that the payroll accountant didn’t do our pay right and all the teachers now owe a big chunk of change in taxes.

Aaaggghhh!

Anyway, because of that meeting where I got the bad news, I didn’t come home for lunch and take a view photo. Sorry for the inconvenience that may have caused!

Here are some photos I took during the day.

Did I say photos?  I should have said photo of the view from the fifth floor exam hall.  Sorry for the inconvenience this may have caused someone.

To make up for this, here’s a video I took and made today.

Meanwhile, this video has over 1300 views:

7:18 AM View: Non Standard View

 Forgot to take a parting shot.

Sorry for the inconvenience this may have caused 

5:15 AM View: Daylight already

 I’m battling these feelings this Monday morning.  Words escape me, but those sort of feelings that I’m battling internally as opposed to an externally battling feeling.

All this doesn’t stop me from noticing that it is light out already this morning.

9:14 PM View: Previous Blog Entry Just Done!

 Drove back to JJ.  You can never hate Chinese drivers enough!

I unpacked, showered, took the standard view photo, and made the previous blog entry 

So endeth the long weekend which left me with a cornucopia of things to be annoyed about.  What was most annoying was Jenny & Tony saying I should have gotten visibly mad.  I pointed out to them that when I do exhibit anger, they would say I shouldn’t have gotten mad.  Now, they tell me I should have gotten mad.  You can’t win.  And with life offering a cornucopia of things to get mad about on a daily basis, you have to resign yourself to anger not stopping the cornucopia of fresh annoyances of the next day.

6:41 PM View: Off to JJ again!

 I took this photo and then thirty minutes later, drove to pick up my wife and then drive to JJ 

I drove into the basement of the Hui Shan Wands Plaza.  One Chinese driver parked his vehicle in the strangest location.  He left his car along a wall just by a corner.  Making a turn, I suddenly had a narrow lane to get through.  I wished I had ripped off the passenger side rear view mirror.  Another driver was going the wrong way and I had to get through another narrow gap to get through.  I gave this Chinese driver the evil eye.

Earlier —this had my wife fuming -/- we were at the gas station filling up the tank.  Everything was going fine and my wife was using her phone to pay when we heard the driver behind us honk his horn.  Impatient prick!  I looked into the mirror to see the demographic of the driver and it was some old Chinese driver with grey hair.  He almost look civilized.  My wife was, several hours later, still wishing she had throttled him.

2:45 PM View: White Guy, Waste of Time

 I never thought of myself as a white guy.  Heck, if anyone accused me of being one, I would have denied it and said I was Latvian.  Then Obama and BLM came along, and suddenly I thought of myself as White. But that’s another story.  I’m more interested in this alliteration I hadn’t thought of until it just occurred to me.  In Canada, I was called the Latvian; in China, I’m called a Laowai.  Laowai!  Latvian!  Lattireation!

Any who.  The trip to JJ was a waste of time.  Although, I did get laundry done.  White!  Waste!  Walleration!

I drove back across the JJ WJ border and didn’t see a train

I joined my family at a Hot Pot Restaurant.