Thanks for this @throwawayaccount. My python was installed correctly yet following your example, of adding the nodes link, made things work on my end at last.
Is @amosbastian's screen shot, in the Step 3 - Installing steem-python area, using a local copy of the blockchain?
Still looking for an unbroken link to download the steem blockchain.
For those looking for the steem blockchain and have found their way here, there is a working link as of this writting, care of @gtg at:
https://gtg.steem.house/get/blockchain/