Both modern and Biblical here. But not sure how I will determine the difference. Duolingo has a crappy (not all are voiced) lesson on Hebrew, but that's the best so far as far as organized free lesson goes.
Keyboard Layout:
Online translator that helps with pronunciation.
Films used to learn Hebrew:
Fauda (2015-) on Netflix.
1/15/2024 Free (10) AI Courses from Beginner to Pro.
Microsoft 365 Security: How to use logs to track and detect.
1/13/2024 Shopping Cart for NYGC. Using OpenCart which was provided by Hostmonster. We've already had Authorize.net setup months ago as our merchant account. I tested the Simple Checkout Feature which works great, but because we need more fields and cart options at checkout, an open source shopping cart such as OpenCart is needed. But unfortunately, OpenCart 4 didn't have Authorize.net as payment extension included, so I had to add a downgraded version OpenCart3, which has Authorize.net support.
Some great guide on setting Authorize.net on OpenCart.
1/10/2024 Came across (from my frequent newsletter going.com) this shocking news (or maybe old news) that Laksa is celebrated in Darwin Australia. Apparently this is due to its close proximity with Asia as well as long multicultural history. I suppose Darwin has just become my favorite city in Australia!
1/8/2024 2023 JavaScript Rising Stars: highlights of major Javascript related achievements.
1/4/2024 NYGC's plan to move from Access DB to Salesforce/etc.
It's been expected since cloud service became popular and especially after Covid19.
This is the 3rd week we're on video conference with Salesforce. Their presentation team, Hubert, is very slow. But some key questions in general:
1. Who can customize the layout, how much backend access do we get (they do have api)? Mass data import?
2. If done by Salesforce tech, how fast can a change (i.e. forms, etc.) can be expected? Cost?
3. Alert/notification system and mass emails
4. Are all user activities being logged/tracked?
1/2/2024 Guides to learn UX.
I may have posted this before, but after some tests, I am still impressed even though it's only black and white, no restrictions, no limits: Text to SVG: https://svg.io/
Learn Large Language Model: LLM Course.
Been having severe cold (I think) since last Sunday 12/24. By now, I think I'm recovering now as lesser nasal congestion than before (12/30 Sat) though still wake up full of mucus and throat itches during the days. Been trying to study on the anatomy of nostrils. It seems that this is always a mystery to me no matter how hard I want to look into. What are the turbinates really for? There seems to be some great filtering barrier between the nasal passage and my throat. And what's with the sinuses?
There are more greenish/beige colors mucus than I ever before this whole week.
Update 1/5 Nadia went to urgent care near Walmart. The we went to Rite-Aid at night to pick up the prescribed medication: Bromphen. She said it isn't effective.
update 1/7 on my cold, I'm recovering after 2 whole weeks. I don't recall having this bad before. Coughing/sneezing out mucus every morning. It became so frequent that I even had to set a plastic cup next to me at all time because I'm tired of going to spit in the toilet everytime.
Unfortunately, now Nadia's gotten it too. Seems to be getting worse since 2-3 days ago. I think it will also take 2 weeks for her to recover. She just keeps coughing now. I cooked soups: spareribs+white radish (白萝卜)+parsley+water crest+onions+ginger, which she likes. And also mung bean rice (绿豆米汤). I also gave her coconut drink with slices of cucumber. All these inspired from the below video, hopefully it's not nonsense:
I also bought $8 Solstice Yang Cheng Brand GanMaoLing 感冒灵 Tablets from Kam Man to try it out. Reviews were not much but they all gave it thumbs up.
感冒灵成分:
岗梅根 (Rough-Leaved Holly Root Extract - llex asprella): 761.6mg
三桠苦 (Evodia Root Extract - Evodia lepta): 492.8mg
野菊花 (Wild Chrysanthemum - Chrysanthemum indicum L.): 291.2mg
五指柑 (Chinese Chaste Tree Twig Extract - Vitex negundo L.): 291.2mg
山银华 (Honeysuckle Flower Bud Extract - Lonicera confusa): 111.6mg
板蓝根 (Strobilanthes Cusia Root Extract - Baphicacanthus cusia): 291.6mg
12/10/2023 Sunday School: Week 7 on Sin - Transgression & Iniquity (Purgatory)
This prompted me to look up purgatory, seeking Rome's best defense against it. There's quite a great deal of information from my very brief research and it would appear that Rome's pretty serious about it until today.
Here's summary from the pastor's note:
The horrible fiction of Purgatory. Second Council of Lyon 1274, Council of Florence, Council of Trent 1545-1563. Eastern Orthodox do not believe it [duh, the great schism was in 1024].
Catechism of the Catholic Church. Part 1 Section 2 Chapter 3 Article 12 III: The Final Purification, or Purgatory. They laughed about how long the sub parts are nested in the catechism, I don't see a need to laugh at that, as long as it's properly organized. Of course, I don't know nor interested to know how well organized is this catechism. Nonetheless, my point is it's not absolutely ridiculous as the pastor seemed to indicate.
E prompted an interesting question indirectly for me when she stated that the Eastern Orthodox is closer to Reformed than Rome, which is a good question I should look into, because I would likely disagree as the East split with the West since 1054, while the Reformation popularly began in the 1500s from within Rome, not the Greeks. That's about 500 years of isolation in fellowship of the saints.
Of course, it seems that the foundation of Roman Catholic's Purgatory is in II Macabees 12:38-46:...amulets scred to the idols of Jamnia were found with victorious dead Jewish warriors and hence the Jews prayed for their sins, thus the idea of Purgatory was born. It seems that because the Jews of that small particular period (outside Biblical timeline) and seemed to be getting away with that action, it must be how God wanted His people do believe it. It's bad logic, whether it was actual history or not. From there, Rome would fit biblical passages onto that erroneous foundation.
Sermon on I Corinthians 4:6-21 God Displayed
1co 4:6 [This is a very strong verse for Sola Scriptura]
1co 4:8 [This is a strong proof text that men are to reign as kings. I seem to recall that the pastor for a few instances in the past looked down on such notion when he tried to purport that one should not seek to be king or politician as this is not meant for men to handle and that Jesus is the Only King, which is not wrong. However, he also did pray for the politicians of the country. So a mishandling of absolute vs. relative knowledge is happening here.]
12/17/2023 Sunday School: Week 8 on Sin - Death and Salvation (Purgatory)
1 Corinthians 3:11-15 being the verse used for purgatory "fire" => "...saved...through fire".
Do canonized Catholic saints skip purgatory? I asked. Pastor's answer was possibly yes. Brief google search showed that Rome is unsure of this as well. But they are leaning towards yes such that some saints may have achieved total "purity" before they left the world.
On cremation: I asked the pastor after service, whether or not he would be comfortable to administer or attend cremation funeral, since he said he was uncomfortable with cremation, though it's not sinful biblically. He said yes and had hosted such funerals before. I jokingly mentioned that "this info is for my benefit, in case I died", he didn't break character for being serious.
1 Corinthians 15:20-58, touching on Baptism for the Dead.
[Calvin did great commentary on this: v.29 Possible explanations:
-That the Corinthians accustomed to baptizing the living to substitute catechumens who were deprived of baptism by sudden death, stated by Chrysostom, Ambrose, etc., a custom rejected by Calvin, because it doesn't make sense for those who rejected resurrection to hold the same custom.
- According to the writings of the Fathers, who wrote against such superstition that baptism was purposely delayed till the time of death with the believe that they will be in a better state to meet the judgment of God, being purged of all sins in baptism in their final breath.
-Calvin's view: To be baptized for the dead = to be baptized so as to profit the dead => Catechumens who have fallen ill, asking for baptism. His repeating it a second time, Why are they also baptized for the dead? gives it greater emphasis: “Not only are those baptized who think that they are to live longer, but those too who have death before their eyes; and that, in order that they may in death reap the fruit of their baptism.”]
@20:00 Someone asked about Christology in the Trinity (how Christ could be separated from the Trinity under God's wrath on the cross?), though the pastor answered correctly, but it seems that he was unfamiliar with the distinction between the words: paradox vs. contradiction ("If it's a contradiction in the 2nd person and the incarnate son, I am okay with it"). This is where Pak Tong shines when often times, he stressed the difference between paradox and contradiction, as well as the difference between relative knowledge and absolute truth. This avoids lots of issues, something folks at this church (or American churches) are rather weak at.
After the service, I brought for the first time to the pastor's attention that there was a typo in the Romans Doxology, it seems that he was aware as if someone had told him. "For of Him and through Him and to Him are all thing things". I guess it was just the perfectionist in me, that I had to say it at least once. Who else would care?
Sermon on Matthew 14:22-33 God with us
I.a). Good cheer in contrary wind - Matt 14:24,27: [the pastor often focus only on the rejoicing part as if there's no such thing as sorrow. Rom 12:15 is contrary to that notion, as we are to weep with those who weep. The other path could only lead to rejoice or find happiness with or worse, run away from, those who weep. Vocabulary verse in Chinese for myself: Rom 12:16...不要志气高大，倒要俯就卑微的人]
On the pastor's rhetoric: "I" am your strength...recalls Psa 18. I wonder if there's any psychological implication on first person, instead of using 2nd or 3rd person: You are my strength, He is my strength, which is "more" biblical. This is not to say that a preacher can never reiterate first person declaration of God. However, the 2nd and 3rd person obviously reflect priestly prayer and testifying/proclamation respectively. In order to use first person, the context must command the holiness before the presence of God, spoken in a tone of awe, such speech should not be taken lightly as 2nd/3rd person usage. Otherwise, one either has a very low view of God or a very high view of man.
12/21/2023 Software Programming Developer jobs Salary overview of 2023: A great site that shows the highest pay in U.S. and Europe, etc. Managerial role of these could go as high as 500k-1mil.
12/20/2023 Interestingly, for the first time, two companies I work for held the year end holiday parties on the same day, same time, same street (26th st): Blackbarn by SP, Hill Country BBQ Market by NYGC. Not sure if I was infected by anyone in either party, but I had a 2 week severe cold after that, worst I've ever had in my life I believe. Days of thick mucus coughed out. NYGC folks knew of my feet in two boats that day, but not SP: I don't tell them because either they wouldn't care anyway, or they don't have the capacity to fathom what was going on, such as R, who actually saw me hurrying back to Blackbarn from NYGC after I brought the doggy bags from Hill Country BBQ across the street to stow them in the office. I lied about forgetting my headsets at SP, so I'm going to add this entry to Faults category, should have said something like "looking for my wife near the train station", which is a doable stretch I would say.
12/19/2023 Solving for "do not disturb" work/study when being interrupted. I came across a couple of articles (the other one being related to ADHD: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) lately on this. It is still an interesting topic for me to look into. Basically, two kinds, by common consensus: interruptible jobs vs. uninterruptible/do not disturb jobs. However, I am not ready to agree with this "two kinds concept" yet. So I add this entry to Projects Category.
More fun AI Toys: These AI tools can help you create something in under a minute
Remote jobs are everywhere after COVID19. Many online job recruiting sites saw the need to list remote jobs as their own category. Hybrids and remote become essential criteria for one looking for jobs. A Good site praised to be popular this year. I am interested to look into this myself. This is still a novel venture, hopefully it's not just a fad and I come in too late.
Signs of Bad Manager, based on this site. This is as well a helpful reminder for myself in managerial role:
Signal #1: Other reports face similar challenges
Signal #2: Your manager doesn’t know what they want
Signal #3: You know something is wrong but you just don’t know what [This point is a bid weak, I don't quite agree, unless it's for dummies who don't even know how to evaluate themselves and things around them with the basics]
Signs of Bad Employee, based on this site:
Unable to hit deadlines. This is different than missing a few, with a proper heads-up.
Get angry when they fall behind. Instead of quietly stepping up and just getting it done.
Refuse to own a quantitative KPI or goal. They don’t want to own a number.
Don’t raise their hand when they need help. They just hide it. Often even to themselves.
Always “very busy”. The best employees always find a way to help, to take a little more on to help the team.
Argue with bosses and other leaders in public. The boss isn’t always right. But understanding someone has to make the call on tough decisions is important.
Argue when you ask them to fix something that wasn’t done that well. The best agree and just go fix it.
Push back on doing core parts of their job. So you end up doing it yourself.
Need folks to do all their work for them. More an issue with mediocre managers. They are often unwilling to do any actual work themselves.
Hire mediocre folks under them. It’s true. This is the worst part.
Hire folks that just do what they are told. Instead of folks that are great.
Blame others. It’s never their fault.
Gossip. A little is OK, but mediocre employees often become toxic ones, spending too much time on office-related gossip.
Claim they did the work that their report or other resource actually did. The best highlight the team member that did the work. The mediocre claim they did it themselves, or obscure who actually did it.
Threatened by a new great hire. Again, a little of this is OK. But great employees embrace all great hires. Even when there is overlap with their role and path.
Take more than 2 hours a week to manage, maximum. That’s just too much. More here.
Lie. Mediocre employees lie. They just lie. They claim they got the project done, but didn’t. They claim they held the date, but didn’t actually do it. They claim they hit the plan, but they didn’t. The lie sort of works a little, at first, if they are in a position of trust. But then they have to lie more.
12/16/2023 Hacking NJ DEP: So it's time for me to renew my NJ Saltwater Recreational Registry Program, basically fishing permit, which is free. Apparently they move the process to a new online site that required me to create a whole new profile, requiring a NJ-only driver's license. I tried random number since mine's NY, didn't work. So I looked up this site (content pasted in comment) that teaches how how NJ Driver's license ID Number is read, thus far, and it worked when I entered some randomized number follow the rules: L09275767608782. I suppose I will correct it when I get an NJ license. After all, I do live in NJ and it's stupid to require NJ Driver's license as a proof.
12/15/2023 How Couples Meet in the US Chart: Interesting survey to look at the trend of dating/courtships. I also noticed that for older guys, it maybe an advantage to use going back to college as a dating source. Online dating is definitely becoming the norm these days. Those who did it through families are probably seen as losers, unless they are independent, meaning not just in having a stable jobs, but actually has his own ventures in his life: running his own business, his own family, his own projects, etc. Active, not passive. Lots of guys these days, especially in churches, stay single because the girls dump them due to lack of activeness in loving and showing care for the ladies. While the guys' excuse is "these girls aren't submissive enough...oops...I mean biblical enough." These guys will not likely go for online dating method, for they are passive losers. They are between dating through friends (the second highest popular method after online dating) or family. But without much friends, they are really stuck.
12/14/2023
In the world of Generative AI, this is probably a good place to start learning about GEMINI. Basically Google's competition against OpenAI's ChatGPT.
4 database types: relational (SQL), NoSQL, NewSQL, and Vector databases. A good overview on these:
A relational database is a type of database that stores and provides access to data points that are related to one another.
NoSQL, standing for “Not Only SQL,” refers to a broad category of database management systems that differ from traditional relational database management systems (RDBMS) in some key ways.
NewSQL is a term coined to describe a new generation of relational database management systems (RDBMS) that provide the same scalable performance of NoSQL systems for online transaction processing (OLTP) read-write workloads while maintaining the ACID guarantees of a traditional database system.
Time-series databases are specialized database systems designed for handling time-stamped or time-series data—data points indexed in time order.
Vector databases are specialized database systems designed to store, manage, and perform operations on vector data—data represented in high-dimensional space. They are particularly adept at handling complex data types such as images, audio, video, and text, which are commonly used in machine learning models.
SVG Tutorial using HTML: a very simple clear guide: deals with vector animation, interactive buttons, etc.
Learning Distributed Systems using Maelstrom in Go: Seemingly good tutorial on basic understanding of it.
First AI News media: https://www.channel1.ai/
Completely reported using AI characters.
After HeyGen AI, where you can create your own AI presentation, making yourself speaking a foreign language, etc. this is just going more and more unreal.
11/26 Sermon on 1 Corinthians 3:11-17. A building of straw is listed in the pastor's bullet points under II. Wasted Life. However, I must have dozed of during the sermon as I don't remember what he said. I would be curious to find the recording to relisten, but it would seem like his take is very similar to mine, even though I had a hard time imagining him putting too much emphasis on the negativity of the quality of straws.
On Sunday School: Predestination is the main topic. Some (John S.) rightly understood the problem one would have with predestination is about free will, or at least he mentioned free will being a problem, I'm not sure how he takes it himself. Arminians basically raised human free will to an erroneous point after the fall. Would like to revisit Frank Turek's take on Romans 9:18...He has mercy on whom He wills, whom He wills He hardens.
12/3 Sermon on 1Corinthians 3:18-4:5
1Cor 4:5 On Ignore the judgment of people, I see Calvin has a better take: Not every kind of judgment, but hasty and rash without examination of the case.
On Sunday School:
On antinomianism: I think the session was a shallow treatment of it, basically: yes sin is bad, but also don't worry about it. Nick's carpet lumps analogy was similar case: lumps are bad, but enjoy the greater beauty of the house. I would respond: Yes, feel bad and clean them, but don't be anxious. In fact, enjoy cleaning it for the hope of the outcome.
Fortunately, Rob concluded using RC Sproul's (Tim Keller's favorite focus as well): After knowing God/the Gospel -> We love obeying the law (Active, not passive treatment of the law). This is a better take than the passive shallow type: Breaking law is bad, obey it probably out of fear, rather than love, or no emphasis on loving the law as it may seem too negative.
Stephen Tong's response would be better as well: Treat yourself with God's righteousness; treat others with God's grace.
The following week's Sunday School's going to be on Purgatory and praying for the dead, which is fun. I did a little research on the Catholic's site regarding these and also on relics veneration (Jerome is really into it, even wrote a letter against Vigilantius on behalf of Riparius, to make his case).
My Chinese LECC Bible study today spoke of fellowship from someone's prayer request. We all got tongue-tied for the the Chinese translation of it. Some mentioned 奖学金, but that's confusing with scholarship, some say 进修, but that's just research or further study. After googling, my closest answer is: fellowship = 学院助学金.
A supposedly well made 100 episode documentary. Forwarded from mom.
中華通史100集．由古至今的朝代興衰，可以看看參考。
https://www.kunlunce.com/llyj/fl11111111111/2018-07-07/126406.html
For some reason, the idiots at YouTube removed the CCTV6 account, and thus the English subbed series is gone. Good thing I downloaded the whole thing long ago.
Youtuber: Learn Chinese Now also has interesting take on identifying Chinese Dynasties in Movies (Accented Cinema, another youtuber also did something similar with China History and movies):
Part 1
Part 2
只要花75小時，即可看盡中國四千年歷史的興衰，非常非常值得。全部100集都在這裡了，按照目錄，想看那一集，隨挑隨看。
CCTV6紀錄片《中國通史》目錄：
第01集 中華道路
第02集 中華先祖
第03集 農業起源
第04集 文明起源
第05集 邦國時代
第06集 夏王朝覓蹤
第07集 殷商興亡
第08集 商代文明
第09集 武王克商
第10集 周公攝政
第11集 周王室的衰落
第12集 春秋爭霸
第13集 孔子
第14集 列國變法
第15集 戰國七雄
第16集 諸子百家
第17集 秦國崛起
第18集 秦始皇統一中國
第19集 楚漢戰爭
第20集 郡國並行
第21集 文景之治
第22集 漢武帝
第23集 兩漢經學
第24集 昭宣政治
第25集 王莽改制
第26集 光武中興
第27集 絲綢之路
第28集 清議與黨錮
第29集 黃巾起義
第30集 三國鼎立
第31集 諸葛亮治蜀
第32集 西晉統一
第33集 魏晉風度
第34集 門閥政治
第35集 梁武帝治國
第36集 孝文帝改革
第37集 北周武帝
第38集 陳朝興亡
第39集 魏晉佛教
第40集 再造統一
第41集 煬帝功過
第42集 貞觀之治
第43集 武則天
第44集 開天盛世
第45集 安史之亂
第46集 中晚唐的困局
第47集 世界都會長安
第48集 吐蕃興衰
第49集 敦煌
第50集 唐朝的對外關係
第51集 唐代宗教
第52集 五代十國
第53集 宋太祖
第54集 澶淵之盟
第55集 與士大夫共治天下
第56集 王安石變法
第57集 靖康之難
第58集 宋金和戰
第59集 偏安東南
第60集 東京夢華
第61集 宋代新儒學
第62集 宋代文化
第63集 契丹興起
第64集 西遼建國
第65集 完顏阿骨打
第66集 金朝興亡
第67集 遼金文化
第68集 西夏興亡
第69集 蒙古興起
第70集 忽必烈大帝
第71集 兩都巡幸
第72集 大元帝師八思巴
第73集 海上絲綢之路
第74集 馬可波羅與中國
第75集 元順帝
第76集 明太祖朱元璋
第77集 永樂遷都
第78集 鄭和下西洋
第79集 內閣制度
第80集 土木堡之變
第81集 王陽明心學
第82集 海疆與互市
第83集 張居正改革
第84集 耶穌會士來華
第85集 江南市鎮
第86集 白銀資本
第87集 崇禎帝
第88集 入主中原
第89集 王朝的穩固
第90集 收復台 灣
第91集 統一大業
第92集 軍機處
第93集 攤丁入畝
第94集 文治與文字獄
第95集 被動的自強
第96集 鴉片戰爭
第97集 太平天國
第98集 甲午戰爭
第99集 維新與革命
第100集 帝制的終結
Supplement: Where did China get its name:
Chinese ancient concept of the world: 天下, surrounded by 4 barbarian/foreign culture 四夷 （西戎，北狄，华夏，东夷，南蛮). 华夏=神州 (divine state), 九州 (of the time). 中国：used by Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD).
The word "China", 1. Possibly based on the word Qin, from Qin Dynasty reforms. 2. India's name for the silk country Sina of 夜郎 (Zi-na) from 荆 (jing-a) of 楚国. 3. Jin Dynasty (晋朝) 300AD.
I'm adding a chart with China Dynasties timeline:
Episode 01: 中华道路 (summary of the entire history in first episode)
800BC - 200 AD 轴心时代 (Axial Age): Era of philosophers, Western terminology coined by Karl Jaspers: Axial Age. Eastern: 百家争鸣。An age of huge global changes in philosophy = 8th century to 3rd century BC.
墨子 (468?BC - 376BC): Developed Mohism.「兼愛 unbias/universal love」、「非攻 against war」激进的救世思想 (不同于老庄:清静无为，顺应自然的政治思想）
Also against Confucians' benevolent love 仁爱 (different degrees of love based on family & social status).
兼愛：没有任何亲疏贵贱的爱。非攻：反对战争。
@4:32 风尘仆仆：形容旅途奔波，忙碌劳累
老庄 （道家），是老子 571-471BC 和庄子 369-286BC 的并称 为道家：主张清静无为 （指一切听其自然，人力不必强为。 出自《谏作玉清昭应宫》）
Philosophy of same era:
All schools of thoughts are connected to one pillar: 儒家 - 孔子 551-479BC。How to 人成仁: 以人义，礼乐，德治教化为基本内容。
儒学didn't get picked up not only in Confucius' time, but also not even 100 years later in 孟子's time. Next is 荀子's student: 李斯，主导焚书坑儒 buring of books under Emperor Qin 213BC. 【中国历史上的四次焚书浩劫：秦孝公焚书 359BC，秦始皇焚书 213BC，梁元帝焚书 508-554，乾隆皇帝焚书 1773-1782】
A classic art collection about Confucius Bio by unknown artist was 孔子圣迹图三十六幅. 孔子一生颠沛流离（ 形容生活艰难，四处流浪）。
汉朝开国皇帝刘邦 (202-195BC)：first historical record of ruler publicly worship/paying tribute to Confucius. (18 years after Qin's 213BC books burning)
True revival of 儒家: 60 years after Han Dynasty, 汉武帝时代 (156-87BC 西汉第七位皇帝). 大儒 董仲舒: 罢黜百家(not getting rid but actually uniting the essences of all schools)，独尊儒术
佛教在东汉后期 (184-220) 开始传入中国。
[Learn 唐宋元明清]
明朝：王阳明 16岁 儒 释(buddhist) 道 天才。Not limited by previous 程朱教条。Introduced：知行合一。阳明心学。儒家的更新。
361 B.C. Master in legalism: 商鞅. Praised by 秦孝公 of 秦国. Promoted legalism. 秦始皇 统一六国, 138 years after his reformation. However, 严刑峻法 caused the dynasty to finish 15 years later. Conclusion: 不能单靠以法治国。
89 B.C. 汉武帝 in trying to figure out why 以礼治国，以法治国 don't work out well, published 轮台诏: 以明休息，思富养民的国策。
隋朝（Sui Dynasty very short lived 581-618AD)：Strict edict of 三省六部制
began 科举考试 (Imperial examination - becoming government officials through examinations) Great talents chosen.
唐王朝 （618-907AD）：See 十八学士图，二十五学士图，八公图卷，丝绸之路 绢本 谢振瓯。
However，封建制度 (Feudalism) will ultimately fail, because it's 专制主义 (absolutism, despotism, dictatorial). When the king is corrupted, no matter how good the system is, it will all collapse.
The 五代十国 (907-960) was an era of 兵变(mutinies)与政变(coup d'etat), ended with 赵匡胤 (founder of the Song Dynasty 960-1279, via mutiny of 陈桥 - 陈桥驿兵变, Song Taizu - 宋太祖), the alleged founder also of the 太祖长拳。Using a large group of 文臣 (civilian court officials) and 士大夫 (scholarly officials) of important roles, to suppress 武夫悍将 (powerful knights and generals).
明朝 的 朱元璋 fought against the kind of corruption he experienced in 元朝. He applied harsh punishment with no mercy: capital punishment to officials' greed, almost no officials left in court. Very effective, but short lived.
*** Back to earlier history: 三千年前的重要占卜 (fortune telling/divination) ***
1046 BC - 周武王集结大军即将出兵伐商 (preparing to attack Shang regime) in a time of great reliance upon divination. However, Zhou Wu attacked despite being shown bad omen (不吉利的兆象), faced bad weather, obtained victory. And thus, 冲破了夏商 (Xia & Shang) 的迷信天命观. Zhou (周礼) focused on ethics 伦理 and morality 道德. 武王伐纣 (King Wu attack Zhou regime) = 摆脱天命 (against "heaven's" will). 改变天命观、世界观。
133 BC - 汉武帝 attacked 匈奴 (the Huns) during Han Dynasty (202 BC - 220 AD). Because in the first 60+ years, the Han Dynasty was turmoiled under the Huns. But the Huns knew the plot, 马邑之谋 was a failure. But 汉武帝 persisted, heroes such as 李广，卫青，霍去病, etc. emerged. After 3 more battles, the Huns were defeated.
138 BC - 中华民族并不是好战也不是保守的民族。丝绸之路便是由中国人开拓出来的, by 张骞.
汉唐时期 - 海上丝绸之路.
1405 - 1433 AD 郑和下西洋.
To be continued @33:00 (my video)
This I bought cheap a while ago. It is said that this kind of instrument goes as far back as 7000 years in China.
Mine is an 8-hole, 6 in front, 2 at the back. I would say mine is an E-flat Xun. The accurate fingering is hard to find online. I'm not even sure how standardized the fingerings are as there are so many different kinds out there. I may have to come up with my own fingering chart.
Since I bought a cheap one from TEMU for $9, A good site for intro: https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Dizi
The one I received from TEMU is a G (though a little sharp) flute. It is jointless, so tuning would be a problem.
Update 1/30/2026, I found myself another D key Dizi on Pay-for-Less near our house. And this youtuber is a great intro into learning it:
Psalm 7:4 This is not about wicked people doing to for others: as some may use it to their advantage, seeing how if they help others, they could be excused from any wrong doings elsewhere, or that those that they have helped should not be their judge over any wrong doings. in v.5: David here truly seeks any corruption in his hands. It is clear that the ones offending him were more likely in the wrong with God than the king himself has trespassed God, yet, he is carefully guarding his own hands free from iniquity, to find them pleasing to God.
v. 6-7: It seems that it was a time when the wicked are justifying themselves, making the wrong right and turning right into wrong. In such confusion, David called upon the Lord to return among the people.
v.8: Some would have trouble with this verse, as if David is lifting his own righteousness independent of God. The context is clear, David is aligning himself to the holy God and seeks to be certain of so. Today, it's hard for some to get it, because many fundamentalist preachers have preached a message that is devoid of works. Any human works, they deemed not of God. Following the Gnostic heresy in the dichotomy of flesh and spirit.
