無中生有／无中生有, Wú zhōng shēng yǒu) A plain lie. Make somebody believe there was something when there is in fact nothing. One method of using this strategy is to create an illusion of something's existence, while it does not exist. Another method is to create an illusion that something does not exist, while it does

This is one you see a lot in the media. 

For instance, the Las Vegas shooter story. Recently they are making a big deal about how law enforcement handled the situation. That the shooter got an extra 15 minutes and it took them that long to put it together that the shooter was not at the concert itself, that the security guard had been shot and called 911... I heard the story second hand and then briefly skimmed the news story but I actually exploded mid conversation because, YOU try to figure all that out in 15 minutes. In fact the story was told to me confusingly and that took longer than 15 minutes. 

I am not a super "I love law enforcement all the time all the way." but I agree with their take that the media is making something out of nothing. They did the best they could and did pretty well. You could say we are ill equipped to handle situations like these... but to me.... 15 minutes to figure out the guy is in the hotel? 

That's fast. 

Remember, that's while being shot at and all that. 

Another making something out of nothing? 

Well I would say the Nazi Rally's. Ok not exactly nothing. But they have been around for a while and giving them a platform? Probably not helpful. But then other stuff happened and so the media moved on. 

Data disagregation. 

Getting more boxes to check for Asians. 

Really not a big deal. Turned into a huge debate and protests and talking about racism and all that. 

That is something out of nothing. If you are against the government collecting data... first of all you are a hypocrite if you own a smartphone. Second, you don't have to check the boxes. 

Anyway, None of that was about me really.

I just cleaned out a closet full of DVDs. Gong Gong made me put them in boxes, theoretically to transport to Maryland... to the SOUTH, instead of throwing them away. 

I would say keep the personal home videos and toss the rest that is on Youtube for free anyway... in your hand at all times if you have a smart phone. 

I put some board games and toys in there that the kids wanted to keep. The toys will eventually go but when the weather gets cold the kids will need something to play with inside... so not yet. 

I want to get some sort of video game system. The kids are playing very simple games on Scratch anyway and doing it as if it is illegal by hiding under things... and then fighting each other about turns. So I want to get something with four controllers so that we can all play. 

I like non screen time games... but you have to admit that you can have a lot more games on a computer than if you have to have the physical games. 

Still haven't learned to play Mah Jong... But that would be something cool to do. 

After work I have been doing hard Kung Fu. Like Hai! and Ha! really loud. Haven't done it like that since I was a teenager really. And that's the last time I was in this sort of social situation... makes you wonder. 

Like I don't even warm up. I just get home change and go, take a break with salute to sun, and then another form. I usually sort of have time for three forms, and then I run to pick up the kids from the bus stop. 

Only today, Gong Gong pulled in right as I got home. So I couldn't do it. To top it off. I semi twisted my ankle walking down the hill to go to the bus stop.

I would have done Kung Fu on the front lawn (because I can see if the bus is coming) but all the neighbors can not only see me... but its like I am putting on a show... also I was afraid they might call the police and that's the last thing I need. 

But anyway, I can feel mu ankle is slightly not 100% We'll see tomorrow. 

I did Kung Fu on it in the back yard anyway after I picked up the kids. 

Maybe that was a bad idea. 

But at this point I have to do Kung Fu. Not for health but for stress. 

It's just annoying that I injured my ankle. 

Ehhh

Maybe I'm making something out of nothing. 

Make a sound in the east, then strike in the west[edit] (聲東擊西／声东击西, Shēng dōng jī xī)

Is this really that different from Man tian guo hai? Maybe I should just start doing this sort of thing around the house too my kids... for fun.

Are there 35  strategies of getting your kids to do their homework? Because Shao totally just lied to me today and so we had to do homework later at night... again.

I started watching the Water Margin stories with them. Just like a traditional Chinese family with the tv blasting during dinner and Shao unable to eat properly because he couldn't look away. I think they might even learn Chinese.

It's the one that was made in the 90's. I prefer the actors and the director in that one. And the song. It's good exposure. Plus its for me.

I noticed that I am feeling frustrated being separated from my culture. So I need to over compensate with the TV series and probably music. Except it's just not convenient to blast music. You might as well put on an actual show. Most of what is keeping me "busy" is throwing stuff away. I feel Like I won't be able to do anything until the house is clean. And of course there is work, and i am taking a paralegal course, which is difficult to do with the kids around.

And I do full on Kung Fu. like forms without even warming up and haiya-ing and almost diu lei pking too except I try to keep all the moves positive. A form is less intentionally violent than say hitting a punching bag I think... though I think we will get one of those in the basement at some point...

In the meantime I tied these kick board for swimming to a tree outside. That is more for the kids... but maybe I should hit it too to release tension. Suburban American life is all very tense I think, with the veneer of peacefulness on the surface.   Maybe we should find the appropriate times and opportunities to hit the drums and do lion dance too. Oh yeah, we did sort of do that yesterday, like a mini exorcism of the house while Grace cooked dinner Mostly it was to distract the kids from fighting.

(趁火打劫/趁火打劫, Chèn huǒ dǎ jié)

The weekends are always busier than the week somehow. I never did get around to making those flash cards. I'll think I'll do it the second go around.

And yeah, I guess I won't do the weekends for these updates. Just a Monday recap.

"Loot a burning house" I thought about this one a lot. The take what you can get strategy... oh wait, no that's the pilfer a goat strategy. This one is about taking advantage of a country falling apart at the seams. The kicking a dog when it's down... dude the 8 countries (G8 US included) totally did this one to China after the boxer rebellion, or before or during, depending whose telling the story.

I think these strategies are just what jerks do naturally without thinking.
Anyway, one of te things we did this weekend was pay people to take stuff away from our house. I imagined trying to explain this to someone from back in the day when this strategy was written. Like, you would actually pay someone to take your stuff away. Good stuff that works. Metals, plastics, glass. STUFF. Treasure back then.

Treasure now to Amah.

We still have a lot of stuff, the two trucks put a small dent and the feng shui flows better. The company tries to donate what they can too.

Also try to explain to the people back then that people wouldn't steal this stuff. That the stuff people really want to steal is your personal information, your id numbers, the name of your  parents and maiden names. Stuff you would announce to everyone back then. Stuff that defined you... but that people could never "steal"

They wouldn't think you were crazy actually they would just think you were talking about witch craft or religion.

We also went to a STEAM fair. Basically a science fair run by high-schoolers. A lot of the fairs around here.... they are more community oriented. They are like the August moons of old, but all run by high schoolers. All the ideas I always had and said people should do in Chinatown.... that's how stuff is run here. So basically I have nothing to try and work toward and there is no need for my involvement. In a way I have no purpose. Maybe we'll do a lion dance at the library for Chinese New Year.... but maybe they already have something too.


We also went Apple picking again.

Monday was Columbus Day, supposedly slow. Not a holiday here for the children but still widely celebrated.  


I think it is important that I write everyday, and not law stuff. Otherwise I will lose my mind. So I have started writing another novel....I will keep it on my Adam Cheung Blog. And continue with this 36 Strategies calendarng type deal. Maybe after the 36 strategies instead of doing it again I will move onto some other sort of saying that are more positive. Or maybe a Tarot card a day or something. We'll see.

以逸待劳, Yǐ yì dài láo)

Off topic... but I think I should make little 36 strategy flash cards and teach them to the kids. I had a big poster of it in JP... but the flash cards would be more manageable.

But this one is basically chill out while your enemy wears himself out.

Again....I think I am usually the one who won't chill.

So today I actually brought a statue of a Buddha to work. We were getting rid of it along with a  lot of other of Amah's things.

How this came to be is a crazy story....which I cannot post about. And I posted about some embarrassing health issues so you know that it was some shit to witness.

ehhhh f it

I basically went nuts listening to Grace complain about how Noah ate chips and that the house wasn't clean all weekend and threw away a ton of stuff.


The stuff had been out and I wanted her to look through it before tossing it.

I after that I drank too much sake and almost died. I threw that away too.

But I later rescued Amah's Japanese children doll (because it reminded me of Shao and Dai... only in a weird creepy nightmarish way) and also this Geisha doll, which actually reminds me of Amah and I realized that that might be why she bought it... and a million dried food goods that I had to sleep next to.

My only experience with wearing out the enemy is to allow Amah to wear her self out... but actually this strategy often just drives me to insanity.

Wearing out the enemy by being the peaceful Buddha is the typical Kung Fu stereotype and it is assumed that all martial artists will take this approach. I am not against this strategy... it is very white crane, where you would just be still and through a side shot of some sort. Not attacking for no reason or doing moves for no reason.

Like protests without clear purpose for instance. If you are doing it to prepare that is one thing, but if it is to get stir crazy and waste your energy it might not be as useful


Instead of wearing  out my enemy (which I don't really have any) I will work to just chill more in general.

借刀殺人／借刀杀人, Jiè dāo shā rén

This one I always remember and you always see it in politics. You also always see it on the playground. I noticed girls tend to employ this strategy more than boys.

I think tat most of the strategies are probably considered to be immoral in terms of cultural norms. Even in China in day to day life really. It's just that since the book exists politicians and the like respect the strategies...but if you don;t have the above cool saying to show respect you will just use the other colloquialism which is that you get others to do your dirty work.

Kill with a borrowed sword sounds cooler and legitimizes the action while the more American saying makes it sound disgusting.... even though this strategy is pretty well employed in American Foreign policy.

Personal experience....

hmmmm you know what I realize. Not only do I not usually start fights with people... I also just don't try to attack people in these other ways. Whether it is suing or trolling or yelling.... it's not only that I am averse to violence, I am averse to the negativity... and yet I am actually not as averse to confrontation. I mean I sort of am.... but when I just can't take it I go all out.


So to use this strategy I would really have to be in a war, in that mind set.  Are other people always in that mind set? I guess they are. I guess most people are actually incredibly violent in their intentions. It's just that they don't fight physically.

I practice Kung Fu... but actually in my surroundings growing up I was also one of the least likely to get into a fight.

But I can't say that I am some sort of hippie peace lover either. I mean I think I strive to be that way. But everyone knows I can have a temper and lose my patience.


This strategy (and probably most of the 36), requires you not to lose your temper and also be very violently minded.

Going through them one a day I just realize that though I readily recognize all these behaviors in others immediately, I am averse to all of them. And at the same time I notice that a lot of people would not recognize these behaviors in others..... but are very quick to do them themselves.

(圍魏救趙／围魏救赵, Wéi Wèi jiù Zhào)

The explanation for this... I don't like. Basically it says (on Wikipedia) to attack the weakest link.

When I read that... I was thinking, damn I am totally just not a 36 strategies kind of guy. But then I just read the title part again and even though the meaning might be the same, the emphasis is on rescuing Zhao... ie a positive.

In other words, yeah I attack a weakness but the goal is to saves something.

Anyway, I guess I don't really go around attacking people's weaknesses. I just take note of everyone's and of course my own.

Mostly my personal experience with this one is people pointing out my weaknesses and implying that they will attack them.

Again, I guess I am totally not a 36 strategies kind of guy but more of a Buddhist and a Bushido type of dude... which is kind of hard to say for me...

But I'm not going to go around looking for everyone's weaknesses and starting trouble.

But what I will do is to take into account my weaknesses... and then try not to have them be weaknesses.

What does that mean and why did I say Buddhism and Bushido?

Well, ultimately, you can't control anything really. Nothing is yours. In the Dhamapada it says something like "the fool says, sons are mine, wealth is mine," etc. but really nothing is yours. Once you recognize this, you can't be afraid of losing what you don;t really have. Not to be all depressed and also not care about gaining what "you don't really have"

And then Bushido?

It says that "nothing is guaranteed except honor."

In other words.., you don;t know if you will live, or in a less drastic situation if this or that was the factor that destroyed or helped you. But you can control how you reacted to the situation.... if you were honorable.

Honorable is a loaded term.

So for me it's more about, did I act how I wanted to act. Was I true to my self and my own honor or style of honor.

In other words, if the world were going to end tomorrow anyway... would you realy let the fact that someone was going to do this this and this to you be the reason that stopped you from doing what you wanted to do?

Now the 36 strategies are talking about war. But heck not only is all fair in love and war... but weather or many things can change the outcome. That is not to say act foolishly. But just because say... this country will destroy this weaker ally if you attack.... okay so maybe you shouldn't attack. But should you attack anyway? Also, are you attacking because you are afraid?

If nothing is guaranteed but honor... then just make sure you stay true to yourself. Don't attack crazily (unless that is the type of country you are, which would be a rogue country of bandits)  But also you can't let your life be dictated by another country all the time simply because of the threat of war. Because in the end... nothing is guaranteed anyway.

Man tian guo hai

I realize that the more I have to write about... the less I am really able to write openly, and I may have to start an old school journal written by hand. In any case, I'm going to start doing a strategy of the day for the 36 strategies. I tried to cut and paste, but I couldn't do it on the phone.

Today's strategy is man tian guo hai.

Hide from heaven and cross the ocean. The old slight of hand.

I'm not really a strategist, but part of this would be to add personal experience. Here's mine. I never need to mastermind, because it would appear that I use th8sbdtartegy all the time. But the truth is, with most of the things I do I don't actually have a clear intention. Or rather I may have an idea but I'm not really sure. I realize that in life, I have achieved more or less what I wanted in childhood. One good say my true core intention was to have a certain kind if house and certain kinds of children. Right down to how it all looks. I have exactly what my childhood self always ached for while fearing being kicked out of the projects. I wanted a house that was like my grand mother's.

Perhaps I had some sort of inner psyche that tricked my adult self into following certain things or even fighting against them, ultimately bringing me to my childhood self's true intention...even to go so far as that childhood self be coming flesh and blood in my second son.

Well when I cycle through all 36 I will start at the beginning again and we'll see what I have to say about it next time.