Summary 240

Selling gets a bad rap.  It’s often the thing we have to do, or ought to do, or haven’t, in spite of ourselves, ever done enough of this quarter.  But I’ll tell you I had fun selling yesterday.  This was the second time I have headed out with a friend and helped her man a booth, selling lavender pillows at one of the international school fares here in Shunyi. 

The key to selling pillows is getting them up and into the passerby’s nose.  This can involve an element of risk.  One needs to be presumptuous and assume that everyone is willing to have a whiff.  If you ask people, they will of course say “no.”  Rather, pillow-in-hand, you need to waltz up to every third person or so, and assert something with excessive confidence.  Comments are clearly filtered by age, gender and ethnicity.  Obviously western women get the, “You really shouldn’t pass by without having a smell of this.” Women who look as if Chinese is their mother tongue get the more rudimentary Chinese affront: “this is something you must smell.  Here smell, smell.” All men get the simple confrontation with guilt: “Have you got anything for the Mrs. yet?  You know she’d love this.”  And with teenagers its maximum assertive: “Hey, did you get your mom anything yet?  Why not?  Tell me she wouldn’t love this?”

It was only five hours or so, and my feet are beat.  I’m not sure I’d able to keep it up full time.  But, positioned as it is near the crossroads of oratory, acting, pedagogy and theory, not especially far removed from the hunting and surviving, it’s good to remember the art of just plain selling.   Sometimes we get far removed from the core craft itself, the power to persuade, which can be shaped, refined, modeled.   

Today, we’re at the 240 mark.  This passing of twenty I noticed in time, and below is the reckoning for what we’ve covered for the last eighteen days:

Chengyu

1 四面楚歌：sìmiàn chǔgē：lit. on all sides, the songs of Chu (idiom) / fig. surrounded by enemies, isolated and without help

2. 井然有序：jǐngrányǒuxù: everything clear and in good order (idiom); neat and tidy

3. 轻车熟路： qīngchēshúlù:  lit. to drive a lightweight chariot on a familiar road (idiom) / fig. to do sth routinely and with ease / a walk in the park

4. 雨后春笋： yǔhòuchūnsǔn:lit. after rain, the spring bamboo (idiom); fig. rapid new growth / many new things emerge in rapid succession

5. 相机而动: xiàngjī'érdòng:  to wait for the opportune moment before taking action (idiom)

6. 跌脚捶胸： diējiǎochuíxiōng:  lit. stamping and beating the chest (idiom); fig. angry or stressed about something.

7. 难兄难弟： nánxiōngnándì:  lit. hard to differentiate between elder and younger brother (idiom) / fig. one is just as bad as the other

8. 万古长新： wàngǔchángxīn:  to remain forever new (idiom)

9. 大吉大利： dàjídàlì：great luck, great profit (idiom); everything is thriving

10. 赶尽杀绝： gǎnjìnshājué:  To kill to the last one (idiom) / to exterminate / to eradicate / ruthless

11.  因小失大： yīnxiǎoshīdà: to save a little only to lose a lot (idiom)

12. 巴山夜雨：  Bāshānyèyǔ: rain on Mt Ba (idiom); lonely in a strange land / Evening Rain, 1980 movie about the Cultural revolution

13. 夫妻反目： fūqīfǎnmù:  man and wife fall out (idiom, from Book of Changes); marital strife\

14. 含宫咀征： hángōngjǔzhēng:  permeated with beautiful music (idiom)

15. 互为因果: hùwéiyīnguǒ:  mutually related karma (idiom); fates are intertwined / interdependent

16. 老当益壮： laodāngyìzhuàng:  old but vigorous (idiom); hale and hearty despite the years

17. 见仁见智： jiànrénjiànzhì：opinions differ (idiom)

18.  鞭长莫及： biānchángmòjí:  lit. the whip cannot reach (idiom); beyond one's influence / too far to be able to help

Music Shared

Minor Threat, Betrayed, from the “Salad Days” album, 1985.

Prince Buster, “Judge Dread”, 1967

Buck Clayton “Squeeze Me”, 1957

Teddy Weatherford, “My Blue Heaven”, 1937

Johnny Guarnieri, “My Blue Heaven”, 1944

Donald Lambert, “Anita’s Dance”, 1951

Dick Wellstood, “Live at the Sticky Wicket”, 1986 

Pat Flowers, “But Not For Me”, 1945

Fats Waller, “I Had to Do It”, 1948

African Virtuoses, “The Classic Guinean Guitar Group”, 1983

Richard and Robert Sherman, “Fidelity, Fiduciary Bank”, from the movie “Mary Poppins”, 1964

Willie “The Lion” Smith, “Morning Air”, 1938

Lee Morgan, “Midtown Blues”, from the album “Lee Way”, 1960

Steve Hillage, “Hurdy Gurdy Man” from the album “L”, 1976

Amon Tobin, from the album “Isam,” 2011

Ken Boothe, “Live Good” 1968

Clifford Jordan, “Don’t You Know I Care?”, 1961

Alton Ellis, “Blackish White”, 1971

Media Shared

Obama in the Philippines in The Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/us-philippines-to-sign-10-year-defense-agreement-amid-rising-tensions/2014/04/27/a04436c0-cddf-11e3-a75e-463587891b57_story.html

On Chinese cops helping in France with tourists: http://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/05/07/chinese-police-to-help-with-tourist-influx-in-paris/?hp

Prince Buster, on Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Buster

Iris Murdoch, “The Sovereignty of the Good” on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Sovereignty-Good-Iris-Murdoch/dp/0415253993

People’s Park in Shanghai, on Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People's_Park_(Shanghai)

Buck Clayton on Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buck_Clayton

Li Jinhui on Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li_Jinhui

China and Vietnam spat in the Paracels in the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/09/world/asia/china-and-vietnam.html?ref=international-home

Philippines seizes Chinese fishermen in the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/11/world/asia/raising-stakes-in-fight-with-china-philippines-jails-fishermen.html?hp&_r=0

Teddy Weatherford in India video on Youtube: http://www.anb.org/articles/18/18-03780-print.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSjd447T4BI

China’s oil rig in the Paracels in the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/10/world/asia/in-high-seas-china-moves-unilaterally.html?ref=asia

Kenny G’s tune “Going Home” to no longer be officially played in China in the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/11/world/asia/china-says-goodbye-in-the-key-of-g-kenny-g.html?ref=asia

James Fallows, “China Airborne”

China, Vietnam impasse in the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/13/world/asia/china-and-vietnam-at-impasse-over-drilling-rig-in-south-china-sea.html?hp&_r=0

Dick Wellstood, on Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Wellstood

Pat Flowers on Wiki: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/pat-flowers-mn0000162060

Vietname clamps down on anti China protestors in the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/15/world/asia/foreign-factories-in-vietnam-weigh-damage-in-anti-china-riots.html?hpw&rref=world

“Fresh Off the Boat” trailer on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6iKSTOx1fU

African Virtuoses album reviewed: http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/10617-the-classic-guinean-guitar-group/

Lyrics to “Fidelity, Fiduciary, Bank”: http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/marypoppins/fidelityfiduciarybank.htm

“Fidelity, Fiduciary, Bank on Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fidelity_Fiduciary_Bank

Richard Sherman on Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_M._Sherman

Robert Sherman on Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_B._Sherman

Whippoorwill on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXnnfg1CepE

Dove on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oNljd7R1f8

Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oNljd7R1f8

Willie “The Lion” Smith on Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_%22The_Lion%22_Smith

Fu Mengzi critique of Obama’s Asia visit: http://www.chinausfocus.com/foreign-policy/obamas-rebalancing-to-asia-pacific-losing-balance/

Vietnam cracks down on anti Chinese violence, in New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/18/world/asia/vietnamese-officials-intolerant-of-violence-as-standoff-with-china-continues.html

Lee Morgan on Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Morgan

Planet Gong web site: http://www.planetgong.co.uk/

Interview with Daevid Allen and Steve Hillage https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ix9Rd_tGN0k

F.B.I. on evolving drug policy for hiring: http://www.businessinsider.com/fbi-having-trouble-recruiting-techies-because-stoners-2014-5

U.S. issues indictments against five men associated with the P.L.A.: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/21/business/international/firms-in-united-states-see-risk-in-challenges-to-beijing.html?hp&_r=0

Orb Weaver Spider on Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orb-weaver_spider

Light Vented Bulbul on Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light-vented_Bulbul

Bubul feeding its young on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SNgiKzdcYs

Cro Mags album “Best Wishes” cover: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Best_Wishes

Swami Prabhupada on Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._C._Bhaktivedanta_Swami_Prabhupada

Soul Train dance line set to Pharrell Williams “Happy”  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7Yu93s_WhY

Iranian youths arrested for posting “Happy” video in New York Times:  http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/22/world/middleeast/arrests-after-dance-video-in-tehran-hint-at-cultural-war.html?hp

Cro Mags album, “Before the Quarel” on Wiki: http://www.allmusic.com/album/before-the-quarrel-mw0000090599

Amon Tobin from the album “Isam”, 2011: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISAM_(album)

Ken Boothe “Live Good” on Wiki  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ausBx-TTMfg&feature=kp

Ken Boothe  “Live Good” earlier version, on Wiki: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-TqO7xMw_s

Leslie Kong mini bio in “The Jamaica Observer”  http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Leslie-Kong-s-reggae-pioneer_11989294

Attack in Xinjiang in the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/23/world/asia/deadly-attack-in-western-china.html?contentCollection=world&action=click&module=NextInCollection&region=Footer&pgtype=article

More on cyber security posturing in New York Times; http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/23/world/asia/china-threatens-security-checks-for-tech-firms-after-us-indictments.html?ref=asia

Cuckoo sound on Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1WcxRaMmIM

Various clips of Cukoo calls: http://www.soundboard.com/sb/Cuckoo_Bird_Sounds

Jeffery Carr on F.B.I. indictments: http://jeffreycarr.blogspot.com/2014/05/analysis-of-victim-companies-in-pla.html

Various pundits on F.B.I. indictments on ChinaFile: http://www.chinafile.com/Best-Response-Chinas-Cyber-Attacks

Clifford Jordan on Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clifford_Jordan

Clifford Jordan biography: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/clifford-jordan-mn0000157487/biography

Alton Ellis, on Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alton_Ellis

Quote of the Flagellants in London in 1349: http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/flagellants.htm

From Norman Cohen’s “The Pursuit of the Millennium: Revolutionary Millenarians and Mystical Anarchists of the Middle Ages (1970).”