empty parent categories

I want to make categories that are just to organize more specific subcategories but not actually have any posts in them.

I need to somehow make it show empty categories, because right now if I have
-Parent Category (0)
-subcategory (14)
it doesn’t show up on the sidebar (presumably since the parent category is empty)

Or perhaps there a better way of doing it.

I found this hack: http://www.andrew-hall-artist.com/journal/index.php?p=69
and i’m not totally sure what it will do (nor can I find the code in question to remove) or if I would want it for what I’m attempting.

please advise

(website is http://slipstream.brokenuniverse.com/wp but it is a bit fubar right now)