Okay so my SST column on the Mao/'Chinese threat' jokes didn't actually say what I thought of Mao. That's because it's not important what I say about Mao to an English language newspaper audience; I said it to Mao instead.
Portia Mao, of the Chinese Herald.
You can pick up the latest copy, which features an article presenting a variety of Chinese people's views on the Mao-head-on-Cosmo-girl's-body controversy (see last post). Though you'll have to be able to read Chinese.
Also in my Mao back catalogue is this Jung Chang interview I did last year.
So come and get me, angry Mainland kids! I'll quote old Commie lore at you until your eyes roll back in your head and you beg to be allowed to return to the pool hall!
TM: "Mao is Jesus to you? Religion is the opiate of the masses!"
Angry mainland kid: "Uuhhggnngnnhhh... Marxism... making eyes bleed..."
TM: "What, so you think women aren't good enough to hold up Mao's head, even though 'women hold up half the sky?' What are you, some reactionary sexist oppressor?"
Angry mainland kid: "Nooo! She's actually quoting Mao!!!" [flees]
New Asian-American media site TripmasterMonkey has just asked me to write something for the 30th anniversary of Mao's death this year. Yep, it's been nearly 30 years already since ...that man... finally left us. Was the Chaff episode enough for you? Come September, expect extensive relitigation.
Meanwhile I've been on 48-hour film challenge team 'Cut & Run' headed by my buddy Steve 'Chairman' Chow, and our screening heat is Monday night 9:30 at the Civic. I wrote dialogue, provided various forms of cultural advice, the cast was Chinese and Maori, and it's in three languages. But... er... it's, shall we say, the literal opposite (or... inverse?) of a PC lovefest. Better to leave the genre a surprise. Keith Ng makes a disembodied guest-appearance, Eastside Renegade chews scenery, there is metal, there is mess. Come along, and I'll post up my favourite script cuts later.
Bonus for guerrilla filmsters: the Bus Uncle saga, now a worldwide phenomenon. Ongoing Youtube mashup tributes, and the original version of the middle-aged Hong Kong angryman reaming out a kid on the bus, with handy double-subtitling.