I am a fan of Zapiro but he has taken it too far this time. He is way out of line. His latest cartoon shows Caster Semenya with the words “No ovaries” above her head. I find this visual and verbal depiction of Ms Semenya exceptionally abusive and degrading. It is not a joke; perhaps […]
Rod MacKenzie
CRACKING CHINA was previously the title of this blog. That title was used as the name for Rod MacKenzie's second book, Cracking China: a memoir of our first three years in China. From a review in the Johannesburg Star: " Mackenzie's writing is shot through with humour and there are many laugh-out-loud scenes". Cracking China is available as an eBook on Amazon Kindle or get a hard copy from www.knowledgethirstmedia.co.za.
His previous book is a collection of poetry,Gathering Light.
A born and bred South African, Rod now lives in Auckland, New Zealand, after a number of years working in southern mainland China and a stint in England.
Under the editorship of David Bullard and Michael Trapido he had a column called "The Mocking Truth" on NewsTime until the newszine folded.
He has a Master's Degree in Creative Writing from the University of Auckland. if you are a big, BIG publisher you should ask to see one of his many manuscript novels. Follow Rod on Twitter @ https://twitter.com/Rod_in_China
Posted inLifestyle
Things I just LOVE about China
One day I will leave this country and I will never forget: In the humid summers I perspire a lot and whenever I walk into a shop an assistant offers me tissues. The other day the newspaper vendor lady insisted I take a whole packet, no charge. Sheez … I will never forget the little […]
Posted inSport
The Tri-Nations rugby win and bad losers
It was one of the most magnificent tries I have ever seen. With not too many minutes left in the game All Black Danny Carter hoofed the ball across the field near the touchline and Richie McCaw expertly caught it and snaked past — with a few minor collisions — about three Bokke in the […]
Posted inGeneral
A cockroach called racism: Comparing the SA and Chinese versions
“Racism is a subject that people often seek to avoid, it being deemed too politically embarrassing, any suggestion of its existence often eliciting a response of outraged indignation and immediate denial. Yet it is central to the discourse of most, if not all, societies.” So writes Martin Jacques in his recent book When China Rules […]
Posted inNews/Politics
And if Ms Semenya were not black?
Yep, I am afraid that is the question that has been going through my mind for the last week or so. Would there be such a furore if she had been white? I think not. That is to say, there would not have been such sputterings from the sports minister and Reverend Stofile has threatened […]
Posted inGeneral
A R1000 fine for ‘smuggling’ one orange. Any takers?
“That will be 200 dollars New Zealand sir,” said the airport official at Auckland International airport, New Zealand. “Two hundred dollars for this naartjie, I mean orange, mandarin, whatever?” “Yes sir.” My wife burst into tears. I wanted to hit the smirking youngster in front of me. Let’s back up a bit. After Llewellyn Kriel’s […]
Posted inGeneral
Our women: The gift next to the vase of flowers
Based on a true story. A young girl called Melissa stared at the house across the road. She knew her friend Melody lived there and they often played together. She preferred going there instead of her own home for reasons which would take many years to understand. Her home was a sad place and her […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Sour grapes: Would ALL the Brandon Huntleys stand up?
Virtually every person I know who has left South Africa has done so because they could not find work in SA due to BEE and AA and/or they had been traumatised by violence and were extremely uncertain about their and their loved ones’ future in South Africa. Except for those above the age 60, every […]
Posted inGeneral
SA’s collective discrimination: Being ‘Western’ is being ‘white’
Nearly a quarter of a century ago I was at Rhodes University and included Afrikaans 1 among my subject choices. I will always remember the Afrikaans lecturers who insisted on referring to any Xhosa or Zulu-speaking female student as “that beautiful black woman with her impeccable Afrikaans” or that “wonderful black lady who got a […]
Posted inGeneral
Relationships and the abuse of women
This blog is a recount of an almost typical day of dealing with the women in my life. Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate … My Chinese god-daughter Sunshine meets me at the tacky old bus station I remember so well from my stay in Shaoxing […]
Posted inLifestyle
The joy of work: Please sir, may I have some more?
I steel myself for another day’s work; I am sure we all often do, especially on Mondays. I remember watching the grim faces on the NI ring road in Johannesburg on the few days I was caught in the 7.30am virtual gridlock. People clung to their steering wheels like drowned rats. Not many people looked […]
Posted inLifestyle
The art of minding other people’s business
I plonk my bag of groceries on the bar counter at Malone’s American Diner on Tongren Road, Shanghai, and the bar staff immediately walk over and inspect the contents. They stare in awe at the large container of freshly picked and washed lettuce, the blocks of cheese and the bread. Wu Hao wrinkles his nose […]