Sodagreen has good hair day in Beijing

I'm not a fan of decadent rock music, but I was happy to wave green light sticks on Sunday night at the Beijing Exhibition Hall Theater where Taiwan pop band Sodagreen put on a show. I was most impressed by lead singer Qing Feng, although less for his vocal virtuosity than his hair - an electrostatic mane coiffed so high that it was all I could see from the back.

From big hair to Painted Skin, Zhou Xun's latest flick is slated for a September screening. Stills from the movie were released at the Shanghai International Film Festival on Sunday. It is based on the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) Pu Songling novel Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio and features the incomparable Zhou as a ghost who eats the skin and hearts of her lovers. Sounds like a nightmare banquet in Guangzhou.

I have nothing against young women taking off their clothes and posting their pictures on the Internet. In fact I encourage it. So, when I came across images of "Little Cloud" rolling around on sheepskin rugs wearing skimpy underwear and a cute smile I was supportive of her right to do so, and felt it my duty to encourage her free expression by looking for more pictures. They have been posted on various websites.

After a while my eyes strayed to the text accompanying the pics. Little Cloud claims to be a student in Beijing, originally from Sichuan. She says she's been uploading her racy jpgs "in the hope that everyone will continue to donate money" to those affected by the Wenchuan county earthquake, and guarantees to send pictures to those who do. This could either be a scam, or the start of a new charitable trend. Let's hope that it's the latter.

Funs of my column may recall my prediction that Tony Leung and Carina Lau would soon conclude their 17-year affair by tying the knot. Well, they appear to have taken note as they have since announced that their nuptials will take place this October. The guest list includes Cantopop songbirds Faye Wong and Na Ying.

Finally, a Mr Hong Kong Contest hopeful has been told that he must remove his nose piercing for the competition, but that his tattoos are allowed. The annual TV spectacular is a combination of modeling, bodybuilding and a beauty pageant where women gather to whoop in admiration of alpha-males flexing their pecs, projecting their personalities and parading in swimsuits. The gender tables have indeed turned.

Hu Deman, legendary Beijing crosstalker and confidante to China's biggest celebrities, talks to Jules Quartly

(China Daily 06/18/2008 page18)