"Shaolin" released 2011

Awesome and spectacular Shaolin, released January 27, 2011 in Hong Kong, is a martial arts movie set in China in the early 20th century.  A ruthless warlord (played by the multi-talented Andy Lau) is betrayed by his second-in-command and flees to the refuge of a shaolin, seeking redemption.

The movie also stars Jackie Chan in a minor but entertaining role.  

Shaolin was released on January 19 in China, and September 9 in the US.  It was a major box office hit in Hong Kong and China.  Being released in Mandarin and Cantonese helped boost its popularity.

It was nominated for four Hong Kong movie awards, including a nomination for Best Song, co-written and performed by Andy Lau, who is also a successful singer in Asia.

Happy birthday, Andy Lau!

My favorite Chinese actor, the handsome, multi-talented Andy Lau was born September 27, 1961 in Hong Kong.  He has starred in House of Flying Daggers, Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame, Shaolin, and Saving Mr. Wu.  

He is also a successful singer-songwriter, having won numerous awards for his music, as well as his acting.

First Gay Games open in San Francisco 1982

The very first Gay Games were held in San Francisco from August 28 to September 5, 1982.  San Francisco was chosen because of the large gay and lesbian population, and the games had support from local government.  Tina Turner performed at the opening ceremonies and Stephanie Mills performed at the closing.  The torch was lit by two former US Olympians from a flame that had been carried on a torch starting at the Stonewall Inn in New York City.

The organizers of the games reached out to recruit athletes from minority groups, such as people of color, women and rural gays.

Hong Kong will host the 11th Gay Games in 2022.

"Push" released 2009

Push, a movie about people with special powers but not superheroes, was released February 6, 2009.  It starred Chris Evans (Johnny Storm, Captain America) as a man with telekinesis and Dakota Fanning as a girl who can see the future.

The movie takes place in Hong Kong as Evans and Fanning are trying to keep from being captured by a government group that wants to turn them into weapons.

Chris Evans is just as sexy with his clothes on.  I think he is also a very talented actor.  Dakota Fanning is more mature in this movie than others even though she was only 15 when the movie was released.

Happy birthday, Apollo 8 astronaut William Anders!

William "Bill" Anders, born October 17, 1933 in Hong Kong, went into space aboard Apollo 8 in December 1968.  It was the first manned spacecraft to orbit Earth's moon and return back to Earth.  Anders, with Frank Borman and James Lovell were the first men to see the moon up close.  Anders served as the Lunar Module Pilot. 

He is credited with taking the famous Earthrise photo of the Earth rising over the moon's horizon, December 24, 1968.