【推荐2】Is it by luck or strength that Jackson Yee, who has been an actor for a few years, has achieved such eye-catching results? The answer can be found in The Battle at Lake Changjin.

The entire film took more than 180 days to shoot. Jackson Yee was just 20 years old when he entered the set and never left for a single day during filming. The 176 minutes of The Battle at Lake Changjin are just the period of time during which we sit in the cinema, but they are the 180 days he spent groping (摸索) around in the snow and ice. Apart from taking time off to attend the Spring Festival Gala, not once did he take time off to shoot another film or attend a show.

Thus, we see Wu Wanli change from a coward holding a knife with his hands trembling on the battlefield and not daring to stab the enemy, into a fearless soldier shooting enemies on the battlefield, and saying “There are 8 short of 20” (because one of his comrades says that killing 20 enemies makes him a hero). From a brash and unruly (傲慢无礼的) boy to an outstanding soldier, Jackson Yee makes us understand “How can a teenager grow old fast? Living through a war can make a teenager become thirty years older than he is quickly.”

Even when competing with a group of senior actors who have spent most of their lives in the acting world, Jackson Yee, a new actor in his early 20s, received the favorable comments.

However, the more praise Jackson Yee wins, the more it has caused some netizens to hate him, and thus controversy (争论) about his acting skills has arisen.

Anyhow, Jackson Yee has always been calm and awake; he once said, “No matter how noisy the world is out there, I have to be calm.” Therefore, you can always trust Jackson Yee.

【推荐2】Steam trains paved the way for modern-day transportation, but just how much do you know about them?

The roots of steam trains can be traced back to the 18th century when the Scottish engineer James Watt improved steam engine technology. Watt’s improvements significantly enhanced the efficiency of steam engines. This breakthrough paved the way for the application of steam power in various industries, marking the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. As the 19th century started, George Stephenson used the power of steam to power locomotives (火车头), telling the age of steam-powered transportation.

Steam trains played a vital role in transforming the world into a connected network of nations. The completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in the United States in 1869 marked a historic moment, as steam locomotives linked the East and West coasts, reducing travel time and expanding economic, opportunities.

Similarly, the Orient Express in Europe became a symbol of luxury and international travel, carrying passengers from Paris to Istanbul in a quick way. The rhythmic sound of wheels on rails echoed (回响) through diverse landscapes, from the dry deserts of Australia to the snowy expanses of Siberia, as steam trains formed paths of connectivity across continents. During times of war, the role of steam trains extended to soldier transportation.

While steam trains led the railway landscape for over a century, the mid-20th century witnessed the arrival of electric and diesel locomotives, claiming greater efficiency and lower operational costs, and signaling a transformative shift.

As steam trains were not mainstream transportation, enthusiasts worldwide have preserved and restored steam locomotives, ensuring that these classic engine s continue to attract new generations with their nostalgic (怀旧的) charm, and that their stories continue to be told for ages to come.

For Heritage railways, they dedicate to the restoration and operation of classic steam locomotives. From the Bluebell Railway in England to the Strasburg Rail Road in the United States, these living museums allow modern-day travelers to experience the magic of steam travel. Riding the polished carriages and hearing the distinctive whistle, visitors experience a sensory voyage, connecting with a time when steam trains were the heartbeat of progress and adventure.

【推荐2】When I was ten years old, Mum got paralyzed (瘫痪) . Before that, she was a lively and active woman who amazed many with her energy. I admired her for all the things she did.

However, everything changed when she turned thirty-one.

I still have vivid images of her before her paralysis. She would play popular music, creating a cheerful atmosphere for lively gatherings. She would joyfully rearrange the furniture to make room for friends to abandon themselves to dance. She often spent hours filling the house with flowers, which we picked fresh from the gardens.

After Mum’s paralysis, I began to take care of my 2-year-old sister, Mary Therese. In no time at all, I learned to bathe and feed her. For me it was a giant step beyond playing with dolls. One moment stands out even today: the time Mary Therese fell and skinned her knee, burst into tears and ran past my mother’s outstretched arms into mine. Too late, I noticed slight hurt on Mum’s face, but all she said was, “It’s natural that she should run to you, because you take such good care of her.”

When I was grown and entered the field of corrections, Mum became interested in working with prisoners. She taught writing to them. One day, she asked me to mail a letter to one prisoner, Waymon. I asked for my mother’s permission to read it first. It read: when you said that I couldn’t imagine what it is like to be in prison, I felt like I had to tell you that you are mistaken. When I awoke one day to find that I was completely paralyzed, I felt trapped, overwhelmed by a sense of being imprisoned in a body that would no longer allow me to dance or carry my child in my arms. But then, I made a choice about whether I would smile when I saw my daughters again or I would weep. I made a decision to live as fully as I could.

By the time I finished Mum’s letter, my vision was clouded by tears. For the first time, I saw my mother in a clearer light.

【推荐3】A dad from Texas didn’t miss a beat when it came to supporting his daughter recently. Cecelia Simmons shared a video of her husband, Andre Simmons, dancing in the stands while their daughter Jazlyn and her Temple High School cheer team performed. In the video, as the cheer team members raise the small balls and go through their routine, Andre Simmons follows right along, nailing the moves right alongside them.

The post shared on social media has obtained over 312,000 views. With tens of thousands of overwhelmingly positive comments on his post, people online quickly shared their reactions. They recommended Andre Simmons as “Cheer Dad of the Year” or applauded his energy and spot-on moves. Simmons himself was quick to say he’s not the best dancer and it took him a few days to learn the routine. “Once I got it down pat, I just jumped up there when I heard the band finally bring the song up and I got up there and did it with her,” he said.

But the father of five said he persisted because he wanted to create a lifelong memory with his girl Jazlyn, mostly because he was constantly away for work, thereby affording limited opportunities to be in the company of her. “Since she made the cheer team, that was my way of supporting her and kind of relieving the guilt of the lost time. She thought I was doing things that she loved and surprising her with joining her in the cheer during the football game,” Simmons said.

Simmons said Jazlyn and her cheer team friends were surprised and “absolutely loved” that he could join in on the fun. The proud dad said it meant “the world” to him to be able to be there for his daughter too. “I love to try to be a super dad when I’m here and create those lifelong memories and it’s something for us to look back on and enjoy together,” he said and planned on cheering some more and making more memories with Jazlyn.