【推荐2】The end of any life is a time to look back and reflect on the historic events it has witnessed—and rarely can that be so more than in the case of Queen Elizabeth II, whose life witnessed several significant changes of the world stage.

The 96-year-old, whose death in Scotland was announced by Buckingham Palace shortly after 6 p.m. on Thursday Sep 8th, 2022, was born before the birth of talking pictures, and lived to see the era of virtual reality. She arrived in a world where her grandfather King George V was the Emperor of India, and left it with Britain still finding its feet on the world stage. Her life also saw the conquer of space and the fight with COVID-19 pandemic.

Born in 1926, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was the first child of Albert, Duke of York. The young Elizabeth had a comfortable, happy childhood, but all her life was switched in 1936. The Queen’s uncle, King Edward VIII, abandoned the throne (帝位) before he was even crowned, and instantly her shy father, as well as his wife and two daughters was into the spotlight as the country’s next king, a position he had never expected to take up. In 1952, when the young Princess Elizabeth was on a trip to Kenya, the news came through of the death of her father. At the age of 25, Princess Elizabeth became Queen Elizabeth II, and a new era began.

Her death marks the end of a bond which ties modern Britain to the wartime era which continues to cast a giant shadow across the modern British political landscape. Her passing is also the end of an era for the world, as of all the world’s major political leaders, only US President Joe Biden, born in 1942, shares any connection to World War II.

She is now the past, and her successor, King Charles III, is the future. Where Britain goes from here, in what state of mind, and how it handles the challenge of keeping a balance between dealing with its past, working out its present challenges, and embracing its future, remains to be seen.

【推荐1】Lin-Manuel Miranda began writing what would become In the Heights as a university student. The musical play would make him a playwright and performer. Now, 20 years later, it has been made into a movie, which is in theaters for its first weekend.

Miranda said like other artists, he was driven by dream but also by something else. “It was a lot of fear, honestly,” Miranda said in a recent interview. “I was 18, 19 and starting to study the theater. The fear was: I’m going into a domain that has no space for me, that has no roles for me. It was sort of that thing: No one’s going to write your dream show.”

In the Heights opened on June 10. It celebrates many things: the Latino immigrant experience, neighborhood communities in New York City and life itself.

The movie was supposed to be shown last June, but was stopped by COVID-19. The film’s director, however，thinks the delay (推迟) was not necessarily a bad thing. Moviegoers might be ready for some energetic music, singing and dancing after a year of limited life.

Many performers acting in the first In the Heights Broadway show appear in the movie’s final song and dance Students from a nearby high school also can be seen in the film. The students Had produced their own In the Heights show which the filmmakers watched and found moving.

Others starring in the movie include Leslie Grace as Nina Rosano, a college student home for the summer; Corey Hawkins as Benny, a taxi driver; and Melissa Barrera as Vanessa, a beauty salon worker trying to get her own home. Thirty-year-old Barrera said the part she plays as a young woman searching for a better future away from home—is basically herself.

【推荐3】Elvis Aaron Presley was born in the southern town of Tupelo, Mississippi on January 8,1935. His family was extremely poor. During his childhood, he sang in church with his parents. He also listened to music that influenced his later singing.

After high school, Elvis had several jobs, including driving a truck.   In 1953, he made his first recording of this song “My Happiness”. His first album was released (发行) on July 19, 1954. One of the songs was “That’s All Right”. The album sold well in Memphis,and was played a lot on local radio stations. One of Elvis’ first new recordings became a huge hit, and led to his many performances on television. It was “Heartbreak Hotel”.

By the middle of the 1950s, Elvis Presley was known around the world as the young man who moved his hips (臀部) as he sang rock and roll music. Many adults said he and his music were bad influences on young people. But young women loved him and huge crowds attended his performances.

He made his first movie in 1956. It was Love Me Tender. Elvis Presley was one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood for a number of years in the 1950s. He acted in thirty-one movies.

Elvis Presley won three of the music industry’s highest award, the Grammy. He received the first one in 1967. It was for “How Great Thou Art”, an album of religious music.

Elvis Presley released many recordings of his performances during the 1970s. His last record album was called “Moody Blue”. He also enjoyed great success on television. His 1973 television show from Hawaii was seen in forty countries by more than one thousand million people.

Elvis Presley died on August 16,1977. Hundreds of thousands of people still visit his home, Graceland, in Memphis every year. Fans continue to buy his music, making him the most popular recording artist ever. Elvis Presley remains the King of Rock and Roll.