Latest news with #boundless
Black America Web
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
15 Janet Jackson Songs We Should Listen to More
Source: Paras Griffin / Getty Janet Jackson has built a musical legacy that stands as a testament to her artistic genius. Over the years, she has seamlessly blended genres like pop, R&B, funk, and dance, creating a sound that has not only defined eras but also influenced generations of artists. Her work extends far beyond music, as she's also been a pioneer in dance, fashion, and social commentary, pushing boundaries and redefining what it means to be a global superstar. Janet's ability to innovate and inspire is a thread that ties her storied career together, making her a true trailblazer in every sense of the word. RELATED: Women's History Month: 25 Historic No. 1 Songs By Black Women RELATED: 5 Reasons Janet Jackson Is Undoubtedly The Queen Of Pop Her chart-topping hits are celebrated globally, with anthems like 'Rhythm Nation,' a call for unity and justice, or the sensual grooves of 'That's the Way Love Goes.' Songs like 'If' highlight her fearless approach to both music and choreography, cementing her place in pop history. But while these iconic tracks have solidified her as a household name, there's so much more to Janet's discography waiting to be discovered. Her catalog is rich with hidden gems that reflect her visionary artistry and willingness to experiment with sound and emotion. These oft-overlooked songs provide a deeper understanding of Janet as an artist. They range from introspective ballads that reveal her vulnerability to bold, genre-defying tracks that showcase her willingness to take risks. Each song is a testament to not just her versatility, but her ability to connect with listeners on a profound level. If you've only experienced her biggest hits, now is the time to explore the breadth of her work. These 15 songs are a window into Janet's boundless creativity and enduring talent, reminding us all why she remains one of the most celebrated figures in music history. This high-energy track from Rhythm Nation 1814 is a funky celebration of joy and love. Its infectious beat and layered production, combined with Janet's smooth vocals, make it a timeless bop that exudes carefree fun. Innovative and ahead of its time, this track from The Velvet Rope explores themes of loneliness in a digital age. The electronic production paired with Janet's vulnerable delivery makes it hauntingly relevant even today. A sensual mid-tempo groove from Damita Jo , this track highlights her soft and intimate vocal delivery. It's a perfect example of Janet's ability to create understated yet deeply felt love songs. From The Velvet Rope, this track tackles themes of acceptance and freedom with a blend of funk, jazz, and rock. Its bold message and genre-defying production make it stand out. A subdued ballad from All For You , 'Truth' is raw, introspective, and emotionally charged, showcasing Janet's vulnerability and storytelling ability. A retro-inspired jam from Damita Jo , this track pays homage to classic R&B with its warm grooves and feel-good vibes. Janet perfectly captures the essence of old-school soul. Off her Unbreakable album, this song blends pop and funk with poignant lyrics about individuality and self-worth, highlighting Janet's mastery of both sound and substance. This track from The Velvet Rope is a striking examination of self-identity layered over a hypnotic groove. Its introspective lyrics and experimental production break new ground. A breezy cut from 20 Y.O. , this song captures the essence of escapism with its tropical rhythm and carefree energy. It's the perfect soundtrack for a daydream. This steamy ballad from The Velvet Rope combines Janet's soft vocals with lush orchestration, creating one of her most passionate and intimate performances. A reggae-inspired collaboration with Beenie Man, this underrated track is pure summer vibes. Janet's voice flows effortlessly over the danceable beat. Hidden on Rhythm Nation 1814 , this tender song shows Janet's ability to blend sensitivity with simplicity, resulting in a heartfelt and timeless ballad. From All For You , 'Better Days' is an uplifting ode to hope and healing, beautifully showcasing Janet's ability to inspire through her songs. Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
I'm an oncologist. Trump's cuts will devastate cancer research.
My daily work as an oncologist is often sobering and difficult. From diagnosis to treatment, cancer journeys can be fraught with uncertainty and emotional turmoil. But I find hope through the steely resolve of my patients and in the boundless promise of ongoing cancer research. While my patients remain as intrepid as ever, this vital research now stands to be choked off by the Trump administration's budget cuts at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including termination of existing grants at universities and mass layoffs. The White House went even further in its budget proposal released Friday, calling for NIH's funding to be cut from $48 billion to $27 billion. The NIH is the largest funder of cancer research in the United States, providing roughly $8 billion annually that flows down to universities, medical centers and other grant recipients. Furthermore, the Republican-led Congress is set to take a scythe to several parts of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) that support work on many crucial types of cancers, including those of the pancreas, lungs and kidneys. 'A lot of the basic science and pathways we identify, things to study, come from academic labs,' says Dr. Suneel Kamath, an oncologist at Cleveland Clinic. 'Whatever pharma will eventually make drugs for through drug development, a lot of the initial targets will be found in university settings. So we will fall behind on those things.' For decades, presidential administrations have made a cure for cancer part of their ambitions, and their goals have had bipartisan support. Richard Nixon declared a 'war on cancer' by signing the National Cancer Act into law Dec. 23, 1971. It infused nearly $1.6 billion in federal funding to cancer research over three years. Forty-five years later, under President Barack Obama, then-Vice President Joe Biden launched the multibillion-dollar Cancer Moonshot project, which centralized research as the means to achieve a decade of cancer progress in just five years. And in 2024, when Donald Trump accepted the Republican nomination, he pledged that he would 'get the cure to cancer, Alzheimer's, and so many other things.' Amid years of federal investments in the NIH and the National Cancer Institute, cancer death rates declined 34% from 1991 to 2022 — roughly 4.5 million fewer deaths, thanks partly to advances in cancer screening and prevention efforts. But the disease remains a national problem. Almost 40% of people will be diagnosed with the malady in their lifetimes. As many as 2 million new cases are expected to be diagnosed in 2025 alone, with a notable uptick in populations under 50 years old. The administration's assault on cancer research is part of a larger effort by the Department of Government Efficiency to trim the fat on federal programs. As Dr. Atul Gawande, a surgeon and former official at USAID, wrote in the New Yorker, 'existing flaws and challenges across this infrastructure deserve attention and reform. But taking a chainsaw to it will only produce more waste, less output, and poorer results.' Research focused on improving early detection and prevention of cancers inevitably saves the government money, as early stage diseases are two to four times cheaper to treat than those diagnosed at a later stage. Instead, the Trump administration proposed cutting and capping NIH's payments for 'indirect' costs (rent, electricity, specialized lab equipment, support personnel, etc.) at 15%. These facility and administrative fees associated with research can range from anywhere between 10% to 80% of a grant and are negotiated between the NIH and individual institutions. But since no two cancer centers are ever alike in their 'indirect' costs that quite literally keep the lights turned on, a uniform, fixed cap would disrupt or halt operations for many. 'It is a little bit naive on their part to say, 'We are not touching the funding for the actual research; it's only for the indirect costs.' But it's really one and the same,' Kamath says. For now, that particular plan is blocked by court injunction. But job cuts across the federal health workforce have already had palpable effects. Firings at the NIH Clinical Center, the country's biggest research hospital, have already devastated highly promising research work that aims to use the body's own immune cells to combat gastrointestinal cancers. Patients' experimental treatments have already been delayed because of limited staff capacity to make these personalized cell therapies and purchasing stalls. These therapies represent potential lifelines for those with advanced cancers that have not responded to standard drugs. And many of these individuals, who are now increasingly younger in age, cannot afford to wait. Elsewhere, hiring freezes at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health have scuppered work studying elevated cancer rates in firefighters and paused a clinical trial of a new drug for advanced head and neck cancers. Research grants for Columbia University's cancer center have been canceled because of student-led Gaza protests. Concerns around 'wokeness' have ended funding for studies examining cancers in sexual and gender minority individuals — an understudied group with poor cancer outcomes — at various academic institutions such as Emory University and the Mayo Clinic. Countless Americans depend on the continued progress of cancer research to save lives and improve cancer care. And without it, many potential insights and treatments needed to propel oncology forward will never be realized. As Gawande wrote, 'For the sake of political control, the Administration is jeopardizing an enterprise that added decades to life expectancy in the United States and made America the world leader in technology and innovation.' The progress of cancer research is rarely linear. While most ideas fail, some will lead to seismic breakthroughs. Adding widespread budget cuts to this already difficult scientific process will not only dissuade future scientists from entering the country's labs, but will also unconscionably swing the pendulum from life to death for many hopeful patients. This article was originally published on
BBC News
21-02-2025
- BBC News
'The smallest coffins are the heaviest': Israel grieves youngest hostages
Kfir and Ariel Bibas were last seen on 7 October with their mother Shiri's hands around them, holding onto her boys surrounded by gunmen and violence, trying to protect them. She couldn't. According to the Israeli army, Kfir and Ariel's last moments were at the "bare hands" of their captors. How do you eulogise children who have barely lived their lives?Kfir Bibas, a hostage at just nine months old, did not live to take his first steps or celebrate his first Bibas had only experienced four years of a life that should have been much longer.A statement from Kibbutz Nir Oz, where the boys were taken hostage from, described Kfir as "a calm and smiley baby, with ginger hair and a laugh that would make anyone's heart melt. Wherever he went he lit it up with his smile and joy." Ariel, they said, was "a playful boy with ginger hair, curious eyes and a big smile. He loved superheroes, tractors and cars, and ran non-stop, climbing and exploring the world."The two brothers became the greatest symbol of the hostage nightmare Israelis are enduring. Bringing home the Bibas family was a country's fervent the last 16 months they have been remembered, prayed for, kept in the hearts of people, not just in Israel but by Jews and others across the world. Images were shared of the boys in their Batman costumes with Ariel's cape flying in the wind; of older brother Ariel hugging his baby brother Kfir when he was born; of Kfir giggling and gurgling as his father Yarden played with then the image seared into the minds since Hamas's attack on 7 October: the boys clutching onto their mother Shiri Bibas, her face tormented in fear, as they were surrounded by gunmen and taken to one in Israel wanted this ending; where Kfir and Ariel returned, not to their innocent childhood, but with their tender years already over. And where their mother who protected them until the last moment has not even returned with Israel, there is communal pain and a video statement, the Israeli Prime Minister said Ariel and Kfir Bibas and 84-year-old Oded Lifschitz, whose body was also returned yesterday, were "brutally murdered by Hamas savages."Holding up a picture of the boys, Benjamin Netanyahu said: "Today is a tragic day. It's a day of boundless sorrow, of indescribable pain."Their bodies return home to a nation in mourning. A nation that will never forget and never forgive the evil that cut down these beautiful souls…The Bibas children in particular became the symbol of who we are, and who we're fighting against." Netanyahu said: "Who kidnaps a little boy and a baby and murders them? Monsters. That's who."Israel's President Isaac Herzog said in a statement: "Agony. Pain. Our hearts — the hearts of an entire nation — lie in tatters." He asked for forgiveness on behalf of the country for not protecting them and bringing them Ariel and Kfir Bibas were aged 32, four and nine months when they were kidnapped during the 7 October 1,200 people - mostly civilians - were killed in the attacks and 251 others taken back to Gaza as hostages. Israel launched a massive military campaign against Hamas in response, which has killed at least 48,297 Palestinians - mainly civilians - according to the Hamas-run health ministry. This week, in Israel and abroad, people across social media posted images of broken orange hearts to represent the boys with the striking ginger Thursday, as the vehicles with the bodies of the Bibas children and Oded Lifschitz crossed into Israel, people lining the streets with Israeli flags shouted out "sorry". In October 2023 just weeks after they were kidnapped, the aunt of the Bibas brothers spoke to the BBC. Ofri Bibas Levy described how Kfir had just started crawling and eating solid food."They are civilians and are not supposed to be there. The longer they are there the harder it's going to be to recover them and the less chance they're going to come out alive," she Friday she wrote on Facebook: "I'm sorry Luli [Ariel], I'm sorry Firfir [Kfir]."You did not deserve any of this. We will miss you forever. We are not giving up on your mum Shiri."In a video statement she added: "Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir were taken alive by a murderous terrorist organization, and it was Israel's responsibility and obligation to bring them back alive. "There is no forgiveness for abandoning them on October 7 and no forgiveness for abandoning them in captivity. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, we did not receive an apology from you in this painful moment. For Ariel and Kfir's sake, and for Yarden's sake, we are not seeking revenge right now. We are asking for Shiri."Yarden Bibas, who was only recently released as a hostage, must now bury his two young boys, with his wife Shiri still not returned by Israel they are quoting words that painfully resonate: "The smallest coffins are the heaviest."
