Peyote sacred to Native Americans threatened by psychedelic renaissance and development Madison Daily Leader
source
Author: Eric Mawuli DJIRACKOR
'I Don't Regret Anything': How Farruko Balanced Spirituality and Dance Music on 'Carbvn Vrmor' – Rolling Stone
By Julyssa Lopez
Farruko is the first to admit that he’s been on a journey the last couple of years. “I think it’s not a secret that I had a really successful career with a lot of global hits… But what can I say? I think I forgot about myself as a human being to get to a certain position, so I stopped for some time to reflect and find myself and become more open to my own spirituality.”
For fans who have been following along, Farruko shared a glimpse of what he was going through during a show at Miami’s FTX Arena back in February 2022. After avoiding singing the lyrics to some of his biggest, most debaucherous songs — including the party-starting, pill-happy anthem “Pepas”— the Puerto Rican singer left the stage briefly. When he came back, he launched into a long sermon about how he was giving up secular music and dedicating his life to God. Fans had mixed reactions.
“It’s been a challenge,” Farruko admits. “With a lot of people, if you talk about spirituality or your beliefs and you say it publicly, people back away. And it’s not a mystery that I’ve paid a high price for it — I’ve felt in in losing fans, in losing views, in the professional side of being an artist, I’ve felt that impact. I had people used to a recipe that was working. And to suddenly change it and said ‘Hey, I don’t want to do this, now I want to go this way,’ it’s shocking.”
Despite the difficulty, Farruko has worked through more of the complexities of his transformation, channeling a lot of energy into new music. This month, he’s released Carbvn Vrmor, his first album in three years, full of songs that trace his whole experience. While some people may have expected a Christian album, the music here strikes a balance between commerciality and spirituality. Meanwhile, Farruko balances message of empowerment and positivity without being outright religious. “I don’t regret anything and I’m enjoying the process, and I’m enjoying the music I’m making. I think people decide if they like it or not, but I want to be remembered a someone who expresses their real feelings.”
The idea of this album revolves around a soldier in the future, fighting his own battles, and eventually he meets me, Farruko. The first part of the project is the solider explaining his side, and the second side is more about Farruko. I experimented with different genres; I don’t like just doing one thing. I watched out for things like crass language and the themes were really personal and intimate to me. This talks about a moment where you feel like you’re not worth anything, but then you look back at everything you’ve been through and you’re like, “No, I’ve been blessed.” It’s a track that hits me personally the most.
Editor’s picks
This album represents the struggles we all face as humans. Nowadays, we live in a society where people don’t like to show their vulnerabilities or what it’s like to be human. In the industry, you’re required to put on this persona that gives people what they want, and people forget you’re a real person who feels and suffers. So, to have that courage to express myself honesty and to bare myself in front of people has been a big deal.
Throughout the album, I sampled a lot of old songs and classics that meant something to me. “Mazacote” was one of the best examples of that: This song features a sample from Big Pun’s “Still Not A Player,” but we also sampled voices from Tego Calderon’s Métele Sazón” and a lot of ad libs from old-school reggaeton classics, like Don Chezina’s “Tra” and Don Omar’s live shows. We pulled from decades of that history. The song talks about reggaeton culture and our culture as boricuas. It also features Ñengo Flow, a Puerto Rican brother who I respect and who also, on personal level, is one of my close friends.
Dalex is on this track. He actually helped write some of “Blessings,” too. I typically try to collaborate with artists I really feel fit the vibe of the song. A long time ago, I stopped doing collaborations that feel forced—like stuff out of business interests, stuff that’s mutually beneficial, or because someone is trending. I’m realizing that things always work better if both artists really like the song they’re working on. Nowadays, the industry is so fast-paced and everyone’s schedule is really packed, and sometimes you collaborate with someone who is going through a big moment and they actually don’t have time to promote the track, which affects the collaboration, if they’re not really feeling it or if they just did it for business. So you don’t even get to enjoy the creative process, and I like to share a lot with people I collaborate with — I like us to both spend time in the studio and to work together.
I have a lot of artists on this album who added a lot of the album, including Dalex. He’s like my brother. This is an album where, like Bad Bunny says, I did whatever I wanted and just let things flow.
I met her through my good friend Omar Montes, who is also doing amazing things with flamenco and urban sounds. And he introduced me to her and he said, “Honestly, this is one of the most talented artists in flamenco right now.” I told her that I was working on this song called “Sahara” with Arab and Moorish influences, which Spain has a lot of, and I said I wanted something that would convey that style. I want people to feel like they were in the desert, and she totally brought that to the table. I ended up loving that song so much because of what she did.
Sony Music invited me to a writing camp for Marshmello. I completely love electronic music — I think people saw that on my track “Pepas,” which is made for the club. So when I went in, I wanted to bring a track that was very real but still had a certain energy for the dancefloor. This song talks about fame and how when people love you, they love you — but how when you’re out of the spotlight, they forget about you. And it talks about not pleasing everyone. The fact that we got that message across through this mix of EDM, house, and reggaeton almost felt magic to me because electronic music is something that helps people get lost in the frequencies and the vibe. So I thought it would be cool to combine something with a crazy BMP that would accelerate people’s hearts, but also speak to them, too.
We want to hear it. Send us a tip using our anonymous form.
Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2024 Rolling Stone, LLC. All rights reserved.
South Korea’s Business Confidence Tumbles by Most Since Pandemic – MSN
'Fire Country' Needs To Course Correct When It Returns – Collider
Former Hanover Town Manager remains immersed in local government – Valley News
Alex Torpey in Hanover, N.H., on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022. ( Valley News – Jennifer Hauck) Jennifer Hauck—Valley News – Jennifer Hauck
By CHRISTINA DOLAN
Valley News Staff Writer
SOUTH ROYALTON — Though he resigned his post in July, former Hanover Town Manager Alex Torpey remains immersed in matters of local government through the creation of a nonprofit called Rethink Local, which provides resources to town leaders throughout Vermont and New Hampshire.
Torpey, 37, also serves as a consultant for the Collins Center for Public Management at the University of Massachusetts Boston, where he works on projects related to improving the effectiveness of state and local governments.
“I get to go out and help support people in their roles and I really enjoy that,” he said.
Torpey, who is building a house in South Royalton, announced his resignation this summer after serving for the first two years of a three-year contract. Neither he nor town officials elaborated on the reasons for parting ways. Hanover paid Torpey a severance package worth $135,750, town records show.
Torpey’s Rethink Local initiative includes a podcast called “Upper Valley Vibes,” in which he, as the host, spotlights people, organizations and issues relevant to the Upper Valley. The initial episodes explored civic engagement, education, civil disobedience, and voting, among other topics.
Torpey is in the process of launching an email list for municipal managers in Vermont and New Hampshire. The list, which currently has 65 subscribers, will be a free resource for collaboration across states, he said.
“These jobs are getting harder,” he said of municipal management roles, “and I enjoy having the time to help people be successful.”
Woodstock’s purchase of the Aqueduct water system, he said, is an example of one of many “really difficult projects that don’t always have a handbook.” His nonprofit aims to connect municipalities with people in other towns who have undergone similar challenges.
Article continues after…
Cross|Word
Flipart
Typeshift
SpellTower
Really Bad Chess
In his free time, Torpey has been writing science fiction books. “A lot of science fiction is starting to become science fact these days,” he said.
Christina Dolan can be reached at cdolan@vnews.com or 603 727-3208
12-26-2024 6:16 PM
12-26-2024 6:06 PM
12-25-2024 4:01 PM
12-25-2024 3:01 PM
Social Media
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
By using this site, you agree with our use of cookies to personalize your experience, measure ads and monitor how our site works to improve it for our users
Copyright © 2016 to 2024 by Valley News. All rights reserved.
Ogle County Life — Monday, Dec. 30, 2024 – Ogle County Life
Ogle County Life — Monday, Dec. 30, 2024 Ogle County Life
source
What channel is Army football vs. Louisiana Tech? Time, TV for Black Knights vs. Bulldogs – Times Herald-Record
Army will be participating in its 11th bowl game all-time on Saturday night when the Black Knights take on the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs in the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, Louisiana.
This will be the sixth time Army head coach Jeff Monken has directed his team into postseason play. His 4-1 record all-time in bowls is among the best in the nation.
Louisiana Tech was a late replacement for Marshall, which elected to withdraw from the I-Bowl when too many of its players entered the NCAA Transfer Portal. The Bulldogs placed fifth out of 10 schools in Conference USA with a 4-4 mark, 5-7 overall. The Bulldogs are coming off a 33-0 win over Kennesaw State on Nov. 30 but have dropped three of their last five.
More:Army football to recognize the 101st Airborne Division with special uniform for Navy game
More:Army coach Jeff Monken believes outside influences led Kanye Udoh to transfer portal
Army and Louisiana Tech have met only twice previously, with the Black Knights winning both contests: 14-7 in 2008 at West Point and 35-16 in 2013 – the latter game was billed the Heart of Dallas Kickoff Classic and played at the Cotton Bowl.
An Army win will establish a school record with 12 victories, breaking the tie with the 2018 team that went 11-2. College football expanded to 11 games in 1974.
Army captured the American Athletic Conference on Dec. 6 with a 35-14 win over visiting Tulane. A week later, Navy stunned Army with a 31-13 victory on Dec. 14.
Army is a 16.5-point favorite against the Bulldogs. The over-under is rather low at 44.
Army is 4-2 on the road, having beaten Florida Atlantic, Temple, Tulsa and North Texas, and fallen to Notre Dame at nearby Yankee Stadium and Navy at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland.
Army was 9-0 in 1914, 1916, 1944, 1945, 1949; 9-0-1 in 1946; 9-1 in 1927 and 1933; 9-1-1 in 1930; and 9-3 in 1985, 1988 and the COVID season of 2020. Army was 11-2 in 1996 and 2018 and 10-3 in 2017.
BIG RIVALRY WIN:Army football to play for CIC Trophy following win over Air Force
ARMY DEPTH CHART:Army football depth chart for Independence Bowl game vs. Louisiana Tech
More:College football TV, radio, web schedules for 2024
Here’s how to watch Army football vs. Louisiana Tech, including time and TV information:
Army football vs. Louisiana Tech will air live on ESPN. Lowell Galindo and Fozzy Whittaker have the TV call with Tori Petryon the sidelines.
The AP No. 19 Black Knights and Bulldogs will kick off at 9:15 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 28.
More:AAC champ Army moves up five spots in AP poll, face Marshall in Dec. 28 Independence Bowl
The Army football radio network features WBNR (1260-AM, 96.5-FM), WLNA (1420-AM, 94.3-FM) and WGHQ (920-AM, 92.5-FM). Rich DeMarco and Dean Darling have the call, with host Joe Beckerle and reporter Tony Morino. The game can also be heard on The Varsity app, Knight Vision website and Sirius XM channels 81 and 201 (Army radio feed). The ad hoc network Bowl Season Radio will have the national call, with Tony Rowland, Justin Fuente and reporter Chris Mycoskie.
kmcmillan@th-record.com
X / Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHR
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
Heat's Pat Riley breaks silence on Jimmy Butler trade rumors – ClutchPoints
On the topic of the Jimmy Butler trade rumors, Heat's Pat Riley releases statement on the matter.
Zachary Weinberger
With all the trade speculation around Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler, team president Pat Riley has released a statement saying that they will not trade the 35-year-old. This came after rumors of the relationship between the Heat and Butler were fractured, which included Riley telling the forward to keep his “mouth shut” back during a May press conference.
“We usually don't comment on rumors, but all this speculation has become a distraction to the team and is not fair to the players and coaches. Therefore, we will make it clear – We are not trading Jimmy Butler,” Riley said via the statement that was posted to the team's official X, formerly Twitter, account.
As Riley said in the statement, it is rare to see that a response would be needed for rumors and certain reports, but the legendary former coach and executive thought that it was being a distraction to the team that is focused on winning games.
The relationship between Riley and Butler has been talked about within the past year, especially starting in May when Riley held his end-of-season press conference. He would respond to a comment made by Butler in a video that if he was healthy during the last postseason, the Heat would have beat the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks.
“For him to say that, I thought, ‘is that Jimmy trolling, or is that Jimmy serious?’” Riley said. “If you’re not on the court playing against Boston or on the court playing against the New York Knicks, you should keep your mouth shut.”
Butler was reportedly “caught off guard” by the comment made by Riley according to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald and was also “disappointed” that the team would not deny the original rumors of Miami “open” to trading the star.
“A source said that Butler was caught off guard when Heat president Pat Riley, during a May news conference, scolded him,” Jackson wrote. “For saying that ‘Boston would be at home' and ‘New York damn sure would be [expletive] at home' if Butler had been healthy for Miami’s five-game first-round playoff loss against the Celtics, which he missed because of a knee injury.”
“According to a source, Butler was also disappointed that the Heat did not publicly deny a Dec. 10 ESPN report that Miami was open to trading him,” Jackson wrote.
The initial speculation on trade rumors started when Butler was seeking a contract extension after last season, but Riley was non-committal during the aforementioned press conference.
“Well, you know, we don't have to do that for a year and so we have not discussed that internally right now but we have to look at that and then make that kind of commitment,” Riley said. “Okay. And when do we do it? We don't have to do it until 25 actually, but we'll see. We haven't made a decision on it. And we really haven't really in earnest discussed it. So we'll see what happens.”
Riley would not be the only one to comment on the Butler trade rumors as even Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra would have a blunt message, saying “We want Jimmy Here” according to Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald.
“That’s just the deal,” Spoelstra said Thursday morning at shootaround before Miami takes on the Orlando Magic. “You have to compartmentalize in this business. We want Jimmy here. There’s no ifs, ands or buts about it. And it’s just unfortunate that you have to control or deal with a lot of the noise on the outside. In terms of this morning, this was a pretty focused group coming off of the last game that we came [to Orlando].”
At any rate, the Heat are 14-13 before they take on the Orlando Magic on Thursday night as Butler is “doubtful” for the contest.
Zachary Weinberger is a credentialed Miami Heat reporter and an Associate Editor covering the NBA at-large, NCAA Football, and NCAA Basketball for ClutchPoints. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022, covering sports at the FAU University Press and later at The Palm Beach Post.
🚨 Get viral NBA graphics, memes, rumors and trending news delivered right to your inbox with the Clutch Newsletter.
🚨 Get viral NBA graphics, memes, rumors and trending news delivered right to your inbox with the Clutch Newsletter.
December 28: Colorado Football Day – 9News.com KUSA
December 28: Colorado Football Day 9News.com KUSA
source
Plant compound used in traditional medicine may help fight tuberculosis – Penn State University
While the findings are preliminary, the work is a promising first step in finding new therapies against tuberculosis, according to the researchers. Credit: Mathias Katz/Unsplash. All Rights Reserved.
October 1, 2024
By Katie Bohn
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A compound found in African wormwood — a plant used medicinally for thousands of years to treat many types of illness — could be effective against tuberculosis, according to a new study that is available online and will be published in the October edition of the Journal of Ethnopharmacology.
The team, co-led by Penn State researchers, found that the chemical compound, an O-methylflavone, can kill the mycobacteria that causes tuberculosis in both its active state and its slower, hypoxic state, which the mycobacteria enters when it is stressed.
Bacteria in this state are much harder to destroy and make infections more difficult to clear, according to co-corresponding author Joshua Kellogg, assistant professor of veterinary and biomedical sciences in the College of Agricultural Sciences.
While the findings are preliminary, Kellogg said the work is a promising first step in finding new therapies against tuberculosis.
“Now that we’ve isolated this compound, we can move forward with examining and experimenting with its structure to see if we can improve its activity and make it even more effective against tuberculosis,” he said. “We’re also still studying the plant itself to see if we can identify additional molecules that might be able to kill this mycobacterium.”
Tuberculosis — caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis, or Mtb — is one of the world’s leading killers among infectious diseases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There are about 10 million cases a year globally, with approximately 1.5 million of those being fatal.
While effective therapies exist for TB, the researchers said there are several factors that make the disease difficult to treat. A standard course of antibiotics lasts six months, and if a patient contracts a drug-resistant strain of the bacteria, it stretches to two years, making treatment costly and time consuming.
Additionally, the bacteria can take two forms in the body, including one that is significantly harder to kill.
“There’s a ‘normal’ microbial bacterial form, in which it’s replicating and growing, but when it gets stressed — when drugs or the immune system is attacking it — it goes into a pseudo-hibernation state, where it shuts down a lot of its cellular processes until it perceives that the threat has passed,” Kellogg said. “This makes it really hard to kill those hibernating cells, so we were really keen to look at potential new chemicals or molecules that are capable of attacking this hibernation state.”
Multiple species of the Artemisia plant have been used in traditional medicine for centuries, the researchers said, including African wormwood, which has been used to treat cough and fever. Recent studies in Africa have suggested that the plant also has clinical benefits in treating TB.
“When we look at the raw plant extract that has hundreds of molecules in it, it’s pretty good at killing TB,” Kellogg said. “Our question was: There seems to be something in the plant that’s really effective — what is it?”
For their study, the researchers took raw extract of the African wormwood plant and separated it into “fractions” — versions of the extract that have been separated into simpler chemical profiles. They then tested each of the fractions against Mtb, noting whether they were effective or ineffective against the bacteria. At the same time, they created a chemical profile of all of the tested fractions.
“We also used machine learning to model how the changes in chemistry correlated with the changes in activity that we saw,” Kellogg said. “This allowed us to narrow our focus to two fractions that were really active.”
From these, the researchers identified and tested a compound that effectively killed the bacteria in the pathogen’s active and inactive states, which the researchers said is significant and rare to see in TB treatments. Further testing in a human cell model showed that it had minimal toxicity.
Kellogg said the findings have the potential to open new avenues for developing new, improved therapeutics.
“While the potency of this compound is too low to use directly as an anti-Mtb treatment, it may still be able to serve as the foundation for designing more potent drugs,” he said. “Furthermore, there appear to be other, similar chemicals in African wormwood that may also have the same type of properties.”
The researchers said that in the future, more studies are needed to continue exploring the potential for using African wormwood for treating TB.
Co-authors from Penn State are R. Teal Jordan, research technologist and lab manager in veterinary and biomedical sciences, and Xiaoling Chen, graduate student in pathobiology. Also co-authors on the paper were Scarlet Shell, Maria Natalia Alonso, Junpei Xiao, Juan Hilario Cafiero, Trevor Bush, Melissa Towler and Pamela Weathers, all at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
The National Institutes of Health’s National Institute for Allergies and Infectious Disease and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture helped support this work.
Katie Bohn
Get the news by email
English 
Français