Author of The Blackout Book and the online course Bloom Where You’re Planted Is monkeypox the next big pandemic? Are you at risk? Is it serious? Here’s a roundup of what we know about the virus that’s all over the mainstream media. Monkeypox has been on the global radar since 2022. Just last week, the World Health Organization declared it an international public health emergency, setting the stage for… I think we remember. Part of this article is from research I did in 2022. Part of it is newer information from the current panic. That’s why you’ll see such a wide disparity in the links and there will also be some older comments. Where did monkeypox start, and where are the current cases? Monkeypox is not a brand new virus. It was initially discovered in 1958, in – you guessed it – colonies of monkeys. The first confirmed human case of monkeypox is documented as occurring in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. According to the CDC: The first human case of monkeypox was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during a period of intensified effort to eliminate smallpox. Since then, monkeypox has been reported in people in several other central and western African countries: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, and Sierra Leone. The majority of infections are in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (source) What with global travel, the virus has escaped the continent of Africa, and cases have been diagnosed in countries where it is not endemic as of May 21, 2022, including the United States, Israel, Spain, the UK, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Portugal. (source) Currently, as of the update of this article, according to the CDC itself, there are only three cases of monkeypox in the entire United States. What is monkeypox? According to Harvard University: Monkeypox is an infection caused by a virus in the same family as smallpox. It causes a similar (though usually less severe) illness and is most common in central and western Africa. It was first discovered in research monkeys more than half a century ago. Certain squirrels and rats found in Africa are among other animals that harbor this virus. The early symptoms of monkeypox are flu-like and include fever fatigue headache enlarged lymph nodes. The rash that appears a few days later is unique. It often starts on the face and then appears on the palms, arms, legs, and other parts of the body. Some recent cases began with a rash on the genitals. Over a week or two, the rash changes from small, flat spots to tiny blisters (vesicles) similar to chickenpox and then to larger, pus-filled blisters. These can take several weeks to scab over. Once that happens, the person is no longer contagious. Although the disease is usually mild, complications can include pneumonia, vision loss due to eye infection, and sepsis, a life-threatening infection. (source) Most of the statistics available for monkeypox are from African countries, where healthcare and nutrition are different than outside of that region. The case-fatality ratio has varied but has remained between 0 and 10 percent in all registered infections. “It’s been estimated that the West Africa strain, which the UK cases have, has a mortality rate of about one percent. There is also a strain found in the Congo region which can be fatal in as many as 10 percent of cases, but the UK cases do not have this strain,” Simon Clarke, associate professor in cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, told SMC. (source) At the time of publication, there have been no deaths from monkeypox outside of Africa. How is monkeypox transmitted? There are several websites stating that this is a sexually transmitted disease. It’s really too soon to make that judgment. As per Harvard: Monkeypox is not considered a sexually transmitted illness (STI) because it can be spread through any physical contact, not just through sexual contact. Some of the recent cases have occurred among men who have sex with men. That pattern hasn’t been reported before. (source) The reason this may currently be the case is that “superspreader” events took place in Europe that are thought to be the basis for the spread of this virus. Spanish health authorities believe that a string of new monkeypox cases is linked to a gay sauna near Madrid and a Pride event in the Canary Islands that drew tens of thousands of people. Spain announced 23 new cases Friday. Madrid regional health chief Enrique Ruiz Escudero told journalists that health officials have been tracing the cases from an outbreak at the now-closed sauna, Reuters reports… …Elsewhere in Europe, an outbreak of monkeypox in Belgium has been connected to visitors at the Darklands fetish festival in early May, PinkNews reports. At least three cases have been linked to the festival, according to the organizers. “There’s reason to assume that the virus has been brought in by visitors from abroad to the festival after recent cases in other countries,” they said in a statement. (source) Beware of generalizing this or any other disease as “only” affecting those with different lifestyles. People said the same thing about other viruses, which later became widespread outside the original community. Suffice it to say, this virus is spread by close, personal contact of all kinds. Is there a vaccine for monkeypox? Unsurprisingly, there are already vaccines for this illness. First is the regular smallpox vaccine. Since the two viruses are of the same family, this vaccine is said to be 85% effective in preventing infection. ACAM200 is a live virus, and the recently vaccinated must take care to prevent infecting others. Following a successful inoculation, a lesion will develop at the site of the vaccination. The virus growing at the site of this inoculation lesion can be spread to other parts of the body or even to other people. (source) A newer vaccine is JYNNEOSTM, also known as Imvamune or Imvanex. This vaccine is specifically for monkeypox. JYNNEOSTM is administered as a live virus that is non-replicating. It is administered as two subcutaneous injections four weeks apart. There is no visible “take” and, as a result, no risk for spread to other parts of the body or other people. People who receive JYNNEOS TM are not considered vaccinated until they receive both doses of the vaccine. (source)\ The CDC reports that these vaccines can be preventative even up to 4 days after infection. The ACAM200 vaccine is introduced by scarification. Smallpox vaccine is administered by puncturing the skin multiple times with a bifurcated needle containing a small quantity of vaccine. A small papule develops after 3 to 5 days, following the virus replication in the dermis. The papule evolves into a vesicular and pustular stage over 8 to 10 days.17 There is typically an indurated area surrounding the central lesion. This is followed by scab formation with the development of a residual scar. The process of vesiculation and pustule formation defines a ‘take’ of the vaccine. The take is considered equivocal if a pustule, ulcer, or scab, does not develop at the vaccine site; revaccination is recommended in this situation.17 Skin reactions following revaccination tend to be milder and have an accelerated course. (source) Once smallpox was deemed to be eradicated, the smallpox vaccine was no longer required. Risks of the smallpox vaccine The smallpox vaccine was discontinued as a regular part of the vaccine schedule in 1972. The CDC lists the following risk factors: There are side effects and risks related to the smallpox vaccine. Most people have normal, usually mild reactions such as a sore arm, fever, and body aches. However, some people may have reactions ranging from serious to life-threatening. You are more likely to have serious side effects if you: currently have or have ever had certain chronic skin conditions, even if it was only once (especially eczema or atopic dermatitis.) have active breaks in the skin at the time of vaccination, like poison ivy or acne. have a weakened immune system. You may have a weakened immune system if you: Have had a transplant. Are HIV-positive. Have cancer, or are being treated for cancer. Are taking medications that suppress your immune system, like steroids. (source) According to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the smallpox vaccine was discontinued because the risks of the vaccine were higher than the risk of becoming infected with smallpox. Although this disease is deadly, no cases occur anywhere in the world, so the risk today is zero. Because there is no risk of disease, this is a situation in which the use of a vaccine does NOT outweigh the risks of disease. Vaccine risks Inflammation of heart or tissues surrounding heart Infection of the inoculation site Inadvertent inoculation of another site or other people Swelling of brain or spinal cord Severe allergic reaction Rarely death (source) What about vaccinia virus? There is some risk that those inoculated against smallpox can transmit illness to their close contacts. This hasn’t been studied since the 1960s. As per the NCBI: Vaccinia virus may be spread from person-to-person, which means that people who have close contact with recent vaccinees may be exposed to the virus and may be at risk of developing complications. In particular, close contacts of persons with a history of eczema or atopic dermatitis, or contacts of immunocompromised individuals should not be vaccinated. Individuals should not be vaccinated if they have close contact with pregnant women or infants. Close contacts include both household members and sexual partners. Eczema vaccinatum and inadvertent inoculation are the most frequently reported conditions in contacts of recent vaccinees. Twenty percent of the eczema vaccinatum and inadvertent inoculation cases reported in a 1968 study occurred in contacts of vaccinees.21 In this study and several others from the 1960s, eczema vaccinatum was more severe in contacts than in those who were vaccinated themselves.21,27 No cases of progressive vaccinia or postvaccinial encephalitis have been documented in contacts of vaccinees.29,30  Most cases of contact vaccinia occur through direct person-to-person transfer of virus.30 Frequent hand washing and proper maintenance of an occlusive dressing over the vaccination site may reduce the likelihood of viral transmission.30 Aerosol transmission of vaccinia virus from a vaccinee to a contact has never been definitively documented.30 Nosocomial and fomite transmission of vaccinia are rare but have been reported. (source) The real reason for concern in 2024 Dr. Peter McCullough doesn’t believe monkeypox is a threat to the average American – not right now, at least. But that could change. In a podcast, he elaborated: “In March of 2021, the Nuclear Threat Initiative, which is a think tank out of Washington, met in Munich within Munich Biosecurity Group, and they did a monkeypox bioterrorism tabletop exercise,” McCullough explains. “There is a timeline in the report from NTI, and the release date of the monkeypox outbreak is scheduled in May of 2022 … when we started to see the monkeypox cases being reported.” Gee. Does that sound familiar? Something is tampered with that makes it more communicable and widespread, causing panic across the globe? How worried should we be? The media is fueling hysteria about monkeypox, and because of that, more than the virus itself, we should be somewhat concerned. As Covid-19 begins to be treated more like the seasonal flu than a deadly pandemic, we must look at the effects that virus had on our society. Before it became widespread, Selco wrote an article about how we should worry more about the system than the virus, and he was absolutely correct. Since the pandemic began, we have seen some of the following adverse effects on our society and our economy, which, in my opinion, can be directly traced to the response to the virus: Supply chain collapse Personal financial problems Economic problems Job loss Widespread government overreach Forced medical treatment The silencing of opinions that digress from that of the government Inability to get the medications that actually work It would be a mistake to underestimate the zeal with which those in power would attempt to regain control in the name of “public health” in the future after the last pandemic crushed citizens so thoroughly. Because monkeypox is visually disturbing, covering victims with sores and lesions, it would be a lot easier to push the fear factor than it was with Covid, a far less physically visible illness. But keep in mind that there are very, very, very few cases outside of Africa at this time, and while it’s spreading, it isn’t spreading quickly. I’m far more concerned about future power grabs than I am about this currently hard-to-transmit virus. While you should never completely disregard an illness in the smallpox family, this is not our first rodeo. Just keep in mind the lessons you’ve learned over the past two years about just how far our government and many others will go to push a narrative of fear, and be prepared for even more media manipulation. Be prepared for even more shortages and societal issues to be blamed on or caused by this new “pandemic.” Prepping for a monkeypox pandemic Even if you aren’t convinced that this is a real threat (and it isn’t, not yet), we all know from experience the shortages and real-life problems this kind of scare can cause. Be sure you… Stock up on food Stock up on fresh water and ways to purify water Prescription medications you commonly take Prescription meds to treat illnesses OTC medications And for the love of fluffy kittens, don’t forget the toilet paper. What do you think? Are you concerned about monkeypox? Are you concerned about the government’s response to monkeypox? Share your thoughts in the comments. About Daisy Daisy Luther is a coffee-swigging, adventure-seeking, globe-trotting blogger. She is the founder and publisher of three websites.  1) The Organic Prepper, which is about current events, preparedness, self-reliance, and the pursuit of liberty; 2)  The Frugalite, a website with thrifty tips and solutions to help people get a handle on their personal finances without feeling deprived; and 3) PreppersDailyNews.com, an aggregate site where you can find links to all the most important news for those who wish to be prepared. Her work is widely republished across alternative media and she has appeared in many interviews. Daisy is the best-selling author of 5 traditionally published books, 12 self-published books, and runs a small digital publishing company with PDF guides, printables, and courses at Self Reliance and Survival.com. You can find her on Facebook, Pinterest, Gab, MeWe, Parler, Instagram, and Twitter. The post What Preppers Need to Know About Monkeypox appeared first on The Organic Prepper.

The Democratic Party platform praises President Joe Biden’s controversial “all-of government” executive order to get out the vote, which some critics call “Bidenbucks.” As The Daily Signal has reported, Executive Order 14019—signed by Biden in March 2021—puts the power of federal agencies behind registering and turning out voters. Federal agencies partnered with numerous left-leaning nonprofits to implement the executive order.   “Within the first 100 days of his presidency, President Biden signed an executive order directing an all-of-government effort to promote access to voting,” says the party platform agreed to by delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, which opens Monday. “Agencies have taken historic action to help veterans, college students, Native Americans, and other underserved communities register to vote.” The Democratic Party’s 2024 platform would undermine election security, said former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, who chairs the Election Transparency Initiative, which works for honest elections.  “Given the great lengths the Biden-Harris administration is going to to avoid any view of how the federal government is turning out Dem voters under EO 14019, perhaps the folks who wrote that platform know a lot more about EO 14019 than all of the rest of us unworthy peasants,” Cuccinelli told The Daily Signal in a written statement. The Left often uses the term “underserved communities” as code for what they perceive as Democratic constituencies, noted Cleta Mitchell, an election lawyer who chairs the Election Integrity Network.  “It is not the proper role of the executive branch of the federal government to specify what group of voters they want to ensure turn out to vote,” Mitchell told The Daily Signal. “This is a way of using the federal government to retain power for the Democrats.” Based on records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, The Daily Signal has reported that the Biden-Harris administration partnered to implement the order with left-leaning organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union, Demos, the League of Women Voters, the Brennan Center for Justice, and Fair Fight Action. As noted in my book “The Myth of Voter Suppression,” the liberal think tank Demos helped to draft Biden’s executive order turning federal agencies into voter registration agencies. Last week, nine Republican state attorneys general sued to challenge the constitutionality and legality of Biden’s electioneering order. The move followed a lawsuit by Pennsylvania state legislators challenging the legality of the order. The Justice Department invoked presidential privilege to shield release of agencies’ individual strategic plans on implementing the executive order in a lawsuit brought by the Foundation for Government Accountability. Meanwhile, 15 Biden-Harris administration Cabinet officials have not responded to related subpoenas from the House Administration Committee.  “If they are so proud of it, why haven’t they released every strategic plan?” Mitchell added.  The Democratic platform also calls for passing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act, two bills that failed to pass Congress in 2021. The Democrat-backed legislation aims to nullify state laws requiring voter ID and removal of ineligible names from voter registration lists.  “All of these proposals are in lockstep with left-wing advocacy groups with the goal of federalizing elections,” Mitchell said.  The post Shrouded in Secrecy, Facing Litigation, ‘Bidenbucks’ Celebrated in Democrats’ Platform appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Archaeologists have uncovered wooden remnants from two Roman wells, one of which collapsed before it could be used. The discovery offers insight into what an expert called “a large-scale failure of Roman engineering.” The excavation, part of the National Highways project on the A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet road along the Cambridgeshire-Bedfordshire border, revealed artifacts such as carpentry off-cuts and an ancient wooden ladder nearly 2,000 years old. Techniques Adjusted for the Second Well Simon Markus, Project Manager from the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) team, explained that after the first well, dated between AD 43 and 410, collapsed, the settlers adjusted their construction techniques. The archaeologists found evidence of additional reinforcements used in the second well to prevent another collapse. According to the team, the remarkably well-preserved wooden remains provided valuable insights into the construction methods used for these wells. “These wells played a key role in the development of a settlement that started as a quiet Middle Iron Age farmstead around 350 BC, but evolved into a bustling hub of industrial activity during the early Roman period, between AD 43 and 150,” the team said. MOLA’s TeamImage Credit: MOLA “We’ve all experienced a DIY project gone wrong” The excavation site displayed signs of metalworking, carpentry, and woodworking, all within a large, fortified enclosure that once stood there. To support these activities, the settlers dug the first well, which reached about 8.5 meters (28 feet) deep—the height of a modern two-story house. Despite this significant effort, Markus noted that things didn’t go according to plan. “Even though the well contained the remains of a wooden ladder, it collapsed before it could be put to use,” he said. “As we began our excavations, we saw that the clay would peel away from the more compacted earth and stone.” Markus added, “We’ve all experienced a DIY project gone wrong, but this was a monumental failure of Roman engineering. A great deal of work went into digging this well, only for it to be abandoned.” The second well, which was dug to avoid the same fate, was reinforced with wooden boards to prevent a collapse. This well was also slightly shallower, measuring 6.5 meters (19.5 feet) deep. Markus said, “We can certainly sympathize with the original well diggers, as excavating these wells required careful planning and effort.” Inside and out – site plan shows one well inside and one well outsideImage Credit: MOLA Stone Cobbles Used as a Filter At the base of the second well, the archaeologists found stone cobbles used to filter the water, along with discarded woodchips, branches, and off-cuts from the Romano-British carpenters after the well fell out of use. Specialists will now study these items, including decorative wooden pieces, to learn more about their significance. The site plan highlights the locations of the two wells, with one inside and one outside the enclosure. Archaeologists have also uncovered evidence suggesting that the carpentry workshop was part of a broader trade network. In the southern part of the site, the team identified a probable Roman road that may have connected the settlement to major Roman routes, possibly enabling trade with larger settlements such as Godmanchester. Gareth Moores, the programme manager for the A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet road improvement project, commented, “The archaeological work has been a fascinating and essential part of the A428 upgrade. Without this project, these invaluable insights into Roman engineering and daily life might have remained hidden forever.”

Hamas Accepts Ceasefire Deal, But Not Really

Brit Hume DROPS AOC for Admitting She Doesn't Work Hard in Congress, Wants to Return to Bartending

Ready for Some Deep-Fried Smokin’ Hot Southern Rock Gospel? Van Zant Has You Covered

Joe Biden Delivers Insanely Disgusting Off-Script Line During DNC Speech That Has Everyone Talking

HEARTBREAKING: IDF Recovers Bodies of Six Hostages Executed by Hamas

One of the top functions expected for the new iPhone 16 Pro is a Capture button. It has been rumored for several months and will be exclusive to the Pro lineup. While it might feel a bit confusing that Apple keeps adding new physical buttons to the iPhone, it seems this one could be the perfect addition for professional photographers. On X, the Apple Hub account shared an image of all the expected features with the iPhone 16 Pro Capture button. Here they are. First and foremost, the Capture button is expected to be available under the Side button on the iPhone 16 Pro series. You'll use this button with your right index finger, potentially triggering different features. https://x.com/theapplehub/status/1825623548775567517 Mechanical camera button: A rumor says this device will work similarly to a DSLR camera, so professional photographers will have full control of their shots with this mechanical button. Responds to touch and pressure: This is why the iPhone 16 Pro Capture button will respond to touch and pressure, which means the button can perform different actions depending on how you press it. Zoom in and out: One possibility is zooming in and out by swiping left and right on this button, similar to what AirPods Pro 2 users can do on its stern to change the volume. Focus an image: With a light press, it will be possible to reset the focus on the iPhone 16 Pro while taking a photo Start a recording: Users can start a recording by hard pressing the Capture button on the. Pressing it again will likely stop the recording. These are some of the features rumored to be available with the iPhone 16 Pro. Of course, we'll learn more about these iPhone functions once Apple unveils it during its traditional September event. Below, we've gathered the possible announcements expected for the iPhone 16 event. Don't Miss: iPhone 16 event: New iPhones, Apple Watch Series 10, AirPods 4, iOS 18, and more The post iPhone 16 Pro Capture button rumored to offer these 5 features appeared first on BGR. Today's Top Deals Back to school blowout: Blazing-fast GEEKOM A7 Mini PC is $179 off Today’s deals: $229 iPad, $300 off Samsung foldables (last chance), $20 label maker, HP laptop sale, more Today’s deals: $20 Amazon credit, $299 Apple Watch Series 9, $20 Blink Mini cam, Beats x Kardashian, more Today’s deals: $248 Sony XM5 earbuds, $180 Roomba, $13 Anker fast chargers, $19 Roku streamer, more

Police divers resumed searching Tuesday for six people believed trapped in the hull of a superyacht that sank in a storm off Sicily, including a British tech magnate recently acquitted of fraud charges, his lawyer, and a key defense witness at trial.