by Stefan Stanford, All News Pipeline: – Our Message Is Loud And Clear: We Will Not Comply With it now officially on record through the hard work of Missouri Senator Josh Hawley that the CIA had it’s hand in the creation of COVID-19 and the ‘deep state’ was deeply involved in the ‘pandemic,’  (though certainly none of that being a surprise to […]

A 32-year-old woman has made the trek to Matibabu Hospital in western Kenya with her five young children in tow. Though she has given birth to five babies, the widow has never before been screened for cancer. Her tall, slim figure dressed in a colorful cotton dress typical for Kenya, she lies down on the table in the simple exam room for her first cancer screening. Matibabu means “medicine” or “treatment” in Saheli. “Preventative health care is simply not available for Kenyan women,” says Melissa Miskell, an OB/GYN from Texas and executive director of PINCC (Preventing Cervical Cancer Globally), an NGO dedicated to eliminating cervical cancer worldwide. “We see 50-year-old women who have never been screened.” Her team is in the rural hospital in the Lake Victoria Region to deliver new equipment for cancer screening and treatment, and to train the local health care staff.  But this particular exam brings devastating news: The young widow has stage four cancer, and her chances of survival are slim. The hospital can only offer her morphine for the pain. One of PINCC’s young volunteer team members breaks down crying. “It is utterly heartbreaking to see that it’s too late,” she says in a documentary about the program. “I keep thinking of her young children. They are going to be orphans. This could all have been prevented.” New technology has made it much simpler to screen for and treat cervical cancers in Kenya and elsewhere. Credit: PINCC Few diseases reflect global inequities as much as cancer of the cervix. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 350,000 women die from cervical cancer globally each year — one every minute and a half. Nearly 94 percent of the deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.  “In the US, the fatality risk of a woman with cervical cancer is approximately two to four percent,” Miskell explains. “The fatality risk of a woman with cervical cancer in a low-income country is upwards of 50 percent.” What troubles Miskell and her team most is that the illness is completely preventable. Therefore nonprofits like PINCC, Rotary International and the Clinton Health Access Initiative are scaling up their efforts to bring new technology for screening and treating cervical cancers to low-income areas, with the goal of eliminating it completely. PINCC was established by gynecologist Kay Taylor in 2005 after a medical mission to Honduras. Taylor saw more fatal cases of cervical cancer in that one trip than she had during her entire career in the US. So she launched the first PINCC trip to Honduras in late 2005 with only three eager volunteers and began training local health care workers in cervical cancer screening and treatment at three Honduran clinics. Since 2017, executive director Melissa Miskell has expanded PINCC’s global reach and established programs in Uganda, Kenya, Bolivia, Tanzania, Guatemala, Cameroon, Cambodia, India and Nepal. The small PINCC team spends a training week in a hospital and leaves behind the state-of-the-art equipment. Credit: PINCC “Early detection is the key to controlling cancer of all types, but cervical cancer is the one cancer we can eliminate globally,” explains Richard Godfrey, a retired surgical oncologist and Rotarian in Fremont, California, who is on the board of PINCC and has been delivering equipment to Matibabu for Rotary since 2012. “Why? Like polio, it’s caused by a virus, the human papillomavirus (HPV).” While an active immune system can clear the virus, a weak immune system fails to prevent HPV from causing cancer. This is why women with HIV face a sixfold increased risk of cervical cancer — and in Kenya, both HIV and HPV are widespread.  The WHO has set a goal to help all low-income countries achieve its triple-intervention targets by 2030: fully vaccinate 90 percent of girls with the HPV vaccine by the age of 15, screen 70 percent of women twice by the age of 45 and treat 90 percent of women with cervical cancer.  In the US, too, about 13,820 new cases of invasive cervical cancer will be diagnosed this year, and more than 4,300 women will die from it. Regular screenings are the best way to prevent these numbers from rising. Doctors are concerned about the rise of the virus in the US and other wealthy states because HPV is estimated to be the most common sexually transmitted infection in the country. The American Social Health Association estimates that about 75 to 80 percent of sexually active Americans will be infected with HPV at some point in their lifetime, and doctors are worried about increasing vaccine hesitancy since Covid-19. Several countries, including Belgium and Austria, have made the HPV vaccines mandatory for young girls; many others offer them for free to encourage voluntary vaccination. The HPV virus also impacts men as it can cause mouth, throat and penile cancers. 

The Big Apple is dead to me. The post Trump Verdict Makes Me Ashamed to Have Been Born in New York appeared first on Frontpage Mag.

47 years ago today, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline (TAPS) one of the nation’s largest, was completed. The 800-mile (1,287 km) long pipeline conveys oil from Prudhoe Bay, on Alaska’s North Slope, south to Valdez on the shores of Prince William Sound in southcentral Alaska. It needed 4 years to build, and generated so much money for […] The post Good News in History, May 31 appeared first on Good News Network.

In the world of cryptozoology, mysterious creatures abound, and China’s folklore offers its own array of unverified entities. Among these is Xizi, a creature described as a large bloodsucking mat. Xizi, often depicted as a flat, mat-like creature, is said to dwell in remote and desolate areas. Its unusual appearance sets it apart from more commonly known cryptids. Descriptions suggest that Xizi has a texture and color resembling a woven mat, blending seamlessly into its surroundings, thus evading easy detection. This camouflage ability makes it a particularly elusive creature, difficult to spot even in its natural habitat. One of the most striking aspects of Xizi is its alleged behavior as a bloodsucker. Tales recount that this creature lies in wait, appearing as a harmless mat or patch of ground. When an unsuspecting animal or human steps on it, Xizi springs to life, enveloping its prey and draining it of blood. This gruesome feeding method has earned it a fearsome reputation among those who dwell in regions where sightings have been reported. The origins of Xizi’s legend are difficult to trace, as is often the case with folklore. However, the creature has been a part of Chinese storytelling for generations. The creature attacks people by wrapping around them and trying to drown them. Cryptozoologists have speculated that errant freshwater stingrays or possibly freshwater cephalopods are responsible. Credit: Icarito The 1788 work What the Master Would Not Discuss (子不語), a collection of supposedly true stories collected over many years by scholar Yuan Mei, claims that in Spring 1771 an underwater diver was “tightly wrapped by a reddish, large dustpan-like animal equipped with many suckers” in a river in Zhengjiang, Jiangsu. In Summer 1976 or 1977, a young girl swimming in a pond in Yunnan’s Ruili County was allegedly attacked by a xizi, which wrapped itself around her arm so tightly that her father was obliged to cut her arm off. Some weeks later, a “floating shadow” seized a man swimming in the same pool, prompting the locals to drain it. Supposedly, they subsequently found the man’s body, “still wrapped tight by the moss-covered creatures suckers”. In Autumn 1993, two brothers searching for frogs in a grotto near the Daluo River in Mengla County stumbled over a “greenish woolen blanket” on the ground. The “blanket” immediately rose up and wrapped itself around one of the brother’s legs, but released him and fled into a deep pool when the other brother burned it with his torch. Some speculate that Xizi could be inspired by real animals or natural phenomena misinterpreted by ancient observers. For instance, certain species of flat, camouflaged animals, like rays or flatworms, might have contributed to the development of the Xizi myth. Alternatively, Xizi could be a symbolic representation of natural dangers lurking in the wild, warning people to tread carefully in unfamiliar territories. The accounts of Xizi vary widely, reflecting the diverse regions and cultures of China. In some versions of the tale, Xizi is a solitary creature, while in others, it is depicted as part of a larger group of similar beings. The common thread in all these stories is the creature’s dangerous nature and its ability to blend into its environment seamlessly. Himantura polylepis. Credit: Animalia.bio David C. Xu suggests that a stray Southeast Asian giant freshwater stingray (Himantura polylepis), or an unknown Chinese species similar to it, might have given rise to stories of the xizi. Alternatively, it has been speculated to be a type of freshwater cephalopod, which have been reported as cryptids in their own right in Africa and North America. No known cephalopod is adapted to live in fresh water, but some species have extensive webbing, like the vampire squid (Vampyroteuthis infernalis) and the blanket octopuses (Tremoctopus spp.), which might disguise their arms. Researchers and cryptozoologists continue to study these stories, hoping to uncover any possible basis in reality. While skeptics dismiss Xizi as a mere myth, the persistence of its legend suggests that it holds a significant place in the cultural consciousness of the regions where it is known. Reference: Xu, David C. (2018) Mystery Creatures of China: The Complete Cryptozoological Guide, Coachwhip Publications The post Xizi: The Bloodsucking Cryptid of Chinese Folklore appeared first on Anomalien.com.

Click to Skip Ahead Why Do Rabbits Fart? Ways to Help Limit Rabbit Farts When to Worry Ways to Help Your Rabbit Pass Gas Did you smell that? If you do smell something similar to a fart and you have a rabbit in the room, they might be the culprit. Rabbits are incredibly gaseous creatures, and while it’s usually not anything to worry about, you should be aware of how their body works. That way, if something out of the ordinary pops up, you can address it and keep your rabbit happy and healthy. With that in mind, we’ll break down everything you need to know about rabbit farts for you here, including what you can do to help and when you should worry! Why Do Rabbits Fart? Rabbits are mammals, but they have a complex gastrointestinal system compared to other mammals like dogs and cats. They are specifically designed to absorb the maximum amount of nutrients from the foods they eat, which includes consuming some of their own feces in a process called cecotrophy that allows them to re-process nutrients that weren’t absorbed the first time. Throughout this process, a lot of gas is produced that has to be released. Due to the anatomy of a rabbit’s stomach, they can not burp, meaning the gas has to be released out of the anus, otherwise known as a fart. If that gas isn’t released, it would build up in the GI tract, creating a lot of pressure. Image Credit: Mary Swift, Shutterstock The 4 Ways to Help Limit Rabbit Farts While rabbit farts are perfectly natural, there may be times when you’ll want to limit or change the overall odor or volume. You’ll never eliminate them entirely, and be sure to speak to your vet before making any changes to your rabbit’s diet or environment. 1. Diet Some foods produce more gasses than others, so if your rabbit is particularly gassy, limiting these foods may help. Some extra gassy foods include: grains, corn, legumes, and human foods like cereal or bread. While a little bit of these foods won’t be detrimental to your rabbit, they can cause some discomfort, and may make your rabbit a bit gassier. Image Credit: CJMM, Pixabay 2. Hydration Your rabbit should have access to clean water inside their cage at all times. Adequate water is important for the process of digestion and may help cut down on some of the gas production. 3. Slowing Down Food Consumption If you notice your rabbit scarfing down their food as fast as they get it, it could lead to more gas buildup. This happens when they swallow more air than they should while eating, which is more common when eating quickly. Give your rabbit their own eating area and offer them regular meals throughout the day. Image Credit: Kaewmanee jiangsihui, Shutterstock 4. Limiting Stress Just like extra stress can make us a bit gassier, the same is true for rabbits. If you meet all their needs and raise them in a stress-free environment, you should be able to limit the amount of gas they pass. When Should You Worry About Rabbit Farts? Most of the time, you don’t need to worry if your rabbit is a little gassy. However, if they are passing a ton of gas and exhibiting any of the following signs, you’ll want to take notice and take them to a vet for further treatment. Lack of Activity If your rabbit isn’t moving around much, it could be that a gaseous buildup is making movement uncomfortable or even painful. But since moving can help them pass the gas, the lack of movement can actually make the problem worse, and you’ll likely need to intervene to help it get better. Image Credit: Izzy Knight, Shutterstock Bubbling Sounds If you place your ear to your rabbit’s stomach and hear bubbling sounds, this could be a sign that there’s an excessive amount of gas and you should reach out to their vet to see what you should do next. Loss of Appetite You know how much your rabbit likes to eat, and if you notice a drastic shift towards them not eating, this could be a sign of an underlying problem. If you can’t figure out the problem and how to fix it on your own, you’ll need to take them to a vet for diagnosis and treatment. Image Credit: DG FotoStock, Shutterstock The 3 Ways to Help Your Rabbit Pass Gas While you might need to take your rabbit to the vet if they have too much gas and can’t pass it, there are a few things you can try at home first. These tips can help get your rabbit some instant relief, which is all they’re really looking for. 1. Massage One of the most effective ways to help give your rabbit some relief is to massage their belly. Gently press your fingers along your rabbit’s abdomen, moving them up and down to try and relieve the pressure along your rabbit’s digestive tract. 2. Getting Them Moving If your rabbit isn’t in too much pain, they should still want to move around some, and the more they move, the more likely it is for them to pass gas. Once they pass some gas, the pressure should ease up a bit, allowing for more movement. Image Credit: Kolibrik, Shutterstock 3. A Trip to the Vet If you’ve tried massaging your rabbit and you’ve tried getting them moving and it simply isn’t helping, you’ll need to take them to the vet. Final Thoughts Now that you know a little more about a rabbit and their farts, you can make an informed decision about what’s normal and when you need to take them to the vet if they can’t get the relief they need. It might not be the most fun topic out there, but when it comes to keeping your rabbit comfortable and happy, it’s an important one! Sources https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/to-feed-or-not-to-feed-gas-is-the-question/ https://www.vetexotic.theclinics.com/article/S1094-9194(02)00024-5/fulltext Featured Image Credit: Preediwat, Shutterstock The post Do Rabbits Fart? Vet-Verified Facts & Explanation appeared first on Pet Keen.

In a shocking and bizarre turn of events, a panel of self-proclaimed “feminists” on MSNBC has called for the wives of Supreme Court justices to be kept in line by their husbands, claiming that women…

NEW YORK—In a shocking and unexpected turn of events, a jury has found former President Donald Trump guilty of making America great again, a crime that prosecutors say is a clear violation of the principles…

Alba Galdamez knows her way around the kitchen. She is the chef at Immigrant Food’s location near the White House and an immigrant from El Salvador. She moved to the U.S. about 20 years ago and has…