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Cersei Lannister needs some anti-dragon air defenses. This past week on Game of Thrones, the self-appointed Queen of Westeros asks her cryptic right-hand man, Qyburn, to reveal his secret dragon-killer because Daenerys Targaryen and her trio of fire-breathers might be knocking on the door of King's Landing any day now. What he comes up with is this double-bowed monstrosity. He even tests it on an ancient dragon skull (which would be like firing an AR-15 through King Tut's sarcophagus, but whatever).

Dragons are very common mythical creatures in almost every part of the world, but no other civilizations paid closer attention to them than East Asia and Western Christendom. While these serpentine creatures are worshiped in Oriental countries, dragons in Christendom are feared to a point of revulsion. In fact, a popular Christian myth that perpetuated the fear of dragons is found in the narratives of the early pre-Catholic era. The 3rd Century AD Roman martyr named St. George was believed to have slain a dragon who feeds on sheep and virgin women during his adventures in Libya. This legend also...

Trump's promise to build a Great Wall across America's southern border is the cornerstone of today's movement to take back our country from the corrupt leaders on Wall Street and in our government.  But Trump's call for a defensive perimeter extends far beyond mere physical walls.  It's also about the right to protect our private property from the greedy hands of the leftists.  Wrapping some deeper thinking and images around the concept of Walls is what this story is about. Many thanks to FReeper tinyowl for inspiring many of these thoughts.   Let's first take a look at protective...

CLIMATE change could not just impact agricultural production, but also potentially waken sleeping giants who could in turn exacerbate the warming trend, according to Australian academics.

This crazy komodo dragon does not show a hint of camera shyness as it shows off its dance skills for a lucky photographer. The Rumbaing reptile was spotted in a park near amateur photographer Woe Hendrick Husin's home in Surabaya, Indonesia, while he was out searching for local wildlife. Although the lizard was busy hunting insects, it still had time to stop and perform a quick dance before dashing off into the bushes in search of its next meal.

The new film “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” (opening Dec. 14) has got action and adventure galore, just like “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy that preceded it. But the director and actors who worked on the movie are well aware of the deeper themes that lie at the heart of the work of J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973), who authored all the original books, published between 1937 and 1955. At a recent press conference about the film in New York City, Richard Armitage, who portrays the Dwarf warrior Thorin Oakenshield, said, “One of the things I find when I look...

Anne McCaffrey wasn't just the inventor of Pern, the world where a whole society is based on dragon-riding. She was also an incredibly influential author who helped transform the way science fiction and fantasy authors wrote about women, and the way all of us thought about bodies and selfhood. She was the first woman to win a Hugo Award and a Nebula Award, as well as a Grand Master of science fiction.

KOMODO ISLAND, Indonesia (AFP) – They don't breathe fire but Komodo dragons -- the largest lizards in the world -- can kill a buffalo or any one of the intrepid tourists who flock to their deserted island habitats. "I feel like I'm in the middle of Jurassic Park, very deep in the past," said Hong Kong visitor Michael Lien during a recent trip to Komodo Island, the main habitat of the threatened Indonesian lizards. ... "What am I supposed to do if a dragon appears suddenly?" he asks Johnny Banggur, the guide on a tour of the island, an almost...

Like many video role-playing games, Dragon Age: Origins, a medieval epic that was released in November for PCs, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, gives its players far more to do than wage war against mythical beasts.The game, which was developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts, and is meant to take 60 to 80 hours to complete, allows players to develop combat and magic skills, interact with other characters and have romantic encounters. If you play as a male character, it is even possible to have a liaison with a male elf named Zevran.

Harry Potter fans are looking forward to the boy wizard’s next screen adventure, when Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince opens this month. Pottermania broke loose when J. K. Rowling’s first book appeared on bookstands in 1997, prompting the creation of films, fan websites, and dozens of similarly themed books. Rowling’s world of wizardry has even inspired the name of a dinosaur fossil, Dracorex hogwartsia. But serious researchers are seeing evidence that dragons were more than just fantastical creatures...

The Komodo dragon is the world's largest flesh-eating lizard and living reptile. This amazing creature is only found in the wild on four small Indonesian islands, where they are vulnerable to disease, volcanic activity, and competition with feral dogs and man. It lives on the islands of Komodo, Rinca, Padar, and Flores. The Komodo is an endangered species and there are only about 5,000 of them in existence around the world, including a small number kept and bred in zoos. This giant lizard can grow to 3 meters (10 feet) long, and has an average weight of 70 kg (155...

Dinosaurs, dragons and Darwin were discussed Friday during the contract termination hearing of suspended Mount Vernon Middle School science teacher John Freshwater. David Millstone, attorney for the Mount Vernon school board, introduced several handouts allegedly distributed by Freshwater in class. Former Freshwater students Simon Souhrada and Kate Button testified the dinosaur handout implied that humans and dinosaurs probably coexisted, contradicting the generally accepted theory of evolution. Button said Freshwater told her class there was new evidence that dinosaurs probably were around when people were, because of the global incidence of legends of dragons. Both students also alleged Freshwater indirectly made...

On another board, a discussion of Barry O's stats came up, as if he was a D&D character. . . And so, for your amusement and edification: The Character Sheet of Barack Obama * * * * * * * * * * * Barack H. Obama: Level 12 Politician INT: 18 CHA: 18/75 STR: 9 CON: 9 DEX: 7 WIS: 3 Alignment: Neutral Chaotic: Chaotic Evil Tendencies Skills: Oratory +80 (provided the Holy Teleprompter of Axelrod is at hand: otherwise, -20) Persons of INT or WIS less than 10 roll a saving throw vs Glamour: if they lose, they...

My Dragon Fly and Me If I could be a Dragon Fly and wing my way through the sky I would never be shy just me and my Dragon Fly! By moonlight we ride the wind chase the comets tail for fun by day we would hide from the sun our fragile wings would come undone On darkest nights we would use fireflies as our guide we would dip and we would glide through the heavens open wide and scatter diamonds in the night sky my Dragon Fly and me... And we would wing past our lovers silent in...

AL ASAD, Iraq (Nov. 6, 2007) -- The Marines of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 arrived at Al Taqaddum to support service members operating in the Al Anbar province, Sept. 15. The 'Red Dragons' assumed responsibility of the general support helicopter mission in the Western Al Anbar province after a transfer of authority ceremony with HMM-161. The Camp Pendleton-based CH-46E squadron offers helicopter assault support to ground units and general support to air elements, including water drop off at combat outposts, troop lifts and equipment transport from camp to camp to sustain operations. In addition to general and assault support,...

My Dragon Fly and Me If I could be a Dragon Fly and wing my way through the sky I would never be shy just me and my Dragon Fly! By moonlight we ride the wind chase the comets tail for fun by day we would hide from the sun our fragile wings would come undone On darkest nights we would use fireflies as our guide we would dip and we would glide through the heavens open wide and scatter diamonds in the night sky my Dragon Fly and me... And we would wing past our lovers silent in...

FORWARD OPERATING BASE Q-WEST— Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 5th Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, have been working side-by-side with the Iraqi Police (IP) since November in southern Ninevah province. During the 10 months of deployment, the 5-82 FA troops have seen the IP improve in their capabilities to conduct operations and ultimately secure Iraq. “A lot has changed since the beginning of the war and the beginning of our deployment,” said Sgt. Kurt Schroder, artillery surveyor and dismounted patrolman. “The IP are doing better on their own and they are doing...

My Dragon Fly and Me If I could be a Dragon Fly and wing my way through the sky I would never be shy just me and my Dragon Fly! By moonlight we ride the wind chase the comets tail for fun by day we would hide from the sun our fragile wings would come undone On darkest nights we would use fireflies as our guide we would dip and we would glide through the heavens open wide and scatter diamonds in the night sky my Dragon Fly and me... And we would wing past our lovers silent in...

If I could be a Dragon Fly and wing my way through the sky I would never be shy just me and my Dragon Fly! By moonlight we ride the wind chase the comets tail for fun by day we would hide from the sun our fragile wings would come undone On darkest nights we would use fireflies as our guide we would dip and we would glide through the heavens open wide and scatter diamonds in the night sky my Dragon Fly and me... And we would wing past our lovers silent in the night... to kiss their...

My Dragonfly and Me If I could be a Dragon Fly and wing my way through the sky I would never be shy just me and my Dragon Fly! By moonlight we ride the wind chase the comets tail for fun by day we would hide from the sun our fragile wings would come undone On darkest nights we would use fireflies as our guide we would dip and we would glide through the heavens open wide and scatter diamonds in the night sky my Dragon Fly and me... And we would wing past our lovers silent in the...