News Twisters The Tornadoes Are Multiplying in the First Trailer for Twisters Let’s twist again‚ like we did in the ’90s By Molly Templeton | Published on February 12‚ 2024 icon-comment 0 Share New Share Twitter Facebook Pinterest RSS Feed It is time‚ once again‚ to run away from an extreme weather event. That’s right: In the trailer for Twisters (why didn’t we just call it TwIIster?)‚ tiny puny humans get out of their truck and run away from a tornado. Just like that time in The Day After Tomorrow when foolish humans ran away from an extreme freeze! We’re so good at running away from weather. Except when we’re really good at running toward weather‚ which seems to be the sole personality trait of Glen Powell’s character in this film. (That and having alarmingly white teeth.) He’s a “tornado wrangler” who teams up with Daisy Edgar-Jones‚ who is traumatized by a very bad encounter with a tornado (presumably the one at the start of the trailer). Here’s the synopsis: From the producers of the Jurassic‚ Bourne and Indiana Jones series comes Twisters‚ a current-day chapter of the 1996 blockbuster‚ Twister. Directed by Lee Isaac Chung‚ the Oscar nominated writer-director of Minari‚ Twisters stars Golden Globe nominee Daisy Edgar-Jones (Where the Crawdads Sing‚ Normal People) and Glen Powell (Anyone But You‚ Top Gun: Maverick) as opposing forces who come together to try to predict‚ and possibly tame‚ the immense power of tornadoes. Edgar-Jones stars as Kate Cooper‚ a former storm chaser haunted by a devastating encounter with a tornado during her college years who now studies storm patterns on screens safely in New York City. She is lured back to the open plains by her friend‚ Javi (Golden Globe nominee Anthony Ramos‚ In the Heights) to test a groundbreaking new tracking system. There‚ she crosses paths with Tyler Owens (Powell)‚ the charming and reckless social-media superstar who thrives on posting his storm-chasing adventures with his raucous crew‚ the more dangerous the better. As storm season intensifies‚ terrifying phenomena never seen before are unleashed‚ and Kate‚ Tyler and their competing teams find themselves squarely in the paths of multiple storm systems converging over central Oklahoma in the fight of their lives. Twisters appears to also star a lot of Ram pickups. It is not a reboot or a remake‚ but its very own story‚ just—let’s say—set in the greater Twister cinematic universe. Unfortunately‚ it does not star Helen Hunt‚ unless maybe it secretly does. (Edgar-Jones could totally be Hunt’s character’s kid.) The film is written by Mark L. Smith (The Revanant); the late Michael Crichton‚ who wrote Twister‚ also gets credit. We can all twist again in theaters July 19th. [end-mark] The post The Tornadoes Are Multiplying in the First Trailer for <;i>;Twisters<;/i>; appeared first on Reactor.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties‚ subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Notion‚ the productivity suite‚ has announced the acquisition of Skiff‚ a platform lauded for its commitment to privacy through end-to-end encryption in file storage‚ documents‚ calendar events‚ and email services. This acquisition marks a significant step in Notion’s expansion‚ following the launch of a new calendar‚ based on its previous acquisition of Cron. Skiff‚ founded in 2020 by Andrew Milich and Jason Ginsberg‚ has quickly made a name for itself in the tech world for being a private‚ encrypted alternative to the likes of Gmail and Google’s suite of document sharing and collaboration tools. Skiff will be shutting down as part of this acquisition and Reclaim The Net will be updating our recommended private email and cloud storage pages accordingly. As part of this transition‚ Skiff announced on its website and support page that it will be integrating with Notion. However‚ it noted that Skiff’s services will be discontinued in six months‚ with no automatic conversion of Skiff user accounts to Notion. Users are being provided with options to export or migrate their data to other services. This acquisition follows Notion’s previous strategic moves‚ including the purchase of workflow management tool Flowdash in 2022 and the acquisition of Cron and India-based Automate.io. The post Private Email and Documents Company Skiff Is Shutting Down‚ After Notion Acquisition appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

Read the original post "Einkorn Blueberry Muffins" on A Modern Homestead. These light and fluffy einkorn blueberry muffins will help you create the perfect start to your day. The crunchy crumble makes a delightful addition to the already moist and delicious blueberry muffins. They take just a few minutes to whip up and freeze well so that you can enjoy them anytime! Do you have fond... Read More The post "Einkorn Blueberry Muffins" appeared first on A Modern Homestead.

One of the towering figures of the 20th century‚ Winston Churchill is a man whose legacy looms large over the annals of history. From his early days as a young officer in the British Army to his tenure as Prime Minister along with his indomitable leadership and pivotal role in World War Two‚ Churchill’s stirring rhetoric and steadfast resolve earned him a place among the greatest statesmen of all time.  However‚ like many historical figures of his stature‚ Churchill’s life and actions have been marked by triumphs‚ controversies‚ and numerous myths and misconceptions. Here are 10 of some of the top myths about him. Myth 1: Churchill sent troops against striking Welsh coal miners In November 1911‚ a mass strike erupted in the Rhondda Valley‚ Wales‚ involving up to 30‚000 miners protesting wage disparities in coal seams. Looting‚ notably in Tonypandy‚ prompted local authorities to request troops‚ but Churchill (Home Secretary) and Haldane (Secretary of War) instead sent additional police‚ with troops held in reserve nearby. Despite accusations‚ Churchill did not order troops to fire on the miners. Churchill had written to the King on 10 November 1910‚ assuring him of maintaining order‚ emphasising how the Chief Constable had 1‚400 police available‚ with an additional 500 police deployed from London. Churchill claimed that: “No need for the employment of the military is likely to occur. They will be kept as far as possible out of touch with the population‚ while sufficiently near to the scene to be available if necessary… …There appears to be no reason at present why the policy of keeping the military out of direct contact with the rioters should be departed from.” The Times criticised Churchill’s decision‚ suggesting the police couldn’t handle the situation alone‚ and that if rioting led to the loss of life‚ the responsibility lay with Churchill. However‚ the following day‚ The Manchester Guardian argued Churchill’s approach had likely prevented further violence. Myth 2: Churchill was solely to blame for the disastrous Gallipoli campaign The Gallipoli campaign‚ initiated by the Allied forces in 1915‚ sought to control the Dardanelles Strait and establish a supply route to Russia while eliminating the Ottoman Empire from the war. However‚ the campaign ended in failure with substantial casualties and strategic setbacks. Despite Churchill‚ as First Lord of the Admiralty‚ advocating for a naval attack on the Dardanelles‚ the real driver behind the strategy was Kitchener‚ then Secretary of State for War.  Churchill’s optimistic assessment had overlooked key military considerations‚ including the strength of Ottoman defences and the challenges of amphibious assaults. Additionally‚ Churchill insisted on a naval-only approach‚ despite advice advocating a combined land and sea operation. Yet Kitchener had approved Churchill’s plan‚ and without adequate oversight‚ prioritising troops and resources for the Western Front. This lack of intervention and underestimation of logistical challenges compounded the failure. Thus both Churchill and Kitchener bear collective responsibility: Churchill for his flawed strategy‚ and Kitchener for insufficient leadership. Myth 3:  Churchill was in favour of using poisoned gas It’s often claimed that in 1919‚ Churchill advocated the use of ‘poisoned gas against uncivilised tribes’ and Bolsheviks in Russia‚ but this is a misconception. Whilst Britain considered using gas against rebel tribes in Northwest India and Mesopotamia (now Iraq)‚ it was never proposed to use chlorine or phosgene. Churchill‚ as Minister of War‚ had confused the matter when using the term ‘poisoned gas’. His remarks actually referred to ‘lachrymatory gas’ (tear gas)‚ which he saw as a humane alternative to explosives. Churchill authorised the use of diphenylaminechloroarsine (DM) by British troops in Archangel‚ but only in response to Bolshevik use of recovered World War One German gas shells. However‚ DM’s effects were generally non-lethal. Throughout World War Two‚ Churchill consistently opposed the use of poison gas‚ but was willing to deploy it if the enemy did first. Churchill was content with this standoff‚ and ultimately‚ neither side used gas during the war. Myth 4: Churchill created the ‘Black and Tans’ paramilitary militia in Ireland As Secretary of State for War‚ Churchill was preoccupied with other matters such as Bolshevism in 1919‚ and had no initial involvement in the creation and recruitment of the notorious ‘Blacks and Tans’ in Ireland‚ a group seen as maintaining British control and suppressing the IRA. While Churchill defended their actions as responses to perceived threats‚ he later acknowledged the need for official reprisals as their violence escalated‚ seeking a balance between firmness and concessions to prevent Sinn Fein from claiming victory prematurely. Despite his defence of the ‘Black and Tans’‚ Churchill played a significant role in negotiating compromises for Irish independence‚ and brought together warring parties‚ including the Lloyd George government‚ Irish revolutionaries‚ and Ulster unionists. While working out the compromises‚ when Sinn Fein’s Michael Collins complained that the British had put a price on his head‚ Churchill showed him his framed copy of his Boer wanted poster‚ stating: “At any rate it was a good price‚ £5000. Look at me – £25 dead or alive. How would you like that?” – which made Collins laugh. This dialogue illustrates Churchill’s efforts to foster understanding and facilitate the signing of the Irish Treaty‚ despite their differences. Collins later acknowledged Churchill’s crucial role in their endeavours. South African Wanted Poster placing a bounty on fugitive prisoner of war Winston Churchill in 1899.Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons / South African Police / Public Domain Myth 5: Churchill knew Coventry would be bombed On 14 November 1940‚ Coventry was devastated by a major German bombing raid‚ resulting in significant civilian casualties. Churchill is often mistakenly accused of having known of the attack in advance‚ allegedly withholding the information to avoid revealing the German Enigma code had been broken‚ or to provoke America into the war.  However‚ while Enigma decrypts hinted at an imminent raid‚ code-named ‘Moonlight Sonata’‚ the target remained unclear. Reports suggested potential targets‚ including London‚ but specifics were lacking and Coventry not mentioned. A German pilot shot down on 9 November‚ under interrogation‚ suggested Coventry and Birmingham would be attacked‚ yet intelligence officers doubted the information as it was older than subsequent intelligence. Churchill received a summary of these reports upon returning from Neville Chamberlain’s funeral‚ but was reassured the usual counter-measures had been prepared. Churchill then left for Ditchley Park‚ but was quickly informed of new intelligence indicating London as the likely target. He promptly returned to Downing Street‚ refusing to stay away while London faced danger.  The moment German radio beams confirmed Coventry was the target‚ all countermeasures were taken without delay; British bombers attacked German aerodromes‚ fighter patrols were deployed over Coventry‚ and defence preparations activated. Coventry had previously received multiple attacks which had prompted Churchill to strengthen its anti-aircraft defences.  Thus on the night of 14 November‚ there were five times as many anti-aircraft guns per head of the population of Coventry as there were around London‚ and 100 British fighters were airborne. Nevertheless‚ Coventry suffered extensive damage. Churchill walks through the ruins of Coventry Cathedral with J A Moseley‚ M H Haigh‚ A R Grindlay and others‚ 1941Image Credit: Public Domain‚ via Wikimedia Commons Myth 6: Churchill bombed Dresden as retaliation for Coventry This is another misconception. Churchill initially viewed area bombing as a regrettable but necessary response to German air raids on cities like Warsaw and Rotterdam‚ and as the Allies prepared for Normandy‚ strategic bombing became crucial to weaken Germany. However‚ Churchill’s stance evolved as victory edged closer‚ and he criticised his head of Bomber Command‚ Air Marshal Harris‚ for the Dresden and Potsdam bombings. Unlike Churchill‚ Harris believed in strategic bombing’s efficacy to undermine German morale‚ and had compiled a list of target cities for destruction. Dresden had been targeted to aid the Russian offensive‚ not as revenge‚ due to its strategic significance and intelligence reports on Axis movements. Myth 7: India was subject to British rule and thus at Churchill’s mercy when it came to Bengal famine relief While millions suffered during the 1943 Bengal famine‚ attributing sole responsibility to Churchill for the famine’s extent is misleading and oversimplified. As part of the British Empire‚ India faced British regulations on grain imports and exports‚ yet Churchill’s government (along with other countries)‚ shipped hundreds of thousands of tons of grain to India to alleviate shortages exacerbated by crop failures‚ and by the Japanese invasion of Burma and nearby countries‚ which had disrupted rice supplies. Japanese incursions‚ local corruption‚ and the hoarding of grain by merchants in the hope of higher prices all worsened the crisis‚ leading some historians to suggest Churchill’s actions mitigated the famine’s severity. Despite derogatory remarks against Indians attributed to Churchill in moments of frustration‚ cabinet records show Churchill expressed sympathy for Indian suffering‚ and recognised the challenges in providing additional relief during wartime. Further relief would have incurred significant difficulties elsewhere. Myth 8: He was solely responsible for Britain’s victory in World War Two While Churchill played a pivotal role in guiding Britain through the war‚ the Allied victory was the culmination of collective efforts involving numerous leaders‚ military commanders‚ resources‚ and ordinary citizens from various nations.  Britain’s preparedness‚ including its mechanised army‚ advanced aircraft manufacturing‚ strong navy‚ and robust air defence system‚ owed much to earlier planning by Neville Chamberlain. Additionally‚ contributions of other Allied leaders‚ like US President Roosevelt and Soviet Premier Stalin‚ were crucial in securing victory. Winston Churchill waving to crowds in Whitehall on 8 May 1945 celebrating the end of the war.Image Credit: Picryl / Imperial War Museum / Public Domain Myth 9: Churchill coined the phrase ‘Iron Curtain’ While Churchill popularised the term “Iron Curtain” in his famous 1946 speech in Fulton‚ Missouri‚ the phrase’s earliest known appearance was in Russian philosopher Vasily Rozanov’s 1918 work‚ Apocalypse of Our Time‚ where Romanov wrote of ‘an iron curtain descending on Russian history’. Author Ethel Snowden also used it in 1920 in her text‚ Through Bolshevik Russia. Whilst Churchill’s first recorded use of the phrase was in a letter to President Truman in May of 1945‚ the phrase had already been coined by Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels in February 1945 in his propaganda publication Das Reich. Churchill’s usage of the term certainly contributed to its prominence‚ but he did not invent it. Myth 10: He was a heavy drinker Churchill’s drinking habits have been exaggerated – some label him ‘alcohol dependent’‚ yet while he enjoyed champagne‚ brandy‚ and whiskey (especially during periods of stress)‚ there’s little evidence suggesting constant intoxication or impaired decision-making. He occasionally drank hock with breakfast‚ and copiously at mealtimes (medical notes recommended alcohol use during convalescence)‚ yet once won a bet abstaining from hard spirits for a year in 1936. His habit of sipping a diluted Johnnie Walker and water throughout the morning (which his daughter called the “Papa Cocktail”) stemmed from experiences in India and South Africa‚ as the water was unfit to drink. Churchill did not nurse bottles‚ and there are no credible reports of him being intoxicated. Churchill himself exaggerated his drinking stories‚ yet was aware of his limits and had a contempt for excessive alcohol consumption. When accused of being drunk by Bessie Braddock MP in 1946 (leading to Churchill’s famous retort)‚ Churchill’s bodyguard clarified Churchill had been tired‚ not drunk. While Churchill’s affinity for alcohol may have been partly a prop‚ akin to cigars‚ his quip that “I have taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me” is true …though he did possess a formidable capacity.

John Kirby Gets a Promotion

If you live in areas where tornadoes can whirl their way into existence‚ you likely are aware that the advice is to take shelter in a basement‚ or other rooms away from windows. This is because an exploding window could seriously injure or kill anyone unfortunate enough to be nearby. The advice on windows has changed over the years‚ as we've learned more about tornadoes. "The old theory was that the drop in air pressure as a tornado hit a building caused the higher pressure inside to push the walls out - to make the building 'explode'‚" weather editor Jack Williams told USA Today‚ as reported in a 2006 article.Then in 1979‚ one of the largest tornadoes in US history hit Wichita Falls‚ Texas. Assessing the damage afterwards‚ researchers realized a few things."The big lesson learned was that if you're in a reinforced structure‚ you need to stay there when a tornado's approaching‚" Alan Moller‚ a meteorologist who saw the destruction told Associated Press in 2004. "Automobiles are a steel death trap in a tornado."Another thing that stood out was how homes with storm doors and shutters were less damaged than others."[Researchers] realized that wind blowing into open‚ or broken‚ windows pushes up on the roof‚" Williams continued. "At the same time‚ wind blowing over the roof is making it act like an airplane wing that generates a lifting force. If the roof lifts off‚ the walls can fall outward‚ making it look like the building exploded."             Of course‚ tornadoes can leave you with no choice but to have open windows‚ courtesy of smashing your windows up with debris. While open windows can lead to worse damage‚ closing them is not the priority‚ and could put you in further danger."If you are threatened by a tornado‚ the last thing you want to do is to waste time running around opening windows‚ or closing windows‚" Williams added. "The most important tornado safety rule‚ if you are in a sturdy house or other building‚ is to take shelter in an inside room‚ away from windows."All “explainer” articles are confirmed by fact checkers to be correct at time of publishing. Text‚ images‚ and links may be edited‚ removed‚ or added to at a later date to keep information current. 

NASA scientists claim to have identified the source of the trouble preventing humanity’s most distant emissary‚ Voyager 1‚ from sending back its scientific data. However‚ finding the problem’s exact location‚ let alone fixing it‚ is still proving frustrating. A 45-hour round-trip for messages to get through doesn’t help‚ nor the fact that only one radio dish‚ with other calls on its time‚ is powerful enough for Voyager 1 to hear it over these distances.Late last year‚ Voyager 1 started sending back a random series of 1s and 0s instead of the flight data system (FDS) messages that should have been reporting its scientific observations."The spacecraft is receiving and executing commands sent from Earth; however‚ the FDS is not communicating properly with one of the probe’s subsystems‚ called the telemetry modulation unit (TMU)‚" a NASA statement reported at the time.  "As a result‚ no science or engineering data is being sent back to Earth." Three months after the problems started‚ with some of the best engineers in the world working on the problem‚ it’s still happening.In a certain sort of science fiction film‚ this would be a hint Voyager 1 had become sentient and had either gone on strike or was asking for help. In the real world‚ it reflects the fact that one of the most potent scientific instruments of all time runs on a computer system that was obsolete soon after it launched in 1977.Voyager 1 has three computers. In a testament to Moore’s law‚ their combined processing power wouldn’t run a smartphone. It would be astonishing if they were still working as well as they are had they been kept in a clean room protected from all sorts of radiation. Instead‚ they are now exposed to high-energy particles without even the minimal shield of the solar wind.              IFLScience is not responsible for content shared from external sites.The FDS takes the data from the spacecraft’s surviving sensors and combines them for sending to Earth through the Telemetry Modulation Unit."[The problem’s] likely somewhere in the FDS memory‚" Suzanne Dodd‚ Voyager project manager since 2010‚ told Ars Technica. "A bit got flipped or corrupted. But without the telemetry‚ we can't see where that FDS memory corruption is."“It would be the biggest miracle if we get it back‚” Dodd added. “We certainly haven’t given up. There are other things we can try. But this is‚ but far‚ the most serious since I’ve been project manager.” Nevertheless‚ the successful restoration of communication with Voyager 2 last year offers hope‚ albeit from an easier problem.Those ideas include trying to switch the FDS back to the operating mode it used during its fly-by of the giant planets‚ in the hope this will reveal where in the memory the problem lies. The usually small Voyager team has pulled in people from other parts of NASA to prepare to do this‚ but Dodd noted the people they want the most are not available."Not to be morose‚ but a lot of Voyager people are dead‚" she noted‚ leaving the current operators to search through archives that haven’t been kept in the best order. "We have sheets and sheets of schematics that are paper‚ that are all yellowed on the corners‚ and all signed in 1974‚" Dodd said.If‚ in a real-life version of Space Cowboys‚ any of the surviving former operators have been called out of retirement to fix the problem‚ NASA hasn’t seized the publicity potential by revealing it.Dodd bemoaned the lack of a ground-based simulator that can be used to test commands before they are sent to Voyager 1. She also noted the mission’s declining power supply and other fragile parts means it hasn’t got too long. There’s no point taking the rescue attempt too slowly if it means finding the solution just before the mission fails for a different reason.Despite the weight restrictions when they were launched‚ the Voyagers had two FDSs each‚ but Voyager 1’s backup failed in 1981 (fortunately after it had passed Saturn). At the time‚ most people at NASA thought Voyager 1 had done its job‚ since‚ unlike its twin‚ it would not be passing by any further worlds.Instead‚ both Voyagers have mapped the heliopause‚ studied ultraviolet sources far from interference from the Sun‚ and investigated magnetic fields so far from the Sun. Two of Voyager 1’s instruments have failed‚ and five have been turned off by ground control as "no longer priorities". Four‚ one less than Voyager 2‚ are still operational‚ or at least were prior to the FDS glitching. The magnetometer and cosmic ray system in particular have proven invaluable in the extended mission. They’re probably still collecting data‚ but need a functioning FDS to return that information to us.

Valentine’s Day is almost upon us and this year‚ it comes with a potentially hazardous asteroid. Do not worry‚ it is not gonna ruin anyone’s plans with country destruction but if you need an excuse to get out of some plans‚ saying that you are watching an asteroid is a pretty good one in our opinion.The rock in question is called 2024 BR4. As the moniker indicates‚ it was discovered this year. Just a few weeks ago‚ as it was about 12 million kilometers (7.5 million miles) from our planet. The Catalina automatic survey was responsible for the first observation on January 30‚ 2024.The object is classified as potentially dangerous and for good reason. The size is estimated to be between 100 and 300 meters (330 to 990 feet)‚ and an object this wide hitting the planet could cause incredible devastation under the right conditions. Asteroids are complicated‚ so it’s not just about the size but also the composition and where on the planet it hits.For this object‚ we know very little. The size for example is very approximate. NASA’s Small-Body Database gives an absolute magnitude for the object of 21.4 – that’s how bright it is. The bigger the object the brighter it appears. But to make the best estimation with that parameter you also need the albedo – the fraction of reflected light by the surface. That is currently not available so the uncertainty we can calculate is fairly wide.That tiny dot in the sky is a dangerous object.Image Credit: Gianluca Masi/Virtual Telescope ProjectStill‚ this is probably one of the 14‚000 "city-killer" asteroids that are left to find. And it’s not coming close to us for a long time. Because‚ despite size uncertainties‚ astronomers have worked out its orbit very well. On Valentine’s Day‚ it will be no closer than 4.6 million kilometers (2.86 million miles). That’s 12 times the average distance of the Moon.To continue the good news streak‚ Wednesday’s flyby will be the closest this dangerous object gets to our planet in the next 120 years. The detection also shows how far surveys have come in the last few years. The asteroid flew past Earth at 14 lunar distances in 2011 but it went completely undetected. Now we know that it is out there and we are safe from it for a very long time.

Dragons are probably among the most recognizable and ubiquitous fantasy beasties in history. Across the world‚ from Europe to China‚ as well as the Americas and Australia‚ ancient and completely independent cultures have depicted and described similar creatures in their stories‚ art‚ folklore‚ and mythologies.Given the widespread appearance of these iconic creatures across enormous geographic and cultural divides‚ it would be easy to assume they were inspired by the same thing. But the history of dragons‚ where they came from‚ and how they became so significant is a complex and illustrative story about human observations of the natural world and our propensity for storytelling come together. And‚ much like the case of the dragon‚ what it produces can be amazing and monstrous.  Slithering and swimming into sightOne of the earlier depictions of what we in the West would identify as a “dragon” appears in the representation of the Babylonian entity called Tiamat‚ a primordial goddess that created yet more gods. In the Mesopotamian creation epic‚ the Enma EliÅ¡‚ Tiamat is described as an enormous serpent-like being associated with the sea. Tiamat‚ so the story goes‚ met her end at the hands of the storm god Marduk‚ who split her body and used the remains to make the heavens and earth.Then there’s the MuÅ¡uÅ¡Å¡u (meaning “reddish snake” or “fierce snake”)‚ a classic example of a composite creature depicted as having the hind legs of an eagle‚ lion forelimbs‚ a long serpentine neck and tail‚ horns on its head and a snake-like tongue. This creature was the symbol of Marduk and also served as his servant. The MuÅ¡uÅ¡Å¡u is famously depicted on the Ishtar Gate at the city of Babylon‚ in modern Iraq.In Ancient Egypt‚ dragon-like beings appear in several instances. Firstly‚ Apep (or Apophis)‚ a giant serpentine creature born from the Ra’s umbilical cord‚ was described as living in the realm of the dead. Apep was locked in a never-ending conflict with Ra‚ who was aided in this struggle by Nehebkau‚ another snake-like giant.In Zoroastrian traditions‚ dragons like Ai Dah&;amacr;ka ("Avestan Great Snake") were a symbol of sin and greed‚ in a way that may anticipate later Christian depictions of this trope as well as their versions of dragons during the Medieval period.For the Ancient Greeks‚ drakns – where we get the word “dragon” from – were common opponents for mythological heroes who had to slay them to achieve their legendary deeds (another trope that became important to Medieval stories). Notable examples include the Lernaean Hydra‚ the Colchian dragon that guarded the Golden Fleece‚ the giant serpent Typhon‚ and the dragon of Ares.  The dragons of Asia‚ notability the Chinese “long”‚ were far less destructive and menacing than their Western counterparts. These creatures were associated with good fortune and auspicious circumstances. Dragons have a vibrant and unparalleled history within Chinese culture‚ where they were and still are revered.The traditional image of the Chinese dragons first appeared in the Shang (1766-1122 BCE) and Zhou (1046-256 BCE) dynasties. Eventually‚ these depictions turned into the Yinglong‚ a winged dragon that was also a rain deity. However‚ over the centuries‚ this depiction evolved‚ and the dragon lost its wings and became the iconic serpentine entity recognized in Chinese art today.These dragons were likely so influential that they went on to inform many other Asian depictions‚ including those in Korea (often depicted with bears and grasping an orb) and Japan. Many other dragon traditions appear in the Philippines and India.In the Americas‚ the Aztecs worshiped Quetzalcoatl‚ the “precious serpent”‚ which was their version of the feathered serpent god that appeared throughout Mesoamerican mythologies. As with the Asian version of dragon gods‚ Quetzalcoatl was not a destructive figure‚ but rather the god of wind‚ patron of priests‚ and possibly the inventor of books and calendars.Similarly‚ in South America‚ the Andean civilizations had the Amaroca or Amaru‚ a giant two-headed serpent that dwells deep underground. In Inca mythology‚ Amaroca lived at the bottom of lakes and rivers.To be sure‚ these are just a few of the many forms of dragons that exist in cultures across the world. There are plenty of others that could have been added to this discussion‚ so this is just an illustrative few. But given the variety of depictions‚ where did the idea of dragons come from?Imagining dragonsDespite their separation across vast distances‚ many of the dragon stories discussed above have similar features or tropes. In many cases‚ they are serpentine entities with other characteristics borrowed from different animals (such as bird-like wings or lion-like limbs). Scholars have long debated where such ideas came from‚ which has led to the hypothesis that the dragon may be a creative expression of our innate fear of snakes. But this would not be so applicable to more gentle examples from non-European contexts.However‚ it could capture something of the mystique associated with large snakes and other reptiles. Observations of natural snakes and exaggerations born from folklore and storytelling may have transformed some species into creatures of mythical proportions. According to Adrienne Mayor‚ this process may have also been aided by the discovery of dinosaur fossils by ancient peoples who lived in the areas where dragon stories emerged. An example of this form of “mistaken identity” is present in the story of Chang Qu‚ a Chinese historian from the 4th century BCE who likely mistook a fossil for a long-dead dragon.Equally‚ people in Australia may have been influenced by large reptiles like the Goanna‚ monitor lizards with deadly bites that can cause lethal infections. And in places like Egypt and Sub-Saharan Africa‚ sightings of saltwater crocodiles may have inspired some of the stories that later traveled into Europe concerning vicious monstrous dragons (usually ones that were subsequently killed by a “heroic” saint – looking at you‚ George).Outside of reptiles‚ sea-faring peoples may have conflated stories about sea serpents inspired by whales and other large aquatic mammals and fish‚ with ideas about dragons. Whale bones washed to shore could also be the seeds for more monstrous interpretations.Regardless of the sources of inspiration for the various creatures we regard as “dragons” today‚ it seems they all represent a meeting point where human imagination meets natural observations. But how we then understand that “creature” and what it means for our stories is very much shaped by our cultural heritage.

Two parents are suing an Australian gynecologist after their child was born with a disability. Apparently‚ the parents are pissed that the gynecologist didn’t detect the disability while the child was in utero and the parents then didn’t get the chance to abort her.  That’s right. These parents are suing because their daughter was born alive‚ and perfectly healthy other than missing her left arm and having a few other structural malformations.  Even still‚ Australia’s Supreme Court sided with the parents and ruled that the gynecologist pay $83‚000 with “many more payments to follow‚” New American reported. The court agreed that the gynecologist was negligent in his observation of the child’s ultrasound scans.  “The doctor overlooked the child’s severe disability. If the diagnosis was correct‚ the parents would have decided to terminate the pregnancy‚” the parents’ attorney‚ Karin Prutsch-Lang indicated.  Imagine delivering your baby girl‚ noticing that she had deformities‚ and thinking‚ “Dangit‚ we missed our chance to kill her!" Related: GOP Calls on DOJ to 'Halt' Their Destruction of The 5 Dead Babies These parents are sick and twisted. They don’t deserve to have that beautiful baby if you ask me. She should go to a family who will love and cherish her as she is‚ not one who wishes she were dead. New America indicated that the Australian court sided with the parents fully: The high court agreed that the doctor’s mistake caused the parents to have a child that they would have chosen to abort had they known the truth. The court “emphasize[d] that this is about the parents’ right to decide autonomously whether‚ firstly‚ they want a child and‚ secondly‚ whether‚ given their life situation‚ they are prepared and ready to raise a disabled child according to their needs.” In Australia and in other parts of the world‚ the legal system often sides with parents who are left with what they deem “wrongful births.” In Germany‚ a doctor was forced to pay child support for a baby boy after a contraceptive device that the doctor implanted in the child’s mother failed. This is another case like that. In response to the story and this “wrongful birth‚" those who care about all life‚ regardless of disability or challenge‚ were disgusted at the parents’ and the Australian court’s attempt to dehumanize the disabled little girl. “By encouraging parents to sue in the event of unwanted births after failed contraceptive procedures‚ the children are also given the ‘devastating signal: you were not welcome‚’” a Vienna-based pro life group said.  Wolfgan Mazel‚ president of the Catholic Lay Council of Austria‚ said‚ “A society in which the abortion of disabled people is explicitly qualified as legal is clearly accepting a lasting threat to humanity.” Live Action commented‚ “Wrongful birth lawsuits are a disturbing legal trend‚ in which parents hijack prenatal testing — a pro-life tool that is meant to ensure preborn children receive the health care they need while still in the womb — as a means to weed out children they feel are not worthy of life.” This whole situation is utterly heartbreaking and shows just how evil some people truly are. Follow us on Twitter/X: The NFL continues its shameful campaign to divide Americans by performing the so-called "black National Anthem" before the Super Bowl There is only one National Anthem and it's The Star Spangled Banner!pic.twitter.com/zigS8VNBVw — MRCTV (@mrctv) February 12‚ 2024