Historian of Japan and East Asia. I only tweet extremely interesting things.
Also on bluesky - search for my name.
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The reason is that for thousands of years of Chinese history, dragon were a routine, if not exactly common, part of daily life in China, just like the other animals in the zodiac.
Key to historical references:
In 1971 and 1972, the Soviet Union suffered disastrous drought and catastrophic failed wheat harvests, and was desperate to avoid a famine and possible social upheaval.
In 1849, four slaves had escaped from the Maryland farm of white slave-owner Edward Gorsuch. Two years later, Gorsuch learned the four were living in the home of another ecaped slave, William Parker in Christiana, Pennsylvania, just 20 miles north of the Mason-Dixon line.
When foreign tourists first visit Japan, they are often surprised to find most Japanese beaches are covered with these massive, interlocking concrete blocks, even in tourism destinations like Okinawa.
First, this format expressed their solidarity and commitment to each other, like an endless ring that cannot not be broken.
Called "demae-mochi" (出前持ち), they brought soba and udon from noodle shops to hungry office workers. 
These things are called "pyrophorus vases."
In recent years, almost all U.S. states had removed requirements for teaching cursive, if they even had such requirements in the first place.
Baseball wants more balls put into play to create more excitement, but it also desperately wants to shorten the length of games.
