Feds Bust Mongols!

When I turn on my computer, I have the home page set to the Google news aggregator, so I can scan the headlines and start the day off with a good cry. So imagine my shock the other morning when I learned that the Feds were rounding up Mongols all over the American West. Including a bunch in Vegas! And what’s this about Mongols not being able to sell their logo anymore? Who even knew they had a logo.

Of course, when the coffee kicked in, I realized that it had been members of the Mongols motorcycle gang undergoing mass arrest in an effort to dismantle them once and for all. And just before they were gonna take a second whack at Vienna, too. Actually, in taking a look at the logo, a real Mongol might be pretty annoyed. The biker depicted has a Manchu hairstyle, which was the enforced 'do of the Mongols' hated Manchu overlords. Anyway...

The internet is often amusing vis a vis Mongolia. For example, yesterday I checked my bookmarked “Ulan Bator” page (they still refuse to spell Ulaanbaatar right) on the Weather Channel’s site to see how many layers I needed to don. The answer was “many” as it said the ambient temp was 16F with a wind “chill” of 0F (last night, the low was -2F). But then I noticed a little video clip titled “Big Chill in the Big Apple” and clicked it. TWC actually had a reporter on the streets of New York City interviewing people to get their reaction to the breaking news that the mercury had plunged all the way to...53F. The American media treats my people as if they were a nation of children, I swear.

Anyway, Brother Konchog will brave the Mongol temps tomorrow to accompany the SIT group to the East Gobi and sleep (brr) in an unheated ger. I’m psyched to see the new two-story Danzan Ravjaa Museum and show the American kids all the cool stuff down there. They were a sharp group when I gave them the lecture on Mongolian Buddhism this past Monday. It also doesn't hurt that I'm being provided remuneration this time.

So, DODR’ll be off the wire for three days. Now I know that in addition to the urgent Special Reports on frigid East Coast cities my countryfolk require, they also cannot go three days without some form of entertainment. Luckily, DODR has had an influx of visitors from six new foreign lands, so I bring you a fresh edition of...

Zendette’s Honorary Geography Quiz

As aficionados of the quiz know, I keep track from my stats software of the nations or almost-nations from which citizens visit DODR. I then supply preposterous clues, often based on far-fetched puns or snarky political commentary, and you must guess the name of the land in the comments section of this post. There is, of course, no prize, beyond the self-satisfaction in your compilation of useless, esoteric knowledge (I know, I’m projecting). OK, ready? Here goes.

1. The name of country #135 is how one might order a sandwich.

2. The name of country #136 is how one might add a little politeness to #135, if one had a cold.

3. Country #137 is where punk rockers in the 1980’s might have taken a holiday.

4. Island nation #138’s name sounds like mild exasperation at having to pay for something one thought would be free.

5. Little was more glorious for President Ronald Reagan than resounding victory in the attack on nation #139.

6. Technically a commonwealth, #140’s days might be numbered if our world’s leaders don’t seriously deal with certain “inconvenient truths.” This string of sea-dots on the map, however, recently figured prominently in an American lobbyist scandal.

Good luck!

Comments

[Northmoon]

Is #139 Grenada?

[Konchog]

Northmoon: Correct! Now I realize I should have built a clue around Alan Sherman's Camp Granada song, like "what's the name of the nation where they say you'll have some fun if it stops raining," but I was in a bit of a rush.

[fyreflye]

#140 could be the Maldives.

[Ryan]

#135--I'll take a stab. Togo?

[Konchog]

fyreflye -- my apologies to a first-time commenter, and welcome, but...incorrect! Please try again.

Ryan -- well done, cuz! Correct!

[Faith]

#136 -- Belize?

[xiaolongnu]

Greetings from another string of islands in the Pacific, which sadly won't bring you an addition to your list of countries.

#140 should be the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, which includes places like Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.

[Carol of Seattle]

#137... Holiday in Cambodia?

[Konchog]

Faith, xiaolongnu, & Carol -- From the heart of the Gobi, I say unto you all, "Wow!" Correct, correct, and correct!

Anyone wanna try for #138? I thought it would be fairly easy. To narrow it down, it's in the Pacific.

[Sarabaite]

Ha -- this story is right out of my backyard. The leader, "Doc", lives in the same city as I do -- didn't realize that until I picked up the office paper. Isn't that special? The article listed at least five local restaurants that were popular hang-outs, although none were on my list of favorites. Heck of a story! Just this Friday, I took a tour of a local jail with a friend who works there, but I don't know whether any of the busted crew will be taking up residence there.

Have fun with the quiz!

[Phil from Trike]

Just to stick up for those softies living in New York City (ahem!) I will point out that New York has already had snow this year (but no accumulation) which is quite unusual, and the temperature has hovered in the 40s for several weeks except for a few warm days at the end of last week. But a nation of children, I really can't argue with that. Re: #140 I would say Guam, which Abramoff was wrapped up in somehow, but it is a territory of the United States, not a commonwealth, and has some big hills, I think -- oh, Guam's neighbors, Northern Mariana Islands? I once had a friend who turned down a job as an immigration lawyer in Saipan, I can't imagine why.

[Konchog]

Brother Phil, it seems, only had a New York Minute and didn't read the other comments! But yes, that is the Abramoff & Co. mess, and thanks for playing, ya softie!

OK, I guess folks are stumped (or indifferent) to #138. The answer is...Fiji! ("Fee? Gee.")

[Phil from Trike]

Ah yes, I had to guess at the only one I (thought I) knew, even if it's already been answered!