The Isle of Mongolia

we know that most obscure domains come from far more obscure islands in big waters. the latest addition is intriguing. An American Domain Cow has the following on offering:

.MN is the one of newest domain name for the Internet. The .MN domain is an unrestricted and largely untapped domain name space on the Internet. Because this TLD is "new" to the market, there are Still Really Good Names Available. Great for Minnesota, Mobile Network, Music News, Main, Midnight. Get a .MN Domain Today. - .MN is the ccTLD of Isle of Mongolia.

Mongolia's Ambivalant Gambling History

There has always been a lot of fuss about gambling in Mongolia. During the rule of the Democratic Party even an MP got jailed over the establishment of a casino. Later a law was passed that only gambling machines were allowed, which under Hungarian patronage resulted in every possible gambling machine being imported into Mongolia adding a lot of blinking lemons and cherries to the streets of Ulaanbaatar. Ultimately it created such a stir with people losing their complete family capital in a day that all game centers were closed down overnight.
Turning away from the electronics, there was some confusion about a horse track, followed by the invention of a free-trade zone near the Chinese border. And now again controversy has arisen over a gambling project planned close to the international Chingis Khaan airport. It has turned pretty much the some old thing with parliamentarians accusing each other of chasing after personal benefit in a recent UB Post article.

The draft faced strong opposition from L.Gundalai, chairperson of the Popular Party, who claimed that it was designed to favor a specific business interest group.
.....

But wait for the punch line:

The draft also authorizes the government to set up a special committee to control the working of casinos and other gambling businesses operating round the clock. Only non-Mongolians will be allowed to visit these gambling centers.
(italics are mine)

I think actually although not having casinos in any given country has its charms, having a limited restricted form might be a good middle way. But why in Chingis name would you not allow your own residents to visit these places? Why would you want to make a place in your country where your own people cant come? I don't think there is no economic benefit that would justify that. But hey, who am I? Probably just a potential client to some.
The final question that comes to mind is: will the ban include those very parliamentarians?

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technorati: mongolia

The Ultimate Google News on Mongolia

To keep up to date with any news Google News seems the place to go. If your country is blessed with a customized google news (like cuba) you have it made because all news relevant for your country is automatically sorted and displayed by the big google machine. However, it seems that for Mongolia that might be some time away. Now the problem that arises from this is that you have to use search terms to actually generate some content, and that is not ideal. It means you miss out on a lot of content that IS relevant, but just doesn't feature the keyword provided. But maybe more annoying is getting articles that happen to contain the keyword but just aren't really relevant.
I am afraid there is simply isn't a cure for this ail yet, but there is a way to get a bit more relevant info instead of just typing "mongolia" in the search bar.
The first thing is that you actually want things Mongolian, which would argue for using the search term ^Mongolian^ as well. You could to that with the OR operator resulting in ^Mongolia OR Mongolian^. There is a possibility you might not want information on astronauts landing in INNER Mongolia, which can be achieved by filtering out the term ^"Inner Mongolia"^ (mind the quotes) with the [-] operator, making it all together something like:

Mongolia OR Mongolian -"Inner Mongolia"

You can add as many OR or - operators as you want like:

Mongolia OR Mongolian OR "Genghis Khan" -"Inner -Mongolia" -mining -mines

This would generate results for genghis khan, but not for items related to mining or mines. Of course it is a bit tedious to type all this in on your daily news hunt, so it might help to bookmark the page or create an email alert.







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technorati: mongolia

Empty Streets in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

A rather unusual site at the main vain of Mongolia's Capital: A carless Peace Avenue encouraged people to go out and stroll on the middle of the street. Even Nomin decided to turn down the volume of its giant lcd billboard opposite of the State Department Store, creating a rare peaceful atmosphere in the heart of Ulaanbaatar.
As announced in several media the carless day is an initiated by the World Health Organization to increase safety in the dense urban area. Although maybe a drawback for the local economy of shops and cafes, it might give a breathe of fresh air to the polluted city center.

Update: later in the afternoon there was a student rally and concert on Sukhbaatar Square
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technorati: mongolia

Red Roses in the Snow: Mongolia Celebrates Women's Day

There is another blogger out there in blogland with regular posts on what is so amazing about Mongolia. If i had a series like that, i would have had good one today. When I stepped out of an overpopulated State Department Store, i have to make my way through people selling red roses, people buying red roses, people looking at red roses, people carrying red roses and the rest probably already bought/sold/saw/carried their red roses earlier today.
And during this rose extravaganza, small white snow flakes were coming down from the sky while the mercury was still well subzero. Amazing.

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technorati: mongolia

Looking Ahead: Eclipse in Mongolia

Coming out of my blogging hibernation, i get up to see: the sun is gone missing. Will is getting going to be gone missing, that is. On August 1st 2008, Mongolia will experience a total eclipse of the sun. Don Croner (no hibernation for him) has all the juicy details, including a recount of the 1997 eclipse (during which according to popular legend the reincarnation of genghis khan was born), but also a complete path of the 2008 rclipse and its path through Mongolia. And although it brings memories of Carly Simon songs to Don's head, I just can't get Bonnie Tyler out of mine.
Anyway, the really amazing bit is that a company called Sirius Travel (feel it coming?) is already offering....an eleven day tour to see the eclipse.
If you pay USD 1500 before September 2007, you can be assured to "stand in the shadow of the Moon" one year later. Well if it not so cloudy, that is.



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technorati: mongolia

Chinese version of Mongolian Buddhist History

"Between 1600 and 1640, when the Great Ch’ing Empire (Daicing Gurun, Daic& ing Ulus) emerged, there were many central Tibetan priests and Tibetan Buddhist priests from Mongolia (usually called lam-a, lama,

At that time, there were large numbers of lamas in Mongolia and China, but only two of them were on the side of Ming. Both of these two lamas were invited by the Chinese military leaders in Liaotung to serve as fu k’uan. The lamas were Lama Wang (Wang lama, Sangs-rgyas Pa-sangs) and Lama Li (Lii lama, Bsod-nams Mtsho). Both of them were Chinese. Lama Wang came from the Hsuan-hua Ta-tung area and had previously engaged in negotiations with Mongolia there. His activities in Liaotung, still diplomatic work with Mongolia, were recorded from 1622 to 1629. "

Genghis Khan Craze 132800 - Punky Chinggis on the new 20.000 banknote

The new Mongolian Tugrug note of 20,000 features a purple and green Chinggis, adding a new coulour scheme to the series of notes. The bank notes were recently launched and started circulating in the regular currency traffic. The 20,000 note now is the one with the highest value in circulation in Mongolia, with a value of around USD 17. The cover image is the same as the five hundred to ten thousand notes, but on the rear side an image of the national white banners is featured.


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technorati: mongolia

Mongolia's Prince Ganjuuryn Dschero Khan

Recently we received an online inquiry about Prince Ganjuuryn Dschero Khan (see image), a person of Netherlands and Taiwanese origin that was:

born officially at 28.08.1928 in Ulan Buha in the aristocracy lineage of the Bordschigin from the trunk of the Koko Mangchol in Mongolia. As one says, with blood at the hands.

This reaches the level of eccentricity of the paronoid Sheikh falcon hunter by the name of Parrot

Bad Borrower Bill Gates Reported in Mongolia

The Mongolian Bankers Association reports on "bad borrowers" in Mongolia. A slight surprise to see the name of Bill Gates pop up on top of their list. We actually tried calling his phone number listed, but - to no surprise - he didn't pay his phone bill.


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technorati: mongolia - bill+gates - billgates

Rare portrait of Genghis Khan discovered in north China temple

Zee News - Rare portrait of Genghis Khan discovered in north China temple: "Rare portrait of Genghis Khan discovered in north China temple
Beijing, Aug 24: A rare Thangka portrait of legendary Mongol leader Genghis Khan has been discovered in a Tibetan Buddhist temple in north China`s inner Mongolia autonomous region, a local cultural heritage official announced.

The painting was drawn by a Late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) Mongolian artist, probably in the nineteenth century, Wang Dafang, an official with the Cultural Heritage Bureau of Inner Mongolia said.

The portrait is painted on a piece of cloth 28.5 cm long and 21 cm wide. The painting shows Genghis Khan in martial attire, riding a white horse and holding a banner in his right hand, with a bow and a quiver of arrows on his back, according to Wang.

Thangka is a Tibetan art form that dates back 1,000 years and which mainly depicts images from Tibetan Buddhism, Wang was quoted as saying by a news agency. "

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Google Earth/Maps - Improved Satellite image

Google maps and Google earth have improved their satellite images. It gives quite an amzing view on Mongolia and especially Ulaanbaatar.
The circus seems to have been designed to see from the sky, the overcharging city taxis are waiting in front of the State Department Store, the Government palace can be clearly seen, and of course the mondriaan of ger areas.

Thanks to Robin.

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technorati: mongolia

Genghis and the airport

While most of the world is looking with a slight bewilderment at the images and other display of Chinggis Khaan during the recent celebrations it is somehow the airport that still can bring people from miles and miles away to emotional outbursts, as in The Guardian:

"Sombre news from Ulan Bator. In honour of Mongolia's 800th anniversary, its airport has been renamed after Genghis Khan. This reflects the newly assertive stature of the former communist state. ...

[Genghis] is credited with a belief in meritocracy, decimalisation, female emancipation, freedom of religion and flat taxes (after a fashion). He also specialised in mass slaughter, razing cities to the ground (saving only the engineers and artists), and pouring molten silver into the ears of insurgent leaders or, if they preferred, suffocating them under his table while he ate dinner. Neoconservatives still often declare themselves 'well to the right' of him.

How all this will play with tourists landing at Ulan Bator airport is not clear. Genghis Khan told his generals to treat foreign foes by 'robbing them of their wealth, bathing their loved ones in tears,"

Apperently, while here it seems an innocent rename to a local hero, for some the link between the brutal Genghis Khan and an airport seems to be a hounting one.


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technorati: mongolia

Learning Mongolian?

The Mongolian version of Lexicarry: Pictures for Learning Languages is now being published by Pro Lingua Inc. Lexicarry, available in multiple languages, is a picture dictionary, vocabulary builder and book of cartoon dialogues designed for the beginner to advanced language learner. The Mongolian version by Roger Cohen and Tumenjargal Budragchaa also contains an extensive section of Mongolian proverbs.

The book can be ordered online from www.lexicarry.com The Mongolian word list can now be purchased in hard copy, and will be available for free download in several weeks.
technorati: mongolia

Mongolia TV5 as online pay TV

MediaZone presents TV5:
The Mongolian TV channel TV5 is now available for online viewers through a anual subscription of about USD 100 a year. Already their news programme had the name "internet news", but it had not much to do with this ever expanding medium, as they used mostly footage that was taken from the BBC or other international channels

Online dispute on Mongolia's politicians

Since some time there has developed a lively dispute on the entries of Mongolian politicians in Wikipedia. Especially posts on current prime minister
Miyeegombo Enkhbold and previous prime minister Tsakhiag Elbegdorj have been subject to some severe mud throwing their discussion pages (see Enkhbold and Elbegdorj)

The players in the discussion are one person under the name of Latebird, who by others is "proven" to be the son of Enkhbold; the main opponent is a New York based Mongolian/Brit under the name of Lemonhead who "doesn't like corruption". Academic challenger is supposed to oversee the battlefield, but doesn't completely stay out of the line of fire.

The discussion gets rough when lemonhead ("I contribute to wikipedia only fact based verified information") depicts Enkhbold as "Mongolia's corrupted Prime Minister of non-military junta government".




For those not so familiar with Wiki-slang: (N)POV = (Neutral) Point Of View


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this post is dedicated to another E., sorry to have made you wait so long

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technorati: mongolia

The Mongolian Hats at the Olympics

There was a lot to do about the fur hats of the Mongolia Olympic team. So much even that today I recieved an e-mail:

I would appreciate it if you could point me in the right direction.
Along with the rest of the world I was very impressed with the winter wear worn by the Mongolian Olympic Team. (especially the hats...that were noted in several news articles published during the games)

After exhausting my contacts within the Canadian Olympic team I am still unable to identify designer, manufacturer of source for these hats. I was hoping it might be possible to trade (equivalent value) for items uniquly Canadian (2006 / 2010 Olympic wear or other. No such luck).

If anyone does have a spare Mongolian 2006 Olympic Suite, do feel free to leave a comment.



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technorati: mongolia

Japan's Genghis Khan Craze #1154: Shall we do a movie?

Japan is preparing another movie on Chinggis Khaan. Arrangements have been made with the Mongolian side, who will contribute as well. To make it a little more easy to look authentic they will film during the high season in the most touristy places.

Shangri La Mongolia Update: No Hotel

This is the latest version of what will be build next to the opera building. It still says Shangri La, but apperently it will not be a hotel anymore, but just office facilities. The former printing house, more to the north of the square is being torn down apperently to make place for a... hotel. 

Mongolia's Genghis Khan Craze #1153: Shall we build a Statue?

Plans were announced to build a 40-metre high statue on Tsonjin Boldog hill, 53km outside
Ulaanbaatar. The steel statue of Chinggis Khaan, holding a golden whip, is to be financed by the Genco Tour Bureau.

(to put things in perspective, the dots on the white part are actually people)

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technorati: mongolia

Mongolia Government Developments Overview

Alan Cordova made quite a complete overview of the recent developments in Mongolian politics

Cabinet Shuffle

There has been quite a few surprises in the proposed new cabinet members especially on the MPRP side. Hardly any minister remains on his post. Surprises include U. Barsbold no longer being minister of environment.

Mongolia's Genghis Khan Craze #1152: Airport renamed

Now that even the airport is being renamed Chinggis Khaan, I suppose it is only a matter of time before Ulaanbaatar will turn into Chinggis Khot.

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technorati: mongolia

Mongolian Crisis: the other side

The UB Post:

Last Friday, 39 of 76 parliament members voted to accept the resignations of MPRP party ministers, leading to the end of the current government. Most of the Democratic Party members abstained from voting. In addition to the 29 MPRP votes, the Democratic Party: M.Enkhsaikhan, J.Narantsatsralt, J.Batkhuyag, and M.Sonompil, the Republican Party: B.Jargalsaikhan, the People's Party's L.Gundalai, and the Motherland Party's S.Otgonbayar, B.Erdenebat, Ts.Jargal and B.Tserenbaljir voted yes. (emphasis mine, gv)

I have to confess I didn't notice before, but when I read this passage in the UB post yesterday it suddenly dawned on me that actually all presidential candidates of last years election - except the one who won, of course - vote in favor of the new cabinet (indicated in bold). Also the one that was going to "crush" corruption. All parties previously united in the Motherland Democratic Coalition - except of course the always straightforward Civil Will Party - have people voting for the new government. Even more surprisingly MP Gundalai (indicated in bold, italic) joined them as well. For those who have been around for sometimes, they might remember this rebellious member of parliament always provoking with mediagenic protests against the MPRP.

It seems Elbegdorj was not stabbed in the back by the MPRP, but by his own democrats. It reads there were only 29 MPRP votes (out of 38), which means they never were able to pull it through without the 10 votes from the democrats, and of course the MPRP would have never started the whole thing if they would not have been sure they would pull it through.

In the end it is what Yan pointed out in a comment to the previous post:

I personally think a major stimulus behind the recent developments was self-interest - another common feature of Mongolian history.

Yan also made me aware of the comment of Chris Kaplonski

While ... the move by MAHN (MPRP -gv) goes against the spirit of democracy... we shouldn't see this as a return to communism or anything, as I've seen one or two of the more hysterical commentators suggest. (link mine - gv)

technorati: mongolia

Does Mongolian government crisis help mining?

The site Mineweb belevies that Mongolia's Government Woes may Help Mining.
A scary thought, but it might at least partly be a mine company in Mongolia being desperate to spread some good news.

Through Mongolian Artist