Status: Huge, landlocked country between China and Russia. And homeland of the notorious warlord Ghengis Khan, of course. Funny you should mention that - Ghengis was spotted in Mongolia just the other day.
But he's been dead for nearly 800 years! Yes, but his memory was resurrected last week, when rock stars dressed in Khan outfits to rev up a crowd.
What for? Mass murder? No, for the parliamentary elections. The Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party put on the show in an effort to win votes. And though the final count's not in yet, it looks like they'll notch up an impressive win.
But I thought the MPRP were ousted in 1996 by a democratic coalition after 75 years of communist rule? This is the new improved MPRP. After getting the boot, party operatives visited Europe to pick up some tips.
Any good? "We were very much inspired by this 'New Labour' image of Tony Blair," says party chairman Nambaryn Enkhbayar, pictured above. "We have tried to keep our leftist tradition, but we have moved towards the centre. We now call ourselves a centre-left party."
"New MPRP" doesn't quite have that Blairite ring, though, does it? Enkhbayar wanted to change it but "there were no good names left".
C'mon, he's not even trying. How about the Mongolian Democratic Party? Taken.
The Mongolian Socialist Democratic Party? Gone.
The Mongolian Democratic New Socialist Party? Nope.
The Mongolian New Social Democratic Party? Afraid not. There were more than 16 parties listed in some districts, and not exactly distinguishable by name.
Any policies? Enkhbayar has promised more jobs, free education and higher public service wages to the poverty-ravaged country. But who needs those when you've got dancing girls in black negligees?
Do say: "Let's recover the state from crisis, and deliver the people from poverty" (the MPRP's slogan).
Don't say: "Where is Mongolia, exactly?"
