#current affairs YouTube channel

[superbtyrantsheep]

Best current affairs channel

Best current affairs channel is a media platform dedicated to providing up-to-date news, analysis, and commentary on a wide range of topics, including politics, economics, social issues, international affairs, technology, and culture. These channels aim to keep viewers informed about the latest developments and trends shaping the world around them.

Key features and functions of a current affairs channel include:

1.News Coverage: Current affairs channels offer comprehensive coverage of breaking news events, global developments, and trending stories from around the world. They provide timely updates and in-depth reporting on a wide range of topics to keep viewers informed.

2.Analysis and Commentary: Current affairs channels often feature expert analysis, commentary, and panel discussions on major news stories and issues. They provide context, insights, and diverse perspectives on complex topics to help viewers understand the implications and significance of current events.

[twig-tea]

GL odds and ends 6 October 2024

I haven't been as good at posting about shows as I wanted to be, so I'm trying a round-up format instead because it feels like a lot of GLs skirt under the radar. It's exciting that we're in a time when there's enough GL airing that it's worth doing a round-up! This was a great week for the lesbians to figure themselves out, so it feels like a good week to start. No idea how regularly I'll do this, need to figure out a cadence that makes sense.

Currently airing (with thoughts up to Oct 6):

Reverse 4 U 5/8 (Thai, Tuesdays 1:00 PM EDT, Netflix / YouTube) This week the girls finally sorted themselves and we got set up for the main plot to start next week. I was initially really stoked about this one and then a little bummed that it's not taking it's very cool premise and the stakes it establishes as seriously as it could be, but I'm still hoping it will start to have real stakes in the main plot stretch.

The Two of Us s2 ep 6/6 END (Thai, 29 Aug-3 Oct 2024, YouTube) It was so great seeing women in their 40s being romantic together but I did not love the plot of this one; I find their romantic conflicts too juvenile (lots of easily-triggered jealousy). The moments they're being sweet are great though.

Unlock Your Love ep 4/8 (Thai, Wednesdays, GagaOOLala / YouTube [cut version]) This is the first episode that this series felt a little more assured; I liked the series this production company produced with a short run time, it feels like this series has been worse off for its longer episodes. That being said, when these couples get to do their thing like in this episode, they have good chemistry.

Chaser Game W s2 ep 3/8 (Japanese, Thursdays 12:30 PM EDT, GagaOOLala) @lurkingshan is already doing a great summary of this week to week in her JQL weekly round-up!

Affair the series ep 6/8 (Thai, Fridays 11:15 AM EDT, iQIYI/ YouTube) Finally! I liked that it was Ek pointing out that Wan was unhappy the entire time she was gone that finally got Pleng to give in to her desire to be with Wan. This show is so melodramatic but the emotional threads follow and the character motivations are clear and consistent; I'm enjoying it in spite of not loving melodramatic storylines in general. It helps that the acting in this one is excellent.

The Loyal Pin ep 10/16 (Thai, Sundays 12:15 PM EDT, YouTube) Glad we finally got confirmation of Patt's history! And I'm relieved Anin knows she has an ally, though I feel like it's given her false confidence that worries me. These two are stressing me out by how bad they are at being careful but I do love how desperate they are for each other, as well as how beautiful this show is.

Red Whisper ep 2/8 (Korea, Wednesdays and Sundays, YouTube) Starting with cheating is not my fave but is par for the course with these SukFilm short series; my fave so far has been their first GL so if you haven't seen that yet I'd honestly recommend that instead.

Recent One-offs

Out of Breath (re-release in a bingeable version; Korean, YouTube) Highly recommended! Also the creator, Soo not Sue, announced she's working on another series to hopefully air before the end of the year, which I am super stoked about.

The Suffering of Xiqing Mountain (Chinese (censored), YouTube)

Sastra film app YouTube channel has several short Cambodian GL series that come out weekly Honestly they are not to my taste but I don't like gatekeeping GL especially from smaller markets. I check in on these time to time and if there are any that I think are great I'll give them a shout-out

Ditto above with JPC media YouTube channel for Thai GL shorts if there are any that stand out to me I'll say so

Recently ended that I haven't had the wherewithal to write about:

Hoshikuzu Telepath (fansub) Thank you to @yuiyuihan for your hard work making it possible to watch this series! I I haven't read the original manga but I do know they changed the kiss communication to a forehead rest; Unsurprised that this adaptation, starring idols in the same group, would be left ambiguous in terms of whether their feelings are friendly or romantic. I liked what this series was trying to say, but in all honestly didn't love the execution. It's too bad because I absolutely love the concept of an alien being helped by girls obsessed with building rockets.

The Secret of Us 8 eps [complete] (24 Jun-15 Aug 2024, YouTube) I first included this in my recommendations from the summer and then retracted, but I ended up liking this series and then never updated again. So to set the record straight: Though it lost me in the middle, the ending on this series won be back over. I really appreciated the way this series handled filial piety and balancing that against personal happiness. I appreciated SO MUCH that the main characters decided together how to handle Lada's situation with her mother. I finally understood too late that Earn believed the lies Lada's mother told her in ep1, and that affected some of their decisions in the middle of the series. I still think the execution was wobbly, but the acting and chemistry between the two leads carries this series through. This has some of the best domestic fluff in any GL, as well as my favourite GL counter lift to date. And it's gorgeous. Tentatively recommended with the caveat that you do have to either enjoy or power through the melodrama in the middle.

Starting soon:

Apple My Love, Thai, 12 October, GagaOOLala

Pluto, Thai, 19 October, VIU

The Nipple Talk, Taiwanese, 1 November GagaOOLala

My Ex's Wedding [in theatres in Thailand 14 November]

Petrichor, Thai, 23 November, TBD

[mariacallous]

Leaked documents from a source close to the Putin administration reveal that Russian propagandists have a new target in their sights: government critics and opposition supporters. In an attempt to win over this skeptical audience, they’ve been repurposing out-of-context clips from a popular YouTuber’s old interviews, adding their own messages in the descriptions. They’ve also tried coming up with news stories they think might attract the attention of independent Russian media outlets (like Meduza). Here’s what they’re doing.

Dialog, an “autonomous nonprofit organization” (ANO) created on Vladimir Putin’s orders to spread disinformation, is using targeted advertising and repurposed material from “foreign agents” to try to promote a pro-Kremlin narrative to those who oppose the current Russian government, according to leaked documents shared with Meduza.

As part of the initiative, Dialog repurposed content from Russian YouTuber Yuri Dud (declared a “foreign agent” in Russia) and added captions encouraging people to go to the polls, according to a document from 2023 titled “Election Campaign on the Internet.” Specifically, the organization utilized excerpts from an interview Dud conducted with the Communist Party’s 2018 presidential candidate Pavel Grudinin before that year’s elections. Dialog shared the clips with phrases such as “If they come to the elections, falsifications will be impossible,” and “Dud recommends,” and then used targeted advertising to promote these clips “solely” to social media users critical of the government.

The document, written by Andrey Tsepelev, the deputy general director of Dialog Regions, aims to implement a “relevant system for managing internet operations in election headquarters.” However, the specifics of how this system works aren’t detailed, and Tsepelev didn’t respond to Meduza's inquiries.

This “relevant system” will be implemented with assistance from the Association of Internet Technologists, which is also headed by Tsepelev. Other co-founders include propagandist Kristina Potupchik, who owns a network of pro-Kremlin Telegram channels, and Stanislav Apetyan, a board member of the Civil Society Development Foundation (led by former Kremlin official Konstantin Kostin). Artyom Tkachenko, the director of the regional affairs department at Dialog Regions, and Vladimir Tabak, the head of Dialog, are also among the founders.

It was Tabak’s idea to try to engage with Russians critical of the current government, according to two of his acquaintances. A Dialog employee confirmed to Meduza that there have long been internal “discussions about content and narratives that could work for a liberal audience.”

“A couple of years ago, [Tabak] was already saying that he’d gone around the regions to help locals with elections, and he complained that they were all stupid, complete dipshits, knew nothing, didn’t work with analytics, posted strange things, and didn’t know what to do with social media,” explained one acquaintance. “All of that needed to change. So, he’s changing it. Tabak’s logic is basically: you [the authorities] managed to seal off the country, hundreds of thousands of people left, but that doesn’t mean their opinion doesn’t matter.”

So far, the plan has had very little success. Besides distributing repurposed clips from Yuri Dud, Dialog employees also credit themselves with creating “special projects” that have been covered by independent media. For instance, in a presentation about Russia’s recent presidential campaign, there’s a slide on press coverage of the fact that Vladimir Putin’s latest address to Russia’s Federal Assembly was shown in Russian movie theaters free of charge.

“The news spread across Telegram channels (2,491 publications), social networks (3,000 publications), TV (four TV segments), Russian-language media (2,067 publications) and foreign media (55 publications),” states Dialog���s presentation. According to the organization, the total number of views exceeded 31.8 million.

The presentation lists media outlets that reported on the theater broadcast, including Ostorozhno, Novosti (a project by Ksenia Sobchak), Meduza, and Dozhd (TV Rain). Despite Dozhd and Meduza being declared “undesirable” organizations in Russia, Dialog used their logos in the slides — which theoretically violates current legislation and could be considered the dissemination of prohibited materials.

A source in the Telegram industry told Meduza that Dialog highlights the interest of independent media in such news to demonstrate the effectiveness of its projects to the authorities. “It’s not hard to distribute and plant news in their own network of Telegram channels,” the source explained. “It’s much cooler if it’s not just a paid [propagandist] writing about you but a TV channel like Dozhd. They sell it as evidence that Dialog is so effective that it can even get the interest of ‘enemy’ media.”

The source added that Dialog employees are also trying to capitalize on the fact that independent media were forced to leave the country due to censorship, which may make it harder for them to assess the significance of certain news:

Liberal media that have left the country are out of touch with reality, since they’re not in Russia. Therefore, [according to Dialog propagandists], they amplify news that barely interests anyone here [in Russia]. Plus, even though the Justice Ministry has declared Meduza and Dozhd ‘undesirable,’ those working on elections understand that these are popular media outlets with a suitable audience that needs to be engaged and tapped into.

However, Dialog’s presentation doesn’t mention this, nor does it provide examples of other news events that independent media might have written about. It only includes mentions of short publications about Putin’s address being shown in theaters. How exactly this helps Dialog influence and “engage” the “opposition audience” remains unclear.

Nevertheless, propagandists believe that “it holds more weight when your enemies write about you,” explained one of Tabak’s acquaintances. “The media outlets that have left — Meduza, for example — have a huge Telegram audience, 1.2 million followers, and you need to work with that audience too,” he said.

When asked about the mention of independent media in the presentation, Tabak told Meduza: “It's not only you who can write about us; we thought we'd return the favor.” He refused to comment further.

[multilingual-wannabe]

french youtube channel recs

POLITICS/CURRENT AFFAIRS/PANELS/GENERAL CULTURE

C Dans L’air various newsy stuff, I like the panel discussions https://www.youtube.com/c/Cdanslairofficiel

Popcorn - panel show general faits divers, skewing a lot younger than some of these others https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnyR4T5qpgOrWGcQU6Jinkw/featured

INA is the Institut national d’audiovisuel and they are a content monster. This is just one channel, of stuff from Thierry Ardisson’s talkshow but go to the “Channels” tab to see all the other INA channels, there’s enough there alone to keep you going forever https://www.youtube.com/c/InaArditube

Hugo Décrypte - probably very well know already, news of the day aimed I guess at the youth, one of my faves https://www.youtube.com/c/HugoD%C3%A9crypte

Ça commence aujourd’hui General interest slice of life interviews, like morning TV https://www.youtube.com/c/%C3%87acommenceaujourdhui/videos

Mediapart https://www.youtube.com/c/mediapart

Pascal Boniface some kind of random ex-diplomat/think tank dude who talks about the geopolitical issues du jour https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4VOE8jQPWUPp4PpNK8zhIg

Le Parisien only short videos of a few minutes but an interest selection of local Paris news https://www.youtube.com/c/LeParisien

Le Monde obvs https://www.youtube.com/c/lemondefr

Les Dessous des cartes - ARTE (there are a lot of ARTE related channels worth checking out) https://www.youtube.com/c/LeDessousdesCartesARTE

Ça se discute https://www.youtube.com/c/%C3%A7asediscute/videos

BOOK VLOGGERS

Mrs Bookyarmand https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0zQ-Sw3GQwmAwPc3EJMYrw

Pikiti Bouquine https://www.youtube.com/c/Pikitibouquine

La bouquinade https://www.youtube.com/c/Labouquinade/videos

Rêve ta vie en lecteur https://www.youtube.com/c/R%C3%AAvetaVieenLecteur

L’art du thriller https://www.youtube.com/c/LesCulottesNoires

BookTrip https://www.youtube.com/c/ReadTrip

Fruit Reader https://www.youtube.com/c/FruitReader

Younggiftedandblack https://www.youtube.com/c/MarinaNtsonga

Bulle Douceur Livresque https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoL-QO8RDjKQNGE2eVcua2g

Antastesialit https://www.youtube.com/c/Antastesialit

La Grande Librarie long running tv show about books, interviews with authors https://www.youtube.com/user/lagrandelibrairie

HISTORY/EXPLAINERS/GENERAL DOCUMENTARIES/SCIENCE

Nota Bene really love this one, variety of different history/science/historical mysteries. I would buy his t shirt if it was in French but it is in English mon dieu! https://www.youtube.com/c/notabenemovies

Toute L’Histoire https://www.youtube.com/c/ToutelHistoireofficiel

Poisson Fecund https://www.youtube.com/user/PoissonFecond

Mamytwink https://www.youtube.com/user/mamytwink

Investigations et Enquetes huge range of long form documentaries, more straight topics and also a fair bit of “paranormal investigations” if that is your jam https://www.youtube.com/c/InvestigationsetEnqu%C3%AAtes Others like this are:

Documentaries Societe https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYFI5PGuw_34XaA3SGDkQOQ

Imenio Documentaires https://www.youtube.com/user/imineoDocumentaire

Enquetes et reportages https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7DHcyYJpGiSO0NIE7w_Eug

100 idées de culture generale https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC781HeW_j67wRZ5pqSmLpHQ

Le Precepteur Philosophy https://www.youtube.com/c/LePr%C3%A9cepteurOfficiel

Secrets de l’histoire officiel https://www.youtube.com/c/SecretsdHistoireOfficiel/videos

La Folle Histoire https://www.youtube.com/c/LaFolleHistoire/videos

Passé sauvage https://www.youtube.com/c/Pass%C3%A9sauvage

Destins really long (~2 hrs) deep dive profiles of famous french people https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0EqF6QesMfPF5hat0mIKOg

Linguisticae linguistics/languages https://www.youtube.com/c/Linguisticae

AstronoGeek “une chaîne dédiée à la vulgarisation de l'astronomie. “ https://www.youtube.com/c/AstronoGeek

L’Histoire nous le dira https://www.youtube.com/c/LHistoirenousledira

StringTheoryFR https://www.youtube.com/c/StringTheoryFR/featured

Hygiene Mentale https://www.youtube.com/c/Hygi%C3%A8neMentale/featured

Le Réveilleur climate change/environment https://www.youtube.com/c/LeR%C3%A9veilleur

FILM/TV/THEATRE

La Comedie Francaise https://www.youtube.com/user/LaComedieFrancaise

Gigawatts lore of comic book heroes (I think) https://www.youtube.com/c/Gigawatts

Le Fossoyeur de films https://www.youtube.com/user/deadwattsofficiel

FilmACTU this is all bande annonces (trailers), quite cool to see all the new films/games in French https://www.youtube.com/c/FilmsActu

NetflixFrance I single this out as an official channel because it has vox pops (on the topic of netflix shows naturally) with accurate subs https://www.youtube.com/c/NetflixFrance

La Manie Du CInema https://www.youtube.com/c/LaManieDuCin%C3%A9ma

Videodrome https://www.youtube.com/c/VIDEODROMESC

Cinema et politique https://www.youtube.com/c/Cin%C3%A9maetpolitique/videos

IN THE PANDA https://www.youtube.com/c/INTHEPANDA

MATH https://www.youtube.com/user/MathSeFaitDesFilms

ANIMALS/NATURE

Christian L Biodiversité https://www.youtube.com/user/samy1on

Nat Geo Wild France and Nat Geo France wish these were longer https://www.youtube.com/c/NatGeoWildFrance

SPORT

Les videos des Riles soccer but also TV and general stuff, I find his voice very soothing to listen to for some reason https://www.youtube.com/c/LesVid%C3%A9osdeRiles

Talk My Football https://www.youtube.com/c/TalkMyFootball

MUSIC

Nostalgies 60s70s80s because everyone needs a cheesy old music video now and then and it might as well be French https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmVaIULmAmz_2b2fEJwz3xg

La fête de la chanson francaise https://www.youtube.com/c/Laf%C3%AAtedelachansonfran%C3%A7aise

TRUE CRIME

Faites entrer l’accusé https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrjIfq-eWK9BTUhPgQ2IFFg

RevelateurX https://www.youtube.com/c/RevelateurX

Zélia https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClr5mpCfgQ9mgzZfJbPvK1w

Crime District https://www.youtube.com/user/ABcinerama

Serial Killer docs https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwgz2Ks0NDjvE7Wt6JWAOXw

GENERAL LIFE/TRAVEL VLOGGERS (I wouldn’t watch any of this sort of thing in English but they’re good for French)

Le Corps La Maison L’esprit https://www.youtube.com/c/LeCorpsLaMaisonLespritLaetitia00

Le coin d’elodie ​​https://www.youtube.com/c/lecoindelodie/videos

Margaud Liseuse https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP2X3cVGXP0r56gOGhiRDlA

Robin du Garage https://www.youtube.com/c/RobinduGarage

Gabriel Goddyn https://www.youtube.com/c/GabrielGoddyn

Gregoire Dossier https://www.youtube.com/c/Gr%C3%A9goireDossier

Fred in French https://www.youtube.com/c/FredinFrench/videos

Emilio Abril https://www.youtube.com/c/EmilioAb

Julien Fabro https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwCU29EADyPqr-LkngkKE3w

MISC

Pascal Haumont advice on public speaking techniques https://www.youtube.com/c/PascalHaumont

Le Tour de France des Fromagers yeah it's all about cheese! https://www.youtube.com/c/LeTourdeFrancedesFromagers/videos

Khan Academy Francophone not gonna lie, don't actually watch these but if you are into MATHS and stuff …. https://www.youtube.com/user/KhanAcademyFrancais

LANGUAGES, not for French learners but in French, for learners

Progresser en Japonais https://www.youtube.com/c/ProgresserenJaponais

[sugdenlovesdingle]

Hello,

Soo I have seen your posts about Emmerdale I believe and they have interested me. I am actually considering watching it seriously this time. I have in the past but being here in the USA I would have had to get Britbox to watch or buy seasons I think. Regardless sorry for my rambling. My question is more well I'm intrigued more seriously now because it seems interesting and I have always like British series but I wouldn't know where to even start. The last I checked when I was looking at Emmerdale a long while ago it's that it has so many seasons I don't know where to begin in terms of viewing I guess Robert and Aaron? I know from your posts there are more gay characters but I believe I would be most intrigues to start from there. If you have any suggestions where to start from , as in what season or episode, and can let me know I would really appreciate it.

Thank you 🙂

Well Emmerdale is a soap - think As The World Turns, The Bold and the Beautiful etc. It's been on since the 70s, they had their big (let down) 10.000th ep not long ago, so there are no real seasons.

Robert and Aaron started in 2014, with their big first kiss on December 4th of that year (and we're currently hoping to get a 10 year reunion), they had an affair for a few months, that got discovered (soaps are gonna soap) but eventually they settled down together and got married (twice!) and lived happily ever after (as much as soap characters can) until Ryan (Robert) had to go be a traitor and leave the show in 2019. Danny (Aaron) left a few years later - but came back last year - and we're hoping Ryan will follow.

I believe their entire story is still on youtube, but beware - it's a WILD ride.

as for current emmerdale, there are some Dailymotion channels that upload it, and with a vpn you can watch live on the itv website, and I watch live via teeveeing but that's a subscription and I'm not sure that's available everywhere.

[reflections-in-a-critical-eye]

I haven't done lists in a while and there's a lot pilling up just this week so it's time to bring it back.

1. I'm revisting Old Hollywood again now that I've watched most of the films nominated for Oscar this year. The Be Kind Rewind youtube channel has been sort of the trigger for going back to the past and for that I have to thank @shimako for the recommendation 🩷 I've watched the 2 hour and a half video essays on the Valley of The Dolls and the behind the scenes story is far more interesting that the film itself.

Not to say that the themes addressed in the film wouldn't be, like disillusionment in Hollywood, personal grievances, what it means to be an actress and especially not a really succesful one. It reminded me of Didion's Play It As It Lays (which I think it's a better piece of literature although the film adaption seems to have turned into a failure?)

2. Anyway, that made me go down the rabbit hole and watch other essays on Ruth Gordon (amazing woman) and Katharine Hepburn.

3 . Speaking of Hepburn, I realized yesterday that I've only seen her paired on screen with Cary Grant and not with Spencer Tracy (I know!). So I rectified that mistake and I watched Adam's Rib (George Cukor, 1949) and I finally understood what all the fuss was about and I have some sort of theory. Grant and Hepburn together are like this very performative version of a couple in which the constant bickering takes center stage, but even when they do get together, it lacks something. A bit of authenticity. But with the Hepburn-Tracy duo, you can almost feel it. It's right there in the small, natural gestures. Instant chemistry and love. They work so well together. I guess the off screen affair of 26 years helped that as well.

3. I love Mommy Dearest and Faye Dunaway as Joan Crawford. The screaming, the crying, the makeup, "No wire hangers!". Poor baby Christina. It's a shame though that Faye Dunaway distanced herself from it because of how "bad" it turned out, but I understand why she felt she had to do it.

But I also couldn't help but think of DeNiro in Cape Fear and his own campy performance in a very 90s ridiculous film that allowed Scorsese to try his hand at that type of thriller. DeNiro's career didn't suffer because of it, as opposed to Dunaway's version of camp, which I prefer actually. It may have been hated at that time, but Mommie Dearest is a cult classic.

*Bonus: Currently listening to another You Must Remember This podcast series. It's Gossip Girls: Louella Parsons and Hedda Hopper, aka the famous old Hollywood gossip columnists.

Now, for some ridiculous internet & showbiz drama:

4. People going conspiracy mode over Kate Middleton? Some of us lived months without any sign from Jimin. They could learn from that. But love the memes.

5. I feel sorry for those kids in Glasgow. They really experienced the effects of AI used by assholes who wanted to make some money. The lady in green hair has been all over twitter and whilst funny for us, it is shitty to be in her shoes. The Unknown! 🤦‍♀️

6. Who was an ass to Rebecca Ferguson on set? The consensus is that Jake Gyllenhaal was the culprit and I wouldn't be surprised. But it needs more investigating.

7. Over in K-Pop Land Karina gets a boyfriend, her fans are devasted and Koreaboo is pumping "articles" by the minute. What else is new?

8. Stans of all types are stanning and fighting. One day 🐥 girlies, the next day 🐰 girlies and all the other crazies all week long, no break. I do read the stuff in my inbox, but I'm really not in a mood to comment on every shitty thing that happens so often. I know that once I do it, then I just invite more and it's just pointless. There's no actual JM and JK which is frustrating enough and no travel show on the horizon and it's just too bleak at this point.

We're waiting, clock is ticking. At least release a travel show as a summer content, ok?

9. I did see that Billboard kpop 100 top. Yeah, I don't understand the logic of including individual artists if they haven't charted on their own. Don't these people have editors to point out the flaws in the listicles? It's just dumb.

[supersymmetries]

tagged by @prttyinpvnk! thank you for thee tag and apologies for the late response!

rules: tag 9 people you want to get to know better

last song: richard by slowdive

last show: ancient aliens was my last TV show (me and my best friend watch it together to make fun of it, i swear to god i'm not a conspiracy theorist). my last concert was the muse show on oct. 4. space dementia live is still living in my brain rent-free

currently watching: it's still ancient aliens. there's like 17 seasons and the history channel's youtube account will sometimes upload full episodes so i don't have to debase myself and get cable Just to watch it.

currently reading: watership down, snow crash, and the wikipedia page for the sokal affair. yes, all at once. yes, this is normal for me. yes, i am able to absorb all of the information properly. no, i'm not ok.

current obsession: muse. of course it's muse. BUT beyond that i've currently been interested in writing fanfiction again and have something in the oven, as well as getting back into playing guitar after my old one's electronics went and died on me (rip you piece of crap).

tagging: @aeolianblues, @can-you-free-me, @psyche13, @pwopermodernmagic, @1-ufo, @stickyglitterdetective, @loveaintforkeeping, and literally anyone who's following me

[ajayvermablog]

Top Study Resources for Preparing for NABARD Grade A

Preparing for the NABARD Grade A exam requires access to high-quality study materials that cover all aspects of the syllabus. From general awareness to specific subjects like agriculture and rural development, choosing the right resources can significantly boost your chances of success. Here are some top study resources that every NABARD aspirant should consider.

1. Standard Textbooks

Textbooks form the foundation of your preparation. They provide a comprehensive understanding of core subjects and help you grasp fundamental concepts.

Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh: An excellent resource for economics, it covers both basic and advanced concepts.

Agriculture at a Glance by R.K. Sharma: A must-have for aspirants to understand agricultural science and technology.

Lucent’s General Knowledge: For general awareness, this book provides concise information on various topics.

Additionally, many aspirants choose to enroll in a NABARD Grade A course to complement their preparation. These courses are designed to provide structured learning, expert guidance, and comprehensive coverage of the syllabus, ensuring you don’t miss out on important areas.

2. Government Websites and Reports

Staying updated with the latest government policies, schemes, and reports is crucial for the NABARD Grade A exam, especially in the areas of agriculture, rural development, and the economy.

NABARD’s Official Website: Regularly visit the NABARD website for updates on schemes and initiatives.

Government Reports: Read important reports like the Economic Survey, Union Budget, and NITI Aayog reports to stay informed.

Yojana and Kurukshetra Magazines: These monthly publications focus on rural development and government schemes, making them valuable for preparation.

3. Current Affairs Resources

General awareness is a key component of the NABARD Grade A exam, and staying updated with current affairs is essential. Relying on multiple sources ensures comprehensive coverage of national and international events.

The Hindu or Indian Express: Reading a daily newspaper helps keep track of important news, especially in the agriculture and rural development sectors.

Monthly Current Affairs Magazines: Choose from well-known publications like Pratiyogita Darpan or Banking Services Chronicle for detailed analysis of important events.

Mobile Apps: Use apps like GKToday or GradeUp for daily current affairs quizzes and updates.

4. Online Study Platforms

Online study platforms offer a wide range of study materials, mock tests, and expert lectures that can enhance your preparation.

EduTap Learning Solutions: A popular platform among NABARD aspirants, EduTap offers comprehensive courses, mock tests, and study materials designed specifically for NABARD Grade A exams. It provides detailed video lectures, notes, and quizzes to help aspirants grasp difficult concepts easily.

YouTube Channels: Many educators provide free lectures and tips on NABARD preparation. Channels like Study IQ and EduTap are popular among aspirants.

5. Revision Notes and Flashcards

Preparing for a competitive exam like NABARD Grade A requires continuous revision to retain important concepts and facts.

Create your own revision notes for important topics like government schemes, agricultural terms, and economic policies.

Use flashcards to memorize important dates, data, and definitions quickly.

Focus on revising current affairs and static GK daily.

Conclusion

Having the right study resources is essential to cracking the NABARD Grade A exam. From textbooks and government websites to online platforms, using a mix of resources ensures a well-rounded preparation. For structured guidance, enrolling in a NABARD Grade A course can further enhance your learning experience, giving you the confidence to tackle this competitive exam successfully. With dedication and the right resources, you can achieve your goal of clearing NABARD Grade A and embarking on a rewarding career in the banking sector.

[yifftwiceplz]

rambling about daves timeline under the cut

this info has been touched on but a little more in depth

so i couldn't decide what age dave i wanted to RP and came up with some weird bullshit to be able to jump around impulsively but i have a general timeline for my dave

16-17: beats sburb, moves onto earth c. i DONT care about the endless isekai plot i want my boys to be happy B( i support anyone strong enough to stick with it, but personally i am rewriting it in my head the strilondes move into a duplex with roxy and rose on one side, dave and dirk on the other side. they do this because it seems like the healthiest option for all of them to live with their siblings and help each other grow and heal

dirk and dave have a lot of shit to work out both with dirk's chronic isolation and impossible standards for himself, and dave having been raised by a basement dwelling abusive dick. it's a little rocky at first especially with dirk's messiness and dave's clinginess but they push through and the strength of their relationship grows

neither of them has a job at first but they both piddle around with comics, youtube channels, and side projects until they both start messing with crypto scams. namely scamming crypto bros out of their money. it's around this point where they somehow get the rights to interdimensional twitter, which is a silly meaningless side plot but a fun one.

i probably won't play him at this age too much, but if i do the main things to look out for would be that he rambles way more and makes weird run-on sentences, like a full paragraph of metaphors, and still lives with dirk / the fam. he's also quite scrawny and still wears his god tier jammies most of the time.

around 22-23: dave moves into a house with karkat, funded by dave's youtube channel, karkat's job as a marriage counselor, and help from dirk, who's sad to not be living with his bro anymore but is very supportive and pointlessly rich.

he's at home pretty much 24/7, just casually working on youtube videos, comics, whatever he wants really. karkat is fine with being the breadwinner and household leader, dave is fine with being bossed around and he likes to clean. he has very few priorities to deal with so he does what he wants (mostly troll you all here)

this is his current "real time" age, around 25, so after he's lived with karkat a couple years already. he doesn't ramble as much, usually in a good mood and lets things roll off his back. he is also chunkier and doesn't wear his god tier outfit much anymore; he got tired of the style. he does still wear the pants around the house.

around 30 is when dave really makes a name for himself on youtube and makes his first movie, which is relatively low-budget and simple. his career kind of explodes from that point and by 35 he's in the middle of making his second movie, which is a genuine hollywood affair. he loses quite a bit of weight due to stress / being busy, usually has a 5 oclock shadow, and his outfits are usually pretty dumpy (unless it's a premiere or a press tour).

he and karkat are mostly long distance at this point, which dave stresses about more than he should. karkat is fine letting dave do his thing, but dave is beginning to overthink the fact he's going to far outlive karkat. he eventually decides to bring dirk on, which he was reluctant to do because dirk really needs to work less and get out more. but dave accepts he needs help and dirk is the only guy who can do the job properly. and dirk is happy to live his childhood fantasy of being on set with his bro

things to look out for would be his hair has a nice fade, he wears his shades less, he's usually scrawny (unless he's on break back home to be re-fattened by karkat), and he uses punctuation/rambles less

he's really busy most of the time so until i get some more things worked out he's like a little old man treat that i sprinkle to you guys like goldfish pellets in a pond of giant koi

around 40 is tbd but chunky hairy homebody dilf-with-no-kid dave supremacy.

[currentaffairsuniverse]

9 February 2023 all important current affairs questions in Hindi

[39oa]

hi! i’m slowly getting interested in f1 but i don’t really know how to start. so i was wondering if you had any content to recommend (except for the races of course) to get into the fandom, or anything else that could help, really.. thanks :)

oh anon i would love to help!!! are there any drivers/teams you're already particularly fond of or things you want to learn more about? i feel like it'd be easier to narrow down content if i understood your interests better since it's really something you can mold entirely to your own tastes and there are a million different ways to Enjoy and Consume the sport LOL. tbh i call myself an f1 fan but i mostly just rep oscar and in reality enjoy junior formulae more as a whole because i find the process of getting to f1 more intriguing than actually being in it... so it's really whatever you make of it! i'll try to divide my notes categorically so hopefully that helps a little bit but lmk if there's anything specific you're looking for :') and as always apologies in advance for my rambling 💔

getting into the actual sport

having a baseline understanding of the sport is obviously useful but i'm not sure how much you already know so i'll assume you can find super basic info about how seasons and points work! if you want to delve just a Bit further then:

i think chain bear is a decent youtube channel for easy explanations on some technical aspects and little things you may not have picked up on yet that will help when watching races

drive to survive is of course Not Great but it can be a nice and quick window into learning names and faces, even if a lot of it is ridiculously simplified or overexaggerated. it's basically like using duolingo for learning a new language in that it should be regarded as a semi-reliable supplemental material readily packaged for convenient consumption. if there are specific drivers you're interested in you can always pick and choose eps to consume decent Background Lore for, e.g. you can just watch s1e8 if you're a sharl fan

honestly not to shill for official f1 media but i do think f1tv is a pretty decent streaming platform when getting into the sport... definitely not saying you should subscribe to it (if it's even available in your country!) but just as an aside and maybe for future reference i do believe it's very friendly for new watchers because live races have different feeds that let you track race data (gaps, tyre usage, granular sector data during quali, etc.) and it also lets you switch between driver onboards which can be cool. moreover it has pre-race/post-race shows, technical analyses, archives of past seasons, all the f2/f3 content, documentaries, etc. so it's a pretty complete package! although a good amount of stuff gets x-posted to the official youtube channel so it's not a big deal

if you like podcasts, i think beyond the grid is cool because it has a fun variety of interviews (current drivers, retired drivers, tps, engineers, etc.) about both past and current events so you can basically seek out whatever you're interested in learning more about. otherwise i don't really listen to f1 podcasts regularly because i have weirdly low patience for them compared to hockey, but my friend told me that shift+f1 does yearly primers so that could be something useful to check out! (here's the 2023 season preview, i haven't checked it out but i thought i'd link anyway)

keeping up with news

obviously an important part of fandom is trying to keep up with current affairs, so if you haven't already then i would of course follow the f1 youtube channel + twitter account (or whatever other social media you use), f1 nowadays is extremely effective at marketing itself so it's not like hockey where you're fighting for your life waiting for the unfunniest puck personality video in existence to drop every 8 months. not that all f1 driver content is necessarily funny but there's probably a touch more investment in maintaining the illusion! anyway.

if you use reddit then r/formula1 is honestly probably the best aggregate source of f1 news and up-to-date info, i don't read everything there but it's pretty useful and easy to navigate. plus sometimes when i want to cause myself irreparable psychic damage from something that already pissed me off i can venture into a 500-comment section to get my blood boiling even more... 10/10 would recommend

other than that it's really like — follow official channels for any other drivers or teams you're fond of tbh, i do have a few motorsports journalists in my twitter list but since i respect the fact that some people don't enjoy endless news spam i'd maybe just recommend chris medland if you want a succinct live feed during races for the moment? f1 journalism is kind of godless so you don't *need* to follow that many reporters on a whole.

driver personality content

unfortunately i'll be showing my age when i say i don't have a tiktok account but now that i think about it that's probably a great source of information because it seems like f1 fandom is thriving over there!!! regardless the official f1 youtube does have a lot of little driver personality videos you can watch to get to know them more, and again i'd recommend checking out official team + driver channels for more tailored longform content. for ex just from very recent mcl fan pov they have an unboxed series with behind the scenes of select races and also loads of fun minigame content; every team should have at least SOMETHING to nibble on but certain teams are definitely more marketing-savvy than others (aka big 3 + mcl) 🥲

official f1: f1 has a yearly series called grill the grid with just mini quizzes that all the drivers compete in, some are less interesting but it's overall not bad content. the channel has a playlist for the 2021 gtgs which includes the iconic sebvettel world champion video LOL... actually if you sort the f1 channel by Most Viewed there are probably some fun classic videos in there (looking now it's a lot of crashes but you can ignore those lol), like press conference highlights and other convenient top 10 lists. for a random rec i was just nostalgically revisiting the 2019 rookie of the year video and it was getting to me a little bit!

sky sports f1 will also occasionally have good interview/inside content that you can check out, a lot of it is geolocked though (same with canal+ content in france). but for example i felt so much experiencing this random alex interview from last week... he is truly guy of this world

fan compilations: again if there are any drivers you like then you can just search up their names and there will be a ton of comps with Funny MomentsTM, sometimes it helps to just pick a guy and see how you feel about him as you consume content because your true interests will organically develop and surface eventually... sorry i feel like i'm writing a manifesto on fandom in general which is definitely not what you asked for LOL. but like twitch quartet (aka charles, george, alex, and lando) have a ton of silly streaming highlights you can find on youtube, lando has a gaming company called quadrant that he does videos with which can be uhhh hit or miss depending on how much you enjoy Lad Culture, etc...

really it's so easy to get hyperspecific with content once you pick a team or driver so i'm not sure what else to recommend on a general level but that's what i've got off the top of my head! fandom definitely skews a lot toward rb/merc/fer/mcl so it's easiest to consume both video content and fic for them, but if you're willing to go trawling for interviews then you can really get invested in anyone... fandom culture also varies so wildly depending on how you follow the sport and which drivers you invest in emotionally. my closest friend is a "chirlie" as they say and it really is an experience rife with organizational trauma and TFW You're Beholden To The Stranglehold Of Your Legacy so that's always a great pick if you're craving maximum narrative evisceration, or if you're in it for the fic then you could literally just get really into maxiel, but i'm basically chilling in my land of rookie stonks and sit down to watch non-mcl content maybe once a month.

honestly i only follow like 3.5 f1 fans on tumblr because i'm objectively terrified by the size of the fandom HLSHDFLKH so i mostly consume things in a vacuum and talk to like one friend 😭 but there loads of cool creators out here and you can always find a few gifmakers/fanartists/etc. and just follow the rabbit hole from there!!! best of luck and hope this helps >__<

[twig-tea]

GL odds and ends 20 October 2024

Still feeling out how regularly it makes sense to do this; first one was 2 weeks ago on 6 October. If you're interested in GL older than that, check out my GL rec list through Feb 2024 and my update in July 2024. New series marked with an asterisk*.

Currently airing (with thoughts up to Oct 6):

Reverse 4 U 7/8 (Thai, Tuesdays 1:00 PM EDT, Netflix / YouTube) I'm disappointed by how this final arc has gone. We haven't really seen any growth for Wa, and the whole plot with Wa and Vivi's father didn't really make sense. I really don't understand why he had to stay away, or why the rules are so different for him than for Wa. The relationship between Wa and Four also feels flat because we've barely seen them together. I was rooting for this one but alas.

Unlock Your Love ep 6/8 (Thai, Wednesdays, GagaOOLala / YouTube [cut version]) The sequence where Rain and Love keep trying to have sex but getting interrupted/hurt was very funny; this show still drags but the core of it is pretty good. I mostly just wish it were tighter.

Chaser Game W s2 ep 5/8 (Japanese, Thursdays 12:30 PM EDT, GagaOOLala) @lurkingshan is already doing a great summary of this week to week in her JQL weekly round-up!

Affair the series ep 8/8 END (Thai, Fridays 11:15 AM EDT, iQIYI/ YouTube) Other than the jealousy in the last 10 minutes of the show, I really did like this ending for the series. I really liked Wan's decision to take time for herself after being disappointed by Pleng's decision again. The plot and melodramatic-ness of this show is not my favourite, but I enjoyed it week to week in spite of that. The acting was so solid, the women so gorgeous, the chemistry so fire, and the writing was great for the genre its in (the story was internally consistent and coherent, and the characters were complex and their motivations were clear. There was even a good plot reason for the 'they might be siblings' twist). If you don't mind melodrama, give this one a try!

*Pluto ep 1/12 NEW (Thai, Saturdays 9:30 AM EDT, YouTube) Starting off with a fantastic kiss and Namtan on a motorcycle is truly an incredible opening gambit. That being said, I don't buy the core premise of the plot and it is making it difficult for me to actually enjoy the show. I'll probably be mostly quiet about this one because the things I don't like about it aren't actually about its execution but rather my taste.

*Apple My Love ep 2/7 NEW (Thai, Saturdays 11:45 AM EDT, GagaOOLala and YouTube) I already shouted on main about ep1 here; so far I'm obsessed with this show. Kris is too gay to function, and the misunderstanding is perfectly executed. Very excited for this one, it's so far fantastic.

The Loyal Pin ep 12/16 (Thai, Sundays 12:15 PM EDT, YouTube) Anin's speech in this episode was fire. I feel for these girls, Anin and Pin are just so desperate to be together and their choices are limited. This show continues to be gorgeous and so well done, and I keep bracing for pain.

Red Whisper ep 4/8 (Korea, [schedule is kinda unpredictable; vaguely every 5 days??], YouTube) Cheating and taking advantage while your crush is heartbroken and drunk is not my fave but is par for the course with these SukFilm short series; my fave so far has been their first GL so if you haven't seen that yet I'd honestly recommend that instead.

Recent One-offs & Side Couples

We finally got the sapphic backstory in The Hidden Moon but it was (as expected) sad and mostly inferred.

We also got more of the Aim as a Lesbian plotline in the new Love Sick 2024 remake (this was not a plotline in the 2014 version and it's one of the changes I really like and that I think works really well)

Sastra film app YouTube channel has several short Cambodian GL series that come out weekly Honestly they are not to my taste but I don't like gatekeeping GL especially from smaller markets. I check in on these time to time and if there are any that I think are great I'll give them a shout-out

Ditto above with JPC media YouTube channel for Thai GL shorts if there are any that stand out to me I'll say so

Starting soon:

The Nipple Talk, [ensemble] Taiwanese, 1 November GagaOOLala

My Ex's Wedding [in theatres in Thailand 14 November]

Mom Ped Sawan, Thai, 17 November [international distribution uncertain; it should be on VIPA app with subs, but that is region-locked]

Petrichor, Thai, 23 November, TBD

[bi-women-confess]

Are you interested in start one or more of the following for bi women: a zine, book club, podcast, history social media page, pop culture/current affairs social media page, film club, newsletter, YouTube channel, community/server etc

Well, if I do anything it will always be exclusively for women.

Honestly, running this blog and the Instagram account take such little “work” that I don’t think my experience qualifies me to do any of the things you’ve listed? 

I don’t create original content, I just post other women’s confessions. I think if anything I should focus on doing a better job here than start something new like a YouTube channel or podcast? Of course, in the future anything is possible and I might have the tools necessary to do any number of those things but for now I would hate to only be able to do something half assed that ends up fizzling out? 

But if you are currently capable of starting one of those things, I’d support you.  

{Does anyone have any thoughts on the subject they’d like to share?}

[frodo-with-glasses]

Acceptance

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of LotR and “acceptance” is…

…actually this old video by the youtube channel Cinema Therapy!

But far be it from me to just plop someone else’s content here and move on without any of my own effort, so let’s talk about this concept a little more.

In the video, Johnathan explains that the concept of radical acceptance is most famously encapsulated in the Serenity Prayer from Alcoholics Anonymous: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” Radical acceptance, he says, adds another level: accepting what you choose to change for the greater good.

Much like Frodo accepted the task to carry the Ring, even though it interrupted his life and continued to cost him more and more, we too are often faced with unpleasant realities and responsibilities. Radical acceptance is choosing to embrace life as life is, without sugarcoating, blame-shifting, or denial. It doesn’t mean we have to like what we’re seeing, and it doesn’t mean we have to roll over and give up all hope. It just means embracing reality—and our responsibility in it—for what it is, so that we have a place to start.

I know a little something about this. I’ve mentioned cryptically a few times that a close loved one of mine is dealing with some serious mental health issues; it’s gotten to the point that said loved one is barely recognizable for who they once were, and it’s been that way for some time. This crisis has caused some major upheaval and restructuring of responsibilities in my family. One crucial cog in the machine is down for the count, and that means someone else has to pick up the slack.

Now, faced with that situation, I have a choice in front of me. I can rail at God or my loved ones or the world in general for bringing this tragedy and inconvenience upon me. I can spend my time being angry and blaming other people—some of whom might have legitimately contributed to the current state of affairs!—and focus all my energy on plotting revenge. I can ignore the situation, focusing only on myself, and take my wings and fly and leave the nest in total disarray. (It’s fine! I’m living my best life. Why should I care about anyone else?) I could begrudgingly shoulder my responsibilities, doing the bare minimum to keep the ship afloat, but secretly harboring resentment in my heart that the “best years of my life” are being wasted at home. What a shame that a gorgeous young thing like me is stuck here, wasting her life picking up the slack for an invalid, when I could be out in the great wide world, stealing hearts, climbing ladders, making a name for myself! Oh, woe is me, my life is so hard!

Or.

I could look at the situation for what it is—study it, mourn it, come to terms with it—and then get up on my feet and choose to do what’s right.

I have no control over my circumstances, but I can choose how I respond to them. I cannot choose my lot in life, but I can choose to put forward my best attitude and greatest effort. I did not bring about this tragedy, but I can choose to do good in response to it. And with every meal cooked, every chore completed, every grocery receipt in my purse, every Grown-Ups Board Meeting in the sunroom to discuss how we can take care of the rest of the family, I make that same choice all over again.

Acceptance.

And then—action.

I think this is why Lord of the Rings has been such a comfort to me over this past year and a half; why I’ve fallen in love with Frodo in a deeper way than I did when I was a kid. I know how it feels to keep putting one foot in front of the other on a journey that, by all rights, you never should’ve had to take in the first place. I know how it feels to wake up every day and have to decide to keep going. I know how it feels to accept a burden that you never should have had to carry.

It destroyed Frodo, in the end. I don’t intend to be destroyed myself. (That’s why I’m taking such intentional steps to take care of my own mental health in this process; and praying, praying like mad, too.) But even in those moments when the road looks dark, Frodo’s story gives me hope that one day, I too will see goodness and joy coming out of my sacrifice.

Until then:

Acceptance.

And after that—action.

WORD ASK GAME!

[irithnova]

How I characterise aph Mongolia:

Mongolian history books I've bought (his past)

Wikipedia (his past and cultural customs)

YouTube videos on Mongolian history (not just about the Empire)

The r/Mongolia subreddit on Reddit (Here I see Mongolians attitudes towards what's going on in the world today and just generally what's going on over there)

Eagle news (Mongolian news YouTube channel which is all in Mongolian so I can't understand it really but its good to watch)

MNB world (Mongolian news YouTube channel which is in English to help me understand current affairs in Mongolia, they also have some very good videos on Mongolian culture/history)

Mongolian meme pages on instagram (both political memes and just random memes)

Articles/videos about Mongolias current situation stuck between Russia and China

From all of this here is a braindump on my characterisation of him:

-He's got a pretty dry sense of humour but because his comebacks and comments are so witty its quite funny to watch

-Absolutely hates his government. In fact he doesn't like any of the political parties. He believes the reason why the country isn't completely falling apart is because of his efforts.

-Being trapped between Russia and China is a nightmare. He is very meticulous about the ways in which he goes about getting them off his ass. Loses sleep over it.

-Because of this he has become an excellent diplomat though. In addition he takes time to learn different languages and practices them to perfection as he believes that finding common language can build stronger bonds with other nations. For example, I think his Korean would be great.

-Again about losing sleep. Sometimes in his head he goes over the scenario of what if he dies and there is a new successor to be the nation avatar of Mongolia. They would be too young to understand the intracacies of the work he's accomplished to push back against his politicians and protect himself from Russia and China (to the best he can) . And by the time they're old enough to understand, it would be too late. Doesn't enjoy dwelling on that possibility.

-One of the nations who is very selfless when it comes to protecting his people and understanding his duties.

-Doesn't dislike Ulaanbaatar but absolutely despises it during the winter time. This is when pollution is the worst in the city and he gets a really terrible cough that's hard to stifle, especially during meetings, which he hates.

-Very outdoorsy. Even when he's in the city he'll often go for really long walks. He definitely spends most of his holidays in the countryside and goes to the countryside as often as he can.

-Owns a lot of horses. Even if work means he can't see them as often as he wants he loves tending to them, it really puts his mind at ease.

-Hobbies include: Horseriding, archery, wrestling (duh) but also chess. He's very good at chess. I also like to think that he enjoys knitting/reading. Definitely likes camping and stargazing!! Also: contortionism. Look it up.

-He has a horse plushie collection. He doesn't let anyone know.

-Can come off as introverted (and these days he kind of is) but he is assertive and headstrong when he needs to be.

-Feels a bit insecure about the fact that he thinks that others underestimate his intelligence.

-There's a bit of an identity crisis going on with him. While he's officially classified as "East Asian" he feels little connection to the other East Asians. While the central Asians are more culturally similar to him, they are Muslim/Turkic so he feels different to them in that sense too. I think he relates more to the people of Siberia (Yakutia(Sakha) , Buryatia etc) but they are not their own nations (they are inside Russia) and because of this there is no "North East Asian" category like there is a "South East Asian" category.

-Kind of wants to get closer to the central Asian countries but he feels that its a bit awkward. I do see him being friends with Kazakhstan though (Bayan-Olgii province!)

-Its also hard for him to get closer to them because unfortunately, there isn't much Mongolia as a nation can do with the central Asian nations. For example, trade is very limited between them. And what trade there is between them is insignificant compared to the amount of money trade with the East Asian nations gives him. Mongolians visit/go to university in East Asian countries far, far more frequently than Central Asian countries. So its difficult. Never mind the fact that Russia and China are basically cock blocking Mongolia from the rest of Central Asia.

-Smokes cigarettes

-Crafty and good at fixing things/DIY

-Gets kind of annoyed with the historical revisionism some Turks spout about Mongolia/Genghis Khan. Doesn't take this out on Turkey though.

-Also gets a bit annoyed at "Fingol" jokes and jokes about Hungarians/Bulgarians etc being Mongolians but does catch himself laughing sometimes if the joke is actually good and not meant to be a jab at the Finnish/Hungarians etc.

-Very complicated relationship with China.

-Complicated-ish relationship with Russia but less so compared to China. They drink together. When Russia was younger, Mongolia was kind of like a tough love mentor figure to him. Definitely not sadistic like some creepazoids in this fandom think he was...

-Close with Tibet and India🤍

-North/South Korea have a special place in his heart💜 also was like an older mentor figure to them.

-Actually on good terms with Japan now despite that Kamikaze situation

-Bros with Turkey

-If I headcanon that like. Buryatia/Yakutia(Sakha) /Tuva etc had their own nation avatars, he'd be close with them but would not be allowed to see them often (Russian government).

-Before the unification of the Mongol tribes by Genghis Khan, he was consistently ill. Top that off with being passed around family to family as people didn't know what to do with him and the general messiness of Mongolian history before the unification of the different clans and yeahhhh..

-Learned to fend for himself and be mentally strong at a young age

-Has very faint memories of those who came before him. Mainly just silhouettes/voices and even then its messy.

-Has complicated feelings about his Empire. Obviously he did achieve great things and what he did was impressive. He goes from feeling happy/prideful (good memories, many accomplishments) to feeling guilt/shame (I think he kind of regrets what happened in Baghdad) to contempt ("I was doing what everyone else was doing at the time, I just happened to be better. You all would have done the same!") to cynical (thinks that dwelling on the past is stopping him from focusing on the present, and its no use remembering it).

-Was kind of an arrogant douchebag during the height of his empire but tbh he had every right to be lmao.

-Did kind of mellow out though as he got older, he wasn't too douchey for too long. Moral of the story: teenage boys suck.

-Because of how his empire was formed/how the Mongol tribes were united, he had a pretty fast puberty for a nation after not aging that fast for so long.

-I feel like Mongolia really enjoys reading about different religions!

-During the Qing dynasty, it is said that literate Mongols produced excellent literature. I like to think Mongolia did a lot of writing/reading/song writing even, to take his mind off of what was going on.

-Complicated relationship with Manchuria.

-What's funny is, he'd go on about Manchuria copying him. From the banner system to his writing system to his traditional clothes. Because when he invaded China, he said very similar things about Mongolia ("he's a steppe nomad with no culture of his own, thats why he copies me!")

-Obviously is an amazing throat singer and does have a really good normal singing voice.

-Freakishly flexible (in a good way!) Again, look up Mongolian contortionism.

-Found a good balance between traditional and modern living which he prides himself on as he sees other nations get lost in it.

-Tends to keep to himself

-Is more open though when one visits him in his home country

-Loves going to all the different festivals he has when he gets the chance! He makes sure he schedules his work so he can attend. Loves naadam especially.

Other rando headcanons:

-Bisexual (tbh I headcanon all nations as bisexual....)

-Feels a bit naked without his glasses!

-I headcanon him as tol. Sorry

-His years of experience from horse riding has given him very good posture.

-I feel like his hair is a very dark brown, dark enough to be mistaken as black.

-Has a whole hair routine

-umm face scar/scars?? Yes

-cheekbones for days (this shouldn't even be a headcanon like we all know Mongolians have nice cheekbones)

-China has a weird nickname for him. "Milk-freak"

-Does seem a bit hard to approach

-Dilf