Belgium: the country where other European countries go to fight their apocalyptic wars. Flemish: Somehow not quite Dutch, but only they can tell the difference. Waffles: Yum. Endives: Not as boring as lettuce. White asparagus: whiter than regular asparagus, I guess. Eels in garlic sauce: okay, now that's taking it a bit too far...

Yes, for those who thought you could take things for granted, and who just assumed that such a stalwart pillar of modern nationhood as Belgium would be around forever: prepare for extreme-right xenophobic "Flemish" nationalist Filip (Philip to those filthy Wallonians) Dewinter to rock your world:

"It's 'bye-bye Belgium' time!"

Indeed, it is a sad day for humanity, and a bitter personal defeat for me, being as I had long argued that Chocolate and Beer were in fact enough to keep a nation of feuding and indistinguishable ethnic groups together. Guess I can't be right all the time!

I wonder: if Flanders and Wallonia divorce, who will get to keep the waffles?

The author seems to think there is a chance this could snowball. I mean, if Belgium breaks up, what next? Will Catalonia be the next to go? And then Lombardi? And you all know what a sinister threat a free Lombardi would pose! Forget Balkanization, this could "Benelux-ify" Europe!

I wonder if people in Sarajevo can take the time out of their day to laugh at this?

Probably this will be a somewhat bitter laughing for people in Sarajevo…

Belgium Doesn't Exist!

Although it is interesting, in the Lyle Zapato article against the existence of Belgium, he raises the point that:

"Belgium?" he splutters. "That's something that doesn't exist. The national anthem? Nobody knows it. Nobody can sing it..."

This in fact appears to be true. At least in the case of Yves Leterme, Belgium's Prime Minister in limbo, who's Oedipal complex apparently renders him incapable of singing in French. Thanks Djiezes for not overlooking this crucial piece of evidence!

To make up for my insensitivity to what is no doubt a real and serious political crisis in a country that, if nothing else, makes good Abbe beer, I'm promoting this clip:

It's on the ground video of protests in country that makes shitty beer and keeps its people in de facto slavery. Now that's what I call a freedom movement.

Thanks Marszal for keeping the Burmese on our minds!