View Full Version : Insignificant Country Update
"Has Belgium met its Waterloo?
Napoleon's final defeat near Waterloo village, just south of Brussels, came after 23 years of fighting across Europe.
These days, Belgium finds itself in a political stalemate and has been without a government for 110 days. Urgent pleas from King Albert II have done little to unify the country's main ethnic groups, Dutch-speaking northerners and French-speaking southerners.
The unthinkable — the breakup of a peaceful, modern country in the heart of Western Europe — is suddenly thinkable, and many Belgians are alarmed."
LINK (http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-09-27-belgium-divorce_N.htm)
Even more alarming...
" A helium-filled balloon from a celebration in Devon was found in Flanders, Belgium, 17 hours later"
LINK (http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=136993&command=displayContent&sourceNode=231418&home=yes&more_nodeId1=137002&contentPK=18504780)
...However, in a move of 'compassion' and 'enlightenment' that can probably only be appreciated in the pubs and hallowed halls of academia in Europe:
"Belgian care homes are providing prostitutes for disabled residents and in order to grant them “the right to their sexuality”"
LINK (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/09/28/wprostitutes128.xml)
...such good news could only be over-shadowed by such earth-shattering events as:
"A recent survey in Belgium has shown that the bacteria Methilin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) has been isolated in 68% of the pig farms"
LINK (http://www.pigprogress.net/news/id1602-30810/mrsa_found_in_many_belgian_pig_farms.html)
excerpts from "Belgian schism is no laughing matter":
With its two halves unable to agree on the formation of a new government, Belgium stands on the verge of disintegration. So should Belgium continue to exist? The answer is yes. Here's why.
Belgium, as many of you will know, was established in 1830 for two reasons: to host the main international conflicts of the 20th century; and to provide a viable, long-term basis for Belgian jokes.
/ubbthreads/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
If Belgium were to cease to exist, this would create a potentially fatal vacuum at the heart of Western comedy.
/ubbthreads/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/rofl.gif
America was built on a noble ideal: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free." Belgium was founded on a far punchier plea: "Give me your bureaucrats."
Belgium long ago abandoned all hope of being a presence on the world stage and gave itself over to the pleasures of alcohol, chocolate, sex and seafood. To this day, it remains a nation untouched by nutrition. These are ideas worth fighting for.
/ubbthreads/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/lol.gif
The Sydney Morning Herald (http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/belgian-schism-is-no-laughing-matter/2007/09/23/1190486132057.html)
Aussies rip on Belgium!
Return of Too Many Daves
09-28-2007, 05:07 PM
What a load of cr@p. That's it, I have to say something T-Pot, Hans, Speedy, Crusty, you are all full of *****e. Some of you are reasonably intelligent human beings with big chips on your shoulder desperately trying to provoke a fight to get some attention, the others are just questionable human beings with big chips on their shoulder desperately trying to provoke a fight to get some attention
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Speedy the Arrogant Parrot</div><div class="ubbcode-body">...However, in a move of 'compassion' and 'enlightenment' that can probably only be appreciated in the pubs and hallowed halls of academia in Europe:
"Belgian care homes are providing prostitutes for disabled residents and in order to grant them “the right to their sexuality”"
LINK (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/09/28/wprostitutes128.xml)
...such good news could only be over-shadowed by such earth-shattering events as:
"A recent survey in Belgium has shown that the bacteria Methilin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) has been isolated in 68% of the pig farms"
LINK (http://www.pigprogress.net/news/id1602-30810/mrsa_found_in_many_belgian_pig_farms.html)
</div></div>
However, Hans might counter with this:
"Families of the disabled residents have given their consent but, Mr Schauwbroeck admits, there are concerns over cost, as sex services are not covered by health insurance."
Whew! That's a relief.
Return of Too Many Daves
09-28-2007, 05:11 PM
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Return of Too Many Daves</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What a load of cr@p. That's it, I have to say something T-Pot, Hans, Speedy, Crusty, you are all full of *****e. Some of you are reasonably intelligent human beings with big chips on your shoulder desperately trying to provoke a fight to get some attention, the others are just questionable human beings with big chips on their shoulder desperately trying to provoke a fight to get some attention </div></div>
Having said all that (embarassing climb down?):
From From The Economist
Time to call it a day
Sep 6th 2007
Sometimes it is right for a country to recognise that its job is done
Illustration by Claudio MunozA RECENT glance at the Low Countries revealed that, nearly three months after its latest general election, Belgium was still without a new government. It may have acquired one by now. But, if so, will anyone notice? And, if not, will anyone mind? Even the Belgians appear indifferent. And what they think of the government they may well think of the country. If Belgium did not already exist, would anyone nowadays take the trouble to invent it?
Such questions could be asked of many countries. Belgium's problem, if such it is, is that they are being asked by the inhabitants themselves. True, in opinion polls most Belgians say they want to keep the show on the road. But when they vote, as they did on June 10th, they do so along linguistic lines, the French-speaking Walloons in the south for French-speaking parties, the Dutch-speaking Flemings in the north for Dutch-speaking parties. The two groups do not get on—hence the inability to form a government. They lead parallel lives, largely in ignorance of each other. They do, however, think they know themselves: when a French-language television programme was interrupted last December with a spoof news flash announcing that the Flemish parliament had declared independence, the king had fled and Belgium had dissolved, it was widely believed.
No wonder. The prime minister designate thinks Belgians have nothing in common except “the king, the football team, some beers”, and he describes their country as an “accident of history”. In truth, it isn't. When it was created in 1831, it served more than one purpose. It relieved its people of various discriminatory practices imposed on them by their Dutch rulers. And it suited Britain and France to have a new, neutral state rather than a source of instability that might, so soon after the Napoleonic wars, set off more turbulence in Europe.
The upshot was neither an unmitigated success nor an unmitigated failure. Belgium industrialised fast; grabbed a large part of Africa and ruled it particularly rapaciously; was itself invaded and occupied by Germany, not once but twice; and then cleverly secured the headquarters of what is now the European Union. Along the way it produced Magritte, Simenon, Tintin, the saxophone and a lot of chocolate. Also frites. No doubt more good things can come out of the swathe of territory once occupied by a tribe known to the Romans as the Belgae. For that, though, they do not need Belgium: they can emerge just as readily from two or three new mini-states, or perhaps from an enlarged France and Netherlands.
Brussels can devote itself to becoming the bureaucratic capital of Europe. It no longer enjoys the heady atmosphere of liberty that swirled outside its opera house in 1830, intoxicating the demonstrators whose protests set the Belgians on the road to independence. The air today is more fetid. With freedom now taken for granted, the old animosities are ill suppressed. Rancour is ever-present and the country has become a freak of nature, a state in which power is so devolved that government is an abhorred vacuum. In short, Belgium has served its purpose. A praline divorce is in order.
Belgians need not feel too sad. Countries come and go. And perhaps a way can be found to keep the king, if he is still wanted. Since he has never had a country—he has always just been king of the Belgians—he will not miss Belgium. Maybe he can rule a new-old country called Gaul. But king of the Gauloises doesn't sound quite right, does it?
Return of Too Many Daves
09-28-2007, 05:15 PM
And I don't want to sound vindictive but I also found:
"BYE BYE BELGIUM
A blogger writes:
Belgium, as many of you will know, was established in 1830 for two reasons: to host the main international conflicts of the 20th century; and to provide a viable, long-term basis for Belgian jokes.
Every article on the subject these days seems to start with a similar joke and I was too tired to make up my own. The potential division of Belgium has been in the news a lot lately: for the last three months politicians from all parties have been unable to form a government. News of the turmoil even featured on the front web-pages of both the New York Times and Washington Post over the weekend. The possibility of violence is highly unlikely, the global significance of Belgium limited--so why, as the Economist asks, should anyone care?"
No speaking of breaking up countries, to the UK, will anyone take Northern Ireland off our hands? We'll throw in Scotland. Pretty please.
Soundbear
09-28-2007, 05:49 PM
So. Belgium.
That's in Europe, right??
Return of Too Many Daves
09-28-2007, 05:52 PM
That's right the continent with 25% more people than North America. Remember us? LOL
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Return of Too Many Daves</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What a load of cr@p. That's it, I have to say something T-Pot, Hans, Speedy, Crusty, you are all full of *****e. Some of you are reasonably intelligent human beings with big chips on your shoulder desperately trying to provoke a fight to get some attention, the others are just questionable human beings with big chips on their shoulder desperately trying to provoke a fight to get some attention </div></div>
Oh, calm down, would you?!
This is just harmless fun.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Return of Too Many Daves</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That's right the continent with 25% more people than North America. Remember us? LOL </div></div>
We remember you. Sadly, though, you've forgot your past.
Soundbear
09-29-2007, 10:28 AM
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Speedy the Arrogant Parrot</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Return of Too Many Daves</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That's right the continent with 25% more people than North America. Remember us? LOL </div></div>
We remember you. Sadly, though, you've forgot your past. </div></div>
Just so you know, you've made a mistake in grammar.
Forgotten.
But that comes nowhere near substituting "sow" for "sew".
But thanks for the heads-up, POCH (Peace of Christ Hypocrite):)
Do you like your new name, POCH?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Aydeloof</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Speedy the Arrogant Parrot</div><div class="ubbcode-body">...However, in a move of 'compassion' and 'enlightenment' that can probably only be appreciated in the pubs and hallowed halls of academia in Europe:
"Belgian care homes are providing prostitutes for disabled residents and in order to grant them “the right to their sexuality”"
LINK (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/09/28/wprostitutes128.xml)
...such good news could only be over-shadowed by such earth-shattering events as:
"A recent survey in Belgium has shown that the bacteria Methilin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) has been isolated in 68% of the pig farms"
LINK (http://www.pigprogress.net/news/id1602-30810/mrsa_found_in_many_belgian_pig_farms.html)
</div></div>
However, Hans might counter with this:
"Families of the disabled residents have given their consent but, Mr Schauwbroeck admits, there are concerns over cost, as sex services are not covered by health insurance."
Whew! That's a relief.
</div></div>
Did you know that was covered in the Netherlands?
So Speedy, where's your bet eh?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Speedy the Arrogant Parrot</div><div class="ubbcode-body">...However, in a move of 'compassion' and 'enlightenment' that can probably only be appreciated in the pubs and hallowed halls of academia in Europe:
"Belgian care homes are providing prostitutes for disabled residents and in order to grant them “the right to their sexuality”"
LINK (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/09/28/wprostitutes128.xml)
...such good news could only be over-shadowed by such earth-shattering events as:
"A recent survey in Belgium has shown that the bacteria Methilin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) has been isolated in 68% of the pig farms"
LINK (http://www.pigprogress.net/news/id1602-30810/mrsa_found_in_many_belgian_pig_farms.html)
</div></div>
All you have is a survey? I got actual numbers :
Topps Meat Co. on Saturday expanded a recall of ground beef from about 300,000 pounds to 21.7 million pounds, one of the largest meat recalls in U.S. history.
In a statement, the Elizabeth, New Jersey, company said the hamburger patties may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, a bacterium that can cause severe diarrhea and cramps, as well as other complications.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/29/meat.recall/index.html
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Speedy the Arrogant Parrot</div><div class="ubbcode-body">excerpts from "Belgian schism is no laughing matter":
With its two halves unable to agree on the formation of a new government, Belgium stands on the verge of disintegration. So should Belgium continue to exist? The answer is yes. Here's why.
Belgium, as many of you will know, was established in 1830 for two reasons: to host the main international conflicts of the 20th century; and to provide a viable, long-term basis for Belgian jokes.
/ubbthreads/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
If Belgium were to cease to exist, this would create a potentially fatal vacuum at the heart of Western comedy.
/ubbthreads/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/rofl.gif
America was built on a noble ideal: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free." Belgium was founded on a far punchier plea: "Give me your bureaucrats."
Belgium long ago abandoned all hope of being a presence on the world stage and gave itself over to the pleasures of alcohol, chocolate, sex and seafood. To this day, it remains a nation untouched by nutrition. These are ideas worth fighting for.
/ubbthreads/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/lol.gif
The Sydney Morning Herald (http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/belgian-schism-is-no-laughing-matter/2007/09/23/1190486132057.html)
Aussies rip on Belgium!
</div></div>
I suppose you are trying to say they had a crystal ball and could predict the future eh?
Anyways, keep up the good work. It's funny to see you try to explain something of which you have no clue about.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It's funny to see you try to explain something of which you have no clue about. </div></div>
Much like you when talking aboooot America, EH?
/ubbthreads/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
Belgium long ago abandoned all hope of being a presence on the world stage and gave itself over to the pleasures of alcohol, chocolate, sex and seafood. To this day, it remains a nation untouched by nutrition. These are ideas worth fighting for.
/ubbthreads/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/rofl.gif
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Speedy the Arrogant Parrot</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It's funny to see you try to explain something of which you have no clue about. </div></div>
Much like you when talking aboooot America, EH?
/ubbthreads/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif </div></div>
It's about, but as a parrot it might come out like that. They tend to speak threw their nose.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Speedy the Arrogant Parrot</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Belgium long ago abandoned all hope of being a presence on the world stage and gave itself over to the pleasures of alcohol, chocolate, sex and seafood. To this day, it remains a nation untouched by nutrition. These are ideas worth fighting for.
/ubbthreads/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/rofl.gif </div></div>
Again, no clue what you are talking about, do you?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> threw</div></div>
"Threw their nose..."
/ubbthreads/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/lol.gif /ubbthreads/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/rofl.gif
Oh, Canada!!!
Parrot speak, have to come down to your level.
I must admit, I did learn something today: you don't have to have a Grade 6 education to sell swingsets.
That's kinda' cool.
Sell swing sets? What are you talking about?
Huggy85
09-30-2007, 03:31 PM
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Hans</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Sell swing sets? What are you talking about? </div></div>
Typical Speedy....he doesn't know.
Don't play coy with us, you lil' bugger /ubbthreads/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
You were right, yawning is fun!!!
I like the sport of yawning best.
There are some great yawners out there.
There was this one match, on ESPN, where two guys stared at each other; each waiting to see who would open their mouth first...it was riveting!
Finally, one guy's mouth opened, and it looked like he was going to win...but then the other guy opened his mouth, let out an enormous yawn, and actually won the competition by 1/100th of an inch, and 0.0056 seconds!!
Man, it was the most amazing sporting event I had ever seen!! Without a doubt one of the top-ten moments in all of sport.
Powered by vBulletin™ Version 4.0.7 Copyright © 2013 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.