"We're facing the worst financial and economic crisis since the end of World War II and nobody in Belgium seems to care'' ~ Mark Eyskens

Anybody else enjoy watching states fail as much as me? God, I am such a nerd! I know I could get on here and blather on about music (which I do already) or my boring life or my horrible work day...but no.

First the Zimbabwe government takes corruption to a whole new level with *seemingly* complete international impunity and now in Brussels --the shit has hit the fan! It is always a gamble to make change, which is what the coalition government tried to do, but now it is incredible to watch the different interests battle it out. What are they fighting about you ask? Language (not a new fight) and self rule. The home of the EU and NATO might just go kaput. It's hard to wrap my head around.

The hardliners in the national party are advocating the breakup of the country to solve their differences and yesterday the Premier offered his resignation to the King.

In a statement, the royal palace said its decision had been suspended. Meanwhile, the king began consultations that included, for the first time, the most senior regional politicians from the different language communities. That raised the prospect that they, rather than national political leaders, may be asked to help find a way out of the impasse.

Can a country divided by language keep it together or should they split her down the middle and call it quits? (a very Canadian question too...hm.) Further proving that regionalism can be a real beotch. Can a constitution designed around separating people based on language and location result in a harmonious state? I'm afraid of the Belgian answer and even more interested in the Canadian answer to that question.

Song du jour: The Stakes Were Raised by Slow Runner

"All of my hoping just turned into lying
Kidding myself without even trying
I should have noticed the whole thing was dying
But the stakes were raised
And so I looked the other way..."

Happy Birsday Dani!! I love ya!

Mark Eyskens is a member of Leterme's Christian Democratic Party who served in Belgian governments from 1976 to 1992 and was prime minister in 1981-82.