Government Down

Have you tried turning your government off and turning it back on again?

@Thesunmaid Well, I don't know about America, but when we tied to do that here, the power went out and it's a total chaos now.

I think I speak for everyone when I say that we need more Belgium in the comics. He is such a cute! Maybe a strip with the best pals, Netherland, Belgium and the often-forgotten Luxembourg. Maybe Luxembourg could be...riding a bicycle? Dressed as Reynard the Fox?

@IsabellaFelipe
Dear Isabelle, "Luxembourg" should not ride a bicycle. Well some Luxembourgers do, and there were even Luxembourgers with the yellow jersey during the Tour de France. Bikes are not that typical in Luxembourg.
Beer, wine (especially white wine) and drëpp (especially plum brandy) are national drinks. There's even a funny tradition during our summer fair. You get yourself a pint of lager in a large glass, you make a very small glass float on the lager and fill it with drëpp. Then you try to drink both together... without spilling.
You are not wrong when you mention the fox. There's loads of them in our forests. There's also a famous statue of a fox in Luxembourg city (a tribute to Michel Rodange). I'm looking forward to seeing a Luxembourg character.

@Daru Oh, I thought both Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg loved bicycles. Well, now I guess it's more a Dutch, Belgian and Danish thing. I am glad to know I was right about the fox, I read about the literary character of Reynard the Fox and while it is popular all through France, Netherlands and Germany I heard it was particularly popular in Luxembourg exactly because of the version of the tale written by Rodange.

@Daru so would be okay if Luxembourg varied around wine
and lager like how Belgium caries chocolate in the other comics he's been in

@Bhekizizwe
You seem to have heard of Luxembourgish wine. When I was a kid, production was not that good. In recent years huge progress has been made. And I really have a soft spot for Luxembourgish Pinot Blanc and Auxerois.
A casserole of Zealand mussels with white wine, served with French fries and a glass (or more) of Luxembourgish Pinot Blanc... I'm salivating.
I notice from your flag that you are from South Africa. Not the worst place for wine. I do like your Sauvignon Blanc produced by Whale Pod, Hermanus.

@Daru oh thank you yes we do take pride in our wine and sometimes beer but the price is our great achievement a Sauvignon Blanca here will cost maybe R300 or 22 euros. Oh and P.S I'm salivating over those selections as well

Man, we don't see much of Belgium.
Weird, considering that King Europe lives with him.

@My2Cents True.

*when kids don't get what they want for Christmas*

@potatoe4life waah! Waah! Oh God the horror.

@potatoe4life This is too true

At this rate in America, we're going to go for 4 years without government, maybe even 8.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_federal_government_shutdown_of_2013 here is a wikipedia link if someone doesn't know what is it about

Wait, the government went down...?
...
Where was I? Probably exploring the terrifying world of the internet.
You all terrify me.
I love it so much.

@TotalInsanity you didn't know? it was a huge thing.

In the 5-novel "Hitchhiker's guide to the Galaxy" trilogy [that's right, a 5-novel trilogy] by Douglas Adams, the word "Belgium" was considered an obscenity.

@Danelaw you like 'Hitchhiker's guide to the Galaxy' too?

@SpikeylovesSatW Yeah. Marvin is my favourite character.

@Danelaw World's first (and only) 5 part trilogy, to be exact... Don't forget your towels gentlemen!

@Danelaw I believe that in some other edition, it went right out and used the f-word.

@Danelaw Of course it was a 5-novel trilogy! It was too brilliant to be stopped at 3!

When government is "down" in the US it means "non-essential services" shut down which often are decided arbitrarily. It makes you wonder why a service exists if its not needed. During shutdowns well over 80% of the government kept operating as normal. And those who didn't work got backpay for the period they didn't work.

Belgium is unamused.