Belgium marks 1 year anniversary without government

Belgium marks an anniversary on Tuesday, of which no one of this countries 10.5 million people is celebrating. One year ago, King Albert II accepted resignation of the government. Caretaker Prime Minister Yves Leterme said that it could take up to three more months to form a coalition. Coincidentally, whilst other EU nations have suffered severe problems with debt, Belgium has managed to glide through without a government. The two biggest parties in Belgium have still not found any room for compromise, and a government has yet to be formed.

I simply find this article quite funny. I find it hard to believe that a relatively large country with 10.5 million people can survive without a government. I also find it weird that while other countries in the European Union with governments are struggling with debt, Belgium is gliding through with very few problems.

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/980277--belgium-marks-1-year-anniversary-without-government?bn=1

Easter egg tree in Germany going strong after 46 years

Volker Kraft's apple sappling sported 18 eggs, when they first began decorating the tree for Easter in 1965. 46 years later, the sturdy tree is festooned with over 9 800 eggs, decorated with things like shells and beads. Decorating trees with hollow painted eggs is rather popular in Germany. The 75-year-old decorated tree drew 13,000 visitors this year. Kraft needs two weeks to decorate the tree by climbing up and down ladders hanging the eggs. The task has become heavier since he began in 1965. He started with plastic eggs, then used real eggs painted by his three kids. It takes Kraft two weeks of trips up and down his ladder to hang all the eggs.

I found this story quite amazing, because Kraft has been doing this task for 46 years. It is amazing that a small family tradition of hanging a couple eggs on the tree out doors became into a large tourist destination with almost 10 000 eggs on it. There were 13 000 visitors this year and according to the Kraft family, the numbers are increasing every year.

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/977538--easter-egg-tree-in-germany-going-strong-after-46-years?bn=1

Brampton man killed while trying to stop a robbery

A 28-year-old Brampton resident named Kearn Nedd was shot and killed on Saturday trying to stop a robbery. He was killed trying to help someone who was being attacked during the robbery. Nedd was trying to be a good citizen, which many of his friends say was part of his character, and that they were not surprised that he did this. Friend Nenad Cvejic said that he was not the type of guy that would walk away. Nenad was highly trained in kick-boxing and jiu-jitsu but had time for people, as shown in his demonstration to save the fellow citizen. The banquet hall where the robbery took place held a charity gambling event. The robbers tried to steal the winnings from one man and Nedd stepped in and was shot.

I think that Kearn Nedd is a hero. Someone who puts their own life on the line for someone else should be considered a hero. I also feel very bad for him, because according to the article he was making his debut into professional MMA fighting next month. Nedd spent his life training for his goal to become a professional mixed martial artist, but had his dreams ripped away from him a month before they came true because he was being a good Samaritan saving a fellow citizen.

http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/article/976155--brampton-man-killed-while-trying-to-stop-a-robbery?bn=1

15-month-old served alcohol at Applebee’s

The Applebee's restaurant chain says it's changing the way it serves juice and children drinks, after a 15-month old baby was accidentally served a small amount of alcohol at a Detroit-area location. The Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News report Tuesday that Applebee's will pour juice for children out of single-served containers right at the customers table, starting this week. They will also retrain many of their workers to ensure a mistake like this never happens again. The Madison Heights police said that the drink was mislabeled apple juice, but actually was a leftover mixed drink. 15-month-old Dominic Dill-Reese's mother ordered her son a kids meal with apple juice as the drink. Dominic was checked out by doctors, and the family was told that the child's alcohol level was .10 percent, which is over the legal limit for adult drivers. Thankfully Dominic is expected to be ok.

I find this quite disturbing, the fact that a 15-month-old baby was accidentally served alcohol. What makes things worse, is that the babies blood alcohol level was over the legal limit for drivers. According to this information this baby had severe alcohol poisoning. Even if the baby is ok, he most likely will end up having liver problems when he is older which could change his whole life.

Woman who faked cancer sentenced to 10 months house arrest

Kirilow, 23, who is now living in phychiatric ward of Joeseph Brant Memorial Hospital in burlington. Kirilow pleaded guilty on thursday to fraud charges and was given a 15-month conditional sentence without jail time. The total amount she was convicted of defrauding was approximately $12 000.

She began telling people that she had cancer in 2008 after a minor surgery to remove a benign cyst from her breast. She started accepting empathetic donations from friends, which then turned into a fake charity called "Change for a cure," using a facebook page with 4 000 followers. She was taking peoples donations and using them for personal gain.

I think that this lady should be prosecuted and sent to jail instead of house arrest and community service. Approximately 7.6 million people die per year of cancecer, leaving families who have lost their mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, children, our spouses whith a un repairable hole in them. Ashley Kirilow shaved her hair and faked cancer all to get some attention. If I had my way, I would have her serve a sentence in jail to make up for what she did.

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/971018--woman-who-faked-cancer-sentenced-to-10-months-house-arrest