A blessing

that they (and their beer vats, which are their livelihood) escaped:

Fire damages Rochefort Trappist beer abbey in Belgium

Archives show the abbey has been producing beer since 1595 and it is known today for producing one of the strongest brews, with 12% alcohol.

The abbey has been destroyed on two previous occasions: by the troops of Lorraine in 1650 and again during the French revolution.

Belgian eID in the library

For more about the eID card--a national ID card which all Belgians 12 and over should have by the end of 2009, check out the English website. Also check out the page on what you can do with the eID card. Whether it's getting tickets to a show, gaining entry to your house, showing a conductor your credentials on the train, or keeping a child safely surfing the net, the applications are varied, and several videos highlight these and other uses. Thanks to YKWIA for showing me videos related to the eID, including this one.