Would it be possible that many of those 'North Americans' are in fact (ex-)Europeans who are enjoying their freedom far away from the thought-nazis? ... just as I am doing ...

Blogs and the Internet have to be the single greatest democratic development in decades (or more), at least in the U.S. Never before has there been an effective channel to challenge MSM (Mainstream Media). It's too bad that their footing is not (yet?) solid in Europe, where -I'm sorry to say - the media are even more pretentious, tendentious, and arrogant.

Many thanks for the very interesting reading matter by which I was provided last year. Since your launch in June 2005 I'm a daily reader of this website. I hope that you will continue with this erudite work for another few (or more...) years.

Unfortunately, there's one thing by which I'm dismayed. You state that the larges part of the visitors come from North America. And indeed, when I see the statistics, it is striking to see that 49% of your visitors are from North America, and only 36.2% from Europe. This is strange, because of two reasons:

1) The articles written on your website mostly deal with European matter. As a result, we should expect more European visitors

2) North America (i.e. United States + Canada) counts "only" 317 million inhabitants compared to 455 million inhabitants in the EU-25. Because Europe is larger populated, it would be also logical that there would have been more European visitors to this website.

But this is not the case! I'm afraid that there is one simple reason that can explain why Europe is underrepresented on the visitor statistics. This reason could be that the voice of conservatism and economic libertarianism doesn't shout loud enough in socialist 'Eurabia'. And as a consequence, people don't (want to) visit websites dealing with European matter with a conservative/libertarian point of view. It's a dark sign that shows the abatement of the European Soviet Union...

Thanks for the Brussels Journal, a terrific site that allows us to feel the pulse of Euro-land.

Wow! What a year! This is a quality site, and congratulations to Paul and all the other contributors. Onward and upward!

Bob Doney

the following was written by Laurie Anderson, and is called "Born, Never asked"

"You were born

and so you're free

so happy birthday".

That the Brussels Journal has been born at all is possibly bittersweet for some, I believe Mr Belien was sacked from a previous job for some non-Politically Correct journalism which was undoubtedly of a high standard. 

But now you are free!

Such blogs have become the voice of the people.  As one who suffered the fiercest of persecutions, Cranmer sends you his very best wishes.

Bless you.

Congratulations !

Huge congratulations!

I didn't realize you were such a recent addition. I have found you an entirely welcome one although I disagree with most of you on a number of things. On the "fundamentals" I find much to agree with.

Keep up the good work!!

(I'm a transplanted US citizen in London)