Serbia and Montenegro Divorce (And Italy Divorcees Berlusconi)

All bad things must come to an end. Montenegro - an indpendent country before World War I and afterwards a part of Yugoslavia - voted by a margin of 55.5 percent to separate from Serbia and restore Montenegrin independence. Serbia and Montenegro - now known by that name, the name of Yugoslavia consigned to the dustbin of history - are the last two members of the old post-World War I union, so a split will bring the Yugoslav era to a definite and merciful end. Good riddance to a country that gave the world Tito, Milosevic, civil wars, and the Yugo. :-p

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Adriatic Sea, Italy recently held national elections, and conservative Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi lost his post by a margin as thin as paper. Berlusconi contested the outcome, but opposing prime ministerial candidate Romano Prodi - a former European Union president - was officially declared the winner and installed as prime minister. Berlusconi still refused to concede, declaring victory even as he was being pushed out the door. Geez, even Sonny Liston knew when to stop swinging! :-O