Search Results for: jón gnarr
Welcome To The Old Skool: Icelandic Legends To Play Airwaves
Airwaves. That time of year when annoying youngsters fill the streets with their unbridled joy, loudness and new-fangled music (this…
The Shortest Icelandic Government Ever
Shortly before midnight, on Thursday September 14, Iceland’s ruling coalition of the Independence Party, the Reform Party and Bright Future…
The Name Blame Game: The Icelandic Patronymic Tradition Could Disappear Within Decades
When a local mom was inspired to name her daughter Blær after a character from Nobel Prize winner Halldór Laxness’…
City Hall May Take Hard Swing To The Right Next Spring
Reykjavík City Hall might end up looking very different from its current form when municipal elections are held next spring….
Today Is Góðan Daginn Day – VIDEO
On this day in 2010, then-Reykjavík Mayor Jón Gnarr started “Góðan Daginn Daginn”, or Good Day Day. The purpose of…
Yes, We Also Have A Horse Name Committee
Vísir reports that horse farmer Guðrún Hrafnsdóttir will not be allowed to name one of her horses Mósan. This was…
Time Capsule: “Perlufestin” Tjörninn
On the east bank of Tjörnin, the lake in the middle of downtown Reykjavík, lies a delicate mermaid statue: “Perlufestin”…
Get Your Read On: The Indian & Angels of the Universe
Each issue, we take a look at two Icelandic titles old and new, available in English translation at most Reykjavík…
Vivian Gets A Yes; Baltazar Gets A No From Naming Committee
Yet another batch of names ran the Naming Committee gauntlet, some faring better than others. RÚV reports that Baddi, Vivian,…
Between The Two Towers: The delicate balancing act of Óttarr Proppé
Óttar Proppé is an unlikely politician. A bleach-blond, flat-capped figure dressed in 70s-style garb, he first entered the public consciousness…
Not A Chance In Hel
Although the name “Hel” hails back to ancient Norse mythology, Iceland’s Naming Committee believes it would only cause problems for…
Naming Committee Rejects “Hel”
Although the name hails back to ancient Norse mythology, Iceland’s Naming Committee believes Hel would only cause problems for a…
Vaccinations And Preschool A Contentious Topic Again
A six-week-old child diagnosed with whooping cough has raised a discussion about vaccinations and admission to preschool once again. “Parents…
Iceland’s Democracy Hangover: Why The International Media Got It All Wrong
The Independence Party emerged as the dominant party from our parliamentary elections. President Guðni Th. Jóhannesson granted them the mandate…
Indecision 2016: Iceland Edition
by Stígur Helgason and Andie Sophia Fontaine
The pessimist’s guide to Icelandic politics One can’t help but envy the two-party systems of the US and (more or…
Iceland’s Policy Of Killing Polar Bears Harshly Criticised
A doctor and former assistant professor at Yale has called Iceland’s practice of immediately killing polar bears who land here…
Mayor To Join Pride Organisers On Parade Float
Reykjavík Pride organisers say that this Saturday’s parade is set to be historic. For the first time ever, the management…
The Saga of Icelandic Cinema: ‘Sódóma Reykjavík’
by Mark Asch
That this boring fishing town could be any kind of Sin City is very much the joke. “Ó borg mín…
Sunna’s Top Five Fav
Sunna Margrét is a born performer. She traveled the world as the frontperson of electro-pop band Bloodgroup, and since the…
Professor Of Icelandic Supports Abolishing Name Laws
A professor of the Icelandic language believes abolishing the naming laws would be “beneficial to human rights”. Eiríkur Rögnvaldsson, a…
Killed Polar Bear Had Newly Given Birth
The polar bear that was felled in northwest Iceland last Saturday was still lactating, indicating she had newly given birth…