My Opinion
A French poet once wrote “A gray city, sad as a tombstone with chrysanthemums”. To be honest, these words might only seem like some sort of morbid allusion, especially seeing [
Classic Toys Return
Back in the old days, Icelandic children couldn’t run out to the next over-stuffed toyshop to stock up on plastic dolls, action figures or computer games, if they happened to [&h
The Paradox of Gender Pay Gap
Perhaps you could begin by telling us a little bit about your research? I am an economist and I received my university education in the US and the UK. In […]
Representing a New Generation
Director Rúnar Rúnarsson has been an active member of the local film industry since secondary school, when he started his career as an independent filmmaker by making a short-fil
The Strength of Street Knowledge
As I write this, we are putting the finishing touches on the issue you are now holding before shipping it out to print. Coincidently, it is June 13, and the […]
Women Paint the Town Pink
Women around the country took part in the annual National Women’s Day celebration on June 19. The event marks the day when women in Iceland were granted the right to […]
In Movies, Ignorance is Bliss
Silja Hauksdóttir is a 31-year old filmmaker from Reykjavík. She graduated with a B.A. degree in philosophy from the University of Iceland in 1999, and directed her first film in
Who Knows How the System Works?
On April 16, 2007, the Icelandic Parliament passed a law granting Icelandic citizenship to eighteen people who presumably did not qualify under the Ministry of Justice’s regular
Protection in Numbers
According to the the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), a refugee is a person who “owing to a wellfounded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality,
Down and Out in Alcoa(Alcan)land!
At the time of this writing, I have just witnessed a weekend of utter beauty. My enthusiasm for the solstice is somewhat corny, like a smooth morning’s breeze with Grieg’s [&he
On Advertisement
Not all the dope this nation swallows is narcotic. Nowadays, we are all relentlessly force-fed an anaesthetic, the effects of which dwarf the blunting influence of any opium; adver
Selection From the Sweets Shop
When the editor summoned me and told me to explore the field of Icelandic candy, I thought it would a dream assignment. It was, and it wasn’t. I got an […]
Skyr: A Beginner’s Guide
Skyr (pronounced ‘skeer’) is a traditional Icelandic dairy product made from pasteurised skim milk without omitting certain kinds of milk cultures and bacteria. The milk is gen
Liborius
Attracting a mixed clientele with an eye for unique design and quality fabrics, fashion shop Liborius has relocated at Laugavegur 7. Opening its doors three weeks ago, this one-of-
Planning Reykjavík
Maybe you could start by telling me a bit about the Iceland studio and how that came about? Orri Gunnarsson did a Masters degree in urban planning at the University […]
Gaykjavík: Exploring Reykjavík’s Gay Nightlife
“You show me a queer in any city, and I will in turn show you someone that incessantly complains about his gay scene and nightlife. It doesn’t say a thing […]
What Happened to Public Transportation in Reykjavík?
While some changes were justified in terms of improving service, the reality was that most changes were made in order to cut costs, meaning fewer routes, fewer stops and more [&hel
How Not to be Icelandic
There are few things more exhilarating than visiting a foreign country for the first time, that liberating spark of childlike wonder you search out all around the world. Hopefully,
On the Meaning of Life
Thesis: Icarus tried to fly to the sun to prevent the sky from falling on his head. Conceptual abstraction is non-rational. The imagination is not tyrannized by rationality. The tr