Category Archives: EN

Anything that does not fit into other categories …

Selective memory?

It’s fascinating to see how segments about the alleged downing of MH17 in the US news remembers Reagan’s reaction to the shoot-down of KAL007. Of course, if you want to emphasize “the president’s” reaction it’s an appropriate comparison. But a … Continue reading

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Why you’ll want to visit Iceland #3

A fjord (Hvalfjörður, literally: whale fjord) with the highest waterfall in Iceland (Glymur) and an enchanting view out of the fjord onto the sea (and if you happen to be on the sea also vice versa). I’ll not spoil the … Continue reading

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George Carlin

Remember him? One of my favorite contemporary American satirists. He had one piece where he stated that we have no rights. In particular he referred to all the Americans always yammering about their rights. He then pointed to the Americans … Continue reading

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Why you’ll want to visit Iceland #2

Weather galore! Yep, it’s true. Not only does Iceland export fish and volcano ash, it also exports weather, albeit mainly to mainland Europe. Or as Icelanders tend to say: if you don’t like the weather, just wait five minutes. Gute … Continue reading

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Smart guy, but partially flawed logic

Neil deGrasse Tyson, a world-renowned physicist, defended genetically modified organisms some time ago and it went viral on Youtube with this video, posted some days ago. He wrote a rebuttal on Facebook regarding the reactions to his words. Of course … Continue reading

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An effort to crowdfund the pilot to a “Man from Earth” series

If you liked the movie after the story by Jerome Bixby, here’s the link to the Kickstarter campaign. Go join the effort. It’s needed, because the previous attempt failed. // Oliver

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Why you’ll want to visit Iceland #1

Dyrhólaey (Icelandic for door hole island ) and Vík. It’s a natural reserve and features a great coastal lines and all kinds of birds, including puffins which breed there. A trip through the Icelandic South deserves at least one, more … Continue reading

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Skálmöld & Sinfóníuhljómsveit Íslands

Check out the Icelandic Viking metal band Skälmöld (roughly “sword age”) and their DVD/CD “Skálmöld & Sinfóníuhljómsveit Íslands” (Skálmöld and the Icelandic Symphonic Orchestra) recorded last year in the Eldborg hall inside Harpa. It features the band plus three full … Continue reading

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Beer lovers who are actually beer haters?

Too often I see self-proclamations of beer lovers that advertise all kinds of equipment to cool down the beer to arctic temperatures. I am not sure how these people qualify as beer lovers. If you numb your taste buds by … Continue reading

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Palettes in Iceland?

Okay, palettes (vörubretti) can be bought in Iceland from Saltkaup in Hafnarfjörður. I picked the plastic ones as they are lighter and offer more net weight for the freight I plan to ship. However, they also offer wooden palettes and … Continue reading

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Live from Iceland? Yep!

Turns out the webcam at Jökulsárlón is indeed live. Here am I yesterday around half past five in the afternoon: (click to see full size) … in my lime shirt with the “Free Shrugs …” motto and brown corduroys. // … Continue reading

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When in Rome …

Strange, the parents – especially the native Icelandic mother – of this 10-year old girl (related English article by The Guardian) should have been aware of the naming rules here in Iceland. What’s the big deal? Usually Icelanders have first … Continue reading

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Dearest Icelanders, I have a confession to make

As a bearded alien I have lived among you for some years now. Wearing shorts as early as March and sometimes walking barefoot down Laugavegur I have shaped your visitors’ conception of “Icelanders”. But whatcha gonna do about it? 😛 … Continue reading

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Hey America(*), how are you?

(*) … well, I mean the USA of course. Apologies to the rest (and majority) of Americans on the twin-continent. But for the scope of this blog post I’ll continue this way. Thanks for your hospitality, America. It’s now been … Continue reading

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Keep it real, tough guys

So Obama did a workout in a gym at the hotel in Warsaw (Poland) and the video “leaked”. Big deal! What’s the issue? He’s a busy man and lifting weights other than your own body weight isn’t exactly going to … Continue reading

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Macklemore anti-semitic because he looks like Mahmoud Ahmadinejad?

My significant other pointed me to this article over at People Magazine. The allegation is that Macklemore is anti-semitic, because his costume looks like a caricature of jews from the Third Reich. I don’t get it, my first association was … Continue reading

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What a headline “FBI arrests 100 hackers over Blackshades malware”

Claims The Guardian. Well, a few things: Hacker refers to a very broad skill set, it doesn’t refer to motives or lack of ethical framework. The term in such case is usually cracker. Many skilled people with a perfectly intact … Continue reading

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Are you f-ing nuts, Washington Post?

So while the people in Eastern and Southeastern Ukraine insist on their right of self-determination – which the US is otherwise officially supporting whenever it benefits the pockets of big US corporations – and while they state that the referendum … Continue reading

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PewResearch: “Despite Concerns about Governance, Ukrainians Want to Remain One Country”

PewResearch published a report about a poll that was conducted before the events in Odessa last Friday. The so-called “pro-Russian separatists”, or as the interim government likes to put it “terrorists”, should perhaps be called “ethnic-Russian autonomists” instead? С днём … Continue reading

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Shame they don’t have one for the Blue Lagoon …

Could read something like: Don’t get fooled by the Blue Lagoon. Basically it’s waste water from a geothermal power plant. … and show the steaming Blue Lagoon with a few people bathing plus a steaming “factory” building in the background. … Continue reading

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