The Iceland Of My Heart

Lately, we hear a lot about Dubai being the Iceland of the desert or Greece being this year's Iceland. Iceland, however, is more than just a metaphor for economic stupidity. Songwriters have long used Iceland to illustrate a variety of emotions and events. None of them good.




The Sinking of the Reuben James

Performer: Woody Guthrie

Year: 1942

Iceland reference:

"One hundred men went down to their dark and watery graves,

When that good ship went down only forty-four were saved.

T'was the last of October, they save the forty-four,

From the dark, icy waters of that cold Iceland shore."

Metaphor: While both geographically and historically accurate in the case of the first US ship lost during WWII, there's something particularly tragic about being drowned off the coast of Iceland. Some versions say "cold, icy shore," but Iceland sounds more to the point. The shores are as cold as the sea. And so, no doubt, are the people.



My Heart Stood Still

Performer: Frank Sinatra

Year: 1963

Iceland reference:

Volcano proves no ‘handicap’ for Icelandic golfers

The current plume of ash bursting out of the much talked about volcano proves no match, or should I say round, for keen golfers at the Strandarvollur golf course, located only twenty miles away from the eruption site at the Eyjafjallajokull glacier.

This incredible photo sent to IceNews by Icelandic photographer Arnaldur Halldorsson, captures two golfers on the fairway in front of the breathtaking volcanic eruption, seeming to be completely unfazed by the ash fallout behind them. One budding golfer apparently more engrossed with his mobile phone than the golfing hazard.

So it seems that whilst the rest of Europe

Icelandair keeps the channels open between the US and Europe

By flying between their US destinations and Trondheim in Norway Icelandair keeps the channels open between the US and Europe over the Atlantic. Despite the eruption happening in Iceland, Keflavik International airport is open and flights have been between Iceland and the US. Now with flights to Norway travellers are able to get to Norway and commute from there to destinations within Europe. The flight information is according to Icelandair.com – Passengers are urged not to go to the airport until flight departures are confirmed.

Source: IceNews, Daily news from Iceland

Iceland volcano coming to an end?

A University of Iceland geophysicist says there are now clear signs that the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which began erupting on Wednesday, is slowing down. Attention is now turning to the more violent Katla volcano which many fear will erupt next. However, there are no indications that Katla is reawakening at the moment.

AFP reports Sigrun Hreinsdottir, a geophysicist with the University of Iceland, as saying that the lava flow has slowed and that the whole eruption could now slow dramatically as a result.

Hreinsdottir says it appears the lava is flowing from a lava chamber one kilometre deep. She likens the

IMF approves Iceland credit review

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund has signed off on its second review of the Icelandic economic recovery package. The Icelandic authorities will now have access to ISK 105 billion (approx. USD 830 million) in foreign currency.

The IMF decided that the conditions placed on Iceland for the continuation of its recovery package have been met. With today’s IMF decision, Iceland will gain access to the equivalent of ISK 20 billion from the IMF and ISK 9 billion from Poland. The Nordic countries are expected to confirm their release of an additional ISK 76 billion shortly.

The funds

Ecolabel approval for Icelandic company with great environmental practices and standards

At the beginning of the year, Iceland's Environmental Minister presented Mr. Jon Omar Erlingsson, the Oddi Printing CEO, a certification from the Nordic Ecolabel for its leading environmental awareness in the Icelandic printing industry.

The presentation was a festive occasion that marked the end of a 12 month process, in which Oddi's employees and managers mapped out all the different environmental practices already in place at the plant as well as upgrading others.

Current environment issues and concerns are however not a new thing for Oddi Printing. It has been an ongoing process for decades and the plant has

Summer cruise ship activities in Hafnarfjordur Iceland

For those of you lucky enough to be planning a cruise ship visit to the 'land of the midnight sun' over the summer months, the port of Hafnarfjordur is the perfect place in Iceland to dock and enjoy some unique cultural activities.

Once you arrive in the wonderful port of Hafnarfjordur, passengers of the visiting cruise ships can experience numerous tours and activities within the surrounding area. The most renowned tours are to the popular Golden Circle, which includes a trip to the site of Iceland's first parliament, Thingvellir, the gushing fountains of Geysir and the breathtaking waterfall of Gullfoss,

Soft drinks linked to lower male fertility

A Danish study has revealed that high soft drink consumption can lead to reduced sperm quality.

Would-be fathers have been warned to cut their intake of sugary carbonated drinks after scientists and doctors at the University of Southern Denmark and the Rigshospital, published the findings of a study in the latest edition of the American Journal of Epidemiology.

The research investigated the correlation of caffeine laden beverages, including soft-drinks, to sperm quality, reports Copenhagen Post.

The study of 2,554 young men, mostly aged around 18-years old, was originally undertaken to determine fitness for military service. The research, however, conducted between

Bariatric and weight loss surgery facility set for Iceland enterprise park

A new medical facility at the Asbru Enterprise Park, Iceland, specialising in bariatric surgery, gastric bypass surgery and weight loss surgery is set to begin development in the second quarter of 2010.

The hospital facility at the Asbru Enterprise Park, situated near Keflavik International Airport, will specialise in weight loss surgery, bariatric surgery and gastric bypass surgery. The facility will house around 35 hospital beds, three operating theatres and all together have the capability of treating up to 4,000 patients per year.

The location for the hospital was chosen mainly due to the area's already strong background with tourists, tourism

Peculiar Danish predator strikes again

The strange sensual delights of North Zealand's so-called 'fartman' have resurfaced, after an eighth woman was confronted by the flatulence-loving fetishist.

The unknown man, who made headlines last month following a series of surprise requests for female joggers to break wind on him, accosted his latest target in the forest surrounding the Kokkedal Castle on the eastern coast.

The hunt for the bizarre obsessive was abandoned by police last month after information from the man's seven previous victims failed to uncover his true identity. The latest target was approached in the woods with the odd request, which she politely chose

Icelandic minister relieved by IMF decision

“This is pretty good news,” says Iceland’s Minister for Trade, Gylfi Magnusson when asked about recent developments in Iceland’s IMF loan package. The overdue review is now on the IMF agenda for 16th April.

Magnusson said the Icelandic government was afraid the situation from the previous review, which was repeatedly delayed for months, would be repeated; but added that that seems to have been averted. There has been ongoing argument over whether Iceland’s unresolved Icesave dispute with the UK and the Netherlands means that the country is not fulfilling its obligations under the IMF-led rescue package and both nations sit

Press Release: The Report of the Althingi Special Investigation Commission

Press Release: The Special Investigation Commission (SIC), which was established by Althingi, the Icelandic Parliament, in December 2008, to investigate and analyse the processes leading to the collapse of the three main banks in Iceland, will deliver its report to Althingi on Monday 12th of April.

The Special Investigation Commission will hold a press conference on its report at 10:30 on Monday 12th of April. A webcast will be available at althingi.is. A summary and excerpts in English will be available at sic.althingi.is at the same time.

For further information please e-mail althingi@althingi.is

Source: IceNews, Daily news from Iceland