Finnish men still best in the world at carrying wives

After taking things one step further than lifting his partner over the threshold on their wedding day, a Finnish man has proven himself the best in the world at wife carrying for the second year running. This year's world wife carrying championships in Sonkajarvi, northern Savo, saw Taisto Miettinen heave his pint-sized bride Kristiina Haapanen over the finish line to victory once again.

The dedicated duo was a clear five seconds ahead of the competition, Estonian couple Alar Voogle and Kristi Viltropi. Southwest Finland couple ILpo Haalosto and Satu Jurinen also made their country proud by clinching third place in

Invest in Iceland Act passed

The Icelandic Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism proposed a new bill of law that has recently been passed for investments in Iceland. The 'Incentives for Initial Investment in Iceland' bill is directed towards promoting initial investment in commercial operations, the competitiveness of Iceland and regional development by specifying what incentives are permitted in respect of new investments in Iceland and how they should be used.

Now that the Act is in motion, the Minister of Industry has authorisation to enter into new investment contracts on behalf of the Government. The previous methodology of making investment agreements on a

Former Morgunblaðið Editor Styrmir Gunnarsson On Why Iceland Should Not Join The EU

Styrmir Gunnarson has been at the forefront of the Icelandic political landscape for nearly half a century, including 36 years as editor of the daily newspaper Morgunblaðið, which has strong ties to the political right in Iceland. As editor of this formerly most influential medium in Iceland, Stymir has been in a unique position to observe and even shape the political discourse in this country.

Since retiring his editorial chops in 2008, Styrmir has been taken a very active part in the local discourse. Among other things, he has published two books, one documenting the collapse of the Icelandic banks ('The Siege'), and another detailing his take on the findings of the Special Investigation Committee's report. He is also an active member of the organisation Heimssýn, "Iceland's 'No to EU' movement, [whose] members agree that Iceland's interests are best served as an independent country outside the European Union.

Founded in 2002 as a cross-political organisation, Heimssýn's goal has remained the same: to keep Iceland outside the EU" (we stole this description off their website).

By your definition what is the EU and what does it do?

The European Union, in my point of view, was formed to prevent further wars on the European continent, after two world wars in the Twentieth century, and many wars in former centuries. That's why it came into being.

Get Ready For Horrible Cuteness!

Are you excited about Loops 2010 yet? You should be! It's only the most exciting thing to happen to Reykjavík all summer long. Let's break it down:

Loops 2010 takes place between June 17 and July 4, and is the first of what will hopefully be many annual Nordic yarncraft festivals in the Nordic House. The programme offers art exhibitions, workshops, symposiums and talks, not to mention all manner of off-venue events as well. The focus is firmly on the Nordic knitting traditions, of which there are many because, well, it's cold up north.

However, this is no fusty festival of conservative orthodoxy. While most of the designers and artists participating are inspired by and work within the traditions, they all present their own spin on things, resulting in various kinds of craziness and/or styles. The festival's programme is too detailed and marvellous to properly examine here, so head on over to www.nordichouse.is instead to check it out.

Cute and macabre

One of the most anticipated events in this line-up of greatness is surely a show by German artist Patricia Waller. Her work combines the cute and macabre in an elegant and humorous way, so that one cannot help but laugh, want to give the work a hug and feel repulsed—all at the same time. Why is she showing at a yarncraft festival, you ask? Because she crochets all her work!

"I used to knit pullovers as a teenager, but it had nothing to do with art at that point," says Patricia when asked of her love of crochet as artistic medium. "I began crocheting when I was

Former Morgunblaðið Editor Styrmir Gunnarsson On Why Iceland Should Not Join The EU

Styrmir Gunnarson has been at the forefront of the Icelandic political landscape for nearly half a century, including 36 years as editor of the daily newspaper Morgunblaðið, which has strong ties to the political right in Iceland. As editor of this formerly most influential medium in Iceland, Stymir has been in a unique position to observe and even shape the political discourse in this country.

Since retiring his editorial chops in 2008, Styrmir has been taken a very active part in the local discourse. Among other things, he has published two books, one documenting the collapse of the Icelandic banks ('The Siege'), and another detailing his take on the findings of the Special Investigation Committee's report. He is also an active member of the organisation Heimssýn, "Iceland's 'No to EU' movement, [whose] members agree that Iceland's interests are best served as an independent country outside the European Union.

Founded in 2002 as a cross-political organisation, Heimssýn's goal has remained the same: to keep Iceland outside the EU" (we stole this description off their website).

By your definition what is the EU and what does it do?

The European Union, in my point of view, was formed to prevent further wars on the European continent, after two world wars in the Twentieth century, and many wars in former centuries. That's why it came into being.

Former Morgunblaðið Editor Styrmir Gunnarsson On Why Iceland Should Not Join The EU

Styrmir Gunnarson has been at the forefront of the Icelandic political landscape for nearly half a century, including 36 years as editor of the daily newspaper Morgunblaðið, which has strong ties to the political right in Iceland. As editor of this formerly most influential medium in Iceland, Stymir has been in a unique position to observe and even shape the political discourse in this country.

Since retiring his editorial chops in 2008, Styrmir has been taken a very active part in the local discourse. Among other things, he has published two books, one documenting the collapse of the Icelandic banks ('The Siege'), and another detailing his take on the findings of the Special Investigation Committee's report. He is also an active member of the organisation Heimssýn, "Iceland's 'No to EU' movement, [whose] members agree that Iceland's interests are best served as an independent country outside the European Union.

Founded in 2002 as a cross-political organisation, Heimssýn's goal has remained the same: to keep Iceland outside the EU" (we stole this description off their website).

By your definition what is the EU and what does it do?

The European Union, in my point of view, was formed to prevent further wars on the European continent, after two world wars in the Twentieth century, and many wars in former centuries. That's why it came into being.

Oddi Printing delivers a new hardcover catalogue for the Guggenheim Museum

Oddi Printing recently completed a hardcover exhibition catalogue for the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. Being Singular Plural: Moving Images from India was a challenging book to produce; it is comprised of three different paper stocks (both coated and uncoated), which necessitated a demanding proofing and production process that met the Guggenheim's standards of excellence.

Oddi earlier this year opened up a new office in New York in order to cope with the demand for its high quality colour printing.

Oddi Printing has been serving its clients in the U.S. for around 20 years from its office in Pennsylvania, but