Reykjavík Grapevine - 23.05.2008, Qupperneq 4
04 | Reykjavík Grapevine | Issue 06 2008 | Letters
Hi You guys,
My sour low pH is following: I got a job here in Iceland a
fairly good one, considering I am a útlendingur (Nomad (in
my case)). I’ve been traveling all over the world; therefore I
take the bus a lot. Here comes the problem: Icelandic bus
drivers! Are we at Formula 1 track from Vesturbær to Hilton
Nordica? I have been traveling with buses Thailand, USA,
Norway, England and so on. (Environment thinker also). I
have never come across something like this before, risking
my life on a bus? During the wintertime was very scary, but
also NOW during spring since the drivers can go even faster,
my neck and head is going all-over.
Therefore ill leave this island. Must have my neck un-
til I’m around 80 (and not suffer from whiplash on a public
bus)
Yup, I am a sour old grape... No wonder everybody has a car
Best Regards
Mr D
(Great paper during my 9 months visit here)
Dear D,
My theory is that the only people crazy enough to willfully
choose to drive in circles are indeed race drivers and bus
drivers. Sometimes, when the bus drivers get bored they like
to pretend they are race drivers. This is both common and
understandable. Very much like ordinary Icelandic police of-
ficers that sometimes get bored and like to pretend that they
are members of the French riot police and beat on demonstra-
tors. However, your complaint is highly unusual. Round these
parts, we usually complain over how long it takes to commute
with public transportation, not that it moves too fast. This is
an anomaly that is difficult to account for. Therefore, either
you must be mad, or not in a hurry to get from point a to point
b like the rest of us, which ultimately also means your mad.
Ergo…
Editor
Dear readers,
I’m extremely interested in the amazing world of Whaling.
So I would love any readers - from Iceland or anywhere - to
write to me about what whaling means to you or your com-
munity or nation.
I wonder whether we land dwellers are hunting whales
- after a relatively short intermission - because we’re envious
of superior intelligence. This is after all a new millennium.
Is not the Earth degraded and polluted and brutal enough
without hunting the peace loving kings and queens of the
oceans ???
Just a thought.
Blessings
*Eco*
econow1@gmail.com
Dear Eco,
Given your interest in whaling, you will be glad to know that
Iceland has resumed whaling, yet again, with the Minster for
Fisheries just having released a quota of 40 minkie whales
to be hunted this summer. Obviously, this is great news for a
country that is currently undergoing a serious period of reces-
sion. With the oil prices being what they are, I can see great
future in building car engines that run on whale oil. That’s
something, right?
Editor
Dear readers,
Hello! I have recently returned to Sweden from an excellent
Icelandic adventure. I absolutely loved everything about it...
the landscape, the people... everything. On March 8th I went
out with a group of locals. We went to Solon, Hresso and
ended up at Celtic. This is where I lost my camera with all
my amazing photos... I know its a long shot but I am hop-
ing someone has it and can return it to me, and if not the
camera but at least the memory card. I would love to be able
to remember the trip clearly for years and the photos I took
would surely help me do that. Please if someone found a Sil-
ver Canon Sureshot Camera in the Celtic Bar please return
it, please!
Thank you,
E. Hurford
Address:
E. Hurford
PO Box 641
Squamish, British Columbia
Canada
V2C 6N2
Dear E,
Support the local economy and invest in books of photogra-
phy from Iceland. That’s my advice to you. The professionals
are much better than you at it anyway. But, in case anyone has
seen your camera, they now have your address, although, if
you lost it at the Celtic Cross, a have a feeling you’ll never see
it again. You know these barbaric Celt types.
Editor
Dear Editior,
I want to declare my great displeasure over the music writing
in the Grapevine. All music coverage in the paper is superfi-
cial and aimless. As a testimony to this claim I want to point
out that this spring, Guttormur Sigfússon, farmer in Kross in
Fell released a CD to celebrate his 70th anniversary. On this
CD you’ll find a selection of great accordion tunes written by
Guttormur and performed by a famouse foreign accordion
player. This CD has already been mentioned as the best ac-
cordion release of the year in Iceland.
The Grapevine has completely failed to mention this
remarkable event. The National Broadcasting Service has
already aired a long interview with Guttormur, where many
of the songs where played and it was a pleasure to hear. The
Grapevine should rectify this situation immediately.
Björn
Dear Björn,
I was sadly unaware of this release by Guttormur. Usually we
receive promotional copies of CDs from the labels, or over-
zealous DIY-types, but Guttormur does not seem to fit either
group. I will gladly give Guttormur’s CD to one of my review-
ers, as soon as I get my hands on a copy. I’m excited about
this. Tingling.
Editor
Sour Grapes
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