Reykjavík Grapevine - 06.11.2009, Síða 2

2
The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 17 — 2009
Cover Illustration by:
Hugleikur Dagsson
Printed by Landsprent ehf. in 25.000 copies.
The Reykjavík Grapevine
Hafnarstræti 15, 101 Reykjavík
www.grapevine.is
grapevine@grapevine.is
Published by Fröken ehf.
Member of the Icelandic Travel Industry
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Publisher:
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Editor:
Haukur S Magnússon
haukur@grapevine.is
Journalist:
Catharine Fulton / catharine@grapevine.is
Contributing Writers:
Sigurður K Kristinsson
Bergrún Anna Hallsteinsdóttir
Haukur Már Helgason
Eiríkur Örn Norðdahl
Valur Gunnarsson
Bob Cluness
Dr. Gunni
Rebecca Louder
Samuel Knight
Hugleikur Dagsson
Paul F Nikolov
Étienne Ljóni Poisson
Satu Rämö
Aðalsteinn Jörundsson
Bóas Hallgrímsson
Editorial Interns:
Louise Petersson / louise@grapevine.is
Michael Vladimir Zelenko /
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Food Editor:
Sari Peltonen
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Hörður Kristbjörnsson
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Jóhannes Kjartansson
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Photographers:
Hörður Sveinsson / hordursveinsson.com
Julia Staples / juliastaples.com
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Founders:
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Jón Trausti Sigurðarson,
Oddur Óskar Kjartansson,
Valur Gunnarsson
The Reykjavík Grapevine is published 18
times a year by Fröken ltd. Monthly from
November through April, and fortnightly
from May til October. Nothing in this
magazine may be reproduced in whole or
in part without the written permission of
the publishers. The Reykjavík Grapevine
is distributed around Reykjavík, Akureyri,
Egilsstaðir, Selfoss, Kef lavík, Ísafjörður and
at key locations along road #1, and all major
tourist attractions and tourist information
centres in the country.
Mistakes, Regrets
Last issue, we inadvertently attributed Lóa’s
review of the graphic novel Dungeon to
Hugleikur Dagsson. Sorry, Lóa.
We also left out the names of some of the
restaurants the Bedroom Community crew
recommended. They were as follows: Sturla
Mio Þórisson’s favourite is Boston; Valgeir
Sigurðsson’s is 101 Hotel.
You may not like it, but at least it's not
sponsored. (No articles in the Reykjavík
Grapevine are pay-for articles. The opinions
expressed are the writers’ own, not the
advertisers’).
So, they’re throwing this National Assembly
event next weekend. The idea is to round up
a random selection of 1.500 folks and attempt
to siphon from them an idea of Icelanders’
shared core values, beliefs and ambitions for
the future of their nation, so as to decipher
what sort of society the people wish to build.
They then plan on devising how we can best
achieve these shared goals and visions for a
mutual future.
The organisers pledge to make the outcome
easily accessible and publicly available, so
politicians and authorities can consult with
it when forming policy. The idea is to try and
build a better society, one that reflects the
shared goals and ideas of its citizens.
I don’t know about the methods they plan
on using, and I’ve no idea if this assembly
will produce valuable – or indeed any –
results. In fact, some of the terms they’re
using to promote the event (‘Open Source
Government,’ and ‘The Wisdom of the Crowd’
for instance) sound like empty catchphrases or
vapid pop psychologies.
I’m not really sure what to think about
any of this. I have my doubts. I still gladly
support this experiment, and I really do hope
it provides some results we can work with.
Because frankly, we need all the fucking help
we can get here. Right. Now.
Let me elaborate: I cannot imagine that
anyone that has been closely following the
discourse in Iceland – whether it takes place
in Alþingi, in the news, on blogs or at the bar
– is able to do so without turning hopeless,
apathetic or outright nihilistic.
Every politician seems to be working
strictly under the M.O. of securing and
safeguarding PARTY INTERESTS and their
own position, of gaining or retaining power,
of scoring points and winning arguments.
Of course there are exceptions. They are not
many.
Every pundit seems intent on ignoring
what every other pundit has to say, to type
louder than the next one, to align him or
herself with a faction of choice and upholding
their line or their PARTY INTERESTS without
any attempt at discussion at all. Of course
there are exceptions. They are not many.
Of course this isn’t news to anyone over
the age of twelve.
Repeated exposure to all this begets an
urge to turn on, tune in, drop out. To retreat
to slackerdom, to empty cynicism, partying
and bullshit (as if my generation could retreat
even further into those areas – I suppose it’s
possible). To abandon all ideas of seeking
social justice, of building a fair society, of any
sort of vision for the future.
To lock the doors, pull the drapes, shut the
blinds and try and forget about the rest of the
world.
If you cannot turn down the static, maybe
create some of your own.
I seriously hope this National Assembly
event yields some results. Or that something
yields some results. Anything at all. That we
can once again instil faith in our people that
someone out there isn’t solely motivated by
self-preservation and the will to power.
For if we carry on the route we’ve been
treading for the past year, future generations
of Icelanders may become even more cynical,
jaded and indifferent than the current ones.
And that would be totally uncool, I guess.
Learn more about the National Assembly at
www.thjodfundur2009.is
We hear blogging is all the rage these days. We hear blogs can provide the modern individual with
a refuge for contemplation and joy, that they are fine places to get a daily dose of studied discourse
and enlightening commentary on day to day issues, as well as profound questions that have haunted
man for aeons.
We hear blogs are great places to get informed on such varied topics as The Arts, Politics, The
Entertainment Industry, Gossip, Vast Global Conspiracies and People’s Lives.
We hear you can make some money off blogs, too.
We want in on all this sweet, sweet money... er... discourse. So as of RIGHT NOW, we are calling out
to active bloggers that blog in English and are based in Iceland or write about Iceland-related topics.
We wish to post their blogs on our web-site, www.grapevine.is, so we may score advertising cash and
promote enlightened dialogue within our community.
If you believe your blog does not suck, and that it should be featured on our site, do drop us a line to
editor@grapevine.is.
It would be great if you could use “HAPPY BLOG” as a subject line. Thanks.
Editorial | Haukur S Magnússon
Haukur’s 17th Editorial
Now Is A Great Time To Believe In Nothing
+ COMPLETE CITY LISTINGS - INSIDE!
THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO LIFE, TRAVEL & ENTERTAINMENT IN ICELANDYOUR FREE COPY
Issue 17 – November 6 - December 3 – 2009 www.grapevine.is
Three reasons why Icelanders will miss McDonalds
McDonalds
employees
are happy.
McDonalds burgers
contain real beef.
Ronald McDonald
loves children.
i’m leavin’ it©
ye!
Tel +354 577 60 50
www.sixt.is
Comic | Lóa Hjálmtýsdóttir
You will know Snorri Helgason from his outstanding
songwriting for Sprengjuhöllin (not to mention his singing and
guitar work in that same band). Having toured the world twice
over and released two well received albums within the confines
of Sprengjuhöllin, Snorri is now hard at work finishing his first
solo album, to be released this month via Borgin Records. We
got a sneak preview of the, frankly, strangely titled I’m Gonna
Put My Name On Your Door, and we are happy to report that
the record sounds all sorts of excellent.
Our free track of the month, Don’t Let Her, is one of the
album’s standout songs, a soulful monster of a country ballad
that brings to mind vintage Gram Parsons or even Wilco. Try it
out for yourself!
Snorri Helgason
Don’t Let Her

snorrihelgason
Download the track of the issue DON’T
LET HER at www.grapevine.is
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If so, Grapevine wants you. Maybe.
TRACK OF
THE ISSUE
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free copy at
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MUSIC
&
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LIFE
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