65° - 01.11.1969, Blaðsíða 38

“A pinch of good humor is like a pinch of salt”
A temperamental Icelander reported to his
family that a journalist had visited him that day
wishing to write an interview. “I told the fellow
off,” he announced. “I told him that a few years
back another journalist had written such a
ridiculous story about me that I tore it up and
burned it and told him never to show his face
again.”
“Father,” said his son, “It was the same jour-
nalist.” #
A Reykjavik businessman entered a lumber-
yard and asked to see some eleven-foot boards.
The dour owner waved him to a pile of lumber.
“Those are eleven-footers,” he said.
“They can’t be. Some are short and some are
long.”
“They are eleven-feet,” insisted the owner
stoutly.
“Well,” said the businessman, “it’s probably
the same case as in Sweden when they were
changing to the metric system: Some students
came into a butcher store and asked for a metre
of pork. The butcher took the money, saying,
‘A metre is about three feet and a little more,’ and
reaching under the counter he drew up three pigs
feet and a tail!”
The lumber owner stared at the businessman
heavily. After a while he asked, “Who was that
butcher?” #
A professional group is looking far a new
supply agent. Their first agent turned out to be
an alcoholic who borrowed at will from the
group’s funds and repaid at leisure. The second
agent was meticulously honest to the penny and
a great success, till his half a million kronur theft
was revealed. The third agent was exemplary,
then gave sudden notice. A certified accountant
has been called to look at the books.
The transformer connected with the electric
coffeemaker blew the light fuse, and as the room
filled with smoke, a minor panic ensued. Some
lit matches, others hunted candles, some wanted
to call the fire department. Everyone of the
modem-minded clever ladies knew it was a fuse,
but only one had the courage to replace it and
she was prevented by the anxious warnings of
the others. Eventually an ordinary-looking male
electrician arrived, and within seconds the lights
shone on a dozen old-fashioned, blushing faces.
*
A rosy-faced English girl and her pale Icelandic
husband arrived at a shabby hotel in Reykjavik
one night and asked for any place to sleep for a
few hours until their early boat should return
them to their home in the country. A room was
available but had only one bed.
“We’ll take it,” they announced.
The clerk apparently taken aback at this shame-
lessness warned, “We don’t like this sort of thing
here.” #
An example of advertising that defeats its pur-
pose is lived by the chartered busload of visitors
who reach tire country diningroom for dinner and
discover that because they came with the bus,
they must all eat the usual lamb, potatos and
reconstituted peas, at a long communal table, but
that the inefficients who straggled in by other
means can sit at private tables and enjoy salmon,
pork, or anything on the menu and pay the same
price. #
“New stud bull to be purchased, announces
chief bull,” translated the ignoramus, amused at
the pun, but was reminded that although naut
means bull, raSunautur means advisor.