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January 2010

Max Keiser on Silfur Egils

Max Keiser was on Silfur Egils today. I have to confess I had no idea who Max Keiser was, although the name did ring a bell. After a minute or two of searching I remembered why – TJ posted something about him in the forums a while back. Clearly not everyone is like me, because […] Read more

The corruption survival kit

One of the best things to emerge from the collapse is the general sense of humour around here. It has improved by leaps and bounds since that dreary, dull period circa 2004-2008 when Icelanders groveled at the feet of Mammon. Spaugstofan – a weekly programme that sends up current events – had all but petered […] Read more

Seriously, is that all it takes?

What do they ask if you want to become a US national …?

So, the three-party musketeers who set sail for the UK and Holland a couple of days ago have returned and seem rather pleased with what they accomplished. Even Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson from the Progressive Party, a.k.a. The Great Fearmonger in Parliament, has had to acquiesce that the British and Dutch were rather amenable to finding […] Read more

I sneak a peek onto the Mbl website

You know the worst thing about not reading Morgunblaðið any more? I miss the ingenious satire of my favourite cartoonist. Halldór was not one of the ones fired from Morgunblaðið when Doddsson took over, despite the fact that he has been known to throw a punch or two. Which may be because he’s not an […] Read more

Doddsson hauls out the ammunition

So, old Davíð Oddsson – key player in Iceland’s economic collapse, Prime Minister for 13 years, Central Bank director preceding the meltdown, currently editor-in-chief of Morgunblaðið – appears to be preparing the groundwork for his defense in anticipation of the Black Report. As I’ve stated repeatedly, I no longer read Morgunblaðið [well, except when it’s […] Read more

The mystery of the excluded parties

The most bizarre news item of the day was that our Finance Minister Steingrímur J. Sigfússon has gone off to the UK and Holland to discuss the Icesave monster with high ranking officials — along with the leaders of the Independence and Progressive Parties [Bjarni Benediktsson and Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson]. I suppose it’s designed to […] Read more

Iceland: OPEN AGAIN

Ok, so Iceland beat Norway 35-34. Niceland is consequently headed for the semi-finals in the European Championships. wOOt!

Iceland: CLOSED

We would like to inform you that Iceland will be closed from 3 pm to approximately 4.30 pm today. The reason is a wery wery important handball game in which Iceland meets Norway for a shot at the semi-finals in the European Handball Championships. Any attempt to contact any party within Iceland at that time […] Read more

The billion króna shuffle

Last night, RÚV reported that Jón Ásgeir Jóhannesson [tycoon associated with Baugur Group, which once owned half the UK high street and more] had received a “gift or loan” amounting to ISK 1 billion from his pal Pálmi Haraldsson. The funds came through Pálmi’s company Fons and were funneled through Fons’s accounts no fewer than […] Read more