FREE Weather summary Partly cloudy and warm this week, cooler with rain at times early next week. BREAKING: Parliament approves Store Norske bailout. Story at icepeople.net icepeople Full forecast page 3

The world's northernmost alternative newspaper Bearly aware: Polar bear destroys two Vol. 7, Issue 30 August 11, 2015 www.icepeople.net tents at poorly chosen campsite; group also had trouble with weapon 'Unfriendly act' Page 3 Ban on persons for mainland has enacted a new rule allowing the NRK the rule change isn't targeted at a particu- “ deportation of people from the archipelago if lar country and denied accusations it violates To believe that the governor can rescue people out, regardless of now applies to ; Russia they are also banned on the mainland due to one of the key aspects of the Svalbard Treaty. claims new policy violates treaty sanctions or other restrictions. "The treaty gives the citizens of signature circumstances, is wrong. There is no guarantee for that. The change approved Aug. 7 was sought countries an equal right to access and stay in - Per Andreassen, police lieutenant By MARK SABBATINI by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after the the archipelago, but this right is not absolute," Editor controversial visit this spring by Russian she said. "Norwegian authorities have for many Svalbard governor's office All people shall have equal access to Sval- Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, who is years had the legal authority to expel people bard. But some people are more equal than oth- banned from Norway and EU countries due to from the archipelago for various, non-discrimi- ” ers. his role in the Ukraine crisis. Ane Haavardsdat- natory reasons." That Orwellian principle is now reality as ter Lunde, a spokeswoman for the ministry, told See DEPORT page 8

GETTY IMAGES 'Double moralists': Parliament leaders say hypocrisy about nixing coal investments and supporting Store Norske bailout is proper icepeople.net

KINGS BAY AS U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY The lineup – which beast is menacing Ny-Ålesund? The one at left is a polar bear in the settlement, but one that leisurely waddled through in the WENCHE RAVLO "pre-terror" days of 2011. Those to the right are file photos from Canada and Alaska, but the media are making them look like the culprits anyhow.

High ambitions: TERROR SUSPECT Russia again claiming it owns the Ny-Ålesund cowering with polar bears nearby, or so scream headlines with dodgy mug shots North Pole Pages 6 By MARK SABBATINI by and people need to carry guns when they Times (tinyurl.com/qf7r8ty) and numerous other Editor wander out. publications. "Growing Polar Bear Presence Terrifies Apparently the problems caused by what Then, as readers who thought they knew Scientists In Arctic Town Of Ny-Ålesund." the article initially dubs a "nontraditional pest" the most fundamental facts about Svalbard are That headline, along with variations such are a new thing. trying to process this revelation, the writer as "nightmare" and "stalk," is declaring the "They have reduced access to certain areas manages to flip the narrative upside down. Svalbard research settlement under siege be- and forced locals to learn to shoot," asserts the "Polar bears don't regularly attack humans, cause – wait for it – there are polar bears near- article appearing in International Business See FRIGHTENING, page 6

Speed freak Do ya think I'm sexy? Cloudy prospects here! Svalbard has Is Rod Stewart Fog hampers Longyearbyen world's fastest really driving a polar bear buzzy about internet cab here? census first local brew Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 2 August 11, 2015

Who's to blame and how Svalbard: The fastest place to download porn to express your wrath

Editor Mark Sabbatini

Principal of principles Kristan Hutchison

Psychiatrist Irene Gallion

Accomplice Jeff Newsom Mailing address Get some real dirt on icepeople! Icepeople Vei 210 -2- 13 Our global headquarters available for rent during the March 20 eclipse! Sleeps three on actual Longyearbyen, Svalbard furnishings (double bed and sofa), plus a few can squeeze in on the floor. Washing machine, turbo 9170 wi-fi and about a 5-10 minute walk to most places. Plus, you'll be helping provide our pitiful little Norway newspaper with desperately needed funds. Contact [email protected] for details.

Telephone Norway: +47 41 51 46 38 U.S. +1 (970) 673-4472 OPENSTREETMAP / AKAMAI EA / DICE The farce is strong in this one: "A 10-hour trek E-mail It might not seem like it when 100 tourists are all trying to use the library's free public wifi network, to record a single wire effect"…Y'know computers [email protected] but Svalbard and Jan Mayen have the world's fastest average internet connection speeds at 36.5 megabits per second (mbps), according to a new report by Akamai, a content delivery network have this amazing ability to create sounds, too. Web site responsible for 15 to 30 percent of all web traffic. But The Telegraph of London, in an article about Still, even first-world world avg 5.Akamai's official rankings only take www.icepeople.net the study (tinyurl.com/ofbad35), notes the area "has one unique IP address, so the result is into account countries or regions with a unique IP count of at least somewhat skewed." Also, Svalbard loses out when it comes to average peak connection speed, 25,000, which gives South Korea the true top spot, followed by Icepeople is published weekly (or thereabouts) with Singapore (98.5mbps) and Hong Kong (92.6mbps) blazing past third-place South Korea Ireland, Hong Kong, Sweden, The Netherlands, Japan and on Tuesdays (or thereabouts), with printed (79mpbs). By comparison, the average connection speed worldwide is 5mbps. Switzerland. Norway, Latvia and Finland complete the top 10. Akamai copies available free on a limited basis in also calculates the average peak connection speed. In this ranking Longyearbyen. Additional printed copies are available locally and by mail upon request. Charges are on an "at cost" basis. Icesheet Random bits of the week's weirdness: Copyright stuff First it was our vast white powdery "coke mines." Now it seems we've got another secret Briefly Original contents of this publication can be extraction happening in Svalbard as a map reproduced for non-commercial purposes free combining data from lots of government and of charge if Icepeople is credited as the private entities shows Spitsbergen has two Cruising: Getting out of source. The original writers, photographers active oil/gas fields (yup, on the island itself – and other contributors retain their rights to all no "near Svalbard" or "at the same latitude" danger, but into 'death?' published works. hedging). It's safe to say we haven't exactly no- Another cruise season is about to embark ticed an impact from the drilling apparently TEN DIFFERENT DATA SOURCES (SERIOUSLY) full speed ahead in Svalbard, but the smiles of Mainland town claims to be top Corrections policy taking place there, so we wouldn't be all that About those dinosaur digs: Are they really just those greeting passengers aren't being shared worried expect it's just a tiny portion of a map removing fossils or, as this map suggests, are by a lot of industry executives these days. per-person telethon giver, a title When we screw up you'll know about it – on intended to show "Russia's dominant militariza- they extracting a more liquid form of the beasts? They took a blow last month when Britain held by Longyearbyen for years the front page. One of the big complaints tion of the Arctic." The map and an article pub- ol' government – which took years of persuading issued a warning telling travelers cruising here about newspapers is they tend to bury lished by Business Insider (tinyurl.com/ before they overturned a ban on making booze is too dangerous. That warning may be re- corrections and clarifications deep inside qdlvkmc) show Russian red spots are definitely here – is still finding ways to keep us from in- where few people who read the original article outpacing the spread of purple dots in all other dulging. It seems they forgot Svalbard when see them. If we need to fix something, an alert Arctic nations, except we can't help suspecting changing Norway's Alcohol Act last Decem- box on the front page will state what story is in the intelligence sources may have something of ber to allow sales on New Year's Eve, election error and where the full correction is printed. a "Mission Accomplished" accuracy to them … day, and the day before and after Easter, ac- More than people Our local brewery is finally offering folks an in- cording to NRK. But fear not: they've sobered Submitting material toxicating experience, but it turns out the mean up and are including us as of Oct. 1. trumps subtlety whenever it sees its chance. Letters, columns, photos and other material are welcome, but we can't offer pay for Be part of Longyearbyen's growing future! published items since nobody here is getting He also expressed confidence that Russia can do everything itself: from special Polar Permaculture has a vision to develop a resilient and healthy fabrics and equipment for any research work in the Arctic. paid at the moment. Submissions in electronic community while reducing our impact on the environment. Our team of form (text, Word documents, JPEGs, etc.) are experts are creating solutions for organic food growing, transformation of highly preferred, although typing and/or РИА Новости http://ria.ru/economy/20150604/1068123958.html#ixzz3c- waste streams and engaging our community. Work is commencing on our ZLTVNCk scanning of items will be considered on a per- greenhouse project now. Could you be part of case basis. We reserve the right to edit the solution? We would love to hear from you. submissions for length, clarity, accuracy, libel watch guy and other reasons, but we will also make every reasonable effort to contact the author Polar Permaculture about any changes prior to publication. www.polarpermaculture.com ! 4695 4875 ! [email protected] Lancing the lance August 11, 2015 Page 3

HEADLINES STOLEN FROM SVALBARDPOSTEN VERDENS NORDLIGSTE AVIS Say, aren't you that rock star? Why are you driving my cab? If you think Rod Stewart is now a taxi driver in Longyearbyen, you're excused. Nils Engen, 65, has only been living in Longyearbyen for a month, but he's already become a celebrity in town. "It is thing with tourists who ask if I will sing in the taxi and they often NOT ROD come with suggestions for a STEWART tune," Engen said. "But it is difficult to imitate the voice of Rod Stewart. I VICTORIA ENGELSCHØN NASH / NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM have to take some nips of whiskey to do it." A fossil excavation team, above, rakes a He said his look originated 20 years ago when mountainside in Flowerdalen where bones from a female barber wanted to try something new several animals that lived about 242 million years with his hair, but nobody at the time mistook ago have been discovered. The tools helped him for the now 70-year-old singer. But he participants reveal a large collection of fossils said it's common now and he's acted the part overlooked during work in the area last summer. at times while on vacation. "When a waiter At right, a member of the expedition scrapes comes over and wants an autograph, I play shale "layer by layer" from a hillside where the along. Then I get extra good service with tail of a prehistoric marine reptile was found, drinks and everything." adding a fourth project to the three sites discovered last year. This year's excavation, the tenth such project led by Oslo paleontologist SAS flight arrives without half Jørn Hurum in Svalbard, started Aug. 3 and is of the passengers' baggage scheduled to continue through this week. A Scandinavian Airlines flight from Oslo JØRN HURUM / NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM landed in Longyearbyen without nearly half of the baggage checked by passengers Wednesday (Aug. 12), according to an airline Rakes vs. monsters spokeswoman who attributed to mixup to Excavators harvesting bumper Among the mysterious finds are jawbone human error. "My impression is baggage fragments from a 245-million-year-old om- sometimes gets delayed, but this magnitude is crop of prehistoric fossils with phalosaurus, "a strange animal" whose classifi- rare," said Cathrine Myhren. The 90 missing help from common garden tools cation isn't fully known, according to an entry items are scheduled to be flown on an extra by Aubrey Roberts and Victoria Engelschøn flight by SAS arriving at 1:55 p.m. Thursday. By MARK SABBATINI Nash in the official blog for the Natural Histo- Editor ry Museum at the University of Oslo project. 37K hike of ten peaks around Bringing a rake to a monster fight might The team also made a surprising find of normally be ill-advised, but since the youngest Longyearbyen starts Sat. fossils from numerous species – including A hike summiting ten peaks around of the creatures is 238 million years old they ichthyosaurs, shark teeth and fish vertebrae – don't move like they used to. Longyearbyen is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. in a 242-million-year-old layer of soil. Saturday at Taubanesentralen. The goal is to The garden tools are helping harvest a "We thought really it was picked clean last bumper crop of prehistoric animals during this complete the 37-kilometer hike in less than 24 year, so three evenings ago we were very sur- hours, according to Kjetil Dahl Knutsen, who summer's fossil excavation led by Oslo paleon- prised to find even more bones," the blog post tologist Jørn Hurum, his tenth expedition in is helping organize the event. Participants are notes. "We realized that we had hardly gotten responsible for their own safety precautions, Svalbard since 2004. An excavation team is the mountainside picked clean" and "it turns spending its final week in Flowerdalen uncov- including weapons and GPS devices, since all out raking the mountainsides is very effective participants may not end up hiking at the same ering bones at four sites where a wide variety for getting the bones to literally pop out." of familiar and unknown species have been dis- pace. As of mid-week, about 80 people are There's more! Visit www.icepeople.net planning to participate. covered. for the complete story. Weather forecast for Longyearbyen

Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Partly cloudy. W winds to 29 Partly cloudy. W winds to 29 Partly cloudy. Variable winds to Partly cloudy. NE winds to 22 km/h. High 13C (10C wind km/h. High 12C (10C wind 22 km/h. High 11C (9C wind km/h. High 10C (8C wind chill), low 8C (7C wind chill). chill), low 10C (7C wind chill). chill), low 9C (7C wind chill). chill), low 7C (4C wind chill).

24-hour daylight 24-hour daylight 24-hour daylight 24-hour daylight Extended forecast: Sunday, p. cloudy, 8C (6C), 5C (2C), light 24:00h; Monday, rain, 6C (3C), 5C (1C), light 24:00h; Tuesday, rain, 7C (4C), 6C (3C), light 24:00h; Wednesday, p. cloudy, 8C (5C), 5C (2C), light 24:00h Data provided by storm.no Page 4 August 11, 2015

TIAGO MARCES / NORWEGIAN POLAR INSTITUTE NICK COBBING / NORWEGIAN POLAR INSTITUTE A polar bear, left, is spotted on the sea ice in northeast Svalbard by census takers from the Norwegian Polar Institute during a count of the animals this month. At right, a helicopter prepares to land on the Lance research vessel as fog halts the count for the day. Fox population thrives Because the reindeer couldn't eat, the foxes feasted in abundance. Bare in the air An annual four-week survey of fox Fog hampers first full polar bear erate, so we cannot fly unless we have a good dens in Svalbard found pups in nearly half view of the surroundings," he wrote in an entry this summer, according to Eva Fuglei, one census in Svalbard since 2004 this week on the project's official blog of the researchers participating in the count By MARK SABBATINI (tinyurl.com/p582dry). "Also, icing on the air- for the Norwegian Polar Institute. While Editor craft is a risk under such conditions, something below last year's record of more than 60 First Mother Russia blocked the view on that can dramatically reduce the flying capabili- percent last summer, the pups born last year their side, now Mother Nature is doing the ties of the aircraft." had a relatively good winter survival rate. same over here. Similar problems hampered the last full po- "One important reason why we find A census of the polar bear population in lar bear count in 2004, Andersen wrote. But he pups in dens is a high mortality rate of the Barents Sea region is progressing slower said they have successfully conducted counts in reindeer whose carcasses serve as food for than hoped due to lingering fog that has forced many areas they've visited so far this summer. foxes in late winter" she wrote in a researchers to abandon some of their efforts, The census, originally planned for the summary of the count. "High reindeer death according to Magnus Andersen, a senior engi- whole region, is only taking place on the Nor- rates in winter occur when grazing areas on neer participating in the project led by the Nor- wegian side because Russia is denying access. the tundra becomes covered with ice as a wegian Polar Institute. There's more! Visit www.icepeople.net result of mild weather with periods of rain "Our helicopter needs good visibility to op- for the complete story. which then freezes and blocks feeding." Russians finally get their ship together Scientists near the North Pole getting ready to depart after staying twice as long as planned By MARK SABBATINI Editor Participants in a landmark Russian research project are feeling very warm feeling about being stuck in a deep freeze for so long. The "North Pole 2015" expedition, which NICK COBBING / NORWEGIAN POLAR INSTITUTE began April 11 about seven kilometers from the A helicopter, left, lifts cargo off an ice floe being used by Russian scientists as a research station. At geographic North Pole, finally started packing right, scientists aboard an icebreaker heading toward the camp spot a polar bear on the ice. up last week after spending twice as much time on the sea ice as originally scheduled, has great scientific value as it allows us to camp's ice floe since May, according to TASS. according to Russia's TASS news agency. watch natural processes that not only have an Russia has had floating research stations in the "The scientists have been able to get really impact on the climate of our planet, but are Arctic since 1937, but is finding it increasingly valuable scientific data on biodiversity and indicators of the ongoing climate change." difficult to find stable floes due to climate signs of climate change in different Favorable weather conditions allowed the change. environments," said Sergey Donskoy, Russia’s project to last longer than expected, with There's more! Visit www.icepeople.net Minister of Natural Resources. "The research participants in an autonomous drift on the for the complete story. August 11, 2015 Page 5

MARK SABBATINI / ICEPEOPLE SVALBARD BRYGGERI Local residents and visitors line up at the bar at Coal Miners' Cabin, left, during a debut party for Longyearbyen's first locally brewed beer Friday evening. At right, a keg containing the first batch of brewed by Svalbard Bryggeri awaits transport at the company's facility. capacity for 10,000 liters a week. Svalbard's glacier water is interacting with grains differently than expected Buzzing about beer 1-compared to beer in Barentsburgs "No charac- ter and no flavor." Longyearbyen's first-ever brewery gets off to a start that's late, yet early; rollicking, yet slightly bitter Morten Rasch, Villum Research Station, Station By MARK SABBATINI Nord, which as the northernmost such facility in Editor Greenland can also lay claim to "the northernmost After waiting months longer than expected drunk beer." for the first keg of Longyearbyen's first-ever lo- "It's a bit more sour" than he's used to, but still cally brewed beer to be tapped, the revelers de- looking forward to hauling cases back to the research cided they didn't need their hosts to start the station once they're available. buzz. a few holdouts. Occupants of one table were The suds were flowing freely hours before drinking wine – to better accompany their meal, they the scheduled 6 p.m. debut of two varieties of said, but a beer tasting would follow. beer from Svalbard Bryggeri at Coal Miners' Harald Johansen, Hege Gundersen ("Im driving") Cabin on Friday. But it's not like the customers can really be blamed, since the alternative was "typical summer beer" airport security job sobriety. "One beer "Normally we serve Mack (brewed in Tromsø), but when that disappeared we only had this," said Inger-Johanne Mørk, one of the bartenders working the party. Missing the first tasting didn't put a damper on the spirits of Andreas Hegermann Riis and Robert Johansen, whose brewery is finally fer- menting after more than six years of work. "We should have done this three months MARK SABBATINI / ICEPEOPLE ago, but I'm really happy we're here now," Riis Andreas Hegermann Riis and Robert Johansen toast each other with the beer they brewed during said. the debut party at Coal Miners' Cabin. They hope to start selling beer in cans by next week. Johansen initiated the project, with much of the past six years spent convincing officials ing the first beer in Svalbard: a small brewery 2,000 liters of it." to overturn a law that's banned the manufacture in Barentsburg opened a couple of years ago The brewery can manufacture up to 10,000 of alcohol in Svalbard since 1929. Shipping and that produces up to 500 liters a day of low-alco- liters a week. Riis said the beer is initially only other problems added to the delay once con- hol (2.5 percent) beer under a provision in Nor- being sold in kegs at eateries, but hopes canned struction of the brewery finally started. wegian law at the time. But Bürgler, after a beer will be available for retail purchase by The first batch of pale ale and wheat beer taste test of the Russian beer, said it has "no next week. The brewery plans to add and got mostly, if not universally, positive reviews character and no flavor." to its regular product line, and produce from locals and visitors who packed the pub. A few tasters called the pale ale a bit sour, special varieties for occasions such as the local "I think it's very tasty," said Timmy Bür- which Riis said was caused by Svalbard's Oktoberfest festival. EXCAVATE from page 1 gler, a bartender at Coal Miners' Cabin and glacier water interacting differently with the "I'm looking forward to them mixing it up Barentz Pub. "I was surprised because there is hops than expected. a little," said Fredrik Järkenstedt, a bartender at no competition so he doesn't have to be global- "We have discussed things to improve the Kroa. "It's the northernmost beer in the world – ly competitive, but by Norway's standards it's bitterness a bit and make it more balanced," he let's do something crazy with it." good." said, adding recipes will be constantly evaluat- There's more! Visit www.icepeople.net Technically, the brewery isn't manufactur- ed and improved. "That's why we only brewed for the complete story. Page 6 August 11, 2015

A fixed camera at the Zeppelin Observatory captures a picture of Ny-Ålesund and Kongsfjorden this week. Longtime inhabitants of the settlement say it is going through drastic changes due to climate change, including the inability to walk or snowmobile on the ice in the bay because it hasn't frozen over since 2007. New plant and animal species are also being observed in the area, often displacing traditional lifeforms, and polar bear encounters have risen steadily during the past 20 years. KINGS BAY AS Don't trust the headlines FRIGHTENING, from page 1 shooting, just to be more aware and to avoid the and nobody in Ny-Ålesund has ever been hurt bear area – for this we keep the inhabitants of Russia submits new North Pole by one. But the residents constantly see the Ny-Ålesund informed daily about the bear situ- claim to U.N., vying w/ Denmark 1,200-pound animals roaming around, looking ation," he wrote. "It is NOT a nightmare to be for food." in Ny-Ålesund this summer at all. It is definite- and Canada for rights to riches The article is what might be called a ly bad interpretation of the actual bear situation mauled version of a story originally published in Ny-Ålesund." by Agence France-Presse (tinyurl.com/ The reality, which the "alternate" article q8zfkga) that paints a more realistic picture of does include, is residents are seeing more bears life in the settlement, albeit with its share of in recent years. eye-grabbing quotes. STÅLE NYLUND / STORE NORSKE "Always more in summer than in winter," "A gun is your passport for leaving the Meanwhile, an actual "stalker" at Svea: A Barrault wrote. "(The) hypothesis from some town," Sébastien Barrault, the settlement's re- female polar bear that resisted efforts to chase it scientists is simply because they explore new There's more! Visit www.icepeople.net search director, told AFP. away from the mining settlement is one of three areas for finding food after the winter or be- for the complete story. Barrault, in an e-mail interview with bears seen by miners during the past week. cause the ice is less available on the east coast Icepeople, stated the "terrifies scientists" article "is definitely not picturing the reality." and they have to find new territories." – which is getting at least equal play online – "We are NOT forced to learn more about Two female bears and their two cubs have been feeding on the carcass of a stranded wal- rus about four kilometers from the settlement, Worth 1,078 words so scientists are avoiding the area and tour security boats are being asked to keep their distance Expressive and enigmatic photos of from the site, he noted. Svalbard by Nora Grøndal. "We don’t want them to be scared and to jump? flee towards town," Barrault wrote. 120 X 80 cm on aluminum or acrylic, with A separate article published by AFP de- anti-contact wall fixtures - 3,200 kroner scribes "alarming changes" in the settlement Small floating table/shelf images - 350 kroner that are far more valid and support the theory for the rising presence of bears. Arts&Crafts Center at Galleri Svalbard. "Not so long ago, the skeleton staff over- See Nora's portfolio at www.nora.heime.net Open 11-17 daily 95 10 49 45 wintering at the Ny-Alesund research center could walk on the Arctic town's frozen bay and By MARK SABBATINI race their snowmobiles across its surface," the Editor beginning of the article notes. "Now there is It could be called a fight for the northern- liquid water even in the coldest months." most chunk of ice in the worlion square kilome- The Mac Hack Kongsfjorden hasn't frozen over once since ters. Estimates indicate that t We impishly dissect, gleefully crush and sadistically drown 2007 and the last time researchers could walk Macintoshes. But since not many people are willing to pay on the ice there was in the 2004, according for that, we also repair, upgrade, disinfect Macs, and offer long-time residents who were interviewed. The spare cables, batteries and other parts – cheap! area has warmed about 1.0 to 1.2 degrees Cel- sius during each of the past two decades, far Got a truly dead machine? Let us have "fun" with it! quicker than other parts of the planet and the (Seriously, the parts can help others and keep our prices low.) region's historical climate pattern. There's more! Visit www.icepeople.net Call Mark at 4151 4648 or e-mail marksabbatini@ yahoo.com for the complete story. August 11, 2015 Page 7

We're doing everything wrong. And proud of it...

Think Icepeople is a joke? (Um, OK, we'll call that opening line another screw-up and move on.)

We've been in the newspaper business for nearly 30 years and learned just about everything you ought to know from some of the best in the industry. Make sure you interview at least "X" minorities for each story (USA Today). A momentary expression of grief captured by a photographer says more than an hour of dialogue during an inspirational seminar (Los Angeles Times). Don't pass out outside at the South Pole in your underwear (The Antarctic Sun). Tots eating ice cream can be just as appealing as space aliens endorsing presidential candidates (Weekly World News). Don't worry about that photo of "Svalbard" where trees are clearly visible (The Guardian) - readers will never notice (which might explain why so many folks think polar bears and penguins co-exist).

Say what you will about the world's northernmost alternative newspaper (a.k.a. the coolest newspaper on Earth - and, wow was it a struggle figuring out which to officially use in the masthead). But despite our absurdly inane headlines, snarky ledes, tendency to make fun of Russians who've shown nothing but awesomeness when we've been there and constant use of first-person plural references to a newspaper run almost entirely by one guy whose sanity is often called into question, we have never for a moment wavered from our goal of trying to inform you in the best way possible. Without succumbing to the always-shifting MSM wisdom.

Remember when websites were something you could read without endless scrolling, mouseclicks and non-stop sales pitches?

Again, we've blown off pretty much everything the "experts" advise. No pop-up ads. No slideshows. No auto-play videos. No mandatory "sign up for our spam" registrations. No "trendy" overhauls making the text and pictures big enough for Helen Keller to see clearly.

And, BTW, no pretending Twitter messages are "news." We didn't get into newspapers to offer stories that fit into a TV news soundbite, much less a bumper sticker.

Plus, of course, we're giving it all away – along with special items like our new walking tour map – for free. Which basically means we're idiots businesswise – and broke.

Fear not - this isn't where the hard sales pitch comes in. Just a polite appeal to make a donation by clicking on the absurdly tiny and unobtrusive "buy it now" button and purchase a one-time "subscription" for any amount.

Those who do will get a special opportunity to add their own personal (non-commercial) point of interest to the backside of our map, which will remain until there's enough others to push it off. Plus you'll get a high-quality PDF and a spot on the website map for all eternity.

icepeople.net Page 8 August 11, 2015

The good, the bad and the really, really ugly What's up

Aug. 14 7 p.m.: Svalbard Day celebration, with historic tales and music. Svalbard Church. 7 p.m.: Exhibit opening: "Exploration of Norway's Flag." Gallery Svalbard. as a result of Ro- Aug. 16 gozin's visit. 11 a.m.: Mass. Svalbard Church. The Spitsbergen, or the Svalbard Islands, 7 p.m.: Movie: "Trainwreck," U.S. was handed over to Nor- comedy, no age limit specified way after WWI on con- Kulturhuset. dition of preserving its Aug. 18 special international sta- tus. The 1920 Spitsber- 7 p.m.: Evening Mass and fireplace gen Treaty fixed Nor- social. Svalbard Church. way’s sovereignty over Aug. 20 the archipelago and granted equal rights to First day for Longyearbyen School more than 40 countries ANTIPODSCAFE.ORG students. Full day for grades 2-10 starts that signed the Treaty to A Longyearbyen School student, top left, holds up the flag she would have designed for Norway if at 8:30 a.m.: first-grade students meet use its resources. How- she prevailed in an 1821 competition among the country's elite. About 20 flags designed by from 10 a.m.-noon. ever, Norway and Rus- Longyearbyen students will be part of an exhibit of more than 400 flags titled "Utforsking av Aug. 22 sia are the only coun- Norges Flagg" ("Exploration of Norway's Flag"), which will be unveiled at 7 p.m. Friday at Galleri 5 p.m.: Movie: "Minions" (3D), U.S. tries to preserve their Svalbard. Included in the exhibit are all variations of the flag, real and fictitious, including the economic presence on version flown during Germany's occupation of Norway during World War II, shown at top right. At animated/comedy dubbed in Norwegian. Spitsbergen. Spitsber- bottom left, an option for people to design and share their designs is offered at the project's No age limit specified. Kulturhuset. gen can be reached by website (antipodescafe.org/norgesflagg/skape). At bottom right, local students learn about the Aug. 23 regular flights via conti- history of Norway's flag prior to designing their own versions during a workshop at the school last 11 a.m.: Mass w/ return of Priest Leif nental Norway, for october. The exhibit, part of a project initiated in 2012 and intended to continue until the flag's which a transit Schen- 200th anniversary, will be on display in Longyearbyen until Sept. 11. Magne Helgesen from summer protest of gen visa may be neces- Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Hundredssary, or by of charter Longyearbyen Svalbard Church. residents,flights from Russia. visitors left high and Russia: New law violates treaty 6 p.m.: Movie: "Inside Out," U.S. - The new legisla- animated, no age limit specified. drytion Sunday complies with by thisdamaged pipe DEPORT from page 1 mentioned unfriendly act and demand immedi- principle of equal treat- The change is in effect until Aug 31, 2016, ate reconsideration of the imposed restrictions," Kulturhuset. ment as the Svalbard while a performant policy revision is drafted. the statement adds. Aug. 25 Treaty assumed, says Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a Norway is also now requiring airlines to By MARK SABBATINI 7 p.m.: Evening Mass and fireplace communications consul- statement, declared "it is absolutely obvious" submit the names of all passengers on all social. Svalbard Church. Editortant in the Ministry of the change is targeting "those who fall under scheduled and charter flights to Svalbard, ac- ForeignA leak in Affairs,a water main Ane at Vei 217 left hun- EU’s anti-Russian sanctions." are meant by the knowledging the action is due to Rogozin's visit. Aug. 26 dreds of LTuva Langfeldt latter category," the foreign ministry said. There's more! Visit www.icepeople.net H a a v a r d D a u g h t e r 6 p.m.: Movie: "Stille Hjerte," Danish "We decisively protest against the afore- for the complete story. Lunde told NRK. drama, no age limit specified. Kulturhuset. The new rules are general and not de- Aug. 30 There's more! Visit www.icepeople.net signed to affect persons for the complete story. 11 a.m.: Mass. Svalbard Church. or companies from one particular nationality, 5 p.m.: Movie: "Paper Towns," U.S. she says. suspense film for youths, ages 9 and up. Kulturhuset. 11 August 2015 kl. 7 p.m.: Movie: "Bølgen," Norwegian 7:40 Do not think the catastrophe, ages 15 and up. increased Svalbard con- flict - The reaction of What's online the Russian authorities "!is book does not only (we need it too much to use is not surprising, says cover comprehensive THE complete guidebook information concerning all Icepeople.net provides daily updates of a more clever headline) senior researcher Arild "elds of possible interest, news about Svalbard and the world's Moe at the Fridtjof by the complete guide but is at the same time a polar regions, plus extras for articles from (we need it too much to use Nansen Institute. The photo book containing HELP! a more clever headline) Russian Foreign Min- many color images to the print edition. Among the latest news: illustrate many wildlife istry protest that Nor- and #ower species and to ● Norway's military fortifying Jan Mayen What you spend on coffee in a week can document landscapes and provide a jolt from Icepeople for a year. places from all over the ● Atlas changes drastically due to climate archipelago." - Reader review ● Antarctica: Guide for space mining laws? Visit icepeople.net and, while checking out the ● Drones revolutionize study of whale snot extra content, click the "subscribe" box to Sailing Voyages • Books • Photography • DVDs • Polar News And Information help with a one-time donation of any amount.