Issues of the Reyk- Stacked, These Boxes Would Reach Students at the University of Javík Grapevine
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13.65% Increase in usage of the city public bus system. 29 The number 360,000,000,000 of fatalities The amount of real estate transactions (ISK). in accidents. 4,000,000 Average number of pizza boxes 9786 used by Icelanders every year. If The number of registered 18Issues of The Reyk- stacked, these boxes would reach students at the University of javík Grapevine. a height of apx. 240 km. Iceland. 11% Increase in the market price 5.5Average heat (in °C) in Reyk- index for apart- javík. Only .5 degrees colder ment housing in than the hottest year yet. Reykjavík. 22,603 830,000 New cars reg- istered. 517 Number of text messages sent on the Síminn network alone on New Year’s less than the 1.8%Population increase in Iceland. Eve. A 30% increase from last year. year before. 312,872 5.9% The population of Iceland. Twelve month infla- tion in Iceland. 1809 The number of ships in Iceland. 2,200,000 The number of 4000 The number of pas- Ice-cream sellers The number of new internet sengers travelling shut down in Reyk- domains registered, bringing through Leifur javík for not pass- the total of Icelandic domains Eiríksson Interna- ing health- to 20.000. tional Airport. 2 inspections. The Grapevine Selects the Album of the Year • Interview With Director Ragnar Bragason The Last Day of Earth • Jesus Christ Enters the Stage • The Lonesome Traveller Gets Wet + info. A Complete City Guide and Listings: Map, Dining, Music, Arts and Events Issue 01 // Jan 11 - Feb 07 2008 02 | Reykjavík Grapevine | Issue 01 2008 | Year 6 | January 11 – Febuary 07 The Reykjavík Grapevine Opinion Vesturgata 5, 101 Reykjavík www.grapevine.is Freedom in Pyrotechnics 08 [email protected] An opinion by Alexandra Hertell www.myspace.com/reykjavikgrapevine Published by Fröken ehf. Four random conclusions for 2007 08 An opinion by Haukur Magnússon Editorial: +354 540 3600 / [email protected] Advertising: +354 540 3605 / [email protected] Articles Publisher: +354 540 3601 / [email protected] No Sleep, No Pay 06 Interview with filmmaker Ragnar Bragason The Reykjavík Grapevine Staff Publisher: Life in Numbers 09 Hilmar Steinn Grétarsson Reviewing a year in the life of Páll Hilmarsson in numbers [email protected] Editor: Recent Books About Iceland 21 Sveinn Birkir Björnsson / [email protected] Reading suggestions for the Icelandophile Assistant Editor: Steinunn Jakobsdóttir / [email protected] Staff Writer: Valgerður Þóroddsdóttir / [email protected] Features Contributing Writer: Haukur Magnússon / [email protected] Scenes from Suburbia 12 Ian Watson / www.ianwatson.org Photojournal from Seltjarnarnes Art Director: Gunnar Þorvaldsson / [email protected] Looking Back 14 Photographer: The Year’s Most Interesting Headlines Gunnlaugur Arnar Sigurðsson [email protected] Top 10 Albums of 2007 15 Marketing Director: The Grapevine awards its respected album of the year title Jón Trausti Sigurðarson / [email protected] Sales Director: Top of the Charts 16 Aðalsteinn Jörundsson Interview with Markús Bjarnason & Birkir Fjalar Viðarsson [email protected] Support Manager: Oddur Óskar Kjartansson / [email protected] Distribution: Music & Nightlife Þórir Gunnar Jónsson / [email protected] Proofreader: Psychedelic Normalcy 18 Jane Victoria Appleton Benny Crespo’s Gang in Concert Press releases: Jesus Christ Rockstar 18 [email protected] Jesus Christ Superstar steps on stage Submissions inquiries: [email protected] CD Reviews 19 Subscription inquiries: +354 540 3605 / [email protected] General inquiries: Outside Reykjavík [email protected] The Reykjavík Grapevine is published 18 times A Different Kind of Country Music 22 a year by Fröken ltd. Monthly from November Yet another American music journalist drives the Ring Road through April, and fortnightly from May til October. Nothing in this magazine may be Across the Country in 40 Days 28 reproduced in whole or in part without the Adventures of the Lonesome Traveller, Leg V written permission of the publishers. Although the magazine has endeavoured to ensure that all information inside the magazine is correct, prices and details may be subject to change. The info. Reykjavík Grapevine can be found in Reykjavík, Akureyri, Egilsstaðir, Selfoss, Keflavík, Ísafjörður, Listings B2 Kárahnjúkar and at key locations around road #1 and at all major tourist attractions and tourist Food Reviews B10 information centres. Shopping B12 You may not like it, but at least it's not spon- sored. (No articles in the Reykjavík Grapevine 30 Years of Contemporary Art B14 are pay-for articles. The opinions expressed are the writers’ own, not the advertisers’). Earth Waves Goodbye to GusGus B15 Printed by Landsprent ehf. in 30.000 copies. From the Editor’s Chair 13 . 6 5 % Increase in usage of the city public bus system. 29 The number 360,000,000,000 of fatalities Happy New Year kids. And welcome to the first is- elections has bothered me though. It is as if the want our democracy to be in. We should rather The amount of real estate transactions (ISK). in accidents. 4 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 sue of 2008. What an exciting year we have ahead majority of the public would rather skip the whole embrace the idea of partaking in the democratic Average number of pizza boxes 9786 used by Icelanders every year. If The number of registered 18Issues of The Reyk- stacked, these boxes would reach students at the University of of us. First, later this month, we have the Europe- process, since our current president would likely process. javík Grapevine. a height of apx. 240 km. Iceland. an Finals in team handball. That should turn this win anyway, than have anyone run against him, This issue of the Grapevine celebrates the 1 1 % Increase in the market price 5Average heat . (in 5°C) in Reyk- index for apart- country upside down. Later this year, we will be citing the financial costs of staging the elections. year that has passed. We look at interesting events javík. Only .5 degrees colder ment housing in than the hottest year yet. Reykjavík. treated to both the European Finals in football, as This is the message in its simplified form: if the from 2007, select the album of the year, and round 22,603 830,000 New cars reg- istered. 517 Number of text messages sent on the Síminn network alone on New Year’s less than the well as the Olympic Games in Beijing. I am hon- outcome of the election were likely to be one way, up some numbers that put the year in perspective. 1Population . 8 increase% in Iceland. Eve. A 30% increase from last year. year before. estly torn over when would be the ideal time to we would rather forgo our democratic process I hope you all had a good year. I did. 3 1 2 , 8 7 2 5 . 9 % The population of Iceland. Twelve month infla- tion in Iceland. 1809 take a summer vacation. It is entirely possible that and save some money doing so. The number of ships in Iceland. 2,200,000 The number of 4000 The number of pas- Ice-cream sellers The number of new internet sengers travelling shut down in Reyk- domains registered, bringing through Leifur javík for not pass- the Grapevine will stop publication during this Democracy demands financial costs. This ing health- the total of Icelandic domains Eiríksson Interna- to 20.000. tional Airport. 2 inspections. The Grapevine Selects the Album of the Year • Interview With Director Ragnar Bragason time. And, with any luck, we might have presiden- is inevitable. It is the constitutional right of every The Last Day of Earth • Jesus Christ Enters the Stage • The Lonesome Traveller Gets Wet + info. A Complete City Guide and Listings: Map, Dining, Music, Arts and Events Issue 01 // Jan 11 - Feb 07 2008 tial elections this year as well, although it seems man to run for office in this country, as long as unlikely, since our current president will probably he meets certain requirements of age and citizen- be appointed by default, since he is the only can- ship, and we should under no conditions try to Cover illustration: didate to have declared interest in the job. curfew that right. This sort of talk invites the dan- Gunni Þorvalds The public discussion over the presidential ger of slippery slope, and that is a slope we don’t Facts gathered by: Valgerður Þóroddsdóttir 2527 CIN grapevine 5X39 Tinna winter retreat.ai 12/4/07 11:56:56 AM 04 | Reykjavík Grapevine | Issue 01 2008 | Letters Sour Grapes Say your piece, voice your opinion, send your letters to [email protected]. Dear Iceland, behind. I have returned again, here now in December 2007. I As an American, I am as appalled to read of the treatment of came to see my friends and to experience the Holidays in Ice- Erla Ósk Arnardóttir as you are. Her minor offense does not jus- land. I am still pursing a permit, but still not having any luck. tify the extreme and inhumane way in which she was treated. I There is however a change that I have been witness to and can’t apologize on behalf of all Americans, or of the American I would like to share this. As I am trying to become an im- government, but only for myself. I’m sorry. migrant, I have been following the politics surrounding this issue since my first visit in 2006. I am aware of the problems But you should know that many Americans like me do recog- that have been arising and the concerns this community has nize the dangerous and absurd degrees to which our govern- regarding the issue. I am also aware of the events both recent ment has fallen, even as we do not understand its evolution, and past that have caused a not so positive view of the United and we are frankly ashamed of it.