Estill County, Kentucky, had the highest overdose death rate in the state in 2021. It’s since dropped to fifth—still grim, but heading in the right direction. What’s changing? A combination of harm reduction and a prevention model borrowed from Iceland, focused less[...]
Tag: Iceland
News |
Mosquitoes have just been found in Iceland for the first time. It’s more alarming than it sounds
For the first time in recorded history, mosquitoes have arrived in Iceland — a country once famous for being bug-free. The discovery of three Culiseta annulata mosquitoes this month marks more than an entomological curiosity; it’s a signal of a warming world[...]
Curio |
Word Of The Issue: Ægisif
Some sights are so breathtaking, they demand a new word—in your own language. For 12th-century Icelanders, Hagia Sophia was one of them. Though Icelandic often adapted foreign place names, only one European building earned its very own Icelandic name: Ægisif. That says[...]
Curio |
Children Of Nature: Norse Paganism’s Comeback
Walk through Reykjavik today and you’ll spot Viking-themed hot dog stands, meet people named after Norse gods, and hear stories about elves living in local rock formations. It might seem like tourist kitsch, but something deeper is happening here. In Iceland—and across[...]
Curio |
An Icelandic Soundtrack for Summer
In Iceland, summer isn’t a season—it’s a state of mind. After months spent surviving wind, darkness, and winter’s long grip, Icelanders don’t ease into summer; they chase it like it might disappear at any moment. This vivid piece from The Reykjavík Grapevine[...]
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Curio |
Reykjavík Gets Lit
Iceland’s capital is buzzing with words as the Reykjavík International Literary Festival celebrates its 40th anniversary. One of the country’s oldest cultural festivals, RILF brings together a global roster of writers—from Nobel laureates to rising stars—under this year’s theme, _Home and Away_.[...]
Commentary |
What Happens When The World Starts Paying Closer Attention?
For decades, Iceland has thrived by staying small, steady, and out of the spotlight — a bridge between continents, a quiet leader in renewable energy, and a model of resilient democracy. But the Arctic is changing fast, and so is the world’s[...]
News |
Icelandic Companies Asked To Abandon Diversity Policies For U.S. Contracts
Icelandic companies are finding themselves caught between two sets of rules — their own country’s laws promoting equality and the U.S. government’s push to ban DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) policies from federal contracts. Businesses working with the U.S. Embassy in Reykjavik[...]
Curio |
Architects And City Designers Appalled By Reykjavík’s Ugliness, Start Petition (and why this matters in Minot)
Reykjavík’s rapid growth is drawing sharp criticism from architects and urban designers who say beauty is being sacrificed for profit. A group of specialists has launched a petition demanding a shift in city planning, arguing that financial interests are shaping development at[...]
Curio |
Word(s) Of The Issue: A Menagerie
Ever wondered how to pronounce Icelandic animal names? Probably not. But just in case, this guide will help you navigate some intriguing vocabulary. For instance, “skjaldbaka” combines words for shield and back, uniquely designating a turtle. Similarly, famed poet Jónas Hallgrímsson introduced[...]
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Curio |
Political Perspective: Five Parties Begin Formal Negotiations For Reykjavík Council
Political negotiations are underway in Reykjavík as five parties— the Socialist Party, Pirate Party, Left-Green Movement, Social Democratic Alliance, and People’s Party—work to rebuild a council majority following the recent collapse of the ruling coalition. Left-Green councillor Líf Magneudóttir emphasized that their[...]