Day 77: Iceland

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ic.html

Discuss.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Great country

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

Would be a good country but is too damn cold

[DanielX]

Probably the only first-world nation that could get by with very little fossil fuels, do to a large amount of geothermal energy relative to Iceland's small population.

Also, one of the most genetically isolated populations, especially in comparison to other "whites", out there; Iceland has had very low immigration for centuries, no Mongol hordes, no native populations to breed with, they didn't import all that many slaves, etc. so they're probably all more closely related than your average Weest Virginians (although less so than your average European royal family members).

They also don't have a great road system outside of the cities. Parts of the main 'ring road' are gravel.

Cold, but less so than Greenland, due to the amazing abilities of Viking marketing .

[Filuwaúrdjan]

A majority of the population believe in Elves

[MHS2002]

I wonder if Bobby Fischer is enjoying himself there.

[Gabu]

The only country I know of with an entire museum dedicated to the penis.

[Rin-chan]

I had to do a really irritating PowerPoint presentation last year on Icelandic Cultural Taboos for Sociology.

Needless to say, I didn't find much and just BSed most of the project.

As a country, pretty cool, but don't eat the fermented meat.  And don't research Icelandic taboos.

Rin-chan

[Platypus]

The only country I know of with an entire museum dedicated to the penis.

Yet also the only country that had a party called the 'Woman's Alliance' hold seats (3) in the Althing (Parliament).

[??????????]

A majority of the population believe in Elves

Please, please tell me you are being a smart ass.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/elvs25.shtml

[Cubby]

A majority of the population believe in Elves

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/elvs25.shtml

Thats adorable!

Iceland has the oldest still functioning Parliament (Althing) in the World, for that they are truly Freedom Fighters...........to the max.

[Jens]

Iceland has the oldest still functioning Parliament (Althing) in the World, for that they are truly Freedom Fighters...........to the max.

Not to be a besserwisser but AlÞingi (or Altinget) was abolished during the Danish rule and reestablished in 1874.
Besides from that a truely fasinating country with a beautifull natur - and that gravel road isn't that bad, it's more dangerous that the Icelandics arn't used to meeting other cars on the road and drives all over it. A country where it is justifiabel to own a SUV. You really need it, unlike Suburbia

[Jens]

The only country I know of with an entire museum dedicated to the penis.

Yet also the only country that had a party called the 'Woman's Alliance' hold seats (3) in the Althing (Parliament).

At one point, the Women's Union held 10 mandates in parliament and got 10 % of the votes (1987). At the same time Vigdis Finnbogadottir was president (she is a woman for those of you who can't tell the difference )

[Bono]

Great place.

[Јas]

The only country I know of with an entire museum dedicated to the penis.

Yet also the only country that had a party called the 'Woman's Alliance' hold seats (3) in the Althing (Parliament).

The 'Women's Coalition' managed to get 2 seats in the Northern irish Assembly in 1998.

[WMS]

IIRC they have no military themselves because they rely on the United States for protection...been that way ever since the U.S. and U.K. made a deal back in 1941.

[Jens]

IIRC they have no military themselves because they rely on the United States for protection...been that way ever since the U.S. and U.K. made a deal back in 1941.

You mean when the UK unlawfully occupied the Danish dominions of Iceland and Faroy Islands, while we were under German protection. Later followed by a unilateral declaration of independence by Iceland supported by the occupation forces, that agreed on staying in exchange for military bases de facto hindering Denmark from exercise its power over its territory

[AkSaber]

IIRC they have no military themselves because they rely on the United States for protection...been that way ever since the U.S. and U.K. made a deal back in 1941.

Yeah, it used to be that way, but it's changing. This story says how.

"The United States, which has long provided Iceland with its only military force, has decided to withdraw most of its service members and all of its fighter jets and helicopters from the country later this year, the U.S. ambassador said Thursday.

Iceland's government, which had recently offered to pay some of the cost of its defense to try to keep U.S. forces here, said it regretted the decision."

[Јas]

All this analysis of Iceland's military and no mention that they fought the Cod Wars.

[Platypus]

IIRC they have no military themselves because they rely on the United States for protection...been that way ever since the U.S. and U.K. made a deal back in 1941.

You mean when the UK unlawfully occupied the Danish dominions of Iceland and Faroy Islands, while we were under German protection. Later followed by a unilateral declaration of independence by Iceland supported by the occupation forces, that agreed on staying in exchange for military bases de facto hindering Denmark from exercise its power over its territory

More power to them-let's see. Domination by the allied powers or by the Danish under Nazi control?

[WMS]

IIRC they have no military themselves because they rely on the United States for protection...been that way ever since the U.S. and U.K. made a deal back in 1941.

You mean when the UK unlawfully occupied the Danish dominions of Iceland and Faroy Islands, while we were under German protection. Later followed by a unilateral declaration of independence by Iceland supported by the occupation forces, that agreed on staying in exchange for military bases de facto hindering Denmark from exercise its power over its territory

Sure thing.

Yeah, it used to be that way, but it's changing. This story says how.

"The United States, which has long provided Iceland with its only military force, has decided to withdraw most of its service members and all of its fighter jets and helicopters from the country later this year, the U.S. ambassador said Thursday.

Iceland's government, which had recently offered to pay some of the cost of its defense to try to keep U.S. forces here, said it regretted the decision."

That's too bad. I read the reasoning and it seems like one of those penny-wise, pound-foolish dingbat Rumsfeld decisions...

More power to them-let's see. Domination by the allied powers or by the Danish under Nazi control?

You tell 'em, Aussie!

[Jens]

IIRC they have no military themselves because they rely on the United States for protection...been that way ever since the U.S. and U.K. made a deal back in 1941.

You mean when the UK unlawfully occupied the Danish dominions of Iceland and Faroy Islands, while we were under German protection. Later followed by a unilateral declaration of independence by Iceland supported by the occupation forces, that agreed on staying in exchange for military bases de facto hindering Denmark from exercise its power over its territory

More power to them-let's see. Domination by the allied powers or by the Danish under Nazi control?

But Hugh, you are using your present day knowledge to judge the situation then. It is of course a joke, but also an attempt to show that a situation can be represented in very different ways.