Drinking, Laxness, New Icelandic Names, Eurovision, Israel & 1970s Murder Case

Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. The Reykjavík Grapevine's Iceland Roundup brings you the top news with a healthy dash of local views. In this episode, Grapevine publisher Jón Trausti Sigurðarson is joined by Heimildin journalist Aðalsteinn Kjartansson, and Grapevine friend and contributor Sindri Eldon to roundup the stories making headlines in recent weeks. On the docket this week are: 00:03:50 Overview Of This Week's Stories00:04:50 Man Drinking Alcohol At City Library Kicked OutA man was evicted from a library in Reykjavík for drinking alcohol in the library’s bathroom on Friday. The police said that drinking in the library was not good “library etiquette”.00:10:45 Laxness On His Way Out Of Icelandic College CurriculumNovels by Halldór Laxness, the only Icelander ever to win a Nobel prize, will soon no longer be taught in Icelandic schools 00:26:20 Icelanders Can Now Be Named MohammedThe Icelandic Naming Committee decided on five new names that Icelanders can use this past week. The names in question were Tenchi, Ivy, Ýri, Meryem and Múhameð, which is the Icelandic spelling of Mohammed.00:33:40 Former Icelandic Popstar And Activist Arrested On The High Seas By IsraelMargrét Kristín Blöndal, arrived in Amsterdam this past weekend after having been released from custody by the State of Israel. Margrét, or Magga was arrested last Wednesday along other members of the so called Freedom Fleet, trying to get aid to Gaza by way of the sea. A ceasefire has been declared in Gaza. Also, the foreign minister of Palestine, Dr. Varsen Aghabekian, happened to be in Iceland when the ceasefire was announced.00:39:30 Two Thirds Of Icelanders Think Iceland Should Not Participate In Eurovision, If Israel Is Allow To ParticipateA recent poll, conducted this September, 67% of participants said Iceland should rather stay out of Eurovision next year if Israel participates. Younger people were less likely to want Iceland to withdraw in that scenario, while people from outside Reykjavík were likelier than the inhabitants of Reykjavík, to want Iceland to boycott the competition.00:41:00 The Murder Case That Never RestsIn 1974, two men disappeared within 10 months of each other. These men were named Guðmundur and Geirfinnur. The case led to numerous arrests, and finally long time prison sentences. Much doubt has been cast on whether those charged and sentenced were actually guilty. Support the show------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SHOW SUPPORTDonate to the Grapevine here:https://support.grapevine.isYou can also support the Grapevine by shopping in our online store:https://shop.grapevine.is------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast.The Reykjavík Grapevine is a free alternative magazine in English published 18 times per year, biweekly during the spring and summer, and monthly during the autumn and winter. The magazine covers everything Iceland-related, with a special focus culture, music, food and travel. The Reykjavík Grapevine’s goal is to serve as a trustworthy and reliable source of information for those living in Iceland, visiting Iceland or interested in Iceland. Thanks to our dedicated readership and excellent distribution network, the Reykjavík Grapevine is Iceland’s most read English-language publication.You may not agree with what we write or publish, but at least it’s not sponsored content.www.grapevine.is