The Ice Queen!

I am back online!

2010-08-11T20:41:00.001Z

I got a new computer and this time it is an apple!!!!! wohoooooooooo....

Hi everybody....

2009-01-12T15:04:00.001Z

we are back...so we moved!

It's all coming together...

2008-05-07T10:42:00.002Z

Three exams down, two to go.

Lost luggage has been returned to owner *pheu*.

Computer is still broken, but I am thinking about buying a new one. Maybe an Apple, Gwyneth Paltrow named her child that... and if it is good enough for Gwyneth it's good enough for me! Generous donations will certainly speed the process along ;)

I miss blogging, I miss you guys and things will be set in motion once this darn exam period is behind us.

Also, Kermit is cute!

A quick update...

2008-03-31T07:34:00.003Z

Life is wonderful. I have had my first practical experience at a hospital and it was wonderful, albeit very messy at times.

Spring is in the air, my heart and at the soles of my feet.

I had the pleasure of meeting Terry and her other half and would like to seize the opportunity and send out my regards and thanks for a wonderful time.

The only thing bugging me right now is my non-compliant brother who has no time to fix and even more non-compliant computer.

Rest assured I will be back!

Guys,

2008-03-15T06:45:00.002Z

due to reasons beyond my technologically challenged mind, I have problems accessing any blogspot-sites these days. My brother had the clever idea of switching servers and with it: switched my access. He has promised to fix this problem in the near future and he better...if he expects to have one :)
I miss you lot.

This too shall pass. If I end in jail...please do send letters!

Thursday Brain Teaser

2008-02-29T00:09:00.002Z

Pre-natal screening, genetically engineered foods, the ability to identify human remains and the testing of physical evidence ... all these extraordinary techniques owe their evolution to the groundbraking discovery depicted above, exactly 55 years ago today. Name the two Cambridge scientists, discovering the structure of the recipe for you and me.

HINT in the comment section, don't be shy!

It's gotta be Icelandic!

2008-02-15T14:09:00.005Z

You know what, I used to think that for those who really want to quit smoking, a trip to Iceland would come in handy. Try lighting your smoke in these winds with your fingers freezing and you'll know what I am talking about. Since last year smoking inside pubs and restaurants has been forbidden here in Iceland and silly me figured a lot of people would just quit. Silly me!

A snow house for smokers in the north western part of Iceland.

The smoking ban seems to have the greatest impact on owners of pubs and restaurants. Clients, especially during winter just stay home -which I think is not that bad a thing- over the weekends and smoke there. It's tough braving Icelandic weather with a smokey habit.

One owner decided to use all the snow outside his front door, shove it together and make a snowhouse outside his establishment. It took one day to build. Inside there are chairs and candles and two chimneys. Now our dare-devils can light up and not be blown away by wind, or moved to the emergency room with second-degree burns.

You gotta give the guy (Erik Newman) credit for such warm imagination in such a cold reality.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

2008-02-12T11:35:00.000Z

Dear Mom!

Congratulations! You turned 60 and therefore you are now officially old. But there is solace to be found in the knowledge that you don't look a day older than 59. And what's with the hat, are you French or somethin'?

I still love you though!

Here's to the next 60, I hope you had fun. You were absolutely lovely.

p.s I am sorry we sang "Happy Birthday" to you. In our defense, we inherited our singing voice from you ;)

Watch out for the shovel...

2008-02-07T08:28:00.000Z

I get it. I live in Iceland. It's supposed to snow...but for the love of God, have some limits! This morning I went outside to find several heaps of snow in every parking lot. It was a lucky guess that let me to uncover my car on the first go. Lucky me.

Now it is windy too, which causes the freshly fallen powder snow to dance on the waves of the wind, aiming...usually straight for my face. I didn't shower this morning, so I take the icy morning hygene with a smile. Teeth clenched, trousers wet up to my thighs. My gloves are wet through.

I plumet myself into the car, turn on the motor and back out ...only to get completely stuck in the middle of the road. I can feel a temper rising within me. Out I get again to find a shovel and off I go. Look at me go! Shovelling all that snow, throwing it willfully behind me, the wind turning it around straight into my backside.

By that time I had given up going anywhere and just wanted to get my car back into the parking lot, go inside and have a cup of tea. Neighbour lady comes out. Huge fur wrapped around her and I notice the extreme red lipstick. She tries to tell me that I have to take the snow off the roof, otherwise when I am driving it will fall straight onto my front shield...I am trying to tell her that I am not gonna drive anywhere, but just wanna pull my car back into the lot, get inside and crawl up somewhere in the fetal position. Her lipstick is still worrying me though.

Mom comes out, helps to push my car...nothing. Inside I go and wake dad from his slumber, feeling slightly bad for pulling him away from the soft embrace of his thick sheet into the unwrenching heartiness that winter can be. Out we go, wet Monika, sleepy Dad and a snow covered Mom. We get my car back into the lot, but...

where's the shovel? I can't find it...so much snow has fallen in the meantime that it is completely covered somewhere. I just hope neighbor lady doesn't step on it and accidently brakes the lipstick in her purse.

I have high hopes to discover the shovel in mid spring.

So here I am, 8 in the morning...no way of getting to school; writing a post. Eventually the ice on my eyelashes will melt, my pants will stop standing by themselves in the corner and the hot pinches throughout my body are bound to stop tickling. For breakfast I will eat my own words about the obsession of Icelanders with big SUVs. Right now I am thinking a tank for myself...maybe with a huge atenna that no amount of snow can cover...or I'll just wait for the snowplough!

Rabbitses!

2008-02-01T16:56:00.001Z

Rabbit, rabbit ... you guys!

Happy Birthday, Lego!

2008-01-30T18:05:00.000Z

Wow...50 years. Brick 'em up!

I am sorry, but I find this hilarious...there is no excuse!

If you wanna know a very short history about Lego, come join us over at The Snark!, where I manage to even blend Iceland into the whole scenario.

I am a Fan!

2008-01-25T14:17:00.000Z

When I was in America over Christmas, Andy made me watch a show and this guy appeared. Jeff Dunham. He made me laugh instantly. I never thought a puppet boy could do that. He has a bunch of dolls; my favorite being Achmed the Dead Terrorist. Now there's a sentence I never thought I'd say.

I know this video is long (about 10 minutes) but if you are in a need for laughter and you haven't seen this, pull up a chair and sit back:

72 Virgins...you always have to read the small print, don't you?!

Thursday Brain Teaser

2008-01-24T12:19:00.001Z

"He was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. After losing his leg at age 18 to osteogenic sarcoma, the young athlete decided to run from coast to coast in order to raise money for cancer research. Beginning by dipping his artificial leg in the Atlantic Ocean at St. John's, Newfoundland on April 12, 1980, he aimed to dip it again in the Pacific Ocean at Vancouver, British Columbia. His pace was daunting, running an average of 42 km a day — the distance of a typical marathon. Celebrating this amazing humanitarian, there is a cancer-awareness marathon every September around the world."

You know what to do...HINT at this week's guest in the comment section. And if you have an extra minute, come over to the SNARK, where we poke fun at eccentricity.

Weekend Trivia

2008-01-19T02:51:00.000Z

Serving a prison term in 1946, he discovered the teachings of Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam. After being released, he became a well-known spokesperson for Islam, and also became a militant leader during the civil rights movement. He believed African Americans should fight for equality using any means available and necessary. He did soften his approach after a trip to Mecca, but was assassinated in 1965.

Ok, you know the drill...off with you to the comment section and HINT! at this week's guest.

And since it happened it Iceland, it just wouldn't be right if I did not say something. Check-mate, Bobby. 64 years old, the numbers of the squares on a chess board.

Off we go snarking....

2008-01-16T11:55:00.000Z

On Wednesdays Penguins go snarking. Today we will discuss books we haven't even read. Leave it to me, to do a post without actually knowing anything. So if you want to chuckle and get by without too much work, come join us over here! If you do like to put in the work, comment here first and then come on over anyway :)

Update on the nursing education: I can now measure you blood pressure, pulse, breathing and body temperature, non-digitally, more or less realiably. My parents are very proud.

Thursday Brain Teaser

2008-01-11T01:12:00.000Z

"As punishment for firing his father’s gun on one New Year’s Eve in New Orleans, he was sent to a boys’ home. There he learned to play the cornet and earned the nickname “Satchmo,” for his big mouth. He made many recordings as a vocalist and as a trumpeter, going on to be the international ambassador for jazz in Ghana. When he was 62, one of his recording knocked the Beatles out of the number one spot on the charts".

Who could it be? Fire away in the comment section...in the form of HINTS!
This is an easy one you guys, to make up for last week's pickle :)

Guest Posting

2008-01-09T12:58:00.000Z

The rumors about my death have been exaggerated. This can be proven by the fact that I am guest posting over at the SNARK! and the fact that I passed my finals and am moving on to the next round.*little mini wave in celebration of me*
We will, however talk about some people that did kick the bucket, but went with style. If you wanna know why the above epitaph is funny, come join us over there!

Beware the Nerd!

2008-01-07T14:35:00.000Z

It's official...I've gone off the trolley.

I have my reasons though. One is that the second term at university is starting on Thursday, yet the grades from the previous term have not arrived. I basically don't know if I have made it through to the next round. The other reason is none of your business and hard to unfold without psychiatric help.

In order to calm my nerves, a friend of mine gave me this:

yes... a jigsaw puzzle. Thousand pieces. You laugh! That's alright.

Here is the twisty part: the box of this puzzle doesn't show what you actually are puzzling...you only get a perspective and you have to puzzle what the people on the cover see. I thought it was weird until I realized that there was a reason for that. Puzzles are usually stacked and sold in the toy section where children run around. Children shouldn't see just anything...you see where I am going with this? I was fortunate enough to land a "Full Monty" themed puzzle on my first go, which I excitedly assembled with amused giggles for the last three days. My first clue should have been the line on the back of the cover: "The full puzzle reveals all!" Oh the fun.

I am not gonna post the final picture for reasons...well, my mom!

But I just thought, for those of us with a curious disposition, that a few trivia facts about the origin of puzzles would be well received:

"Although the origin of the word puzzle is unknown, it is known that the first jigsaw puzzles were made in the 1760s by European cartographer John Spilbury.
In 1762, Spilbury hit upon the idea of gluing maps onto thin mahogany and cedar panels and cutting them up with a fine marquetry saw.

Puzzle popularity increased in England during the following decades, and there is evidence that puzzles arrived in the New World sometime before 1800. Around the same time, the process of color lithography was developed which allowed better quality pictures to be produced more efficiently.

The 1890s saw the development of die cutting methods, which eliminated the need to cut puzzle pieces by hand. This process allowed puzzles to be mass produced and made them much cheaper.

By the late 1920s and the onset of the Great Depression, there was resurgence in popularity of puzzles. In 1933, sales peaked at an astounding 10 million per week. With lack of steady employment, people turned to puzzles and other forms of home entertainment instead of outside entertainment like restaurants and nightclubs."

and even today, there are a few nut-cases that indulge and once you get started it is hard to stop. Don't try this at home...'cause you will run out of spaces to walk, sleep or even bathe...

Now excuse me, a second puzzle seems to be calling my name.

Trivia

2008-01-02T23:39:00.001Z

That's right, we are back in business. A new year has started and I wanna be orgnazied for a major portion of January. So, without further ado, allow me to present to you our weekly trivia:

"A colorful figure in 20th-century Canadian radio journalism. For over 40 years he produced a daily radio series called "Let's Be Personal;" he gained a reputation for "telling it like it is" and became a familiar figure to millions of listeners. He is especially remembered for a broadcast he made praising the United States on June 5, 1973. The text of that broadcast has been widely circulated on the Internet, particularly after the air attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in September of 2001 and again in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina."

Any idea; the moise of a bell ringing in your ear? Head over to the comment section and HINT! at this week's guest. Simply throwing his name at me, won't be well received!

Happy guessing everybody and try to leave google out of it for as long as restraint has a grip on you :)

If you have an extra moment, give THE SNARK a visit where we look at resolutions in fur!

It's a brand new year...

2008-01-01T14:06:00.001Z

and yet, it is silly ole me grinning back at myself from the mirror between us. Same wrinkles, same independent hair and same elfish ears. The fact that I am grinning makes me feel like I got the joke. Maybe the mirror needs a scrub though.
This morning I found a wonderful quote in my inbox:

"We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives... not looking for flaws, but for potential."

~ Ellen Goodman

With that in mind, I went through my favorite pictures of last year and found one that I think reflects just that sentiment...in blurry pixels, of course.

Sometimes it is good to remember how small you are, which should never keep you from climbing.

A Happy Christmas

2007-12-25T17:37:00.001Z

I wish everyone that happens to pass by here a wonderful Holiday season. I made my first gingerbread house this year and am having serious designs on studying architecture as my next degree. Feel free to enlarge the picture, and you will see a penguin teaching a class of potential penguins all about snow and how to avoid candy cane avalanches.

Be nice to one another!

Study Break...

2007-12-17T13:26:00.000Z

This blog is taking a vacation for about two weeks. It's owner has managed to live through the exam period and is now gonna go wild across the ocean. NY here I come. As of 18.10 this evening America is one EastGerman-Icelandic penguin richer. I probably shouldn't mention my identity confusion at customs :)

I might check in every now and again and see if the stress hasn't killed you yet!
Have a greta week everybody!

True story...

2007-12-14T00:31:00.001Z

On Sunday, Erla Osk Arnardottir, an Icelandic woman traveled to JFK with a couple of friends for a day of shopping. Upon landing and going through customs and passport checks, Homeland Security noticed something strange and took her to the side. She had been in the States before(1995) and apparently spent 3 weeks too long. She prolonged her vacation and neglected to prolong her Travel-Visa at the same time. She has been back in the States for a visit in between, but last Sunday they stopped her. Rules and regulations demanded that she'd return to Iceland immediately. At the time, back in 1995, she had no idea of the regulations and did not realize the implications her oversight might bring. She understood however that there were rules and had no objection flying back to Iceland right away.

However, this incidence was followed by 14 hours of strenuous interviewing that was composed of questions nothing to do with the original offence. She was not allowed to call anybody and after sending a quick IM to family and friends on the toilet, the guards took her phone. The right to call the Icelandic embassy was taken without explanation. Despite everything she quickly realized that it would be in her best interest to show maximum co-operation.

After 10 hours of sitting at the airport, two armed guards came and told her to stand against the wall and spread her legs, a chain was placed around her waste and her hands shackled to it. Her feet were tied together and like a murder, rapist or terrorist she was lead through the airport, put into a car and transported without a destination to a prison where she finally received some porridge and bread to eat. The people that surrounded her were rude and hardly spoke to her. Again she requested a phone call, which was allowed this time ...then she realized the phone only took collect calls and it was impossible to call outside of the USA. 9 hours she spent in a dirty cell with a steal bed and a toilet, totally in shock. She felt lost, forlorn without anybody that cares about her knowing where she was. When it was announced to her that she had to return to the airport and fly home immediate relief, until the cold shackles embraced her again.

Followed by armed guards and in shackles she was let through the airport for everyone to see, through the lounge filled with Icelanders when she was finally handed to Icelandair flight personal. She left a place she is in no hurry ever to return to.

In HER BLOG, she describes this incident as the most humiliating, de-humanizing act she has lived through and I can do nothing but send her my most sincere apologies, on whose behalf I just don't know.

I love to travel and am not quite ready to quit this habit. In fact I am leaving for JFK in 4 days and all I am doing right now is trying to convince myself that this is an occurence out of the ordinary. This can't be daily routine.
I remember the first time I landed at JFK back in March and the whole procedure scared me...but I found comfort reading the commitments plastered all over the wall in teh foreign-arrival halls "We will treat you with respect and dignity". I think a different feeling will overcome me when I land there on Monday.
This year I have already been to the States twice. I love the country and I love its people... but I am getting scared.

When penguins do exams...

2007-12-11T16:05:00.000Z

I just finished my anatomy exam and have two exams to go; psychology and philosophy. Between studying for the tests I managed ot scribble a little piece of compound sentences for Cindra's Quill-Driving Competition and this here Penguin sure would love it if some of you could make it over there and read some really funny stuff. We were given 18 words to construe a poem, essay, anecdote or mumble-jumble with and the outcome was pretty darn any good. Since the submitted entries are anonymous there is no pressure on you to vote with a person in mind. So if you have a minute, venture over there...with a hot cuppa somethin' and relax.

We thank you!

Talent, pure talent...

2007-12-06T20:44:00.000Z

some actors truly are great. This must be one of my all-time favorite...although his recent involvement with an Icelandic company made him even more prominent in my list:

I just love that Icelandic advert.

But this man holds more surprises than a fabulous British accent:

"Eric Cantona, ein anderer grosser philosoph" LOL...this one was made during the
World Championship in soccer and he surprised me last year with this ability I didn't know he had. Although his throat looks really hurt in that clip, I've gotta admit: German is not for the weak-larynxal amongst us!

"My hovercraft is full of eels." Language sure is open for interpretation!
Bouncy, bouncy!

It's not that I am high, I am just sleep-deprived!

5 pm

2007-12-05T00:54:00.000Z

and half an hour later, a bit further away:

And so it begins...

2007-12-03T12:03:00.000Z

For those of you who care...my first exam in Sociology was this morning from 9-12 and I did ok. I even wrote a rather long essay in Icelandic, that will probably defy the law of comprehensibility, but they made me do it! I drew little sketches on the side to clarify my point since writing in English was forbidden. And I am not one to let an opportunity to wish my teacher a very Merry Christmas go by ... so I did; in all languages that I know except English of course -wouldn't wanna break the rules! Now excuse me while I go and check up on my horses for the rest of the day:

The season is upon me...

2007-12-01T16:54:00.000Z

There are books everywhere, articles cover my floors and my exterior beauty has taken a serious hit since the final exam period has started, not that there was a lot to begin with!
None of this matters, 'cause December is here and I just love this time of year. I know this is so uncool to say, but I don't care...mostly because I like warm people, you know the ones with a pulse!
Despite the apparent chaos I have found a spot for my Advent-Calander. I think it is a European tradition, but the concept is still simple: you get to open a door each day in December until the 24th when Christmas arrives here, behind the door is a chocolate piece and a poem if you are lucky. It's a great trick to get one out of bed in the mornings ;) Mine looks like this:

Isn't it beautiful? Yes, toothpaste comes with it to remind us all that although it is Christmas time, people still have not invented chocolate that floss your teeth! No need to zoom closer...I'll do it for you:

Yes, it is children's toothpaste. Apparently I don't fit the key demographic...but who likes to be pigeon-holed in the first place. Besides, if the girl at the counter gives you an inquisatory look, you can always pretend to have children;)

A rabbity, rabbity December to all of us!

This week's trivia...

2007-11-29T22:43:00.000Z

This week's author hails from London. His name preceeds him, he is simply monumental; partly because he is credited with being one of the very first authors who wrote in the vernacular English language, rather than French or Latin which was predominantly spoken by the aristocracy at that time. Which basically means he is somewhat arcaic, so much so that we have no valuable record of when he was actually born. What we do know is that in his early 40s he finally began to write the book he is most known for. It depicts a pilgrimage by some 30 people, who are going on a spring day in April to the shrine of some martyr and entertain each other on the way by telling stories. This project turned out to be a bit ambitous 'cause he never got to finish it, death having a way of showing up when you least expect it. Which did not stop the book from being published and feverishly taught by every elderly English professor ever since. The remains of this rather black-humored poet can be found, as many other wordy Brits', in Westminster Abbey.

come on, dare to be brave...hint in the comment section and leave clues for those that are still guessing!

True,

2007-11-28T13:40:00.000Z

it is time for a new post around here, that is why I published one over THERE!
Come join us, we will be on our best behavior and there might be cookies, too. Don't worry, I didn't make them!

Only nuns get to have pet-penguins!
Why change a life-long habit? Black and White it is!

It's Wednesday...

2007-11-21T11:26:00.000Z

let's SNARK over here!
On today's menu: different colors of the rainbow, flavored by insanity!
Sounds good, huh?!

This Week's Trivia...

2007-11-16T14:29:00.000Z

"He was born in Bethel, Connecticut. Very adept at arithmetic, but with a healthy dislike for physical work, he became a business man. Haggling, striking a hard bargain, and using deception to make a sale he quickly came to realize the secret to becoming an enterprising success. As a renowned showman he is best remembered for his amazing hoaxes and founding a circus."

The way I encountered his name was through psychology, a well-known effect in regards to horoscopes and astrology is named after him. Now, in the comment section you'll be able to hint at this week's guest and tell me why you know about him!

A lovely Friday everybody and a bit of HUMBUG here and there, makes for grand entertainment!

Did you know....

2007-11-14T11:48:00.000Z

you cannot chain your alligator to a fire hydrant in Alabama?

You didn't? Well, I guess it is time for you to familiarize yourself with this necessary knowledge HERE. Who knows in what prison you might end up in otherwise, regardless most of them come with a toothless mountain of a person asking you if you feel lucky tonight.

Don't do the crime, if you can't do the time. *checks her flightless feathers*

2007-11-12T18:21:00.000Z

For those of you who haven't yet, I advise a trip to "Waking Ambrose" where Doug will clench at the idea of people celebrating his birthday. So I feel some warm and fuzzy words over there will get him good and grumpy, and let's face it...that's when he is at his best.

Happy Birthday, you fruit-loop! I hope by now you have figured that the thing that goes up and never down, is your age. Enjoy the new-found wisdom!

I know, I know...but it is just so perfect!

Ice-skating

2007-11-10T23:48:00.001Z

You know what they say. When your heart feels a bit cold, go ice-skating. That way you can introduce the rest of your body to lower temperatures and balance it all out.
A bunch of us, I think we were up to 10, decided to hit the skating ring this afternoon. This was gonna be special...because it was Gretar's first time.

You are kidding me, right? Whose grand idea was this? We live in Iceland. Are you expecting me to take this seriously?

I don't like the look of this. Now would be a grand time for anyone of you guys to come and help me off this ice. Anyone?

Just so you know...when I get out of here, I'll be having contact with the children protection agency. Ok, one foot slides to the side and then I drag the other along...check!

Out of my way...this is so much fun!

See, what little Gretar did not know is that he was born with it...sliding over ice is the third foremost DNA cocktail passed on through the generations around these shores. And once he found his slide, he joined the rest of us trying to push each other off our skates.

Happy weekend everybody!

And just when you thought ...

2007-11-10T02:26:00.000Z

you had at least some strings in the puppet show called life, it comes collapsing down on you.

Most of you know that I have a love/hate relationship with the ice cube I live on. A passion that sometimes tears me apart.
When I go outside and just drive around the beauty enthralls me, makes me breathe and tempts me to stretch my wings and fly. And then you engage with its people and boom...you get whacked over the head and brought back down to reality.
Icelanders would never admit to it, but they are a bit xenophobic and by typing "a bit" I am being polite and trying to spare some people's feelings. Equality of the genders is rather far advanced on this petite little island, equality of people...not so much.

You will always be a foreigner here, regardless of how long you stay and how many people's family trees you can rattle down by heart.
There is a different kind of glass-ceiling and regardless how hard you try to throw the stone to smash it, it won't even leave a trace.

I am so tired of fighting...

2007-11-07T11:05:00.000Z

I find it hard these days to come back to my blog. It somehow feels abandoned to me, partly becuase I have so little time to play with it. Yet I am having the hardest time to just go ahead and empty the shelves and lock up. Maybe because I hope that eventually time, energy and some interesting thoughts will return.
For today we have a snarkpost up HERE, where we will creatively tackle the stress of deadlines in a sentence. You are more than welcome to join us there!

As for this blog, penguin cartoons do cheer me up tremendously:

A lovely Wednesday to you!

This week's trivia...

2007-11-02T18:14:00.000Z

Born in Germany he migrated to the United States after WW2 via a paperclip. Today he is known as one of the world's first and foremost rocket engineers and a leading authority on space travel. His determination to "go where no man has gone before" led to mankind setting foot on the moon. Having the ability to composing several pieces of music and recycling old automobile parts to build a new car, doesn't stop you from flunking mathematics and physics at school. When one of his rockets, the first V2, hit London he remarked to his colleagues, "The rocket worked perfectly except for landing on the wrong planet."

Any ideas? Go hint in the comment section!

A wonderful weekend to all.

A wonderful November, y'all!

2007-11-01T17:45:00.000Z

and in true Pez-tradition: Rabbit, Rabbit!

addendum:

ok, here is a bit of a pickle:

"Oscar The Rabbit says to Mabel The Rabbit "Please hand me the soap"

Mabel The Rabbit replies "We're out of soap"

Then, Oscar The Rabbit replies, in an angry voice, "Well then, no soap... no RADIO!"

does anyone get this joke? Please illuminate me!

Mmmmmmwahhhhhhhhh....

2007-10-31T11:04:00.000Z

It doesn't really work, does it?!

Ok, well go here and BEWARE!

The first snow...

2007-10-29T11:12:00.001Z

When I woke up this morning, the ground was covered with just a very thin layer of the powdery white stuff. Everything seems so clear, clean and fresh.

It invides for a early morning walk.

ups, better put on some shoes...

Thursday Trivia...

2007-10-26T11:01:00.000Z

"Born in New York, he came to San Francisco and ran a camera shop. His financial skills got him elected to the Board of Supervisors in 1977, becoming the first acknowledged gay city official. Known as the “Mayor of Castro Street,” he helped pass the city’s first gay rights ordinance. In 1978, he and Mayor George Moscone were shot and killed by an ex-cop and fellow board member."

After last week's comic disaster, I thought this might be more of an accessible teaser for your brain. As always, refrain from too much googling and give it a minute to settle :) I'll be waiting for your hints in the comment section...what are you waiting for?!

A lovely weekend to everybody!

Wednesday Snark

2007-10-24T09:35:00.000Z

In a few minutes my guest post will appear
out of nowhere
over HERE.

People really shouldn't rhyme this early! Makes them seems unsound. Talking about the loonies, that's what we'll discuss on the Snark today. Come join us!

Happy Wednesday, everybody!

Oh and a little shout-out to the best thing I read last week about impatience:

"Some where a wise man is sitting under a tree. Just sitting. Very patiently waiting. And perhaps he'll wait tomorrow and the next day and the waiting won't bother him a bit. If I was told to wait three days under a tree then by the end of the first day I would have fashioned crude wooden tools from the lower branches. By the end of day two I'd have used the tools to fell the tree and split the wood into planks. By day three I'd have the tree turned into a small shelter with a large bonfire in front. And then I'd probably be told that the tree was magical and now, after my 3-day wait, would grant my wildest wishes.... but uhm, hey, where did the magical tree go?" -Morgan-

2007-10-18T01:15:00.000Z

Recently added into the Comic Book Hall of Fame, he is well known for his invention of a DC Comics superheroine; a character based on his wife and a mutual "friend". Less well known is the fact that he received a Phd in Psychology from Harvard, and one of his greater contributions in that department was the creation of the systolic blood-pressure test used to detect deception.

You know what to do...off with you to the comment section and HINT away at the right answer.

Don't scratch your head too hard though. If you need to laugh about your own inability to recite pretty useless stuff, go Here! and chuckle away!

It's a gentle Wednesday,

2007-10-17T11:39:00.000Z

so if you are calm, peaceful and dressed come on over HERE! and step lightly, reflect and pass on your own insights.

You all have a wonderful Wednesday, be safe out there!

Tickle your Brain...

2007-10-11T22:29:00.000Z

"Born in Khermanshah -in what is today Iran- in 1919, she spent her early years on a farm in Southern Rhodesia. In the 1950ies she became an established and well-known writer and to test the power of a name, she published a book in the 1980s under a pseudonym, only to see it rejected. After coming forward as the author, her book was speedily published. Being fairly outspoken about the corruption and embezzlements by the government in South Africa, she was barred entry to the country in 1956, a verdict lifted in 1995 when apartheid ended."

Yes, you guessed right...now tell me something about her I don't know in the comment section...preferably in iambic pentameter!

Off you go!

When Penguins go snarking....

2007-10-10T11:30:00.000Z

they usually go HERE and hang with those type of people.

There is nothing as beautiful as fall...

2007-10-06T18:32:00.000Z

I love when my surroundings explode with color and while I was sitting here, ever so dilgiantly studying the inferior hemi-facet of the 4th throacic vertebra, my eyes kept lifting themselves from the riveting pages of my anatomy book and trailed outside my window.

Enough is enough! I went upstairs to find some partner in crime to abondon studies and go out for a walk. Mom is at university too, you know. In our kitchen I found 5 guests and pointing with my ink-stained fingers outside our kitchen window, I asked them to join me for a walk. Why don't you come,too?

They readily agreed and off we went, the 6 of us and two dogs. You gotta have dogs in the equation.

Someone's gonna pick us up, right?!

It was a long Friday night!

Have a wonderful weekend everybody!

Tickle your Brain!

2007-10-04T11:20:00.000Z

"Known for his oratory talents, he was the secretary of state under three different presidents. He made a historic speech to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Pilgrims’ arrival at Plymouth Rock. Decades after his death, his legal skills became the subject of a short story and a film where he debated the devil to save the soul of a man."

Ok, my regulars will know to head to the comment section and HINT at this week's special guest. My irregulars will hopefully follow suit. Leave Google out of it until you really have no clue and everybody else obnoxiously offer their 27th hint about the detailed carvings of the silverware in this unbelievably well-worded man's china cabinet.

For extra Brownie Points explain the picture I chose!

Have fun with it!

Let's Snark!

2007-10-03T11:35:00.000Z

Traditionally I snark on Wednesdays, so why brake a year-long habbit? Come join me over THERE! It's a friendly place, and people always know your name and will be glad you came! Yes, I ripped that! Duh!

An a wonderful October to you all!

2007-10-01T00:38:00.000Z

Q: Why did the bunny eat the wedding ring?
A: Because he heard it was 18 carrots!

Hey, it was an easy mistake to make!

I know I am late...it's still Thursday though!

2007-09-27T23:14:00.000Z

"In 1949 he moved to Nashville, where he became a regular at the Grand Ole Opry. A dependence on pills and alcohol led to his death, at the age of 29, while he was on his way to perform. He was named after Hiram I of Tyre, but his name was misspelled as "Hiriam" on his birth certificate.His songs have been rerecorded by various artists and still act as an influential part of music today, having been covered in a range of pop, gospel, blues and rock styles. His son and grandson are both musicians."

You know what to do! For those of you with a memory span similar to mine: off to the comment section with you and HINT! at this week's special guest. Isn't he just a big piece of eye-candy?

Wednesdays we snark!

2007-09-26T11:07:00.001Z

Nothing to read here, come join me over THERE!

Oh Happy Happy Joy Joy!!!

2007-09-25T00:00:00.000Z

Sometimes you are lucky and you get to meet a person that simply astounds you. About a year ago or so I was frequenting a funny site by a dude named Joel. He was witty, charming and had nice pictures. Most of all his comment section was always lead by someone called "Puppy" and I could just tell she fancied Joel. Female intuition and all that. Happily, I sat back and watched the show...it took me a few months to figure out the two of them were married:)

Where Joel is, Neva isn't far behind and vise versa. And on June 8th 2006 she put her paws on my site and hasn't left since. We even met... more than once...took a trip together, got our nails manicured and pedicured...and I don't wanna kiss and tell, but I once caught her unsuspecting in the bathroom. It was an accident! *blushes*

People that know Neva, know the wonderfully witty, warm and giving person she is. If you are a friend of hers, she'll turn her world upside down to accomodate you...so long as you understand, interruption during ordering of Mexican take-out will not be well received.

In a little over a year she has crawled up the ladder to one of my favorite people. Granted, the ladder is short, but the people on it firmly placed. I hope she brought her sticky gloves!

Neva, you know I am not one for expressing too many layers of chocolate, but if actions can show what people feel: imagine a penguin clumsily trying to put frosting on top of a tiered cake all the way to the ceiling.

Tickle your brain...

2007-09-20T00:33:00.000Z

"After dancing the Charleston to win a dance contest, she got a part in the chorus line of a Broadway play. While performing, she was spotted by a talent scout and taken to Hollywood where she acted in silent and sound films. The final, of her numerous husbands, was the chairman of Pepsi-Cola, and she continued to serve on the board after his death. Even though she won an Oscar in 1945, for playing a loving mother, her real-life parenting skills are reported to be very different."

Any ideas? If you do, try hinting at it in the comment section. I said HINT!

addendum: I am going to a cabin up somewhere in the wilderness until tomorrow evening. I won't be able to visit blogs within the next 20 minutes, but I promise I'll catch up on the weekend :)

Snarking penguins...

2007-09-19T11:25:00.000Z

Yes, another Wednesday has arrived, which means I am guest-posting HERE! and while I usually send you thoughtlessly over there, this week I have to caution you...I think I saw a spitting llama over there!

*distributes face masks* Ok, I think you are good to GO now!

Last Fall....

2007-09-17T10:06:00.000Z

For some reason, which I am not gonna bore you with right now, I checked my pictures from last year's fall. This basically jumped at me. A traditional Icelandic, slightly glibbery, custom. I hope we get a chance this year as well, it just takes such a long time to preper and it can get rather um...viking. Anyone? What is it we are doing in this picture? And I am not looking for the answer: eating grapes!

I love the cozy atmosphere this picture brings back. Evening, lamp lights and many hands involved in the same task. The younger generation following intently the oddities of the older...

The First Frost...

2007-09-14T10:51:00.000Z

Looks like we made it...and lived to see another winter approaching. Yesterday I was in the countryside and when I woke up at 5.30 ('cause that's what you do in the country!)this sight greeted me outside:

I can't tell you how much joy this brings to me. Granted, it takes a few extra minutes in the morning to throw on your third jumper over the obligatory two from the summer, but the rest is just gravy.
I love how the frost casts special shadows and how sunlight gets reflected in a sharper contrast. How the crisp air goes straight to your lungs and feels like it cleans up all the sandy dust collected there during the summer. Your cheeks start to burn and a cup of hot chocolate never tastes as lovely.

It is time to put good horseshoes on the hooves of our four legged friends and ride out to the mountains to get the sheep down. See you guys Monday!

It's Thursday...

2007-09-13T17:08:00.000Z

Born in 1916 in Wales to Norwegian parents, he was named after a Norwegian polar explorer. Fighting in WW2 as a pilot, he got injured and momentarily lost his sight. In hospital he fell in love with his nurse, Mary. After regaining his sight, he fell quickly out of love and rejoined the war. Later in life he married an Academy Award winning American actress and had five children. While at school in Britain the chocolate company CADBURY used to send choclate for testing to pupils in his school, something that would later have an impact on one of his books.

yes...and the light bulb switched itself on, didn't it?! Now off with you to the comment section and hint away at this week's imaginative guest. You are free to use limericks, hints, jokes, little drawings or quotes to bring your point across.

Have scrumptulicious fun!

I am snarking...

2007-09-12T12:53:00.000Z

Why don't you come and join me over THERE?! Today I am regurgitating yet another interesting lesson from school. You might have fun and learn something...ok, that's not the way to pull you in, is it? Hmmm...*ponders*...I made waffles!

Have a wonderful Wednesday everybody!

To be a good student:

2007-09-10T23:08:00.001Z

1) Clear out corner for writing desk. Ask dad to put up romantic lights!

2)Get started with lifting way-too-heavy constructions for your back into cleared-away area. Use dad's tools. Try not to break things and absolutely do not invent new swinging motions with hammer. Turn on romantic lights. Smile.

3)Finish construction. Black-mailing brother into final touches is ok. Sit down. Pat self on back.

4) Fill newly developed surfaces with unnecessary plastic objects. Definitely hang up pictures, wanted CD list and latest phone numbers all around you to distract self from too much focused attention on heavy books with way-too-small font printing. Rejoice!

Lift up feet and watch epsiode of Friends or go to the countryside over the weekend and get some oxygen into your brain. Think about writing desk while away!

Hope you guys had a grand weekend!

Thursday Trivia

2007-09-06T23:43:00.001Z

"He is one of the best known American pyschologists. His major contribution to the field is probably in the area of operant conditioning. A man of strong opinions, he aroused strong passions in both his supporters and his detractors, especially when he announced that "free will" is an illusion and therefore has often been portrayed as cold-blooded. Interestingly enough, in his youth he used to swim in Thoreau's Walden Pond and if I am not utterly mistaken, a character in The Simpsons is named after him."

Ok, you know what to do. Get involved and leave a hint about today's special guest in the comment section. Guess away!

Snark Wednesday...

2007-09-05T11:31:00.000Z

is when Penguins are abroad.

Head on over to The Snark where I am trying to blend in today. Danger of silliness ahead!

This goes out to all the Ladies!

2007-08-31T23:16:00.000Z

"Now I lay me
Down to sleep.
I pray the Lord
My shape to keep.
Please no wrinkles
Please no bags
And please lift my butt
Before it sags.
Please no age spots
Please no gray
And as for my belly,
Please take it away.
Please keep me healthy
Please keep me young,
And thank you Dear Lord
For all that you've done."

Five tips for a woman:

1)It is important that a man helps you around the house and has a job.
2)It is important that a man makes you laugh.
3)It is important to find a man you can count on and who doesn't lie to you.
4)It is important that a man loves and spoils you.
5)It is important that these four man don't know each other.

Foot note: One saggy boob said to the other saggy boob:"If we don't get some support soon, people will think we're nuts."

Rabbit, Rabbit!!!

Notice: Happy Birthday to Joel. I have met a few great guys in my life, you certainly are one of them! I'd watch a 7 hour documentary about the Dodgers just for you and I really mean that! Also: you make great Spaghettis!

Thursday Brain Teaser

2007-08-30T12:24:00.000Z

"Born in 1879, she was initially a nurse for the underprivileged in New York's Lower East Side. When she began to realize the dramatic effects of unplanned pregnancies in these destitute conditions, she left her nursing work in order to promote the use of birth control and give women everywhere the ability to make their own reproductive decisions.Though battled from the beginning, her work finally paid off with the formation of the World Population Conference in 1927 in which the effects of overpopulating were discussed with experts from around the globe. She later formed the Planned Parenthood Federation in 1942, which still stands today to educate women about their reproductive health and choices for family planning."

You know the drill; off to the comment section with you. Leave a hint, limerick or otherwise charming comment to show me you know the answer and leave others guessing at the same time.

Slaughterhouse 5

2007-08-27T13:13:00.000Z

"Billy survived, but he was a dazed wanderer far behind the new German lines. Three other wanderers, not quite so dazed, allowed Billy to tag along. Two of them were scouts, and one was an antitank gunner. They were without food or maps. Avoiding Germans, they were delivering themselves into rural silences ever more profound. They ate snow!"

This is my second attempt at this book, which I just couldn't get started on a few years back. It astonishes me how much I love it now and I just started. Maybe there is a right mood or mind set needed for reading a book, maybe I have grown...I really hope it is the latter:)

It is a book about ... many things really, but centers around the firebombing of Dresden, Germany. I love the idea of an anti-war book, in the time frame of WW II, where the focus is the bombing of a German city. That's just brilliant.

"February 13/14 1945: Holocaust over Dresden, known as the Florence of the North. Dresden was a hospital city for wounded soldiers. Not one military unit, not one anti-aircraft battery was deployed in the city. Together with the 600.000 refugees from Breslau, Dresden was filled with nearly 1.2 million people. Churchill had asked for "suggestions how to blaze 600.000 refugees". He wasn't interested how to target military installations 60 miles outside of Dresden. More than 700.000 phosphorus bombs were dropped on 1.2 million people. One bomb for every 2 people. The temperature in the centre of the city reached 1600 o centigrade. More than 260.000 bodies and residues of bodies were counted. But those who perished in the centre of the city can't be traced. Approximately 500.000 children, women, the elderly, wounded soldiers and the animals of the zoo were slaughtered in one night." ...more here!

Now excuse me, I am still in chapter two. I keep re-reading passages dozens of times, plus the book has only 9 chapters. You are tempted now, aren't you?

happy belated trivia...

2007-08-24T21:42:00.000Z

Such a cute rock formation. Elephants are way cool! Riding on the huge trunk...What?...oh, that's what you see?! Well, I am not here to "rorschach" you!
And if you can't let it go...sling along to The Snark, where we are being inappropriate along similar shapely lines.

on with the trivia:

"An Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist, he is the co-founder of ~~a complex pseudo-science~~ the psychoanalytical school of psychology. His father Jacob was a wool merchant and had two kids by a previous marriage. The tip of the iceberg, a slip of the tongue and transference can all be blamed on him. Among his patients were the great-grand niece of Napoleon and the composer Gustav Mahler."

May I have your attention please...

2007-08-22T12:07:00.001Z

No words here today, but I encourage a trip over to The Snark! where I am posting today. I guarantee a chuckle or two!

For a real good fix of decent laughter I suppose Humor-blogs would be a better choice though!

Travel in your mind...

2007-08-19T19:40:00.000Z

and you shall journey further than possibility. You can quote me on that! :)
Now, since I have been a little on the weak side- the Force has not been with me of late!- three days strict bed-rest sounded horrible from the get go.
Fever, sweating and a sore throat invites long posts about phlegm and phlegm alone! I thought I shouldn't infect you any more than I already have and instead ventured back to a journey I had a couple of days ago when I came back from America. Come join me!

I know you can see pictures of Gullfoss and Geysir by just simply checking in with google, but you came here...now didn't you?!

Strokkur. Geysir stopped a while back to have the hiccups, so now our tourists gather around this fine varient of a hot spring. He spits very high and whenever he feels like it. Soemtimes he'll splash you before you know it, believe you me! The water smells like old egg shells. It's ...hmmm...special!

Icelandic hot-spring area. Old Geysir still fuming!

10 minutes from Geysir is Gullfoss, the golden waterfall. It is quite breath-taking. And although I have seen it dozens of times, every time is magical in a different way, setting and mood.

Ok, so I might have climbed over the ropes to get closer to the waterfall, but I needed a picture of my hat in front of Gullfoss. Yes, from now on Minka comes with a hat! Besides, I was showing the sights to five young Germans and I was tired of holding that little flag up for them to follow me, I am easier to spot with the hat ;)

My friend Lotte and a friend of hers visiting from Germany. I think they liked what they saw. Nothing quite inspires to contemplating your thoughts like cascading water. Besides, you can play a little dare devil game with your bladder! ;)

Seljalandsfoss. One of my favorite waterfalls in Iceland, you can climb behind it and feel the ice-cold water tickle your skin.

Ok, that was a water-filled day and I feel like I have been out and about. Back to bed :) Thanks for coming along!

Thursday Trivia

2007-08-16T02:27:00.001Z

"He was the first person to fly, non-stop, across the Untied States, the first American to orbit the planet, and the first Senator of Ohio to be elected for four terms. Besides working as a consultant for NASA and as a business executive, he made a much talked about launch in 1998. He was portrayed by actor Ed Harris in a movie and guest-starred in Frasier."

addendum: Congratualtions to Puppytoes and Joel for making it 22 years in their marriage and last time I saw them, they didn't look like on the verge of quitting that habit any time soon. I love you guys!

The dance of life

2007-08-13T11:22:00.003Z

I took this picture somewhere in Greenwich, Connecticut.
The statue just spoke to me.

The way we encircle each other, drawing closer. The obsticles in our way. I love how their gaze is fixed upon one another. How the mountain to climb seems too great yet they engulf in longing, overcoming the distance.

TRIVIA...

2007-08-10T23:45:00.000Z

"Born in 1824 in Leitomischl, Bohemia (then Austrian Empire); he became a composer of operas and symphonic poems. His father, an amateur violinist, introduced him to music. He would later on study the piano under a professional teacher. Most famous for his collection of six symphonic poems that was written between 1874 to 1879, it is amazing to know he was already totally deaf by that time. In his later life he sufferred from mental problems and entered an asylum where he died in 1884."

This one might be a bit difficult...if you have no clue...you could always play with your thumbs, leave a quick hello in the comment section or go wikipediotic!

Enjoy!

This one goes out to Raymond...who smilingly checked in my luggage at JFK without ever mentioning the 15 extra kilos I schlepped on board. Thanks, man! It was great to see you again, a bit of a surprise and this one is for you ... because of all those wonderful evenings in Reykjavik when your fingers stroked the keys of your piano and made our ears tingle with pleasure.

So I turned 30...

2007-08-07T23:47:00.001Z

(picture curtesy of BoboJoel with MY camera!)

I have to say I love this life. It seems to get better every year and I think it is partly due to the fact that we discover more and more about ourselves and become at ease with the person we are. Don't get me wrong, life still scares the bejesus out of me sometimes, but it always seems to be worth the turmoil in the end.

My 30th was not scary and celebrated in three different countries. Germany, Iceland and the US. Yes, I got style! I met some amazing people, had a lot of laughs, many a present and there was chocolate. What more can a girl ask for? Well, I really would like to have my own castle...but I have strict confidence that I´ll make it to 40. *winks pathetically at everybody*

So here are some images that made this birthday ever so special:

(picture curtesy of Neva aka puppytoes without her glasses!)

Isn't he just the cutest?

(picture curtesy: well, this one´s got my flippers all over it!)

I went to PEZylvania and had me some chocolate. Maybe some more, too! Look at those beautiful Hershey-Kisses street lights. Some amazing people live there too, I forget their names now...there are also powder rooms. It´s nothing to do with anything, but it is important to some. Believe you me!

(Picture curtesy: Neva with glasses, but look at me waving!)

Boston Common. Such a wonderful place to just hang. And hang I did...from various statues, not that I´d be willing to demonstrate my imaturiy on my 30th birthday post, but to let your soul dangle for a moment is one of my favorite past times.

(Minkastyle!)

I love the water, and the Charles River in Boston is somewhere I can't wait to return to. If you are ever up for a walk along the Esplanade, lemme know! Bring chocolate though! dark chocolate...where was I? Oh yes...

(Pez feet, curmudgeon foot and one freshly pedicured foot snapped by me!)

Whoever started this tradition, it´s a grand one. I love the foot pictures going around and let me be the one to tell you that some people are well worth walking the extra mile for.

~Penguin out!

Oh and if you missed me so much that these few words are not nearly enough to make up for the time we spent apart, I have a few more words over at the SNARK!

Rabbit, Rabbit and Spike Jones

2007-08-01T14:14:00.000Z

thanks to a very special Snarklady, I was introduced to one new piece of my funny bone. I am pretty sure it is located between the biceps, my trainer promised I would grow into...but hey: A wonderful August to all of us!

It's Thor's day...

2007-07-26T12:09:00.000Z

so I better get going with that trivia of mine, before a thunderbolt will struck me out of nowhere. In all seriousness, I think Gods like atheists: just so they have something to aim at!

anywho:

"Before beginning his musical career, he was an army veteran. During his life he played with Little Richard and the Isley Brothers before forming his own trio. At their American debut at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, he set his guitar on fire. At the age of 27 he died, leaving behind a musical legacy and a memorable rendition of the American national anthem."

You know the drill, off to the comment section with you and hint away at this week's amazing guest!

*looks expectantly at the sky*

I am back in Iceland for a day...

2007-07-19T11:15:00.000Z

not much time for many words, but here are a few pics from my trip. I'll get more personal when I get back from the second leg of my vacation!

Probably an inside joke. Niece number 3 (Marie) in our little garden, bathing in the sun.

Monika in Amsterdam, on some side alley. Notice the cute little red lamps in the background. It took me a while to realize why those were there and I think I have never walked an alley down this quickly trying very hard not to look anywhere but straight ahead.

My sister and my nephew Max. You know what, I think you have to be a baby to pull off a smile with only two teeth. Max is 8 months old and his Mom's pride and joy.

My three nieces. Yes I know, beauty does run in the family!

I am not a big hugger, but some arms feel very nice wrapped around oneself.

And here they all are. I am a very rich aunt. Marie, Jessika, Max and Anja.

Ok folks...

2007-07-03T00:53:00.001Z

In less than four hours I´ll be on an airplane to Germany. I´ll stay for two weeks and return to Iceland and this blog on the 17th of July.

Which also happens to be my 30th BIRTHDAY. I expect you all here to sing with me -in true Penguin style- "Freeze a jolly good fellow". If you feel like giving me a gift ... when it comes to music we like SEAL and please, don't give me a vacation to Britain, I am scared of Wales! So be generous with your comments, spread the love and don´t blog anything important while I am away!

Skin and Bones

2007-07-01T12:04:00.000Z

I don't know if many of you know that I love archeology. Hence I am always all ear when some shovel hits a stone, sacrophargus or silver spoon beneath some layers of sand.

The lastest find just happened last month, when a long-overlooked mummy has been identified as Queen Hatshepsut, ancient Egypt's most powerful female pharaoh.

Kids, she is bigger and more powerful than Cleopatra or Nefertiti (who never took the title of pharaoh). She also reigned the longest (20 years), despite controversy to her sitting on the throne, and we all know what can be done with snakes and a bit of poison back in those days.

Hatshepsut stole the throne from her young stepson, she is said to have dressed herself as a man and wearing a fake beard, and in an unprecedented move, declared herself Pharaoh. "Carpe Diem" she might have thought and went for it. In her defense, no wars occured under her reign and her queendom prospered.

When she died, all traces of her mysteriously disappeared, including her mummy. Shocking! Maybe an upset evil stepson should be questioned. What with technology being what it is, I am sure we can create such an interrogation in no time.

They already found her in 1903 when a mummy was found lying on the ground next to the sarcophagus holding the mummy of the queen's wet nurse,Sitr-In, in a tomb in the Valley of Kings burial ground in Luxor. Being thought of as insignificant, it was left in the tomb for decades. Apparently they have a bunch of unidentified mummies lying around and every once in a while they have a crack at one. Their first clue should have been the position of the left hand on her chest, a traditional sign of royalty, but I wasn't there to point that out way back then.

Speaking of the full range of forensic technology to identify mysteries, this time around the key clue was a tooth found in a relic box inscribed with Hatshepsut's name and cartouche. Really? That´s just amazing. This single tooth, however, was found previously and a CAT scan revealed that this tooth exactly matches and is indeed the missing tooth from this mummy's jaw. There goes my whole belief in the tooth fairy!

In all fairness though, to double check they made an DNA comparison with the mummy of Ahmose Nefertari, Hatshepsut's grandmother, and results show a clear link. As if I was gonna buy that tooth story!

This discovery is the most significant find since the discovery of King Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922. Well ok, but those experts really don't know that I found the second sock to my favourite pair the other day. It's been lost for weeks!

Queen Hatshepsut was about 50 when she died of some combination of metastatic bone cancer, diabetes, and liver cancer. The first thing said about her was that she was obese. Now that just goes to show, even when you are just skin and bones, you still are way too big!

oh and "Rabbit, rabbit" to each and everyone.

Thursday comes with Trivia...

2007-06-28T11:54:00.000Z

Thinking caps on, everybody and let´s go:

"Born in Vitebsk, Russian Empire (now in Belarus), on the 7th of July in 1887, he was the oldest of nine children in the close-knit Jewish family led by his father, a herring merchant. This period of his life, described as happy though impoverished, appears in references throughout his work. From 1907-1910 he studied in Saint Petersburg, at the Imperial Society for the Protection of the Arts. In 1910, he moved to Paris, where he associated with Guillaume Apollinaire and Robert Delaunay and encountered Fauvism and Cubism. His first solo show was held in 1914 at Der Sturm gallery in Berlin. During World War II, he fled to the United States, but settled permanently in France in 1948 and exhibited in Paris, Amsterdam, and London. His talent did not only extend to canvases, he was a master sculpturer and many an amzing church window carries the stroke of his hand."

Got it? Off to the comment section with you and HINT!!! away :)

little hint: Minka named her dog after his beloved wife, which incidentally goes with the German word for "to bark". It seemed a good idea at the time!

Wednesday Snark!

2007-06-27T11:08:00.000Z

I know, it´s been a week. But summer has arrived in Iceland and the week that that is going to last, I better be outside and let the sun kiss and tickle my skin.

For those of you that have missed me and need a dose of Minka, venture over to Centralsnark and read something or other about time, and how it doesn´t fly as much as it staggers on allowing you to grow.

Here is a bit of trivia about time:

"Fortnight" is a contraction of "fourteen nights." In the US "two weeks" is more commonly used.

A 'jiffy' is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second.

Any month that starts on a Sunday will have a Friday the 13th in it.

England and the American colonies adopted the Gregorian calendar on September 14th, 1752. 11 days disappeared.

If the sun stopped shining suddenly, it would take eight minutes for people on earth to be aware of the fact.

The monastic hours are matins, lauds, prime, tierce, sext, nones, vespers and compline.

The wristwatch was invented in 1904 by Louis Cartier.

Thursday´s come and almost gone too...

2007-06-20T23:59:00.000Z

better hurry then...*falls over her own feet*

"Raised in rural Scotland, he moved to London in his teens and worked as a shipping clerk and served in the Territorial Army. He earned his medical degree in 1906. A researcher in the area of antiseptics and antibacterial substances, in 1921 he discovered a natural protein with bacteria-killing properties that he named lysozome. In his lab in 1928 he discovered mold in an uncovered culture of staphylococci that repelled bacteria. He identified the mold and published his findings in 1929, naming the substance **********.Lacking sufficient chemistry skills to exploit his findings, it took a few years for "this mold" to be developed by two other scientists into the first significant antibiotic."

You know the drill;)

and for those of you with a bit of extra time...I was guest posting at the SNARK! and if you are looking for amusement a trip to Humor-blogs.com should be rewarding!

From the humor files of the world wide web!

2007-06-17T17:26:00.000Z

Why did the chicken cross the road?

I found these answers all over the net and in my easily-amused mind they are hilarious. I picked my favourite ones and I hope you like!

It didn't. I was playing golf with it at the time.

In my day, we didn't ask why the chicken crossed the road. Someone told us that the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough for us.

I envision a world where all chickens will be free to cross roads without having their motives called into question.

Give me ten minutes with the chicken and I'll find out.

I deduce this was a Rock Island hen, eleven months old, and that it was kept in a mesh cage composed of galvanized iron. Surely Watson, you can see this is a festive Sunday afternoon, and the chicken is but one step ahead of the family stew pot.

To live deliberately ... and suck all the marrow out of life.

Look, it's tough crossin' the road. The chicken knows it's tough. The American people have got to understand that I know the chicken knows it's tough. I read the report. But the chicken's on the march. And it will get the job done .

Whyyy...did the chicken, cross the road?
*thumps podium*
He crossed the road... to give his life.
He did it,... not for himself,.......... but he did it... for his fellow chickens.
As a warning,...
And a brave and noble thing it was... that he did.

Jack Sheppard: I don't know, maybe the chicken was just moving in that direction. Why does it have to mean anything that it crossed the road?
John Locke: The Island demanded that the chicken cross at that moment.
Sawyer: Why are you so interested in the damn chicken, Colonel Sanders? Tired of mangos?
Sayid, calmly: I know more about chickens and the use of them crossing roads than I care to remember. I don't know what is more disturbing. The fact that that chicken has crossed the road, or that it has only three toes.
Early Shannon: Ohmygod Boone, why should we care if the chicken crossed the road or not? It has nothing to do with us.
Hugo "Hurley" Reyes: Dude, did you see a chicken come this way?

Neo, there is no chicken.

Now off with you to the comment section and come up with your own answer. I´ll go first :)

Thursday comes with....

2007-06-15T01:15:00.001Z

that´s right...trivia. I´ve trained you well, young Quizwalkers!

here´s your next challenge:

"He was one of the most prominent Communist theoreticians and his ideas on revolutionary struggle and guerrilla warfare have been extremely influential, especially among Third World revolutionaries. Of Hunanese peasant stock, he was trained in Chinese classics and later received a modern education. As a young man he observed oppressive social conditions, becoming one of the original members of the Chinese Communist party. His embalmed body is displayed in a mausoleum in Tiananmen Square, Beijing."

Got it? Off to the comment section with you and happy hinting at this weeks special guest.

Penguin goes snarking!

2007-06-13T12:12:00.001Z

If you ever want to come and visit the Penguin, and I think that you should!, you need to learn a bit about volcanoes. Yes, those mountains with hiccups! It´s for your own safety, now head over to the SNARK and graduate Magma cum laude in the advanced science of how to deal with an upset tummy of a volcano!

*Volcanoes are not all bad....

a)take Pompeii for example:

"Pompeii is an ancient city of south Italy, a port near Naples and at the foot of Mt. Vesuvius. An eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79 buried Pompeii, along with Herculaneum and Stabiae, under cinders and ashes that preserved the ruins of the city with magnificent completeness - down to the fresh colors of the wall paintings.
The long-forgotten site of the city was rediscovered in 1748 and has been sporadically excavated since that time thus revealing the habits, manners, art and architecture of Roman times."

In case a volcano ever preseves me, there is a decent stamp collection in my basement, just sayin´!

b) from a distance it is so beautiful and particularly one fine day in 1991 when both heaven and earth erupted simultaneously on MT. Hekla:

and the green auroral band occurred fortuitously about 100 kilometers above the erupting red lava.

I kid you not!

2007-06-08T23:49:00.000Z

Welcome to Smaralind. "It is the biggest shopping mall in Iceland with over seventy shops, restaurants and services. It contains everything from a cinema and pharmacy to an alcohol shop, candy stores and restaurants. Smáralind was opened in October 10, 2001 at 10:10 GMT." It´s a nice enough mall, about 10 minutes from my place and with decent ventilation. Nothing really wrong with it, except maybe when looked from above:

From a different perspective it seems someone was trying very hard *giggles* to have a sense of humor. I mean the plans were approved by a board of quite a few people...someone must have noticed!

Better start wondering what attracts me so frequently to it. I seriously hope it is not a Freudian complex of phallic dimensions.

*this one goes to Theresa, for reminding me in what an...er... open-minded place I live ;)

p.s...feel free to click the images to -for want of a better word- enlarge them.

this just in:

Thursday comes with Trivia...

2007-06-07T01:24:00.000Z

"He sold his first story when he was thirteen, which earned him enough money to buy a second-hand typewriter. His first novel, a humorous fantasy, appeared in 1971. Working for many years as a journalist and press officer, he wrote in his spare time and published a number of novels in between. In 1987 he turned to writing full time, and has not looked back since.
Regarded as one of the most significant contemporary English-language satirists, he has won numerous literary awards, was named an Officer of the British Empire “for services to literature” in 1998, and has received four honorary doctorates from the Universities of Warwick, Portsmouth, Bath, and Bristol. His acclaimed novels have sold 40 million copies worldwide and have been translated into 33 languages."

It´s all about horses....

2007-06-06T07:05:00.000Z

I am SNARKING today, but not really...I have problems loading my quiz for this week´s post over there, so until I figure something else...I have put it here for your convenience!

Create your own Friend Quiz here

Hope you enjoy, learn something and try to leave google out of this ;) Also, if you notice a mistake I made, it is not really there, you are imagining things!

Wonderful Wednesday to everybody!

Ok, I just realized you have to sign up for doing this quiz, I didn´t realize when I put it up, so I absolutely understand if you want to ignore it and tell me how wonderful I am instead. Really, it´s ok! ;)

Magic

2007-06-04T00:28:00.000Z

Most of you are familiar with my nephews here in Iceland. And partial as this might sound, they are amazing. Each so very different from the other. The smallest one is Gretar. He is four and a few days ago when I was babysitting the little tornadoes, he was eyeing me from afar as I was making dinner. He kept looking at me and I could tell something was going on with him. When I noticed, my mind started racing and my thought process was along the lines of "Oh my God, what´s he done now?"

I turned around, drying towel in one hand, bracing myself for the bad news I was about to receive, reminding myself to hold on to sanity, when I slowly asked him: "If there´s anything you want to tell me, Gretar...now would be a good time!"
He looked at me and shaked his head and slowly walked out of the kitchen. I went after him, got him ready for bed and as he was lying there he kept starring at me. I told him it was ok to tell me; if he smashed something or lost another pair of boots somewhere outside...it was ok.

He pulled my head closer to his and said: "I want to tell you a secret- just between us." I promised and he said: "Monika, there is magic in our garden outside." Puzzled I looked at him, pondering everything from too many Harry Potter viewings, to delusion all the way to what the heck did I put in tonight´s dinner. When he noticed my perplexity he elaborated: "You remember when we put those onions down a long time ago? They turned into flowers. Onions turn into flowers in our garden!"

He had such a glee on his face...Gretar doesn´t like onions -the type you eat- he loves flowers and magic, so it was a double win for him. Poor chap thought that the bulbs we put into the earth in the Spring (looking like onions to him!) would turn into those bitter things that make one cry.

I hugged him and thanked him for letting me in on this, I also decided that this would be a good moment to introduce him to the concept of fairies and elves. He fell asleep with his glee fully intact.

It´s Thursday...

2007-05-31T23:38:00.000Z

"A profound and prolific writer in the Danish "golden age" of intellectual and artistic activity, his work crossed the boundaries of philosophy, theology, psychology, literary criticism, devotional literature and fiction. He brought this potent mixture of discourses to bear as social critique and for the purpose of renewing Christian faith within Christendom. One of the fathers of existentialism, his contributions to the development of modernism, his literary experimentation, his vivid re-presentation of biblical figures to bring out their modern relevance and his fervent attempts to analyse and revitalise Christian faith are amongst his major achievements. He is said to have "burned with the passion of a religious poet", was armed with extraordinary dialectical talent and drew on vast resources of erudition."

Now off to teh comment section and hint at this week´s great mind. You are free to limerick, hint, make excuses or simply say HI. The only nono is to blurt out the answer, which sorta would be like me telling you that Harry Potter doesn´t die in teh final book! Don´t go there...I know where your blog is.

Rabbit, rabbit...Hare, hare...Hase, hase and Good Luck in June! *winks at the Pezes*

In case you need to vent, I am sure Homor-Blogs would enjoy some input to that extend!

I apologize...

2007-05-30T10:18:00.000Z

for my absence of late, but I am out of town and animals with identity crises need my species knwledge to be pigeon-holed correctly.
For more information about Mrs. Seuss' adventures go over ¨HERE and say "HI", if you can oink like a pig you get an extra point;)
Tomorrow I´ll be back at FULL THROTTLE with a Thursday Trivia and visits to your blogs! I might wear an ape suit, you´ll recognize me by the unicorn horn!

For additional monkey business go to HOMORBLOGS!

Thursday Trivia

2007-05-24T00:26:00.000Z

"He was a philologist specializing in the history of the English language, and Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford University. By the time he was twelve years old, in 1904, he was making up languages for fun. Later in life, he began to invent a world for those languages to fit into, and adventure stories about things that happened in that world.
Three books were crucial in developing his linguistic imagination: Joseph Wright's Primer of the Gothic Language; C.N.E Eliot's Finnish Grammar; and John Morris-Jones' Welsh Grammar."

Ok...off to the comment section and hint at this week´s special guest. Now there should be clues available to each and everyone of us. If not, I might -with polite incomprehension- inquire as to what century you live in ;)

On Wednesdays...

2007-05-23T12:33:00.000Z

I go snarking on another page. Why don´t you come and join me over HERE?

This week, I´ll share a bit about my ever-expanding family, sibling´s side! The above picture shows me with a niece of mine. I mentioned to my sister -given that she already had two- to give this one to me. What with siblings should share and everything, but she said that people simply wouldn´t buy it!

And if you have an extra minute, go help multiply the hits on HUMORBLOGS!

Gender-based Language

2007-05-18T22:12:00.000Z

An English teacher was explaining to his students the concept of gender association in the English language.

He stated how hurricanes at one time were given feminine names and how ships and planes were usually referred to as "she". One of the students raised their hand and asked - "What gender is a computer"?

The teacher wasn't certain which it was, so he divided the class into two groups, males in one, females in the other, and asked them to decide if a computer should be masculine or feminine. Both groups were asked to give four reasons for their recommendation.

The group of women concluded that computers should be referred to in the masculine gender because:

1. In order to get their attention, you have to turn them on.

2. They have a lot of data but are still clueless.

3. They are supposed to help you solve your problems, but half the time they ARE the problem.

4. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that, if you had waited a little longer, you could have had a better model.

The men, on the other hand, decided that computers should definitely be referred to in the feminine gender because:

1. No one but their creator understands their internal logic.

2. The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else.

3. Even your smallest mistakes are stored in long-term memory for later retrieval.

4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your paycheck on accessories for it.

[Author Unknown]

Feel free to come up with your own lines:)

???

2007-05-17T13:46:00.000Z

Yesterday Night I went to a Josh Groban concert. Oh, shut it! He scored some points with me when he referred to himself as a cheeseball. A joke lost on many an Icelander, but it made me laugh.

Then this happened:

he looked over his audience and said:

"I see a lot of women here tonight." *slicks back hair and smiles*
"I see a few man here too." *grins*
"And we all know why you guys are here, it´s ´cause you love the woman sitting next to you!" *general applause and laughing*

I looked to the half-drunken stranger sitting to my left, and I could tell he didn´t love me. Something in his vacant expression ... But when I looked into the front row I saw a woman putting her hands on her husbands thigh as "love the woman sitting next to you" was uttered. He just starred ahead and didn´t reply in any shape or form to that gesture. Muppet!

Now:

His only art training came from a correspondence course, but his drawings are world famous. After serving in World War II, he taught art and tried to sell his cartoons. In 1948, the Saturday Evening Post finally published his work and two years later a large syndicate bought his comic strip, Li’l Folks.

Any ideas? Give clues or hints in the comment sections and let the guessing commence!

If you have time and an inclination to laugh...go to Humorblogs...where I am sure you could find sweet nothings, if you look real careful :)

It´s Wednesday...

2007-05-16T02:02:00.000Z

which means I am SNARKING on another page. This week, habitats in Iceland:

Icelanders are all hobbits? Who said that?

p.s...if my post is not up there yet...come back and answer me this: If due to some circumstances beyond your control, you´d make it to this island, what is the first thing you would want to see?

If this does not amuse you, I swear on my purple socks, that you´ll find something to stretch your lips on HUMORBLOGS.

What´s with all the violence?

2007-05-11T21:37:00.000Z

You might wanna put the kids to bed for this one!

There I am, strolling through downtown Reykjavik, minding my own business, taking a few pictures:

beautiful church, isn´t it? Wait a sec...what´s that orangy thingy infront of the church? Let´s have a closer look, shall we?

That road block smashed that car, it wasn´t me! I just happen to be there...wrong time, wrong place ...oh will ye quit it, I am not drunk, I am merely resting my eyes. It´s a Friday night for crying out loud!

And on we go... What the heck?

I am nowhere near that huge flowerpot... slammed into the front wind-shield.

Let´s move away quickly, before we start to doubt everything good and true in Iceland.

Now that´s just plain insane. With the few trees we have and then someone rams one through a car. *shakes head* What´s this ice cube come to?

And just when you thought, it couldn´t get any worse:

That´s it, I´ll forbid myself to go downtown hence-forth. I could have died taking these pictures, I hope you know! I felt it was my duty to bring these images- terrifying as they might be...

What?

Oh, it is Reykjavik´s annual ART-FESTIVAL this weekend. *sigh of relief*
Wait a minute, this is our concept of art for the year 2007? "Can I offer you a slice of bus?" I really start to wonder if accepting Christianity, way back in ´78 I think, was really the right choice for us. There is just so much Viking strength left within, fighting to get out.

What?

Royal De Luxe? That sounds French. It is? They are here? *runs around screaming from the top of her lungs: The FRENCH are coming! Prepare the Volcanoes!"* and look what they brought:

*frantically rummages through her book shelves, looking for "Gulliver´s Travels"*
I remember The huge Gulliver being tied up somewhere in it, and it´s not like this giant puppet hasn´t enough strings to do it with!

So, it was the French. Told you it wasn´t me!

I knew we couldn´t pull off art on our own...

We can drink you under the table any day of the week though!

*passes out*

Thursday comes with trivia...

2007-05-09T21:40:00.000Z

This one´s for you:

"In the late 1700s, he grew up in Pennsylvania, where he enjoyed working on mechanical objects. After working in London as a painter, he went to France where he designed and built a submarine. The French didn’t put much faith in his creation, and his new sea vessel also met with skepticism in America. His steamboat, The Clearmont, sailed from New York to Albany in little more than a day, revolutionizing trade and transportation in America."

You know what to do...off to the comment section with you lot. Hint away!

This one´s for me: why should only you engage your braincells?

What does your drawing say about YOU?

The results of your analysis say:

"You tend to pursue many different activities simultaneously. When misfortune does happen, it doesn't actually dishearten you all that much.
You are a direct and forthright person. You like to get to the core of the issue right away, with few signs of hesitation.
You like following the rules and being objective. You are precise and meticulous, and like to evaluate decisions before making them.
You have a sunny, cheerful disposition."

Hmmm...

Have I mentioned that I can juggle and eat spaghetti at the same time? Talk about simultaneously! I don´t even mind when a bit of the red sauce spills over my white shirt. Damn sauce! Now, why did it have to spill on my shirt, well...there´s gravity to be sure or God simply knew I was gonna post infront of you guys and saw an opportunity! But this is just how things go, happens to everybody at least once, maybe twice...often even more than that. Did I leave soemthing out? Nope!
*smiles*

Ok...see? Proved the personality assigned to me by a computer program down to the dot on the i! I actually think I came out better than I really am. Which is always good any given Thursday.

Excuse my absense of late...

2007-05-09T08:33:00.000Z

but I did have my reasons. They were three-fold!

1. A weekend promised to my three little nephews. Cinema, dining out *laughs* and playing games.

I just love this picture. Somehow they are all adjusting their clothing at the same time, for no apparent reason. Hereditary research would get a kick out of this one :)
Details about this trip will feature in the next post. Much is left to be said about the courageous aunt that goes the distance.

2. I had to see about a lamb. This one below. If you wanna know more, I encourage a visit to the SNARK!!! where I am hosting today.

3. I couldn´t find my night-vision goggles that I wear when posting, my socks didn´t match either. It was that kinda week!

And before you know it:

2007-05-03T01:06:00.000Z

It is Thursday again!

In honor of the fact that from the 6th-12th of May is National Nurses Weeks in America...I think this weeks brain-teaser should have to do with that...somewhat!

"This famous poet and writer, served as a volunteer hospital nurse in Washington, DC during the Civil War. He recorded his experiences in a collection of poems called something starting with "DRUM****" and in his diary, "SPECIMEN **** and *******." He wrote about individual freedom, equal rights and sexual love, as well as about his love for America. His often-thought immoral poems had a huge influence on the later beat generation!"

Love that dude!

Did you know that...

-the first nursing school in history dates back to 250 B.C. and was located in India?

-Florence Nightingale, the most famous nurse in modern history, was only a nurse for three years of her life. (b. 1820. d. 1910)?

Didn´t think so!

now off with you to the comment section and hint with needle-point precission at this week´s special-and might I add: FOXY- guest!

The Icelandic 5000 KR bank note:

2007-05-02T17:32:00.000Z

You hardly see it anymore; except in the hands of tourists or some really purist Icelandic people. A nation fond of using those little plastic cards, even if our shopping bag only holds a cucumber and some dried fish, we get excited seeing one of these:

1) It is the highest banknote you can have in your wallet here in Iceland.
2) It can almost get you tipsy if you take it down town on a Saturday night!
3) It has a woman on it! Ragnheiður Jónsdóttir (1646-1715). She was a third wife to some bishop and did embroidary. And that´s about all we know about her really, and while her presence on the highest bank note might be puzzling, here is two thumbs up for her hat!

She also looks kinda blue! Which brings us to our next point:

What´s this to do with you? Go to The Snark! and check it out!

p.s In case you were wondering what decorates Icelandic coins...yes, you guessed it...various types of fish!