Iceland's three McDonald's restaurants — all in the capital Reykjavik — will close next weekend, as the franchise owner decided to close it due to falling profits caused by the collapse in the Icelandic krona.
(not part of the story)
On the other hand the obesity rate of Raykjavik dropped drastically.Iceland's three McDonald's restaurants — all in the capital Reykjavik — will close... more
The Big Mac, long a symbol of globalization, has become the latest victim of this tiny island nation's overexposure to the world financial crisis.
Iceland's three McDonald's restaurants - all in the capital Reykjavik - will close next weekend, as the franchise owner gives in to falling profits caused by the collapse in the Icelandic krona.
"The economic situation has just made it too expensive for us," Magnus Ogmundsson, the managing director of Lyst Hr., McDonald's franchise holder in Iceland, told the Associated Press by telephone on Monday.
Lyst was bound by McDonald's requirement that it import all the goods required for its restaurants - from packaging to meat and cheeses - from Germany.
Costs had doubled over the past year because of the fall in the krona and high import tariffs on imported goods, Ogmundsson said, making it impossible for the company to raise prices further and remain competitive with competitors that use locally sourced produce.
A Big Mac in Reykjavik already retails for 650 krona ($5.29). But the 20 percent increase needed to make a decent profit would have pushed that to 780 krona ($6.36), he said.
That would have made the Icelandic version of the burger the most expensive in the world, a title currently held jointly by Switzerland and Norway where it costs $5.75, according to The Economist magazine's 2009 Big Mac index.
The decision to shutter the Icelandic franchise was taken in agreement with McDonald's Inc., Ogmundsson said, after a review of several months.
McDonald's, the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, arrived in Reykjavik in 1993 when the country was on an upward trajectory of wealth and expansion.The Big Mac, long a symbol of globalization, has become the latest victim of this tiny... more
In March 2009 a small town in Iceland, Seyðisfjörður, was turned into an extraordinary sound-system pumping an eclectic selection, from Murcof to Bob Dylan.
The campaign was created by London-based agency Fallon (Cadbury's gorilla anyone?) and directed by Juan Cabral (the man behind Sony Bravia's paint explosions).In March 2009 a small town in Iceland, Seyðisfjörður, was turned into an... more
Twenty-six countries Friday issued a joint statement putting diplomatic pressure on Iceland to abandon whaling. Icelandic whalers have killed more than 200 whales so far since June, including endangered 125 fin whales and 79 smaller and more abundant minke whales.
The joint demarche, a formal diplomatic protest signed by the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia and 12 European Union countries including Germany, France, Portugal and Spain, states that the 26 governments are "deeply disappointed" with the former Icelandic government's decision to authorize commercial whaling.
Earlier this year, the outgoing Fisheries and Agriculture Minister granted commercial whaling quotas of up to 150 fin whales and 100 minke whales a year for five years.
The current government has kept these kill quotas in place for one year, and increased the catch allocation to 200 fin whales and 200 minke whales for 2009, despite what conservationists say is a limited domestic market for minke whale meat and no market for fin whale meat.
Opinion polling and independent economic research in Iceland has revealed little appetite for whale meat, while responsible whale watching, by contrast, is financially lucrative and one of the country's most popular tourist activities, generating €5m a year for coastal communities.Twenty-six countries Friday issued a joint statement putting diplomatic pressure on... more
The Icelandic music marketplace Gogoyoko just launched their service in Scandinavia a couple of days ago. What sets this service apart from other recent ventures promising a final showdown with the Big Four, e.g. Spotify or Pandora, is that it picks up on the DIY trend and empowers artists to easily market, distribute and sell music on their own terms directly to the consumer – no middle men! Naturally, being a sucker for disruptive innovation and the Icelandic music scene, I found myself hooked immediately.The Icelandic music marketplace Gogoyoko just launched their service in Scandinavia a... more
Iceland has a population of 300,000 and yet, even in that social microcosm, a small group of wealthy individuals seem to have gained control of the banking system and drained it dry. A mirror of the much more complex US and world banking system?Iceland has a population of 300,000 and yet, even in that social microcosm, a small... more
Thursday's edition of my three times a week talk show.Watch the show here on CURRENT TV on Tues, Thurs & Sats.
In today's show :
Wrong position.
"The Elves Of Iceland" Part 1.
A pair of tatty old trainers.
James Dean tries to get me to lie to you.
An advantage to just listening ?
Careful when charging your mobile phone.
Stuck in Dubai.
Who would you like murdered here on the show ?
Beautiful arrangement of expensive flowers.
How does a transformer work ?
He didn't like the lamp.
Instant messenger things stop you from doing things.
Original Mona Lisa.
I've been accused of being in peoples pockets.
Which side are you on ? Peter Andre or Jordon ?
It might be useful one day.
Can she sing ?
Ronny is in Sri Lanka.
Coils.
Service fom John Lewis.
Payment ?
How many Gas bottles ?
An eye operation.
Who do you trust on the television ?
Eaten from the head down.
Nothing wrong with a supermarket carrier.
chris@unitedkingdomtalk.co.uk
WWW.UNITEDKINGDOMTALK.CO.UKThursday's edition of my three times a week talk show.Watch the show here on CURRENT... more
Information from the collapsed Icelandic bank Kaupthing has been leaked to WikiLeaks, revealing billions in insider loans, and the bank has been working day and night to censor the information contained in the document. Last night at 6:55pm GMT, they served an injunction against the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service, five minutes before the 7pm news was due to be aired. The TV station just displayed the WikiLeaks URL instead. They've also injuncted Iceland's national radio, banning all discussion about the contents of the document, and they are actively trying to censor the rest of the Icelandic media along with WikiLeaks."
These videos are from an Icelandic band called Mum (pronounced Moom). They feature very artistic animations that blend really well with the music. Enjoy!These videos are from an Icelandic band called Mum (pronounced Moom). They feature... more
The Girl in the Cafe (2005) is a charmingly awkward story with a strong message about global poverty and disease.
Lawrence (Bill Nighy) is an older, tall and lanky, quiet, shy, and mild man working for the Chancellor of the Exchequer and preparing for the 2005 G8 Conference in...
The trailer is a little faded; but the movie is crystal clear. Stop by the blog for the full review if you have a moment.The Girl in the Cafe (2005) is a charmingly awkward story with a strong message about... more
http://www.triponadeal.com This week we the best, most shocking and most beautiful travel films on TripFilms.com. It's a whirlwind tour through China, Thailand, Vietnam, Ghana and Iceland's Blue Lagoon. Plus much more! You can get a link all the films we feature at triponadeal.com. Sponsored this week by Tubemogul.comhttp://www.triponadeal.com This week we the best, most shocking and most beautiful... more
Heima Trailer. Looks amazing. Not quite sure what it is.... maybe a promo for a new album? Anybody knows?Heima Trailer. Looks amazing. Not quite sure what it is.... maybe a promo for a new... more
Not quite the same as At Home With The Beckhams - this is film is about Sigur Ros' tour of Iceland last year. It looks absolutely beautiful. Release date is October (I think).Not quite the same as At Home With The Beckhams - this is film is about Sigur Ros'... more
This is Icelandic pop sensation Sigur Ros's new video for Gobbledigook, the first single from their critically acclaimed new album. It is a tribal, hedonistic experience exploring energy, joy and the beauty of nature. With the music video being an article that has less and less mainstream platforms upon which to be aired it seems it can become a tool for expression once more. God bless hippies everywhere, and all who roll around in the open air with them!This is Icelandic pop sensation Sigur Ros's new video for Gobbledigook, the first... more
Sigur Rós have taken over YouTube today, as reported yesterday on Current.com by users Jessica_Griffiths and Mcarmago.
The Icelandic band are showcasing their acclaimed documentary 'Heima' - a stunning film about their recent, intimate homecoming tour - as well as the results from "Minn Heima" - a competition which allowed fans to create their own versions of "Heima" using audio and video clips posted online. The band's top ten favourite submissions are featured on the YouTube home page along with the documentary, making Sigur Rós the first band to screen a full-length music DVD on the site.
Watch the entire film above or head to YouTube.com to see the Minn Heima clips.Sigur Rós have taken over YouTube today, as reported yesterday on Current.com by... more
Tomorrow Friday, March 7. The Icelandic band Sigur Ros will be feautured on popular video sharing site YouTube, where you will be able to view their latest doc HEIMA in its entirety.
I saw this at an actual screening a couple of months back, but I could not think a smarter move to bring more people into the fold. People who might not have otherwise have been exposed to their beautiful music will now be whether they want to or not :)Tomorrow Friday, March 7. The Icelandic band Sigur Ros will be feautured on popular... more
Con questa mossa, ancora una volta anticipano i tempi, anche se i Sigur Ros hanno da sempre messo a disposizione il download gratuito dal loro sito di video, mp3 e concerti. In una sezione del sito, addirittura, ci sono le istruzioni su come impostare emule e scaricare la loro musica. Questo la dice lunga sulla mentalità di questi ragazzi islandesi.Con questa mossa, ancora una volta anticipano i tempi, anche se i Sigur Ros hanno da... more
Whenever and wherever they play, Iceland’s Sigur Rós bring with them long, deep tracts of space: the endless-ocean reverb that surrounds Jón Pór Birgisson’s groaning, bowed guitar; the dramatic waiting in the opening measures of songs like “Svefn-G-Englar” andf “Ny Batteri” from the band’s 1999 albumWhenever and wherever they play, Iceland’s Sigur Rós bring with them long, deep... more
Il primo singolo, "Gobbledigook", è già scaricabile gratuitamente sul sito ufficiale www.sigurros.com
Quali sono le vostre impressioni? Un sound decisamente diverso da quello a cui ci avevano abituato. Ancora non ci credo: è una canzone "allegra". Gli islandesi Sigur Ros hanno confermato per il 23 giugno l'uscita internazionale del... more
Sigur Rós have premiered the music video for ‘Við spilum endalaust‘. The track was taken off their latest album ‘Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust‘.Sigur Rós have premiered the music video for ‘Við spilum endalaust‘. The track... more
