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Umræðurit

Hello and welcome to Iceland Roundupwhere we here at the Reykjavík Grapevinetry to round up the last week of Icelandic newsI am Jón TröstiYesYeah, I'm SindriI'm Sindri Albonand I'm Elias ÞórssonI'm also a ÞórssonWowTwo ÞórsonsWe're not brothersNo, no, no, noSo, Alastairn isNot that I know ofNot so far as I knowMy father is a mysterious manAlastairn Kæftason is not here with us todayHe's driving apparently fromØyastarSo he can't make itIt's a beautiful driveIt's a beautiful driveBut we're going to try to get through thisIs he going north or south?I didn't askIt doesn't matterWhich way you go for meI want to be able to picture him drivingIf I picture him on SprengisandurWhen he's actuallyIn ÞorðurIf I were himI would drive the south coastBut I'm not himSo I don't knowA lot of tourists on the south coastTrueSo we have five storiesWe have a story aboutA sales increase in Icelandic flagsAnd flagpolesWe have a high speed chase storyFrom this weekendThere's been a lot of talkAbout the Icelandic media marketOver this weekend tooAnd we're going to touch upon thatLast week I also saw a storyOn back taxesOn Icelandic car rental companiesWhich might disruptThe Icelandic car rentingBusinessOh how sadMy heart bleeds for the Icelandic car rentalsAnd thenAnd then we have a bit of aA driveA drug post storyThat we're going to attend toI think we mentioned it beforeYeah we did mention it beforeBut there are some more detailsThat Elias has been looking intoSo where do you guys want to start?Do we just start with flags?Yeah manAre you a flag guy?NoDo I look like a flag guy?I meant likeAre you super into flags and stuff?I used to kind ofBe very good at the triviaRegarding flagsYeahYeahYeahI was pretty up to date with thatYou lived in SwedenI'm curiousI lived in DenmarkAnd they love the flagEvery time there's a birthday partyThey have flags everywhereThey put the flag on the Christmas treeWe have never really done thisI think it was biggerIn the 50s and 60sAnd it was still kind of a thingWhere I grew up in the countrysideBecause the two familiesI would stay atMy grandfathers and my auntsThey both had flag polesAnd they would bothHost the flagLike on the 17th of JuneOn the Independence DayAnd stuff like thatSo it's kind of a different thingI guess for meBut it's alsoLike we changed the flag codeThis spring right?This has to do with thatI thinkSo there was an interview withA guy called Brynjar HúnfjörðWho's the CEO of a companyCalled ÍslandshusHúnfjörðHúnfjörðLikeHúnAre you translating place names now?YeahIt's also the Icelandic forHoisting a flagHúnfjörð is likeAs a last nameMeans that he's fromWho knows his last nameIt's the person's nameI thought you were trying to translate place namesAnd his company sells flag polesAnd according to himSales have been really good this summerAnd he citesYou thinkThe grapevine would do betterIf it was likeThe smoky bay grapevine?NoYou might get a lot ofYou knowSmoked meat enthusiastsOr stonersYeahYeahLikeFlagrant false advertisingWhat was the thingI was talking aboutWe talked about this a while agoThatThere was a massive failureInInIn sort ofIn imaginationThat none of theseSort of vape storesThat have popped up in IcelandOver the past 15 yearsYeahWeren't called likeEither the smoky bay storeOr the puffin puffinIYeahI rememberA guy I was in a band withWanted to startLike a record labelCalled puffin puffin entertainmentAnd it would be likeA puffin smoking a jointBut yeahI mean doesn't that speakTo the imaginationOf the average vape storeProprietorDo we have a viking vape?I'm sure we doYeahI mean there's alsoProbably lava vapeOr somethingVapingLava vapeYeahEruption vapeSomething like thatVolcano vapeButKind of low barI guessCan we keep these to ourselvesLike I don't want to giveThese people ideasI really want the vapeThing to just sort ofDisappear while I'm still aliveI'd love thatYeah it'sIt's kind of likeWhile cigarettesKind of look coolOn a pictureAfter the factDecades laterVape is just going to lookReally dorky isn't itYou look like a douchebagYeahIt's not going to beA good lookIt's not going to age wellI thinkBut who knowsI mean II find people withCigarettes in their mouthsJust asYou knowUncoolCoolYeahThis isThis is almostThis is such a touchy subjectI feelI almost feel likeI'm about to startTalking about dogsLike I feel soIn the minority hereThat I can barely evenExpressMyselfLikeIt's okayUntil you have to smell itLike I don'tI guess I don't mindThe way it looksBut I hate having to walk aroundAnd smellingDisgusting shitWell I rememberLike when they bannedSmoking in theAscetic barsIt was 2007Or somethingYeahI had a really hard timeIn envisioningHow justThat would workBars without smokeAndFor a whileIt took a whileTo get used to the smellOf fartsWhich is what came insteadYeahAnd then you just got used to itYeahAnd never thoughtAbout it againI gotta admitLike when I go toLike DenmarkOr GermanyI likeSmoking in fartsYeahBut one does smellLike a cigaretteFor a whileAfter itThat's fineYeahIf you go seek outYou knowThe bacchanaliaOf you knowThe peoplePartying and stuffLike that's differentBut having to sort ofWalk past someoneLike on a street cornerOr you knowJust likeSomebody drives down the streetWith their window openOr like a puff ofYou knowArtificial cherryComesYeahBut I'm talking aboutSmokingNot vapingYeahWellButSo back to your pointExactlyLike thisThis CEOThe flag hoistingBrynjarHe saidWhat he wasAssuming is thatThere was a recent changeIn the IcelandicFlag hoisting lawsThere was like aTime limitSo it was illegalTechnicallyTo have the flag upAfterI don't know10 or 11In the eveningAnd technicallyIt was supposed to beLike sunset and sunriseBut that doesn't reallyFunction in IcelandIn the summerBecause thereIsn't a lot of thatSo there was likeA time thingAnd it was illegalTo have the flag upAfter like a specific timeSo you would alwaysHave to likePut it upAnd back againIf you were goingTo follow the lawI got hassledBy policeFor thisWhen I was like 20It's unbelievableWell ILikeAs is nowWe really hate funDon't weThis is likeThis is a countryThat justHates anythingThat even remotelySmacks of funWhen I was workingAs a police officerIn an undisclosedLocation in IcelandThere was aThe enforcementOf this lawWas mildExcept for one guyWho did enforce itA lotWhich did notPeople found itAnnoying I believeBut it was illegalSo you could getFined for likeNot taking the flag downBut apparentlyThat's not the case anymoreSo you can actuallyJust hoist the flagOn May 1stAnd just keep it upTill August 15thI thinkHelloStep in the right directionWhat about other flagsCan we hoistOther flags nowI think you couldActually alwaysHoist other flagsWithout any of thoseLimitationsIt's just the Icelandic flagWhich was bannedI meanI have a story thoughBecause once I hoistedLike a bonus flagYeahAnd I got in troubleFor that tooMaybe there isSomething about thisThat I'm not familiar withYeahWhat was the problemWith hoisting the bonus flagDid you stealThe bonus flagNo commentIt wasI acquired itIn a game of chanceUh huhAndAndYeahIt was fineFor likeOne dayBut it's theKeeping it up thereThat eventuallyDraws police attentionLikeIt just showsHow little the policeHave to doThat they noticeThat someone hasHad like a flagIn their yardFor likeTwo or threeConsecutive daysThey're likeAlrightYou knowThat's a paddlingTime to talk to that guyYeahThey roll upAnd they're likeExcuse me sirCould youYou knowLowerYour Icelandic flagPleaseSo IActuallyI liked the flag codeThe way it wasYou likedThat you wereFirst to likeHoist it back downSoNoBut it's just likeAlso that you couldJust put it upOn special occasionsYeahBecauseSo I liveClose toGrunnThe old people's homeAnd they have thisMassiveFlagpoleAndIt used to beIf I would seeThe flag upI would knowOh it's likeDagurisOr somethingOr if theyOr if they'reHoisting itHalf-mastYeahYou knowLikeYou knowOh somebodyImportant diedOrYeahLet's look at the newsBut nowIt's just likeI was driving aroundWith my girlfriendAndI saw the flag upThis was early summerWhatIs this some specialDay todayI was likeNoIt was just a WednesdayOr somethingYeahIt's confusingIt isI saw theThe flag at half-mastThe other dayAnd I was likeReally excitedFor a secondBecause I thoughtSomeone shitHad diedBut then it wasJust the king of NorwayYeah I saw that tooI was likeYeahRest in peaceYeahRest in peaceRipped to a real oneYeahYour royal highnessHe was coolI'm sure he wasI mean I know nothingAbout himBut it's likeYou knowIt didn't get meVery excitedWell I meanI thinkIsn't he likeTechnically still our kingWe neverCan'tDumb this outYeahThat's a wholeBag of wormsAboutHow we ended upAs a Danish possessionDue toI'll say14th centuryRoyal marriagesAnd a high death rateDuring the blackDuring the black deathYeahYeahYeahI'd like to think soYeahI'll say this thingThis about the king of NorwayOnce againI wasNot happyWhen he diedAnd I thinkThat's kind ofThe highest praiseYou can give a personThese daysYeahI saw thatThe flag poleOn the parliament buildingWasHad theFlag in halfHalf mastHalf mastOn that dayWhichIf you look at theParliament buildingIs kind of interestingBecause weObviouslyLeft NorwayOur ancestorsLeft NorwaySo they didn't have toLike pay taxTo the Norwegian kingSomebody elseDied the same dayAs likeKing HaraldIt was likeDolly PartonOr somethingFirst I thoughtThe flag was atHalf mast for herAnd I was likeYeahIt was likeI took my hat offAnd it was likeYou knowPraise toSaint DollyAnd all thatButAnd it was justYou knowSome kingBut you alsoHave to rememberLikeWe thenRejoined NorwayBecause we wereA bunch ofViolent barbariansWe thenRejoined NorwayIn 1262Or something like thatAndBecause weTo containOur own civil warsAre there many countriesThat have done thatIn historyThat have likeDeclared independenceAnd then likeOh no waitWe take it backWe never did thatPer seBut we left NorwayAnd thenYeah over the courseOf 200 yearsIt happenedBut you knowIt's likeI just wonderHow many examplesThere are in historyOf thatIt's just likeOh no waitCan we pleaseBe a colony againThis isn'tThis is workingThe way we thought it wouldIt's even worseWe were neverA colony of NorwayUntil we joined NorwayAnd became a colonyYeah weWe signed upYeah we signed upBut they came from NorwayMost of theYeah but they were neverHad any allegianceWith the Norwegian kingThat was the whole pointSo it's kind of likeIfYou knowIf theThe settlersIn North AmericaAnd the 1600sHad decidedToI had notHad ties withThe English crownAnd then decidedMaybe inI don't know1776To joinThe crownInstead ofYeahWe messed upWe can't do thisWe are likeThe capitalistColonialist'sWet dreamAren't weWe just likeSet sailAnd then likeColonized some other placeFor another countryAnd then likePlease can we be partOf your country nowAnd then likeIt's a perfect thingAll the workDone for youBut if you lookAt the pollOn theOn theAesthetic parliament buildingWhich I didJust below thePollThere's theEmblem of kingChristian the 9thOr somethingWho wasNoted NorwegianNo he wasDaneWho was the king ofIcelandAnd DenmarkThe one thingI knew about himWas wrongYeahWhich isWho was the king of IcelandAnd DenmarkWhenHe got the constitutionGot a constitutionAnd parliamentThat's what he's holdingThe statueYeahAnd he hasYeahAnd he has a differentStatueBut okaySpeaking ofAuthorityI guessThere was also thisKind of strangeNew story aboutWe never went intoWhy these flagpolesAre being soldWellHisThis guy'sThesisIs thatBecause you can nowJust hoist the flagAt the beginning of summerAnd keep it upPeople were likeI'll get a flagpoleWe don't thinkThis is aArisenKind ofNationalismMaybeMaybe we can relateThis storyTo theNo voteFor the EUReferendumThat peopleWhoDecidedThat we canAll do itOurselvesThey alsoDecided toGet a newFlagpoleWho knowsMaybe this isThese areOverlapping trendsYeahBecause none ofThe EUCountriesHave flagsAnymoreRightRightYeahTheyBurned allThoseWhen theyJoinedThe EURightAnd theyAlso burnedAll the peopleWho wereAgainst the EURightWaitYeahThis isThis isSome influencerOn TikTokTold me thisAnd I justInstantly believed itWas itThe same guyWho told youThat you wereNowAbout toJoin theEuropean armyYeahWhere's myFucking gunManWhich armyWould youJoinIf youHad toPickItalianYeahThere'sProbablyReally goodFoodRightYeahI'm sureThe foodIs delightfulAnd I don'tThink they'veActually beenAt warSince theSecond worldWarCarabinieriCarabinieriYeahThey'reNo they'reCorrupt asFuckYeahBut foodIs goodAnd I'mSure theUniformsAre greatYeahI wouldNot joinThe FrenchArmyBecause theyActually makeYou doStuffI thinkYeahThere isI thinkI wouldn'tJoin theBritish armyBecause IWouldI thinkI'm aSocial personI don'tThink there'sEnough peopleIn the armyThere forMe toEnjoy myselfYeahIs thereA Danish armyReallyI meanThere's aFewThey wentTo IraqDidn't theyTheyThey didGo toIraqThey defusedBombsAnd I meanThat's theFunny thingAbout theUS beingAll meanTo themAbout GreenlandYeahIs thatThe DanesWere likeThe staunchestPro-USNationYeahLike theyChased theUS aroundAll theNonsenseLike theyWere inLibyaThey wereIn IraqProbablyIn AfghanistanI meanObviouslyIn AfghanistanYeahThat wasAll theNATOCountriesYeahBut yeahWellI guessLinkEstablishedNationalismMaybeYeahPolandThe flagPolesPossiblyButThe nextStoryIs aHigh speedChaseThis weekendSoFiveI thinkAt leastFive policeCarsAnd twoMotorcyclesWere pursuingAn intoxicatedManWhoDecided toGo for aJoyrideIn aRide sharingCar fromThe localRide sharingCompanyHopSomeoneWentYeahThis isGreatI loveWhere thisIs goingAndItApparentlyThey wereChasingHim aroundFor aWhileAnd eventuallyCaught himIt's inVíðertalurNext toNordenleggaholtThe gasStationKind ofOn theWay outOut ofReykjavíkAnd heWas arrestedAnd accordingTo theNewsHe wasPut intoCustodyUntil heWas soberEnough toBeToRememberThat itHappenedBut heApparentlyCrashedInto aBunch ofCarsBut nobodyGot hurtSoHenceThe storyIsBecause ofThe flagThingI'm picturingThis happeningWith likeFlagsFlutteringBehind allThe carsAnd motorcyclesI feelLike it'sAfter theEU voteIt shouldNow beMandatoryFor everyoneTo haveA flagAt allTimesFrom theirCarsAnd stuffMakesIt aSort ofExcellentLocationEstablishingBackdropFor everyPictureAnd videoYeahRightIt's likeWhen theyCut toSomethingHappeningIn ParisAnd there'sPeople areLike holdingBaguettesAnd there'sThe EiffelTowerIn theBackgroundAnd weHave theFlagsYeahIt's theOnlyRecognizableThingAboutTheirCountryYeahOurPresidentWhen sheDrivesAroundThey'veGot theLittleFlagsOn theCarRightI feelLike I'veSeenThatThey usedTo anywayLike AmericaDoesYeahWas thatAn OliverThingIt's likeOliverSaidI wouldLike theFlagsI don'tRememberI onlyKind ofRememberThisFromNewsreelFootageAnd thatMight beFrom the80sOr the90sI'm notSureMaybeThey stillDo itI don'tKnowLike theAmazingVideoThe songRudolfByÞeirYesTheyWaitedOutsideFor thePresidentTo driveYesAnd thenThey marchedBehind himYeahAndHiledYou rememberThatYesThis isFromTheIcelandicDocumentaryOut in1982And thereThe presidentHad twoFlagsYeahAnd theyWere drivingLike aPossiblyA blackAmericanLimousineTypeCarI can'tRememberWhat exactlyIt isBut I'mSupposedTo knowI'veForgottenYeahLike aCadillacOr somethingFordSomethingI don'tKnowSoYeahSo thatEndedHappilyI guessNobodyGot hurtWhere didThe carChaseStartDo weKnowI don'tActuallyKnowBecauseIt'sPrettyFarOutYeahI don'tThinkThere'sA lotOfHopCarsOutInTheSuburbsUsuallyButIt mustHaveBeenSomewhereDowntownYeahIt'sWildTo meThatLikeHopDoesn'tHaveTheMeansToJustTurnTheCarOffYeahYou areNumberSixYou getLike anAIAssistantYeahIt wouldBe similarTo likeYou knowDiehardThreeWhere he'sTryingToCallThePortAuthorityBecauseThere'sABombOrSomethingAnd he'sJustPutOnHoldIWonderHowMuchMoneyThePersonThePeopleMadeWhoSetUpTheOneLikeOnHoldServiceThatAllInstitutionsInIcelandHaveYouGetThatOneSongEveryFuckingTimeOhIt'sMostlyIThinkThat'sNovaOhNoThat'sEverywhereIFeelLikeNoMatterWhoICallThisIsHowIGetPutOnHoldIt'sLikeAPhoneIPOrWhateverTheHellYouCallItIWishTheyPlayedMezaforteMezaforteAreUnderratedIKnowThatThisOfficeHasThatThingAndI'mThereforeFamiliarWithHowMuchItCostsSoIfYouMultiplyThatWithAllTheI'mAssumingSomeOfTheyThoughtThatSomehowOkaySoStoryNumberThreeTheIcelandicMediaMarketWasOneOfTheMainTopicsOfDiscussionThisWeekendSubsequentToMediaCompaniesSeenAnnouncingThisMonthTheirDiscontinuationOfHavingTVNewsWhichHadRunFor40YearsSince1986OriginatedTheNameStöðTvöOrStationTwoThisMeansThatIcelandNowOnlyHasASingleTVNewsProgramLeftRunByTheStateBroadcasterRúfAndOnThatNoteToContextualizeIcelandAlsoOnlyHasASingleDailyPaperLeftCalledMorgonbladLóiEinarssonTheMinisterResponsibleForTheMediaInIcelandWasInterviewedBothByRúfAndWellWhatIsSeenBasicallyButTheirWebsiteVísirDothæsOnTheTopicAndSoWasFormerMinisterOfTheMediaLiljaAlfræstóttirSoThisWasKindOfThisAllKindOfWentBackIntoTheDiscussionAboutTheKindOfDireSituationOfTheIcelandicMediaMarketWhereTheStateHasHadASchemeForThePastButTheClearingProblemIsThatTheBusinessModelIsBasicallyBrokenAndAPartOfThatIsBecauseHalfOfTheAdvertisingRevenueLeavesThisCountryToPlacesLikeMetaAndAlphabetWithoutEvenBeingTaxedOnTheWayOutSoYouKnowThatThere'sADirectLineSortOfBetweenHowYouCanSeeTheProgressOfThePortionOfTheAdvertisingBudgetForCompaniesInIcelandSlowlyGoingFromAFewPercentages20YearsAgoIntoMoreThanAHalfOverThePastTwoDecadesAndAtTheSameTimeYouCanJustSeeTheDeclineInTheIcelandicMediaAndHowManyPeopleWorkThereAndHowManyOutletsYouHaveAsMenOfTheMediaYourselvesWouldYouSayThatThisIsTrueThatTheProblemIsForeignInNatureOrIsItPerhapsALittleCloserToHomeWellIt'sAFactorOfThingsIMeanEssentiallyYouKnowThereIsThisMomentInTheEarly2000sWhereEverybodyKindOfStopsPayingForMediaSoSubscriptionsKindOfDiedOutAndWeHadTheFreePapersOfFrettabladAndA BunchOfOtherPapersAndOurselvesIncludedAsAThingAndThenWhereasOtherCountriesHaveIKeepForgettingMorgonbladCostsMoneyYeahAndThenAndThenYouKnowAndThenInThePast1015YearsPlacesLikeTheNewYorkTimesAndOtherSortsOfMediaCompaniesHaveVenturedIntoSellingSubscriptionsAgainButNotPhysicallyButAlsoOnlineAndThisHasNotBeenYouKnowWe'veKindOfNotKeptUpAndWe'veJustReliedOnAdvertisingAndTheAdvertisingHasBeenTwintlingAndAtSameTimeTheseCompaniesHaven'tKindOfFiguredOutTheNewBusinessModelAndSomeOfTheReasonsToThatIsThatIfYouAreInKindOfSlowDeclineAndYouNeedToShiftYourBusinessModelThatIsAnExpensiveInvestmentAndNobody'sReallyHadTheMoneyIThinkToDoItAndThere'sAlsoYouCanAlsoKindOfPointToReasonsLikeYouKnowEveryTimeThisOperationAndOtherOperationsInIcelandSellAnAdThere'sAVATOf24%OnThatButIfYouBuyAnAdFromMetaOrGoogleThere'sNoVATThere'sNoTaxWhatsoeverSoThat'sCompetitionWiseKindOfSkewedAndYeahWe'veJustFailedToKindOfNurtureASubscriptionMarketBasicallyAndIMeanSpeakingOfSubscriptionsYouCanNowBuyASubscriptionForTheRegularAdvertisingMarketItSoundsLikeALiliaThingToSayYeahButTheThingIsIThinkTheNumbersKindOfIndicateYouKnowEvenIfYouRemovedRoofFromTheAdvertisingMarketAndAllOfThatMoneyPotentiallyWouldFlowToTheRestOfTheFreeMediaFirstOfAllItNoneLikeNotAllOfItWouldAndThisTrendOfTheMoneyLeavingToForeignCompaniesWithoutStillContinuesYouWouldn'tActuallySolveTheProblemAtAllYouWouldMaybePutABitOfAMoneyCautionOnItForAWhileButTheTrendWouldContinueSoIt'sActuallyIThinkShe'sActuallyMakingTheWrongPointYeahAndIActuallyIThinkItWasLastYearSoTheBusinessLobbyTheyReleasedThisReportAboutHowIfYouWouldRemoveRoofFromTheAdvertisingMarketTheArgumentWasWeShouldBecausePrivateMediaWouldGetMoreMoneyButIfILookedIntoTheNumbersAndICalculatedItAndItActuallyEndedUpThePieStrongByLike20%ThatIsWhatIThinkWouldHappenYeahAndThatWasTheirMathYeahButTheyDidn'tReportOnThatNoBecauseTheirArgumentWasRoofShouldJustLeaveTheAdvertisingMarketBecauseAsYouSayLikeWhereArePeopleAdvertisingLikeISawThisInterviewWithTheGuyRunningWasItÖstufrættirYeahÖstufrættirSpeakingOfÆgðstæðYeahSoÖstufrættirIsALocalMediaOutletInTheÍstfjörðsLikeHeWasComplainingHowTheStateMinistriesSpendALotOfMoneyLikeAdvertisingOnYoutubeAndFacebookAndWhatNotTheyDon'tAdvertiseWithThemNoOneOfTheExamplesHeTookWasLikeWeAreBeingAskedToWriteAboutSomeOfTheseCampaignsSoYouKnowSomeIcelandicGovernmentBodySpendsYouKnowALotOfMoneyOnSomeSortOfACampaignOrAVideoOnYoutubeThatTheyThenBoostAndShareAndThenTheyTurnAroundAndTheyAskUsToCoverItTheyDon'tWantToGiveUsMoneyButTheyWantUsToCoverItAndHeWasSayingYouKnowSometimesObviouslyBasedOnWhatItIsWeShouldBeCoveringItButThat'sKindOfUnfairIsn'tItWhichIsAFairPointButIMeanOneOfTheYeahIDon'tKnowProbablyNoReasonToGetMoreDeeplyIntoThisButYouKnowAtTheEndOfTheDayThisHasBeenInDiscussionPubliclyForThePastFewMonthsBecauseThereWasARenewalOfALawPassedIn2020Or2021ToSubsidizeMediaSoThisKindOfCameUpThenAndOneOfThePointsWasThatYouKnowSureWe'llTakeTheMoneyOfCourseYouKnowWeNeedTheMoneyButYou'reNotAddressingAnyOfTheCoreProblemsSoYou'reJustGivingUsMoreRobeToHangOurselvesInAndWeShouldBeAddressingTheCoreIssuesAndSoLikeAndLoiAcknowledgesThisMinisterButSoFarNeitherHeOrParliamentHasComeUpWithAnyHelpfulSchemesThatMightActuallyBeHelpfulToTheMediaEnvironmentAndLiljaDidSayAThingWhichIAgreeWithDidn'tAgreeWithTheRoofThingButIAgreedThatSheWasSayingIDon'tThinkParliamentIsTakingTheSituationOfTheMediaSeriouslyEnoughItIsVeryBadAndWeSeeItEveryYearSomethingKindOfFallsOffTheBatOrWhateverYouCallItSomethingGoesBustOrSomeDon'tDoAnythingBecauseTheLawsThatHaveBeenOnTheBooksForAboutFiveYearsSubsidizingAren'tReversingTheTrendTheTrendJustContinuesAndThenWeEndUpWithWhatNoMediaHowAreWeGonnaYouKnowIt'sVeryImportantIMeanYouEndUpWithLobbyismDisguisedAsMediaIsWhatYouEndUpWithIMeanYouCouldMakeTheArgumentThatMorgunbladiTheSoleRemainingDailyPaperWhichHasBeenRunningAtALossForThePast20YearsAlmostLastYearItWasMoreThanAMillionADayYeahItIsOwnedByTheFisheriesInterestsInIcelandAndTheyAreApparentlyWillingToSpendAMillionADayOnItSoYeahTheLobbyIGuessSoThat'sKindOfTheEndResultToAnExtentThisIsn'tFunctioningItAlsoSpeaksToTheFactThatTheBusinessEnvironmentIsSoBadThatNobodyInTheRightMindGoesIntoThisBusinessNoIt'sLikeBuyingAnAirlineYeahIt'sJustGonnaBurnYourMoneyAndIt'sLikeSomeHeroicStatementIt'sJustLikeAHillThatYou'reGonnaDieOnOrIt'sAlmostLikeAStatementOfHowRichYouAreLikeI'mSoRichThatICanBleedMoneyOnThisYeahIMeanThatWasTheRealityOfFretaBladTowardsTheEndYeahItWasOneReallyReallyRichGuyBleedingHeWasIThinkItWasProbablyMoreThanMerkabladPaysNowIThinkItWasLikeSomethingHeWasLosingLike500MillionJustToFeelLikeHeHadLikeAVoiceYouKnowThatHeHadLikeAYeahWellIMeanIPersonallyObviouslyHaveStrongViewsAboutThisBeingAPublisherButIDon'tThinkYouCanYouMeanTheHistoryOfDemocraciesLikeModernDemocraciesAndTheMediaAreCompletelyIntertwinedAndIThinkIt'sGoingToBeVeryProblematicForYouToRunADemocracyIfYouDon'tHaveDiscourseThroughMediaAndReportingOnStuffInGeneralLikeCorruptionOrWhateverIt'sJustGoingToBeVeryProblematicIt'sWildToLookAtTheSituationAndThinkThatRúvIsPartOfTheProblemIt'sLikeYouKnowMoreThanEverWeNeedSomethingLikeThatYeahIWasReallyYeahThatIsIThinkThatTheWayThatLiljaIsFramingThisIsKindOfInsaneIThinkBecauseShe'sBothSayingParliamentIsn'tTakingThisSeriouslyEnoughAndAtSameTimeShe'sActuallyTalkingAboutCuttingTheOneThingThatYouAreDoingWe'reGonnaYeahLikeThatThereAreObviouslyWaysOfKindOfBothHavingThatCakeAndEatingItYeahWellIMeanShe'sJustLikeARobotIsn'tSheIt'sJustLikeTheTwoThingsSheDoesIsJustLikeCriticizeTheSittingGovernmentWhichSheIsNotYouKnowPartOfAndThenCriticizeYouKnowAGovernmentInstitutionYouKnowSomethingThatIsByDefaultLikeASomewhatSocialistConceptSoDon'tAskMeWhyIWasLookingIntoThisTheOtherDayButIWasLookingIntoTheMediaMarketInOurEftaSisterCountryYeahNorwayLichtensteinDoTheyHaveForTheRecordLichtensteinIsHalfAValleyOnTheSouthernPartOfTheRheinYeahEasternPartOfTheRheinAndHalfAMountainYeahIt'sLikeAIt'sVerySmallIt'sVerySmallAndItExistsBecauseSomehowItBecameIndependentWithTheDissolutionOfTheRomanHolyRomanEmpireIn1806YeahAndSomehowTheyAreTheThirdCountryInTheEEAWithUsAndNorwayYeahButThankYouIt'sThePlaceWhereYourTaxesGoToDieSoTheyHaveOneNewspaperPeopleCanCorrectMeInTheCommentsIfI'mSpeakingSomeNonsenseIMeanIFeelLikeIShouldOnlyHaveOneNewspaperButTheyAlsoISaySoManyWrongThingsThatLikeTheCommentSectionIsGoingToBeMostlyShitThatIHaveWrongButTheyHadAStateBroadcasterAndThenAGovernmentDecidedNoWe'reNotGoingToFundThisAnymoreAndTheyTriedToPrivatizeItNobodyWantedToBuyItSoNowThereIsNoStateBroadcasterAndJustOneNewspaperWowYeahThisMightBeTheFutureYeahUsIMeanThePeopleAreClamoringToLiveInLichtensteinYouKnowLikeIt'sALikeThisIHearIt'sBeautifulUberRichYouKnowTaxHavenIt'sProbablyTheNicestHalfMountainYouCanHaveYeahEvenWayWeCallOurBrothersInTheScandinavianPeninsulaIWonderWhoLichtensteinWasIfItWasAPersonAlmostCertainlyAVampireAren'tTheyWhat'sCalledLikeAFustendomOrSomethingYesLikeWhateverThat'sTranslatedToAnAccountYeahIMeanIt'sIMeanYouKnowDuringTheHeydayOfTheHolyRomanEmpireYouHadPrincesYouHadTheseYeahAndTheseElectoratesOrAndBishopricsAndEverythingThatWasDutchiesItWasJustLikeA200EntitiesOrSomethingWithinTapestryOfBeautifulSmallStatesYesItWasAmazingAndThenTheyHadThisCollageCalledTheHolyRomanEmpireWhichWasAsAJoko'sNeitherHolyRomanNorAnEmpireNoNeverMindEmperorYeahWhoWasUsuallyTheHabsburgsAustrianHabsburgsBecauseTheyWereTheMostPowerfulEntityWithinTheHolyRomanEmpireBackWhenEuropeWasLikeAGermanBoardGameWereTheyMostlyPrussiansYeahTheAustriansWereKindOfTheBiggestPlayersThePrussianPrussianButAustriaWasn'tPartOfTheHolyRomanEmpireYesItWasThePrussiansWeren'tOkayNowINeedToLookButTheDanesWereThroughHolsteinAndSchleswigYesThisIsLikeThisIsBeautifulStuffAnywayComplicatedItAlreadySoundsMoreInterestingThanIcelandicPoliticsSoNextStoryIcelandicCarRentalCompaniesFaceBillionsOfKronorInBackTaxesLastWeekItCameTooLightThatTheIcelandicTaxAuthoritiesMightBeChargingManyOfTheBiggestCarRentalCompaniesVATOnTheirSalesOfInsuranceOnTheirCarsToCustomersBetween15And30PercentOfTheCarRentalCompaniesIncomeStemsFromSellingInsuranceToTheirVehicleBorrowersRentersVictimsAndTheBackTaxingMightGoSixYearsIntoThePastWhichMeansThatBigCarRentalCompaniesAreSuchAsBílaLegaAkureyraOrTheAkureyriCarRentalCompanyWhichIsSoundsMadeUpWhichIsNotRegionalToTheTownOfAkureyriButIsAllOverTheCountryMightHaveToPayUpToTwoBillionIcelandicKronorInBackTaxesYouLoveToSeeItSchadenfreudeIsJustBubblingOutMyEarsRightNowIfThisWereToHappenMostOfTheCarRentalBusinessInIcelandForTheShortTermAnywayABigHitForDaciaDaciaThereWouldBeALotOfDustersThereWouldBeALotOfYeahButThoseWouldProbablyBeGobbledUpByThoseWhoWeren'tAsAffectedByThisButInTheShortTermThisWouldProbablyCompletelyDisruptTourismInIcelandForAWhileBecauseSoManyPeopleWhoComeHereRentACarAndWaitTheyDon'tTakeTheBusApparentlyNoTheyWantToGetOutOfTheCitySoYeahTheyWantToGetSomewhereWhileThey'reStillAliveThisCouldBeATemporaryBoonFromReykjavikBecauseYouCanGetOutOfTheCityAndThisWouldDefinitelyBeAHitForTheCountrysideButThisIsYetToPlayOutButIt'sAKindOfInterestingStoryForTheCityThat'sADifferentSchemeHowYouActuallySellInsurancesOnThoseVehiclesAndTheWayThey'veBeenDoingItWasDoneInSomeSortOfAConversationWithTheTaxAuthoritiesWhoHaveNowChangedTheirMindsApparentlySoI'mCuriousWeJustSawEarlierTodayTheFinanceMinisterAnnouncingThatThere'sGoingToBeABudgetSurplusYesIsThatDueToTheCarRentalCompanyPayingBackTaxesIThinkThat'sNotOnTheListButThereAreThingsOnTheListThatHaveToDoWithTourismOneOfThemIsRelatedToTheCarRentalCompaniesThat'sTheKilometerTaxWhichYouKnowInsteadOfYou'reJustTaxingGasolineLikeWeDidForThePast70YearsWeYouKnowTaxEveryVehiclePerKilometerWhichForTheCarRentalCompaniesMeansThatTheyHaveToCollectThatTaxForTheTaxAuthoritiesWhichIsAPainInTheAssForThemProbablyTheOtherThingIsThatThey'veChangedTheVATOnAllOfThoseLagoonsInIcelandTheyIncreasedThoseAndI'mSureThere'sSomethingElseThatHasToDoWithTourismThere'sLike ASpecialLagoonTaxNowNotReallyButTheApparentlyTheAdmissionForTheseLagoonsWasAtTheLowerVATRate11%InsteadOf24WhichMakesSenseIfYou'reSellingLuxuryTripsForATicketYeahIMeanWhenThisWasRolledOutAtTheBeginningIWouldHaveReadItAsATaxCutForTheBlueLagoonButIt'sADifferent DifferentGameNowBecauseYouHaveAllTheseDifferentLagoonsAllOverTheCountrySomeOfWhichAreAdmittedlyOwnedIThinkByTheBlueLagoonIThinkTheyHaveBeenSettingUpOperationsInKæretlingafjöldIDon'tKnowIfThatThingIsReadyButTheyHaveBeenInvolvedInTheInvestmentsOfSomeOfTheseThingsIThinkAndSomeOfThemNotObviouslyIWentToSkyLagoonILikeItIsIMeanWeAreUsedToPayAThousandKronerForASwimmingPoolAccessIt'sVeryFancyItLooksVeryNiceYouCanBuyBeersInThePoolYouCanDoThatInAllTheLagoonsThat'sWhatMakesThemSoAwesomeYeahButYouCan'tDoThatInASwimmingPoolAndIThinkWeShouldKeepTheseTwoThingsSeparateNoYeahForRealIt'sACompletelyDifferentThingButYouKnowAtTheSameTimeOurPoolsAreReallyNiceYeahSoIt'sANiceDealForAThousandKronerYeahAndTheOtherThingIsAVeryDifferentExperienceSoIDon'tKnowButIThinkIt'sFineThatTheyPayVATIDon'tMindI'mSureLikeThereWasANewLagoonOpenedIThinkLateLaterLastYearOrSpringLastYearNoNoNoIThinkIt'sEarlierOhOkayAndI'mSureThisIsPuttingAMassiveDepthInTheirPredictionsOfHowTheyMakeMoneyButIt'sKindOfLikeIsThereReallyAMarketFor30LagoonsWellYouSeeThisIsWhatASanePersonWouldAskBeforeGettingIntoTheBusinessButIReallyDon'tThinkThatALotOfTheseTrapIReallyDon'tThinkTheyThinkThatFarAheadTheyJustSeeLikeDollarSignsWalkingAroundAndTheyBuildTheFuckingHotelsAndTheFuckingLagoonIMeanIfWeLabelTheseThingsTouristTrapsTheyAreSomeOfTheNicestTouristTrapsEverMadeLikeISaidIAmAFanOfTheLagoonsLikeIDon'tSeeIDon'tUnderstandLikeThere'sIHearPeopleLikeAllTheseFuckingLagoonsYouKnowLikeIt'sLikeHowDoYouWeAreGettingLikeANiceThingLikeNobodyIsForcingYouToGoThereLikeWe'reGettingLikeACoolPlaceToGoForLikeASpecialOccasionLikeIWasAtALagoonYouKnowACoupleDaysAgoFontanaIsFuckingAwesomeYeahHaveYouBeenToTheNewFontanaNoIHaven'tIWillCauseI'mFromThereMyMindWasBlownYeahSwimUpBarNowILoveItRaisedTheDrinkCapToFourWowYeahIWasYouCanDrinkYourselfIntoAStateOfDrowningThereIGuessIWasTheOnlyOneDrinkingInMyGroupAsWellIBarelyWalkedOutOfThereSoYouCouldGetWhatLike16DrinksYeahHellYeahWellDoYouCanDrinkHotTubsAndForContextTheWayIcelandersDrankBoozeInThoseYearsWasVeryDifferentNowThereWasALotOfYouWouldGetHammeredThereWasNoBeerYouWouldGetReallyDrunkItWasLikeBingeDrinkingSoThisMeantThatBecauseIfYouCombineBingeDrinkingMiddleAgeWhichIsWhenYouStartUsingTheseHousesUsuallyAndHotTubsYouGetHeartAttacksTheyWereLikeWildfireApparentlyInTheLate80sAndEarly90sSoYouHaveToThinkAboutThatIDidNoticeWhenIWasAtFontanaThatTheySeemedThePoolSeemedSlightlyCoolerNowLikeTheyHadLoweredTheTemperatureSlightlyThatMightBeASmartMoveYeahILikedThatItKeptMeInThereLongerYeahItKeepsYouDrinkingSoWhatAreWeTalkingAboutWhoKnowsCurrentYeahYeahSoThisIsNormalOnTheShowDon'tWorryEnoughAboutTheCurrentCompanyThisHasYetToPlayOutSoIMeanYouKnowWhetherOrNotThisWillActuallyHappenForJustTourismAndTourismIsALargeIndustryInIcelandSoWeHaveToSeeButWeHaveToMentionAgainTheWindfallFromThisSoLikeMySisterHerFirstCarWasADaciaDusterWith300ThousandKilometersOnItAndSheGotItReallyCheapYouKnowYeahIMeanIfThere'sAnythingThatEmbodiesKindOfTourismInIcelandAtThisPointIt'sAWhiteDaciaDusterYesIAvoidThemOnTheRoadsOrTheDaciaBigsterI'veBeenSeeingThat'sANewOneYeahButIMeanInstantlyIt'sInstantlyStartingToReplaceTheDusterButTheDaciaDusterHasBeenJustADominantTypeOfCarInIcelandForTheBiggestWinForRomaniaSinceVladTheImpalerYeahI'mTryingToThinkOfSomethingElseNotALotOfThe90'sIPlayedForChelseaAndItWasBannedForTwoYearsIThinkForDoingCokeBigWYou'reNotSupposedToSnortTheLinesOfTheFieldInAnySportIGuessYeahSoTheLastStoryForTheDayIs,SpeakingOfIt'sACocaineStoryNiceStorySoInLateJuneThisYearThePoliceReportedTheLargestCocaineBustInIcelandHistoryWhichWas106KilogramsWhichHasAStreetValueOfAround3BillionIcelandicSoMaybeEnoughToActuallySaveACarRentalCompanyYouShouldDoubtItIMeanImportingThoseCarsYouThinkTheseThingsAreRelatedWhoKnowsCanIJustSkedaddleBackIntoTheCarRentalCompanyThatWouldBeACaseOfTheMostPreemptivePlanningI'veEverSeenInIcelandSoTheseDrugsWereHiddenInASmallCompartmentUnderneathTheBulgarianAluminumFreighterCalledNitsaWhichWasArrivingFromBrazilEarlierThatMonthASpecializedVanWithDrivingEquipmentArrivedInTheCountryWithTheNorranaFerryFromSkedaddlePoliceTheyWereSpecializedInDrugDivingWhateverThatIsYouHaveSoManyDrugsYouCanJustDiveInLikeScroogeMcDuckButTheyRanIntoProblemsImmediatelyAsTheSuitsWereTooSmallSoTheyHadToStartByBuyingMoreGearAndItTookThemTwoTriesToFetchTheCokeWhichTheyHadToSwimOneAndAHalfKilometreToReachToHelpThemCoverThatDistanceTheyUsedWhatIsCalledAScooterWhichIsAJamesBontesPropellerDeviceThisAlsoHasToDoABitWithHowTheSecondWorldWarScoopaDiversWouldInfiltrateNavyBasesWithNevermindFortunatelyForThemTheyDidnFillUpOnRuprLikeTheseGuysAndDidn'tFitInTheirSuitsAnymoreYeahButToAddSoToIntrudeTheInvestigationIsExpectedToConcludeThisWeekIMeanThisIsLikeAFascinatingStoryAboutJustLikeTheIGuessTheLevelQuoteOnQuoteOfPlanningThatGoesIntoTheseThingsWellWe'reALucrativeMarketAren'tWeWe'reJustLikeSittingAroundWeGotNothingToDoYouKnowWeGotComparedToOtherCountriesWeHaveMoneyToSpendIt'sJustLikeIfIWasADrugDealerThisIsLikeWhereI'dBeYouKnowThisSeemsLikeAWorthyAmountOfWorkToPutInYeahButAtTheSameTimeWhichIsKindOfClassicYouKnowWeOnlyHearObviouslyAboutTheDrugCasesThatActuallyGetBustedAllOfTheseMoreOrLessHaveTheAuraOfIncompetencyDoTheBasicLikeHaveTheGuysMeasureTheirWaistOrSomethingOrHighAreYouSayingIt'sLikeTheTipOfTheIcebergThatIfThere'sLikeTheseGuysAreGettingCaughtBeingIncompetentThereMustBeLikeReallyCompetentDrugDealersAlsoJustMakingTheShipMoveThroughHereItMustBeGivenTheFactThat'sADrugTruckBackingUpRightNowYeahGivenTheFactThereIsEnoughDrugsInThisCountrySoSomebody'sDoingItRightAndThenWeHearAboutThoseWhoDoNotDoItRightYeahThey'reLikeGoalkeepersReallyYouOnlyYouOnlyHearAboutItWhenTheyMakeMistakesKindOfYeahYeahThey'reTheUnsungHeroesOfOurEconomyButThisIsWhatLike106KilogramsThat's200PoundsOfCokeYeahTheySellItByTheGramRightYeahThat'sWhatIThinkSoHowManyMoreThanEnoughToBuyYourselfALittleSoIfYou'reBuyingItIt'sAThousandGramsPerKiloWe'reRunningA LotOfDosesThereYeahThat'sA LotOfStuffIsThatWellTheyDon'tSellItAllToOnePersonUnlessThatPersonIsAlsoADealerIsThatYouKnowIsThatEnoughAsLikeAIfThey'reSellingInTheirPerGramIsItEnoughToServeWhatAllOfIcelandThriceOverOrSomethingHowMuchIsThisIsAMillionICan'tDoTheCalculationsI'mPrettySureThat'sALargerSliceOfThatPieChartThanMostWouldHaveYouBelieveOhMyGodI'mNotSureThat'sAFactualStatementButNonethelessYou'llBeHearingFromHisLawyersI'mReallySurprisedIHaven'tHeardFromAnyLawyersForThisShowIThinkIt'sATellingIndictmentOnOurLowViewershipIThinkButSolidViewershipYesDedicatedSuperUsersWeOnlyNeedDedicatedPeopleHereSoYouKnowSpeakingOfDedicationYouCanSubscribeToTheRegularGrapevineAtGrapevine.isThere'sLike ARadSubscribeButtonWeAppreciateItButIThinkThisIsItForThisWeekSeeYouAgainNextWeekWe'veBeenNicelyDrownedUpByeByeGoOnBackForThen

Iceland Flag Sales, Car Rental Troubles, Media Decline, Cocaine & More — Iceland Roundup #68

mán. 7. sep. 2026, 17:00 · 49:09

Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. The Reykjavík Grapevine's Iceland Roundup brings you the top news with a healthy dash of local vie

Samantekt

1. Söluaukning á íslenskum fána: Í þessari viku var greint frá aukningu í sölu á íslenskum fána og fánastöngum. Brynjar Húnfjörð, framkvæmdastjóri Íslandshus, segir að breytingar á reglum um fánahefð hafi áhrif á aukna eftirspurn.

2. Hraðakstur með lögregluflota: Einnig var frétt um hraðakstur þar sem lögregla þurfti að elta áfengisfullan mann sem stelaði bíl. Eftir langa eltingaleik fangaði lögreglan manninn áður en hann slasaðist.

3. Kreppa í íslenskum fjölmiðlum: Mikil umræða fór fram um íslenskan fjölmiðlamarkað, sérstaklega eftir að Stöð 2 tilkynnti um lokun á viðtöku sjónvarpsfrétta. Íslenskir fjölmiðlar standa frammi fyrir erfiðum tímum vegna þess að auglýsingatekjan flæðir til alþjóðlegra fyrirtækja.

4. Skattaskuldir á bílaleigum: Í síðustu viku kom fram að íslensk bílaleigufyrirtæki stóðu frammi fyrir mögulegum skattaþrautum vegna sölu á tryggingum. Þetta gæti leitt til þess að stór fyrirtæki þurfi að greiða milljarða í bakskatt, sem hefur áhrif á erfiðleika þeirra í atvinnugreininni.

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Iceland Flag Sales, Car Rental Troubles, Media Decline, Cocaine & More — Iceland Roundup #68
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