Hmm...

[scottobear]

sayra pointed out that one of the factoids from a book of trivia I posted earlier is untrue... apparently, it's not rude to tip in Iceland....Curse you, Max for your fibs!

Which brings to mind a question. How does a "book of trivia/factoids" check it's sources? I rather dislike having misinformation in my skull if I can help it. I sometimes wonder that about all our knowledge, and how much is patently untrue, while being accepted as fact... Did we really land a man on the moon? Is the world really round? Some of these things can be investigated, while others have to be taken in good faith. It's not like I can go to the moon, and look for flags. I'm confident that there is math and travel that will allow us to see that the world is a ballish thing though. But why publish something that is apparently patently untrue? Filler, and the odds no Icelander (is that the right term?) will find out about it? I enjoy tipping folks for a job well done, and would've deprived someone of a gratuity if I took the book at face value (as I pretty much had...) while visiting Iceland.

so much for my Icelandic trivia... I wonder if my other limited knowledge of there is also incorrect....Is it true that the phone books are listed by first name? Are many of the women there as cute as Björk? Is it really nice there, while Greenland is cold and rocky, misnamed so sailor-types could have a happy private place to live?

Anyhow, thanks for the correction, Sayra...

Comments

[ex-sayra941.livejournal.com]

Is it true that the phone books are listed by first name?
Answer: Yes :)

Are many of the women there as cute as BjIs it true that the phone books are listed by first name?
Answer: Yes :)

Are many of the women there as cute as Björk?
Answer: um.. I dunno. define cute! (avoiding the question)

3. Is it really nice there, while Greenland is cold and rocky, misnamed...?
Answer: Yep, it is nice here. Iceland and Greenland should switch names... or we could just use Björkland instead ;)

...so sailor-types could have a happy private place to live
Answer: Well, they were more like wealthy power seeking vikings who fled Norway since the king of Norway was taxing them to death among other things. They were political refugees! :)

Anyhow, thanks for the correction, Sayra...
Hey! it's always great to meet someone who's interested in Iceland and has visited Iceland in the past! Btw, when did you visit and for how long did you stay? Do you know any Icelanders (it is the right term :)?
It's nice to meet'ya and thanks for the text message! I'm adding you to my friends list if you don't mind. :)

...

[tonguesandtails.livejournal.com]

Well, I would think it's a matter of WHAT you're tipping with. Some things would be considered rude, I'm sure ;P

[luckyme.livejournal.com]

right now, im thinking a wag the dog-like movie.. about the supposed moon landing? hmmm..

hmmm...

[ladyjanegrey.livejournal.com]

truly fascinating. i love iceland too. but i love the uk more.
willyoubemyfriend?

[bandicoot.livejournal.com]

Maybe they meant to say that in Iceland, cow tipping was considered rude...

iceland

[mauracelt.livejournal.com]

even if you have been misinformed, we still like you, its not your fault you trusted a silly book. they are supposed to be informing. at least thats what i was told... books are informing.. just take a sec and crossreference things that way you can be sure.

round?

[razz.livejournal.com]

I always thought the earth was more oval than round, although the difference isn't too great, I suppose.

I can't tell you much about Bjork except that Post is her best album and Dancer in the Dark was a very intense movie, and yes, I think she's cute, too.

I can't tell you anything at all about Iceland, except for what I've read about it in Far Afield, Susanna Kaysen (because she did write something besides Girl, Interrupted.) The stuff from that book made for some good conversation between me and an associate of mine who went to Easter Island for vacation this year.

The same friend who went to Easter Island says the book he trusts the most to tell him the truth, even moreso than The Bible, the Tao Te Ching, the Bhagavad Gita and The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy, is a book called I Love You, Sun I Love You, Moon, which I have yet to read. He says it's even more insightful than Shel's The Giving Tree.