club ICELAND

Christmas Dance!!

2009-11-12T09:24:00.000-08:00

directions

Lets get ready to start the Holidays with our annual “Jólaball” at Nansen Field,

Sunday December 6t, 2009 at 2pm.
15 Hidden Valley Road, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274.
We will dance around the Christmas Tree, sing traditional Icelandic Christmas songs, drink hot Cocoa, and have lots of fun.
Santa will stop by and give some goodies to the children.
As usual we ask you to bring your favorite cake or dessert.
We hope to see you in joyful holiday spirit.
Entrance is $15 – per person and no fee for children.
Merry Christmas! Gleðileg Jól!!

Kvikmyndatónskáld safnar fyrir bágstadda Íslendinga

2009-10-13T08:15:00.000-07:00

Veigar Margeirsson og eiginkona hans, Sigríður Ragna, hafa sett á fót söfnunarsíðu fyrir bágstadda Íslendinga. Hér eru þau með börnum sínum í Los Angeles.
„Íslendingar í útlöndum hafa miklar áhyggjur af ástandinu heima og við, sem búsett erum erlendis, fylgjumst mjög vel með því sem er að gerast," segir Veigar Margeirsson, kvikmyndatónskáld í Los Angeles. Hann hefur ásamt eiginkonu sinni, Sigríði Rögnu Jónasdóttur, stofnað söfnunarsíðuna silverliningcharity.org þar sem fólki gefst kostur á að gefa peninga til styrktar bágstöddum Íslendingum. Áætlað er að 1. desember verði í fyrsta sinn gefnir peningar úr sjóðnum en Veigar segir þau hjónin vilja leggja sitt af mörkum til að aðstoða fólk til að halda gleðileg jól. „Við lesum auðvitað fréttir af Íslendingum og aukinni sókn eftir aðstoð ýmissa hjálparsamtaka. Það er skelfilegt að hugsa til þess að sumar íslenskar fjölskyldur eru nánast komnar undir fátæktarmörk."
Veigar hefur um árabil verið búsettur í Bandaríkjunum og samið tónlist við auglýsingar, stiklur og annað tengt afþreyingariðnaðinum. Hann samdi meðal annars tónlistina við íslensku spennumyndina Köld slóð þar sem Anita Briem fór með eitt aðalhlutverkanna. Hann hefur varið litlum tíma á Íslandi eftir að kreppan skall á. „Hér er auðvitað líka kreppa en fallið heima er svo hratt og gerist svo snöggt að þetta er varla sambærilegt," útskýrir Veigar og bætir því að margir Íslendingar sem búi í Bandaríkjunum hafi átt erfitt með að senda peninga heim. Heimasíðan geri því auðveldara um vik. „Fólk má ekki gleyma því að vegna stöðu krónunnar þá getur erlend mynt gert kraftaverk, það þarf ekki margar evrur eða dollara til að ná góðri upphæð," útskýrir Veigar.
Hann segir að Íslendingar megi aldrei halda að fólkið í útlöndum hafi gleymt þeim. Síður en svo. „Við höfum mjög sterkar taugar til Íslands og erum hálfgerðir þjóðernissinnar. Það hefur síður en svo minnkað eftir kreppuna," segir Veigar og tekur fram að auðvitað sé Íslendingum heima frjálst að gefa til söfnunarinnar. Eins og áður segir er heimasíða söfnunarinnar silverliningcharity.org og þar er hægt að nálgast allar upplýsingar um málið. Íslenski reikningur söfnunarinnar er 0142-05-006966 og kennitalan er 060672-3509.

Sjá grein hér hjá visir.is

Silver Lining Charity

2009-10-13T08:10:00.001-07:00

Dear Friend of Iceland,
My name is Sirry Jonasdottir and I live in Los Angeles with my family. I want to tell you about a charity I recently formed with my husband, Veigar.
The Silver Lining Charity is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds to help impoverished families in Iceland. We urge all Icelanders abroad, and all friends of Iceland to come to the aid of families who now face extreme difficulties caused by the recent financial collapse. Those suffering the most are innocent bystanders in the economic recession; they must struggle with little or no income, and no employment. A staggering number of previously middle-class families now face poverty and struggle just to put food on the table.
There are organizations in Iceland who feed the needy, but they are overwhelmed by the current demand. It is our mission to raise funds to support these organizations, so every family that needs help, gets it. Our first contribution will take place at the beginning of December this year.
Fundraising in Iceland rarely includes those overseas because of the cost and inconvenience of transferring funds. In this time of difficulty and great uncertainty in Iceland, we feel it is important for us that are abroad to help our friends in need. We also want to mention that the current exchange rate is very favorable to the US dollar – a small amount goes a long way.
Donation is simple. You can send a check to:
Silver Lining Charity
8726 S. Sepulveda Blvd. #A71
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Or you can visit our website and donate at http://www.SilverLiningCharity.org
Please spread the word!
Sincerely,
Sirry Jonasdottir
Program Director
Silver Lining Charity
info@SilverLiningCharity.org
www.SilverLiningCharity.org

Iceland Music Export Newsletter:

2009-09-30T19:29:00.000-07:00

AIC 2009 Round Up
Iceland Music Export are pleased to report that the third edition of their You Are In Control music and creative media conference was a resounding success. The event, which took place on the 23rd & 24th September in Reykjavik, offered attendees a mix of inspirational keynote speeches, panels and workshops on a wide range of topics centered around the theme of the digital revolution within the creative industries (particularly music).

Iceland Airwaves - More Tickets, Artists Added
As the 11th Iceland Airwaves Music Festival, which will be held 14-18th October, looms ever closer, the organisers are still unleashing news and updates. In recent newsletters, the festival has announced an additional 56 local acts to the already brimming line up, bringing the total up to around 100. And if you think you might have seen them all before, be aware that no less than 25 bands will be making their debut Airwaves appearance this year!

Ólöf Arnalds Releases Début Album In UK
Currently back in the USA for her 5th run of shows in the last 12 months, Icelandic folk chanteuse Ólöf Arnalds has been a prominent figure in her native music scene for several years as a member of múm. However it is Ólöf's solo debut, Við og Við that continues to garner widespread acclaim, and the album will finally be released in the UK for the first time by One Little Indian on November 16th, 2009.

Hjaltalín/Helgi Jónsson Tour
Fans of talented pop outfit Hjaltalín and singer-songwriter/trombonist Helgi Jónsson will be happy to learn that they are both heading out on tour next month. Hjaltalin, who released their excellent Sleepdrunk Seasons in Europe earlier this year, will travel around several cities in Germany, while Helgi will be hitting Germany as well as Vienna and Zurich. Full details can be found after the jump...

múm/Sin Fang Bous Tour The US
It's been a tremendous year for múm so far. Their fifth album, Sing Along To Songs You Don't Know, was released to incredible critical applause last month (see reviews here) , and a whole mum week on trendy UK music node Drowned In Sound here) - and they've been working extremely hard playing their slightly eccentric and lovely new songs all across Europe.

I <3>
In conjunction with the I <3>blog (http://www.icelandicmusic.blogspot.com/), we now offer up our track of the issue. Press 'Read More' to listen to and read about this fortnight's track, DJ Musician's 'I put my hand up in the air'.

NEW RELEASES

Hjálmar - IV
It is seldom that a bulk of a nation awaits a new album release with such excitement as the fourth Hjálmar album, IV. Make no mistake that Hjálmar are in demand, their soothing yet uplifting song combination of reggae and traditional Icelandic pop elements for years now...

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Ben Frost
The music of Ben Frost is about contrast; influenced as much by Classical Minimalism as by Punk Rock and Metal, Frost's throbbing guitar-based textures emerge from nothing and slowly coalesce into huge, forbidding forms that often eschew conventional...

PODCAST DOWNLOAD
Helgi Jónsson performs 'Waltz' at Greenhouse Studios
(Helgi Jónsson performs his lovely track 'Waltz' at the Greenhouse Studios in Breiðholt during Iceland Airwaves 2008)

IMX announces:

2009-09-14T18:46:00.000-07:00

Reykjavík! & Sudden Weather Change - US/Europe Release

Two of this year's finest Icelandic indie / rock albums are finally to be released in the US and Europe via Iceland's Kimi Records: Reykjavík!'s THE BLOODand Sudden Weather Change's Stop! Handgrenade in the Name of Crib Death 'nderstand.

Tight, dark and static, THE BLOOD features some serious sonic attention from Bedroom Communityexperimentalist Ben Frost. From the beautiful drum n’ feedback start through the up-beat and almost chirpy Repticon, to the relaxing but dim Campo Viejo, 2004 and ending with the uneasy but cheerful Random Acts of Sodomy, THE BLOOD is harder, faster and arguably better than their famous first album. BLOOD was released 03.08 in Europe, and 04.09 in the US.

The sound of five-piece rockersSudden Weather Change has been likened to Sonic Youth, Pavement, Polvo and countless other 90's alt-rock bands from the U.S. Stop! Handgrenade... is their first full length album and contains 13 juicy, guitar heavy songs. Stop! Handgrenade... has recieved good reviews since it's release and the album's first single, St. Peters Day, has been getting good radio airplay in Iceland. The album will be released on the 2nd of October in Europe, and the 27th in US.

See more from IMX Iceland Music Export here

UPDATE: ICELAND AIRWAVES 2009

2009-09-09T08:19:00.001-07:00

UPDATE: ICELAND AIRWAVES 2009

Shared via AddThis

2009-09-06T19:59:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday night we had a big story on Iceland on "60 Minutes" It filled in what has actually happened there since the market crash! You can see it here;

http://sixtyminutes.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=855189

I.A.A.S.C.

The Icelandic American Association of Southern California

http://www.icecal.com/

http://icecal.blogspot.com/

Kisi Production

2009-09-04T11:04:00.000-07:00

REYKJAVIK WHALE WATCHING MASSACRE Coming 2009
Trailer large

Reykjavik Whale Watching Massacre
August 10th, 2009Reykjavik Whale Watching Massacre will be premired in Iceland on the 4th of September 2009. More info www.facebook.com/RWWMfilm

Great:)

2009-08-29T16:22:00.000-07:00

Iceland Review highlights;

2009-08-11T16:27:00.000-07:00

Dear readers,

For limited time while supplies last, new subscribers to Iceland Review will receive the book Adventure in Iceland (normally USD 20) as a gift. You will also be entered in a draw to win a trip to Iceland next year! Start your subscription now by ordering here.

August 11 Fate of Iceland's Government in the Hands of One Minister
If Minister of Health Ögmundur Jónasson of the Left-Green Movement remains opposed to the Icesave agreement, the coalition between the Left-Greens and the Social Democrats might come to an abrupt end. MPs from both parties agree to that. more

August 11 Deutsche Bank Rejects Claims by Former Kaupthing Chair
A spokesperson for Deutsche Bank rejects claims made by former Kaupthing chairman Sigurdur Einarsson in a letter from January 2009 that the bank had advised Kaupthing to purchase credit default swaps in itself, as reported last week. more

August 11 RÚV Contemplates Launching Special Sports Channel
In reaction to demands that national broadcaster RÚV launch a special channel for sports and cultural events, RÚV's director Páll Magnússon said it will cost ISK 100 million and is out of the question during the economic crisis but is contemplating other options. more

August 10 Icelandic Designer Nominated for Nordic CODE Awards
Icelandic fashion designer Harpa Einarsdóttir has been nominated for her costume design in the Icelandic massive multiplayer online role-playing game EVE Online, which is set in a science fiction space setting. more

August 10 Tall Ship Race Held in Iceland
The Icelandic Championship in tall ship race was held on Skerjafjördur fjord off the shore of Reykjavík last weekend. Six rounds were sailed according to an IRC handicap system under the supervision of sailing club Ýmir in Kópavogur. more

August 10 IT Giants Still Interested in Data Center in Iceland
International IT giants, such as Microsoft, Google and Yahoo, are still interested in operating data centers in Iceland, according to Titan Global, an Icelandic real estate development company involved in the data center business. more

August 11 Coffeehouse Intermezzo
A café in a small Icelandic village is not the ideal place to be terribly picky about food. Not because it isn't tasty, though. more

August 04 West Fjords Roundtrip
Click on the picture to watch an audio slideshow about the West Fjords. The West Fjords are often ignored both by native and foreign tourists because the peninsula is excluded from the Ring Road, Iceland's highway number 1, which circles the island. However, more and more people are discovering the magic of this remote and rugged region and this summer the West Fjords have seen a record number of tourists. more

REVIEWS
August 10 Welcome to the Dark Side: Jar City
Set during the eternal dusk of the Icelandic winter, Baltasar Kormákur's 2006 feature film, Jar City (Mýrin), is dark, both in its look and content. The story, acting, music and look all combine to create the film's distinctly dramatic and dreary atmosphere. The story is solid, a fact that can be attributed the crime-thriller novel Tainted Blood (2000) by Arnaldur Indridason, on which Jar City is based. more

August 10 Feature of the Week: Voicing Concern
Tobias Munthe talks to journalist, blogger, talk-show host and media personality Egill Helgason on, among other items, the positive effects of the crisis. "There was such an inflated sense of self-importance but now it seems that society has become somehow nicer again," Helgason says. more

August 10 Event of the Week: Natural Beauty
This week visit the Reykjavík Museum of Photography to witness "Natural Beauty" through the eyes of young photographer Stefán Steinn. The aim with his series of artwork is to show nature in its elementary form. Each piece depicts a unique and basic, yet distinctive, item of nature. more
Ask Eygló:
August 11 Does the Housing Finance Fund grant mortgages to US citizens who want to buy a vacation or rental property in Iceland? Do you know of any real estate agents who have experience helping US citizens acquire property in Iceland?

Recent letter:

August 10 Our Memories from Iceland

Other recent headlines:
August 10 Successful Festival Weekend in North and South Iceland
August 10 Icesave Debate in a Knot in Iceland's Parliament
August 10 Classic Icelandic Cookbook Rereleased
August 09 Reykjavík Jazz Festival Celebrates 20th Anniversary
August 09 Retrön Release First Album
August 09 New Standup Comedy Show in English in Reykjavík

Dust on Tour in America , October!

2009-07-15T21:06:00.000-07:00

Icelandic band: Dust, is coming to town in October.

Check out their website www.dustrock.com or www.myspace.com/dustxxx for Tour dates and to check out their music.

17th of June Celebration

2009-06-19T16:45:00.000-07:00

17th of June 2009

Our Independence Day celebration was a huge success. We had about 100 people show up, adults and children, and there were a lot of new faces among our regulars.

We want to thank everyone that attended and big thanks to those who helped us throughout the day. The feeling was that this was a big family event and everyone pitched in.

Have a wonderful summer!!

The IAA

New President of IAA

2009-04-07T19:08:00.000-07:00

As much as we are going to miss Kata Fabbiano as IAA President, we welcome Páll Péturson who is taking over Kata´s responsibilities.

Welcome Páll!!!!

Fyrir þá sem ekki þekkja Pál þá er hérna aðeins yfirlit um hann og hans daga.

Páll Pétursson fæddist 21. maí 1940 á bænum Steini í Skagafirði. Hann flutti til Keflavíkur árið 1946 og ólst þar upp. Stúdent frá Menntaskólanum að Laugarvatni árið 1960. Árin 1962-1967 var í háskólanámi í Kiel og Hannover í Þýskalandi og lærði þar matvælaefnafræði og

''food science''. Árin 1967 - 1976 vann við rannsóknarstörf í sjávarútvegi í Reykjavík og svo framkvæmdastjóri í eigin fiskvinnslufyrirtæki, Maris hf, í Þorlákshöfn.

Í janúar 1977 flutti til Nýfundnalands, Kanada með eiginkonu sinni, Hallveigu Njarðvík Gunnarsdóttur og dætrum, Tinnu og Hebu og vann þar hjá Fishery Products, sem yfirmaður gæðamála. Flutti til Massachusetts 1983 og var þar í 2ár, sem framkvæmdastjóri fiskvinnslu-fyrirtækis. Flutti 1985 til Maryland og bjó þar til 2004 og vann hjá Coldwater Seafood Corp., sem var dótturfyrirtæki Sölumiðstöðvar hraðfrystihúsanna, sem yfirmaður gæðamála í 17 ár.

Páll og Hallveig fluttu í júní 2004 til Menifee, Kalifornía, vegna þess að Tinna og fjölskylda hennar voru flutt til Irvine og Heba til San Francisco.