ICELAND

 But first:

Dow hits new closing record as tech stocks drag Nasdaq

• This has been a great week for the DOW and the S&P 500, for they set record highs on Tuesday.
• The Dow rose 263.18 yesterday to 54,349.06.
• However both the S&P and Nasdaq dropped.
• Volume of 17.85 million share volume was slightly higher than the average of the past trading days.

Regarding the Iran war, there seems to be a truce,  and therefore some relief, without any clear resolution.  

• Iran is close to reaching an agreement  with Oman to open the Strait of Hormuz.  The U.S. could approve this, or not.  There is that matter of fees.
• Oil prices, though, are edging down today, $79.24 for the Brent.
• There remain two blockades.
• U.S. over Iranian ports.
• Houthis on Saudi Arabia.
• The new Iranian Supreme Leader, the younger Khamenei, was wounded in the strike that killed his father, and has not since then appeared in public.  Did not go to the funeral.

We just returned from our tour of Reykjavik.  I need some time to organize the outing and will provide details tomorrow.  For now, some history of Iceland.

• Gaelic monks from Ireland first came around 800 AD, and were not there when Vikings from Norway arrived in 861.
• Towards the end of the 10th century, Christianity arrived through the influence of Norwegian king Olaf Tryggvason.  Why?
• Around 961, Eldgja volcano erupted and created food crises throughout world.
• Many thought this was an act of God, so in came Christianity.

• 
  Norway, Sweden and Denmark were united in one alliance from 1397 to 1523.
• When this Kalmar Union dissolved, Iceland fell under Danish rule.
• Iceland did not fare well for the next few centuries.
• Laki volcano erupted in 1783, killing 9,000 and 80% the livestock on the island.

• 
  Fought with UK/U.S/Canada troops, and gained sovereignty after World War One, becoming the Kingdom of Iceland in 1918, but still linked to Denmark until World War 2.
• Iceland stayed neutral in World War 2, but was occupied by 25,000 UK troops.

• 
  In 1944, while Denmark was under Nazi occupation, Iceland declared itself a republic, and at that time was occupied by the USA, with 40,000 military people.
• Was a founding member of NATO, and joined the United Nations in 1945.
• By the end of WWII, Iceland was transformed from one of Europe's poorest countries to one of the world's wealthiest.  Even then, they received the most Marshall Aid per capita than any European country.

• 
  Vigdis Finnbogadottir became president in 1980, the first elected female head of state in the world.
• Never joined the European Union.
• While financial growth was excellent, Iceland suffered a financial crisis from 2008-2011, the population dropped,
• In 2009, the prime minister was Johann Siguroardottir, the world's first open homosexual head of government.
• 
• In 2010, a series of volcanic events at Eyafjallajokull caused enormous disruption in air travel.
• Is a relatively young island, formed by volcanic eruption 20 million years ago.  Still growing.  The island of Hawaii is only a million years old.
• Was covered with ice until 10,000 years ago, when the Ice Age ended.

• 
  Iceland today is run by Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir and President Hall Tomasdottir.
• Iceland's first and only billionaire is 59-year old Thor Bjorgolfsson (right).  Educated in the USA, but made his early money in Russia.
• Iceland has just about 400,000 people.
• Some fun facts about Iceland.
• Is about the same geographical size as the state of Virginia.  However, Iceland is 2.4 times larger than Denmark.  
• Has Europe's oldest Parliament, formed in 930.

• 
  Belongs to NATO, but is the only member with no military.
• Police don't carry guns.
• Named the world's safest country in 2024 for the 16th consecutive year by the Gobal Peace Index.
• Watch out for Hakarl, fermented shark.  Pungent and a tradition.
• Geothermal energy is responsible for 85% of the electricity, with hydro the remaining 15%.

• 
  Around one in ten Icelanders will publish a book in their lifetime.
• No McDonald's.  But Subway and KFC, yup.  Hamburgers are most popular, served by their longstanding Hamborgarabulla Tomasar, also known as Tommi's Burger Joint or Bullan.  There are nine of them.  Old McDonald's are no called Metro.
• There are no mosquitos.
• Has the least densely populated country in Europe.  Two-thirds live in Reykjavik, the capital.
• 
  Has some strange museums
• The Icelandic Phallological Museum has 280 penis specimens from different animals, including humans.
• There is a Museum of Sorcery and Witchcraft.

• 
  Has 250 named glaciers, which cover 11% of its land.  Vatnajokull is three times the size of Luxembourg.  However, since 2000, have shrunk by 750 square kilometers, an area bigger than Singapore.

Tomorrow, our 7-hour tour of Iceland.  Here is just one video, of Brúarfoss Waterfalls.

I'll close with what might be the most difficult national anthem to sing, Iceland's Lofsöngur.  Here is another version.  You need to be able to cover nearly two octaves.  The Star-Spangled Banner is a challenge at an octave and a fifth.

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