Skip to comments.
Why Icelanders are wary of elves living beneath the rocks
BBC News ^
| June 19, 2014
| Emma Jane Kirby
Posted on 06/22/2014 11:45:44 AM PDT by EveningStar
Plans to build a new road in Iceland ran into trouble recently when campaigners warned that it would disturb elves living in its path. Construction work had to be stopped while a solution was found.
From his desk at the Icelandic highways department in Reykjavik, Petur Matthiasson smiles at me warmly from behind his glasses, but firmly.
"Let's get this straight before we start - I do not believe in elves," he says.
I raise my eyebrows slightly and incline my head towards his computer screen which is displaying the plans for a new road in a neighbouring town. There are two yellow circles marked on the plans, one that reads Elf Church and another that reads Elf Chapel. Petur sighs.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Outdoors; Society; Travel; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: alftanes; elfchapel; elfchurch; elves; gardabaer; iceland; peturmatthiasson; reykjavik; witlesssuperstition
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-31 next last
To: Slings and Arrows
To: EveningStar
I strongly suspect that the invisible “elves” are in fact local nimbys doing their foul deeds under the cover of darkness.
3
posted on
06/22/2014 11:49:51 AM PDT
by
BenLurkin
(This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both.)
To: EveningStar
Magnus Skarphedinsson, the headmaster, a rotund, ebullient chap who ate large quantities of breakfast cereal during my one-on-one lesson, had regrettably never seen an elf himself although he did own an old cooking pot that apparently had once made stews in an elf kitchen before the bottom rusted away. Settled science.
4
posted on
06/22/2014 11:51:47 AM PDT
by
ClearCase_guy
("Harvey Dent, can we trust him?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBsdV--kLoQ)
To: EveningStar
Time to give three Hail Marys. Warming up three regulation NFL footballs for the sacrifice!
5
posted on
06/22/2014 11:52:28 AM PDT
by
Jack Hydrazine
(Pubbies = national collectivists; Dems = international collectivists; We need a second party!)
To: BenLurkin
Probably some prankster with a truckload of those plastic garden gnomes you pickup at the Garden Center at Walmart.
6
posted on
06/22/2014 11:52:34 AM PDT
by
FlingWingFlyer
(Feed the wacko enrviromentalists to the starving polar bears.)
To: BenLurkin
7
posted on
06/22/2014 11:54:50 AM PDT
by
Jack Hydrazine
(Pubbies = national collectivists; Dems = international collectivists; We need a second party!)
To: EveningStar
In Iceland they have elves. In the USA we have sage grouse and snail darters.
8
posted on
06/22/2014 11:55:27 AM PDT
by
RightGeek
(FUBO and the donkey you rode in on)
To: EveningStar
campaigners warned that it would disturb elves living in its path Pretty much just as mythical as most of the "endangered species" our own "campaigners" go on about.
9
posted on
06/22/2014 11:57:05 AM PDT
by
JennysCool
(My hypocrisy goes only so far)
To: EveningStar
Legend has it that peering through the bottom of an emptied vodka bottle is the best way to spot elves.
10
posted on
06/22/2014 12:02:09 PM PDT
by
Dagnabitt
(Amnesty is Treason. Its agents are Traitors.)
To: BenLurkin
No, according to the article, there’s a lot more stupid than that going on. The road in question was allowed to proceed after moving a 70 ton rock out of the way, so it can’t just be NIMBY. The road stayed on the same course.
These people actually believe in elves.
Then again we have a large number who believe in Obama, so who are we to criticize?
11
posted on
06/22/2014 12:02:24 PM PDT
by
drbuzzard
(All animals are created equal, but some are more equal than others.)
To: EveningStar
12
posted on
06/22/2014 12:04:29 PM PDT
by
Perdogg
(Ted Cruz-Rand Paul 2016)
To: EveningStar
History proves that Elves were brought to Ireland from Iceland by Vikings. 1,000 tears later elves migrated from Ireland to Hollywood, then to Hawaii as meinhunies.
Leif Ericsonn was an elf, as was his father Eric the Red Elf.
To: bunkerhill7
Them Celts is a morose lot, they is.
To: RightGeek
JUST DAMN!!! glad i wasn't drinking anything at the time...
15
posted on
06/22/2014 12:40:37 PM PDT
by
Chode
(Stand UP and Be Counted, or line up and be numbered - *DTOM* -vvv- NO Pity for the LAZY - 86-44)
To: EveningStar
People think they see ALL sorts of things...
16
posted on
06/22/2014 1:02:41 PM PDT
by
mikrofon
(Thnkyuvrrymuch)
To: bunkerhill7
“1,000 tears later elves migrated from Ireland to Hollywood, then to Hawaii as meinhunies.”
I know you meant years, but tears is more apropos.
17
posted on
06/22/2014 1:15:04 PM PDT
by
ImaGraftedBranch
(...By reading this, you've collapsed my wave function. Thanks.)
To: EveningStar
That's ridiculous.
Everybody knows the Elves live in the tree!
18
posted on
06/22/2014 1:33:43 PM PDT
by
Beowulf9
To: Jack Hydrazine
Jack, I firmly believe in Icelandic Elves.
But OTOH, incredible as it may seem to a rational being, many Americans believe in Barack Hussein Obama, II (or Jr.). Many believe that he was born in Hawaii. Many believe he is heterosexual ... and a Christian.
The real philosophical issue before us is,
"Do Icelandic Elves believe in Obama?"
19
posted on
06/22/2014 1:35:23 PM PDT
by
Kenny Bunk
(The GOP is dying. What do we do now?)
To: Kenny Bunk
I think the Gallup or Pew organization did do a poll of those elves not long ago, but I can’t find it...have do dig for it.
IIRC, the majority of elves were not exactly impressed with Obama or his work.
20
posted on
06/22/2014 1:37:39 PM PDT
by
Jack Hydrazine
(Pubbies = national collectivists; Dems = international collectivists; We need a second party!)
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-31 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson