Parks in Reykjavík

Parks in Reykjavík

Parks in the city center

From tiny little green oases surrounded by pavement and concrete, to airy green open spaces, the city centre has some lovely and historic parks. On a sunny day, there’s nothing better than to take a picnic out to any of these spots or get an ice cream and go for a walk.

Austubvöllur Park

Arguably the true heart of the city, Austurvöllur park is where the locals flock to soak up the sun when the weather is nice. It’s also where the locals gather to bang pots and pans and hurl skyr at parliament in protest when they’re not happy with the government’s actions.

Tryggvalgardur Garden

Named for Tryggvi Gunnarsson (1835 – 1917), a renowned entrepreneur, this garden dates back to 1893. It’s known as a place where the nation’s leaders come to make important decisions since it’s located directly behind the House of Parliament. The garden remains virtually unchanged since its first days, although the trees are a little bit bigger than they used to be.

Fogetagardurinn Park

The site of Reykjavík’s first cemetery dating back to the time of Iceland’s s settlement, used for over 800 years. It is believed to contain the remains of 30 generations of Icelanders. Spreading its limbs across the park is Reykjavík’s oldest tree: a rowan tree dating back to 1884. Close by is the Settlement exhibition, where you can see remains of buildings from the 10th century, recently excavated.

A canyon. Photo by Olga

Holavallagardur Cemetery

The green space on the west side of the pond is a cemetery. It was first used in 1838 and for a long time it was the main cemetery of Reykjavík. Many of Reykjavík’s most famous sons and daughters were laid to their final rest here, most notably Jon Sigurdson, a national hero for his part in Iceland’s fight for independence. June 17th, Iceland’s Independence Day, is Jon’s birth day and each year, the day’s celebration’s start with the mayor leaving a wreath of flowers at his grave.

The Lakeside

The past meets the present on the banks of lake Tjörnin where Reykjavík’s modern palace of a city hall is flanked by some of the city’s loveliest houses from the turn of the century on both sided of the lake. If you’re feeling pensive, have a seat on the bench on the west side of the pond, next to the statue of Reykjavík poet Tomas Gudmundsson and you’ll be sure to feel inspired.

Bjarkagata Grove

In 1914, there were 400 birch trees planted on this spot, marking Iceland’s first effort towards reforesting the island. As you might have noticed, they still have a long way to go. According to ancient manuscripts, Iceland was covered in forests when the first settlers arrived but climate changes and the livestock that the settlers brought changed Iceland’s nature to what it is today.

Pavilion Park

(Hljomskalagardurinn). With a cinderellaesque rags-to-riches transformation, what used to be the city dump for the most part of the 19th century is now a popular place to picnic by the lakeside. The park is named for the octagonal, tower-like structure, built in 1923 to house the Reykjavík marching band.

Court Garden

(Hallargardyrinn). Originally a private garden, in 1955 it became the first large recreation area in Iceland to be specifically designed by a landscape architect. The house in the park was built by famed businessman Thor Jensen and is considered by many among the most beautiful buildings in Reykjavík.

Mother’s Park

(Maedragardurinn). One of the city’s first playgrounds. In 1925, the area was declared a public park and dedicated to mothers with young children, hence the statue of a mother with a child. The statue is by famed Icelandic sculptor Nina Saemundsson, whose work « The Spirit of Achievement » adorns the Waldorf Astoria in New York.

Arnarholl Hill

This grassy hill in the middle of the city has narrowly escaped building plans through the years. It serves as a gathering spot for the people of Reykjavík on celebrations such as June 17th and the Gay pride festival. On the top of the hill is a statue of Ingolfur Arnarson, the first permanent settler of Iceland. He built his farm in Reykjavík.

Einar Jonsson Sculpture Garden

Behind the Einar Jonsson Museum is a garden exhibiting casts of Einar’s sculptures. The fierce Icelandic national spirit is captured in these boldly rendered, allegorical figures. The museum building is the first purpose-built museum in Iceland and also housed the artists’s apartment and studio. In exchange, Einar donated all his works to the Icelandic nation

Are BAs Useless?

Are BAs Useless?

... the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility - Eleanor Roosevelt

From early on in high school, teenagers hear about the importance of getting a higher (post-secondary) education. Clearly, without finishing high school, people cannot even get a job at McDonalds. While you may argue that flipping burgers does not require the completion of high school, normally, no restaurant of the chain will hire you if you lack this simple prerequisite. But the present short essay centres on a diverse topic altogether, what about all those certificates, diplomas and BAs (Bachelors of Arts), are these conducive to finding gainful employment?

The world is full of controversy. Stories abound of people becoming insanely successful and wealthy without completing high school, and alternatively, most of us know at least one Ph.D. who works as a barista at the local coffee shop. So is higher education useless? The question is quite complex, but from facts and job advertisements, it seems warranted to conclude that which kind of degree you hold greatly influences your marketability to potential employers. The same may be said of certificates, they do not all hold the same value to prospective employers.

Art is subjective. Image: Elena

Clearly, most professors in liberal arts or the social sciences would disagree with higher education being useless. After all, university teaches us how to think critically, how to be more disciplined and better organized, how to prioritize, important team work skills and so on. Many valuable skills, competencies and abilities are first required to enrol in undergraduate programs, then to graduate and eventually to keep educating oneself even after graduation.

In contrast, the job market is a whole other story. Employers want to see experience; they want to be certain you can do the job and do it well. But does a BA guarantee that? Many employers think that it does not. Also, many recent graduates find it difficult to get employed in their field. For example, consider psychology. With an undergraduate psychology degree, options for working in psychology or a related field are few and far between. Still, it appears probable that a degree is a degree, and better than no degree at all.

Funds That Serve With a Smile

Funds That Serve With a Smile

Some funds treat your money with the respect it deserves

Service is the name of the game in the crowded field of mutual funds. Many funds are looking to grab market share by bending over backwards to cater to investors.

Which funds provide the best service? To find out, mutual fund research firms test dozens of mutual fund groups each year before selecting a handful that provide kid-glove service to investors. These firms look at thousands of transactions designed to test different aspects of service, ranging from routine matters, like opening an account and checking fund share prices, to whether dividends, annual reports, and tax statements were received on time. Many firms invest their own money in the funds and conduct dozens of thousands of evaluations throughout the year before awarding its excellence-in-service seal.

What should you do to get the best service from your funds? We can glean the following advice for investors:

1) Ask how you can get your money out efficiently: Ask the company if you can get a check-book and check-writing privileges so that if you want cash from your account, you can simply write yourself a check.

2) Know how your money flows: Find out beforehand what you must do to transfer money between funds or switch from reinvesting dividends to taking them in cash, or vice versa.

3) Ask who to call for advice or help: For example, funds should be able to tell you how to use your investment as collateral for a loan. Some will issue a certificate acceptable to the lender; a stockbroker, if you use one, should be able to put your account on margin.

Serving with a smile. Photo by Elena

Business Management

Business Management

The implications of entrepreneurship and small business management are various. For instance, the mental block that people acquire over the years needlessly thwarts creativity, these are the belief that there’s one right possibility only, and an obsession with rationality. What could be perceived as antisocial characteristics such as pathological rigidity, refusal to ever relax and excessively narrow scope can have isolating effects.

While poets that live d’amour et d’eau fraiche may be the dream of an idealistically inclined philosopher, overvaluing practicality by placing it above all else could also be less than conducive to artistic idea flourishing.

The whole branch, or pseudo-branch depending on one’s views, of positive psychology is built on the constructive power held by encouraging thoughts and assurances. As can be understood from the previously mentioned paper, some of the negative barricades stopping originality are:

•     Fear of uncertainty
•     Timidity, insecurity
•     Fear of failure
•     Disparaging self

The above greatly hinder creative expression. But all is not lost, problems viewed as thrilling challenges are more pleasant to ponder on. By the same token, the following may counterbalance the drawbacks:

•     Welcome diversity
•     High expectation and standards
•     Thick skin
•     Inquisitiveness
•     Learning & skill enhancement
•     Supportive environment

In the professional environment, when target sales are pressing, ways to achieve goals come in handy.

Behaviour modelling techniques include reward, negative reinforcement, punishment and extinction. Knowledge management (KM) ideology helps organize in order to ensure external and internal resources such as fresh information, for example daily news.

Confidence and belief in self are critical for success, still according to Zimmerer & Scarborough (2011). Journalizing entries regularly and frequently, as well as remaining confident is recommended. Remembering the old adage ‘when you’re wrong – you learn’ may also be of service.

The contributions of one’s professional and personal social circles bring the uttermost value. Many massive works are a collaborative process altogether.

Joseph (2011) elaborates on e-business management. Communications rank highest on the priority list, due to the bases of e-business. Pop (2009) talks about the role of information technology (IT) in international business management. She reminds the reader about computer models that facilitate forecasting and other computations. Thusly, information systems would save the company money, while at the same time raise quality of products and customer service.

Yuen (2011) relates of the e-business strategy for small to midsized enterprises (SME) for supply chain management (SCM). The other two kinds within the framework are knowledge management (KM) and product development management (PDM).

Space Usine. In every business, in every industry, management does matter. (Michael Eisner). Photo: Megan Jorgensen (Elena)

References:

Joseph, K.O. (2011). Integrated marketing communication: A catalyst for the growth of e-business management. The Social Sciences, 6 (2): 64-73.

Pop, C. (2009). Information systems for international business management. Management & Marketing, 4 (4): 27-34.

Yuen, M. W. C. (2011). E-business strategy and application in supply chain management by New Zealand SME wholesalers. Master of Business (MBus) Thesis. Auckland University for Technology, Faculty of Business: 1-194

Zimmerer, T. W. & Scarborough, N. M. (2011). Essentials of entrepreneurship and small business management. Pearson, Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River, NJ.

Pain-killers: The power of a pill

Pain-killers: The power of a pill

Scientists keep discovering new benefits of this common painkiller

“Take two aspirin and call me in the morning” has long been doctors’ advice for headaches and minor pains. But a profusion of recent research shows that the painkiller that’s been used for more than 80 years may be good for more than headaches. The new findings suggest that aspirin may also help prevent heart attacks, certain types of cancers, and pregnancy-induced hypertension.

In its regular form, aspirin is an analgesic – a painkilling drug – available without a prescription to treat headaches, menstrual cramps, and muscle aches. It works by reducing the production of certain hormon-like chemicals, called prostoglandins, that can be responsible for inflammation, pain, fever or clumping of blood platelets. Because of its anti-inflammatory effects, aspirin is also effective in treating joint pain and muscle stiffness caused by certain types of arthritis. The non-narcotic drug can be used as well to reduce fever, so it is often an ingredient in cold medicines.

Of all of aspirin’s prophylactic powers, its role in combating heart attacks has received the most attention. Bu preventing platelets in the blood from sticking together, aspirin has been shown to decrease the chance of having a heart attack. And, by preventing clots from forming in the blood-stream, it can reduce the severity of a heart attack once it’s under way. Indeed, in a recent Harvard University study, healthy middle-aged male doctors who took as aspirin every other day on a continuing bases were 44 percent less likely to have a first heart attack than doctors who took a sugar pill as a placebo. But the aspirin takers showed no decline in overall cardiovascular deaths and only a slight increase in the risk of hemorrhagic strikes. The benefits of low-dose aspirin for women’s cardiovascular health are not yet known.

When taken within hours after a heart attack, aspirin can be a life-saving treatment. Heart attack sufferers who took aspirin after the attack began decreased their chance of dying in the following weeks by nearly 25 percent, a recent study found. Based on these findings, a group of doctors recently petitioned the Food and Drug Administration to approve aspirin as standard treatment for patients suffering from the acute stages of a heart attack. The FDA’s Office of Drug Evaluation has recommended approval, but a final decision is pending.

When aspirin is taken in small doses on a daily basis, it has also been shown to reduce a pregnant woman’s risk of suffering from high blood pressure and of delivering a premature baby of low birth weight. However, there is no evidence that aspirin can reduce high blood pressure among people who aren’t pregnant. For reasons not yet understood, it is only when a woman is pregnant that the drug appears to help keep blood pressure down. All these findings are still preliminary, however, and no pregnant woman should take aspirin without consulting her doctor first.

Migraine sufferers not only use aspirin to relieve headaches, but according to a large-scale study of middle-aged men who took aspirin every other day, aspirin can also reduce the frequency of migraines. That study found the men who took the aspirin reduced by 20 percent their chances of getting a migraine episode. When blood platelets clump together in the brain, they may release serotonin, a neurochemical linked to triggering migraines. Aspirin may stop the clumping, and, in turn, diminish the frequency of migraines.

Researchers have also found that those who take an aspirin tablet daily are less likely to contract colon, rectum and possibly stomach cancer. Some tumors produce prostaglandins, which scientists believe are required for a cancer to grow. Aspirin works by stopping the production of prostaglandins, preventing tumors from growing.

Where tumors do exist, aspirin may cause them to bleed, leading to earlier diagnoses.

For those who suffer from certain types of senility, such as senile dementia, doctors sometimes prescribe daily doses of aspirin because it helps prevent blockage of blood vessels in the brain. When aspirin is given to those suffering from dementia, it appears to reduce the chances of having mini-strokes, which in turn can cause dementia. This research is very preliminary, however.

Always consult a doctor before taking aspirin as a preventive measure; aspirin’s benefits many be many, but there are side effects to take into account. Hearing impairment, stomach problems, excessive bleeding, and complications of pregnancy may occur in those who take aspirin too heavily. Aspirin may also increase the risk of stroke caused by bleeding in the brain.

When a such child is involved, never give aspirin except under close medical supervision, because there is a slight risk of contracting Reye’s Syndrome, a rare brain and liver disorder. Instead, children should be given aspirin alternatives such as Tylenol.

Pain-killers help. Photo by Elena

What to Take When Aspirin Is Off-Limits

Acetaminophin: Tylenol is the most common brand name for this organic compound. The drug reduces pain and fever without the stomach irritation, bleeding, indigestion, and nausea that can occur with aspirin. It is also a more effective fever-fighter than aspirin for children. Since it doesn’t slow blood clotting, acetaminophen is also the best nonprescription painkiller for patients before and after surgery women who are pregnant, and people who have an allergy to aspirin. Acetaminophen does not, however, reduce inflammation or possess any of the powers of aspirin to fight heart attacks and strokes. Keep in mind also that it is dangerous to mix acetaminophen with alcohol and that high doses can cause liver damage.

Aleve: Also called naproxen sodium, Aleve is an anti-inflammatory effective in reducing pain and fever. Gentler on the stomach than aspirin, it became popular as a treatment for menstrual cramps. Because Aleve provides relief for 8 to 12 hours, longer than most over-the-counter pain-killers, it may be a good choice for arthritis sufferers. Precautions are the same as for aspirin and ibuprofen.

Ibuprofen: Found in over-the-counter medicines such as Advil and Motrin, it is stronger than aspirin and acetaminophen, yet easier on the stomach than aspirin. It relieves pain, fever, and inflammation, and is often taken to relieve the discomfort of menstrual cramps. It lacks aspirin’s bloodclot-fighting cardiovascular benefits, however, and should be avoided by people susceptible to asthma, high bllod pressure, heart or kidney disease, and cirrhosis, as well as those taking lithium or diuretics. If you have a cold, take ibuprofen with a decongestant instead of an over-the-counter cold medicine, which generally contains fewer pain relief ingredients and costs more.

Buffered Pills: Many pain relievers come in buffered form. The coating makes pills easier to swallow and easier on the stomach than tablets, but it slows down the absorption of the pain-killer, so relief takes longer. Time-released capsules of Aleve are best suited for low-level continuing pain, such as muscle soreness. Never take more than one type of pain reliever at a time, unless instructed by your doctor.