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Posts published in June 2019

DENNE AVISEN ER EN VITS: If you can’t read that, a new group is meeting weekly for free Norwegian classes in Longyearbyennorwegianclass

DENNE AVISEN ER EN VITS: If you can’t read that, a new group is meeting weekly for free Norwegian classes in Longyearbyen

By Mark Sabbatini on June 30, 2019
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Read Time:2 Minute, 33 Second

The foursome agreed they weren’t fans of økonomi (economics), but were into TV (take a wild guess) as they sat around a small table discussing somebody’s else’s weekly schedule planner. But they weren’t nosey, just following the latest textbook exercise in an impromptu Norwegian class that started a month ago to remedy the absence of any such offering for Longyearbyen’s booming population of foreigners.

About Post Author

Mark Sabbatini

I'm a professional transient living on a tiny Norwegian island next door to the North Pole, where once a week (or thereabouts) I pollute our extreme and pristine environment with paper fishwrappers decorated with seemingly random letters that would cause a thousand monkeys with a thousand typewriters to die of humiliation. Such is the wisdom one acquires after more than 25 years in the world's second-least-respected occupation, much of it roaming the seven continents in search of jazz, unrecognizable street food and escorts I f****d with by insisting they give me the platonic tours of their cities promised in their ads. But it turns out this tiny group of islands known as Svalbard is my True Love and, generous contributions from you willing, I'll keep littering until they dig my body out when my climate-change-deformed apartment collapses or they exile my penniless ass because I'm not even worthy of washing your dirty dishes.
marksabbatini@yahoo.com
http://icepeople.net
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WHAT THE FOX?! Arctic fox makes 3,506-km trip from Svalbard to Canada in 76 days – more than a marathon per dayfoxtrot

WHAT THE FOX?! Arctic fox makes 3,506-km trip from Svalbard to Canada in 76 days – more than a marathon per day

By Mark Sabbatini on June 29, 2019
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Read Time:2 Minute, 29 Second

All the talk (and reality) of the alarming shrinkage of the Arctic sheet whizzed right past a rather speedy Arctic fox who at the end of March of last year began what researchers say is a record-fast 3,506-kilometer journey from Svalbard to Greenland to Ellesmere Island in Canada in 76 days – a rate of 46 kilometers per day.

About Post Author

Mark Sabbatini

I'm a professional transient living on a tiny Norwegian island next door to the North Pole, where once a week (or thereabouts) I pollute our extreme and pristine environment with paper fishwrappers decorated with seemingly random letters that would cause a thousand monkeys with a thousand typewriters to die of humiliation. Such is the wisdom one acquires after more than 25 years in the world's second-least-respected occupation, much of it roaming the seven continents in search of jazz, unrecognizable street food and escorts I f****d with by insisting they give me the platonic tours of their cities promised in their ads. But it turns out this tiny group of islands known as Svalbard is my True Love and, generous contributions from you willing, I'll keep littering until they dig my body out when my climate-change-deformed apartment collapses or they exile my penniless ass because I'm not even worthy of washing your dirty dishes.
marksabbatini@yahoo.com
http://icepeople.net
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CLEAN START: Northernmost car wash trying again after shutting down for two years because vehicles got too dirtycarwasha

CLEAN START: Northernmost car wash trying again after shutting down for two years because vehicles got too dirty

By Mark Sabbatini on June 29, 2019
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Read Time:2 Minute, 41 Second

It’s a classic paradox of modern Svalbard: vehicles get so dirty a cash wash can’t operate profitably. But the world’s northernmost car wash is trying again two years after closing, hoping a more versatile machine helps overcome strict environmental requirements and other difficulties that have left many car owners feeling soiled.

About Post Author

Mark Sabbatini

I'm a professional transient living on a tiny Norwegian island next door to the North Pole, where once a week (or thereabouts) I pollute our extreme and pristine environment with paper fishwrappers decorated with seemingly random letters that would cause a thousand monkeys with a thousand typewriters to die of humiliation. Such is the wisdom one acquires after more than 25 years in the world's second-least-respected occupation, much of it roaming the seven continents in search of jazz, unrecognizable street food and escorts I f****d with by insisting they give me the platonic tours of their cities promised in their ads. But it turns out this tiny group of islands known as Svalbard is my True Love and, generous contributions from you willing, I'll keep littering until they dig my body out when my climate-change-deformed apartment collapses or they exile my penniless ass because I'm not even worthy of washing your dirty dishes.
marksabbatini@yahoo.com
http://icepeople.net
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‘I’VE BEEN TO BIGGER WEDDINGS THAN THIS’: Robert Plant performs northernmost gig ever for a crowd of 175, who are totally cool with getting close and personalplant4

‘I’VE BEEN TO BIGGER WEDDINGS THAN THIS’: Robert Plant performs northernmost gig ever for a crowd of 175, who are totally cool with getting close and personal

By Mark Sabbatini on June 27, 2019
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Read Time:2 Minute, 27 Second

The guy selling merchandise in lobby said it’s the smallest venue he’s worked in 27 years and even then there were gaps on the floor where the crowd gathered a meter from the stage. But for Øistein Rosen, a Kristiansund resident traveling with his wife and six others to see Led Zepplin frontman Robert Plant play the first of two gigs in Longyearbyen, the high cost of both the trip and the tickets compared to the legend’s other gigs during his current tour in Norway was perfectly cool.

About Post Author

Mark Sabbatini

I'm a professional transient living on a tiny Norwegian island next door to the North Pole, where once a week (or thereabouts) I pollute our extreme and pristine environment with paper fishwrappers decorated with seemingly random letters that would cause a thousand monkeys with a thousand typewriters to die of humiliation. Such is the wisdom one acquires after more than 25 years in the world's second-least-respected occupation, much of it roaming the seven continents in search of jazz, unrecognizable street food and escorts I f****d with by insisting they give me the platonic tours of their cities promised in their ads. But it turns out this tiny group of islands known as Svalbard is my True Love and, generous contributions from you willing, I'll keep littering until they dig my body out when my climate-change-deformed apartment collapses or they exile my penniless ass because I'm not even worthy of washing your dirty dishes.
marksabbatini@yahoo.com
http://icepeople.net
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Empty seats for Robert Plant? Businesses host giveaways as tickets remain for concerts this week by Led Zeppelin legend; who has them and is rock ‘deity’ still worthy of your wallet?plantpreview

Empty seats for Robert Plant? Businesses host giveaways as tickets remain for concerts this week by Led Zeppelin legend; who has them and is rock ‘deity’ still worthy of your wallet?

By Mark Sabbatini on June 25, 2019
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Read Time:4 Minute, 21 Second

Businesses are buying tickets in batches for employees and giving them away in Facebook trivia contests, such is the availability only a couple of days before the first of two concerts this week by Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant. Pleas to “run and buy tickets” are coming from locals dismayed a rock legend still capable of capacity crowds at major auditoriums and festivals can’t fill a room of a few hundred in Longyearbyen.

Which raises a couple of questions: 1) who’s actually here and willing to pay 1,500 kroner a ticket during a time when many families have departed on holidays and those remaining are younger tourism employees working long hours (very possibly during the gigs) for wages that don’t inspire splurges. And 2) is it worth the price of admission to hear a 70-year-old guy known foremost for being a god of rock two generations ago?

About Post Author

Mark Sabbatini

I'm a professional transient living on a tiny Norwegian island next door to the North Pole, where once a week (or thereabouts) I pollute our extreme and pristine environment with paper fishwrappers decorated with seemingly random letters that would cause a thousand monkeys with a thousand typewriters to die of humiliation. Such is the wisdom one acquires after more than 25 years in the world's second-least-respected occupation, much of it roaming the seven continents in search of jazz, unrecognizable street food and escorts I f****d with by insisting they give me the platonic tours of their cities promised in their ads. But it turns out this tiny group of islands known as Svalbard is my True Love and, generous contributions from you willing, I'll keep littering until they dig my body out when my climate-change-deformed apartment collapses or they exile my penniless ass because I'm not even worthy of washing your dirty dishes.
marksabbatini@yahoo.com
http://icepeople.net
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JUST THE MIDDLE OF A REALLY LONG DAY? Svalbard’s four-month-long midnight sun puts chill on duration of solstice, but Ny-Ålesund residents celebrate with plenty of fire and icesolsticeny2

JUST THE MIDDLE OF A REALLY LONG DAY? Svalbard’s four-month-long midnight sun puts chill on duration of solstice, but Ny-Ålesund residents celebrate with plenty of fire and ice

By Mark Sabbatini on June 23, 2019
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Read Time:3 Minute, 25 Second

In the world’s northernmost permanently occupied settlement the longest day of the year is…well, exactly as long as the 64 previous days and the 69 days ahead. Which is all the local wild life need to celebrate in proper “midsummer” fashion by breaking out the big costumes and really big ice cubes.

About Post Author

Mark Sabbatini

I'm a professional transient living on a tiny Norwegian island next door to the North Pole, where once a week (or thereabouts) I pollute our extreme and pristine environment with paper fishwrappers decorated with seemingly random letters that would cause a thousand monkeys with a thousand typewriters to die of humiliation. Such is the wisdom one acquires after more than 25 years in the world's second-least-respected occupation, much of it roaming the seven continents in search of jazz, unrecognizable street food and escorts I f****d with by insisting they give me the platonic tours of their cities promised in their ads. But it turns out this tiny group of islands known as Svalbard is my True Love and, generous contributions from you willing, I'll keep littering until they dig my body out when my climate-change-deformed apartment collapses or they exile my penniless ass because I'm not even worthy of washing your dirty dishes.
marksabbatini@yahoo.com
http://icepeople.net
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BUTT OUT! Big display and silent protest of discarded cigarette stubs shocks and dismays many – including some upset by the smoker shamingbuttmain

BUTT OUT! Big display and silent protest of discarded cigarette stubs shocks and dismays many – including some upset by the smoker shaming

By Mark Sabbatini on June 23, 2019
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Read Time:4 Minute, 36 Second

On a day when several thousand tourists arrived on one of the biggest cruise ship days of the year, Silvia Galli greeted them with thousands of exposed butts.

Which certainly managed to get plenty of attention as intended – although in this instance some harsh criticism about the naked revelation was a bit surprising. Because the butts in this instance were the stubs of enough cigarettes to fill 90 liters worth of plastic containers collected by her and others in Longyearbyen’s downtown area between May 9 and June 21, and put on display in silent protest in the central square Sunday.

About Post Author

Mark Sabbatini

I'm a professional transient living on a tiny Norwegian island next door to the North Pole, where once a week (or thereabouts) I pollute our extreme and pristine environment with paper fishwrappers decorated with seemingly random letters that would cause a thousand monkeys with a thousand typewriters to die of humiliation. Such is the wisdom one acquires after more than 25 years in the world's second-least-respected occupation, much of it roaming the seven continents in search of jazz, unrecognizable street food and escorts I f****d with by insisting they give me the platonic tours of their cities promised in their ads. But it turns out this tiny group of islands known as Svalbard is my True Love and, generous contributions from you willing, I'll keep littering until they dig my body out when my climate-change-deformed apartment collapses or they exile my penniless ass because I'm not even worthy of washing your dirty dishes.
marksabbatini@yahoo.com
http://icepeople.net
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CULTURAL SHAREITAGE: Norway and Russia may be in a new Cold War, but in Svalbard embracing differences take center stageflowers

CULTURAL SHAREITAGE: Norway and Russia may be in a new Cold War, but in Svalbard embracing differences take center stage

By Mark Sabbatini on June 20, 2019
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Read Time:11 Minute, 6 Second

Before the show there’s the trip to the grocery store. And it says a bellyful about the performances to come when the two neighboring communities visit each other.

About Post Author

Mark Sabbatini

I'm a professional transient living on a tiny Norwegian island next door to the North Pole, where once a week (or thereabouts) I pollute our extreme and pristine environment with paper fishwrappers decorated with seemingly random letters that would cause a thousand monkeys with a thousand typewriters to die of humiliation. Such is the wisdom one acquires after more than 25 years in the world's second-least-respected occupation, much of it roaming the seven continents in search of jazz, unrecognizable street food and escorts I f****d with by insisting they give me the platonic tours of their cities promised in their ads. But it turns out this tiny group of islands known as Svalbard is my True Love and, generous contributions from you willing, I'll keep littering until they dig my body out when my climate-change-deformed apartment collapses or they exile my penniless ass because I'm not even worthy of washing your dirty dishes.
marksabbatini@yahoo.com
http://icepeople.net
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Briefs from Svalbardposten for the week of June 18, 2019stem19

Briefs from Svalbardposten for the week of June 18, 2019

By Mark Sabbatini on June 17, 2019
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Read Time:2 Minute, 37 Second

Demolition of more than 140 residences in avalanche homes delayed until at least end of summer, new rules for passenger ships in Svalbard pose hardship for operators of older dayboats and Svalbard’s biggest drinking contest is again underway.

About Post Author

Mark Sabbatini

I'm a professional transient living on a tiny Norwegian island next door to the North Pole, where once a week (or thereabouts) I pollute our extreme and pristine environment with paper fishwrappers decorated with seemingly random letters that would cause a thousand monkeys with a thousand typewriters to die of humiliation. Such is the wisdom one acquires after more than 25 years in the world's second-least-respected occupation, much of it roaming the seven continents in search of jazz, unrecognizable street food and escorts I f****d with by insisting they give me the platonic tours of their cities promised in their ads. But it turns out this tiny group of islands known as Svalbard is my True Love and, generous contributions from you willing, I'll keep littering until they dig my body out when my climate-change-deformed apartment collapses or they exile my penniless ass because I'm not even worthy of washing your dirty dishes.
marksabbatini@yahoo.com
http://icepeople.net
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Change in the wind: Second chamber music festival draws on centuries-old classics to highlight rapid local shiftsarildchamber

Change in the wind: Second chamber music festival draws on centuries-old classics to highlight rapid local shifts

By Mark Sabbatini on June 15, 2019
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Read Time:8 Minute, 38 Second

It was a breeze for kids who learned to play it in an hour or so before their performance and a breezy challenge for longtime pros performing it in an old tent. But the mix of vast differences an shared similarities characterized a festival whose theme was “change” even though it highlighted music performed hundreds of years ago.

About Post Author

Mark Sabbatini

I'm a professional transient living on a tiny Norwegian island next door to the North Pole, where once a week (or thereabouts) I pollute our extreme and pristine environment with paper fishwrappers decorated with seemingly random letters that would cause a thousand monkeys with a thousand typewriters to die of humiliation. Such is the wisdom one acquires after more than 25 years in the world's second-least-respected occupation, much of it roaming the seven continents in search of jazz, unrecognizable street food and escorts I f****d with by insisting they give me the platonic tours of their cities promised in their ads. But it turns out this tiny group of islands known as Svalbard is my True Love and, generous contributions from you willing, I'll keep littering until they dig my body out when my climate-change-deformed apartment collapses or they exile my penniless ass because I'm not even worthy of washing your dirty dishes.
marksabbatini@yahoo.com
http://icepeople.net
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