Modern academia and its critics

One of the most insightful and critical pieces about the state of the modern university that I have ever read here.

The article, Dear Parents: Everything You Need to Know About Your Son and Daughter’s University But Don’t, by Ron Srigley touches on issues with the university and how it has morphed into a structure that is antithetical to its origins. No longer is the university fulfilling its role within democracy and society, the author argues and persuasively so. I couldn’t help but extrapolate this argument to other decaying structures such as public service. 

My map of Iceland

I have arrived from flying all day. I met some nice folks along the way. I am quite tired but can’t sleep. I have just unpacked my wool stuff from Iceland and am resisting importing and beginning to sort through my photos. That, and the 4K video from snorkeling at Silfra, will take some time.

Here is my map of Iceland as seen through artifacts that I collected. From the black smoothed rock from the Black Sands beach to porus volcanic stone from the thermal area around Myvatn. The clam shell is from the rocky shores of the south western  peninsula and the sea shell is from the east fjords

 

A hot tub with a view

I left Grundafjordur early this morning to avoid the storm pounding the peninsula. I slowly made my way south to Borganes and am here overnight and then on to Silfra for a dive tomorrow. I will spend one final night in Reykjavik and then back to Ottawa. 

Here are a few from today including my hot tub in Borganes where I’m sitting enjoying a glass of wine and watching the sun set.

   
 

Snaefellsnes part two 

Here are some photos from yesterday. I climbed another volcano and hiked the sea shore. I stayed ahead of the major precipitation but it was a grey day. I started with Kirkjufelll and ended with the Black Church at Búðir. FYI the church is black because it is covered in pitch for the weather, much like a ship.

   
    
 

It was a dark and stormy night

Last night was the fiercest weather that I have seen in Iceland. The rain was strong and steady but the wind raged across the countryside or so I observed from the comfort of my room overlooking Kirkjufelll. With no possibility of seeing the lights I decided the begin to organize myself for my return and to read some lengthy articles. One of which that I found most interesting was this story about a 19 year old mapping the fluid lines of jihadis in North Africa and south west Asia. It’s a fascinating story of the convergence of intellectual curiosity and technology.

Snaefellsnes 

I arrived at the Snaefellsnes peninsula yesterday, the final leg of my tour. The sky was clear yesterday and that meant some great photos but since the sun is so low in the sky all day it was quite challenging to drive.

I didn’t complain about clear skies last night since the northern lights were out in their full glory! I saw several shooting stars and while a little cool outside, I was quite warm in my new Icelandic wool sweater.

Awesome photography last night! I can’t wait to edit my photos!!

   
    
 

Skyr and little spoons

I have been eating a lot of Skyr. Iceland’s yoghurt. Damn it’s good.

What is quite interesting is the fact that it comes with a fold out spoon that packs inside the lid. I wonder why we don’t have that in Canada or perhaps we do and I’ve never noticed it.