Crow’s Nests : Part 2 — Floki, Ravens and Fighting Tops

The crows nest, as a shelter for the lookout on whaling ships sailing the icy waters of the Arctic, was by all indications, invented by Captain William Scoresby around 1807.  (See yesterday’s post:  Crow’s Nests : Part 1 — Melville & … Continue reading

Fighting Whaling in Court and in Port as Iceland Resumes Fin Whale Hunting

After a two year suspension, Iceland has resumed hunting endangered fin whales.  Photographs taken by undercover Greenpeace activists show a harpooned fin whale being cut up for meat, likely to be exported to Japan.  Meanwhile, environmentalists are fighting whaling in … Continue reading

Video of the Lagarfljóts Worm, Great Icelandic Lake Monster – An Internet Sensation

I saw it on the Internet so it must be true!  The Lagarfljóts Worm has gone viral.  A video of what appears to be a large serpent-like creature swimming in the the glacial river, Jökulsá í Fljótsdal, in east Iceland, has been … Continue reading

Headline Wars over Whales

There is an interesting conflict going on over the new draft proposal by the International Whaling Commission which would allow limited commercial  whaling at levels significantly lower than currently practiced by Japan, Iceland and Norway.   Depending on who you listen to this is either a good thing – … Continue reading