FAROE FRIDAY: THE LONG NIGHT OF WINTER

Any English language news from the Faroe Islands has been crowded out online by news of the national soccer team's loss to Ukrane (0-5) and an earlier loss to France. So instead, we'll talk about the weather.

The daylight hours in the Faroe Islands are shrinking rapidly. Today the sun will come up at 8:20 AM, and set right around six. Each week, the islands lose another 40 minutes of daylight. By December 21, the run will rise around 10:00 And set just before 3 in the afternoon.

It is undoubtedly a tough way to live. People report having a difficult time waking up in the morning and Seasonal Affective Disorder is not uncommon.

Even when the sun is out, there's no guarantee anyone will see it. Clouds can blanket the islands for days at a time. The hours of sunlight in January can be counted on two hands.

But, if the pictures are to be believed, even the cold months can be lovely. The green mountains are dusted with snow, and the villages take on a still, austere beauty. (Note to Faroe Islands Tourism Board: I can crank out copy like this in my sleep, call me.

This week's wintertime photo comes from Klaksvik. With a population of about 4,600, it's the Faroe's second city. Kind of like Chicago, but with less mob influence and a winning sports franchise.