Norway Research

I've been trying to find a few minutes here and there to find out more about Norway since we're going to be living there in three months. I've found a couple less appealing things like Smalahove, a special Norwegian dish usually served around Christmas featuring half of a sheep's head. And "My Boobs Are OK", bubble gum pop Norwegian hit from 2006. I have a hard time understanding how this song ever got made as anything other than a youtube prank, but it made it to #5 on the Norwegian pop charts.

But tonight, I discovered some Norway trivia that is interesting and fun and makes me feel like the place is calling out to me. A Norwegian invented the paperclip! This totally feeds my paperclip fetish! According to about.com:

Johan Vaaler, a Norwegian inventor with a degree in electronics, science and mathematics, invented the paperclip in 1899. He received a patent for his design from Germany in 1899, since Norway had no patent laws at that time. Johan Vaaler was an employee at a local invention office when he invented the paperclip. He received an American patent in 1901 -- patent abstract  "It consists of forming same of a spring material, such as a piece of wire, that is bent to a rectangular, triangular, or otherwise shaped hoop, the end parts of which wire piece form members or tongues lying side by side in contrary directions." Johan Vaaler was the first person to patent a paperclip design, although other unpatented designs might have existed first.

So there I have it, a good reason to go! Maybe there's a statue or a paperclip museum. Must do more research. And for those of you into bubblegum pop...