3 posts tagged “norway”

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...

In other news, we got job offers in Norway and will probably be heading there the end of July. Sounds like fun. Norway research must commence.