Hello and welcome to my first-ever C&J hosting! Coming to you from lovely Kristiansand, Norway, where summer has officially been cancelled, ice cream and beer sales are down, and the rain just doesn't want to stop. On the other hand, the tourists are even easier to spot-they are the ones in the brand new Norwegian kofte sweaters, shivering over their $20 lattes.
I thought I'd start us off with a few little tidbits about this lovely, boreal land. Norway shares a border with Russia, Finland, and Sweden, and has 1,647 miles of coastline (15,626 if you include the fjords).
Norway is a constitutional monarchy. The current government is a somewhat shaky and often tumultous coalition of the Labor, Center, and Socialist Left parties, often called the "Red-Green" alliance, which for some reason always puts me in mind of duct tape, which is what is probably holding the alliance together on many days. Just last year, Norway celebrated 100 years as an independent nation, having essentially bluffed their way out of a union with Sweden.
Thus, with one mighty swing of Thor's Hammer, we begin. Are you ready now? On three: One! Two! SWOOOOOOOSH!
Note: Viking gods don't wait for three.
Before we get to the fun stuff, let's start out with A MOMENT OF SILENCE for my former home state of Minnesota. As I write this, at least 4 people are confirmed dead after a bridge over the Mississippi collapsed during rush hour yesterday. Light a candle and send prayers, good thoughts and positive energy to the good people of Minneapolis and St. Paul.
And now, back to your regularly scheduled Cheer and Jeers for Thursday, August 2, 2007
JEERS to wingnuttery, Norwiggan-style. Former Progress Party candidate Charlotte Finnesand was forced to withdraw from the local elections in Rennesøy Kommune after remarks in a letter-to-the-editor to the Stavanger Aftenblad she wrote earlier this week. In this letter, she stated her opinion that the birth of handicapped children, such as those with Down's Syndrome, was "unnecessary" and that she didn't see the need to bring children into the world that will "cost society huge sums for nursing, care, and supplies". She, and the Progess Party leader, later apologized for her remarks, Finnesand stating that the letter was "awkwardly written". Mind you, the truly galling part was that she didn't even pretend to care about the quality of life for these children--she was only concerned about the actual economic costs of caring for them.
A SHRUG AND A ROLL OF THE EYES to Norway's Princess Märtha Louise. Last week she announced that she was clairvoyant, could communicate with angels, and was opening a school to teach others to do the same to the tune of about $2060 per year. This week, she has been placed on medical leave, due in part to all of the criticism. It occurs to me that she should have seen it coming...
CHEERS AND GLASSES RAISED to all Karens and Karins out there. Today is your name day! According to babynames.com, Karen is of Scandinavian origin, and means "Pure". So, all you Karens out there, go raise some h-e-double-hockey-sticks! (I'd have said "hell", but with a name meaning "pure" I thought it might be a little too much.)
CHEERS to advances in medical technology! Yesterday, it was revealed that electrodes implanted into the brain of a man who has been in a "minimally conscious" state have enabled him to eat, move his arms, and speak for the first time in nearly 7 years. No word on when this procedure will be attempted on members of the Bush Administration.
Because it's just not Cheers and Jeers Thursday without it, here is your Molly Ivins Moment:
During a recent panel on the numerous failures of American journalism, I proposed that almost all stories about government should begin: "Look out! They're about to smack you around again!"
Geez I really miss that woman. She and Governor Richards were real role models for me, back in my Texas childhood.
CHEERS to having a sense of humor in dealing with things one cannot control. Harry Potter, 78, is inundated with calls and requests for interviews each time a book or movie comes out. He takes it all in stride, and according to his wife,
"When Harry talks to the kids, they'll ask about the owl and he'll say, 'Oh, he came by and brought the mail. Then, when they're done, the mothers come on and say thank you for talking to the kids. He gets a big kick out of it."
Nice work, Harry!
JEERS to Russia for trying to hog the North Pole by planting a flag on the seabed. Sure, there might be lots of resources there-oil, gas, diamonds, etc. But there is surely more than enough to go around! Besides, planting a flag where nobody can see it doesn't count.
And finally, because I have the bully pulpit today, here is my well-travelled pootie, Herr Kitty, sitting in his Ikea chair, which of course required assembly:
With that, the Kiddie Pool is officially open. Hurry up and hop in before it freezes solid.