This is Norway remember, but in 2009 they have a darn good chance of winning for the third time with an ancestral Belarussian by the name of Alexander Rybak with "Fairytale". Find out about his loopy tune fiddling exploits here
Norway, who more often than not get treated badly in the Eurosong, have a very good tune in 2008, with Maria Haukaas Storeng singing "Hold on,Be Strong". It should ease through Semi 1 into relative glory. Read more here.
The C&W old-timers Dusty Cowshit didn't quite make the big ticket in Norway. Instead it is to be Guri Schanke for 2007, a woman with a face of a 40 year old and legs of an 18 year old. Check out her schlager-heavy, easy winner effort here
Ethereal Christine Gulbrandsen will dance with the elves in 2006. Learn more about elf dancing here

The Tourist Guide says

"Imagine a country where nature is a majestic gift to mankind. Imagine a country enjoying the abundance of nature. Accumulated through thousands of years. You will discover a country, which is enchantingly unique. Natural. Imagine a country where light and darkness intertwine. Where seasons melt together in colours and crystals. Imagine a country where the thawing snow gives way to blossom. Where sea and mountain unite. Where nature is a precious gift to mankind. Discover a country where nature creates art. Where you are invited to a life-fulfilling experience of diversity.
Friendly, down-to-earth people, unique scenery, summer nights bright as day and delightful snowy winters make Norway a very special country. In summer, there are plenty of attractions and activities to keep you busy - the unspoilt open country of the Sámi people in the north and fjords, salmon fishing and festivals in the south.

Oslo

"Today's Oslo has more than 500.000 inhabitants. Maybe not much compared to other European capital cities, but paradoxically, it is one of the largest in size, covering an area of 175 square miles consisting mostly of forest and arable land.
Oslo is also known for being a "City of contrasts and multitude". Oslo surprises many visitors with its intimacy. Although Oslo is an international capital it is only minutes from the city centre to the surrounding forests and the fjord."

Norway is postponing the country's version of A levels - to give students chance to sober up. Norwegian students typically celebrate the end of their schooling with a two-week long party known as 'russ'. But they then have to go back and take their final exams and many struggle after partying too hard. The celebrations traditionally run from the start of May until Norwegian independence day on May 17.
Education Minister Kristin Clemet said: "We welcome students celebrating the end of 13 years of schooling but it is an advantage to separate the exam from the celebrating, so that it doesn't disturb the preparations and test itself."
Sofie Fuglesang, a member of the russ central board in Oslo, told Afteposten newspaper the idea was "very cool".
The exams are now scheduled for the beginning of June.

A middle-aged Norwegian woman was so angry at being arrested for drink driving that she urinated in the police car.
The 54-year-old was arrested by police officers investigating complaints of a noisy argument outside a shopping centre in Stord.
She had been arguing with a friend who had refused to let her have her car keys to drive home because she was drunk. The row ended just before the police arrived when the woman found her spare set of car keys and drove off in her car.
Police caught up with the woman why they say had a bottle of spirits in her hand when they pulled her over.
A police spokesman said the woman was so angry with the officers that she urinated in the police car driving her to the station and again in the police car park.

Norway is postponing the country's version of A levels - to give students chance to sober up. Norwegian students typically celebrate the end of their schooling with a two-week long party known as 'russ'. But they then have to go back and take their final exams and many struggle after partying too hard. The celebrations traditionally run from the start of May until Norwegian independence day on May 17.
Education Minister Kristin Clemet said: "We welcome students celebrating the end of 13 years of schooling but it is an advantage to separate the exam from the celebrating, so that it doesn't disturb the preparations and test itself."
Sofie Fuglesang, a member of the russ central board in Oslo, told Afteposten newspaper the idea was "very cool".
The exams are now scheduled for the beginning of June.
to come

A Norwegian footballer has agreed to put back his retirement after a local club promised him as much pizza as he could eat.
Striker Bård Erik Olsen, 32, was planning to hang up his boots to spend more time with his daughter.
He had eight years experience with Norwegian second division club Sprint-Jeløy, as well as a stint with former top division club Moss.But fifth division club Tronvik was looking for a power striker and tempted Olsen to delay his retirement.
Club spokesman Kjetil Jensen said: "For a few years we've tempted Bård Erik to Tronvik and said he could eat as much pizza as he wanted. Now that we have a chance we'll keep our word."
"I can't just completely cut out football all of a sudden, so I am glad that Tronvik want me," Olsen said.
Norway's lower division teams have made headlines for odd contracts before with one player being sold for his weight in prawns.
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Experts say a reported UFO sighting in Norway was probably an electrocuted cat.
People in Lardal reported seeing a fire ball explode in the night sky and fall slowly down to earth.
But investigators think they've solved the mystery after the charred body of a cat was found at the foot of an electrical mast.
They believe the unlucky cat climbed up the mast and touched a live wire.
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Norwegian punters have reportedly become so fed up with not getting what they expected from the country's prostitutes that they have started rating them online. A local newspaper has surveyed a number of sites including one where prostitutes are given ratings from 1 to 6 and organised geographically.
Other features include a search engine for checking ratings, illegal ads for sex toys, and a discussion forum where prostitutes and clients can discuss how business should be conducted.
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Two Norwegian journalists have been given police protection after publishing an article on how to get sex from Muslim women. It comes after a man who shares the same name as writer Bård Torgersen was beaten by a gang of 15 Asian youths outside his flat. Both Torgersen and Gaute Drevdal, editor of Natt & Dag which published the article, have now b
een given police protection. They have also apologised for using text from the Koran to illustrate the piece, entitled Natt & Dag's guide to getting sex from Muslims.

Jan & Anja Garbarek
Edvard Grieg, Edvard Munch, Henrik Ibsen
Roald Amundsen, Thor Heyerdahl, Trygve Lie
Grete Waitz, Kjetil Andre Aamodt (I like any name that sounds like a kitchen appliance)

  
Animal rights activists are furious after a Norwegian comedian attached an engine to a dead pig and used it as a boat. Kristopher Schau and his colleagues also tried blowing up rats and hamsters with helium to make what they called "organic balloons". The animals exploded and the remains splattered over the audience at the Quart Festival in Kristiansand.
"I feel angry but maybe most of all sad. I think it is terribly sad watching people being entertained by such a thing," said Ragnar Ommundsen.
The Norwegian animal rights organisation sent in a complaint. But the comedian was unrepentant: "If they have problems with this, they should attack children who play with their food as well" he said.
 

Life expectancy

 76.01 men 82.07 women
Airports 101
Radios 915 per 1,000 people
Internet Users 4,499.1 per 10,000 people
Railway Network 2,500 miles
Death Penalty abolished in 1979