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-Short Attention Span Theater-
Norwegians Confused by Bush Salute
2005-01-21
So what is it now, God obsessed right wing crazy or Satan worshipper?
OSLO, Norway - President Bush's "Hook 'em, 'horns" salute got lost in translation in Norway, where shocked people interpreted his hand gesture during his inauguration as a salute to Satan.
Bow to me, Norway! Worship me! Satan demands it!
That's what it means in the Nordics when you throw up the right hand with the index and pinky fingers raised, a gesture popular among heavy metal groups and their fans in the region.
Beavis and Butthead roadtrip to Norway.
"Shock greeting from Bush daughter," a headline in the Norwegian Internet newspaper Nettavisen said above a photograph of Bush's daughter Jenna, smiling and showing the sign.
They must've just missed when her eyes glowed red and her serpents tounge shot out of her mouth.
My kind of woman
For Texans, the gesture is a sign of love for the University of Texas Longhorns, whose fans are known to shout out "Hook 'em, 'horns!" at sporting events.
And weddings, funerals, church services, etc....
Hook 'em Horns! Satan demands it!
Bush, a former Texas governor, and his family made the sign to greet the Longhorn marching band as it passed during the inaugural parade through Washington during Thursday's festivities, explained Verdens Gang, Norway's largest newspaper.
They probably still think it was a sign of his deal with Satan. But even the moonbats know Rove's on the hook for that...
Posted by:tu3031

#26  some financial institution (I think) aired a commercial showing a variety of behaviors, and pointing out that a behavior or gesture can be friendly or innocuous in one culture, and an insult in another

A word to the Rantburg-ly wise: if you're ever in Brazil, do not under any circumstances use the A-OK forefinger-to-thumb with other three fingers upright gesture. You'll be insulting the honor of any Brazilian lady within eyesight and be lucky to escape with all your limbs.
Posted by: lex   2005-01-21 10:45:19 PM  

#25  LETS ROCK !!!

The only trick satan pulled was convincing the world he doesnt exist *giggle* (angelheart-crap movie) although Lisa Bonet is a peach/dream ..)
Posted by: MacNails   2005-01-21 8:02:46 PM  

#24  Oh gawdz no Frank G anything but that, please. I take back #22.
Posted by: Rex Mundi   2005-01-21 7:55:20 PM  

#23  I'm a quarter Norse - guess I'll have to start up a "We're Sorry" site...jeebus
Posted by: Frank G   2005-01-21 7:52:24 PM  

#22  Crazy, mixed up Norse. Hey...LAY OFF THE BOOZE! Save some fer the rest of us....fer chris'sakes.
Posted by: Rex Mundi   2005-01-21 7:49:58 PM  

#21  Do you really expect Ole and Lena to get it
Posted by: Cheaderhead   2005-01-21 6:42:07 PM  

#20  It just made Fox News, lol!
Posted by: .com   2005-01-21 6:31:10 PM  

#19  It's Bush's way of thanking the Australians for helping out in the WoT. That's why, when they were making the hand gesture, they were chanting: "Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!", or something like that.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2005-01-21 5:47:28 PM  

#18  I just figured he was expressing his belief that "METALLICA F*CKIN RULEZ, DOOD!!!"
Posted by: BH   2005-01-21 5:04:19 PM  

#17  I find young Norwegians very in tune with US culture. Most of them learned to speak English by watching American cartoons because the Norwegian TV programming used to be so crappy. I would be suprised if they were not more curious about what "the cowboy" was doing rather than offended.
I remember the roar of laughter that went up when JFK said "Ich bien ein Berliner" which translated in slang to "I am a popular German pastry" .
As far as I am concerned , Bush was really saying, Stick this up your ass, Molly Ivans.
Posted by: Capsu78   2005-01-21 4:55:32 PM  

#16  OF COURSE IT'S A FRIGGIN SATANIC SYMBOL. GIG 'EM AGGIES!!!!!
Posted by: anymouse   2005-01-21 4:00:33 PM  

#15  Shipman -- ever since Hanoi Jane did it during the World Series (when she was married to what's-his-name), it's ok.
Posted by: Desert Blondie   2005-01-21 3:48:54 PM  

#14  Thank Gawd the FSU band wasn't in the parade. I'm not certain how the tomahawk chop would have gone over.
Posted by: Shipman   2005-01-21 3:32:01 PM  

#13  Well, Sea, I can't hog up all of RB's valuable bandwidth. That would be too much like....Aris. ;)
And thanks for the compliment!
Posted by: Desert Blondie   2005-01-21 3:28:08 PM  

#12  WooHoo! Blondie's got a blog! Just remember that we knew you way back when...
Posted by: Seafarious   2005-01-21 3:06:57 PM  

#11  Bulldog & Dar - that horrible image is seared, seared into my brain.....
Posted by: Desert Blondie   2005-01-21 2:47:53 PM  

#10  Ha! I made a bet that his gesture would be translated as Satanic somewhere in the world. I also noted that he hesitated before doing it - and then apparently made a conscious decision to join in the fun.
Posted by: 2b   2005-01-21 2:37:22 PM  

#9  And weddings, funerals, church services, etc....

lmao!!! ima live in austin. yer dont know how tru that is!
Posted by: muck4doo   2005-01-21 2:21:43 PM  

#8  When I was living in Australia, some financial institution (I think) aired a commercial showing a variety of behaviors, and pointing out that a behavior or gesture can be friendly or innocuous in one culture, and an insult in another. They specifically mentioned the Horns gesture, contrasting it with the Italian version. The message was that you need this savvy company to help with your overseas business.

Maybe they should run a version in Norway.
Posted by: Angie Schultz   2005-01-21 2:08:19 PM  

#7  Bulldog--LOL! I can see the headlines now--"Parisians applaud cheeky Kerry's ass dimples"
Posted by: Dar   2005-01-21 2:04:25 PM  

#6  LOL Bulldog !

We should cut the Norgies some slack. I mean, they have only been obsessing over our evil culture for, ohhh, 60 years, how could they have known about UT ?
Posted by: Carl in N.H.   2005-01-21 1:59:41 PM  

#5  I don't think Bush could so much as blink without grievously culturally offending someone, somewhere. Kerry, on the other hand, could have pulled his pants down and wiggled his French-looking arse and the media world would have muttered appreciations.
Posted by: Bulldog   2005-01-21 1:53:12 PM  

#4  Why were Norwegians watching the Bush inauguration for? I mean don't they have a life? I didn't watch it and I live here in teh US and voted for him. I wasn't even that interested in the whole inauguration story.

Norway get a life.
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom   2005-01-21 1:52:42 PM  

#3  Lol! Who cares what they think? Jan Egeland is one of them and apparently is a fair example of Norgie Wank-o-Matics. Yeah, dipshits, it means what you mean when you do it. Couldn't have any other explanation. Eat some yellow snow.
Posted by: .com   2005-01-21 1:47:27 PM  

#2  In Italy that's a popular drivers' gesture meaning 'your partner is having intimate physical relations with another person'.
Posted by: Bulldog   2005-01-21 1:41:03 PM  

#1  Well, University of Texas has a great department of Satanic Studies, so W was just killing two birds with one, uh, gesture.
Posted by: Jonathan   2005-01-21 1:38:50 PM  

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