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Two years ago, we lost a very valued member of our community. Mikko Metsälä (aka North_Ranger) was one of the best of us. Gregarious, kind, and generous to a fault, Mikko was a good friend to a lot of us. He met and consumed alcohol and good food with members of the boards, all whom remember him fondly.

Last year was the first anniversary of Mikko's passing and the pain was still pretty fresh. We remembered him fondly, but with a tinge of bitterness at having lost him. This year, we still miss him, but the pain has receded a bit. This, the second anniversary of Mikko's passing, let's remember the man we all admire.

November 27, 2015. Mikko's Day.

Coincidentally, it can also be argued that today is Halforums' 7th anniversary of its current incarnation.

--Patrick

I'm lifting a glass in memory

A good man fondly remembered.

My pants scream to be thrown asunder in remembrance of this man!

If I hadn't gone to a sauna just last week, I'd go this weekend in his honor.

A damn good egg, wish I talked to him more.

We didn't interact much, but I'll never forget his presence here. Truly an awesome human being, he is missed.

I still miss him. Any time I go through old comments in a thread, like The Order of the Stick thread, I'll see a comment from him and my heart sinks a little.

ThatNickGuy said:

I still miss him. Any time I go through old comments in a thread, like The Order of the Stick thread, I'll see a comment from him and my heart sinks a little.

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Same goes for some of the long-running, active threads that were started by him.

I remember his love/hate relationship with the sauna. As a Finn he, of course, loved them. But he hated - HATED - sauna pants! He would go into a bit of a tizzy every time they were mentioned. Still makes me laugh to this day.

Dave said:

I remember his love/hate relationship with the sauna. As a Finn he, of course, loved them. But he hated - HATED - sauna pants! He would go into a bit of a tizzy every time they were mentioned. Still makes me laugh to this day.

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I sometimes feel bad about starting the whole sauna-pants thing. He really hated those things.

Here's to the mighty Mikko!

Aw, Mikko. I was thinking about him just the other day. Been thinking about you guys a lot and what good you do for my heart. I can't come around as much, but I've made some really valued friendships here that got me through some times. @Gusto

I'm not wearing pants in his honour.

We miss you, Mikko.

I, too, am pantless in Mikko's honor.

But now I must put my pants back on, because I'm at work.

Emrys said:

I'm not wearing pants in his honour.

We miss you, Mikko.

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Ditto.

Pictures available for a reasonable fee.

Part of the reason I finally delurked was Mikko's passing. I realized after all these years of reading, especially his battle, was that I was missing out on talking directly to some amazing people and they wouldn't be with us forever. I'm sorry we never got to talk, North_Ranger, but you were a classy guy and remain a part of the heart of this forum.

This thread reminds me of a promise I have to keep.

Bubble181 said:

If I hadn't gone to a sauna just last week, I'd go this weekend in his honor.

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... I am so going to do that. And I'll go light on the steam, as I know a turkulainen can't handle too much heat in the sauna.

HCGLNS said:

I sometimes feel bad about starting the whole sauna-pants thing. He really hated those things.

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He once told me that I could make any pretty much any joke about him or his homeland as long as it didn't involve sauna pants.

Ha! Just saw this on /r/Army. Glad Mikko never saw this! I'll bet he'd have freaked out!

I believe this was a drunken encounter with Baerdog. Correct me if I got that wrong.

When I saw this comment in a SATW comic, I immediately wished NR was around to confirm.


Link to the comic in question.

RIP, good buddy.

Sorely missed still. A glass is raised to his memory.

DarkAudit said:

When I saw this comment in a SATW comic, I immediately wished NR was around to confirm.

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Well, I'm not NR, but in his absence I'll see what I can do. Sadly, the comment rings true. Nowadays youngsters in Finland don't know how to cut properly anymore, so they just stab.

I think for many of us, the passing of NR was the moment we realized that this board is collectively more than just a bunch of dicks bitching about stuff on the internet.

I mean, we ARE that too, but still.

I miss you, buddy. We didn't really talk much, but you were always a kind voice and a force for good here. Wherever you are now is a better place for having you.

Time truly flies by.