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Ask Me Anything: Live from Finland, North_Ranger

Sep 17, 2009#1

North_Ranger

You know the drill. Ask me anything and I'll answer truthfully and candidly.

Sep 17, 2009#2

Dave

How "fish out of water" do you sometimes feel here as a non-United Statesian who is in a radically different time zone with different peak hours?

Sep 17, 2009#3

North_Ranger

Dave said:
How "fish out of water" do you sometimes feel here as a non-United Statesian who is in a radically different time zone with different peak hours?

Not that much, really. Granted, I don't know all the latest shows and don't understand what's the thing with Kanye West, but mostly I can relate.

Plus, I love weirding out you Yanks with my exotic stories

Sep 17, 2009#4

Bonhomme Richard

Huh, I just realized you may live in the same area as some family I have over there.

Sep 17, 2009#5

phil

Do you identify with Gimli and do I have your ax?

Sep 17, 2009#6

Bonhomme Richard

Are Åbo and Turku the same place?

Sep 17, 2009#7

Adammon

Would you recommend Finland as a tourist destination? if so, when and where in Finlandia?

Sep 17, 2009#8

North_Ranger

phil said:
Do you identify with Gimli and do I have your ax?

Yes, I do. I used to identify with Rhys-Jones as well until he lost weight and his beard, that damn traitor.

Yes, you have my ax. Catch!

---------- Post added at 11:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:33 PM ----------

Bonhomme Richard said:
Are Åbo and Turku the same place?

Officially, yes. But if you live there, you know those are two different places.

---------- Post added at 11:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:33 PM ----------

Adammon said:
Would you recommend Finland as a tourist destination? if so, when and where in Finlandia?

Yes, I would. And depending on what you like to do on holidays...
... if you like outdoorsy stuff, skiing and such: go to Lapland during the winter.
... if you like arts and architecture, go to Helsinki and Turku during the summer.
... if you like sailing, go to the Turku and Åland archipelago during the summer.
... if you like to try your hand at swimming in frozen lakes, go anywhere in Finland during the winter.
... if you like the Moomin Trolls, go to the Moomin World in Naantali during the summer.

Sep 17, 2009#9

Wahad

What (traditionally) Finnish dish would you recommend to a tourist?

Sep 17, 2009#10

Occasional Poster

Do you have any real hostility towards Sweden/Swedes or are you just being entertaining?

Sep 17, 2009#11

Bonhomme Richard

North_Ranger;257587][quote=Bonhomme Richard said:
Are Åbo and Turku the same place?

Sep 17, 2009#12

North_Ranger

Wahad said:
What (traditionally) Finnish dish would you recommend to a tourist?

Depends on where you are, and when. Many of the dishes are seasonal.

Personal favourite, though... smoked lake herring with potatoes and butter.

---------- Post added at 11:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:57 PM ----------

Occasional Poster said:
Do you have any real hostility towards Sweden/Swedes or are you just being entertaining?

It's a kind of a friendly rivalry, to be honest. Though some of the Swedish-speaking Finns tend to be really snooty...

---------- Post added 09-18-2009 at 12:01 AM ---------- Previous post was 09-17-2009 at 11:58 PM ----------

Bonhomme Richard;257624][quote=North_Ranger;257587][quote=Bonhomme Richard said:
Are Åbo and Turku the same place?

Officially, yes. But if you live there, you know those are two different places.[/QUOTE]What's the difference? Is it like a really small town that shares the same postal code with a somewhat larger one?[/QUOTE]

More of a joking folklore kinda thing, really. The ferry crossing the River Aura is said to travel from Turku to Åbo, for instance. And generally speaking people talk about "this side of the river" (where the old city was) and "that side of the river". Turku is the city's Finnish name; Åbo is its Swedish name.

Sep 17, 2009#13

Bonhomme Richard

Ah that makes sense. I wouldn't be surprised if I found myself there for a visit in the foreseeable future.

Sep 17, 2009#14

Andromache

so whats with preemptively trying to change/end a thread's direction with the sauna tactic when a lock would have the same effect?

Sep 17, 2009#15

North_Ranger

Crone said:
so whats with preemptively trying to change/end a thread's direction with the sauna tactic when a lock would have the same effect?

It's my schtick.

Sep 17, 2009#16

Andromache

North_Ranger;257647][quote=Crone said:
so whats with preemptively trying to change/end a thread's direction with the sauna tactic when a lock would have the same effect?

It's my schtick.[/QUOTE]

Could you clarify this?

Sep 17, 2009#17

North_Ranger

Crone;257655][quote=North_Ranger;257647][quote=Crone said:
so whats with preemptively trying to change/end a thread's direction with the sauna tactic when a lock would have the same effect?

It's my schtick.[/QUOTE]

Could you clarify this?[/QUOTE]

Yes. Plenty of hot air in some flame war/political threads. Too much to be wasted like that, so I thought I might have a sauna in it.

Sep 17, 2009#18

Jake

Yo, North Ranger, I'm really happy for you, imma let you be Finnish...

Sep 17, 2009#19

Cajungal

Sep 17, 2009#20

Silvanesti

awesome.

and a question:

Hey dude, if i come by your area, would you let me crash on your couch? (I would love to travel, and from what you've said, your neck of the woods sounds fucking awesome)

Sep 17, 2009#21

North_Ranger

Silvanesti said:
awesome.

and a question:

Hey dude, if i come by your area, would you let me crash on your couch? (I would love to travel, and from what you've said, your neck of the woods sounds fucking awesome)

Yes, I would. But only if you can handle me snoring (I've been told I do so) from half the apartment away.

Sep 17, 2009#22

Silvanesti

Its a deal! We shall (maybe, god help me i really want to travel) someday have awesome adventures :falldown:

Sep 17, 2009#23

Cajungal

If you had to leave Finland forever, where would you go to try and find a new home?

Sep 17, 2009#24

Adammon

How many wrist watches do you own?

Sep 17, 2009#25

Rob King

Would you be offended that I thought of you today while watching a movie set in Norway?

Sep 17, 2009#26

Qonas

What is the Finnish sports scene like? Obviously the NFL is king over here, with college football and baseball and hockey all grabbing attention too. What's it like there?

Sep 18, 2009#27

North_Ranger

Cajungal said:
If you had to leave Finland forever, where would you go to try and find a new home?

Ireland.

---------- Post added at 09:13 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:13 AM ----------

Adammon said:
How many wrist watches do you own?

One.

---------- Post added at 09:14 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:13 AM ----------

Rob King said:
Would you be offended that I thought of you today while watching a movie set in Norway?

Not as much as I would be if it had been a Swedish film

---------- Post added at 09:17 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:14 AM ----------

Qonas said:
What is the Finnish sports scene like? Obviously the NFL is king over here, with college football and baseball and hockey all grabbing attention too. What's it like there?

Finnish national hockey league is the big thing during the winter season, as are Formula One (does it count as a sport if you sit your ass in a car?), rally and track games. Soccer and pesäpallo (Finnish variety of baseball, developed first as a means of training soldiers following WWI) get some following as well.

But mainly, it's hockey and F1.

Sep 18, 2009#28

North_Ranger

mr_thehun said:
Have you ever gone to war with Russia?

Me personally: No.

Finland: Yes. Twice.

Finland before independence: Damn Swedes and their buffer zone...

Sep 18, 2009#29

North_Ranger

mr_thehun said:
Did you know that the Finns were able to take out Russian tanks with bottles of flaming alcohol?

Did you know that Finland is awesome?

Why do you hate pants?

Yes, I did. The Soviet foreign minister Molotov claimed that the Soviet bombers were only dropping bread baskets to Finland "for the starving Finns", so the soldiers decided to create a cocktail to match.

Yes, I did. And don't you goddamn forget it.

Because they are a tool of oppression. Also, have you ever tried taking a sauna in pants? Not very pleasant.

Sep 18, 2009#30

North_Ranger

mr_thehun said:
seriously, the story of Finland against Russia is better than Rocky. Somebody should make a movie.

Before going to a Sauna do you go to a hot spring?

No. Finland does not lie on volcanic soil, hence no hot springs.

A shower usually precedes a sauna, and on waterfront properties (especially summer homes and rentable camp areas) there is usually the possibility of taking a dip in the lake when you come out of sauna - and then go back in. Taking a dip in the wintertime is good for the circulation, as is rolling around naked in snow.

Sep 18, 2009#31

fade

Yeah, you'd be hard pressed to find any volcanism in that area. Slap in the middle of a craton.

How do speak English so well? You have all the little American idioms and subtleties down pat. From typing alone, I would've never guess you weren't American.

Sep 18, 2009#32

Jake

fade said:
How do speak English so well?

Sep 18, 2009#33

fade

Hardee har har. Me make typo gud.

Sep 18, 2009#34

Drachenherz

What's that urge of you to unpants yourself?

Sep 18, 2009#35

North_Ranger

fade said:
How do speak English so well? You have all the little American idioms and subtleties down pat. From typing alone, I would've never guess you weren't American.

First off... thank you.

I've studied English since third grade.
We get a lot of American TV shows and movies, almost all subtitled instead of dubbed ('cept for children's movies)
Most of my reading material has been in English since I started web surfing in '97.
And I major in English at the university... where most of our professors and about 90% of the courses within that discipline are in English.

In other words, it's the old adage: practice, practice, practice.

---------- Post added at 08:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:17 PM ----------

Andi said:
What's that urge of you to unpants yourself?

http://halforums.wikidot.com/sauna-thread

Also, I just love weirding out the Americans

Say, have I told you about our unisex saunas...?

Sep 18, 2009#36

fade

I wish I knew another language that well. Where I grew up (can't speak for the States as a whole) we didn't have language programs at that age. Well, there were private ones, of course, but my parents couldn't afford those. It does seem like immersion is the way to go. When I went to Brazil for a week (my only real foreign travel experience), I picked up a good smattering of Portuguese just being around it. In fact I heard a good joke.

What do you call a person who knows 3 languages? Trilingual
What do you call a person who knows 2 languages? Bilingual
What do you call a person who knows 1 language? American

Sep 18, 2009#37

Drachenherz

North_Ranger said:
Andi said:

What's that urge of you to unpants yourself?

Click to expand...

http://halforums.wikidot.com/sauna-thread

Also, I just love weirding out the Americans Say, have I told you about our unisex saunas...?

Did you know that there are unisex saunas in switzerland too?

Sep 18, 2009#38

North_Ranger

Andi;258584][quote=North_Ranger said:
Andi said:

What's that urge of you to unpants yourself?

Click to expand...

http://halforums.wikidot.com/sauna-thread

Also, I just love weirding out the Americans Say, have I told you about our unisex saunas...?

Did you know that there are unisex saunas in switzerland too?

[/QUOTE]

LIES AND DECEPTIONS!!

---------- Post added at 08:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:37 PM ----------

fade said:
I wish I knew another language that well. Where I grew up (can't speak for the States as a whole) we didn't have language programs at that age. Well, there were private ones, of course, but my parents couldn't afford those. It does seem like immersion is the way to go. When I went to Brazil for a week (my only real foreign travel experience), I picked up a good smattering of Portuguese just being around it. In fact I heard a good joke.

What do you call a person who knows 3 languages? Trilingual
What do you call a person who knows 2 languages? Bilingual
What do you call a person who knows 1 language? American

...Plus there's the fact that I speak a language that only about five million people understand and speak.

Finnish and English excellent, French and Swedish passable, couple of words in Spanish, and a smattering of Arabic... and I know how to pronounce Irish Gaelic and Medieval Latin.

Sep 18, 2009#39

Drachenherz

North_Ranger;258586][quote=Andi;258584][quote=North_Ranger said:
Andi said:

What's that urge of you to unpants yourself?

Click to expand...

http://halforums.wikidot.com/sauna-thread

Also, I just love weirding out the Americans Say, have I told you about our unisex saunas...?

Did you know that there are unisex saunas in switzerland too?

[/quote]

LIES AND DECEPTIONS!![/QUOTE]

To be more precise, did you know that we have some beautiful, nice and relaxing spas, with hot pools and really nice saunas? For men AND women? That even in some spas, there are "naked days" - unisex?

Ha, you didn't know that, did you!

Sep 18, 2009#40

Adammon

Andi;258584][quote=North_Ranger said:
Andi said:

What's that urge of you to unpants yourself?

Click to expand...

http://halforums.wikidot.com/sauna-thread

Also, I just love weirding out the Americans Say, have I told you about our unisex saunas...?

Did you know that there are unisex saunas in switzerland too?

[/QUOTE]

The problem with those saunas: Quality Control.

Sep 18, 2009#41

Drachenherz

Have your ever dropped your pants in a public place except saunas, dressing rooms and there like?

Sep 18, 2009#42

North_Ranger

Andi said:
Have your ever dropped your pants in a public place except saunas, dressing rooms and there like?

No. But I have appeared in public with nothing on but a hat covering my crotch.

Repeatedly.

Sep 18, 2009#43

Philosopher B.

What kind of hat.

Sep 18, 2009#44

Fun Size

Please be a beany.

Beany beany beany beany.

Sep 18, 2009#45

Drachenherz

Have you ever been arrested because of causing public unrest? And did it have something to do with a hat?

Sep 18, 2009#46

JCM

How many Finns does it take to change a light bulb?

Why did the libertarian cross the road?

Sep 18, 2009#47

North_Ranger

Philosopher B. said:
What kind of hat.

This hat.

---------- Post added at 11:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:19 PM ----------

Andi said:
Have you ever been arrested because of causing public unrest? And did it have something to do with a hat?

No, I have not. And likely not, since the hat and the nudity also involved a brothel.

Sep 18, 2009#48

Cajungal

You seem to have a real soft spot for kids. Do you want kids of your own? How many? Are there any family traditions/memorable pastimes that you'd like to share with them?

Sep 18, 2009#49

North_Ranger

JCM said:
How many Finns does it take to change a light bulb?

Two. One to change the light bulb, and the other to complain about how the EU meddles with bulbs, too.

JCM said:
Why did the libertarian cross the road?

To talk to the libertarian cow.

---------- Post added at 11:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:23 PM ----------

Cajungal said:
You seem to have a real soft spot for kids. Do you want kids of your own? How many? Are there any family traditions/memorable pastimes that you'd like to share with them?

Yes, I would. But first I'd have to find someone to help me with that :slywink:

I come from a three-child family, so I would love to have at least two children. Three would be grand, too. If there were four, I'd go through a vasectomy after that (or earlier if the missus was crying uncle).

Family traditions:
- Before my siblings got married and had kids of their own, it was a tradition that we all came together at my parents' home in the country for Christmas. I'm still single, so I spend the holidays with the folks; my sister and her family come for either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day (the other grandparents want to see them, too). My brother and his wife... don't anymore.
- I was in the sea scouts when I was a kid, and my dad was an active parent in the local scout branch as well. Every summer the troop and a number of parents would take Peikko III ('Troll III'), the branch's motor ship, out to the Åland archipelago for a few days. We would visit uninhabited islands and watch wildlife. And when one of the big cruise liner from Stockholm would come by, we'd beg the parents and troop leaders to take the ship closer so we could all run to the bow and yell like madmen when the Peikko cut into the waves left by the cruise liner. The bigger the splash, the better ^_^

Sep 18, 2009#50

Cajungal

Man... you just seem like one of those "born to be a dad" kinds of people. And do other things too, but ya know. ^_^

Sep 18, 2009#51

North_Ranger

Cajungal said:
Man... you just seem like one of those "born to be a dad" kinds of people. And do other things too, but ya know. ^_^

Honestly? I don't think I am. I think I'm a little too self-centered and lazy. But thanks nonetheless.

Sep 18, 2009#52

Drachenherz

North_Ranger said:
*snip* I think I'm a little too self-centered and lazy. *snip*

Aren't we all?

Sep 18, 2009#53

North_Ranger

Andi;258881][quote=North_Ranger said:
*snip* I think I'm a little too self-centered and lazy. *snip*

Aren't we all?[/QUOTE]

Yes, we are.

Sep 18, 2009#54

Fun Size

Speak for yourselves. I'm way too self-centered and lazy.

Sep 18, 2009#55

Drachenherz

If I ever happen to be in Finland, would you borrow me your couch?

Sep 18, 2009#56

North_Ranger

Andi said:
If I ever happen to be in Finland, would you borrow me your couch?

Depends on what you intend to do with it.

And whether or not it will try to eat you...

Sep 18, 2009#57

Drachenherz

North_Ranger;258899][quote=Andi said:
If I ever happen to be in Finland, would you borrow me your couch?

Depends on what you intend to do with it.

And whether or not it will try to eat you...[/QUOTE]

Sep 19, 2009#58

North_Ranger

Andi;258903][quote=North_Ranger said:
Depends on what you intend to do with it.

And whether or not it will try to eat you...

[/QUOTE]

Arr, pretty much.

Sep 19, 2009#59

phil

Dear North Ranger,

you are talking like a pirate.

why?

Sep 19, 2009#60

North_Ranger

phil said:
Dear North Ranger,

you are talking like a pirate.

why?

Because it be the International Talk Like A Pirate Day, ye mutinous landlubber!

Now start talkin' or walk the plank, ye pox-ridden scallywag!

Sep 19, 2009#61

phil

yarrrrrrrr

Sep 19, 2009#62

Wasabi Poptart

What is your name?

What is your quest?

What is your favorite color?

Sep 19, 2009#63

North_Ranger

WildSoul said:
What is your name?

Arrrr, I be North_Ranger, the scourge of the one sea. Also I be called Mikko by me countrymen. Ye can call me North_Ranger. Or "Mick". Not "Mickey", lest ye wish t' have yer guts as women's undergarments. Also, no tryin' t' pronounce me Finnish name; nobody gets it right. Mostly they be sayin' it like I were Japanese porn wench or a raccoon.

WildSoul said:
What is your quest?

T' get some grog and booty. Gold be nice, too.

WildSoul said:
What is your favorite color?

Red. No, Greeeeeeeeeeeeeeeennnnnnn.....

Also, ye be winning one piece of internet fer yer knowledge of Monty Python.

Sep 19, 2009#64

Andromache

Do you believe in fairness, Mickey?

Sep 19, 2009#65

North_Ranger

Crone said:
Do you believe in fairness, Mickey?

As an abstraction, aye. As a real thing... unfortunately, no.

Also, prepare t' have yer gizzards roasted, ye turncoat wench!

Sep 19, 2009#66

Andromache

North_Ranger;259350][quote=Crone said:
Do you believe in fairness, Mickey?

As an abstraction, aye. As a real thing... unfortunately, no.

Also, prepare t' have yer gizzards roasted, ye turncoat wench![/QUOTE]

Do you really think you can take any living thing in combat?

Sep 19, 2009#67

North_Ranger

Crone said:
Do you really think you can take any living thing in combat?

Not any, but some. It be this pirate facade that demands such violent approach.

I be quite peaceful, actually. But that does not mean I wouldn't fight back if pushed far enough.

Sep 19, 2009#68

Andromache

North_Ranger;259361][quote=Crone said:
Do you really think you can take any living thing in combat?

Not any, but some. It be this pirate facade that demands such violent approach.

I be quite peaceful, actually. But that does not mean I wouldn't fight back if pushed far enough.[/QUOTE]

Do you ever worry about ninjas hiding in your house, waiting?

Sep 19, 2009#69

North_Ranger

Crone said:
Do you ever worry about ninjas hiding in your house, waiting?

Nay, lass. I believe me under-clothed state when at home frightens 'em to bits.

Sep 19, 2009#70

rabbitgod

You said Lapland was good for outdoorsy stuff during the winter.

Since I'm afraid of snow, are there any good places for outdoorsy stuff during the summer. Hiking, kayaking, etc?

Sep 19, 2009#71

Andromache

North_Ranger;259369][quote=Crone said:
Do you ever worry about ninjas hiding in your house, waiting?

Nay, lass. I believe me under-clothed state when at home frightens 'em to bits.[/QUOTE]

are you really serious when you think your naked flesh will scare whale hunters?

(bad japan, though, seriously)

Sep 19, 2009#72

North_Ranger

rabbitgod said:
You said Lapland was good for outdoorsy stuff during the winter.

Since I'm afraid of snow, are there any good places for outdoorsy stuff during the summer. Hiking, kayaking, etc?

Kayaking... not so much to my knowledge. Finland is a nation of lakes and rivers, and human habitation here has always centered around waterways (Turku has River Aura, Helsinki used to be a fishing village, Tampere sprang up from the harnessing of the Tammerkoski Rapids for industry, and so on). You might have better luck in Lapland during the summer, but bring your bug spray with you. The mosquitoes up there come in the size of small pets.

Hiking: Lapland, again, especially during ruska; the time in autumn when all the trees turn from green to gold, red and orange. Summers are good, too (save for the swarms of bloodthirsty mosquitoes). Eastern and Central Finland also offer good chances for hiking, and the "Everyman's Rights" allow the use of wood for warmth, berries and mushrooms for sustenance and the like when you go out camping on non-privately owned land. 'Cept in national parks and nature reserves, of course.

---------- Post added at 08:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:12 PM ----------

Crone said:
are you really serious when you think your naked flesh will scare whale hunters?

(bad japan, though, seriously)

As serious as I be aboot ninjas lurkin' in me 'ome.

Sep 19, 2009#73

Andromache

wait, so now you're a Canadian pirate?

Sep 19, 2009#74

North_Ranger

Crone said:
wait, so now you're a Canadian pirate?

Last time I checked... nay, lass.

Booty.

Sep 19, 2009#75

fade

When you imagine yourself (as a player in an average daily thought process), who or what are you?

Sep 19, 2009#76

North_Ranger

fade said:
When you imagine yourself (as a player in an average daily thought process), who or what are you?

Please clarify. Are you perhaps talking about self-image... oh, and arr.

Sep 19, 2009#77

fade

The "you" in your head, who or what is he? You know. When a "play" or rehearsal goes on in your head, who's playing you?

Sep 20, 2009#78

North_Ranger

fade said:
The "you" in your head, who or what is he? You know. When a "play" or rehearsal goes on in your head, who's playing you?

A hermit who oughta be fifty pounds lighter.

Sep 23, 2009#79

Qonas

Vodka preference?

Are you proud of the rich Scandinavian roots in heavy/death/symphonic metal music?

Sep 23, 2009#80

North_Ranger

Qonas said:
Vodka preference?

I'm more of a whiskey man, to be honest. But I prefer either Finlandia or Leijona. Support domestic alcohols and what not

Qonas said:
Are you proud of the rich Scandinavian roots in heavy/death/symphonic metal music?

Death metal, not so much: it's more of a Norwegian or Icelandic thing. Heavy and symphonic metal... well, a little. I used to be a big Nightwish fan until Tarja Turunen left the band. The current vocalist... well, she's okay, but she can't do that hauntingly beautiful voice as Tarja did.

Sep 23, 2009#81

Occasional Poster

North Ranger][quote=Occasional Poster said:
Do you have any real hostility towards Sweden/Swedes or are you just being entertaining?

It's a kind of a friendly rivalry, to be honest. Though some of the Swedish-speaking Finns tend to be really snooty...[/quote]

Fair enough. It was just a little strange to me because to my knowledge, that friendly rivalry is completely one-sided. I've encountered the same thing with Swedes, but only against Norwegians or Danes. That might just be because I did not grow up in the northernmost parts of Sweden, closer to Finland.

New question! Did you laugh yourself silly when Conan visited Finland?

Sep 23, 2009#82

North_Ranger

Occasional Poster said:
New question! Did you laugh yourself silly when Conan visited Finland?

Yes, I did. But I was also disappointed he did not visit Turku, even though the city council had offered him a summer cabin in the archipelago

Maybe he was scared of the video invitation, since it was shot in a night club... with a Conan O'Brien theme that night... with people dressed up as him getting in free... myself included.

Oct 3, 2009#83

North_Ranger

Must... not... use... sock puppet... to ask... myself... questions.

Oct 3, 2009#84

Rob King

Hey, are you talking to yourself in here? I thought I heard a voice.

Oct 3, 2009#85

North_Ranger

Rob King said:
Hey, are you talking to yourself in here? I thought I heard a voice.

No, I'm not. I'm not alone. I have Juicy McSock here with me. Say 'hello', Juicy.

Oct 4, 2009#86

Qonas

Whisky of choice? Do you go American with JD or is there a local distillery that puts out a good product? Also, since they're so related, how about scotch?

Oct 4, 2009#87

Deschain

How proud is Finland of Simo Haya and the Winter War in WWII?

Oct 4, 2009#88

North_Ranger

Qonas said:
Whisky of choice? Do you go American with JD or is there a local distillery that puts out a good product? Also, since they're so related, how about scotch?

As something of a Hibernophile, I prefer my whisky as Irish uisce beatha

Jameson, to be precise. Besides that, I don't really drink.

---------- Post added at 11:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:51 PM ----------

Deschain said:
How proud is Finland of Simo Haya and the Winter War in WWII?

If you mean Simo Häyhä, one of the best snipers of WWII... then yes, I am. He's not that well-known hereabouts; Finnish war "myths" mostly focus on our bad-ass Field Marshall Mannerheim.

And yes, considering that the Finnish Army was underequipped and outnumbered, and still managed to keep Finland from being occupied and turned into a Soviet satellite... yes, I'm proud. Continuation War and the Germans in Lapland... not so much.

Also, welcome to the Halforums, mate!

Oct 17, 2009#89

North_Ranger

*cricket*

...

*cricket*

...

*tumbleweed*

Oct 18, 2009#90

Kitty Sinatra

:juggle:

Oct 18, 2009#91

Silver Jelly

Juicy McSock?

Oct 18, 2009#92

North_Ranger

Silver Jelly said:
Juicy McSock?

Nope. He shot himself. Cabin fever.

Oct 18, 2009#93

Silver Jelly

North_Ranger;277335][quote=Silver Jelly said:
Juicy McSock?

Nope. He shot himself. Cabin fever.[/QUOTE]

Isn't that what happenned to his older cousin Crusty McSock?

Oct 19, 2009#94

North_Ranger

Silver Jelly;277376][quote=North_Ranger;277335][quote=Silver Jelly said:
Juicy McSock?

Nope. He shot himself. Cabin fever.[/QUOTE]

Isn't that what happenned to his older cousin Crusty McSock?[/QUOTE]

Again, nope. Explosive syphilis. Not pretty.

Oct 19, 2009#95

Silver Jelly

North_Ranger;278101][quote=Silver Jelly;277376][quote=North_Ranger;277335][quote=Silver Jelly said:
Juicy McSock?

Nope. He shot himself. Cabin fever.[/QUOTE]

Isn't that what happenned to his older cousin Crusty McSock?[/QUOTE]

Again, nope. Explosive syphilis. Not pretty.[/QUOTE]

Man, I suck at Sock History.

Oct 19, 2009#96

Qonas

I'm going right back to music, as I totally agree with you Ranger on Tarja and Nightwish:

Have you heard of the band Leaves' Eyes? If so, thoughts? If not go and buy a CD of theirs because holy shit.

Oct 20, 2009#97

North_Ranger

Mmmm... No, never heard of 'em. What kind of music do they play?

Oct 20, 2009#98

Qonas

They're symphonic metal as well. They aren't Finnish, obviously, but Norwegian. The singer has an AMAZING voice; not haunting like Tarja's but just as beautiful. And, of course, they f'ng rock.

Oct 20, 2009#99

Cajungal

I'm assuming that your favorite fantasy race is Dwarf. What's your second favorite?

Is there a song you listen to to get pumped up?

Ideal job?

Who's the funniest person you know?

What's the saddest/funniest movie you've ever seen?

Do you prefer blondes, brunettes, or redheads?

Do you ever wear hats? If so, what kind?

Do you prefer sweet or salty snacks?

Are you squeamish about anything like spiders, snakes, blood, etc?

Oct 20, 2009#100

North_Ranger

Cajungal said:
I'm assuming that your favorite fantasy race is Dwarf. What's your second favorite?

I'm actually quite partial to humans in fantasy settings. But to answer your question... I would have to say elves. The woods-dwelling hippy kind, not the stuck-up, magic-farting kind. 'cept in World of Warcraft: there I just LURVE the Tauren and the Trolls.

Cajungal said:
Is there a song you listen to to get pumped up?

There's a few, actually.
Fields of Glory, sung by the High Kings (Irish trad).
Over the Hills and Far Away, a cover version by Nightwish.
Galway Girl by Mundy and Sharon Shannon.

Cajungal said:
Ideal job?

Realistically? High school English teacher, especially in an IB programme.
Of course, if it would happen that I would actually publish a fantasy novel or two and be hailed as the next Tolkien, I wouldn't mind

Cajungal said:
Who's the funniest person you know?

Probably a friend of mine from the Medieval Market. He's this tall, lanky fellow with a wicked sense of humour. We call him "Jesus" because that was his role in a church Easter play a year or two back.

Cajungal said:
What's the saddest/funniest movie you've ever seen?

Well... the only movie that has ever made me cry was Schindler's List. My God, when Itzhak Perlman starts playing that violin my heart just bleeds.

Funniest, though... That's a tricky one. I'd probably go with Iron Man, specifically the parts where Tony Stark is building his armor and manages to all but destroy his lab. I laughed my ass off when I saw that. And more recently, Hangover. Gotta get that on DVD...

Cajungal said:
Do you prefer blondes, brunettes, or redheads?

Mmmm... In all honesty, I don't think I have much of a preference hairwise. Just as long as it ain't green, purple or blue

It's the package, not the toppings.

Cajungal said:
Do you ever wear hats? If so, what kind?

Cajun, have you seen my noggin? It's frickin' huge. I'd love to wear a nice-looking fedora or a rimmed hat, but there just isn't any around in my sizes. Usually I go bare-headed, or when it's too cold, I use a black woollen cap.

Cajungal said:
Do you prefer sweet or salty snacks?

Sweet, unfortunately. Chocolate pudding is yummy, but not as good as homemade strawberry rahka.

Cajungal said:
Are you squeamish about anything like spiders, snakes, blood, etc?

Slimy things like snails and slugs creep me out. I can watch a zombie movie while eating ketchup-laced spaghetti carbonara, but show me a close-up of a garden snail and I'll lose my apetite for the rest of the day.

Also, for some reason suede makes my hair stand up, my skin going all goose-pimply. I don't know why, but there's something about that texture that makes me go all "getitoffgetitoffGETITOFF!".

Oct 20, 2009#101

Cajungal

So you write. How many projects ya got goin right now, if any?

Oct 20, 2009#102

North_Ranger

Cajungal said:
So you write. How many projects ya got goin right now, if any?

Nothing creative, to be honest.

Writing (or at least trying to) my Master's Thesis, 'Many Faces of Caliban: Marina Warner's Indigo, or Mapping the Waters'. I fear it's about as interesting as it sounds.

Making a custom Token (a magic item) for our current WoD campaign. Playin' Changeling: The Lost.

And of course, gaming at night time. Storytelling RP...

Oct 20, 2009#103

Cajungal

I dunno, sounds intriguing.

So aside from writing a great fantasy novel, what's another dream of yours I might not know about?

Oct 20, 2009#104

North_Ranger

Cajungal said:
I dunno, sounds intriguing.

So aside from writing a great fantasy novel, what's another dream of yours I might not know about?

Don't tempt me, I might ask you to proofread it.

As for the dream... *sighs* Well, I guess I've mentioned this before... I would love to be a good husband and father.

Oct 20, 2009#105

strawman

Voitko syödä lasin? Sattuuko sinua?

-Adam

Oct 20, 2009#106

Cajungal

Do you have a "type" when it comes to women and what kind of partner you'd like to have?

Also, I love proofreading.

You only need ask, my friend.

Oct 20, 2009#107

strawman

What does epäjärjestelmällistyttämättömyydellään mean? What is the longest non-compound word you can think of (without searching) in Finnish?

-Adam

Oct 20, 2009#108

Cajungal

OOH! I have another one: What, in your opinion, is the dumbest thing you've ever done/thought? Smartest?

Oct 21, 2009#109

North_Ranger

stienman said:
Voitko syödä lasin? Sattuuko sinua?

-Adam

Um... No, I do not eat glass, and I'm no particular pain. Why?

---------- Post added at 12:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:58 AM ----------

Cajungal said:
Do you have a "type" when it comes to women and what kind of partner you'd like to have?

Also, I love proofreading. You only need ask, my friend.

I don't think I do. In general I'm looking for a fun, smart girl who's into geek stuff. And after the fiascos that were my previous relationships, I would really like someone who isn't mentally unsound.

---------- Post added at 12:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:00 PM ----------

stienman said:
What does epäjärjestelmällistyttämättömyydellään mean? What is the longest non-compound word you can think of (without searching) in Finnish?

-Adam

Okay, let's see... that's a technical term in a field I am not familiar with, so I'm guessing here. I think the full translation is "by his lack of systematization". Yes, it's all in one word.

And I can't remember the longest word off the top of my head (it was a job title for a person repairing jet engines or something), but this one comes to mind, which is also a palindrome: saippuakivikauppias, 'soap stone merchant'.

Also, decided to look for that longest word: Lentokonesuihkuturbiinimoottoriapumekaanikkoaliupseerioppilas, or roughly 'aeroplane jet engine assistant mechanic cadet'. And apparently it's such a long word that Halforums doesn't register it but cuts it in two after the first fifty letters.

---------- Post added at 12:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:09 PM ----------

Cajungal said:
OOH! I have another one: What, in your opinion, is the dumbest thing you've ever done/thought? Smartest?

Oooh, dumbest things, got plenty of those.

Dumbest thing: borrowed things to my first and only serious gf (whom I refer to as Melina, the Psycho Bitch Queen), even after finding out she had some strange habits (like reading books while bathing, not cleaning up, never having toilet paper around etc.). When we broke up, she insisted I owed her money for her new bed (we were planning on moving in), and returned my possessions in horrible condition. My favourite Vanessa-Mae album was ruined

She returned it in a broken-down casing and with a lump what looked like her dog's turd on the playing surface. Vitun narttu... *grumble*

Non-manbaww dumbest thing: My freshman year in the university. The department student organisation organized the annual 24-hour cruise from Turku to Stockholm on one of the cruise ships (basically places to wine, dine, dance, drink and generally act like an ass on the sea). At one point, I ended up in the karaoke bar, singing a song called Tahdon rakastella sinua ('I want to make love to you') - and stripping.

Smartest: Not many of those moments... but I really do believe I did the very right choice when I decided to go abroad for a year. Studying in Limerick, Ireland... Came back a new man, I believe.

Oct 21, 2009#110

Cajungal

No pics of that cruise, I presume.

Ireland must have been gorgeous.

Oct 21, 2009#111

strawman

North_Ranger;279719][quote=stienman said:
Voitko syödä lasin? Sattuuko sinua?

-Adam

Um... No, I do not eat glass, and I'm no particular pain. Why?[/QUOTE]

Comes from the "I can eat glass. It does not hurt me" project. It sounds like the origin was an obscure phrasebook for Portuguese travelers in English countries:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_As_She_Is_Spoke

In which the phrase, "I can to eat glass, it make me no pain." can be found.

-Adam

Oct 21, 2009#112

North_Ranger

Cajungal said:
No pics of that cruise, I presume.

Ireland must have been gorgeous.

No, there is no evidence that ever took place. I also wiped the memories of everyone who saw it or has since heard of it.

Which reminds me...

Oh, and Ireland... yes, it was definitely gorgeous. Blarney Castle, Aran Islands, the hills and mountains of Connemara, weekend at Dublin, Killarney, Kilkenny, Wicklow Mountains... I definitely want to go back there.

---------- Post added at 09:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:20 PM ----------

stienman;280118][quote=North_Ranger;279719][quote=stienman said:
Voitko syödä lasin? Sattuuko sinua?

-Adam

Oct 21, 2009#113

Cajungal

Bluhhhhh.... wha happened?

Oct 21, 2009#114

North_Ranger

I was telling you how lovely it was in Ireland.

Oct 21, 2009#115

Cajungal

What's my name?

Oct 21, 2009#116

North_Ranger

... Oops.

Lemme perform some corrective cognitive re-alignment.

*fills a tube sock with cashew nuts and slaps CG in the back of the head*

Feel any better?

Oct 21, 2009#117

Cajungal

JE SUIS NAPOLEON!

Oct 21, 2009#118

drawn_inward

If you had to live the rest of your days in a US city, which city would you pick?

Have you competed in this?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3117385.stm

Oct 21, 2009#119

North_Ranger

drawn_inward said:
If you had to live the rest of your days in a US city, which city would you pick?

Have you competed in this?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3117385.stm

I've not had any personal experiences of American cities, to be honest, and as such that's a doozy of a question to answer, DI ol' boy. But maybe New York or Philadelphia. Although at the same time I'm partial to Kentucky bluegrass and Big Easy jazz...

And no, I have not competed in the sauna world championships. I consider myself more of an amateur.

---------- Post added at 06:19 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:18 AM ----------

Cajungal said:
JE SUIS NAPOLEON!

*wallops you again*

Okay, Mr Bonaparte, how are you feeling now?

Oct 21, 2009#120

Allen, who is Quiet

why?

Oct 21, 2009#121

Cajungal

Hi, NR. What's goin on? ^_^

Oct 21, 2009#122

North_Ranger

Allen said:
why?

Why not?

---------- Post added at 06:50 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:49 AM ----------

Cajungal said:
Hi, NR. What's goin on? ^_^

Oh, nothing special.

Cashew nut?

Oct 21, 2009#123

Allen, who is Quiet

North_Ranger;280645][quote=Allen said:
why?

Why not?[/QUOTE]

:shrug:

Oct 21, 2009#124

North_Ranger

Allen said:
why?

Why not?[/QUOTE]

:shrug:[/QUOTE]

Or, alternatively, because. And that's why.

Oct 23, 2009#125

Bubble181

So, when?

Also, wherefore?

Oct 23, 2009#126

North_Ranger

Bubble181 said:
So, when?

Also, wherefore?

At the next opportune moment, and therefore.

Oct 23, 2009#127

Qonas

Are you familiar at all with scotch of The Balvenie? What do you think of it, if so? I'm sipping some of their regular old 12 Year Double Wood while I cook up some pasta here.

Oct 23, 2009#128

North_Ranger

Qonas said:
Are you familiar at all with scotch of The Balvenie? What do you think of it, if so? I'm sipping some of their regular old 12 Year Double Wood while I cook up some pasta here.

No, I am not. I'm not really a connoisseur of any alcoholic beverage. I drink about half a dozen times a year, and I think I've been properly drunk only once. Any good, this Balvenie?

Oct 24, 2009#129

Cajungal

Cajungal said:
Hi, NR. What's goin on? ^_^

Oh, nothing special.

Cashew nut?[/QUOTE]

Please!

Have you ever had a praline?

To whom can you tell everything, or almost everything?

Do you have a pet? If not, would you ever want one? What kind?

Oct 24, 2009#130

North_Ranger

Cajungal said:
Have you ever had a praline?

Yeah, I have. Personally I prefer chocolate truffle or milk chocolate, though.

Cajungal said:
To whom can you tell everything, or almost everything?

Well, there's no one I can tell everything. Call it a deep-set suspicion, brought on by over a decade of systematic bullying, betrayal and backstabbing, also known as the time from going to first grade to graduation. There's a handful of people I tell something, but I always keep some parts to myself.

Closest are my Ukrainian buddy and a handful of friends from the Medieval Market, including a fellow we call Jesus

In addition... well, here in the forums I'm pretty much myself, though I still try to constrain myself so I don't freak people out.

Cajungal said:
Do you have a pet? If not, would you ever want one? What kind?

Well, do dustbunnies count? I've had a baker's dozen of those

Seriously, though, I've considered a cat once I move out from my current abode. Nothing fancy, just a regular kitty. But since I tend to kill even plastic plants, it won't be anytime soon

Oct 24, 2009#131

Cajungal

No love for dark chocolate?

...So if you stopped constraining yourself would your pants be constantly gone?

What would you name your kitty?

Oct 24, 2009#132

North_Ranger

Cajungal said:
No love for dark chocolate?

In small doses, yes. It makes me so goddamn thirsty.

Cajungal said:
...So if you stopped constraining yourself would your pants be constantly gone?

I try to keep them on for sociability's sake. You can blame the Fapsmith picture for that unnatural modesty.

Cajungal said:
What would you name your kitty?

Mr Bigglesworth... but that doesn't sound too good in Finnish.

Nov 12, 2009#133

drawn_inward

Do you know and like Korpiklaani?
I found them on Pandora.

This song rocks my face off.

Nov 12, 2009#134

Null

How is your Internet Provider able to transmit and receive between Finland and the real world?

Nov 14, 2009#135

North_Ranger

drawn_inward said:
Do you know and like Korpiklaani?
I found them on Pandora.

This song rocks my face off.

I've heard of them, yes. But I haven't actively listened to them. As you may have guessed, there's plenty of metal bands in Finland, both professional and amateur, so I hope you'll forgive my ignorance.

Also, I'm rather careful these days before declaring myself a fan of any band. I started truly fanning Nightwish only a few months before Tarja left - and the Swedish chick they hired just doesn't hold a candle to her

The Swede - Annette, I think is her name - sings well, no doubt about that. But she just doesn't have the haunting quality in her voice that makes your heart bleed due to overload of otherwordly beauty.

Lying Bastard said:
How is your Internet Provider able to transmit and receive between Finland and the real world?

Hm. In this case I'll have to take the Edmund Blackadder III, Esq. defense: "I am one of those people who are perfectly happy to wear cotton, without having the slightest idea how it works."

I believe, however, that some sort of ancient ceremonies and ritual sacrifices to Ukko the Old One, Tapio of the Forests and Ahti of the Deeps do take place on summer equinox.

Impure Vyxen said:
If you wanted to convince me to move to Finland, how would you do it?

Hot summers, inexpensive and far-reaching healthcare, relaxed attitude to nudity

Also, we have Santa Claus.

Impure Vyxen said:
If you I wanted to convince you to move to the Netherlands, how would I need to do it?

All of the above (well, except Santa Claus

), plus a worthwhile reason for moving there (work or significant relationship).

It's a thing I noticed when I spent my exchange year in Ireland: I enjoyed my time there, the people were nice, I made new friends and experienced things I wouldn't have done otherwise... but still there was a part of me that longed back home. I loved staying in Ireland for an extended period of time, but something told me I would always consider the Land of the Thousand Lakes my one and true home.

Nov 14, 2009#136

North_Ranger

I have listened to Within Temptation in the past. But like I said, I'm hesitant to really become a fan of any group. For some reason they tend to break up within 3-4 months I really get into them

Thanks anyways.

Nov 14, 2009#137

Cajungal

What is your greatest strength?

What is your greatest weakness?

Nov 14, 2009#138

North_Ranger

Cajungal said:
What is your greatest strength?

Honesty. I don't lie, cheat or steal. I'm honest to myself about my own flaws, and I don't hoodwink anyone if I can. I let people know I'm a bastard, so they won't have to find that out for themselves.

Cajungal said:
What is your greatest weakness?

Procrastination. I never get anything done in time, and when I feel I've done nothing productive, I tend to punish myself in various ways (eg. refusing myself the right to enjoy a night out).

Nov 15, 2009#139

North_Ranger

Impure Vyxen said:
If you could switch roles with anyone in the entire world for one day, who would it be?
You would literally be him/her but also have all your own thoughts and memories and free will.

I'd probably stick myself in the noggin of someone I intensely dislike - I dunno? Dick Cheney, Silvio Berlusconi, that ass-hat of a populist Timo Soini or the closet racist Olavi Mäenpää from hereabouts... I would not hesitate to make their lives ree-hee-hee-ally miserable for one day :twisted:

Maybe have them dress up as Shirley Temple and sing On the Good Ship Lollipop in national television. I'm a bastard that way, hee hee hee :angel:

Nov 15, 2009#140

North_Ranger

You're welcome.

Try to purge with some Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting or perhaps Mmm Bop by Hanson.

Or if you want to have your brains bleed out through your ears:

Just be glad you don't know what he's actually singing...

Nov 15, 2009#141

North_Ranger

Yeah. The guy's a real nutjob.

He started as an actual athlete.

Then he went to the States and began his career as a pro wrestler under the alias Ludvig Borga.

Then he came back to Finland.

Then he got elected to the Parliament as a right-wing party member. His first act was to make a speech calling the President a lesbian.

Then he got arrested. First for possession of an illegal firearm (if memory serves), and now he's getting the rap for possession of drugs.

In all honesty, singing doesn't even begin the list of what this guy should never do.

Nov 16, 2009#142

North_Ranger

Impure Vyxen said:
What's your favorite sport to watch?

Uhhhh... None. I don't have a favourite team, nor do I particularly car for hockey, Formula One or winter sports which are basically the only kinds of sports that get any kind of major coverage in here.

Does Formula One even count as a sport...?

Impure Vyxen said:
What's your favorite sport to participate in?

Not much of a team player, so none... But I do enjoy swimming.

Nov 16, 2009#143

Biardo

North_Ranger said:
...

Does Formula One even count as a sport...?

Dude... yes!

Nov 16, 2009#144

North_Ranger

Biardo;300006][quote=North_Ranger said:
...

Does Formula One even count as a sport...?

Dude... yes![/QUOTE]

Dude. It's sitting. In a car. And driving.

The only vaguely sports-like element in it is the danger of serious bodily harm. By that definition, throwing eggs at skinheads counts as a sport, too.

Nov 16, 2009#145

Biardo

North_Ranger;300013][quote=Biardo;300006][quote=North_Ranger said:
...

Does Formula One even count as a sport...?

Dude... yes![/quote]

Dude. It's sitting. In a car. And driving.

The only vaguely sports-like element in it is the danger of serious bodily harm. By that definition, throwing eggs at skinheads counts as a sport, too.[/quote]

yes but it's driving the fastest cars in the world, the G-forces are enough that their necks has to be able take 24 kg strains in the most turns. They lose about 3kg bodyweight during the race and they have to be able to react in a fraction of a second during the whole race. I don't know alot of sports where there is such a strain on the body.

http://www.f1technical.net/articles/1125

and for a question;

who would you chose for president of the EU (provided off course that we had a choise)

Nov 16, 2009#146

North_Ranger

I still don't think it counts as sports to drive around, whether with a steam-powered buggy or with a frickin' rocket-engine shoved up your keister

Biardo said:
who would you chose for president of the EU (provided off course that we had a choise)

In all honesty, I don't know. The whole President of the EU and its related issues have started sounding so much like a clusterfuck to me that I simply don't see the whole issue resolving without Hypnotoad getting an MP seat.

Purely theoretically... most likely the Finnish candidate, if there was one. Martti Ahtisaari has a pretty decent track record, for instance.

Nov 19, 2009#147

Cajungal

How are you going to spend Christmas?

Nov 19, 2009#148

North_Ranger

Cajungal said:
How are you going to spend Christmas?

Unless something truly dramatic and world-shattering happens, I'll be spending the holidays as I've always done (well, save for that one time in the army): drive 50 miles to my parents' home in the countryside for a family Christmas. I'm the only single child in the family, so my presence is pretty much expected. With any luck, my sister and her family will join us either for Christmas Eve (when we get to open our prezzies, NYAH!

), or for Christmas Day if they've spend the Eve with the other set of in-laws. My brother and his wife ain't showing. Again. Usually I stay until Boxing Day or a little later, though I try to make it back home by New Year's Eve.

Oh, and for the person who's given the arduous task of being my Secret Santa: no worries if you're thinking something NSFW. I'll open that package when I get back home

Nov 19, 2009#149

North_Ranger

Amorous Vyxen said:
How do you expect to spend new year's eve?

If I manage to escape spending it in another get-together at my aunt's "summer cabin"... most likely teasing the Americans here by sending messages FROM THE FUTURE, THE YEAR 2010! Or I might actually go out and see what's happening downtown.

Nov 19, 2009#150

North_Ranger

Oh there's more than one...

Laihdutus, or 'losing weight'. Yes, I know I am fat and I'm doing my best about it, so kindly shut your yap hole about it.

Gradu, 'MA thesis'... for obvious reasons.

But in general, there are a couple of words that really make me hit the Crazy button. Being called a lande, or 'hayseed', for instance. Hearing someone talk out of their ass (eg. Holocaust deniers, people who want Karelia back, street preachers etc.) also tends to get me riled up.

Nov 24, 2009#151

Null

What's your personal theme song?

Nov 25, 2009#152

North_Ranger

Lying Bastard said:
What's your personal theme song?

That depends entirely on my mood, to be honest.

If I'm feeling full of energy, it's the Nightwish cover version of Over the Hills and Far Away.

If relaxed, Galway Girl by Steve Earle and Sharon Shannon. This song also makes me nostalgic about my exchange year in Limerick, Ireland, because this version was also the de facto theme song of our international student organization, one we'd all be singing at parties.

If a tad spiritual, Vaari-vainaan kannel ('the Kantele of Grandpa Gone') by a Finnish trad/gospel band Suomalainen messu ('the Finnish Mass'). They have no YouTube video, but it's a song about finding an old kantele, a Finnish harp, in Grandma's home, and learning its story. How it was made by Grandpa during the war, promising to bring it home to his young son... but dying before his two-week furlough. The sorrow of the young boy, and how he never learned to play the song... and the singer wondering if s/he'll ever learn to play the beautiful songs of their grandfather. It's one of the few songs that make me cry.

I'll post more when I think of 'em. It's pretty much what comes to mind at a time, my theme music changing according to mood and so on.

Dec 8, 2009#153

BoringMetaphor

Is it true that Finns have a great passion for Tango? I have heard Finland having the most amount of Tango dancers in the world recently, and was wondering if there was any truth to it...

Dec 8, 2009#154

North_Ranger

BoringMetaphor said:
Is it true that Finns have a great passion for Tango? I have heard Finland having the most amount of Tango dancers in the world recently, and was wondering if there was any truth to it...

It's true. I've never met a Finn who didn't know at least the basics of tango, or at least the name of one or two well-known pieces.

Also, every summer at Seinäjoki they organize the Tango Fair, a dance contest that is televised nationally. Some people find it strange that such a melancholy people as Finns enjoy something as... fierce as tango, but hey, it's a tradition here.

Heck, even I've danced some tango... but that was over a decade ago.

Here's some samples of Finnish tango:

Satumaa ('Land of Fairy Tales') by Unto Mononen

Liljankukka ('Lily Flower') by Toivo Kärki

Rannalla ('On the Shore') by Arja Koriseva

Dec 8, 2009#155

BoringMetaphor

Why are they all so serious when they are dancing?

Dec 9, 2009#156

North_Ranger

BoringMetaphor said:
Why are they all so serious when they are dancing?

Because the tango, she is serious. She is fierce. She is passionate. She makes people talk of her as if she were a woman - and thus, sound like eejits.

Dec 9, 2009#157

Cajungal

If I ever put a quote into my sig, that would be the one.

Dec 9, 2009#158

fade

Huh, I just found out that Finnish is not in the Indo-European language family. That's odd.

Dec 9, 2009#159

North_Ranger

fade said:
Huh, I just found out that Finnish is not in the Indo-European language family. That's odd.

The fact that Finnish doesn't even remotely look or sound like an IE language had escaped you this long, huh?

But yes, you are currect. Finnish, Estonian, a baker's dozen of ethnic languages in Russia, Hungarian... all belong to the Finno-Ugric language family.

---------- Post added at 12:58 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:56 AM ----------

Cajungal said:
If I ever put a quote into my sig, that would be the one.

DO EET!

Dec 13, 2009#160

Officer_Charon

I've never hand the chance to travel to Finland, but it's something I would LOVE to do... not to mention that the more I learn about them, historically, the more badass they get. Fat props, yo.

Hrmm... I'ma ask you something that tends to bug me when people ask it. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Also, stick to your guns, boyo. You strike me as the kind of person that women start flocking to a little later. Like a fine whiskey, age adds flavor, but sometimes the palate needs to mature to enjoy, first. (Or something like that... don't mind me... just working 14 hour days here... *headdesk*)

Dec 14, 2009#161

North_Ranger

Officer_Charon said:
I've never hand the chance to travel to Finland, but it's something I would LOVE to do... not to mention that the more I learn about them, historically, the more badass they get. Fat props, yo.

Hrmm... I'ma ask you something that tends to bug me when people ask it. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Also, stick to your guns, boyo. You strike me as the kind of person that women start flocking to a little later. Like a fine whiskey, age adds flavor, but sometimes the palate needs to mature to enjoy, first. (Or something like that... don't mind me... just working 14 hour days here... *headdesk*)

Thanks for the props, Charon. I know it's bad form tooting one's (nation's) own horn, but have you also come across the Hakkapeliitat? In Finland, they pretty much have a reputation for being as bad-ass motherfuckers as humanly possible.

In 10 years... Hmmmm... Teaching English at a high school, hopefully in Turku or somewhere nearby. At summers I'll perform at the Medieval Market, and hopefully I will have a wife/fiancée/girlfriend who shares some of my geeky quirks. I also hope not to be going bald like men in my family unfortunately tend to do.

And thanks for the compliment. I wouldn't have thought of the influence of 14-hour days, not unless you had compared me to a fine cheese instead

Dec 14, 2009#162

Officer_Charon

I was familiar with the Hakkapeliitat, although not their name, through the novel 1632 and my subsequent research on Gustavus Adolphus. Any unit whose battle cry is "Hack them down!" is made of refined epic badassery.

As Finland is a (relatively) young nation, at least as an independent one, is there more of a cultural identity? Less? I mean, Americans (on the whole) are generally regarded as having a strong national identity (America! Fuck yeah! *rolls eyes*) at the expense of their international one. How do you feel Finland rates on that scale?

Also: Should I add Suomi to my (slowly growing) list of languages? This would be one of those "because it's there," things, rather than as a need for anything immediately useful to my daily life (like Spanish... *rolls eyes again*)

Dec 15, 2009#163

North_Ranger

Hmmmh... Lost a long answer yesterday in the mini-wipe. I'll try to answer you again

Officer_Charon said:
I was familiar with the Hakkapeliitat, although not their name, through the novel 1632 and my subsequent research on Gustavus Adolphus. Any unit whose battle cry is "Hack them down!" is made of refined epic badassery.

No argument there

Incidentally, that battle cry is still heavily in use today, albeit in ice hockey games rather than on battlefields. So it's the same amount of blood but with blunt tools

Officer_Charon said:
As Finland is a (relatively) young nation, at least as an independent one, is there more of a cultural identity? Less? I mean, Americans (on the whole) are generally regarded as having a strong national identity (America! Fuck yeah! *rolls eyes*) at the expense of their international one. How do you feel Finland rates on that scale?

Hmmm... That's a doozy of a question to answer, Charon. First of all because such a thing as cultural identity is quite subjective, and not much quantifiable. Also, we are talking about two very different countries here, both in terms of size and political tradition.

On the whole, however, I would think Finland has maintained a healthy cultural identity. Such outsider phenomena as Halloween have landed here, of course, but on the whole I would say that traditions, the school system (state-run, EL GASPO!) and certain base cultural concepts - such as sisu and the 'miracle of the Winter War' - maintain a distinctive culture. There's some criticism to it, of course: Finns tend to look back at the wars, even mythologize them, and likely because of the country having been ruled by outsiders (Swedes and Russians) from the 12th century to 1917, there remains a certain level of intolerance towards foreigners. This kind of parochialism has lessened, of course, what with travel and such.

I don't know if Finns go "Finland fuck yeah!" in general. We take pride in certain things and may get pissed off if, for instance, mistaken for Vikings GRRR!! But on the whole, Finns tend to be a little self-deprecating about their country, or play the stereotypes people have for laughs. Living next-door to you-know-who, especially during the Cold War, does not really lend itself to international asshattery, pardon my French

Officer_Charon said:
Also: Should I add Suomi to my (slowly growing) list of languages? This would be one of those "because it's there," things, rather than as a need for anything immediately useful to my daily life (like Spanish... *rolls eyes again*)

Is there a reason why you shouldn't?

But if you want reasons, I'll give you some:
- Tolkien used Finnish as one of his influences when inventing the Elvish languages.
- I've been told Finnish is beautiful when spoken.
- Plus, Finnish is just about the most creative language when it comes to cursing. Observe, if you please: Jumalauta, senkin vitun kullinlutkuttaja paskamaha! Paina kuule joulukuusi sivuttain perseeseesi ja vingu, senkin saatanan tikkukyrpä ruskean kielen ritari! I advise you not to translate, though

Dec 18, 2009#164

Cajungal

Favorite Christmas food?

Favorite Christmas song?

Favorite Christmas memory?

What do you want most for Christmas?

What goes on top of your christmas tree? Do you have a favorite ornament?

Do you have a favorite Christmas movie/story?

Do you have any dorky Christmas sweaters?

Dec 18, 2009#165

North_Ranger

Cajungal said:
Favorite Christmas food?

Mom's meatballs. Yummy

But if you mean an actual Christmas dish... liver casserole with cranberry sauce. And, of course, ham (we have ham instead of turkey).

Cajungal said:
Favorite Christmas song?

Soihdut sammuu, a Finnish song about elves coming out for a Christmas feast. I'll be honest with you, most Christmas songs I hate. The religious ones make me feel guilty (being an agnostic), and most of the rest are just pure annoyance.

In English, I'd go with Do They Know It's Christmas - if for no other reason than it keeps playing in the radio and its message.

Cajungal said:
Favorite Christmas memory?

That's a hard question, since in our family we spend the holidays pretty much the same way every year. I come to my parents' place in the countryside for the holidays, my sister and her family come either on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day and visit the other set of in-laws on the other - and my bro and his wife do a no-show

The only difference from childhood is that I have to drive there first.

But I do remember a few Christmases where I made both my sister and her kids happy (I think I've already told you this one): because I could not think of anything what to get the kids, I made them a "gift certificate" to take them to a movie of their choice. It was a perfect gift: I got to see movies like Shark's Tale and Narnia, my niece and nephew got to see a movie, and my sister and her hubby got some time alone.

Of course, then they hit puberty... and Unca Mikko ain't cool no more

Cajungal said:
What do you want most for Christmas?

To be honest? Getting this goddamn MA Thesis done. But it's a gift I can only give myself... and I've been having the worst writer's block. *sighs*

Cajungal said:
What goes on top of your christmas tree? Do you have a favorite ornament?

A silver star. And no, not really. I do have something I really like seeing: a nativity scene I made with my parents when I was still in kindergarten. Maria and Joseph made out of tiny baby dolls dressed in pieces of cloth, Joseph's beard done with a Magic Marker

The angels, the animals and the Three Wise Men were all old Christmas decorations. Seeing it always brings me a warm, fuzzy feeling.

Cajungal said:
Do you have a favorite Christmas movie/story?

Scrooged. Hands down

Cajungal said:
Do you have any dorky Christmas sweaters?

Not a tradition here. Finnish Christmas is about peace and quiet with the family, not about dorkiness. But I may have a picture of yours truly in reindeer horns and clown nose from our international students' Christmas par-teh in Limerick in 2007.

Jan 11, 2010#166

Rob King

Are you familiar with the a cappella group Rajaton? Strangely enough, they're fairly popular here in Newfoundland, and I just learned that they'll be here again this spring.

Jan 12, 2010#167

Zumbo Prime

How many fins do you have?

Jan 12, 2010#168

North_Ranger

Rob King said:
Are you familiar with the a cappella group Rajaton? Strangely enough, they're fairly popular here in Newfoundland, and I just learned that they'll be here again this spring.

In all honesty, no. An a cappella group singing cover songs... it doesn't ring a bell. As you may have guessed, they're not really a group that goes mainstream

Zumbo Prime said:
How many fins do you have?

Enough to beat up people who keep making that lame pun :twisted:

Jan 12, 2010#169

Allen, who is Quiet

When will I be beautiful?

Jan 12, 2010#170

North_Ranger

When you stop making faces.

Jan 12, 2010#171

fade

Does this scene from Earth Girls are Easy offend you? It offends me, and I'm not even Finnish.

Jan 12, 2010#172

North_Ranger

Nah. Mix-matching bikinis, Dutch music, Swiss yodeling, Norwegian/Swedish accents and Finland just proves me that somebody didn't do their research.

Jan 12, 2010#173

fade

I think they did it on purpose, given the tone of the movie. Plus, Geena Davis follows up by saying that Finland is the capital of Norway.

Jan 12, 2010#174

Cajungal

Would you rather fly or move things with your mind?

Jan 12, 2010#175

North_Ranger

fade said:
I think they did it on purpose, given the tone of the movie. Plus, Geena Davis follows up by saying that Finland is the capital of Norway.

Which was probably an in-joke, considering she used to be married to Renny Harlin.

Cajungal said:
Would you rather fly or move things with your mind?

Move things with my mind. Then I would purchase a comfortable armchair, sit in it and move that with my mind

Jan 12, 2010#176

Chippy

How does it feel, living in a land of make believe?

Jan 12, 2010#177

Cajungal

North_Ranger said:
Move things with my mind. Then I would purchase a comfortable armchair, sit in it and move that with my mind

Good answer!

Jan 12, 2010#178

Cog

Without checking the internet, what do you know about Ecuador?

Jan 12, 2010#179

North_Ranger

Cog said:
Without checking the internet, what do you know about Ecuador?

It is a relatively small country situated on the western coastline of South America, right on the equator as evidenced by its name. Neighbouring countries include Peru and Columbia. A mountainous nation. Aaaaand looking at the old map of the world tablet I have under my computer, the capital is Quito, and Guyanaquil is another major city.

Chippy said:
How does it feel, living in a land of make believe?

I'm not serious about it. Except if you insult it. Then your ass is grass.

Jan 12, 2010#180

Gusto

What's good in the hood.

Jan 12, 2010#181

Chippy

Wouldn't that make you kind of serious about this magical candy-cane land?

Jan 12, 2010#182

Gusto

Don't you wish you could ask Chippy anything?

Oh the things I would ask Chippy....

Jan 12, 2010#183

Chippy

I'd ask you when you were gonna let me at dat

Jan 12, 2010#184

Gusto

Chippy said:
I'd ask you when you were gonna let me at dat

a) I have an AMA thread
b) Really, Chippy? Really?

Jan 12, 2010#185

Chippy

Hells yes really

Jan 12, 2010#186

makare

Chippy if you "get at" gusto's "dat" i demand to be allowed to watch.

Jan 12, 2010#187

Gusto

Is...is this slashfic?

Jan 12, 2010#188

Chippy

call it whatever you want babay

Jan 12, 2010#189

Gusto

You knew what this was.

Jan 13, 2010#190

North_Ranger

Gusto said:
What's good in the hood.

Just about anything as without one. Except wearing hats.

Chippy said:
Wouldn't that make you kind of serious about this magical candy-cane land?

Depends on what you compare it to.

Gusto said:
Don't you wish you could ask Chippy anything?

Oh the things I would ask Chippy....

If possible, I try to avoid making requests to demented clowns. Unless they are working as my underlings in my world domination plot.

Also, if you guys decide to go and "get at" each other's "those", I would like you to do it somewhere else. Or there will be pain. Namely, yours.

Jan 13, 2010#191

North_Ranger

Amorous Eyes said:
Did you finish your thesis?

*sighs* Still workin' on it. I've hit a snag when trying to rewrite some of my old text into better, more theoretical and less "I-kinda-think-the-author-might-mean-this"-kinda text. But if I'm not distracted by anything and can keep up late, I should be done by the end of the week or the middle of next week. So there's light at the end of the tunnel.

Jan 13, 2010#192

Silver Jelly

Every time I read about your thesis, I get so stressed... because, if everything goes right, I'll start working on mine after summer, and I can relate so much with your distraction problems it's kinda scary!

Jan 13, 2010#193

North_Ranger

Silver Jelly said:
Every time I read about your thesis, I get so stressed... because, if everything goes right, I'll start working on mine after summer, and I can relate so much with your distraction problems it's kinda scary!

So what's your poison, then? Mine is postcolonial literature in English Philology.

Jan 13, 2010#194

Silver Jelly

North_Ranger;328184][QUOTE=Silver Jelly said:
Every time I read about your thesis, I get so stressed... because, if everything goes right, I'll start working on mine after summer, and I can relate so much with your distraction problems it's kinda scary!

So what's your poison, then? Mine is postcolonial literature in English Philology.[/QUOTE]

Philip K Dick in cinema.

Yours sounds much more scary.

Jan 13, 2010#195

Silver Jelly

are these drawings in my T-shirt ancient Finnish drawings? I know my father got it for me in one of his frequent business travels, and that they were prehistoric cave paintings from somewhere up in the north. but I don't remember where.

(I just watched myself in the mirror and wondered, and then the memory of you "ask me anything thread came to me!)

Jan 13, 2010#196

North_Ranger

It's a bit hard to make out the figures in your shirt, to be honest. The details are a little blurry, and half of them seem to be buried in the shoulder of a quite lovely-looking lady. But they do look a bit similar to prehistoric carvings found in eastern Finland and Karelia (the bit between Finland and the Kola Peninsula). And they are not cave paintings; they are carved on the sides of rocky hills and such, usually along rivers. There's very few natural caves in Finland.

Jan 13, 2010#197

makare

North_Ranger said:
Also, if you guys decide to go and "get at" each other's "those", I would like you to do it somewhere else. Or there will be pain. Namely, yours.

You are no fun. Why do you want to kill my dreams?

Jan 13, 2010#198

North_Ranger

makare1;328293][QUOTE=North_Ranger said:
Also, if you guys decide to go and "get at" each other's "those", I would like you to do it somewhere else. Or there will be pain. Namely, yours.

You are no fun. Why do you want to kill my dreams?

[/QUOTE]

Because they taste delicious when served with grilled vegetables and bearnaise sauce.

Jan 13, 2010#199

Chippy

North_Ranger said:
Or there will be pain. Namely, yours.

I highly doubt that, since this is an internet forum.

Jan 13, 2010#200

North_Ranger

Chippy said:
North_Ranger said:

Or there will be pain. Namely, yours.

Click to expand...

I highly doubt that, since this is an internet forum.

Only the foolish question the power of the mind.

You will wake up tomorrow with a slight pinching pain in your left buttock. Muahahahahahaaa!

Jan 13, 2010#201

Chippy

But you have no powers of the mind.

Jan 13, 2010#202

North_Ranger

...that YOU know of.

Jan 13, 2010#203

Baerdog

North_Ranger;328319][QUOTE=makare1;328293][QUOTE=North_Ranger said:
Also, if you guys decide to go and "get at" each other's "those", I would like you to do it somewhere else. Or there will be pain. Namely, yours.

You are no fun. Why do you want to kill my dreams?

[/QUOTE]

Because they taste delicious when served with grilled vegetables and bearnaise sauce.[/QUOTE]
I think you mean Baernaise sauce. :eyebrows:

Jan 13, 2010#204

Silver Jelly

North_Ranger said:
It's a bit hard to make out the figures in your shirt, to be honest. The details are a little blurry, and half of them seem to be buried in the shoulder of a quite lovely-looking lady. But they do look a bit similar to prehistoric carvings found in eastern Finland and Karelia (the bit between Finland and the Kola Peninsula). And they are not cave paintings; they are carved on the sides of rocky hills and such, usually along rivers. There's very few natural caves in Finland.

yeah, sorry about the resolution... I didn't have good pictures of my shirt. But that explanation you give me fits what I thought it may be, and the fact they are not paintings but carvings is pretty interesting!

Jan 14, 2010#205

fade

What's the name of Finland in Finnish? I always find that fascinating. You grow up learning a country is called one thing, and then you find out the natives call it something else a lot of times.

Jan 14, 2010#206

North_Ranger

fade said:
What's the name of Finland in Finnish? I always find that fascinating. You grow up learning a country is called one thing, and then you find out the natives call it something else a lot of times.

Suomi = Finland
suomalainen = Finnish/a Finn

Jan 14, 2010#207

North_Ranger

Well, they do come from two very different language families, albeit both referring to the same thing.

One interpretation I have heard is that Suomi comes from a reference to the Sami, a nomadic people of reindeer herders who speak a closely related language. Some also suggest the name is a close to a Proto-Baltic word zeme, meaning 'land'.

Finland, on the other hand, is suggested to come from finnr, a Germanic word meaning 'wanderer'... which would suit as well because ancient Finns were either hunter-gatherers or slash-and-burn farmers, depending on the region.

Feb 6, 2010#208

Allen, who is Quiet

Can you tell me anything about

Feb 6, 2010#209

North_Ranger

The Valley of Eternity... a roleplaying game about penguins.

Unfortunately, no. I haven't played it myself, and frankly I don't know anyone who has. Seems like a cool idea... minus the halberd. Does that penguin have thumbs to hold it?

Lore-wise, I've enjoyed this:

Heimot, or 'Tribes' (no relation to the first-person shooter of the same name). Something of a tribal, Grimdark version of Firefly, with a nice dollop of Dune on top. Unfortunately, I've only played this only once at a con.

And of course, then there's...

Feb 6, 2010#210

Allen, who is Quiet

North_Ranger said:
Seems like a cool idea

Was that on purpose?

Feb 6, 2010#211

North_Ranger

Allen said:
Seems like a cool idea

Was that on purpose?[/QUOTE]

It was the purpose of meaning.

Feb 7, 2010#212

Shadazz

Why the fuck do cats meow? Seriously, couldn't they make any OTHER sound? Fuck.

Feb 7, 2010#213

North_Ranger

Shadazz said:
Why the fuck do cats meow? Seriously, couldn't they make any OTHER sound? Fuck.

Biological answer: because the feline voicebox is shaped in such a way that cats meow.

Proximity-to-cat answer: because it's so KEEEWWWWT!! KITTYYYYY!!

Snarky answer: Just be glad they don't make reindeer noises.

Feb 24, 2010#214

darkangel6988

Are you as goodlooking as your Avatar?

Feb 24, 2010#215

darkangel6988

Amorous Eyes;345358][QUOTE=darkangel6988 said:
Are you as goodlooking as your Avatar?

I can field that one!

No, he looks even better!

[/QUOTE]

LOL !

Feb 24, 2010#216

fade

Still looks incredibly Irish to me. Are you sure it's not North O'Ranger?

Feb 24, 2010#217

North_Ranger

darkangel6988 said:
Are you as goodlooking as your Avatar?

Well, I've been told I look cuddly. And when I was a lot skinnier, back in my army days... well, I'd better not tell. It's kinda dirty.

Feb 24, 2010#218

Cajungal

Now you have to tell us.

Feb 24, 2010#219

North_Ranger

fade said:
Still looks incredibly Irish to me. Are you sure it's not North O'Ranger?

Well, the baseline picture that Ame shopped - the one where I look like a fat, red-bearded deer going 'WTF?!' at incoming headlights - was taken in Ireland.

But sorry, no O's in my surname.

---------- Post added at 06:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:57 PM ----------

Amorous Eyes said:
His full name is:

Suuri metsänvartija pohjoisesta.

(I probably fucked that up real good.)

Actually, that's completely correct grammatically

---------- Post added at 07:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:58 PM ----------

Cajungal said:
Now you have to tell us.

Well, if you insist... This was when I was dating Melina, the Psycho Bitch Queen but didn't yet know she was a Psycho Bitch Queen. The combination of me losing weight + gaining muscle tone + uniform = non-stop sex whenever I got a weekend furlough. Of course, considering the source... *shrugs*

Feb 24, 2010#220

Cajungal

HIGH FIVE! Too bad she turned out to be the Psycho Bitch Queen. Didn't her tiara with "SB" written out in rhinestones tip you off?

And AmE's right, you're very cute. ^_^

Feb 24, 2010#221

North_Ranger

Cajungal said:
HIGH FIVE! Too bad she turned out to be the Psycho Bitch Queen. Didn't her tiara with "SB" written out in rhinestones tip you off?

And AmE's right, you're very cute. ^_^

In retrospect, the Tic-Tac-Toe grid cut into her thigh should have alerted me that something was amiss...

Feb 24, 2010#222

darkangel6988

North_Ranger;345430][QUOTE=darkangel6988 said:
Are you as goodlooking as your Avatar?

Well, I've been told I look cuddly. And when I was a lot skinnier, back in my army days... well, I'd better not tell. It's kinda dirty.[/QUOTE]

I <3 you North Ranger hehe :wub: Oh and RAWWWWR hehe :blush:

That's all I'm allowed to say u know married ladies have to keep it quiet lol !

Jun 16, 2010#223

North_Ranger

Let's see now...

Black robes. Check.
Leaky candles. Check.
Ugly-ass old book. Check.
Thunderstorm at night... meh.

Badabing, badabang, open thread, yada yada yada.

Ask me stuff if you've got any.

Jun 16, 2010#224

Silver Jelly

Have you seen any snails lately?

Jun 16, 2010#225

North_Ranger

Nope. The last time I saw any snails was at a company dinner last summer. And I ate them.

Jun 16, 2010#226

Silver Jelly

North_Ranger said:
Nope. The last time I saw any snails was at a company dinner last summer. And I ate them.

Are snails a usual food in Finland? They are around here, in catalonia (Im not sure about the rest of Spain, I guess they are too), but I woudn't eat them even if they payed me.

Jun 16, 2010#227

North_Ranger

Silver Jelly;400431][QUOTE=North_Ranger said:
Nope. The last time I saw any snails was at a company dinner last summer. And I ate them.

Are snails a usual food in Finland? They are around here, in catalonia (Im not sure about the rest of Spain, I guess they are too), but I woudn't eat them even if they payed me.[/QUOTE]

Absolutely not. But it was a company dinner for the office's top sellers, and the bosses suggested we all try something new at this nice, a bit high-end place we were dining in. So we all took snails.

Won't be eating those again. The snails were like eating lumps of cartilage.

Jun 16, 2010#228

Silver Jelly

North_Ranger;400434][QUOTE=Silver Jelly;400431][QUOTE=North_Ranger said:
Nope. The last time I saw any snails was at a company dinner last summer. And I ate them.

yuck...

At least you were brave enough to try them...

This makes me thinki of an anecdote. My grandmother had a bus business and the drivers and workers in general prepared a very special birthday surprise for my grandfather. A "Snail banquet". SNails and snails and just snails to eat. He ate and tried to look happy, but he was sick for a week after that...

Jun 16, 2010#229

North_Ranger

Pretty much, yeah. But I managed to wash their taste off.

WITH A STEAK!

Jun 16, 2010#230

Silver Jelly

North_Ranger said:
Pretty much, yeah. But I managed to wash their taste off.

WITH A STEAK!

Real men wash everything with steak.

Jun 16, 2010#231

tegid

Snails are good! I think people call the escargot in English to avoid thinking what they are, though.

And, SJ, they are not common in many parts of Spain actually.

Jun 16, 2010#232

Silver Jelly

tegid said:
Snails are good! I think people call the escargot in English to avoid thinking what they are, though.

And, SJ, they are not common in many parts of Spain actually.

Meh, I just like to watch living snails slowly crawling on walls and leafs and stuff.

Jun 16, 2010#233

Tinwhistler

I call snails "escargot", because it describes a specific dish, which is basically snails cooked in butter and then served back in the shell. If I ate something different, say snails cooked and served with pasta and tomato sauce, I'd probably call it "spaghetti with snails", but I'm pretty sure I woudln't be able to get any of my family to eat it. I had a hard enogh time getting everyone to try the beef heart stew.

I've had escargot a few times. The snails I had were tender, and tasted like garlic butter. The snail flesh itself, if it had a flavor, was completely drowned out by the butter.

Jun 29, 2010#234

Chazwozel

Eating snails is no different than eating oysters or clams. Just saying...

Jun 29, 2010#235

tegid

I think Oysters are worse. They are eaten raw...

Jun 29, 2010#236

phil

Are these being resurrected?

Are these a thing again?

Jun 29, 2010#237

North_Ranger

phil said:
Are these being resurrected?

I like to call it 'revitalization'.

phil said:
Are these a thing again?

Only if people want to ask the original posters things. Do you?

Mar 17, 2011#238

North_Ranger

*breaks the rusty old lock*

Eh, for the hell of it.

Mar 17, 2011#239

Baerdog

Why isn't there a St. Patrick's Day thread?

Mar 17, 2011#240

Silver Jelly

North_Ranger said:
*breaks the crusty old sock*

Eh, for the hell of it.

Mar 17, 2011#241

North_Ranger

Because I've been too tired to make one. And also I haven't been able to celebrate it... couldn't find any Smithwicks

Mar 18, 2011#242

Dave

If I won the lottery and said, "Screw you AAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL!" who would you want to take over?
Added at: 11:45
For the record: I bought a ticket.

Mar 18, 2011#243

North_Ranger

Dave said:
If I won the lottery and said, "Screw you AAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL!" who would you want to take over?
Added at: 11:45
For the record: I bought a ticket.

CajunGal or Gusto, I think.

Or maybe some manner of fusion of those. A CajunGusto, if you will.

I'd run this place to the ground faster than a blind muskrat piloting a 747.

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