Copper Country: A Unique Board Game Set in Michigan's Upper Peninsula

Ah, that headline doesn't really do this game justice. Copper Country is an incredible looking board game set in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, well the Keewenaw Peninsula to be precise. The game is designed by two Yoopers, David Lankton and Scott Diehl.

The year is 1840 and America's first mining boom is about to change Michigan's Upper Peninsula forever. Take on the role of a mining company and compete for copper by casting miners and machines into the underground lottery.

As the industry grows, so do the communities surrounding your mines. But every attempt to wrest copper from the ground hangs the fortunes of your company, and the lives of your miners, in the balance.

Life, Work, Profit, Death: Copper Country.

The passion these two guys have in seeing this game become a reality is evident throughout the presentation and look of Copper Country. David's dad, Larry Lankton, taught Copper Country history at Michigan Tech University in addition to researching and writing books on the subject. He passed that love of the area's history to his son and he, in turn, is attempting to pass it along through his love of board games.

I've pored over the Kickstarter page, looked over the game components, and studied how the game plays out. I have to say, this is probably the best looking and well thought out board game project I have seen on Kickstarter. This game looks like it is ready to go - the guys just need funding to get it printed and shipped.

I collect and play a large number of board games and it's funny, but just this week I was trying to dream up (while building a bunch of our great gift baskets) a board game set in Michigan. Then, I happened to stumble upon Copper Country last night.

What a coincidence, eh?

Copper Country knocks it out of the park with its theme, artwork, and gameplay. I can't wait to add this to my collection and get it into our game night rotation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVay4yg33TM

And another review - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTMUhEXBgBU#t=947

I can't wait for this game! Check out their Kickstarter and see for yourself.

Want to see a runthrough of the game? Grab a Pasty, sit down, and watch! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzAB0Uu0Nl8

I already have ideas for creating a gift basket based around this game. Yep, you could say I'm a little bit excited to see this get funded!

Say Ya to Copper Country, eh!

Scenes From 2013 Detroit Tigers Home Opener

I have been waiting for today all through this long winter. On some of those numerous bitter cold days with the snow flying and the wind biting, the new season of Tigers baseball was the one thought that could lift my spirits. Baseball, just like spring, is a sure sign of the end of another long winter. Sure, the days might not yet be warm enough to get by without wearing at least a sweatshirt and, yes, there might be a day where some snow may fly. However, baseball is back and just as sure as that, spring must be back as well.

For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of the birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_XuwIV1Xr8

Celebrate the new baseball season with our Detroit Tigers Gift Basket. It's a great gift to give to the Tigers fan in your life.

1953 Home Movie of Mackinac Island

This either took a long time to edit and splice together or the narrator did not finish until sometime around 1957 or later as he mentions the Mackinac Bridge (along with the fact that the trip took place in 1953) which was not completed until 1957. Love this quote about Fort Mackinac on the island in reference to its past importance in the days of the fur trade compared to today -

No danger of having your scalp lifted, it's just the contents of your wallet that they want.

I like how the narrator explains how he made certain shots and offers tips on how to film in poor lighting as well as asking permission to include people in his shots in order to "avoid any unpleasantness".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTZchtQ_Ij8

Top 10 Things I Love About The 313

Today is March 13th (3/13) and a lot of folks are celebrating Detroit in honor of 313 (Detroit's area code for those not in the know). It's a great excuse to show your love of The 313 and I wish to do the same. I'm setting this post to publish at 3:13 on 3/13 :).

Here are 10 Things I Love About Detroit -

1. Watching baseball at Comerica Park
2. The People Mover - yes, I actually do use and enjoy it!
3. Astoria Pastry Shop in Greektown - great cannolis!
4. Eastern Market
5. Campus Martius Park
6. Greektown
7. The wonderful Architecture
8. The Henry Ford and Greenfield Village
9. Belle Isle, Michigan's newest State Park
10. Detroit RiverWalk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpsaL-WAqBY

2014 Michigan Notable Books

Better late than never, I guess. This list came out at the beginning of January, but since that comes right at the tail-end of our busiest time of the year in the gift basket business, I forgot about it. Actually, looking back - I have forgotten about it for a few years now. I haven't highlighted the Michigan Notable books since 2011.

The notable books are selected by a committee. Books on the list are either written by a Michigan author and/or are about Michigan and the Great Lakes region.

It's always nice to look at the list and see that I have already read a couple of the books.

• Beyond Pontiac's Shadow: Michilimackinac and the Anglo-Indian War of 1763
• The Bird: The Life and Legacy of Mark Fidrych
• Birth Marks (American Poets Continuum)
• Bluffton: My Summers with Buster Keaton
• Bootstrapper: From Broke to Badass on a Northern Michigan Farm
• The Colored Car (Great Lakes Books Series)
• Detroit: Race Riots, Racial Conflicts, and Efforts to Bridge the Racial Divide
• Detroit: An American Autopsy
• The Great Lake Sturgeon
• I Invented the Modern Age: The Rise of Henry Ford
• In the House Upon the Dirt Between the Lake and the Woods
• November's Fury: The Deadly Great Lakes Hurricane of 1913
• Poetry in Michigan / Michigan in Poetry (Huron River Mist)
• The River Swimmer
• Something That Feels Like Truth (Switchgrass)
• Sweetie-licious Pies: Eat Pie, Love Life
• Taken Alive - The Sights' Rock and Roll Diary
• Teardown: Memoir of a Vanishing City
• Tuesdays with Todd and Brad Reed
• The Way North: Collected Upper Peninsula New Works (Made in Michigan Writers Series)

February 19th Great Lakes Ice Cover Photo

With the cloud cover dissipated a bit from how it has been all winter long, you can really get a good look at the ice cover on the Great Lakes. This satellite photograph is from yesterday, February 19, 2014. You can view a larger version here.