When I was a kid, my family would visit Mackinac Island nearly every year and the fort was one of my favorite places to see. It would take me back to the "olden" days. I'd imagine what it must have been like when it was a trading post or when the British, Americans and Native Americans all claimed it as their own.

Fort Mackinac is awesome.

Here is some background provided by the Mackinac Parks Web site:

Establishment
The first fort on the Straits of Mackinac, Fort Du Buade, was constructed in about 1690 by the French near the St. Ignace Mission on the north side of the Straits of Mackinac. It was closed in 1697. By the early 1700s the French began to refortify the area. In 1715 they constructed Fort Michilimackinac on the south side of the Straits (present day Mackinaw City ). The fort became the main trade depot of the upper Great Lakes fur trade. The fort functioned as both a military post and a civilian community. Michilimackinac remained a French outpost until 1761 when British soldiers took control after their victory in the French and Indian War (Seven Years War).

By 1776 the American Revolution was underway. With the successes of George Rogers Clark in capturing British posts in the south, and American forces moving northward, the British grew anxious that Fort Michilimackinac , a wooden fort built on the beach, was vulnerable. Consequently, British Commandant Patrick Sinclair chose to relocate the fort to Mackinac Island where the high limestone cliffs and good harbor provided a more defensible location. Between 1779 and 1781 many buildings were taken apart on the mainland and reassembled on the island. What was not moved was burned. The civilian community was built around the bay below the fort. One of the first new buildings to be built on the island was the Officers' Stone Quarters, the oldest building in the State of Michigan today.

The fort and island became United States territory as a result of the American victory in the Revolution. However, it took thirteen years for American troops to arrive and finally take control of the fort from the British. The latter were reluctant to leave the island, as British merchants continued to dominate fur trading, even in American territory. After leaving Fort Mackinac in 1796, the British went to St. Joseph ’s Island , at the mouth of the St. Mary’s River and established Fort St. Joseph .

War of 1812
War broke out between the United States and Great Britain in the summer of 1812. Under the cover of darkness, a 300-man force of British soldiers and Native American allies embarked from Fort St. Joseph and landed on the north shore of Mackinac Island . They dragged their cannon to the high ground behind the fort, took positions in the woods and prepared to attack. American soldiers, about 30, were completely surprised and outnumbered by the British invasion. They quickly surrendered without a fight following a single warning shot by the British. This was the first land engagement of the War of 1812 in the United States . British troops garrisoned the fort and built a new fortification, named Fort George (later renamed Fort Holmes ) at the highest point on the island to act as defense on the weak north side. Two years later American soldiers tried to recapture Fort Mackinac.

Invading from the north, they were met by British soldiers at the center of the island. The Americans were badly defeated in the only battle ever fought on Mackinac Island . Following the battle, British soldiers also captured two American vessels that were blockading the harbor.

From Furs to Fish
By December 1814 the war was over. American peace negotiators accomplished what their troops failed to do, as the Treaty of Ghent restored the island and Fort Mackinac to the United States . John Jacob Astor established the American Fur Company northern department headquarters on Mackinac Island and by the 1820s the fur trade was flourishing. Furs from the company’s winter camps in Illinois , Michigan , Wisconsin and Minnesota flowed to Mackinac every summer. Here, on Mackinac Island ’s Market Street , the furs were counted, sorted and baled for shipment to the East Coast and Europe . Millions of dollars worth of furs passed through Mackinac Island in the 1820s.

Commercial fishing replaced fur trading as Mackinac Island ’s primary industry in the 1830s. The transition was smooth. The region’s waters teemed with a rich bounty of whitefish, lake trout, pickerel and cisco. The burgeoning populations of Chicago , Detroit , Cleveland and Buffalo provided a ready market for the fishermen’s catch. Trade routes which once carried canoes filled with furs now served as shipping lanes for a growing fleet of schooners and steamboats that connected centrally-located Mackinac Island with its markets. The island’s wharfs, warehouses and workforce that so effectively served the fur trade were easily adapted to commercial fishing.

Fort Mackinac stood sentinel over the village throughout the transition from the fur trade to the fishing industry. It became an increasingly obsolete military station in the years before the Civil War. No longer on the fighting edge of the United States frontier, the fort contributed little to national defense as the country expanded west. It was abandoned at times as soldiers were withdrawn to support the Second Seminole War (1837-40), the Mexican War (1848) and the Santee Uprising (1857-58). At the outbreak of the Civil War, Fort Mackinac soldiers marched south in support of the Union and the island post was abandoned once more, except for a single caretaker soldier. During the summer of 1862 the fort served as a prison for three wealthy and influential residents of Tennessee who were sympathetic to the Confederate cause.

Victorian Resort and the National Park
United States soldiers returned to Fort Mackinac after the war. Following in their footsteps were great crowds of tourists longing for romantic and peaceful summer places to escape hot, congested cities and forget the tragedy of war. An expanding railroad system and improved passenger steamships linked urban travelers with the country’s rustic vacation spots. Mackinac Island , with its historic charm, scenic beauty and healthy environment, was a natural summer resort. In response to the island’s growing popularity, the federal government created Mackinac National Park in 1875. This was America ’s second national park, established just three years after Yellowstone . There was no National Park Service at this time. The only federal personnel available to care for the park were U.S. soldiers at Fort Mackinac . The new role gave Fort Mackinac a new purpose, and a second company of soldiers was dispatched to help care for the park. The fort’s commanding officer served as park superintendent.

Closure and Later History
In 1895, after 115 years of service, the United States Army closed Fort Mackinac . With no strategic importance, the fort could no longer escape budget cuts. Concerned citizens, working with forces in Washington , D.C. , worked to have the Mackinac National Park transferred to the state of Michigan . Thus, Michigan ’s first state park and the Mackinac Island State Park Commission were created. Many of the fort’s buildings were leased as summer cottages for the next 60 years in order to generate revenue to maintain the park. In 1914 a portion of the Stone Quarters was set aside as a museum. During the 1930s a number of buildings were restored. In 1958, following the establishment of a revenue bond program to generate funds for preservation purposes, Fort Mackinac became a fully-functioning historical site. Over the next several decades the buildings were restored, exhibits were installed and interpretive programs established. Today, visitors to the fort see things much as they were when the soldiers departed in 1895.

Timeline

1779- 1781	The garrison and fur trade community are moved from Michilimackinac to Mackinac Island.
1783	Mackinac Island part of new United States.
1796	British soldiers depart and American soldiers arrive to garrison fort on September 1.
1812	On July 17 British soldiers capture Fort Mackinac in first land engagement of War of 1812 in the United States.
1814	On August 4 Americans attempt but fail to recapture island.
1815	Mackinac Island returned to United States following end of War of 1812.
1837-1840	Fort Mackinac abandoned to support Second Seminole War.
1848	Fort Mackinac abandoned to support Mexican War.
1857-1858	Fort Mackinac abandoned to support Santee Indian Uprising.
1861	Soldiers depart to support Civil War.
1862	Three Confederate prisoners held at Fort Mackinac.
1867	Soldiers return.
1875	Mackinac National Park established.
1895	Fort is closed. Mackinac National Park becomes Mackinac Island State Park.
1896-1957	Fort buildings leased as summer cottages and apartments.
1914	Park Commission establishes historical museum in Officers’ Stone Quarters.
1934	Several buildings restored as part of WPA project. Historic American Buildings Survey completed for a number of buildings, including walls and blockhouses and Officers’ Stone Quarters.
1958	Revenue Bond program established.
1959	Fort Mackinac opens as a living history museum. Restoration exhibits and interpretation programs implemented.

If you get the chance, check it out.

Until next time, enjoy Michigan.

I love the planet. It is my home.

But, am I going to pledge allegiance to it? Nope. To do so would be dumb. The Earth is an object. Pledging your allegiance to an object is dumb. I know the Pledge of Allegiance we say (or used to say in schools) is to a flag but it represents a pledge to this great country. And a country is a nation of people, ideas, laws, so holding allegiance to the United States is honorable.

Now, you may say pledging allegiance to the Earth is the same because the Earth is filled with people, ideas, laws, etc. but if you want to ally yourself with the political, economic, and social systems of most of the countries on the planet, you've got issues.

The pledge to the Earth is the one that kids in school are being subject to. It's the usual eco-terrorist, humans are bad nonsense the Al Gore's of the world jam down our throats.

If I were a parent and this garbage was hanging in his or her classroom, I would either tear it down or remove my kid from the school. This is indoctrination. It is simply a way to brainwash young people into this whole Mother Earth needs to be worshiped nonsense.

The real Pledge of Allegiance is taboo because in it we have the audacity to say "one nation under God" but we can get on our knees and pray to the Earth all we want.

I am tired of this kind of insanity.

If I dare say God created the Earth in a school, I'd probably be arrested but we can ask our kids to love the planet more than God. It makes my head hurt.

A friend of mine's son had to watch Al Gore's lump of cow dung, "An Inconvenient Truth" in high school and the teacher didn't bother to explain many of the "facts" of the movie were not really facts at all.

What would you expect from the Progressive Propaganda Machine?

I am going to write something radical, politically incorrect, and could end up being illegal someday: People are more important than the planet. God created it for us and it is under our dominion. The Earth has no magical powers and it can't grant wishes or feel anything.

Earthquakes are not the planets way of telling us it's mad about pollution or overpopulation.

Yes, as a gift from God, we must be proper stewards over it, but we can't worship it or make it more important than people.

I know that will hurt the feelings of the tree huggers, but it is true.

We need some perspective.

It was a little chilly, but the sun was out and I got my first feeling of spring.

To be honest, I didn't listen very long because it was just a spring training game, but it was great to hear a little baseball on the radio.

The Tigers will be an interesting team to watch this season. Will they be good> I assume so. Will they make the playoffs? I'd say they got about a 30% chance of doing that.

I do know the season will be worth watching for several reasons:

• How much will the Detroit Tigers miss Curtis Granderson?
• Does Johnny Damon have anything left in the tank? He should hit but can he play in the outfield?
• Will a left-handed starter emerge?
• What's up with the bullpen?
• Scott Sizemore, what can he provide?
• Has Miguel Cabrera beat his alcohol problem?

There are many more questions with this team so it should be a fun year.

I love the Tigers but I am going into the season with limited expectations. I want them to play hard and win more than they lose. If I get that, I'll be happy.

Until next time, enjoy Michigan and Goooo TIGERS!!!

When the show premiered last year, it was decent but Amy Poehler portrayed recreation department head Leslie Knope as a major dimwit. She toned that down and Knope has become one of the most endearing characters on television with her corny attitude and her unending belief that government is good and everyone involved shares her idealistic, positive view of the process.

While Poehler is great, it is the surrounding cast that makes "Parks" a great show.

• Nick Offerman plays department head Ron Swanson, a man who hates the government, bureaucracy, the public, meetings, and everything involved with his job. Offerman's dead-pan delivery just makes me laugh.
• Aziz Ansari is Tom Haverford, a low-level government employee who tries to be a ladies man. Haverford teeters between really cool and insecure and ridiculous. It works for him.
• Next to Poehler, Rashida Jones had the most star power when "Parks" aired. She was most well-known for her role on "The Office" as a love interest for Jim. Jones plays nurse Ann Perkins who befriended Knope in the first season as the two tried to make a hole in the ground next to Perkins' home into a park. With the story of the park abandoned in season two, the writers have found ways to keep Perkins involved. Jones is great but her character needs some freshening up.
• Jones became the girlfriend of Mark Brandanawicz played by Paul Schneider. Brandanawicz is basically Jim from "The Office" but is bit more of a ladies man. Like Perkins, Brandanawicz has potential to be a great character but the romance between the two is a little weak.
• The most under-rated part of "Parks" is April Ludgate (Aubrey Plaza) and Andy Dwyer (Chris Pratt). Dwyer was Perkins' live-in, lazy boyfriend last season and was pretty annoying. This year, he has a job at city hall as a shoe shine and is more dopey and lovable than the loser he played last season. Ludgate was an intern who couldn't wait to get out of the parks and recreation department, until she started crushing on Dwyer. She ended up taking the job as Swanson's assistant. Ludgate is awesome. She has a deadpan expression and she goes against every traditional convention. She even has a boyfriend who has a boyfriend and the three go on dates together.

Angie Jackson said she tweeted her feelings and what was happening as her baby was killed to "demystify" abortion. Demystify means to make less mysterious. I don't think there is anything mysterious about abortion. It's basically ripping a baby out of the womb in order to kill it and avoid the responsibility of your actions. (Don't give me the whole "the health of the mother nonsense. ALL data states more than 99.99% of abortions are done to women that are NOT in any health danger by carrying the baby.)

According to reports, Jackson didn't understand why people attacked her for the blow-by-blow report of her baby's killing. She should have known people would be troubled by this.

What is surprising is, I am not at all surprised. We live in a country where destroying an eagle's egg is a felony but killing a baby is a "choice."

I think the Pro-life people would love for this to happen because it shows how grotesque abortion and baby-killing pills truly are. I also think the Pro-death - er, Pro-choice people would be upset at Jackson. Pro-choicers don't even want pregnant women to see ultrasound photos of their unborn babies before an abortion because it could change their minds about killing the children.

I predict the next will be YouTube abortions, followed by fetish Web sites and ultimately, Joy Behar hosting a reality show where women compete to have free abortions and the winner has her's televised on live TV.

The world is getting crazier by the day.

Then, we found out he went to a church that openly promoted racism and an anti-American message. He stopped going to that church and assured his Christian supporters he was going to find a new church as soon as he got to Washington.

That hasn't exactly happened. In fact, since Obama has entered the White House, he hasn't gone to church. He said in an interview he gets daily spiritual messages from various faiths sent to his phone everyday. That means he is trying to play to all his supporters and not to Christianity.

A lot of people say President Obama is a Muslim. There is some evidence to that. He speaks of the "Holy Koran" and quotes from it perfectly, while the only thing I've heard him say about the Bible is the Sermon on the Mount promoted homosexuality and the only things saying homosexuality was a sin is some "obscure" passage in Romans.

President Obama also refused to attend a Catholic breakfast and participate in the National Day of Prayer.

I don't care if Obama is a Muslim. It is his choice and this country allows for religious freedom. Well, anywhere the courts say it is OK to do so. But I don't think he is a Muslim. I think he believes in that universal faith nonsense that Oprah preaches.

Now, we get President Obama hosting a group of atheists to discuss things like faith-based initiatives, Christians proselytizing in the military, and some kind of medical neglect. I guess atheists believe Faith-based childcare centers are hurting kids or something.

What I could see coming out of these meetings is all government money taken away from any group that may have some kind of connection to Christianity (somehow other religions will be OK because they are in a minority), faith-based day care centers will be straddled with more regulations that do nothing, and Christians will be kicked out of the military if they talk about their faith.

Has anyone noticed all these atheists and humanist groups only attack Christians? I wonder why they don't go after Muslims that talk about their religion to others?

As a Christian, I hope everybody, including the president, would accept Jesus, but that is not my responsibility to make sure he does. If he never steps foot in a church again, I can't control that. However, I would bet President Obama and his family find a church a few months before campaigning before the 2012 election.

The latest comes from Butte, Montana where a student was criminally denied her right to express her love of God in a graduation speech and the courts agreed with the school district. If she were a 12-year-old wanting an abortion without her parents' consent, I am sure the school would have obliged and the judge would have kicked in for the cost.

This story was posted back in December on the Billings Gazette Web site:

BILLINGS -  The Butte School District  did not violate free speech rights, when it prohibited a student from talking about God in a graduation speech.
In 2008, the Butte School District 1 Superintendent Charles Uggetti and Butte High Principal John Metz told Renee Griffith she could not talk about her religion in a graduation speech.
The district did not allow her to give the speech after she refused to change it.
Yellowstone County District court ruled the school administrators refusal to permit valedictorian Renee Griffith to state her religious views at a 2008 graduation ceremony, was not in violation of the United States Constitution.
Griffith's attorney Bill O'Connor disagrees.
"The question is not whether she was trying to espouse religion, which she was not, whether she was trying to promote religion on behalf of the school which she was not," said O'Connor.  "She was only trying to give her personal beliefs and the court's decision says if the court's decision is of a personal belief is of a religious nature, they would not allow it."
District Court Judge Gregory Todd stated in his ruling, "The Districts actions in this case were neither taken in response to Griffith's personal religious beliefs, as has been asserted by Griffith, nor were they unlawfully discriminatory."
Judge Todd ended his written ruling with Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.
O'Connor says he will file an appeal next week..to take this case to the Montana Supreme Court.

Ummm...isn't Judge Todd a public employee? How dare he quote the Bible. Doesn't he know there is a separation of church and state? He should be removed from the bench.

This country is in big trouble and I will say a big reason for that is our nation is turning our back on God.

When this country began. The Bible was required reading in schools. As time passed, the Bible went away, but schools could pray. Teacher-led prayer went away, but the courts said students can lead prayer. Now, the students are being silenced.

Has anyone noticed as we remove God from our schools, things are getting worse? It is not a coincidence. As adults become more and more afraid to tell their children right and wrong, society becomes more chaotic.

Some people say the Bible will be outlawed within the next few decades. I am not sure that will happen. What I am sure of is the Liberals, judges, and politicians will do whatever they can to make people believe it is irrelevant.

That's sad. Because God is the answer, not the problem.

I disagree. It is true under Rich Rodriguez, the Wolverines had a couple of bad seasons on the field, but that doesn't mean all is lost. Every program will have a bad stretch now and then, but I doubt Rodriguez is the man to lead the team out of its current down slide. There are too many negatives surrounding the program.

The play on the field has been bad, especially the defense, and now the NCAA reported Michigan has incurred major violations which may not be cause for sanctions now, but any more trouble and it could become very serious.

The violations basically say that Rodriguez has disregarded rules and is losing control over his team.

I was a big proponent of getting rid of Lloyd Carr because I felt the team played poorly under him and he wasn't a very good coach. A lot of people were tired of the three-loss seasons, but I wasn't. I don't like them, but it happens when a team plays a tough schedule. I was just mad because Carr was out-coached by teams with far inferior talent.

Carr also refused to let the offense come out its shell so teams would often win because Carr seemed like he didn't want to score and was too stubborn to change his ways.

I was glad when he retired and I like the Rodriguez hiring. With two seasons behind us, I think a better coach should have been hired.

I expect this season to be a 6-6 season at best and old Rich Rod to be sent packing. His tenure here started poorly with the West Virginia lawsuit nonsense and never got better. it's time for Michigan to cut its losses.

You can't fire Rodriguez now but he is - and should be - on a very short leash.

The Wolverines may be going through a rough patch on the field, but fans could always take pride in the fact the program was a good one. That isn't the case right now. It is not a terrible one on the brink of the Death Penalty by the NCAA but these findings definitely smear the school's reputation a bit.

The program needs to be watched closely this year and if more of this garbage turns up, a house cleaning is on order.

Until next time, enjoy Michigan and GO BLUE!!!

What amazes me is how people still back Kilpatrick. I've heard people say he is a target of "The Man" or he just had an affair so why bother the man. (Actually, it wasn't about his affair, it was about him trying to destroy some men's lives and thinking he was better than everyone else.)

Kilpatrick has fallen behind in his payments and faces jail time. Amid this circus, we heard such gems as Kilpatrick's

attorney Daniel Hajji claiming the former mayor and current salesman must "establish a rapport with are likely to be the privileged and the affluent. Burgers and beer at the local bar is not going to be sufficient."

Someone should tell Hajji it's up to Kilpatrick's employer to foot the bill to wine and dine a client.

And shouldn't all that "privileged" living brought in some great sales and big commission checks so Kilpatrick could pay the city?

Anyway, I am so tired of this Kilpatrick nonsense because everything I keep hearing is about how the former mayor is still living the "hip-hop" lifestyle and showing to remorse for his crimes.

I am also amazed people are giving him money.

According to a Detroit Free Press report, more than $35,000 in money orders were given to the court to pay Kilpatrick's debt. It is not obvious where that money came from but I gather it is from some people who Kilpatrick either conned into giving him money or it came from some kind of political paybacks.

It's sad to say, but I hope the money comes from people Kilpatrick "helped" while he was mayor. I'd hate to think honest people got smooth-talked out of their money by this con man.

Her record as governor of Alaska is a good one. I like the fact she is a Christian. I like how she is a good mom. I like how she loves family. And I like how she connects with people.

All that being said, there are some things I don't like.

I don't like how she toys with the idea of running for president in 2012. She won't bow out and she won't commit to run. It may be the right thing to do when it comes to politics, but I am bored with it already.

I am a little tired of her "gosh darn diggity" attitude. Yes, i like how she connects with people and how she understands the plight of middle America, but every answer to every question can't be about how "average " are suffering. She needs more of a backbone. She is seriously close to becoming the female version of Homer Simpson's neighbor Ned Flanders.

I don't like how she won't dive in and lead the Tea Party movement or commit to the Republicans. Pick a side already.

I don't like her attacks on President Obama. Okay, I kind of like how she takes her digs, but doing so doesn't help her cause or make Conservatives look good. In fact, name calling is in the Liberal playbook.

When I started this post, I thought I'd have more to dislike about Palin. Now, I can't think of anything else.

How about you?