Punching Cardboard

We made it. 2017 is heading out the door. We're battered and beaten and bruised and bewitched and bespoke and bee-stung and help me off this ride. Phew!

But before we go, here's a bunch of stuff we dug in 2017. We're talkin' games and whiskey and whisky and tunes and food and beer and a whole lot of other things in this episode. We take a swipe at a few things, but we mostly go for the good stuff as we sneak off to 2018, hoping that if it doesn't hear us we can find a little more peace and joy in that neck of the woods. Anyway, please enjoy our year-end extravaganza. We'll see you on the other side.

IN THE BOOTH:

00:08:28 -- Card Tray Giveaway
00:16:09 -- Games (10 down to 6)
00:51:41 -- Top 5 Train Games (Joe)
00:54:03 -- Top 5 Reasons to Hate Sports (Jim, an audible)
01:00:05 -- Best Music of 2017
01:23:22 -- Top 5 IPAs (Joe)
01:27:47 -- Top 5 Foods (Jim)
01:35:44 -- Whisky Tasting Results
01:41:32 -- Games (5 down to 1)
02:17:45 -- Disappointments and Other Odds & Ends

Direct download: PCP_122_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 5:15pm PDT

Here we are in the heart of the holiday season, starting to work off all that late November food while trying to navigate the December gifting maze. So, of course, let's talk about some games.

We kick things off with an inconclusive discussion of An Infamous Traffic before moving forward to counteract the hustle of the season with session reports that further explore some of the games that have already graced this show. Add in a little bourbon and music and this cocktail might just be the cocktail you were looking for. 

INGREDIENTS:

00:02:03 -- Here Be Dragons
00:11:35 -- The Baseball Association?
00:15:43 -- Who Wants Card Holders?
00:26:40 -- An Infamous Traffic (Incongruous Thoughts)
00:53:45 -- Weller's Special Reserve Bourbon
01:00:30 -- (Gaming Sessions)
01:02:48 -- Calimala
01:09:43 -- Mini Rails
01:15:10 -- Lignum
01:23:52 -- Game of Thrones (1st Edition (9 Players))
01:34:57 -- Arkwright
01:37:42 -- The Lego Robotics Tournament
01:43:12 -- Music (The Euge Organ Trio, John Murry, Joe Henry, Do Make Say Think, Broken Social Scene)

Direct download: PCP_121_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 5:24pm PDT

It's a long way from Portland to Dallas, but Jim makes the journey and Punching Cardboard represents at 2017's edition of BGG CON. The people, the games, the whisky, the food, the triumphs, the mishaps: It's all here for your listening pleasure. 

SCHEDULE:

00:13:08 -- In 'n' Out Burger, huh, What is it Good For?
00:15:29 -- BGG CON Overview Begins
00:34:10 -- It's Not Rocket Science, Jim.
00:53:45 -- Meetup Oblivion
01:03:44 -- Ratchet Soul
01:15:30 -- Joe's Non-Con Begins
01:15:50 -- Clans of Caledonia (Joe's Take)
01:29:20 -- Calimala (In-Depth)

Direct download: PCP_120_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 7:34pm PDT

If you like to convert resources into goods and then use those goods to build structures and make technological advances while saving your money for conversion to other currencies (phew!), then you have come to the right place.

Here in Episode 119 we look at shipping coal, goods conversions, and making money through buying money from other countries. Econ 101? Probably not, but at least as much fun.

EXCHANGE RATES: 

00:01:52 -- Shirts, Finally
00:15:33 -- For Ex (Session Report)
00:45:27 -- Oh My Goods! (Quick Take)
01:00:40 -- Clynelish 14yo
01:08:44 -- Music (Ben Allison, Louis Sclavis, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, And So I Watch You From Afar)
01:28:58 -- The Ruhr: A Story of Coal Trade (In-Depth)

Direct download: PCP_119_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 4:28pm PDT

They say time flies when you're having fun, so I can certainly say we had fun while recording this one. Our bad. But for those of you who enjoy long, rambling discussions peppered with brilliant insights, you just might find this one to your liking. Enjoy.

THE PATH AHEAD:

00:05:12 -- 2017 T-Shirts
00:12:40 -- Gaming on Ye Olde Ranch
00:21:18 -- The Ruhr (First Take)
00:27:15 -- Card City XL (First Take)
00:30:50 -- Mini Rails (First Take)
00:33:27 -- Clans of Caledonia (First Take)
00:42:33 -- Chicago Express
00:53:16 -- Redbreast 15yo & Children at Play
01:04:50 -- Viewer Mail
01:38:25 -- Music Roundup (Ben Allison, Kamasi Washington, Mike Stern, Queens of the Stone Age, Destroyer)
01:55:22 -- Lignum (In-depth)

Direct download: PCP_118_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 5:30pm PDT

Never say never. Be prepared for anything. The show must go on. Choose your cliche and join us for episode 117 of the unbroken Punching Cardboard podcast.

In this episode we bid farewell to Eric, a difficult thing to do as he has been crucial to this show's success. But for us, this is Rock 'n' Roll, or the closest thing we can manage. Band albums, solo albums, a rotating cast of musicians, and someone always wants to keep playin'. So welcome new Punching Cardboard co-host Joe to the stage as we intend to rock on. Of course we have some new material in the form of some Time of Crisis riffs and Gentes melodies.

Meet the new show, same as the old show.

TUNES:

00:00:43 -- A Farewell to Eric
00:05:37 -- Oh, Hello Joe
00:17:52 -- Subwoofer Goes Poof!
00:28:45 -- Time of Crisis (First Take)
01:02:25 -- Gentes

Direct download: PCP_117_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:29pm PDT

Welcome to our annual get-together with the fine folks over at Heavy Cardboard. It takes us a while to get into the meat of the episode as our planned 15 minute intro turned into an easygoing conversation with some unexpected insights into the thoughts and feelings behind these endeavors.

So, this is an epic show, a way-too-many-games discussed show, and some might argue a way-too-long show. But when you're having a good time, time flies, and we thoroughly enjoyed this session. We hope you concur.

EXHIBITS:

00:02:11 -- Games Played and Feelings Felt
01:05:57 -- 2016 Lists in Review
01:26:39 -- Ten
01:35:18 -- Nine
01:45:13 -- Eight
02:05:30 -- Seven
02:10:50 -- Six
02:22:03 -- Five
02:32:49 -- Four
02:42:51 -- Three
02:55:32 -- Two
03:12:15 -- One
03:23:12 -- The Ones That Missed The Cut

Direct download: PCP_116_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 12:00pm PDT

Okay kids, I think this is a good one. A little giddiness, a little edginess. Three game session reports that press our buttons and invite some good critical analysis. Add in two albums that we've been waiting to sink our teeth into and it's easy for us to raise this discussion to 11. Enjoy the show.

DECIBELS:

00:14:15 -- Sidereal Confluence (First Take - Session Report)
00:54:12 -- The Godfather (First Take)
01:10:30 -- Teeling Single Grain Irish Whiskey
01:13:15 -- Music (Steven Wilson - To The Bone; The War on Drugs -- A Deeper Understanding)
01:47:39 -- Mythotopia (The Showdown)

Direct download: PCP_115_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 4:31pm PDT

Jules Verne published Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea in 1870. Dan Quisenberry lead the American League in Saves five times. Nemo, the main character in Verne's novel, was the captain of the Nautilus, a submarine. The Nautilus exercise equipment company was founded in 1986. Quisenberry, a submarine style relief pitcher, won a World Series in 1985, and may have used a Nautilus machine for strength training later in his career. Somehow, neither Verne or Quisenberry are with us today.

Coincidence?

Well, we can't be sure, but we do know that this episode covers board games based on material from both men's careers. Maybe you can solve the mystery, or at least enjoy the episode.

EVENTS:

00:08:25 -- Nemo's War (in depth)
00:48:48 -- Baseball Roundup
00:52:20 -- Baseball Highlights 2045
00:59:55 -- Clutch Baseball
01:16:45 -- Strat-O-Matic Baseball
01:34:48 -- Out of the Park Baseball

Direct download: PCP_114_final.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 4:20pm PDT

It's a hot August night, and a cloud of smoke has descending into the Willamette Valley as wildfires rage throughout the region. We may not be able to breath freely for a few more days, and cool air is just a dream at the moment, but we decided to brave the elements to bring you tales from the rebuilding of Lisbon after a devastating earthquake in 1755. We have made a good many attempts at reconstruction, and we hope you enjoy these tales as we discuss the merits of Vital Lacerda's Lisboa.  Stay cool and breathe free.

BLUEPRINTS:

06:33 -- Poll Wars
13:47 -- Peter Perrett, The Only Ones, Manchester Orchestra
24:45 -- Lisboa

Direct download: PCP_113_final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:45am PDT