Blogging in Real Time: The Kaleidoscope

Good Evening, Fellow Citizens and Patriots!

Welcome to the one and only journal on the Internet that tells of the monumental events in our nation's history... in real time. Yes, you heard me right. This is the one and only Edmund Randolph, reporting live from the Constitutional Convention, the Senate floor and Washington's cabinet meetings. Read the juiciest of juicy political gossip, from the Assumption Plan to Hamilton's extramarital affair! Scandalous! As if it couldn't get even better, it's all firsthand, from history's most talkative witness. Please enjoy!

All Men Are Created Equal...

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

Welcome to our Kaleidoscope page, where you may find interesting and unique bits and pieces of information, such as videos, recipes, songs (most definitely not sung by me), and so much more! Like a kaleidoscope, you never know what's going to happen next...

Like Toyota, we're always looking for continuous improvement and moved our recipes to another page entitled Sponge Cake and Marmalade. Please be sure to visit that, as we will be adding something new each week. In addition, if you have any of your own colonial recipes, please do add send them to me at attorneygeneral76@gmail.com (Elizabeth won't tell me anything!).
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What's a Nine Man Morris to Do?
Yes, you have Monopoly, Scrabble, Hula-Hoops, and footballs, but what do they teach you? How to become a greedy fool who likes to seize up the boardwalks and the resorts? Just how to hit your mother square in the nose? Maybe, but we like a bit of strategy, so we turn to old man Morris for a bit of fun in deceiving our friends/foes. This game can still be found on tables all around America and several other nations as a household favorite for the whole family.
It's called Nine Man Morris.

Instructions:
(Source: http://www.ssdsbergen.org/Colonial/games.htm)

Use nine pennies, nine nickels, and a drawing like this. Two players are needed to play the game. Each player decides on using pennies or nickels. Begin by taking turns placing one coin on one of the dots. The goal is to line up three pieces in a row while blocking the opponent from doing the same. Capture one of the opponent's pieces whenever a line of three is completed. When a player is down to two pieces, the other player wins.

Bring it on, Hamilton!
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Coke & Mentos: The Legend Lives
As you may have read, I was celebrating our independence with some sticky fireworks (that did NOT go over well with the Boss), and so I decided I ought to share some of the greats who have pursued this trick with great ingenuity and bravery: