The Constitution of the United States

Hey guys, it's Adventure Van here with a blog about the Constitution, which is one of America's most important documents. It and the (currently) 33 amendments help courts make extremely important decisions, some of which helps change the course of America's history, and in doing so, the world's. And for all of that, it's not very long, only 4,372 words long. However, in those words, we see one extremely important document that has helped shape American history for decades both past and to come. 

The Constitution is a  great document which was signed by the famous George Washington, as well as the Constitutional Congress, a group of representatives who helped legislate the legal document. Because of the nature of it, though, it is fundamentally flawed, from problems not seen to new problems with the times. That's why amendments are slowly made to help keep the backbone of America's legal system from becoming outdated. You can read it if you haven't already here.

However, as much as the American Constitution is the oldest still legal constitution, it was actually majorly based off of the Iroquois Constitution, which you can read here. It's a huge document, holding tons of rules and traditions that were the spine of the government. The system of lords, chiefs, and mothers, was very complex, but was a sound form of government even if not being as democratic, and reading it you can see the stuff that we basically lifted for our own constitution.

This blog was written for Constitution Day, a little known holiday celebrating the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. It's like a smaller version of the Declaration of Independence, which we commonly know as the 4th of July. However, it should be just as important, because it's made America what it is over the course of the 300 years it's been helping courts of all sizes make decisions. Plus, an excuse to celebrate means it doesn't matter what country you are, because celebrations are awesome.

That's Adventure Van, reading away!

Jane Austen

Hey guys, it's Adventure Van here with a blog about Jane Austen, one of the first romantic comedy writers that is still popular today, even though being older then around 200 years. Her original book, 'Pride and Prejudice' (Also known as First Impressions) is a book that most people at least know of, if never having read it themselves, giving her and her series the immortality they deserve. As you likely know, most all of her books were situated with marriage and romance even if it isn't as conventional as marriage actually was back then, and it is quite comedic if you actually read it instead of just skimming.

Jane Austen was the seventh child of her family, and was born in Hampshire, England. She was extremely educated despite her family not being rich. She wrote 7 finished novels during her lifespan, and had been extremely famous back then as well as it here and now. As much as she's extremely known for those, she also wrote other ingenious works, including the adapted play 'Sir Charles Grandison', which does not have as many people knowing it as it should.

The collection of books that she wrote has successfully managed to cement her history and life to a point of which that you can ask almost anyone with a basic education who she was and they'd be able to give off a correct answer. Because of this popularity, it spawns spinoffs, such as 'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies', and movies, such as 'Austenland', all based at least loosely on Jane Austen's great works.

That's Adventure Van, bowing out.

The Mayors Reading Challenge

Hey Guys, it's Adventure Van here with a blog about The Mayors Reading Challenge, an amazing reward system to encourage children to read who otherwise wouldn't. It's been going on for 16 years now, at the time of this writing. I really have enjoyed doing it for a long time now, and the chance to win tablets, TVs, and bikes is just a side-note, along with a free breakfast/lunch and gift-cards and coupons. It's for anyone from kindergarten to 12th, with separate lists of books to read. As you get older, the books grow in seriousness, but everyone has the same requirements, and since there's 30 books on each list on average and you only have to have 7 with reports, or just 4 once you get old enough, the chances of you getting stuck with a book you don't like goes down. As well as that your teacher or parents can choose one book as well, bringing it down to 6 books that have to be taken from the list. I'm writing this about the city of Buffalo's reading challenge, even those there's plenty around the US.

That's Adventure Van, reading out.

Mega Maker: Completly Free (But not of robot masters)

Hey guys, it's Adventure Van here with a blog about Mega Maker, a completely free game that you can get for free. Based off the original series of Mega Man games, this has the Super Mario Maker style of creation with me Mega Man design aspects. While some people make Kaizo, some make autos, but the majority of the community is good and there's some nice levels. It's a fun game and I recommend you check it out.

You can do so here.

Book Report: Bridge of Birds.

Hey guys, it's Adventure Van here with a blog about Bridge of Birds, an epic book which is by far one of my favorites to ever be read by me. I genuinely loved how it was written, the story arcs, and how it all eventually ties together, despite the infinite amount of leads. The story is based extremely loosely on Chinese myths, as well as some awesome stuff the author himself came up with.

The author of this amazing book is Barry Hughart, who created this as his first foray into writing books, and it was an amazing start. The success inspired him to create another two books after it, but after publication issues he was forced to scrap the plans for a 7 book series. However, the first book is by far the flagship of the 3 and it alone makes an amazing book without needing anything else for it.

The story follows Number 10 Ox on his quest to save the children of Ku-Fu after two of the minor villains, named Pawnbroker Fang and Ma the Grub, poison the cities silk worms, but in the process poison a large amount of the children in the village on accident with Ku Poison. In an attempt to find the cure, a scholar with a slight flaw in his character is hired who goes by the family name of Kao and the surname of Li.

An epic quest follows, full of science and mythology, and several story lines and quests go onwards together to tie up into one great ending. I'd recommend reading it if you get the chance, and even going out of your way slightly to do so.