Those of us who think modern bloggers and Twitterers have taken self-chronicling (or self-absorption) to new heights (or depths) might consider the case of John Quincy Adams, the sixth president of the United States. Over 69 years, Quincy Adams filled 51 volumes with diaristic entries, and he was frequently juggling several diaries. One included lengthy entries, another shorter musings, and a third summed up his day in telegraphic style. Examples from the tersest diary include the following: January 1, 1795: "Thursday. The Hague. Attended the Stadtholder's Court. Paid official New Years day visits." 12 October 1800: "My cough getting better. Walk round the Walls. Reading Amadis de Gaulis. Tedious." 22 November 1831: "Thunder and Snow. Letter on Imprisonment for debt. Reading on Masonry." Reading on masonry! A few months ago, a student touring the Massachusetts Historical Society observed, upon hearing of these entries, "It's like he's using Twitter." "That got the wheels spinning" at the society, wrote Jeremy Dibble, a librarian there, on its official blog, The Beehive, this week. The results of their brainstorming? the historical society plans to launch a John Quincy Adams Twitter feed next week ...