John Adams book review

I just finished John Adams by David McCullough. I had heard good things about this book and I love history (I know you are all thinking I am a nerd now) especially American history so I gave it a go.
David McCullough obviously does his homework, almost every page has references to letters or journal entries from John Adams or his family. While it seems like this would slow the book down, for me it did just the opposite and fascinated me that I was reading actual thoughts and feeling from John Adams himself.
John Adams was a frugal, hard working man, he believed in education and bought and read every book he could get his hands on. He was the type of person that did not see grey, only black and white, right and wrong. His greatest accomplishment was the Declaration of Independence and more specifically the Bill of Rights. While the Declaration was penned by Jefferson, he suggested it, led debates on what it should say, and Jefferson borrowed the Bill of Rights written by Adams for Massachusetts. Obviously he was inspired by God for this great work of establishing a Republic that has lasted almost 250 years.
Interestingly enough, I think most of the other stuff he did in his life was subpar. As ambassador to France during the war, he was outcast, leaving Franklin to secure the funds that won the war. As George Washington's Vice President he took the first six months of the first ever presidency to debate what title should be given each office. This was not only a waste of time but was exactly why we fought the war, to rid ourselves of Kings and Queens or families born with titles making them entitled by birthright. As President he signed the alien and sedition act making it legal to jail journalist that said bad things about the president, so much for the first amendment.
One of the more amazing facts to me was that Adams and Jefferson both died on the same day. Adams in Massachusetts and Jefferson in Virgina July 4th 1826, exactly 50 years to the day of signing the Declaration of Independence. This was either a huge coincidence or a sign from God and I don't believe in coincidence.
This is a book worth reading.

Gold is Good

I am not the smartest person you will meet in your lifetime but it did not take me long to realize, if I wanted to blog, I could not share my wife's site. I would post a blog and in a days time it was moved to the back page by 10 different posts from Tara on the family, kids sports, whats on tv etc. While what Tara is posting is probably more entertaining, I like to humor myself and play to my vanity that what I want to post is more important and should not be bumped by a post about our dog.
This site should be a little of everything from politics to sports to religion and any other topic that is not polite to talk about with dinner guests. It is no secret among those whom know me best that I am often a contrarian (is that how you spell that word) and like to argue, so if you see something you don't agree with, by all means lets argue, debate or discuss, whatever form you prefer.