The Dutch captain and his crew had captured about twenty captive Africans from a Spanish slave ship, and sought to trade their pilfered "goods" at Jamestown for food. That the first slaves arrived at the historic Virginia settlement by accident does nothing to dispel its sad precedent, for many hundreds of thousands more followed.

Contemporary documents suggest that the settlers weren't sure what to make of the captive Africans, though they were traded as the Dutch intended. Records from the 1620s list the first African-Americans as servants rather than property; later records show an increasing number of free blacks in the colonies. Yet by 1640, a court had condemned at least one African slave to "serve his master ...for the time of his natural life."

Southern colonies in the 1660s began writing slave codes and confiscating the lands of free African-Americans. The stage had been set for a battle that pitted race against race, state against state, and the nation's founding ideals of freedom against the harsh reality of American life for Africans sold into slavery.

After repulsing several Union charges, the Confederate lines broke. Rather than pursue them, Union General George McClellan held his reserves in check, giving Confederate General Robert E. Lee time to gather his defeated army and withdraw. More than 23,000 were killed, wounded, or missing. Civil War scholars argue the Civil War could have ended that day--if McClellan had sent his remaining forces after Lee's army, the Confederate commander might have been forced to surrender. Instead, the war dragged on for nearly three more years at a cost of more than 600,000 lives.

Not in 1929. The brief rally that followed the crash quickly proved to be what traders call a dead-cat bounce. The Dow sank to new lows in November, then sank and sank again. By the time it hit bottom--in 1932--the market had shed nearly 90 percent of its value. It was more than twenty years, in 1954, before the Dow reached its 1929 peak.

The collapse touched off a catastrophic chain reaction. Just as overextended investors lost al their wealth, poorly regulated banks saw their assets disappear, either in the crash itself or in the crush of jittery depositors demanding their cash. By 1933, 11,000 of the United States' 25,000 banks had closed. Consumers stopped spending, businesses stopped producing, and the economic system all but collapsed. By 1932, U.S. manufacturers produced half of what they had in 1929. One quarter of American workers had no job.

More than 130 vessels moored in the harbor were strafed or bombed; the attack sunk five American battleships and damaged three more. It also destroyed a half-dozen light cruisers and destroyers and 188 aircraft. The Pacific Fleet's aircraft carriers were not in port and so escaped the attack.

On December 8th, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a declaration of war, and men all over the country volunteered for active duty. The U.S. then embarked on a four-year mission that changed the lives of nearly every American and placed the nation squarely on the world stage.

Kennedy's assassination ended the era fondly known as Camelot and opened another dominated by prolonged social upheaval and characterized by enormous divides between race, class and political ideology.

The assassination ignited a violent new chapter in race relations in the United States, sparking riots across dozens of American cities that continued for months. Hundreds were injured and scores were killed in the fires and violent confrontations with police. More than 3,000 arrests were made in the nation's capital alone. National Guard soldiers were mobilized to help quell the violence, which looked to anxious Americans like a full-fledged race war.

Dr King's immediate successor, Reverend Ralph Abernathy, repeatedly appealed for calm, but radicals, such as United Black Front chairman Lincoln Lynch, gave voice to furious rage in vowing revenge. "It is imperative to abandon the unconditional non-violent concept expounded by Dr King and adopt the position that for every Martin Luther King who falls, 10 white racists will go down with him," he said. "There is no other way--America understands no other language."

Here's a list provided by Planned Parenthood of ways to "Fight Forward For Choice" from the book The War on Choice: The Right-Wing Attack on Women's Rights and How to Fight Back by Gloria Feldt, the President of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc.

1. Clear your head and open your eyes. For example, don't listen to everything the Republican leadership touts. Feltd says you can clear your head by simply believing that what you do matters. Fill your environment and life with pro-choice people, books, television, and log on to pro-choice Web sites including www.plannedparenthood.org, www.waronchoice.com, www.saveroe.com.

2. Understand Democracy 101--and work it! People make a difference. Voice your opinions, write letters, join organizations, and reach out to elected officials, and other folks who might join the movement. Your action doesn't have to end at signing petitions.

3. Use the power of your voice. Advocate for your kids, Feldt says, and demand sex education at your schools. It's about all people having access to education and reproductive health services.

4. Tell your own story. Get together with other folks to share your personal stories regarding reproductive rights. Feldt recommends that you go online and tell your story at www.behindeveryvoice.com.

5. Don't play nice. Use your connections and talents to take action. Don't be afraid of protests, and boycotts.

6. Learn from your adversaries. Get involved. Donate your time and money to support pro-choice organizations.

7. Be persistent. One action can make a difference, but one action is not enough. Don't give up right away if you don't get immediate results from your action, whatever it may be.

8. Wear the shirt. Let it be known that you support and demand reproductive rights. Feldt recommends you get the pro-choice message out any way you can-add a pro-choice message to the footer of your emails, or your business card, or wear a pro-choice shirt.

9. Take the media by talking back. Get involved--whether it's printing your own newsletter, writing a letter to the New York Times, calling in during a radio talk show, or complaining when media programs are biased.

10. Take an action every day.

Kort says his clients sometimes overreact to government policy and procedures because of incidents that happened during childhood. If you're from a dangerous household where rules and norms were not fair, and you haven't resolved those feelings, Kort says you might overreact to Bush at times: "It will not allow you to behave logically to the governmental situation, because instead you are also reacting to your family and your past."

Don't let fear become overly debilitating. If you do, others will control you from afar. "Surrendering your own welfare in to their hands will only leave you angry and empty, a hostage to what others want-or expect you to be."

Watch how the country often takes its lead from the president, politically and culturally. Just as Eisenhower's middle American stance defined the 1950s, John Kennedy's cutting edge sophistication defined the 1960s, and Ronald Reagan's Hollywood cowboy personality gave way to the go-go 1980s, Bush's staid conservative ways will mean a boost to businesses that cater to them.

For example, if you're in the garment business, look for men's clothes to simulate masculine, military mentality; one of my friends owns the largest suit making company in North America, and he tells me that the suit business has done much better since Bush took office. The same may be said for a host of other uniforms, whether for selling female allure or cowboy masculinity. Not a good prospect for metrosexual fashion.

Here are some other ideas for businesses:

1. Anything related to security, particularly in electronics. It's unlikely any other businesses will do better.
2. Construction-related businesses in rural and semi-rural areas. These areas will grow because the largesse of the federal government will target the people who supported Bush. Likewise, if I had a chain of stores I wanted to expand, I would pick these areas.
3. The import business. Despite a potentially weak dollar, imports will boom as bush allows the country to de-industrialize ever more. Also, keep in mind that trade will shift toward Mexico and the Pacific-rim countries because our relationships with Europe are so terrible.
4. Extremist media. Bush's victory will fuel the country's divisive nature. On the one hand, right-wing and Christian books, cds, and talk-radio will flourish; on the other, a huge anti-Bush industry will also prosper; anti-Bush buttons, tee-shirts, and books.
5. Cattle. Maybe not something you think of a lot, but anything related to meat-eating will do well. A friend in the business tells me that the two best things to happen to meat are the Atkins diet and Bush. Also ranchers will get nice deals to graze on federal land.
6. Baby related businesses. The Bush administration will continue its pro-natalist policies, encouraging marriage and kids. And if more tax breaks for children are passed, more money will be spent on them.

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Comedy Central
http://www.comedycentral.com/tv_shows/thedailyshowwithjonstewart/
The Daily Show is breaking more news than the news shows--and it's supposed to be a comedy show. Allegedly more adults between 18-25 get their news from the Daily Show than any other broadcast outlet. No wonder. The Daily Show's cynicism with the news and politics can be the only time you actually watch a so-called news program and feel as though the anchor is grounded in reality.

Real Time Bill Maher
HBO
http://www.hbo.com/billmaher/
From his website: "Folks, I see the catharsis in a live audience every time I ridicule our president when I do my stand-up on the road... A hate, like Bush, only comes once in a lifetime. And when it walks through the door, you grab it and hold on tight, and never let it go. Without George Bush, my job will be... hard. " It's irreverent, and it's supposed to be.

Media Matters
http://www.mediamatters.org
Master-minded by reformed right wing hatchet wielder David Brock, Media Matters relentlessly monitors conservative bias in the media--and throws it right back as fast as it comes.

TomPaine.com
http://www.tompaine.com
A terrific daily compendium of progressive thought, the site is widely known for its contentious ads on the op ed page of the New York Times.

Alternet
http://www.alternet.org/
Independent and alternative journalism from voices and perspectives marginalized by mainstream media.

Common Dreams
http://www.commondreams.org/
A digest of breaking news and views for the progressive community.

Harbin is run by approximately 170 full-time residents. Applications for residency are available by mail or e-mail through the website, although they suggest you visit before you apply. However, as they say, don't expect a residency at Harbin as the solution to your problems, but instead a place where Òthe real you emerges, transforming and growing... in a supporting and nurturing environment."

For shorter stays, you can check-in as a student or as a consumer. For the consumer, there is a wide range of bodywork options, spa treatments, therapy workshops. For those who come to Harbin to learn, workshops and classes include, but certainly aren't limited to massage (shiatsu, watsu, tantra, raw food, and "unconditional dance").

Rates run depending on the season and accommodations, around $145 for weekend, $95 for Sundays through Thursdays. The rates are less if you are willing to bring your own tent and camp. Prices do not include meals. Certain lodgings require you to bring your own bedding and towels. Some baths are shared. The website has a list of what to pack.

While you may not be reinventing psychotherapy, here is a supportive environment to try out original ideas to create change in the world. You will find many-like minded people trying to create solutions for the coming years.

In addition to the shorter week-long and weekend retreats and classes, Esalen offers two options for a month long stay. There is an Ongoing Residence Program, which is a more traditional for pay situation where you take workshops (of your choosing) during the week. During November, workshops range from yoga to writing to acupressure for. The cost runs from $3335 to $4225 depending on accommodations and includes room and board.

For the cost conscious, there is also a twenty-eight day work-study program. Such programs for November includes focusing on spiritual massage and healing and a program "intended for people in transition who would liketo cultivate the life skills necessary for dealing effectively with change and uncertainty."

Esalen is located in Big Sur, California, and hugs the hills down to the ocean. There is limited van service from the Monterey Airport on Fridays and Sundays.

Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health is located in Stockbridge Massachusetts in the Berkshires in what was previously a Jesuit seminary. Full-time residency is restricted to a vowed community, somewhat like a monastery. But they also offer yoga retreats from three to five nights. Each retreat, although yoga based, may focus more on healing, fitness or strict yoga practice.

A retreat includes accommodations (which are very spartan) and meals (also spartan, but healthy), classes, sauna, whirlpool and weight room. The grounds are surrounded with hiking trails and there is a meditative labyrinth for you to ponder the past and let it go. Certain stays also come with private yoga instruction, Thai massage, and ayurvedic consultation, a 5000 year old health practice. The day starts early at 6 am and everyone is expected to be in bed by 9:30 pm. By the end of a busy but healthful day, everyone is.

Back in its early days in the 1960s, Findhorn's six inhabitants tried growing vegetables in the dry sandy land in order to conserve expenses. It wasn't overly productive. Then one of the founders realized that she had a connection with the plants and received instructions on how to make the most of their struggling garden. The group followed these directions, and the resulting abundant harvest has made the Findhorn garden famous with horticultural experts. This is an unusual place where odd things happen.

Your initial visit will likely be as part of one of the Experience Weeks where you become acquainted with the Findhorn values. Experience Weeks come in many forms, from the youth oriented, family oriented to the eco-friendly business owner. An experience week might set you back approximately $500 to $700, which includes meals and accommodations) depending on your income level. (The lower your income, the less you pay.) From there you might consider staying on for the "Living in a Community Program" which can last from one to three months.

At Hollyhock, you can contemplate reality, or actively engage in any number of programs. The usual offerings range from yoga and bodywork to global justice and nature and the outdoors. Depending on the program, it might last from a week to a month.

Your schedule would likely start at 7 AM with meditation and yoga, breakfast, and then your morning workshop. Then you'd have lunch and anafternoon workshop. After that, free time to explore the grounds, maybe take a guided kayak trip or a sail. Finally dinner and your choice of presentations or more free meditative time will end the day. Daily ratesrun about $50 for tents up to $200 for private rooms, and include meals, primarily vegetarian.