Six miles from downtown Orlando sits Eatonville, FL, the country's first all-black town to incorporate. From 27 black families in the 1880s to a population of around 2,400 that is 90 percent black, the town's history has mirrored the pride and complications of the African-American experience, explains a New York Times profile.

In 1887, 22 years after slavery ended, the town's men voted unanimously to incorporate Eatonville. Native daughter Zora Neale Hurston, author of Their Eyes Were Watching God, was born in Eatonville in 1891 and used her birthplace for inspiration. During desegregation, some residents worried that the introduction of white students and teachers would dilute Eatonville's cohesiveness and its youth's confidence. In 1988 a highway project threatened the town, prompting a new surge of civic spirit. To combat the road that never happened, Eatonville created an annual festival to showcase the its strengths and pride.

Eatonville, which embodies black empowerment, but also sees a poverty rate twice the US average, has increasingly become a Florida tourist stop. Would you pay a visit?

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With 8,000 boomers turning 60 everyday, the US must prepare for the looming senior boom. Like it did with every other episode of life, the baby boomer generation intends to leave its own groovy mark on the golden chapter of life. As a result, senior centers want to do their best to weather the next generational clash between their original senior clients, and the newcomers.

One senior-center worker envisions paninis and mock cocktails replacing fruit cups and club sandwiches. Recreational centers for the well aged will most likely drop the word "senior" from their titles. Activity schedules will go beyond card games and Bingo, adding Nintendo Wii competitions, exercise classes, and motorcycle outings.

By 2030, 20 percent of the US population will be over 65, and 35 percent over 50. Such a sharp increase in the rate of elderly people in society suggests that senior centers really could simply become community centers. Maybe the young people will show up for a motorcycle ride, too!

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There's a common misconception about couples: once they've settled into their relationship, they become boring. While it's true that some couples prefer to stay in over going out, that doesn't automatically put them in the dull department; staying home can be fun, too! Of course things do change once you're off the market — painting the town red doesn't seem like such an urgency — but do you ever miss the excitement of being single? I hear couples tell their friends that they are living vicariously through them when hearing about their dating escapades, so tell me honestly, do you ever wish you were single again? Or are you perfectly happy and content having a significant other, regardless of whether you're considered a bit more boring than you used to be?

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Last week I had a chance to see Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen give a lecture as part of the George Shultz lecture series and I have to say, I was impressed with his calm pragmatism in the face of the shifting military challenges from Iraq to Afghanistan and especially along the country's border with Pakistan.

The other thing that caught my attention, was the grasp he had on the cold, hard figures of the truth of military service, numbers they're struggling with. For instance, 150,000 veterans are currently homeless, a number of which Adm. Mullen says, "One is too many." The other number I feel utterly compelled to pay respect to: the number of servicemen and women killed while serving.

All of these figures are available in the CRS Report for Congress (PDF), American War and Military Operations Casualties: Lists and Statistics. The report covers every war from the War of 1812 through Operation Iraqi Freedom. On the more recent conflicts, starting with the Korean War, more demographic details are included too. To see the sobering, yet surprising breakdown of casualties by year, read more