Donald Trump will be inaugurated as America’s 45th president on Friday, January 20, 2017. To quote the 32nd President of the United States, it is “a date which will live in infamy.”

The good news, if there can be any good news, is that you don’t have to watch. And while some have chosen to protest, I personally don’t see a whole lot of point in that either. Both watching and protesting are largely symbolic acts. I will be doing something else entirely. I have not decided what yet, but here are five things I’ve thought of that, in my honest opinion, will be better than spending the day participating in the Trump inauguration madness.

1. Read Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States

We all know there’s a lot of history to this country besides the candy-coated pablum and disinformation they taught us in school. An excellent resource that chronicles a lot of this is Howard Zinn’s classic book, A People’s History of the United States. Zinn tells the story of America not from the perspective of those in power, but from the perspective of those who fought power. It is an essential read for anyone who wants to fully understand American past, present, and future.

2. Visit a National Park

The National Park System is probably my favorite thing about the United States. I’ve only visited a fraction of our parks, and not a single one disappointed. My personal favorites have been Joshua Tree, Canyonlands, and Yosemite, but they’ve all been spectacular from my experience. There’s nothing like a trip into nature, whether you’re up for a grueling hike up a mountain or a relaxing day by a lake. Watch this video to get you in the mood.

3. Volunteer

There is no shortage of ways to volunteer in the United States, and that need does not cease because some big national event like inauguration day is happening. In fact, days like that can sometimes mean a shortage of help because people stay home to watch. There are plenty of resources to help you find a way to volunteer at a homeless shelter, hospital, or elsewhere. Alternately, you could also pick up some bags and gloves and clean up trash in a park or something. The possibilities are limitless.

4. Organize!

Trump could turn out be a great president, but I think it’s highly unlikely. And even if he does, having a decent president is not the be-all-end-all for improving society. Why not use the moment of the inauguration to organize a meeting for some local, state, or national cause and get the ball rolling on making real change. Social media makes it easier than ever to find people and get involved.

5. Start a Blog

The establishment media is not going to be the voice of revolution or even minuscule change in American society, and while there is a growing number of independent media outlets, youtube channels, and blogs that seek to report the truth, more is always better in that regard. If you need advice, message me here. Likewise, send me a message if you have an idea for an article you’d like published on Twist the Knife. It’s mostly my blog, but I’m not opposed to guest contributions.

Of course, these are only the tip of the iceberg. Leave some comments and let me know how you are going to be spending the day Friday in place of feeding the madness of the dark day in history that is the day we see the orange goon, Donald Trump, become president.