Happy New Year, ladies & gentlemen. Time to wash our hands of 2006. No matter what you accomplished, no matter mistakes you made, no matter what happened, it's time to usher in a new calendar year. I have a few hopeful wishes for 2007, and feel free to ponder your own:

1. Let's stop the FEAR. It still amazes me that 20 terrorists who successfully crashed two planes into two buildings in New York City over five years ago would continue to affect us so tragically. We have Homeland Security, we have two foreign wars, we have wire taps & lousy air travel & more civil rights taken away from us than the forefathers ever thought possible. Let's get STRONG this year. We need Personal Security, not wire taps. We need not fear the brown bearded man. We need not fear the policies of poor countries and their radical governments on the other side of the world. We need to live with confidence, and don't let anyone tell you something lousy is for your own good.

2. Realize '07 is not '08. Nothing can be worse than jumping the gun and overlooking a year. I realize people are ready to vote for a new president, but that's not how it works. The majority of voting Americans chose to re-elect Bush in 2004, so he gets two more years to do his thing. Deal with it. That's how our form of democracy works. ENOUGH of the Obama/Clinton/McCain/Giuliani scenarios. It means nothing right now. It's like jerking off right before the wedding. Let's live out 2007 before we worry about anything after it. A lot can happen in twelve months to change your mind about anything & everything.

3. Take more time, minimize. All this go go go I see from my fellow Americans is a little disturbing. I see people taking on far too much, running around trying to get it all done, resulting in half-ass accomplishments at best. A foot of snow dropped in two days time in Albuquerque for the first time in decades, and people still tried to get out and continue their regular schedule. Forcing the issue, causing harrowing moments & accidents when they could have just stayed at home and watched a pleasant massive snow fall around town. This is a microcosm of what goes on nationwide. A little less on the plate and a little more focus on a simple enjoyable life would be a good thing for our go-go society.

4. Less cars, less gas. I don't know what to do with commuters. I've heard them talk about their tranquil time as they drive an hour to & from work every day. When I see full Interstates at rush hour, I can't imagine what is so tranquil. I think we need to get away from the cars. More mass transit, more bike rides, more walks. Gas prices are not going to be less than two bucks-a-gallon anymore. If we could all consume a gallon less gas a week, it would make a serious difference. Let's give it a serious try.

5. More experimentation, more exploration. Does it seem like we've become stagnant in our human development lately? Time's Person of the Year is Every Internet User (that's so lame). We need some research & breakthroughs. We need new health options (stem cells, anyone?), we need alternative energy fuels (take your pick), we need to get out of these antiquated ritualistic ways of doing things (a new American Dream?). Let's go BACK to the moon! Let's put some money into the unknown! Let's step away from religious hate and toward personal growth! Take a sad song and make it better! It's time to realize that maybe our lifestyles are not so perfect the way they are.

6. Try something new this year. What? I don't know. It's up to you. Just do it, though. I've always wanted to see... I've always wanted to try... I've been thinking lately about... Fill in the space right after the ellipses. I started acting at age twenty-six, directed my first play at age 27, took up the electric bass at age 28, began eating healthier at age 30, and got a girlfriend this year. Those choices pushed me in ways I never thought possible before they occurred. Give something different a try. You may surprise yourself.

7. Live life in a good way. There's an old Native American adage that we shouldn't think about right or wrong way to do things, but we should try to do everything IN A GOOD WAY. It's pretty much an extension of the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have done to you. These lessons seem so simple to follow, and yet it is quite difficult. Humans are very particular. They each have their own way of doing things, and you and I are no exception. Much of society bothers or disinterests me, but we must deal with it in all its variances nonetheless. The more we do things in a good way, the better we will feel. You can't fight a war in a good way. You can't force democracy at the barrel of a gun. You can't solve problems by complaining all the time. Live long & prosper. Live life in a good way.

It's a whole new year. Feel free to change for the better in 2007.

Chris Jungle tries to adhere to his own advice.