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Murphy Martin Commentary
January 5, 2006

 "New Year - New Challenges"

2005 left us amidst drought-driven, wind-blown raging fires that leveled small towns and blackened tens of thousands of Texas and Oklahoma acres while mud-slides and torrential rains inundated California and parts of Nevada. All this on the heels of multi-BILLION dollar losses forged on southern coastal areas by Katrina and Rita and
other weather disasters in America and the Tsunami devastation wrought in other parts of our world. Yes there was terror in many parts of the world not directed by the tall man hiding in some cave in the Middle East. Yes, Osama and his people are still wreaking havoc with suicide-bombs , too often killing an American soldier along with dozens of innocent Iraqis.

Terror--man-made or from nature's wrath--was an indelible part of 2005. Loss of life, imposed by man or nature, is not easy to accept. In addition to the tens of thousands claimed by nature's wrath and many hundreds who died in war, many others left the scene during 2005.

Among those who died in America were: Johnny Carson, the legendary late-might TV Host, Ossie Davis, 87, actor and civil-rights leader, Hunter Thompson, counter-culture writer at age 67 to suicide, Sammi Smith at age 61 whose song "Help Me Make It Through The Night" did just that, Eddie Albert, actor, age 99, many movies and the TV hit "Green Acres", Frances Langford who sang with Bob Hope on so many of his WWII USO shows, Don Adams, 82, from the TV Show Get Smart, Sandra Dee,62, former teen movie queen, Luther Vandross, 54, singer who sold more than 25-million albums, Richard Pryor, 65, comedian, and Peter Jennings who ruled the Television Anchor Desk at ABC for more than 20-years of his 41-years with the network.

Jennings was the last of the Big-Three to leave our television screens in 2005. Before his death, Dan Rather resigned under pressure at CBS and moved back to a roving correspondents role while Tom Brokaw retired as the longtime anchor at NBC.

Each of us also lost friends or loved ones much closer and more involved in our lives. All of these losses are part of life. But we move on.

2006 brings new opportunity. New Opportunity to make new resolutions, make new friends, solve more of the world's problems ... and become more productive in our lives by giving back something good to this great land we call America.

We start by trying to avoid procrastination. Researchers claim more than 20% of us procrastinate. It is not easy to KEEP those New Year's resolutions. Lose weight! Keep my office more tidy! Tell those I love "I Love You" every day! Don't put off until tomorrow something that needs to be done today! Make time to give back to my community, my church, my favorite charities, my friends and most of all my family. Don't gossip!

USA Today reminds us: "One cannot master a skilled career in a weekend, tackle French in one plane ride, or, write a column in the cab to lunch with your editor!" To all this let us add something that hangs on the wall near our computer in our office at home:

The Six most important words are: "I admit I made a mistake!"
The five most important words are: "You did a good job!"
The four most important words are: "What is your opinion?"
The three most important words are: "If you please!"
The two most important words are: "Thank you!"
The one most important word is: "WE!"
THE LEAST IMPORTANT WORD IS: "I"!

May we be resolute in our resolutions for 2006 and may our conversations contain many positive we actions instead of wee works! Working together at home, at city hall, or in Washington will provide a more enjoyable year. May it so be!

Murphy Martin

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Previous commentaries:
"The Party's Over"
"Merry Christmas Rules"
"Bush Unveils Plans"
"Border Security Now!!!"
"Stupidity Loses Financing"
"Crisis Christians"
"They Led the Way"
"Sadistic Saddam Hussein"
"Bourbon Street Bashing"
"Hurricane Aftermath"
"Standing Tall"
"Never a Dull Moment"
"Another Hero Laid to Rest"
"Blame Game"
"Senior Thoughts For the Young"
"Role Model Challenge"
August 18 - "Network News Anchors"
August 11 - "Now All Three Are Gone"
August 4 - "Trust in the Media"
July 28 - "Television Then and Now"
July 21 -  "The Mick"
July 14 - "Forty Years and Counting"