I like to pretend I'm a tolerant person, but I'm really not. And I'm not too patient, either. No surprises to most of my readers.

I understand we all have differences of opinion, likes and dislikes. But if you don't mind, I'd like to present a "wish list" for the remaining year.

I would be happier if:

--"erectile dysfunction" commercials ended. (or for that matter, all the other "see your doctor" commercials, like for Lipator, Celebrex, Pravix, etc.)

--the "grizzled" look on actors ended. Either grow a beard or shave.

--political news and commercials were to cease. It's going to be a long year.

-- send David Spade, Adam Sandler, and a whole host of other pathetic "comics" to the moon (along with Newt).

--I never saw another person with pierced lips or tongue. Grosses me out.

--60 minute football games wouldn't take 4 hours to play. My bedtime is 11:00.

--churches and ministers would be taxed. They use police and fire protection, don't they?

--the "nightly news" programs eliminated the inane stuff, like who was kicked off "Dancing with the Stars". (If I cared, I'd watch the show)

--fast food commercials were banned. For one thing, the food is bad for all of us; another, it sure looks tempting!

--eliminate "color" announcers (side men) on TV games. My solution is to mute the whole running commentary.

--Flo and the Geico gecko were sent packing. Think how much MORE money we could save on car insurance without 8 million TV commercials! (and I loathe "Flo".)

--there was far less saxophone playing in jazz. It's nearly as bad as fingernails on a blackboard.

--oil and coal giants would stop pretending they are "friends of the environment". "They" are the main causes of polution and global warming. Hypocrites, all.

--certain phrases in our common speech disappeared. I'm thinking "you know" and "like". Like, you know?

I'll stop here, but the list could go on. It's not that I'm unhappy, just that I'd be happier if some of these irritants were eliminated. Such is life. Have a good one.