Repeat promises to lose weight, quit smoking, exercise more; or maybe fresh and new resolutions. Any way you approach it, there is usually a laundry list of things we would like to do differently "from now on."

This year I pondered things I would like to see change in 2007; things I don't necessarily have any control over, but which I would love for someone else to do. Establishing New Year's resolutions for others seems rather brilliant – it removes the burden of actually doing anything… and eliminates the need for self-flagellation should any resolution fail.

Here are some pet peeves I would like to see resolved, fixed or obliterated this year.

Cell phones. Does this ring a bell? "To page this person, please press 5 now; at the tone, please record your message; when you're finished, please press 1 for more options." Frankly, I don't want options – particularly those that just eat up time and mobile minutes. I don't want to listen to that irksome mechanized voice reiterating instructions I already know. I just want to leave a message for someone who is (no doubt) on the phone and (quite possibly) speaking way too loudly in some public place, annoying everyone in the immediate vicinity.

Television. Talk about loud … don't you just hate those earsplitting commercials that scream and startle, no matter how low your volume is set? Do producers think we are all hard of hearing? Or that if they communicate their message loud enough, it will somehow cause us to actually buy a product we have no need for? Get real.

Fashion. Now there's a doozy. Women should not have to be anorexic to shop. Super tight, super short, super cropped – when will designers give us a break? Most "average sized" women should never be seen in the majority of outfits that are considered fashionable. Just look around, you'll see what I mean.

Valet parkers. I understand that they work hard, and I gladly want to give them a couple of bucks for retrieving my car. But why must they always leave the parking stub on my dashboard? Not to mention the other half-stub attached to my key chain? Plus change the radio station for the couple of minutes it takes, and alter the entire configuration of the seat?

Spam. Unsolicited stock tips; personal, shall we say, enhancers; foreign pharmaceuticals; get rich schemes from Somalia; flagrant sales pitches – who has time for this?! Much less the single email sent to 20 people who, in turn, Reply To All – repeatedly!

Blackberries. I refuse to get one because the minute I do, I know I will be expected to respond to one and all, no matter the time or place, in a nanosecond – which I cannot possibly do. Nor do I want to become one of those tactless types who cannot get through a meeting, a luncheon, a dinner, or a date without reading and thumb-typing replies. Not cool.

Toilets. Women are notorious for complaining about potty seats left up – in the "male position." Either men should start complaining about seats left down, or women should just get used to the fact that there is no pre-ordained position that is perfect for both. Let's worry about more important things. (Like keeping the seat dry…but don't get me started!)

Drinking. Politicians should not drink alcoholic beverages, or be under the influence of painkillers, when they plan to leave voice mails or make important decisions. Neither should anyone else. And for sure, televangelist ministers should not do crystal meth. Period.

There are so many resolutions that come to mind that we could so easily assign to others. So start making a list, and you'll see how painless it is… and please share them with me.

May your New Year be filled with joy, wonder, and love.