Resolve to swear off MTV

I know it seems a bit late to be making New Year’s resolutions, but the truth that is the… I know it seems a bit late to be making New Year’s resolutions, but the truth that is the timing is perfect. By now, most of us have given up on all those promises made at the stroke of midnight. (I blame boxes of Christmas cookies for my own unmitigated failure.) That’s why the second week of January is perfect for round two. With this in mind, here are my second-effort declarations for 2007.

1. Stop watching MTV.

Ignoring the fact that Music Television is one of the largest misnomers in pop culture history, even the admittedly non-musical programming on this channel sucks.

Their extensive reality lineup includes the forgettable series “Laguna Beach,” which operates under the false tagline “The Real Orange County.” As if the original show wasn’t embarrassing enough, the brilliant minds at MTV have generated an equally vapid spin-off, “The Hills.”

Perhaps the only things less grounded in reality than MTV’s reality lineup are the people they hire as video jockeys. These glamorous young men and women swoon over each and every new single, show and movie to come out of the Hollywood machine, thereby increasing our nation’s unhealthy obsession with celebrity culture. So save your time and your brain cells by flipping to the Discovery Channel this year.

2. Support local musicians.

With my 21st birthday just around the corner, 2007 seems like the perfect year to really invest in Pittsburgh’s local music scene. Back in 2004, Esquire magazine gave our city its top ranking in the “Cities that Rock” category, and I think it’s high time I see what all the buzz is about.

And just to clarify, by local music I don’t mean the national acts that pass through Pittsburgh on coast-to-coast tours. The Rex Theatre, Hard Rock Cafe and Club Cafe all regularly showcase genuine local talent, along with a host of area coffee houses.

3. Stick it to the man.

This resolution has taken on various forms throughout the years, but as a tried and true classic, it merits mention. For 2007, I’ve set my sights on corporate America. An unfortunate truth is that when I buy CDs to support my favorite bands, a large chuck of my cash is being funneled into the pockets of label executives who don’t know Bright Eyes from “Eye of the Tiger.”

But instead of diverting another block of my limited income into the evil hands of big business, I’ve resolved to shop exclusively at independently owned music stores. Two of my favorites are Brave New World on Craig Street and Dave’s Music Mine in the South Side. Both offer a huge selection of new and used CDs and, more importantly, both are run by people who actually enjoy music.

Unlike running daily and eating green, leafy vegetables at each meal, these resolutions might actually be attainable. Now all the time I spent rotting my brain with MTV can be put to use looking for great local talent and doing my part to counter the Wal-Mart juggernaut. This is going to be a good year.