New Year's Resolution, Part Deux

On the Ides of March, the question arises: how are the New Year's resolutions coming along?  Only time will tell, and now is the time to tell!

I want to read more.
If I chose shorter books, I'd have a greater number of books under my belt.  Instead, I choose books like Black Hills (from the author of Drood) and The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova, which aren't modest tomes.  I have finalized my Fill in the Gap list, and have quite a selection of modest books from which to choose.  (I keep promising to start Dracula soon. Maybe tomorrow?) 

I finally found what sounds like the perfect H.P. Lovecraft book: Bloodcurdling Tales of Horror and the Macabre.  David has told me I can't read it at night, especially since it was touted as having sixteen of Lovecraft's "most horrifying visions."  The cover alone is disturbing.  Bring it on!

I want to listen to more music.
Nikki's recent visit was a lovely reminder about the great music on the radio today.  We jammed to Lady Gaga, The Black Eyed Peas and Beyonce — plus one by Lady Gaga and Beyonce, very cool. Nikki knows all the words, which was a lot of fun.  I may not be there anytime soon, but I can sing a chorus or two.

However, it's not all roses and happiness. I listened to Ke$ha's song "Blah Blah Blah" and I thought, "I'm sure I heard it wrong."  Then Rachael talked about some new pop music she recently heard and, yes, Rachael confirmed that what I heard was what I heard.  I have a question for the radio station: since when is THAT kind of language allowed on the air?  Yes, that may be a man's nickname, but not in that context.

I also am appalled by the lyrics of most Pitbull songs I have heard, but I am totally sucked into the beat.  Sigh.  Can I listen and still be able to champion the dignity of women?

I want to listen to music more.
Chez Cohen now rings with the tunes from yet another Nickelback album, and David and I got tickets to see Jeff Beck, one of the most talented guitarists on the planet (except for Philip Cohen).  The next few months will be filled with live Eddie from Ohio, Nickelback, Julie Murphy Wells and more.

In the meantime, the iPod is on with plenty of Aretha, Dr. Horrible — and did I mention Nickelback?

I want to write more letters.
The 2010 letter-writing campaign begins tomorrow with a letter to Mom.  Then there's the Christmas newsletter I will write for public consumption.  Soon.  (Hey, at least now you have a chance to read it!)

I want to run faster.
Now that the weather will permit running without a perilous dance on the ice, I look forward to breaking in a new pair of running shoes.  Last week when the weather broke, I took to the streets — and promptly developed blisters.  (Two on one foot! Talk about a wake-up call for new shoes....)

My new Asics will grace the streets of Fairfax soon, and you'll see me limping around as my legs mutter, "Oh, that's the painful stuff you do to us on a regular basis!  Now I remember!"  If you're in the car, slow down: I can't move that fast.  Yet.


So, which of your resolutions have survived intact? Which have you abandoned or postponed?  C'mon, you can tell me!

YouTube and Doing the Right Thing

If you want to see anything that has been video recorded, chances are it's on YouTube.

Many people who actually own the videos post them themselves on the YouTube Web site, including Weird Al Yankovic, the Dixie Chicks and Britney Spears.

Nickelback's record label also has posted a couple of their videos, including "Rock Star" (censored and not) and "If Everyone Cared." (I have recommended in the past that you listen to Nickelback. I hope you did. If not, please stop what you're doing right now and watch "If Everyone Cared." You don't have to be a fan to appreciate the call to character. You will be moved by what the band encourages.)

Not everyone owns the videos they posted, which is a shame. If it's not yours, it's not yours to give away.

The Internet is a big place — and if you want to hear and see free video and audio clips, there are plenty of legal ways to do it. I watched/listened to Fergie on Yahoo for months before I purchased "Fergalicious" (then soon after purchased the "clean" versions of the songs I liked). I continue to listen to Shakira to determine if I want to purchase her latest disc. If I'm not sure if I want the entire disc, I take the safe route and purchase the singles on iTunes.

Sometimes, posting videos seems harmless — after all, if you're not making any money, what's the harm? You tell yourself you're actually helping to sell the album if you post pictures of your pre-teen cousins dancing to "Hips Don't Lie" by the Chipmunks — people will go buy it now, you tell yourself. The thing is, rationalization doesn't make it right. It's still not yours to give away.

So watch what's legal, do what's right. And go watch "If Everyone Cared." Let me know when you do, and let me know what you thought of it.