We’ve Only Just Begun...A Tale of Irony. (2445 hits)
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Submitted by WiLL ZoNE (View user info) at 2005-10-31 13:59:13 EST
As of last week my 60 gig iPod was at 43 gigs, roughly 11,000 songs. Needless to say, I need more. I have an awful addiction to music. If I've ever heard it, and I liked it even a little, OR if I hated it so much, I need it on me at all times. Heroin addicts wished they had it this lucky.
So now I hunt for music in my spare time. I ask all my friends what kind of music they're into right now, then I'll go home and download it. I'll find websites with "greatest songs of all time" lists then I'll download them all. Again, an awful, awful addiction.
This brings me to my latest challenge.
The Rolling Stone Top 500 Greatest Rock Songs of All Time: http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/_/id/6596661/500songs
And this is a challenge I will accept!
Now, if you were to click the above link and search the list you'll find some glaring omissions, and some ridiculous entries. But this will be the case with any "Greatest of all Time" list. Just grin and bear it.
A few items that piss me off about the list:
- Any song which bears the title "Rolling Stone" or "Rollin' Stone" made the list. As a matter of fact the #1 song of all time is Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone." With "Satisfaction" by THE ROLLING STONES coming in at #2. "Papa was a Rolling Stone" by The Temptations and "Rollin' Stone" by Muddy Waters also make the cut.
Following this rationale if SPIN magazine ever made a top 500 list we can only assume that "Spin the Black Circle" by Pearl Jam and "You Spin me Round" by Dead or Alive would be numbers 1 and 2 respectively. Hit Parader Magazine, if it even still exists, would have zero songs, as naming a song "Hit Parader" would be dumb.
- The list calls for the greatest ROCK songs of all time, so why is it that Grandmaster Flash, Run DMC and Outkast make the cut? Don't get me wrong "The Message" by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five is a great fucking song...but is it the Number 51 greatest ROCK song of all time? I think not. Same ROCK argument goes to included tracks by ABBA, Donna Summer, and R. Kelly.
- There is no WEEN, ELO, TOM WAITS, WILCO or GRANDADDY on the list? What gives?!!?
The project began at work during the 5 minute pockets of downtime. I printed out the list in alphabetical order and scrolled through the iPod seeing what songs I had, and which I needed. After this job is done, I tally the numbers and I already own about 300 of the 500 greatest songs of all time. Not bad. So I only need to download 200. Cool. That's a job for the home.
That night, I start at letter "A" and work my way past "Z" and into numbers and punctuations. I have a whole multitasking project system that I created. I'm downloading, listening to downloaded tracks, and relabeling others, and once all that done, I cross it off the list. The first night, I download and listen and label 90 songs. Two Nights later I finish them all...well, almost.
For three days, the total song list sitting in my RS TOP 500 playlist in order stood at 499. I was missing one fucking song. For three days I tried to download this fucker, and every time it got to 99% downloaded, the file would become corrupted and I had to start over.
That song, #405 on the list, The Carpenters with "We've Only Just Begun."
Only after a day of frustration was I able to laugh at the irony of this song being the one I needed. A 2 day project becomes a 5 day project where a song title is clearly telling me "We've only Just Begun."
And to top it all of, frankly I don't even think the song is that great.
"Why don't you just forget about it and leave it off?" Begs my girlfriend who hasn't seen me for 3 days. (During this time I also didn't go to work, shower, or eat anything other than what I could find on my bedroom floor. I also smoked 7 cartons of cigarettes.)
"Forget about it? Come on now. How is that possible?" I reply. "I need the top 500, not the top 499. That's retarded. I'm a man. A man on a mission."
"Why don't you buy it on iTunes?"
"Why don't you buy a new boyfriend on iTunes?" I snap back. "Buying it on iTunes would, in only my mind, negate all my progress and spoil all my work."
"Whatever." [click]
On Saturday afternoon, before I leave for the city to put up the show I'm directing, I try one more download and by Zeus' beard, it worked! I had it! Eat that Karen Carpenter! Eat it!!!! I listened to it, and after I was done crying, I still hated the song. I shut down the computer. I own the song. It's mine. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
On Sunday morning I make it my business to transfer the song to my playlist and then transfer the playlist to my iPod.
BUT JUST YOU WAIT!!!!!!
I power on my laptop. It goes to that damn "You have 30 seconds, please choose SAFE MODE, or normal settings screen"
So I pick Normal setting and it boots then returns to that screen. Then I click safe mode, it reboots, and returns to that screen. I do this 20 times in a row. Nothing. My heart beats faster and faster as I realize I'm closer to realizing that my computer is fucked.
I think back to all the computer repair courses and all the advice from friends and family I've ever heard.
A-ha. ..... Nope.
Apparently removing the battery from the laptop and putting it back on doesn't solve the problem.
I then break out the recovery disks I never thought I would use.
For three hours I put the same two disks in and out of the computer. "Man this is long process." I then watch the screen and realized that for the past 3 hours I was just doing the same thing over and over again to no avail. For some reason, the recovery wasn't moving to the next step after putting the CD's in.
I'm freaking out. It's official.
I then take drastic steps. I will now format the entire computer. And restore everything to factory settings. I have all my music on my iPod...except that Carpenters song (HAHA, me!).
I open the other disk that was sent to me with the laptop. I proceed with the formatting and restoration. It sucks, but at least my computer will work...
Nope. Restoration complete, I reboot and BLAM!
My system is missing some file..."please install this file."
Who the fuck knows what that file is!?!?
My computer is fucked. I'm assuming I got some nasty virus.
I hate it. I must pay someone to fix it.
Oh Uber, any suggestions? Ever hear of anything like this?
Will
THE FUCKING CARPENTERS DESTROYED BY BRAND NEW LAPTOP!!!!
User Reviews
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2005-11-03 08:42:10 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I thought you spelled it "psych" as in "psych out"
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2005-10-31 22:30:07 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by GatorRed (user info) at 2005-10-31 14:41:42 (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by BuckeyesTHEGAME (user info) at 2005-10-31 14:17:22 (#)
Ranking: 2
My favorite CD from start to finish of all time.... I've thought about this for a while, and I have to say it's Pearl Jam's "Ten."
-----
I agree. There are few albums that can be listened to in their entirety. Nirvana - Nevermind is another one.
Not even classic Elvis, Beatles or Rolling Stones albums can boast that, in my opinion.
Maybe it's the role those albums played in my life. It signified the end of Spandex & White Rain hairspray (Sweet Child o-miiiiiiine), and the begining of a new genre of music. It also (for me)signified the transition from high school, to the Army, to the civillian world.
____________________________________________________________________________________
With all due respect, I disagree with this commentary. MANY Beatles albums can be listened
to in their entirety, with great joy. New music (after 1980) sucks.
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2005-10-31 21:30:11 EST (#)
Ranking: -1
Do you have this post available in a Clifft Notes version?
Submitted by Saxon (user info) at 2005-10-31 20:46:22 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Hahahaha you poor bastard.
Submitted by NerfHerder (user info) at 2005-10-31 19:12:27 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I'd suggest Water Sphere by Pilotdrift (On Good Records).
And Will, we've all been there.
But honestly, music is the only thing worth a damn on my computer. And I'm sure its the same with many others.
Submitted by Beer_bong (user info) at 2005-10-31 18:24:09 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Barnymeinhoff (user info) at 2005-10-31 14:14:32 (#)
Ranking: 0
you should ask everyone on uber to sudgest 1 album each to fill up the pod.
I think thats a damn good idea. I suggest Disturbed's new album "Ten thousand fists". Political, but great rock-out music.
Submitted by Yes (user info) at 2005-10-31 16:41:20 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
KAREN CARPENTER HAMBURGER MEAT!
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2005-10-31 15:45:32 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
LITTLE WILLY WILLY WON'T...GO HOME.
Submitted by FATMANTPK (user info) at 2005-10-31 15:15:34 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Eat that Karen Carpenter! Eat it!!!!
----
Didn't she die from.....Oh...HAHAHAHAHAHA
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2005-10-31 15:09:28 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
That's probably my favourite Carpenters song ever - it really is pretty good.
Submitted by WillZone (user info) at 2005-10-31 14:53:54 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
"Submitted by RobertHand (user info) at 2005-10-31 14:49:11 (#)
Ranking: 0
+1 for "rock and roll"
-1 for the following line:
"- There is no WEEN, ELO, TOM WAITS, WILCO or GRANDADDY on the list? What gives?!!? "
Also, call me floofy, but I have always thought of RunDMC as rock. "
Oh Ye who has never posted on Uber...AKA n00b
A.) Whats wrong with those bands?
and
B.) What are some of your favorite bands? (i know this question involves formulating an opinion and then posting it and sticking to it...don't hurt yourself.)
Submitted by RobertHand (user info) at 2005-10-31 14:49:11 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
+1 for "rock and roll"
-1 for the following line:
"- There is no WEEN, ELO, TOM WAITS, WILCO or GRANDADDY on the list? What gives?!!? "
Also, call me floofy, but I have always thought of RunDMC as rock.
Submitted by GatorRed (user info) at 2005-10-31 14:41:42 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by BuckeyesTHEGAME (user info) at 2005-10-31 14:17:22 (#)
Ranking: 2
My favorite CD from start to finish of all time.... I've thought about this for a while, and I have to say it's Pearl Jam's "Ten."
-----
I agree. There are few albums that can be listened to in their entirety. Nirvana - Nevermind is another one.
Not even classic Elvis, Beatles or Rolling Stones albums can boast that, in my opinion.
Maybe it's the role those albums played in my life. It signified the end of Spandex & White Rain hairspray (Sweet Child o-miiiiiiine), and the begining of a new genre of music. It also (for me)signified the transition from high school, to the Army, to the civillian world.
Submitted by WhatTheHell (user info) at 2005-10-31 14:27:42 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
1 post a day, n00b.
Submitted by BuckeyesTHEGAME (user info) at 2005-10-31 14:17:22 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
My favorite CD from start to finish of all time.... I've thought about this for a while, and I have to say it's Pearl Jam's "Ten."
Submitted by Barnymeinhoff (user info) at 2005-10-31 14:14:32 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
you should ask everyone on uber to sudgest 1 album each to fill up the pod.
Submitted by BuckeyesTHEGAME (user info) at 2005-10-31 14:07:46 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
That's what you get for stealing music the same way I do.
Submitted by GodChicken (user info) at 2005-10-31 14:06:10 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Download and create a CD or floppy of Large Drive Tools from http://www.sadevelopment.com/
Do a Repair on the Master Boot Record and then and do your restore again.
I own a registered copy of this for rescuing / repairing people's computers when they call me crying.
Submitted by pen_name (user info) at 2005-10-31 14:05:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 because you realized the error of your ways.
Submitted by Average_Dan (user info) at 2005-10-31 14:05:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Thank you,
Much better sir!