The Thrill of Dictatorship

Lo, it is said that absolute power corrupts absolutely... and this is assuredly true with online radio.

Not too long ago, I happened across something known as Launchcast (via SBC Yahoo DSL, and no, sadly, I'm not getting any kickback here). It may not be the only customizable radio type thingy online, or even the best, but I am having BOATloads of fun with it.

"How does this miracle of technology/musical tyranny work?" you may be asking yourself. Well, it not only plays songs, but it allows you to give separate ratings to an artist, a song, or even an album. Ratings begin with "Can't get enough," going progressively down to "love it," "like it," "it's ok," and my personal overwhelming favorite, "Never Play Again!"

With this lowest rating, I can guarantee that I will never sit through Marilyn Manson's tired, rehashed tripe, Michael Jackson's wackadoo woohoos, or Kenny G's shittical saxophonical stylings.

And, there's even the selective banishment option, such as, I like Deep Purple, but not "Woman from Tokyo." NEVER PLAY "WOMAN FROM TOKYO AGAIN!!! DO YOU HEAR ME, BARD LAUNCHCAST?!?! I'LL HAVE YOUR CIRCUITS FED TO PIGEONS IF YOU DARE TO CROSS MY DELICATE EAR CANALS WITH ITS LIKE AGAIN!!! NOW BRING ON "SAVE A HORSE, RIDE A COWBOY*" INSTEAD!!! (Tip: Dictatorial enjoyment is enhanced by regal ranting.)

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to banish Bryan Adams' "Heaven" into exile, along with Bryan himself. Bwa ha ha!!

Get your own control:http://launch.yahoo.com/


* by Big and Rich, see below... ;)
.

Comments

Julie said…
Man, that thang rocks! I love it, thanks for turning me onto it!
7:02 AM
Azathoth100 said…
Sounds like fun, your highness.
4:13 PM
V said…
Glad to be of service to you fine folk. :)
10:29 PM
Latigo Flint said…
Word to the wise: Don't rate Genres - (Rock, Rap, Bluegrass, etc.) That's too wide, too many crap choices. Rate only artists, songs, albums and let it work from those. It quickly becomes such a perfect radio station that it'll bring tears to your eyes.
1:02 AM
Meadow said…
No "Heaven?" Alas, a point of contention. ;)
7:00 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Very Sad News

Hi everyone, Because friends share in good things and bad and this is important to me, I thought you all might like to know. My mom, who had been battling many health problems, especially during the past few years, passed away Friday night. She was not a perfect person, but her love for me was. I figure if you want to know more, you'll ask. But if I don't seem quite myself for awhile, that's why. Thanks.
Read more

Unintentionally Arty Photo

Image
While I was thinking about making a post about people who plaster their faces on billboards, I snapped this photo near downtown with my new camera phone. Though many might be pissed at the poor quality of the photo, it was taken at some distance, and I rather liked how it turned out. You can still make out the Big Brother-like face of the realTOR (yet another irritant -- those commercials touting realTORs) on the sign. He works them there M streets. He isn't all that attractive. So why plaster your face 25 feet high for all to recoil at? Is it gaining or losing you customers? I'd bet on the latter. There's another one of this guy, ESPN radio host Randy Galloway, a round the corner from my house. I get a shock every time I round the bend and see it. Geeg. It's got to be ego-driven. There's no other good reason. And if I can't paint my garage door magenta, why in blazes is this allowed?
Read more

Shredding, Slamming Fun

Image
Yeah, I'm closer to 40 than 14, but that doesn't mean I can't pretend to be in that band I always wanted to be in. And no, I can't play the guitar for real, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy the tar out of this game. In fact, that's the whole POINT. The second version of this Playstation 2 diversion, called Guitar Hero as you can see here, just came out, but I'm too busy woodshedding on a borrowed version of the first one to care about that yet. At first, I sucked so thoroughly the game kicked me out of the song and the crowd booed. Yet now, I can successfully hit 80-96% of the notes on average of tunes ranging from Boston's "More Than A Feeling" to Audioslave's "Cochise." The cool thing is, songs you don't even like much and dismiss as crap, you get new respect for when you try to play them. You also learn how Nikki Sixx must have felt when his fingers and forearms ached from the amount of rockin' he was doing, but
Read more