Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Debate: Did Jesus really raise from the dead?

2008-03-23T23:12:59Z

Hammer: re

I don't think Jesus really raised from the dead. Maybe he was faking his own death, and had his friends build him an underground fort to live in for a while, and then he could have just flown out of there when he ran out of food.

If he actually came back from the dead, though, he would have encountered a very significant problem - decomposition. Jesus would have been in the ground for a while, and bugs and other creepy-things would have started their feast. You'd think that the people that saw Jesus fly out of the ground and into the sky would have noticed whether or not his face had peeled from his head.

What do y'all think? --[[User:DJBlair|DJBlair]] 18:56, 23 March 2008 (EDT)
:After being on the cross all that time, I think he would have been dead. If her hadn't, that would've been a miracle in itself. He was only dead for three days so he wouldn't have decomposed. He was obviously in some sort of burial clothing, so I doubt bugs could have "started their feast". :) --[[User:Hammer|Hammer]] 19:01, 23 March 2008 (EDT)

::Most people who try to argue this point approach it in a lot more serious manner than you do. I can tell you haven't done even any basic background reading. [[User:DanH|DanH]] 19:03, 23 March 2008 (EDT)

Hammer, I think that decomposition would have had an effect on Jesus' body during his 3 days under. He was roughed up pretty good beforehand, so he was already tenderized before they buried him. Also, because he had a lot of blood and flesh all torn up and whatnot, he would have made a great target for scavenging animals. I'd have to think that something would have taken a shot at him. Or else - do you think that maybe someone stood guard duty over the body, to make sure wolves and scorpions couldn't get to it?

Dan - what "basic background reading" do you think I should do? Better yet - tell me what it says so we can continue this. --[[User:DJBlair|DJBlair]] 19:09, 23 March 2008 (EDT)

:Debates between websites like the Skeptical Web and Tekton Ministries for instance. [[User:DanH|DanH]] 19:10, 23 March 2008 (EDT)
::I find debates like that somewhat amusing yet pointless. --[[User:Hammer|Hammer]] 19:12, 23 March 2008 (EDT)

Well, maybe when he was born again his body was healed. Because I don't think anyone was keeping watch over his body. They would have seen him rise, right? --[[User:Hammer|Hammer]] 19:12, 23 March 2008 (EDT)

Vampire

2008-03-23T23:04:40Z

Hammer: /* In books */ ♥ this series :)

A '''Vampire''' is a mythological creature who drinks the [[blood]] of living [[human beings]] for sustenance. [[Bram Stoker]]'s ''[[Dracula]]'' is one of the most famous references to vampires. Most tales of vampires came from Eastern Europe, with [[Vlad the Impaler]] as the most famous. Another famous example is [[Richard Matheson]]'s novel ''[[I Am Legend]]''.

In the horror genre, vampires have been popularized in many books, movies, and role playing games.

== In books ==

In books vampires have been portayed many a time throughout history. The most famous vampire in literature is probably Bram Stoker's Dracula.

In today's literature, a popular vampire book is ''[[Twilight]]'' by [[Stephenie Meyer]].

== In film ==

there have been several films featuring vampires one of them being the movie version of dracula played by christopher lee

[[category:Mythology]]

Debate: Did Jesus really raise from the dead?

2008-03-23T23:01:38Z

Hammer: somewhat disturbing...

Paramore

2008-03-23T22:55:30Z

Hammer: create article

'''Paramore''' is an [[punk-pop]] band. They have released two albums to date, title ''[[All we Know is Falling (album)|All we Know is Falling]]'', and ''[[Riot! (album)|Riot!]]''. Their most popular single yet is probably "[[Misery Business (single)|Misery Business]]" off their second album.

[[Category:Punk]]

User:Hammer

2008-03-23T22:50:34Z

Hammer: + music edits

Hello :) I have busy schedule, so I will edit here sporadically, I hope. :)

Usually I will edit music-related articles. By "music", I mean current 21st century music. :)

I would also like to express my graditude to the editor that unblocked me. Thanks. :)

==Articles I've Created==
* [[Avril Lavigne]]
* [[Let Go (album)]]

Liberal

2008-03-23T22:45:16Z

Hammer: Undo revision 411427 by Special:Contributions/Communist266 (User talk:Communist266)

[[Image:Liberal Brain.jpg|thumb|230px|top|<center>A satirical conception of the liberal brain.</center>]]

Liberalism encompasses a wide variety of philosophies and ideologies which value individual liberty, freedom of thought and equality of opportunities. A '''liberal''' can be a believer in many of the following political positions:

* Tax and spend government
* Taxpayer-funded [[abortion]]
* [[Income redistribution]], usually through progressive taxation
* Government-rationed and taxpayer-funded medical care
* Taxpayer-funded "free" [[public education]]
* The denial of inherent [[gender differences]] and wanting men and women to have the same jobs in the [[military]]
* [[Same-sex marriage]]
* [[Affirmative action]]
* [[Political correctness]]<ref>[http://www.theconservativevoice.com/article/27429.html Politically Correct Terrorism] ''The Conservative Voice'', August 21, 2007</ref>
* [[Censorship]] of [[prayer]] in classrooms and school sponsored events
* [[Labor union]]s
* Elimination of [[abstinence]]-only program funding <ref> [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,286671,00.html Democrats Aim To Kill Abstinence-Only Program Funding], [[Fox News]], Monday, June 25, 2007</ref>
* A "[[living Constitution]]" that is reinterpreted, thwarting the amendment process specified in the Constitution as written.
* Support for [[gun control]]
* Government programs to [[rehabilitate criminals]]
* Abolition of death penalty
* [[Environmentalism]]<ref>[[Greenpeace]], for example.</ref>
* [[Disarmament treaties]]
* [[Globalism]]
* Opposition to a strong American foreign policy <ref>Stefaan Walgrave and Joris Verhulst, [http://nicomedia.math.upatras.gr/conf/CAWM2003/Papers/Verhulst.pdf The February 15 Worldwide Protests against a War in Iraq: An Empirical Test of Transnational Opportunities. Outline of a Research Programme](PDF).</ref>
* Support of obscenity and pornography as a [[First Amendment]] right<ref>The [[Warren Court]], led by [[liberal]] Justices [[William O. Douglas]], [[Hugo Black]], [[Abe Fortas]], [[William Brennan]] and Chief Justice [[Earl Warren]] issued 36 decisions granting [[First Amendment]] rights to obscenity and pornography. These decisions remain fully supported by liberals today.</ref>
* Opposition to full private property rights<ref>For example, the liberal wing of the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] issued the 5-4 [[Kelo v. City of New London]] decision authorizing the taking of private property by government in order to give the property to another private entity rather than convert it to a public use.</ref>
* Limiting [[conservative]] talk radio by reinstating the [[Fairness Doctrine]]
* Promoting [[liberal deceit]] if it advances their goals, or at least tolerating it
 

== Liberalism in North America today ==
[[Democrats]] and many media outlets in the [[U.S.]] often have a [[liberal bias]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mrc.org/biasbasics/biasbasics1.asp|title=Media Bias basics|publisher=Media Research Center}}</ref>

===Liberal Rankings of Congress Members===

The National Journal compiles the votes of each congress member each year and uses the information to create rankings<ref>http://nationaljournal.com/voteratings/index.htm</ref> of how liberal each member of the United States [[Congress]] is. In addition to showing the voting records of each member and given an overall all ranking of liberalness, the National Journal also ranks congress members by liberalness in the areas of social, economic, and foreign policy.

==Liberalism in Europe today==

In Europe, on the other hand, parties that call themselves ''liberal'' are moderate in outlook, ranging from centre-left to centre-right, promote typically economic and business freedom. The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe<ref>http://www.alde.eu</ref> is an party of the European Parliament that represents most ''liberal'' parties from European countries. Similar policies are promoted by many ''liberal'' parties throughout the world,<ref>http://www.liberal-international.org/</ref> such as the Liberal Party of Australia.<ref>[http://www.liberal.org.au/]</ref>

Trade unions and socialist parties often criticize politicians that promote lower taxes on business, or more flexible hiring and firing laws, by calling them "liberals" or [[neoliberal|neoliberals]]. Thus, just like in the US, "liberal" is often used as a term of abuse. But when someone is called "liberal" in Europe, it is an entirely different to the meaning in the US.
In fact, the US meaning of liberal is more similar to the politics of European [[socialist]] or [[social democracy|social democratic]] parties.<ref>[http://www.pes.org]</ref>

==Historical Liberalism ==
In history, the word "liberal" has meant different things at different times, and was associated with individual liberty in prior centuries. In the postwar period, liberals supported government intervention in the economy and welfare state policies, as well as peaceful coexistence with the communist block, which are not liberal policies in the sense of classical liberalism. After the end of the cold war, with the demise of socialism and communism, many liberals embraced some ideas from economic neo-liberalism, and coined it the "Third Way". In the area of national security and foreign policy liberals in the [[U.S.]] failed to define a consistent stance, even after the events of 9/11 and the beginning of the war in Iraq. Liberals generally support affirmative action, gay marriage, and abortion.<ref>"Political liberals tend, for whatever reason, to be ardent supporters of both gay rights and pro-choice programs." Greenberg and Bailey [http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/Bailey/Greenberg-Bailey/Homosexual%20Eugenics.pdf] </ref>

==Original meaning: Classical Liberalism==
Liberalism is a political philosophy with freedom as its core value. The term was originally applied to supporters of individual liberties and equal rights, but, in America, the term has come to represent a movement of social change that often conflicts with [[conservative]] values such as moral values and tradition.

See [[Classical Liberal|Classical Liberalism]]. Compare [[Libertarianism]].

==Alternative meanings of 'liberal'==

One definition of liberal is anything that is not conservative. For example, the American Heritage Dictionary includes this definition of "liberal":<ref>Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/liberal</ref>
* Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas ...

==Liberal Organizations ==
*[[AARP|AARP - American Association of Retired People]]
*[[ACLU|ACLU - American Civil Liberties Union]]
*[[AFL-CIO|AFL-CIO - American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations]]
*[[Amnesty International|AI - Amnesty International]]
*[[Democratic National Committee]]
*[[Greenpeace]]
*[[NARAL|NARAL - National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League]]
*[[NAACP|NAACP - National Association for the Advancement of Colored People]]
*[[National Committee for an Effective Congress]]
*[[National Education Association]]
*[[National Organization of Women]]
*[[Planned Parenthood|Planned Parenthood Federation of America]]
*[[Rainbow/PUSH Coalition]]
*[[MoveOn.org]]
*[[A.N.S.W.E.R.]]

Source: [http://www.politixgroup.com/lo.htm The Politix Group]

==See Also==

* [[Conservapedia:Articles about liberals|Articles about liberals]]
* [[Classical liberal]]
* [[Drinking Liberally]]
* [[Godless liberal]]
* [[Hollywood values]]
* [[Last wordism]]
* [[:Category:Liberal activists|Liberal activists]]
* [[Liberal arts]]
* [[Liberal Arts college]]
* [[Liberal Bias]]
* [[Essay:Liberal celebrity obsession|Liberal celebrity obsession]]
* [[Essay:Liberal Behavior on Conservapedia|Liberal Behavior on Conservapedia]]
* [[Liberal Christianity]]
* [[Liberal deceit]]
* [[Liberal Democrats]]
* [[Liberal denial]]
* [[Liberal Elite]]
* [[Essay: Liberal Falsehoods|Liberal Falsehoods]]
* [[Liberal Fascism]]
* [[Liberal friendship]]
* [[Liberal Gloss]]
* [[Liberal grading]]
* [[Liberal hate speech]]
* [[Liberal Hypocrisy]]
* [[Essay:Liberal hysteria|Liberal hysteria]]
* [[Liberal ideology]]
* [[Essay:Liberal Intellectualism|Liberal Intellectualism]]
* [[Liberalism and art]]
* [[Liberal labels]]
* [[Slander: Liberal Lies About the American Right|Liberal Lies About the American Right]]
* [[Liberal logic]]
* [[The Liberal Mind: The Psychological Causes of Political Madness|Liberal Mind]]
* [[Liberal Myths]]
* [[Liberal obfuscation]]
* [[Liberal Party]]
* [[Liberal quotient]]
* [[Liberal supremacist]]
* [[Essay:Liberal Style|Liberal Style]]
* [[Liberal tools]]
* [[Liberal tricks]]
* [[Liberal values]]
* [[Massachusetts Liberal]]
* [[Professor values]]

==Further Information==

* [[Conservative Links]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Politics]]
[[Category:Political ideologies]]

Liberal

2008-03-23T22:44:55Z

Hammer: Undo revision 411428 by Special:Contributions/Communist266 (User talk:Communist266) image irrevelant?

[[Image:Liberal Brain.jpg|thumb|230px|top|<center>A satirical conception of the liberal brain.</center>]]

Liberalism encompasses a wide variety of philosophies and ideologies which value individual liberty, freedom of thought and equality of opportunities. A '''liberal''' can be a believer in many of the following political positions:

* Tax and spend government
* Taxpayer-funded [[abortion]]
* [[Income redistribution]], usually through progressive taxation
* Government-rationed and taxpayer-funded medical care
* Taxpayer-funded free [[public education]]
* Qanting men and women to have the same jobs in the [[military]]
* [[Same-sex marriage]]
* [[Affirmative action]]
* [[Political correctness]]<ref>[http://www.theconservativevoice.com/article/27429.html Politically Correct Terrorism] ''The Conservative Voice'', August 21, 2007</ref>
* [[Censorship]] of [[prayer]] in classrooms and school sponsored events
* [[Labor union]]s
* Elimination of [[abstinence]]-only program funding <ref> [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,286671,00.html Democrats Aim To Kill Abstinence-Only Program Funding], [[Fox News]], Monday, June 25, 2007</ref>
* A "[[living Constitution]]" that is reinterpreted, thwarting the amendment process specified in the Constitution as written.
* Support for [[gun control]]
* Government programs to [[rehabilitate criminals]]
* Abolition of death penalty
* [[Environmentalism]]<ref>[[Greenpeace]], for example.</ref>
* [[Disarmament treaties]]
* [[Globalism]]
* Opposition to a strong American foreign policy <ref>Stefaan Walgrave and Joris Verhulst, [http://nicomedia.math.upatras.gr/conf/CAWM2003/Papers/Verhulst.pdf The February 15 Worldwide Protests against a War in Iraq: An Empirical Test of Transnational Opportunities. Outline of a Research Programme](PDF).</ref>
* Support of obscenity and pornography as a [[First Amendment]] right<ref>The [[Warren Court]], led by [[liberal]] Justices [[William O. Douglas]], [[Hugo Black]], [[Abe Fortas]], [[William Brennan]] and Chief Justice [[Earl Warren]] issued 36 decisions granting [[First Amendment]] rights to obscenity and pornography. These decisions remain fully supported by liberals today.</ref>
* Opposition to full private property rights<ref>For example, the liberal wing of the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] issued the 5-4 [[Kelo v. City of New London]] decision authorizing the taking of private property by government in order to give the property to another private entity rather than convert it to a public use.</ref>
* Limiting [[conservative]] talk radio by reinstating the [[Fairness Doctrine]]
* Promoting [[liberal deceit]] if it advances their goals, or at least tolerating it
 

== Liberalism in North America today ==
[[Democrats]] and many media outlets in the [[U.S.]] often have a [[liberal bias]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mrc.org/biasbasics/biasbasics1.asp|title=Media Bias basics|publisher=Media Research Center}}</ref>

===Liberal Rankings of Congress Members===

The National Journal compiles the votes of each congress member each year and uses the information to create rankings<ref>http://nationaljournal.com/voteratings/index.htm</ref> of how liberal each member of the United States [[Congress]] is. In addition to showing the voting records of each member and given an overall all ranking of liberalness, the National Journal also ranks congress members by liberalness in the areas of social, economic, and foreign policy.

==Liberalism in Europe today==

In Europe, on the other hand, parties that call themselves ''liberal'' are moderate in outlook, ranging from centre-left to centre-right, promote typically economic and business freedom. The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe<ref>http://www.alde.eu</ref> is an party of the European Parliament that represents most ''liberal'' parties from European countries. Similar policies are promoted by many ''liberal'' parties throughout the world,<ref>http://www.liberal-international.org/</ref> such as the Liberal Party of Australia.<ref>[http://www.liberal.org.au/]</ref>

Trade unions and socialist parties often criticize politicians that promote lower taxes on business, or more flexible hiring and firing laws, by calling them "liberals" or [[neoliberal|neoliberals]]. Thus, just like in the US, "liberal" is often used as a term of abuse. But when someone is called "liberal" in Europe, it is an entirely different to the meaning in the US.
In fact, the US meaning of liberal is more similar to the politics of European [[socialist]] or [[social democracy|social democratic]] parties.<ref>[http://www.pes.org]</ref>

==Historical Liberalism ==
In history, the word "liberal" has meant different things at different times, and was associated with individual liberty in prior centuries. In the postwar period, liberals supported government intervention in the economy and welfare state policies, as well as peaceful coexistence with the communist block, which are not liberal policies in the sense of classical liberalism. After the end of the cold war, with the demise of socialism and communism, many liberals embraced some ideas from economic neo-liberalism, and coined it the "Third Way". In the area of national security and foreign policy liberals in the [[U.S.]] failed to define a consistent stance, even after the events of 9/11 and the beginning of the war in Iraq. Liberals generally support affirmative action, gay marriage, and abortion.<ref>"Political liberals tend, for whatever reason, to be ardent supporters of both gay rights and pro-choice programs." Greenberg and Bailey [http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/Bailey/Greenberg-Bailey/Homosexual%20Eugenics.pdf] </ref>

==Original meaning: Classical Liberalism==
Liberalism is a political philosophy with freedom as its core value. The term was originally applied to supporters of individual liberties and equal rights, but, in America, the term has come to represent a movement of social change that often conflicts with [[conservative]] values such as moral values and tradition.

See [[Classical Liberal|Classical Liberalism]]. Compare [[Libertarianism]].

==Alternative meanings of 'liberal'==

One definition of liberal is anything that is not conservative. For example, the American Heritage Dictionary includes this definition of "liberal":<ref>Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/liberal</ref>
* Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas ...

==Liberal Organizations ==
*[[AARP|AARP - American Association of Retired People]]
*[[ACLU|ACLU - American Civil Liberties Union]]
*[[AFL-CIO|AFL-CIO - American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations]]
*[[Amnesty International|AI - Amnesty International]]
*[[Democratic National Committee]]
*[[Greenpeace]]
*[[NARAL|NARAL - National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League]]
*[[NAACP|NAACP - National Association for the Advancement of Colored People]]
*[[National Committee for an Effective Congress]]
*[[National Education Association]]
*[[National Organization of Women]]
*[[Planned Parenthood|Planned Parenthood Federation of America]]
*[[Rainbow/PUSH Coalition]]
*[[MoveOn.org]]
*[[A.N.S.W.E.R.]]

Source: [http://www.politixgroup.com/lo.htm The Politix Group]

==See Also==

* [[Conservapedia:Articles about liberals|Articles about liberals]]
* [[Classical liberal]]
* [[Drinking Liberally]]
* [[Godless liberal]]
* [[Hollywood values]]
* [[Last wordism]]
* [[:Category:Liberal activists|Liberal activists]]
* [[Liberal arts]]
* [[Liberal Arts college]]
* [[Liberal Bias]]
* [[Essay:Liberal celebrity obsession|Liberal celebrity obsession]]
* [[Essay:Liberal Behavior on Conservapedia|Liberal Behavior on Conservapedia]]
* [[Liberal Christianity]]
* [[Liberal deceit]]
* [[Liberal Democrats]]
* [[Liberal denial]]
* [[Liberal Elite]]
* [[Essay: Liberal Falsehoods|Liberal Falsehoods]]
* [[Liberal Fascism]]
* [[Liberal friendship]]
* [[Liberal Gloss]]
* [[Liberal grading]]
* [[Liberal hate speech]]
* [[Liberal Hypocrisy]]
* [[Essay:Liberal hysteria|Liberal hysteria]]
* [[Liberal ideology]]
* [[Essay:Liberal Intellectualism|Liberal Intellectualism]]
* [[Liberalism and art]]
* [[Liberal labels]]
* [[Slander: Liberal Lies About the American Right|Liberal Lies About the American Right]]
* [[Liberal logic]]
* [[The Liberal Mind: The Psychological Causes of Political Madness|Liberal Mind]]
* [[Liberal Myths]]
* [[Liberal obfuscation]]
* [[Liberal Party]]
* [[Liberal quotient]]
* [[Liberal supremacist]]
* [[Essay:Liberal Style|Liberal Style]]
* [[Liberal tools]]
* [[Liberal tricks]]
* [[Liberal values]]
* [[Massachusetts Liberal]]
* [[Professor values]]

==Further Information==

* [[Conservative Links]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Politics]]
[[Category:Political ideologies]]

Let Go (album)

2008-03-23T22:35:46Z

Hammer: create page

'''''Let Go''''' is the first album by Canadian pop singer [[Avril Lavigne]]. It was released in the year 2000, when Avril was just 17 years old. It had a few successful singles, including [[Complicated (song)|''Complicated'']] and [[Sk8er Boy (song)|''Sk8er Boy'']]. The songs on this first album are generally classified as punk, much more so than the songs off her second album, [[Under My Skin (album)|''Under My Skin'']].

[[Category:Pop music]]

Category:Pop Music

2008-03-23T22:35:34Z

Hammer: create cat

[[category:Musical genres]]

Avril Lavigne

2008-03-23T22:24:37Z

Hammer: phrasing changes

'''Avril Lavigne''' (born September 27, 1984) is a popular [[Canada|Canadian]] [[pop music|pop]] singer. She released her first album, ''[[Let Go (album)|Let Go]]'', at the the age of 17. To date, she has released three albums.

The first single, "Girlfriend", off her third album, is possibly her biggest hit, gathering over 60 million views on the website [[YouTube]].

The lyrics of many of the songs off her third album has much more obscene language than the first two, putting it into the [[adult pop]] genre of music.

[[Category:Women Singers]]

Avril Lavigne

2007-12-30T21:00:55Z

Hammer: make. First ever article. Hope it's good. :)

'''Avril Lavigne''' is a popular [[Canada|Canadian]] [[pop music|pop]] singer. She released her first album, ''[[Let Go]]'', at the the age of 17. To date, she has released three albums.

The first single, "Girlfriend", off her third album, is possibly her biggest hit, gathering over 60 million views on the website [[YouTube]].

The lyrics of some of her more recent songs has questionable content.

[[Category:Singers]]

Rock music

2007-12-30T20:52:34Z

Hammer: cat clean

'''Rock music''' is a style of [[music]] derived from the blues, characterised by a prominent [[drum]] beat in 4:4 time, accompanied by electric bass [[guitar]] providing the harmonic underpinning for the melody of electric guitar and vocals.

[[Elvis Presley]] and [[Buddy Holly]] were early pioneers of Rock in the late 1950s, as were the [[Beatles]] and [[Rolling Stones]] throughout the 1960s. In the 1970s the stadium rock of bands such as [[Boston]] and [[Pink Floyd]] became formulaic and overwrought, setting the stage for a backlash called [[Punk rock]] which evolved, with the addition of synthesizers, into [[New wave]] well into the 1980s. By the latter half of that decade, [[Glam rock]] had stultified into MTV-friendly "hair metal", and the stage was set for Nirvana and the Seattle scene, a darker and heavier version of punk known as [[Grunge]]. By 1994 and the death of [[Kurt Cobain]], grunge had changed into the stable formula of alternative rock that continues to be popular today.

Rock music sometimes includes lyrics that promote drug use, immoral sex, and violence, but the same is true for many other forms of music as well.<ref>[http://www.ericbarger.com/articles/RockMusic.html]</ref> <ref>[http://www.temcat.com/Chritian-Living/battle.htm]</ref>

== References ==
<references/>

[[Category:Rock music| ]]

Guitar

2007-12-30T20:51:39Z

Hammer: more commonly known as "guitar pick". Change link name

[[Image:305px-Guitar_1.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Acoustic guitar]]

The guitar is a stringed [[musical instrument]] which is played with the fingers or a [[plectrum|Guitar pick]]. Most guitars have six strings, however there many people who play guitars with four, seven and twelve strings.

The guitar's ability to play both chords and melodies make it a versatile instrument. The guitar can be found in many contemporary and classical styles of music such as: blues, rock, jazz, country, flamenco and romantic styles.

==Types of Guitar==

Guitars can be classified in a few different ways, such as differentiating their construction, playing range or their acoustic/electric quality.

===Construction===

Guitars may be classified as being [[acoustic]], semi-acoustic or [[electric]]. Acoustic guitars are usually made of wood, and produce sound based on the acoustics which resonate through the hollow chamber of the guitar. These guitars can be used in a live performance without amplification due to the resonance and volume the guitar chamber is capable of producing.

Semi-acoustic guitars are hollow-body acoustic guitars that have been equipped with an electromagnetic pickup so that they can be played either with or without amplification.

Electric guitars are also made out of wood but are usually not crafted in a hollow-body structure to allow the strings to resonate into the chamber. These guitars usually have electromagnetic pickups installed which are led to an [[amplifier]] to amplify the sound being played.

===Range===

Guitars can also be classified according to their range capabilities. Electric guitars have a 4-octave range, while bass guitars have a 3-octave range which is one-octave lower than the electric guitar's range. The range of these guitars may be altered by using guitars with twelve strings. This is commonly known as a doubled six-string guitar, however the second set of strings are tuned to an octave higher than the original strings. Therefore, this would add another octave to the guitar's upper range.

==Tuning==

There are many tunings used for the guitar around the world. There is however, a tuning commonly known as "standard tuning", being (low to high) E A D G B E. This tuning has been considered as the standard since the late 18th century<ref>http://www.guitarnoise.com/faq.php?id=23</ref>. There are alternate tunings commonly used, such as drop-D tuning, open-C tuning and open-G tuning. The tuning of the guitar can have a noticeable effect on the timbrel quality of the notes produced.

In standard tuning, the guitar has a usual range of four octaves, ranging from E3 to around E7 (on a 24-fret guitar). This standard range can be broadened by using basic guitar techniques such as bending a note to raise its pitch, or by using a vibrato-arm on an electric guitar to lower its pitch.

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Musical Instrument]]

Punk

2007-12-30T20:48:44Z

Hammer: /* External Links */ link name :)

'''Punk music''' originated in the [[United Kingdom]] in the late 1970s, with bands such as [[The Clash]] and [[The Buzzcocks]], primarily as a response to the cultural sterility of [[progressive rock]]. It quickly spread to the [[USA]] where bands such as [[The Ramones]] helped punk to continue to rise in popularity.

==Musicality==

Punk is charactarised by up-tempo [[guitar]]/bass arrangements. The lyrics can be concerned with any topic, generally, but are almost always written with a 1-2, 1-2 rhyme scheme. By design, the songs are usually structured to be very simplistic rock songs of the 1-4-5 chord progression variety.

==Dancing==

Various methods of dancing to it have emerged, such as skanking and pogo-ing. Punk-style dance is typically designed to be synasthesically expressive of an emotion, not of a particular representational style, such as a jitterbug.

==Punk Culture==

Punks typically distinguish themselves from others with their unmistakable appearances. This has included things such as Mohawk hairstyles, tight pants, studded leather jackets, bullet belts, combat boots, etc. Clothing and hairstyles vary widely throughout the punk scene, and often particular outfits denote particular strains of punk or core-beliefs. Most true punks however will claim that the punk subculture is more based on the idea of non-conformity.

==Sub-Genres==

* [[hardcore]]
* [[psychobilly]]
* [[pop-punk]]
* [[crust]]
* [[emo]]

== Notable Punk bands ==

=== United Kingdom===
* [[Poison Girls]]
* [[Subhumans]]
* [[Crass]]
* [[Sex Pistols]]
* [[The Buzzcocks]]
* [[The Damned]]
* [[Adicts]]
* [[U.K. Subs]]
* [[The Exploited]]
* [[The Clash]]
* The [[Anti-Nowhere League]]
* [[Flux of Pink Indians]]
* [[Conflict]]
* [[Siouxsie and the Banshees]]
* [[The Stranglers]]
* [[The Fall]]

=== United States ===
* [[Pixies]]
* [[The Ramones]]
* [[Television(band)|Television]]
* [[Dead Kennedys]]
* [[Anti-Flag]]
* [[Misfits]]
* [[New York Dolls]]
* [[Bad Religion]]
* [[Dropkick Murphys]]
* [[Black Flag]]

==Christianity in Punk Music==

There are few bands that are considered to be Christian punk bands.

Some examples are:

*[[MxPx]]
*[[Relient K]]
*[[Slick Shoes]]

However, these bands are not generally considered to be punk bands based on their sound.

==External Links==
[http://www.punkvoter.com Punkvoter.com]

[[Category:Punk| ]]

Punk

2007-12-30T20:48:20Z

Hammer: cat clean, remove possibly unfriendly band name

Jazz

2007-12-30T20:47:06Z

Hammer: cat clean

'''Jazz''' is an American style of music that reflects Americans' roots in Africa and Europe and which originated in [[New Orleans]] during the early years of the 20th century. The first jazz recording was made in 1917 by the [[Original Dixieland Jazz Band]], who drew heavily on African-American influences, as well as the marching bands that were popular at the time. It combines African American music, ragtime, and the blues. Jazz is typified by complex collective musical [[improvisation]].

==Early Jazz==
Up until the mid-to-late 20s, jazz was a [[polyphonous]] music - typically, in a band such as [[King Oliver]]'s, the [[cornet]] would hold the main melody, whilst the [[clarinet]] would improvise [[obligati]] above and the [[trombone]] would add a tenor line below. Gradually, a more solo-oriented style emerged, typified by the [[Hot Five]] recordings of [[Louis Armstrong]], where instruments would take turns to solo.

At this time, black and white bands were comprehensively segregated, with the influence of the ODJB hanging heavy over the white bands.

Towards the end of the 1920, the big band sound started to emerge in two places, New York and [[Kansas City]]. In New York, the [[Broadway]] influence led to the development of sophisticated orchestras such as those of [[Fletcher Henderson]] or [[Duke Ellington]], whilst in the Southwest, an earthier, bluesier style was developed by such leaders as [[Bennie Moten]] and [[Jesse Stone]]

==Swing==
The early 1930s were something of a lean time for jazz commercially, although fine recordings were being produced by [[Harlem]] bandleaders such as Ellington and [[Cab Calloway]]. By around 1935 the Swing style was being popularised by white bandleaders such as [[Benny Goodman]], (although black bandleaders such as [[Count Basie]], [[Jimmie Lunceford]] and [[Chick Webb]] had developed it) and by the end of the decade effectively became the sound of Western pop music.

==Bebop==
In reaction against the perceived commercialism of Swing, and its appropriation by white musicians, a group of young, dedicated musicians sought to create a style deliberately intended to alienate the casual listener. With its complex harmonies and irregular melodies, the Bebop style was treated with suspicion by older musicians.

==After Bebop==
During the 1950s the small group came to dominate mainstream jazz, assuming the form that survives to this day - a rhythm section of piano (playing sparse left hand), double bass and drums, with a front line generally consisting of 'horns' (ie, trumpets and/or saxophones).

Various movements emerged in the 1950s.

Hard Bop (epitomised by [[Horace Silver]] and [[Art Blakey]] brought a 'funky', bluesy feel to the music, in reaction to the complexities of Bebop.

Modal Jazz (pioneered by theorist [[George Russell]] and trumpeter [[Miles Davis]]) was also a contrast to Bebop, but sought to give the soloists ample space for expression by eliminating frequent chord changes.

==Fusion==
As rock became the dominant force in popular music in the 1960s, some jazz musicians decided to adapt to it, with varying degrees of success. Miles Davis' Bitches Brew and Herbie Hancock's Headhunters are two seminal fusion albums, although the genre itself remains controversial.

==Today==
Courses in jazz are offered at many major schools, and the number and standard of jazz musicians now is extremely high. Many high schools in the United States today also have jazz bands. A far remove from its New Orleans underclass roots, jazz is a thoroughly mainstream and respected art form.

Types of jazz include:
*[[Bebop]]
*[[Swing]]
*[[Latin Jazz]]
*[[Free Jazz]]

Some jazz musicians include:
*[[Charlie Parker]]
*[[Miles Davis]]
*[[Louis Armstrong]]
*[[Chet Baker]]
*[[Clifford Brown]]
*[[Sonny Rollins]]
*[[Duke Ellington]]
*[[Count Basie]]
*[[Dizzy Gillespie]]
*[[Maynard Ferguson]]

[[category:Jazz| ]]

Rhythm and blues

2007-12-30T20:46:21Z

Hammer: rephrase - Is this better?

'''Rhythm and blues''' is a type of [[African American]] music style that is very popular. It has strong roots in [[gospel]] music.

[[Category: Music]]

Rock and roll

2007-12-30T20:44:28Z

Hammer: cat clean

'''Rock and roll''' ('''Rock music''') is an [[American]] music genre started in the early 1950s. It evolved from [[rhythm and blues]], [[blues music]] and [[country music]].

==Foundations of rock==
Rock is characterized by a strong back-beat, simple repeated phrases, and electrically amplified instrumentation such as [[guitars]].

==Instrumentation==
*[[Electric guitar]]
*[[Bass guitar]]
*[[Drum kit]]
*[[Keyboards]]
*[[Piano]] ''(sometimes)''

==Rock sub-genres==
There are many genres of rock music, such as [[hard rock]], [[soft rock]], [[heavy metal]], [[country rock]], and many others.

==Worldwide popularity==
The popularity of rock music has spread worldwide. One place other than America where rock proved especially popular was [[Britain]], home to [[The Beatles]].

Some countries create their own version of rock, often adding lyrics of the singers' native country.

==Early rock pioneers==
*[[Chuck Berry]]
*[[Bo Diddley]]
*[[Little Richard]]
*[[Elvis Presley]]
*[[Roy Orbison]]
*[[Jerry Lee Lewis]]
*[[The Beach Boys]]
*[[The Beatles]]

==See also==
*[[Rhythm and blues]]

[[Category:Rock & Roll| ]]

Rock & Roll

2007-12-30T20:43:27Z

Hammer: redirect to Rock and roll

#REDIRECT [[Rock and roll]]

American Government Lecture One 2007

2007-12-30T20:42:32Z

Hammer: /* V. U.S. Constitution */ whoops! Fix that there

'''American Government'''

'''First Lecture - THE [[Constitution|CONSTITUTION]]'''

'''Instructor: Andy Schlafly'''

==I. Introduction==

The most popular [[season]] of the [[year]], [[Fall]], is upon us. Hope your [[summer]] [[vacation]] was good, and not too short.

When my daughter heard I would be teaching this course in [[Conservapedia:American Government 101|American Government]], she complained, “Why not teach something useful instead? Even [[Mathematics|math]] would be better!”

[[Mathematics|Math]] is important, but so is [[government]]. You cannot drive a [[Automobile|car]] without a license from [[government]]. You cannot own land without complying with [[government]]’s rules. It requires a [[government]] license to work as a [[doctor]], [[Attorney|lawyer]], accountant, [[architect]], electrician, undertaker, plumber and so on.

You probably need a license to hunt, or own a gun. You even need a license to cut someone else’s hair for pay. You have to understand how [[government]] works in order to get anything done.

When something bad happens, such as the [[bridge]] collapsing about a [[month]] ago in [[Minnesota]], we need to know which part of [[government]] is responsible. Was that [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[George W. Bush|Bush]]'s fault? How would you find out?

With all its [[regulation]]s, [[government]] can seem to be all-[[power]]ful. But actually our [[government]] is limited in [[power]]. There is much that it cannot do. It cannot seize our land, unless it pays us for it. It typically cannot enter our homes, unless it has a [[warrant]].

We constantly see the [[President of the United States of America|President]] on [[television]]. This gives the impression that he, too, is all-[[power]]ful. But [[Homo Sapiens|people]] pretend he has more control than he really does. He cannot pass [[law]]s. He cannot declare [[war]]. He cannot remove any [[judge]]s or [[congressman|congressmen]] from office. Usually he cannot even stay in his [[job]] as [[President of the United States of America|President]] for more than two terms.

There are also limits on what [[Congress]] and the [[Supreme Court]] can do. [[Congress]] cannot pass [[law]]s interfering with the [[power]]s of [[state]] [[government]]s. [[Congress]] can start [[war]]s, but cannot do much to stop them. The [[Supreme Court]], for its part, can only decide cases presented to it. The [[Court]] can declare [[law]]s passed by [[Congress]] to be [[unconstitutional]].

How do we know what the [[President of the United States of America|President]], [[Congress]] and the [[Supreme Court]] can and cannot do? They are all explained in one brief document: the [[United States Constitution]].

Look on page 317 of your textbook. There it is, the entire [[United States Constitution]]. Without the [[Amendment]]s and signatures, it is only 12 pages long: pp. 317-28. If you truly learn those 12 pages, then you will know more than most [[Attorney|lawyer]]s, [[politician]]s, [[college]] graduates, and 99% of the population. It’s that simple.

If you ever want to be a [[Attorney|lawyer]], you will have to pass the [[Bar exam]]. One-quarter of the exam consists of [[question]]s about the [[Constitution]]. Most [[Homo Sapiens|people]], even after [[law]] school, don't know it very well. Most [[politician]]s don't know it at all. We will.

It will help you to read, and reread, those 12 pages, and constantly refer to them throughout the course. Put a post-it or paperclip on page 317 to mark it for easy reference. When you hear news about our national [[government]], refer to the [[Constitution]] see what it gives it a particular [[power]].

==II. Purpose of Course==

Whenever you take a course, or do anything, ask yourself why you are doing it. In the [[parable]] of the [[Prodigal Son]] (Luke 15:11-24), the son left his father, lost everything, and became very hungry. The turning point was when he finally questioned his own conduct. What was the logic to it? He realized his behavior made no sense, and then changed. Imagine how much better off everyone would be if they [[question]]ed their own conduct that way. There would be no [[drugs|drug]] addicts, for example.

In the acclaimed movie “[[A Beautiful Mind]],” the [[professor]] began his class by asking the [[question]]: “Why are you here?” The better [[answer]] you can give, the better you will do. I’m very glad you are here, but you should be able to explain your own goals in being here.

Let me ask myself: why am I teaching this course? Because I know that many of you will become experts in [[government]] as a result. You will use your [[knowledge]] for the benefit of everyone. Maybe you will limit [[government]], or maybe you will improve it, or both. Or maybe you will use [[government]] to accomplish something more important in the [[free market]].

In this course you will learn how our system works, how things are done, and what can be done better. This is more of a [[problem]]-solving course than [[history]] is. We will cite [[history]] in passing, but our [[focus]] is on what the system is, rather than how it developed. Of course, you can learn a great deal of [[history]] while taking this course.

In [[history]], a student must learn many facts, without having time to focus on a particular document or event. In contrast, here we will learn a few things in great depth.

In history, a student learns by reading a great deal of material. In contrast, here we will learn by [[writing]] and [[problem]]-solving.

Doing well on the homework is the key to this course. Each week, I will assign about a dozen [[question]]s. They will be interesting and thought-provoking. The first [[question]]s require only short [[answer]s, while the later [[question]]s require increasingly longer [[answer]]s. I will grade the homework on a scale of 1 to 99, with an opportunity for extra credit. I will rank the top scorers. The book also has multiple-choice [[question]]s at the end of each chapter, and you should report your score on your homework, although that will not count towards ranking the top students.

Occasionally we will have tests, but they will be easy for those who do well on the homework.

==III. Textbook==

The textbook is “U.S. [[Government]] and [[Politics]],” by Paul Soifer. We are skipping the first 30 pages. The [[book]] is based on the Advanced Placement exam, which is similar to the CLEP exam that you can take at the end of this course.

I like the [[book]] for several reasons. It has great reference material in the [[appendix|appendices]] (pp. 303-47): a helpful glossary, a well-formatted copy of the [[Constitution]], and an easy-to-use list of important [[Supreme Court]] cases. Its layout of the [[Constitution]] is the best I’ve seen. Refer to the [[appendix|appendices]] in the textbook constantly during the course. Use them in class, and use them when doing the homework.

You could benefit from adding more terms to the glossary during this course. Here’s one: [[suffrage]] (pronunciation \SUH-frij\). It is a noun, and it means “the right of [[vote|voting]], franchise.” You could create a list of new terms on a separate piece of paper, and insert it with the [[book]]’s glossary for easy reference.

The textbook also has many multiple choice [[question]]s at the end of each chapter. This is good to increase motivation and generate immediate feedback on how well you learned the chapter. Each week, we will complete a chapter and then you will test yourself on the multiple choice quiz. You will turn in your score as part of your homework.

The readings are short, and you should not take the chapter quiz until you feel you understand the chapter. Reread it if necessary. Study it.

Think of this course as though you were learning how a [[Automobile|car]] works, or how to bake a [[cake]]. You need to understand the components and ingredients that make up the overall product. The goal is to learn how things work, how to do things, and how to solve [[problem]]s. The key is to find [[issue]]s that particularly interest you, and then learn as much as you can in connection with those [[issue]]s. THIS IS IMPORTANT: find [[issue]]s you like in this course and use them to increase your motivation.

==IV. “Federal”==

[[The Constitution]] set up our [[federal]] [[government]]. What does “ [[federal]] ” mean? In this context, it means national: the [[United States of America|United States]] [[government]] headquartered in [[Washington, D.C.]] [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[George W. Bush]]. [[Congressman|Congressmen]]. [[Senator]]s. [[U.S. Supreme Court]]. The [[Homo Sapiens|people]] you often see on [[television]] or in the [[newspaper]]. These terms have the same meaning: “national [[government]],” “ [[federal]] [[government]],” and “[[United States of America|United States]] [[government]].” They are completely different from “[[state]] [[government]],” and “[[city]] [[government]]” or “[[local government]].”

The first [[political parties|political party]] in the [[country]] was the “[[Federalist Party]]”. It stood for a stronger [[federal]] [[government]]. [[Alexander Hamilton]] founded it to help pass his program of a national [[bank]] and assumption by the [[federal]] [[government]] of all the [[war]] [[debt]]s. He used it to impose a [[federal]] [[alcoholic drink|liquor]] [[tax]], which resulted in [[the Whiskey Rebellion]] in 1794. Look up the term “[[Federalist Party]]” on page 307 in the textbook.

Do you know the difference between [[federal]] and [[state]] [[government]]? Look in your [[telephone|phone]] book. You’ll see they are usually listed in separate [[category|categories]]. Let’s take some examples. Who handles drivers licenses? ([[state]]) [[Social Security]]? ( [[federal]] ) [[Sales tax]] on [[computer]]s? (state) [[Sales tax]] on [[gasoline|gas]]? (both [[federal]] and [[state]] are included in the [[price]] at the pump) [[Public schools]]? (local) [[United States Postal Service |Post office]]? ( [[federal]] ) Libraries? (local) [[Army]]? (federal) Security guards at [[airport]]s? (mostly [[federal]] now, due to [[September 11, 2001 attacks|9/11]]) Traffic [[court]]? (local) [[Police]]? (local) Imagine you want to start a [[business]] and [[trademark]] the name of your [[business]]. Who controls [[trademark]]s? (mostly [[federal]] , see http://www.uspto.gov/, [[state]]s can also protect [[business]] names)

How about this one: what is [[Federal Express]]? They deliver overnight packages, guaranteed. Is it part of the [[federal]] [[government]]? Nope. It is completely private. They use the name “ [[federal]] ” to make them look official. They have nothing to do with the [[government]].

When you see [[government]] officials, think of whether they are [[federal]] or not. Why does it matter?

It makes a big difference. First of all, you have to know who to call. If the garbage man isn’t picking up your garbage, it doesn’t help to call the [[White House]]. The [[governor]] isn’t going to help you either. Neither is the [[Supreme Court]]. You should try calling your municipal building, where your [[mayor]] works. But if your grandfather’s [[Social Security]] check didn’t arrive, your [[mayor]] isn’t going to be able to help. You need to contact the appropriate [[federal]] [[agency]]. Maybe your [[Congressman]] can help if you cannot obtain [[answer]]s from the [[federal]] [[government]].

Second, if you ever reach the right person on the [[telephone|phone]], you need to know what you say. What are your [[rights]]? What are the [[government]]’s [[obligation]]s? [[federal]] officials must comply with [[federal]] [[law]], while [[state]] and local officials must also comply with specific [[obligation]]s imposed by [[state]] [[law]]. The [[law]]s are completely different from each other. [[federal]] [[law]] is in the United States Code. The cites to it look like “[[17 U.S.C. § 107]]” (this section allows fair use of [[copyright]]ed material). [[State]] [[law]] is in an entirely separate code book. The cites to it include an abbreviation of the [[state]], as in “N.J.S.A. § 18A:35-4.7” (this section allows [[New Jersey]] [[parents]] to pull their [[children]] out of certain courses in [[public school]]).

Third, if you’re thinking about working for [[government]], you need to know who to apply to. Don’t apply to [[state]] [[government]] for a [[job]] at the [[Internal Revenue Service|IRS]]. It’s [[federal]] . Don’t apply to [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[George W. Bush|Bush]] for a [[job]] as a [[public school]] [[teacher]].

There are other differences between [[federal]] and [[state]] [[government]]. [[federal]] [[job]]s often pay better and are more secure. They are backed by [[Internal Revenue Service|IRS]] [[tax]] collections of the [[United States of America|United States]]. They often work in bigger and nicer buildings. One summer I worked in a [[federal]] building in [[Washington D.C.|D.C.]], and it was so big that one employee used the hallways as a track for jogging!

Federal officials generally have more [[power]] than [[state]] officials. The [[Supremacy Clause]] of the Constitution, which is in Article VI (see p. 328), says that [[federal]] [[law]] is supreme. You are not likely to hear about a [[state]] police officer arresting an [[FBI]] agent, because he is a [[federal]] officer.

About 15 years ago in Wayne, [[New Jersey]], the [[FBI]] arrested the [[mayor]]. They didn’t even bother telling the local [[police]], who thought he had been kidnapped. Not only do the [[federal]] and [[state]] [[government]] fail to communicate with each other, they often fight each other for control.

But sometimes local officials have more [[power]] than [[federal]] officials. The superintendent for a [[public school]] district often makes more money than the [[Congressman]] or [[Senator]], and has more influence too. And if you ever receive a traffic ticket, I guarantee you will care more about the municipal [[judge]] than the [[President of the United States of America|president]].

How about the [[media]]? Which [[government]] does the [[media]] pay more attention to? The [[federal]] [[government]], by far. Why? Because it is more profitable for the [[media]], and easier. It much simpler and cheaper simply to wake up each day and report on what the [[President of the United States of America|president]] is doing, whether it is newsworthy or not. That is one quick story to tell to the entire [[country]]. To report on each [[state]] would require 50 different stories, at 50 times the expense. The [[media]] would go broke trying to do that. You’ll almost never see your [[mayor]], local [[school]], [[Congressman]] or even [[governor]] on [[CNN]] or [[Fox News]]. It doesn’t mean they are less important than the [[President of the United States of America|president]].

The [[federal]] [[government]] has three branches: [[executive]] (the [[President of the United States of America|president]]), legislative ([[Congress]]) and the [[judiciary]] (the [[Supreme Court]]). Each branch employs [[powers of ten|thousands]] of [[Homo Sapiens|people]]. The [[executive]] branch even employs [[powers of ten|millions]], including the armed services.

==V. U.S. [[Constitution]]==

Over 225 years ago, in 1781, there was no [[federal]] [[government]]. Then the [[colony|colonies]] agreed on the [[Articles of Confederation]], but that created a [[federal]] [[government]] with very few [[power]]s. The [[colony|colonies]] retained all the [[power]]. Why did they ultimately give up [[power]] to the [[federal]] [[government]] we have today?

Had they known what was happening, maybe they never would have. 55 [[colony|colonial]] leaders met in [[Philadelphia]] during the hot [[summer]] of 1787 to fix the [[Articles of Confederation]], and decided instead to propose an entirely new [[Constitution]] with a [[power]]ful new [[federal]] [[government]]. Their meetings were held in secret, so no one knew what they were doing.

They began each session with a [[prayer]]. Their final product, the [[Constitution]], was a marvelous [[law|legal]] document. Together these 55 individuals created something much greater than any could have produced individually. It established a national, [[republican]] [[government]] with limited [[power]]s.

What is a [[republican]] [[government]]? It means the [[Homo Sapiens|people]] [[election|elect]] representatives to [[election|elect]] [[law]]makers and create [[law]]s. It has a layer of protection against a pure [[democracy]] in which the public directly decides [[issue]]s.

Contrary to what you may hear today, our [[Founding Fathers|Founders]] did not like pure [[democracy|democracies]]. They worried about tyranny by the uninformed masses. They wanted a select group of [[Homo Sapiens|people]] making our [[law]]s.

An example is our [[electoral college]]. [[Al Gore]] won more [[vote]]s than [[George W. Bush]], but [[George W. Bush|Bush]] won more [[vote]]s in the [[electoral college]]. Our [[President of the United States of America|president]] is not chosen directly by the [[Homo Sapiens|people]]. He is chosen by the [[Electoral College]]. Another example is the original procedure for choosing [[United States of America|U.S.]] [[Senator]]s. [[state]] legislators selected them, not the general public. (This was changed by the [[Seventeenth Amendment|17th Amendment]] in 1913 - see text[[book]] p. 334)

The [[Constitution]] limits the [[power]] of the national [[government]] in several ways:

1. By listing specific [[power]]s (e.g., running a post office).
 2. By creating three branches as “[[checks and balances]]” on each other.
 3. By making it difficult for one branch to act alone, without agreement by another branch.
 4. By later adding a [[Bill of Rights]] to protect the [[Homo Sapiens|people]] further.

The original [[Constitution]] also includes a few restrictions on the [[state]]s, and even established a few individual [[rights]].

The general rule is that the [[federal]] [[government]] only has the [[power]]s given it by the [[Constitution]]. [[State]]s have any [[power]] that is not denied them by the [[Constitution]]. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT POINTS IN THIS COURSE. [[James Madison]] said it this way: “The [[power]]s delegated by the proposed [[Constitution]] to the [[federal]] [[government]] are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the [[state]] [[government]]s are numerous and indefinite.” [[Federalist No. 45]].

What specific [[power]]s are given to the [[federal]] [[government]]?

Article I - [[Congress]]. This sets forth its [[power]]s and limits.
 Section 1 - Two parts of [[Congress]] ([[bicameral]])
 Section 2 - [[House of Representatives|House]] Term and Method of [[Election]]
 Section 3 - [[Senate]] Term, Method of [[Election]], and [[Vote]]
 Section 4 - [[Election]]s
 Section 5 - Rules
 Section 6 - Compensation and Immunities
 Section 7 - Enacting [[Legislation]], and [[Veto]]
 Section 8 - [[Power]]s of Congress
 some exclusive (e.g., [[United States Postal Service|Post Office]]), some not (e.g., [[bankruptcy]] [[law]]s)
 Section 9 - Limits on [[Congress]]
 Section 10 - Limits on [[State]]s

 Article II - [[President of the United States of America|President]]. This sets forth his [[power]]s and limits.

 Article III - [[Court]]s. Establishes [[court]]s and the ability of [[Congress]] to define its [[power]].

 Article IV - [[State]]s. They must respect other [[state]]s’ [[law]]s, and requests to transfer criminals.

 Article V - [[Amendment]] process.

 Article VI – [[Supremacy Clause]]: [[federal]] [[law]] is supreme to [[state]] [[law]].

 Article VII – ratification process for [[Constitution]] itself.

 [[Bill of Rights]] – additional protection against [[government]] [[power]].

The most important part of the [[Constitution]] to understand is [[Article I]]. The [[Founding Fathers|Founders]] viewed [[Congress]] as more important than the [[President of the United States of America|president]] or [[Supreme Court]].

==VI. [[Checks and Balances]]/[[Separation of Powers]]==

The phrase “[[checks and balances]]” is one of the most popular terms used in connection with the [[Constitution]]. You’ll hear it on [[television]] and see it in the [[newspaper]]. It refers to the [[separation of powers]] between the three branches of the [[federal]] [[government]], and how one branch will act to limit the [[power]] of a competing branch.

For example, [[Congress]] insisted that [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[George W. Bush|Bush]] not invade [[Iraq]] unless [[Congress]] first authorized it. This “checked” the [[power]] of the [[president|presidency]]. It added “balance” to our [[government]] by ensuring that the [[President of the United States of America|president]] could not act alone, but needed agreement by [[Congress]].

Another example is how the [[Supreme Court]] invalidates acts of [[Congress]] as [[unconstitutional]]. The [[Court]] thereby “checks” the [[power]] of [[Congress]]. [[Congress]] is “balanced” by the counterweight of the [[Court]]. Query: who “checks and balances” the [[Supreme Court]]? Ponder that [[question]].

The “[[separation of powers]]” between the three branches ([[Executive Branch|executive]], [[Legislative Branch|legislative]], and [[Judicial Branch|judicial]]) represents the same idea. It keeps the three branches apart from each other so that one does not gradually gain control over the other. Without the [[Separation of Powers|separation]], one branch could influence and dominate another branch.

Occasionally, something blurs the distinction between the three branches. In response to extravagant spending by the [[federal]] [[government]], [[Congress]] passed a [[law]] giving the [[President of the United States of America|president]] [[power]] to [[veto]] expenses on a line-by-line basis. This is known as the line-item [[veto]]. Many [[state]]s already give their [[governor]] this [[power]]. It enables the chief [[executive]] ([[President of the United States of America|president]] or [[governor]]) to approve [[legislation]] but to pluck out and remove certain expenses in it. For example, new [[legislation]] may authorize [[money]] for the [[war]] on [[Iraq]] but also include building a new [[dam]] in [[Oregon]]. The [[power]] of the line-item [[veto]] would enable the [[President of the United States of America|president]] to approve the funding of the [[war]] but strike out the funding of the new [[dam]]. He would thereby modify the [[legislation]] before signing it. Query: does the line-item [[veto]] violate the [[separation of powers]] between the [[President of the United States of America|president]] and Congress? (The [[Supreme Court]] said yes, and invalidated the line-item [[veto]]).

==VII. Issues to Consider (Optional - extra credit)==

Each class, we will conclude with a set of [[issue]]s to consider. The goal is to spark your interest. Here are the first ones:

1. Should [[Congress]] limit [[Judicial Review|judicial review]], as in [[the Ten Commandments]] case?

[[Article III]] subjects the [[jurisdiction]] of the [[federal]] [[court]]s to the [[power]] of [[Congress]]. This is rarely used. But now that [[federal]] [[court]]s have ordered removal of [[the Ten Commandments]] from the [[Alabama]] [[Supreme Court]] and also invalidated the [[Pledge of Allegiance]], perhaps the [[time]] has come for [[Congress]] to remove authority from the [[federal]] [[court]]s. What, if anything, would you remove from the [[power]] of the [[federal]] [[court]]s?

2. The [[Commerce Clause]] grants the [[federal]] [[government]] control over interstate [[commerce]] – i.e., [[trade]] between [[citizens]] living in different [[state]]s. [[Court]]s have interpreted this to prevent [[state]]s from [[tax]]ing interstate purchases. When you order something from a [[company]] in a different [[state]], there is no [[sales tax]]. For example, if you are in [[New Jersey]] and order a [[book]] from amazon.com, you do not pay any [[sales tax]]. If you buy that same [[book]] at a local [[book]]store, you must pay [[sales tax]]. Is this fair? Should [[state]]s have the [[power]] to impose [[sales tax]] on purchases by out-of-[[state]] residents? (J.D. Manufact. Co. v. Storen, 304 U.S. 307 (1938))

3. Eliminate certain [[government]] operations entirely?

There was a [[time]] when we did not have a [[federal]] [[government]]. For over [[powers of ten|ten]] [[year]]s after the [[Declaration of Independence]], we even lacked a [[President of the United States of America|President]]. Many did not see any [[problem]] with that. Think about what we need [[government]] for, and what we could do better without [[government]] involvement. Take the [[Post Office]], for example, which was one of the first functions of [[federal]] [[government]]. We can mail a letter to anywhere in the [[United States]] and, for a mere 41 cents, it will be delivered within a few [[day]]s. [[Federal Express]] charges 30 times as much, though it will deliver it faster. Yet the [[United States Postal Service|Postal Service]] delivers more mail in one day than [[Federal Express]] delivers in an entire [[year]]. The [[government]] asserts a [[monopoly]] over ordinary mail delivery (expensive urgent delivery, like that provided by [[Federal]] Express, received an exemption from the [[United States Postal Service|Postal Service]], 39 C.F.R. § 320.6). If you set up a mail delivery service in your town, then the [[government]] would force you to stop. Do you agree with that policy? Would we be better off with a less [[power]]ful [[federal]] [[government]]? Would it be wise to eliminate the [[federal]] [[government]]?

[[Category:Homeschool Curriculum]]

Pop-punk

2007-12-30T20:39:25Z

Hammer: stub

{{stub}}

'''Pop-punk''' is an amalgamation of aspects of [[punk|punk rock]] and [[pop music]] genres.

Pop punk gained mainstream acceptance in the mid 1990's with bands such as [[Green Day]] and [[The Offspring]], followed later by bands such as [[Blink 182]] and [[Sum 41]].

[[Category:Music]]

Music

2007-12-30T20:38:33Z

Hammer: cat clean

[[Image:Musicalnotes.jpg|right]]

[[Music]] (Middle English ''musik'', from Anglo-French ''musike'', from [[Latin]] ''musica'', from [[Greek]] μουσικη ''mousike'') is an [[art]] form consisting entirely of organized [[sound]] interspersed with periods of silence.<ref>[http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?sourceid=Mozilla-search&va=Music Music] defined in the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary.</ref> It takes its name from three [[Greek mythology|Greek]] goddesses known as the ''[[Muses]]'', who specialized in stimulation of an artist's or poet's mind.

Music is the highest of all the arts, and the one best able to stir human emotion. Depending on what sort of work of music one composes, interprets, or hears, it can build a person up in spirit, or break it; make a person happy, or sad; inspire a person to greatness, or lead him into very challenging temptation. It is the art form to which the [[Bible]] gives its strongest endorsement, and to which the Bible pays the greatest attention. At the same time, it is arguably the most dangerous of all the arts, when misused.<ref name=Brown>Brown, Alan B.: telephone interview conducted on 1 March 2007 with user [[User:TerryH|TerryH]]</ref>
== What is music? ==

Strictly speaking, ''music'' means sound having any organization at all, while ''noise'' is purely random sound. But the roots of these two words suggest that ''music'' ought to mean that which makes one think and feel something new and significantly different, while ''noise'' (from the same root from which we get the verb ''I annoy'') is merely a distracting, disturbing, or often physically damaging sound. Some modern composers have attempted to stretch the definition of music by using noises in a manner that they insist is organized. Whether such a work product properly falls under the heading of "music" is debatable. However, what appears as music to one person may be interpreted as noise to another, and vice versa, as interpretation of sounds, whether organised or disorganised, dissonant or harmonious, may arouse different sorts of feelings in a listener.

Note that music is ''not'' limited to such sounds that a human being might produce by fashioning an instrument for the making of a simplified or otherwise organized sound and then "playing" said instrument. The chirping of birds and certain insects may properly be called music, especially if the sound produced is particularly pleasant to the listener. Furthermore, some of the most sophisticated music attempts to imitate the sounds made by birds, insects, and other animals.

The intriguing work of [[Oliver Sachs]] attempts to address the question, "What is it about music that so moves our spirit and mind that it remains long after our other memories fade?" [http://www.kidsnet.org/sfkc/sfkc20051230-1.html]

== Basic music theory ==
: ''Main Article: [[Music theory]]''
Classically, music consists of ''tones'', ''melodies'', ''counterpoint'', and ''rhythm''. A ''tone'' is the purest form of sound, having a single [[frequency]]. However, pure tones in music are rare. Most tones present themselves to the human ear together with ''overtones'', which typically are small-[[integer]] multiples of the basic frequency (the ''fundamental tone'').

=== Notes, intervals, and scales ===
Two tones played together form an ''interval''. The simplest of all intervals is the ''octave'', formed by two tones, one of whose frequencies is the exact double of the other. The full collection of tones that one can play between the two notes of an octave is called a ''scale.'' In Western music, most scales are ''semi-tonal'', with twelve tones between the octave notes. (The high end of the octave is considered a repetition of the low end, but at twice the frequency.) [[Oriental]] music commonly has ''quarter-tonal'' scales, with twenty-four separate tones within an octave. Quarter tones are often difficult to distinguish for a Western listener, and such music, as a result, tends to suggest the sinuous movement of a snake.

The [[Greece|Greeks]] recognized early that fundamental tones in music have a simple and strict [[mathematics|mathematical]] relationship. As mentioned, the octave consists of two notes, one at double the frequency of the other. At ''triple'' the frequency, one hears a low fundamental tone, and a higher tone that is past the octave but roughly midway toward the second octave. If one then divides the high-tone frequency by two, one creates the interval called the ''perfect fifth'' or ''dominant'' interval, one of the most common intervals used in Western music. One can test this relationship by striking a note on a [[piano]] while holding down another key that is one octave higher than the perfect fifth. The second note will sound in sympathy with the first--because it is resonating with the overtone from the first note.

=== Melody and counterpoint ===
''Melody'' is the series of notes that most closely captures the attention of the listener: the 'tune' one hums along with.

''Counterpoint'' is a specific technique for creating secondary melodies that intertwine with and compliment the main melody. When two or more notes sound at the same time, it is called a ''chord,'' and the distance between the notes is the ''interval.'' In the western 12-note scale common usage, an interval is often expressed in relative terms, using the eight notes that make up an octave and prefixing 'major' or 'minor' to account for the interstitial notes. For instance, the interval between 'C' and 'E' is a ''3rd'' because 'E' is the 3rd note in the major scale of C. One-half step below that is a ''minor 3rd,'' although this exact same note could also be called a ''major 2nd''.

Many of the feelings and emotions that music can evoke are a result of the tension between the ''harmonic'' sound of some intervals, and the ''dissonant'' sound of others. During the development of western music, certain rules were established for proper melodic counterpoint, and these rules specified how intervals (chords) could change over time in the music. For example, in the chants of Gregorian Monks, chords containing certain intervals, like 7ths, were required to 'resolve' to their harmonious natural key, while other intervals, like minor 5ths, were deemed ugly and even considered evil, and banned from use in liturgic music. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) represents the pinnacle of this style of strict rule-based composition, as many of his keyboard compositions and all of his sacred work adhere to the rules of counterpoint. From the height of the Baroque era (1700's) to the present, the history of western music has unfolded as each generation of composers has pushed the boundaries of these these rules right up to, and then in the 20th century, way beyond, all limits.

In modern popular music, the bass line is often seen as an example of counterpoint. Another, more accurate example would be dueling guitar leads.

=== Rhythm ===
''Rhythm'' consists of all aspects of music that suggest ''forward movement.'' Most music contains a regularly repeating sequence of ''beats'', or strong elements, that typically lead with a ''down beat'' followed by any of a small number of slightly weaker beats. A down beat and its weaker beats form a ''measure.'' Usually, all measures in a piece of music have the same number of beats.

A note in music is described not only by pitch, or frequency, but also by duration. Notes in Western music have names that typically describe how long they would sound in a typical measure. ''Whole notes'' are so called because normally they would sound for the full measure. ''Half notes'' would sound for half the measure, ''quarter notes'' for a fourth of the measure, and so on. A note may also carry a ''dot'' to the right of it, that indicates that the note is to sound for one and one-half times its usual duration.

Any one of these notes may carry a beat, and a measure may have any number of beats. Thus every piece of music commonly carries at least one ''time signature'' describing how many beats a measure has, and which type of note carries one beat. The most common time is "four-quarter time" (four beats per measure, with the beat given to the quarter note), which is therefore called "common time." Other commonly used time signature include three-quarter, six-eighth, nine-eighth, or rarely, two-half (called ''Alla breve'' or "cut time"). Even rarer are the time signatures with prime numbers of beats (other than three-quarter), including five-quarter or even eleven-eighth.

''Tempo'' (Italian for "time") describes how frequently the beats occur. The typical tempo signature is a drawing of the note that has the beat, followed by the number of beats per minute.

Notes may be ''accented'' at any time. In fact, often the accent will fall on the weak beat and make the beats seem to sound out-of-sequence. The result is ''syncopated'' rhythm.

The genre of music called [[rock and roll]] features a unique rhythm convention: the ''backbeat.''<ref>[http://www.tbray.org/ongoing/When/200x/2003/12/07/RockRules Normative Backbeat] at Tbray.org</ref> This is a third beat, in four-quarter time, that is stressed even more strongly than the down beat. This produces a profound sense of restlessness in the listener.

== Types of instruments ==
: ''Main Article: [[Musical instruments]]''

== History ==
[[Image:Musica Cassell.jpg|right]]
The [[Bible]] suggests that music actually began in [[heaven]], and that the first musician was [[Satan|Lucifer]], then the chief of [[God]]'s messengers, or [[angels]].

Human music goes back to [[antediluvian civilization]]. The Bible specifically credits [[Jubal]], son of [[Lamech the Murderer]] by his wife [[Adah]], with introducing music to mankind.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Genesis|chap=5|verses=19-21|version=KJV}}</ref>

The earliest ''post''-diluvian records of music have been found in [[Iraq]] and [[India]], and date at least from the time of [[Abraham]]. They probably were made shortly after the construction of the [[Tower of Babel]].

Almost every culture and religious movement has its own particular form of music. Some forms are richer and more sophisticated than others. The [[Hebrew]] people, and especially the children of [[Jacob|Israel]], have some of the grandest of all musical traditions. Mentions of "singing to the Lord" abound in the Old Testament. The most specific testimony to the power of music over human emotions is surely contained in the story of King [[Saul]] and how he came to recruit the young [[David]] as his armorbearer and personal musician.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=I_Samuel|chap=16|verses=14-23|version=KJV}}</ref>

King [[David]], at the height of his reign, once had a ''four-thousand-voice choir'' to assist in the worship of [[God]]. The Book of [[Psalms]] is in fact a collection of lyrics for some of the first worship songs in Israelite tradition. (Most of these came from David, but at least one comes from [[Moses]].) The [[Song of Solomon]] is a grand ballad of love that most scholars regard as a type of the love of [[Jesus Christ]] for His elect.

The Greeks, when [[Alexander the Great]] accepted the surrender of [[Jerusalem]] in his wars of conquest, introduced their own brand of music to the region--which the Jews largely resisted. But music was highly prominent throughout the Greek world--and later in the [[Rome|Roman]] world following Rome's conquest of Greece. The Greeks' contributions to music theory influenced artists for centuries to come, and still have a strong influence today, especially on composers who prefer to adhere to the classical traditions of music.

The earliest Greek music was associated with Greek [[theater]]. Beginning with the fall of Rome, however, music became largely liturgical. The primary influence remained the [[Roman Catholic Church]] until the twin movements of the Renaissance and the Reformation, each of which introduced a countervailing tradition.

From that time forward, most scholars divide music into "classical" music (composed primarily to achieve a high art) and "popular" music (composed for the masses and tending to achieve wide, but ephemeral, appeal).<ref>[http://www.thefreedictionary.com/popular%20music Popular music] defined at the Free Dictionary</ref>

"Classical music" tends to rely more on written notation, as a piece of classical music is generally held to transcend any particular interpretation of it. In current practice, such music is performed in concerts where the audience is expected to remain respectfully silent and the performers dress formally; however, in the past such music was often performed at salons and other informal private gatherings. In addition, the increasing importance of the written transmission of such music has reduced the role of improvisation, which was extremely important through the beginning of the "Romantic" era. Classical music also displays great musical complexity through the use of varied rhythms, chord progressions, counterpoint, and other compositional techniques, while maintaining a deep emotional content.

"Popular music" on the other hand, tends to be more accessible to the general public through the use of simpler forms and relatively simple compositional techniques. Much popular music is the product of modern business enterprise, as opposed to folk music (created by ordinary people for their own enjoyment) or classical music (which was originally written for religious practice or for the entertainment of the nobility).

These two genres; however, are not necessarily distinct, as composers such as [[Johann Sebastian Bach|Bach]] and [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart|Mozart]] would often incorporate themes from "popular music" of their time into their works. Other classical composers like [[Maurice Ravel|Ravel]] and [[George Gershwin|Gershwin]] were well-known for their use of jazz idiom in works like the Concerto in F for Piano and Orchestra and [[Rhapsody in Blue]]. On the other hand, popular music has borrowed many themes from classical works (one notable example is "A Whiter Shade of Pale" by [[Procol Harum]]). In addition, "popular music" is not necessarily simpler than classical, as forms like jazz and progressive rock make use of complex time signatures that do not often occur in classical works, and some popular musicians like [[Frank Zappa]] are considered serious composers in their own right.

=== Different uses of classical and popular music ===
Classical music has typically found these uses:

# As an aid to worship, by placing the listener into a proper frame of mind for worship or instill in the listener a proper appreciation of the grandeur and glory of [[God]] and of the listener's own place in relation to Him.
# For the entertainment of the nobility; or, in more recent times, by commission from a particular group of people (often an orchestra or a university).
# To rally troops, either during training, on the march, or in battle.
# To celebrate military victory or the reign of a king, usually the one presently on the throne.
# Occasionally as a supplement to various forms of [[theater]]. Originally (especially in the Greek era) this meant the open-air live theater of classical fame. Today such music might accompany a live stage performance or several scenes in a [[motion picture]].

Popular music, on the other hand, is typically used:

# For entertainment, and more particularly for financial remuneration.
# Very frequently as a supplement to modern [[theater]] in all its forms, including stage, [[motion picture|motion pictures]], and especially [[television]].
# As a powerful aid of [[propaganda]], and the closely related use in [[advertisement]].
# Rarely, to rally troops. One popular artist who achieved great distinction by winning acceptance of his music by military bands was [[Glenn Miller]].

Both forms of music can be used as propaganda, as in some of the works of [[Dmitri Shostakovich]] (although this is debated; see the article on Shostakovich for a more complete discussion).

All types of music are often used as an accompaniment to dancing. This was as true in the past as it is today, all over the world, whether in the discos of American nightclubs or the salsa bars of Latin America. Today, people may dance to Maddonna )the female recording artist), while a generation ago people were dancing to the works of Duke Ellington and Sammy Nestico. Before that, the waltzes of Strauss were popular, while in the Baroque era (1650-1750), the dance suite was a popular compositional form. Dancing to music, whether melodic or rhythmic in nature, often plays a ritualistic role in societies across the world.

== The power of music over human emotion ==
Music has a very powerful effect on the emotions of the listener. Music relies on [[sound]], and if "faith comes through hearing," then so does emotion. Music can instantly bring joy or sorrow, ecstasy or despair, and far more quickly than can any other form of art. Many musical composers insist that their music merely expresses emotions. This does not do music justice. Music does more than express emotions; it induces them.<ref>[http://www.musica.uci.edu/mrn/V3I1S96.html MuSICA Notes III(1), Spring 1996]</ref>

The amateur botanist Dorothy L. Retallack, in [[1973]], claimed to have found that music can have an effect on plants. "Positive" music (that produces joy or contentment) supposedly made plants flourish and even "reach" for, or grow toward, such music. Negative music (that produces frustration, restlessness, or especially anger and rage) supposedly caused plants to "recoil" (grow away) from the music, and prolonged or repeated exposure debilitates and eventually killed plants, or so she said.<ref>Retallack, Dorothy L. ''The Sound of Music and Plants''. Devorss and Company, June 1973, 96 pp., paperback. ISBN 0875161707</ref><ref>[http://www.dovesong.com/positive_music/ About Positive and Negative Music] from the Dovesong Foundation</ref>

No botanist has ever reproduced Retallack's claimed results. But the effects on animals and humans are far better documented and much more profound than any effect on plants that Retallack ever claimed. That animals, and especially [[dog]]s and [[cat]]s, recoil in horror from the sound of a poorly trained voice, is proverbial (and in fact the animals might be reacting to a sound that is not merely grating but acutely and physically painful to their ears). The Dovesong Foundation has found evidence for musical preferences by cattle<ref>[http://www.dovesong.com/positive_music/archives/basement/Cows%20and%20Classical%20Music.asp Cows Prefer Classical Music]</ref> and cetaceans.<ref>[http://www.dovesong.com/positive_music/archives/basement/Steinhart_Dolphins.asp Dolphins Don't Like Rock] (The article refers to the classic [[dolphin]] (family [[Cetacea]]), aka "porpoise," not the fish of that name.)</ref>

Music has also had a profound and well-documented effect in human history. The history of warfare includes a rich history of martial music. More recently, music has now found a use in the healing of negative emotional states and even as an aid to the healing of physical disabilities.<ref>[http://www.musictherapy.org/ The American Music Therapy Association]</ref>

Commercial enterprises always attempt, at great expense of time, money, and effort, to find and deploy forms of music that will enhance worker productivity or cause prospective customers to behave in a manner calculated to make them purchase their goods and/or services. The pop selections played in supermarkets are a prime example.

Music has always been an adjunct to [[theater]]. This is especially true of the performing arts called ''opera'' and ''ballet'', but applies also to the use of music as an adjunct to a theatrical production, whether on the stage, as a [[motion picture]], or as a [[television]] show.

Music also has an obvious use in [[propaganda]], in which the propagandist seeks to manipulate people's emotions and stir them typically to rage and hostility against certain groups.

Finally, music can strengthen in the listener a curiosity about, or even a desire for, an act of sexual or other [[sin]].<ref>[http://cranach.worldmagblog.com/cranach/archives/2006/08/draft_linking_s.html Linking Sexual Music and Teen Behavior] by Gene Edward Veith at the [http://www.worldmagblog.com World Magazine Blog]</ref><ref>[http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=51496 Face the music, parents] at [http://www.worldnetdaily.com/ WorldNetDaily] 12 August 2006</ref> Sadly, this use of music is probably as old as "the oldest profession." Cultural critics observe, pointedly, that permissive cultures have permissive music, and non-permissive cultures avoid such music.

Yet for all this, music is still important in worship. If it were not, then it would not have received the favorable attention that the [[Bible]] clearly gives to it. As powerful a force for evil as it might be, music can be an equally powerful force to encourage the listener to worship, appreciate, and above all obey God and keep His laws--at least, as best as any human being is able.

== Traditions and principles for liturgical music ==
[[Saint Paul]] specifically exhorts his readers to employ music, and specifically "psalms, hymns, and spiritual odes," to bring them closer to God.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Ephesians|chap=5|verses=19|version=KJV}}</ref> <ref>{{Bible ref|book=Colossians|chap=3|verses=16|version=KJV}}</ref> In this context, a ''psalm'' is not necessarily a chapter out of the Book of [[Psalms]]; it can be any song that primarily quotes any part of Scripture. ''Hymns'' are songs primarily of praise and magnification of [[God]]; they do not, however, directly quote Scripture in most of their lyrics, as "psalms" do. ''Spiritual odes'' are primarily personal testimonies, either of salvation or of one's own perception of God. ''Amazing Grace'', by John Newton, is a prime example. ''It Is Well With My Soul'', by Horatio Spafford, is one song that has features of a hymn ''and'' a spiritual ode.

The Rev. Alan B. Brown, MDiv, ThM, has studied liturgical music extensively. In his view<ref name=Brown/>, liturgical music ought to satisfy three prime tests:

# Are the lyrics ''accurate'', either when they quote Scripture or reflect [[Christian]] principles?
# Can you properly ''associate'' the lyrics and/or the notes with Godly things, as opposed to worldly things?
# Are the lyrics and/or the notes ''appropriate'' for worship in general, and in the setting of a particular celebration?

The actual notes to the tunes that, say, King David's choir might have sung, or his royal orchestra might have produced, are lost to us today. But the titles of many of the Psalms contain specific instructions, originally to the music director at King David's court, as to the type of tune and the types of instruments required. Hymnists of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries often set the Psalms and other portions of Scripture to music, often with very good effect. The best-known example is the ''Doxology'' (literally, "study in glory") that is a paraphrase of Psalm 100; the tune is called "Old Hundredth" and remains popular today.

== Controversies surrounding music today ==
Music perhaps has always been controversial, but the controversies surrounding music today rage with particular vehemence. The question of what is, and what is not, music is relatively tame. Different composers have always experimented with different music conventions, and always will. (And perhaps they must.) Many such experiments fail, in that the works produced draw only small audiences, and ultimately no one will play them, because no one will pay to listen to them or to have them played for other people. However, whether or not the 'success' of a musical venture can be ascertained based on the size of the audience it draws is somewhat tenuous, as music subject to much critical acclaim can often be shunned by the wider public in favour of more heavily promoted music.

Rather, the most raging controversy concerns certain genres of popular music that have provoked adverse political comment precisely because of the emotions they incite and the themes they sound, both in lyrics and in notes. Parents of adolescent and pre-adolescent children object to music that explicitly (mainly through its lyrics) exhorts its listeners to sexual sin. Members of various political interest groups object to music that they believe provokes its listeners to show ''disrespect'' for members of those groups.

Some listeners and music critics attempt to defend music as "amoral," that is, morally neutral. They maintain that music exists only for people to enjoy, not to make a political point. For some, indeed, music is an escape. To them, one who tries to infer a serious purpose in a given piece of music ought to abandon the attempt and simply enjoy it for what it is. This attitude recalls [[Mark Twain]]'s famous introduction to [[The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn]]:<blockquote>PERSONS attempting to find a motive in this narrative will be prosecuted; persons attempting to find a moral in it will be banished; persons attempting to find a plot in it will be shot. BY ORDER OF THE AUTHOR, Per G.G., Chief of Ordnance.</blockquote>

The reaction of so many interested parties to various types of popular music today would seem to militate against that stance. Indeed, history is replete with examples of various pieces of music from earlier eras inciting their listeners to violence; [[Maurice Ravel]]'s signature work ''Bolero'', for example, was known to incite riots<ref>[http://www.kalvos.org/bazzr086.html Essay 86: Bolero v. Gliere, Round 1] by David Gunn, at Kalvos & Damian's New Music Bazaar</ref>, as was [[Igor Stravinsky]]'s work ''The Rite of Spring''.<ref>[http://www.nottinghamphilharmonic.co.uk/notes/SRS.html The Rite of Spring] by the Nottingham Philharmonic Orchestra</ref>

Riots have also broken out at many rock-and-roll concerts, and often the responding law-enforcement authorities have been at a loss to determine the ultimate causes of those riots. The ''proximate'' cause typically is a one-on-one fight in which other concert attendees joined in--but what put the original combatants into a fighting mood, or causes others to join a fight that was, strictly speaking, not theirs, is far more difficult to explain. Perhaps too many of the listeners are worshiping the performers as if they were [[pagan]] [[idol]]s--a problem that, some say, composers like [[Franz Liszt]] and [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart|Mozart]] had to contend with. Perhaps the causes have as much to do with the subculture of which rock-and-roll music is a part, as with the music itself. Then, too, no [[physician]] has ever investigated the chronic, or long-standing, effects of a steady aural diet of different genres of music--beyond expressing concern that many listeners are listening to their music too loud and damaging their hearing with the sheer physical stress of the loud sounds. The only signs that anyone can study, if thry are signs of anything at all, are the statistics concerning psychological stress affecting, and substance abuse by, performers of various types of music. (Riots do not routinely break out at classical performances--at least, not since the ''Rite of Spring'' riot mentioned above. This might simply be due to wild behavior not being normative on the part of those who routinely patronize such music.)

== References ==
<references/>

[[Category:Culture]]
[[Category:Sociology]]
[[Category:Music| ]]

User:Hammer

2007-12-30T20:16:38Z

Hammer: create

Hello :) I have busy schedule, so I will edit here sporadically, I hope. :)

I would also like to express my graditude to the editor that nblocked me. Thanks. :)