Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Metallica

2009-10-22T15:05:01Z

Leepeartlifeson: /* St. Anger */

'''Metallica''' is an American [[thrash metal]]/[[heavy metal]] band known for establishing the thrash metal genre along with Slayer, [[Megadeth]], and Anthrax (known as the "Big Four of Thrash Metal"). Formed in 1981 in Los Angeles by guitarist and lead vocalist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich<ref>http://www.metallica.com/Band/history.asp</ref>, they have become one of the most popular in-concert bands while selling about 90 million records worldwide.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artist/2q8c/</ref>

They have released a total of eight studio albums, the most well known being Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, and Metallica, and in September 2008, the band released it's ninth album Death Magnetic.<ref>http://www.metallica.com/index.asp?item=14828</ref>

The band has come under criticism following their campaign to sue internet users who shared their music on Napster.

==Original lineup==
Originally, the band consisted of;
*James Hetfield (Rhythm Guitar and vocals)
*Lars Ulrich (Drums)
*Dave Mustaine (Lead Guitar)
*Ron McGovney (Bass)

==Kill 'Em All lineup==
Before Metallica's first album was recorded, both McGovney and Mustaine were fired, Mustaine due to his struggles with alcohol and drugs, and McGovney due to his inability to get along with other members. Metallica hired Kirk Hammett to replace Mustaine, and Cliff Burton to replace McGovney. This would be known as the "classic" Metallica lineup.

==After Master Of Puppets==
After Master Of Puppets, widely believed to be Metallica's best album, bassist Cliff Burton died in a tour bus accident in Sweden. He was replaced with Jason Newsted.

==St. Anger==
Just before te recording of Metallica's 8th studio album, Newsted left the band, saying that he felt like he never quite fit in. Producer Bob Rock took over the duty of playing the bass for St. Anger.

==Current lineup==
*James Hetfield (guitars and vocals)
*Lars Ulrich (drums)
*Kirk Hammett (guitars)
*Robert Trujillo (bass)

==Discography==
*''Kill 'Em All'' (1983)
*''Ride the Lightning'' (1984)
*''Master of Puppets'' (1986)
*''...And Justice for All'' (1988)
*''Metallica'' (1991)
*''Load'' (1996)
*''ReLoad'' (1997)
*''St. Anger'' (2003)
*''Death Magnetic'' (2008)

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[http://www.metallica.com/ Official Metallica Website]

[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:Rock Bands]]
[[Category:Heavy Metal]]

Facebook

2009-10-22T15:02:15Z

Leepeartlifeson:

[[Image:Newfacebooklogo3.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Facebook logo]]
'''Facebook''' is a social website originally used by college students but has recently been opened up to include high schools, middle schools, geographic regions, and places of employment. Users can upload pictures of themselves, write blogs, chat, and add people as their friends thus creating a large social network.

==Origins==
Facebook was founded in February 2004 by [[Harvard]] sophomore Mark Zuckerberg, with help from Andrew McCollum and Eduardo Saverin. By December of 2004, after expanding the site to other universities the number of registered users exceeded one million. In August 2005 Facebook obtained the domain name facebook.com and dropped the "the" from the site.

==Value==
It is rumored that Facebook generates around $1 million per week in revenue. <ref>[http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/04/26/facebook-goes-beyond-college-high-school-markets/ "Facebook goes beyond college and high school markets"]</ref>
In September 2006, Yahoo! began talks with Facebook about a possible acquisition for as high as $1 billion. In October Google allegedly offered $2.3 billion.<ref>[http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2006/10/10/first-youtube-now-facebook-rumors-circulate "First Youtube, Now Facebook: Rumors Circulate"]</ref> In 2009, current estimates put that value at $6.5 billion. <ref>[http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-10285409-36.html?tag=newsEditorsPicksArea.0 Facebook stock trading open; valuation $6.5 billion] CNET News, July 13, 2009</ref>

==Privacy Issues==

Compared to [[Myspace]], Facebook gives the user many more options for privacy controls. Under the default private settings, only Facebook users in the same network, or friends of the user, can access another user's profile. There are also separate privacy controls for each type of information (blogs, messages, address and telephone numbers, photos). A user in a completely different network will have no access to another user's profile unless they are added as a friend.<ref> [http://en.allexperts.com/e/f/fa/facebook.htm Facebook on allexperts.com]</ref> Despite these controls, the same problems exist as with any other networking website:

* Many users post their full address, e-mail address, birthday, and telephone number, and these can be available to their entire network. This information in the wrong hands can be used for purposes of phishing, stalking, or even identity theft.
* Some universities have begun to use students' pages to investigate underage drinking and other violations of university policy. This is very possible, since university faculty and staff can sign up for the same network as their students through their campus e-mail account.<ref> [http://en.allexperts.com/e/f/fa/facebook.htm Facebook on allexperts.com]</ref>
*The so-called "news feed" has aroused some discomfort among Facebook users, as it collects all changes among one's friends and posts whenever a user logs in.
*The "wall" feature allows a user to send a message to another user which remains on their profile page. This posting is viewable to everyone who can view the page, and shows up on the news feed for all friends of both the sender and the recipient.
*As with Google ads, Facebook collects profile information, and places ads on the page that reflect the user's personal information.

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Online social networking]]

Voltaire

2009-10-22T14:59:47Z

Leepeartlifeson:

[[Image:392.jpg|right|thumb|250px]]
'''Voltaire''' (pen name of François-Marie Arouet) (1694-1778) was a leading [[French]] [[philosopher]] in the [[Enlightenment]], advocating freedom everywhere and emphasizing his form of reason. He was a [[Deism|deist]] who criticized contemporary [[Christianity]] and often [[religion]] in general. Voltaire is sometimes called the "Father of the Enlightenment."

In''Candide'',his chief work, Voltaire criticized a prevailing belief that the world was in its best possible state because it was in God's hands. To illustrate this point, he follows the story of Candide as increasingly terrible things happen to him until he loses his optimistic view of the world and his [[Christianity|faith]].

==Voltaire on Religion==

Voltaire was very critical of religion, and has been variously categorized as an [[atheist]] or an [[agnostic]], though in reality he was a [[deist]]. A death-bed admonition to a priest attempting to convert him that "Now is no time to be making new enemies" has also been misconstrued as meaning he was a [[satanist]], though evidence exists to show he was truly a [[deist]]. <ref>http://www.adherents.com/people/pv/Voltaire.html</ref> <ref>http://www.positiveatheism.org/hist/volthrrck.htm</ref> <ref>http://newhumanist.org.uk/836</ref>

===Judaism and Christianity===

In his ''Philosophical Dictionary,'' he fantasizes a conversation in which he asks a spirit, implied to be [[Jesus]], "Tell me if there have been peoples other than the [[Christians]] and the [[Jews]] in whom zeal and religion wretchedly transformed into fanaticism, have inspired so many horrible cruelties." The spirit replies "Yes, the [[Muslim|Mohammedans]] were sullied with the same inhumanities, but rarely; and when one asked amman, pity, of them, and offered them tribute, they pardoned. As for the other nations there has not been one right from the existence of the world which has ever made a purely religious war." Voltaire concludes by stating that he accepts Jesus as his only master, endorsing a simplified version of Christianity obeying the tenets of the Golden Rule but none of the dogma present in his era's churches. <ref>http://history.hanover.edu/texts/voltaire/volrelig.html</ref>

Voltaire also erected a Church in his hometown of Ferney (now Ferney-Voltaire) with the inscription "Deo erexit VOLTAIRE" ("Erected to God by VOLTAIRE"). This further shows that Voltaire was not so much at odds with Christianity as he was with the practices associated with it during his time. <ref>http://www.quielire.fr/elections_municipales_33947_commune_de_ferney_voltaire.html</ref>

===Islam===
Regarding [[Islam]], he said, <blockquote>
"I TELL you again, ignorant imbeciles, whom other ignoramuses have made believe that the Mohammedan religion is voluptuous and sensual, there is not a word of truth in it; you have been deceived on this point as on so many others.

Canons, monks, vicars even, if a law were imposed on you not to eat or drink from four in the morning till ten at night, during the month of July, when Lent came at this period; if you were forbidden to play at any game of chance under pain of damnation; if wine were forbidden you under the same pain; if you had to make a pilgrimage into the burning desert; if it were enjoined on you to give at least two and a half per cent. of your income to the poor; if, accustomed to enjoy possession of eighteen women, the number were cut down suddenly by fourteen; honestly, would you dare call that religion sensual?

The Latin Christians have so many advantages over the Mussulmans, I do not say in the matter of war, but in the matter of doctrines; the [[Greek]] Christians have so beaten them latterly from 1769 to 1773, that it is not worth the trouble to indulge in unjust reproaches against Islam.

Try to retake from the Mohammedans all that they usurped; but it is easier to calumniate them.

I hate [[calumny]] so much that I do not want even to impute foolishness to the [[Turkey|Turks]], although I detest them as tyrants over women and enemies of the arts.

I do not know why the historian of the Lower Empire maintains that [[Mohammed]] speaks in his [[Koran]] of his journey into the sky: Mohammed does not say a word about it; we have proved it.

One must combat ceaselessly. When one has destroyed an error, there is always someone who resuscitates it." <ref>http://history.hanover.edu/texts/voltaire/volmoham.html</ref>
</blockquote>

However, another entry in his seminal 'Philosophical Dictionary,' labeled "Reason," Voltaire has a character sharply criticize Islam:
<blockquote>"Your religion, although it has some good points, such as worship of the great Being, and the necessity of being just and charitable, is otherwise nothing but a rehash of Judaism and a tedious collection of fairy tales. If the archangel Gabriel had brought the leaves of the Koran to Mahomet from some planet, all Arabia would have seen Gabriel come down : nobody saw him; therefore Mahomet was a brazen impostor who deceived imbeciles."<ref>http://history.hanover.edu/texts/voltaire/volreaso.html</ref></blockquote>

==Voltaire on Democracy==
Voltaire was a strong proponent of [[democracy]] in an age when [[republican government]] was practically nonexistent and kings ruled. In a dialogue between men of all the lands of his day, they lament "that there is not one republic in all this vast part of the world", and that they long to live in "The state where only the laws are obeyed". When the [[Brahmin]] is asked where that country is, he answers, 'We must look for it'.
<ref>http://history.hanover.edu/texts/voltaire/volstate.html</ref>

However, he also believed democracy would only work in a small peaceful country.

Voltaire believed that any excesses or wrongs wrought by democracies were inherently less evil or harmful than those than could be inflicted by tyrannies.
"The great vice of democracy is certainly not tyranny and cruelty: there have been mountain-dwelling republicans, savage, ferocious; but it is not the republican spirit that made them so, it is nature.
The real vice of a civilized republic is in the [[Turkish]] fable of the dragon with many heads and the dragon with many tails. The many heads hurt each other, and the many tails obey a single head which wants to devour everything."

<ref> http://history.hanover.edu/texts/voltaire/volstate.html</ref>

== References ==
<references/>

[[category:French Philosophers]]
[[Category:Deists]]
[[Category:Enlightenment]]

Rush (band)

2009-10-22T14:55:03Z

Leepeartlifeson:

'''Rush''' is a Canadian rock band formed in the summer of 1968 initially comprising lead vocalist and bassist [[Geddy Lee]], rhythm/lead guitarist [[Alex Lifeson]], and drummer [[John Rutsey]]. [[Neil Peart]] replaced Rutsey in July 1974 and this lineup has been unchanged ever since. Early in the band's career, most of their musical output emulated blues-inspired rock bands such as [[Cream (band)|Cream]] and [[Led Zeppelin]] with lyrics that focused on epic fantasy or science fiction stories. Over the years, however, the band shed this emulation with inspiration and subsequent integration of a variety of stles including progressive rock, hard rock, [[pop rock]], [[reggae]], and [[modern rock]] characteristics.

Despite the band eschewing mainstream media exposure, their popularity grew as the years wore on, spawning fan-favorites such as 1980's ''Permanent Waves'' and 1981's quadruple platinum ''Moving Pictures''. The latter is conventionally considered the band's quintessential album and was the apex of their mainstream success. The band is still highly active with respect to touring and recording. They recently released their latest studio album ''Snales & Arrows'' May 1, 2007. The band's catalog is vast (composed of 19 studio albums, 7 official live recordings and numerous compilations) since their activity spans over 30 years.

Some of Peart's lyrics, however, especially during the late '70s and early '80s (e.g ''[[2112]]''), were inspired by the [[objectivist]] philosophy of novelist [[Ayn Rand]], as well as by psychedelic [[Illegal drugs | drugs]] (e.g. "A Passage to Bangkok"). The band have received some criticism for these lyrical themes, especially in the pro-[[collectivist]] British press in the wake of this album in the 70s.

The band finished an intercontinental tour in support of their most recent album ''Snakes & Arrows''. A double live album dubbed ''Snakes & Arrows Live'' was released on April 15, 2008 chronicling this tour.

===Band Members===

* Geddy Lee - Bass guitar, lead vocals, synthesizers (1968 - Present)
* Alex Lifeson - Guitar, mandolin, mandola, bass pedals, backing vocals (1968 - Present)
* Neil Peart - Drums, acoustic and electronic percussion (1974 - Present)
* John Rutsey - Drums and percussion (1968 - 1974)

== Discography ==

=== Studio Albums ===
# [[Rush (album)|''Rush'']] (March 1974)
# ''[[Fly by Night]]'' (February 1975)
# ''[[Caress of Steel]]'' (September 1975)
# [[2112 (album)|''2112'']] (February 1976)
# ''[[A Farewell to Kings]]'' (September 1977)
# [[Hemispheres (1978 album)|''Hemispheres'']] (October 1978)
# ''[[Permanent Waves]]'' (January 1980)
# [[Moving Pictures (album)|''Moving Pictures'']] (February 1981)
# [[Signals (album)|''Signals'']] (September 1982)
# [[Grace Under Pressure (1984 album)|''Grace Under Pressure'']] (April 1984)
# [[Power Windows (album)|''Power Windows'']] (October 1985)
# ''[[Hold Your Fire]]'' (September 1987)
# [[Presto (album)|''Presto'']] (November 1989)
# ''[[Roll the Bones]]'' (September 1991)
# [[Counterparts (album)|''Counterparts'']] (October 1993)
# ''[[Test for Echo]]'' (September 1996)
# ''[[Vapor Trails]]'' (May 2002)
# ''[[Feedback (Rush album)|Feedback]]'' (June 2004 - Cover Album)
# ''[[Snakes & Arrows]]'' (May 2007)

=== Other Studio Records ===
* [[Not Fade Away (album)|''Not Fade Away'']] (1973 - 7" Single)

=== Live Albums ===
* ''[[All The World's a Stage]]'' (September 1976)
* ''[[Exit...Stage Left]]'' (October 1981)
* ''[[A Show of Hands]]'' (December 1988)
* ''[[Different Stages (1998 album)|Different Stages]]'' (November 1998)
* ''[[Rush in Rio]]'' (October 2003)
* ''[[R30 Live In Frankfurt|R30: Live in Frankfurt]]'' (November 2005)
* ''[[Snakes & Arrows Live]]'' (April 2008)

=== Videos ===
* ''Through the Camera Eye'' (VHS, Laserdisc)
* ''Exit..Stage Left'' (VHS, Laserdisc)
* ''Grace Under Pressure Tour'' (VHS, Laserdisc)
* ''A Show of Hands'' (VHS, Laserdisc)
* ''[[Chronicles (1990 album)| Chronicles]]'' (VHS, Laserdisc, DVD)
* ''Rush in Rio'' (DVD)
* ''[[R30 Live In Frankfurt|R30: Live in Frankfurt]]'' (DVD - November 2005)
* ''[[Snakes & Arrows Live]]'' (April 2008)

=== Compilations/Interviews ===
* ''[[Archives (Rush album)|Archives]]'' (April 1978) – Repackage of the first three albums (''[[Rush (album)|Rush]]'', ''[[Fly by Night]]'' and ''[[Caress of Steel]]'')
* ''[[Chronicles (1990 album)|Chronicles]]'' (September 1990) – Essentially a "Greatest Hits" release
* ''[[The Story of Kings - Interview]]'' (1992) – Interview with [[Alex Lifeson]]
* ''[[The Interviews - Vol 2]]'' (October 1995) – Interview with [[Geddy Lee]]
* ''[[Retrospective I]]'' Repackaging of best songs from their first decade
* ''[[Retrospective II]]'' Repackaging of best songs from their second decade
* ''[[The Spirit of Radio: Greatest Hits 1974-1987]]'' (February 2003) – Repackaging of [[Mercury/Polygram]]-held songs up to [[Hold Your Fire]]
* ''Retrospective 3'' Repackaging of best songs from third and fourth decade

=== Solo Efforts ===
* ''[[Burning for Buddy, Volume 1]]'' ([[Buddy Rich]] tribute album) – (Solo), Peart, ''et al.'' (1994)
* ''[[Burning for Buddy, Volume 2]]'' ([[Buddy Rich]] tribute album) – (Solo), Peart, ''et al.'' (1994/-5)
* ''[[Victor (album)|Victor]]'' – (Solo), Lifeson, ''et al.'' (1996)
* ''[[My Favorite Headache]]'' – (Solo), Lee, ''et al.'' (November 2000)

== Books ==
* ''Rush: Visions: The Official Biography'' – Banasiewicz, Bill. (1988), Omnibus Press – ISBN 0711911622
* ''Rush Tribute: Merely Players'' – Telleria, Robert (2002) – ISBN 1550822713
* ''Rush: Success Under Pressure'' – Gett, Steve. (1984) – ISBN 0895242303
* ''Rhythm & Light'' – Nuttall, Carrie, (2005), Rounder Books, ISBN 1579400930
* ''Drum Techniques of Rush'' – Peart (1985) – ISBN 0769250556
* ''More Drum Techniques of Rush'' – Peart, Wheeler (1989) – ISBN 0769250513
* ''The Masked Rider: Cycling in West Africa'' – Peart (1999) – ISBN 1895900026
* ''[[Ghost Rider (book)|Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road]]'' – Peart (2002) – ISBN 1550225464 (hardcover), ISBN 1550225480 (paperback)
* ''Traveling Music: Playing Back the Soundtrack to My Life and Times'' – Peart (2004) – ISBN 1550226649
* ''Contents Under Pressure: 30 Years of Rush at Home and Away'' – Popoff, Martin. Publisher: Ecw Press (June 28, 2004) – ISBN 1550226789
* ''Mystic Rhythms: The Philosophical Vision of Rush'' – Price, et al. (1999) – ISBN 1587151022

[[Category:Rock Bands]]

==External links==
*[http://www.adequacy.org/stories/2001.8.22.0219.37804.html Understanding Ayn Rand through the music of Rush]
*[http://www.rush.com Rush Official Website]
*[http://www.neilpeart.net Neil Peart's Official Website]