It has been a long time, and now I think that it is time to say goodbye.  I am contemplating shutting this down because I never use it.  I will give it two more days, and then gently pull the plug.  It has been two years, and a lot has changed and will continue to do, and this is one of those changes. When I think about the time I started this thing, I feel like I was a little kid.  So much has changed, and really don't see the need for this kind of thing. Thats all I have to say about that.  Peace.

What up peoples of xangaland that have not defected do to the trendiness of our culture.  Where people change (which includes ideals and morals) like you change your underwear (which I hope you change at least once every two days, if not every day).  But that issue is for another day, once again I need your help.  This is opinion based, which means all of yours count.  The topic is music and its affect on us.  What I want to get at is not the lyrics per se, but the beat or rythm.  Can the beat or rythm affect us at our core, or as some call be illocution but in a beat format.  For example when one listens to a fast paced music (i.e. punk, which traditionally consisted of 1 to 1.5 minute songs) they naturally get excited and maybe aggressive.  This I will posit is the goal of the artist.  Now can this occur with other music forms, lets say I want to design/create a beat that will illicit sexual desires or actions in you, can I do this?  I have always thought this to be the case, but I still do not know.  Well the Ying Yang twins may have given me a hint in this matter.  This quote came from an MTV article that someone posted to help enlighten others on the "hip-hop" scene.  Although, I would not call this hip-hop, but that is for another day.  Anyway, this article discusses the music that is coming out of Atlanta, and theYing Yang twins discuss the fact that they commonly release tracks in strip clubs to test there ability for the song to sell.  Here is the quote,  

 "It's the beat, it's the perception of what we are telling a female to do," his partner, Kaine, says of why their songs "Wait (The Whisper Song)," "Salt Shaker," "Whistle While You Twurk" and "Say I Yi Yi" are defined as strip-club songs.

"The lyrics be low-down and dirty — filthy!" yells D-Roc.

However, I am confused as to whether Kaine thinks it is the lyrics or beat evoke a response.  I think that it is a combo of both, but by itself the beat will accomplish something.  Who knows I may be wrong, but it is a curiosity.  The problem of testing this hypothesis is difficult.  I would first need a beat that was designed to illicit a certain  response (the response that it did while I was writing it), devoid of lyrics. Then I would need to expose persons that had not been exposed to grinding or this music before, and notice their response.  Or ask them questions.  It may that the beat is harmless, but then again it may be a combination of things that evoke a certain response.  I don't like country, but I can honestly say that if I did it would not evoke sexual movements or thought in myself.  I need your thoughts.  Thanks and Peace.

Phil 

Currently Reading God Under Fire see related

Wow!!!  Another post and another semester has been brought to a close.  This post is dedicated to Mr. Mike McCaman who has encouraged this, thus I will oblige.  I figure that he either cares and wants to know what is going on in the life of Phil, or well I don't know.  Anyway, I am in the process of checking my little rugrats out, and cleaning my room for break.  Not the most exciting, but at least I will be on my way home for my last Christmas break at home.  Next year I will be in good old Winona with a lovely wife by my side.  I look forward to those days, but I am enjoying these right now.  Honestly, it will be somewhat sad living outside of Beta next year, this truly has been a good home to me for the last 2.5 years, and being the RA on the same floor in the same room for 1.5 years has been good as well.  I have had a great group of guys both years, but things are different this year.  A little more struggle , but all in all it is good.  This past weekend was good as well, I was able to spend some time with thee Kyle Koval and others.  I really miss the guys that graduated and were on Beta 1st my freshman year (both North and South), true friends and brothers in Christ.  Beta, the beast that has informed the lives of so many men.  On a side note someone has started a Beta is good.  xanga site in order to keep people abreast of the happenings in Beta, a good idea and one that those that care should visit.  Anyway I need to get back to cleaning, but I thought I would send you off with a classic quote.  Peace.

"Faith must be based upon certainty.  There must be definite knowledge of God's purpose and will (as revealed in his Word).  Without that there can be no true faith.  For faith is not a force that we exercise or a striving to believe that something shall be, thinking that if we believe hard enough it will come to pass."

Alexander R. Hay as quoted by Miles J. Stanford in the Complete Green Letters (good book)

People I have returned, yes that is right, you are reading something new!!! Let's see I am now engaged to  a beautiful girl that loves God deeply, and she is of mexican descent.  Thus I now have a mamacita!!!!  Anyway, beyond that I am doing well, this semester is winding down, but I still have much to do.  The Lord is good even though the last few weeks were less than ideal.  I have been learning much and growing more.  Friendships are strong, but I long for men to go deeper in the word with, but none seem to have the time.  Phil will be gone in a month and that means no more accountability partner that I have had for 2.5 years.  Wow, that is a long time that was filled with hard questions and at times ackward answers.  Thanks Philly, much love to you and thanks for being willing to come back for my wedding and be in it.  Thus, I need a new one, yeah, accountability is that important.  Go to this site I promise you will laugh, if you don't like scene kids.  If you do, well it is still funny.  http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5375516809962158212

Quote of the day--"No one can be a racist and at the same time be pro-life. No one can be a religious bigot and at the same time be pro-life.  No one can be in this land of immigrants and cavalierly build a wall on our own shores that categorically says "No more!"  and still claim to be pro-life.  Bernard F. Law

From the book "Completely Pro-Life:  Building a Consistent Stance on Abortion, The Family, Nuclear Weapons, and The Poor" This is an old book by Ron Sider, but is thought provoking.  A must read.