text:
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Watching the Dave Matthews Band moments before they take the stage is like watching a football team bursting out of the locker room before a big game.

Dave Matthews says he bellieves strongly in the power of community.

They slap hands. Bump fists. Jump up and down, exclaiming "Feel the love, feel the love!" The energy in the air is electric.

And when they walk out on stage, the energy explodes into thousands of shining faces. People dance in the aisles. Others sing every word to every song. A few share funny cigarettes.

For more than three hours, the jubilant atmosphere creates a sense of community between an amphitheater filled with strangers and the ethnically diverse musicians leading the charge on stage.

But then DMB is all about community -- creating its own and giving back. BAMA Works Fund -- the group's charitable foundation -- has handed out $5 million in grants to worthy causes, including schools and victims of Hurricane Katrina.  Watch Matthews sound off on the album -- and racism Â»

And despite the unexpected passing of saxophonist LeRoi Moore due to complications from an ATV accident last summer, the band members seem to be recharged. In June, DMB notched its fifth consecutive No. 1 album on the Billboard chart with "Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King."

We caught up with Matthews just as news hit the Web that former President Jimmy Carter believed racism was the root of some of the negativity directed toward President Obama in recent weeks. The 42-year-old singer-songwriter offered a unique perspective, as a man who split his childhood between the United States and South Africa during apartheid. The following is an edited version of the interview.

CNN: President Carter said he thinks that a lot of the animosity directed toward President Obama is race related.

Dave Matthews: Of course it is! I found there's a fairly blatant racism in America that's already there, and I don't think I noticed it when I lived here as a kid. But when I went back to South Africa, and then it's sort of thrust in your face, and then came back here -- I just see it everywhere. There's a good population of people in this country that are terrified of the president only because he's black, even if they don't say it. And I think a lot of them, behind closed doors, do say it.

Maybe I'm paranoid about it, but I don't think someone who disagreed as strongly as they do with Obama -- if it was Clinton -- would have stood up and screamed at him during his speech. (Shakes his head) I don't think so.

CNN: Everything has gone to such a frenzied pitch.

Matthews: I think a lot of it has to be on the press. We give the podium to a lot of people who shouldn't have the podium. The message that's delivered the loudest and in the most entertaining way is the one that we're going to put on because that's what we want. We want ratings more than we want to deliver information. That's just where the culture's gotten.

There's no way that Walter Cronkite, as a young journalist, no way Ed Murrow would be hired to do news today. Not a chance.

CNN: Because they're too low-key? Because they're not bombastic?

Matthews: Because they're thoughtful, and they're patient, and they're tying to tell you a truly balanced story. They're trying to impart information. I don't think that's the goal [now] because it's not a good business plan. ...

Everyone's outraged all the time. Why are you outraged? There's war -- there's always been war, as long as most of us have been alive. There have always been people being abused, there's always been horrible things in the world. Why are we outraged? We should just be quiet and figure it out, and work it out together. ... There's no solution in Washington as long as people are shouting like that.

CNN: Before you went on stage at the Greek Theatre (in Los Angeles), we were talking to the crew -- and they couldn't wait to tell us how well they're treated by the Dave Matthews organization. ... It's like your own minicommunity out there. You even print your own tickets, right?

Matthews: We have kept everything in-house. The core crew guys are the same guys we had when we were driving in a van, so they can always call "bull" on us if we start acting like prima donnas. It keeps a sense of community going when you travel a lot. There's a good vibe. ...

I have friends who are famous, and friends that are not famous -- but there are those who stick out to me. Willie Nelson is one -- a really genuine person -- or Neil Young. Adam Sandler ... people who really try and keep a sense of unity, and camaraderie and equality around them. That's essential. That's it for me. I don't think socialism, and I don't think warmness and respect are necessarily bad words.

CNN: Do you think you're competitive? A perfectionist?

Matthews: I'm a very vicious critic of myself.

CNN: So what do you think of this record ("Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King")?

Matthews: I think that's a really good record. (Laugh) Our first three records were really good. We made good records after those first three -- really good records -- but I don't think they were necessarily the spirit of the band. I think this is the greatest record that we've ever made, and it captures the band like none of our records have. ...

CNN: Before this album, weren't you burned out a little bit?

Matthews: I insisted upon taking as much time to make this as I needed. And my manager would call -- my manager who I love, who's a dear friend of mine -- he'd call and say, "Are you going to have it finished by the summer?" "No." "Are you going to have it finished by Christmas?" "No."

I practiced "no." I need to work on "no" still, but I got better at it.

CNN: What other tricks do you have up your sleeve?

Matthews: I want to figure out a way to not be stupid with money, then make a whole bunch of it, then I want to move to Outer Mongolia. I want to milk a yak. Maybe I'll just settle for a cow. Can you milk a bison? I have fantasies about being a farmer. I always wanted to be a fireman, but who didn't want to be a fireman? I just wouldn't tell anyone. I'd just go "poof!" Sometimes I like that idea.

CNN: You don't tell people about a lot of things you do. There's no press release that goes out saying, "Dave Matthews Band just donated $5 million to this cause or that cause."

Matthews: We definitely use our fame and our celebrity to raise money for things we care about. ... What a luxury to be able to just do a show, and then look -- pow! ...

I don't want to become a poster child. That's a whole different thing. I don't want to be the face on it.

text: LOS

text: ANGELES

text: California

text: CNN

text: Watching

text: the

text: Dave

text: Matthews

text: Band

text: moments

text: before

text: they

text: take

text: the

text: stage

text: is

text: like

text: watching

text: a

text: football

text: team

text: bursting

text: out

text: of

text: the

text: locker

text: room

text: before

text: a

text: big

text: game

text: Dave

text: Matthews

text: says

text: he

text: bellieves

text: strongly

text: in

text: the

text: power

text: of

text: community

text: They

text: slap

text: hands

text: Bump

text: fists

text: Jump

text: up

text: and

text: down

text: exclaiming

text: Feel

text: the

text: love

text: feel

text: the

text: love

text: The

text: energy

text: in

text: the

text: air

text: is

text: electric

text: And

text: when

text: they

text: walk

text: out

text: on

text: stage

text: the

text: energy

text: explodes

text: into

text: thousands

text: of

text: shining

text: faces

text: People

text: dance

text: in

text: the

text: aisles

text: Others

text: sing

text: every

text: word

text: to

text: every

text: song

text: A

text: few

text: share

text: funny

text: cigarettes

text: For

text: more

text: than

text: three

text: hours

text: the

text: jubilant

text: atmosphere

text: creates

text: a

text: sense

text: of

text: community

text: between

text: an

text: amphitheater

text: filled

text: with

text: strangers

text: and

text: the

text: ethnically

text: diverse

text: musicians

text: leading

text: the

text: charge

text: on

text: stage

text: But

text: then

text: DMB

text: is

text: all

text: about

text: community

text: creating

text: its

text: own

text: and

text: giving

text: back

text: BAMA

text: Works

text: Fund

text: the

text: group

text: 's

text: charitable

text: foundation

text: has

text: handed

text: out

text: million

text: in

text: grants

text: to

text: worthy

text: causes

text: including

text: schools

text: and

text: victims

text: of

text: Hurricane

text: Katrina

text: Watch

text: Matthews

text: sound

text: off

text: on

text: the

text: album

text: and

text: racism

text: Â

text: And

text: despite

text: the

text: unexpected

text: passing

text: of

text: saxophonist

text: LeRoi

text: Moore

text: due

text: to

text: complications

text: from

text: an

text: ATV

text: accident

text: last

text: summer

text: the

text: band

text: members

text: seem

text: to

text: be

text: recharged

text: In

text: June

text: DMB

text: notched

text: its

text: fifth

text: consecutive

text: No

text: album

text: on

text: the

text: Billboard

text: chart

text: with

text: Big

text: Whiskey

text: and

text: the

text: GrooGrux

text: King

text: We

text: caught

text: up

text: with

text: Matthews

text: just

text: as

text: news

text: hit

text: the

text: Web

text: that

text: former

text: President

text: Jimmy

text: Carter

text: believed

text: racism

text: was

text: the

text: root

text: of

text: some

text: of

text: the

text: negativity

text: directed

text: toward

text: President

text: Obama

text: in

text: recent

text: weeks

text: The

text: old

text: singer

text: songwriter

text: offered

text: a

text: unique

text: perspective

text: as

text: a

text: man

text: who

text: split

text: his

text: childhood

text: between

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: and

text: South

text: Africa

text: during

text: apartheid

text: The

text: following

text: is

text: an

text: edited

text: version

text: of

text: the

text: interview

text: CNN

text: President

text: Carter

text: said

text: he

text: thinks

text: that

text: a

text: lot

text: of

text: the

text: animosity

text: directed

text: toward

text: President

text: Obama

text: is

text: race

text: related

text: Dave

text: Matthews

text: Of

text: course

text: it

text: is

text: I

text: found

text: there

text: 's

text: a

text: fairly

text: blatant

text: racism

text: in

text: America

text: that

text: 's

text: already

text: there

text: and

text: I

text: do

text: n't

text: think

text: I

text: noticed

text: it

text: when

text: I

text: lived

text: here

text: as

text: a

text: kid

text: But

text: when

text: I

text: went

text: back

text: to

text: South

text: Africa

text: and

text: then

text: it

text: 's

text: sort

text: of

text: thrust

text: in

text: your

text: face

text: and

text: then

text: came

text: back

text: here

text: I

text: just

text: see

text: it

text: everywhere

text: There

text: 's

text: a

text: good

text: population

text: of

text: people

text: in

text: this

text: country

text: that

text: are

text: terrified

text: of

text: the

text: president

text: only

text: because

text: he

text: 's

text: black

text: even

text: if

text: they

text: do

text: n't

text: say

text: it

text: And

text: I

text: think

text: a

text: lot

text: of

text: them

text: behind

text: closed

text: doors

text: do

text: say

text: it

text: Maybe

text: I

text: 'm

text: paranoid

text: about

text: it

text: but

text: I

text: do

text: n't

text: think

text: someone

text: who

text: disagreed

text: as

text: strongly

text: as

text: they

text: do

text: with

text: Obama

text: if

text: it

text: was

text: Clinton

text: would

text: have

text: stood

text: up

text: and

text: screamed

text: at

text: him

text: during

text: his

text: speech

text: Shakes

text: his

text: head

text: I

text: do

text: n't

text: think

text: so

text: CNN

text: Everything

text: has

text: gone

text: to

text: such

text: a

text: frenzied

text: pitch

text: Matthews

text: I

text: think

text: a

text: lot

text: of

text: it

text: has

text: to

text: be

text: on

text: the

text: press

text: We

text: give

text: the

text: podium

text: to

text: a

text: lot

text: of

text: people

text: who

text: should

text: n't

text: have

text: the

text: podium

text: The

text: message

text: that

text: 's

text: delivered

text: the

text: loudest

text: and

text: in

text: the

text: most

text: entertaining

text: way

text: is

text: the

text: one

text: that

text: we

text: 're

text: going

text: to

text: put

text: on

text: because

text: that

text: 's

text: what

text: we

text: want

text: We

text: want

text: ratings

text: more

text: than

text: we

text: want

text: to

text: deliver

text: information

text: That

text: 's

text: just

text: where

text: the

text: culture

text: 's

text: gotten

text: There

text: 's

text: no

text: way

text: that

text: Walter

text: Cronkite

text: as

text: a

text: young

text: journalist

text: no

text: way

text: Ed

text: Murrow

text: would

text: be

text: hired

text: to

text: do

text: news

text: today

text: Not

text: a

text: chance

text: CNN

text: Because

text: they

text: 're

text: too

text: low

text: key

text: Because

text: they

text: 're

text: not

text: bombastic

text: Matthews

text: Because

text: they

text: 're

text: thoughtful

text: and

text: they

text: 're

text: patient

text: and

text: they

text: 're

text: tying

text: to

text: tell

text: you

text: a

text: truly

text: balanced

text: story

text: They

text: 're

text: trying

text: to

text: impart

text: information

text: I

text: do

text: n't

text: think

text: that

text: 's

text: the

text: goal

text: now

text: because

text: it

text: 's

text: not

text: a

text: good

text: business

text: plan

text: Everyone

text: 's

text: outraged

text: all

text: the

text: time

text: Why

text: are

text: you

text: outraged

text: There

text: 's

text: war

text: there

text: 's

text: always

text: been

text: war

text: as

text: long

text: as

text: most

text: of

text: us

text: have

text: been

text: alive

text: There

text: have

text: always

text: been

text: people

text: being

text: abused

text: there

text: 's

text: always

text: been

text: horrible

text: things

text: in

text: the

text: world

text: Why

text: are

text: we

text: outraged

text: We

text: should

text: just

text: be

text: quiet

text: and

text: figure

text: it

text: out

text: and

text: work

text: it

text: out

text: together

text: There

text: 's

text: no

text: solution

text: in

text: Washington

text: as

text: long

text: as

text: people

text: are

text: shouting

text: like

text: that

text: CNN

text: Before

text: you

text: went

text: on

text: stage

text: at

text: the

text: Greek

text: Theatre

text: in

text: Los

text: Angeles

text: we

text: were

text: talking

text: to

text: the

text: crew

text: and

text: they

text: could

text: n't

text: wait

text: to

text: tell

text: us

text: how

text: well

text: they

text: 're

text: treated

text: by

text: the

text: Dave

text: Matthews

text: organization

text: It

text: 's

text: like

text: your

text: own

text: minicommunity

text: out

text: there

text: You

text: even

text: print

text: your

text: own

text: tickets

text: right

text: Matthews

text: We

text: have

text: kept

text: everything

text: in

text: house

text: The

text: core

text: crew

text: guys

text: are

text: the

text: same

text: guys

text: we

text: had

text: when

text: we

text: were

text: driving

text: in

text: a

text: van

text: so

text: they

text: can

text: always

text: call

text: bull

text: on

text: us

text: if

text: we

text: start

text: acting

text: like

text: prima

text: donnas

text: It

text: keeps

text: a

text: sense

text: of

text: community

text: going

text: when

text: you

text: travel

text: a

text: lot

text: There

text: 's

text: a

text: good

text: vibe

text: I

text: have

text: friends

text: who

text: are

text: famous

text: and

text: friends

text: that

text: are

text: not

text: famous

text: but

text: there

text: are

text: those

text: who

text: stick

text: out

text: to

text: me

text: Willie

text: Nelson

text: is

text: one

text: a

text: really

text: genuine

text: person

text: or

text: Neil

text: Young

text: Adam

text: Sandler

text: people

text: who

text: really

text: try

text: and

text: keep

text: a

text: sense

text: of

text: unity

text: and

text: camaraderie

text: and

text: equality

text: around

text: them

text: That

text: 's

text: essential

text: That

text: 's

text: it

text: for

text: me

text: I

text: do

text: n't

text: think

text: socialism

text: and

text: I

text: do

text: n't

text: think

text: warmness

text: and

text: respect

text: are

text: necessarily

text: bad

text: words

text: CNN

text: Do

text: you

text: think

text: you

text: 're

text: competitive

text: A

text: perfectionist

text: Matthews

text: I

text: 'm

text: a

text: very

text: vicious

text: critic

text: of

text: myself

text: CNN

text: So

text: what

text: do

text: you

text: think

text: of

text: this

text: record

text: Big

text: Whiskey

text: and

text: the

text: GrooGrux

text: King

text: Matthews

text: I

text: think

text: that

text: 's

text: a

text: really

text: good

text: record

text: Laugh

text: Our

text: first

text: three

text: records

text: were

text: really

text: good

text: We

text: made

text: good

text: records

text: after

text: those

text: first

text: three

text: really

text: good

text: records

text: but

text: I

text: do

text: n't

text: think

text: they

text: were

text: necessarily

text: the

text: spirit

text: of

text: the

text: band

text: I

text: think

text: this

text: is

text: the

text: greatest

text: record

text: that

text: we

text: 've

text: ever

text: made

text: and

text: it

text: captures

text: the

text: band

text: like

text: of

text: our

text: records

text: have

text: CNN

text: Before

text: this

text: album

text: were

text: n't

text: you

text: burned

text: out

text: a

text: little

text: bit

text: Matthews

text: I

text: insisted

text: upon

text: taking

text: as

text: much

text: time

text: to

text: make

text: this

text: as

text: I

text: needed

text: And

text: my

text: manager

text: would

text: call

text: my

text: manager

text: who

text: I

text: love

text: who

text: 's

text: a

text: dear

text: friend

text: of

text: mine

text: he

text: 'd

text: call

text: and

text: say

text: Are

text: you

text: going

text: to

text: have

text: it

text: finished

text: by

text: the

text: summer

text: No

text: Are

text: you

text: going

text: to

text: have

text: it

text: finished

text: by

text: Christmas

text: No

text: I

text: practiced

text: no

text: I

text: need

text: to

text: work

text: on

text: no

text: still

text: but

text: I

text: got

text: better

text: at

text: it

text: CNN

text: What

text: other

text: tricks

text: do

text: you

text: have

text: up

text: your

text: sleeve

text: Matthews

text: I

text: want

text: to

text: figure

text: out

text: a

text: way

text: to

text: not

text: be

text: stupid

text: with

text: money

text: then

text: make

text: a

text: whole

text: bunch

text: of

text: it

text: then

text: I

text: want

text: to

text: move

text: to

text: Outer

text: Mongolia

text: I

text: want

text: to

text: milk

text: a

text: yak

text: Maybe

text: I

text: 'll

text: just

text: settle

text: for

text: a

text: cow

text: Can

text: you

text: milk

text: a

text: bison

text: I

text: have

text: fantasies

text: about

text: being

text: a

text: farmer

text: I

text: always

text: wanted

text: to

text: be

text: a

text: fireman

text: but

text: who

text: did

text: n't

text: want

text: to

text: be

text: a

text: fireman

text: I

text: just

text: would

text: n't

text: tell

text: anyone

text: I

text: 'd

text: just

text: go

text: poof

text: Sometimes

text: I

text: like

text: that

text: idea

text: CNN

text: You

text: do

text: n't

text: tell

text: people

text: about

text: a

text: lot

text: of

text: things

text: you

text: do

text: There

text: 's

text: no

text: press

text: release

text: that

text: goes

text: out

text: saying

text: Dave

text: Matthews

text: Band

text: just

text: donated

text: million

text: to

text: this

text: cause

text: or

text: that

text: cause

text: Matthews

text: We

text: definitely

text: use

text: our

text: fame

text: and

text: our

text: celebrity

text: to

text: raise

text: money

text: for

text: things

text: we

text: care

text: about

text: What

text: a

text: luxury

text: to

text: be

text: able

text: to

text: just

text: do

text: a

text: show

text: and

text: then

text: look

text: pow

text: I

text: do

text: n't

text: want

text: to

text: become

text: a

text: poster

text: child

text: That

text: 's

text: a

text: whole

text: different

text: thing

text: I

text: do

text: n't

text: want

text: to

text: be

text: the

text: face

text: on

text: it

question: Dave is not surprised at anger towards whom?

answer: President Obama

text: President Obama

question: Who said I just see racism everywhere?

answer: Dave Matthews

text: Dave Matthews

question: What Matthews calls their greatest record?

answer: ("Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King")?

text: ("Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King")?

question: What he said about news media?

answer: want ratings more than we want to deliver information.

text: want ratings more than we want to deliver information.

question: Wat is "Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King""?

answer: fifth consecutive No. 1 album

text: fifth consecutive No. 1 album

question: What is the aim of Dave Matthews band?

answer: creating its own and giving back.

text: creating its own and giving back.

question: Who made the record Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King?

answer: Dave Matthews Band

text: Dave Matthews Band

question: What Dave Matthews said about raising of racism?

answer: in America that's already there, and I don't think I noticed it when I lived here as a kid. But when I went back to South Africa, and then it's sort of thrust in your face, and then came back here

text: in America that's already there, and I don't think I noticed it when I lived here as a kid. But when I went back to South Africa, and then it's sort of thrust in your face, and then came back here

question: What does Dave Matthews Band aim for?

answer: raise money

text: raise money


text:
New York (CNN) -- Lil' Wayne was sentenced Monday to a year in prison.

The rapper, whose legal name is Dwayne Carter, pleaded guilty in October to felony gun charges as part of a deal with prosecutors.

The charges stem from his arrest in 2007 outside New York City's Beacon Theater. According to police, Carter had a .40-caliber pistol on his tour bus. His attorney said it belonged to someone else.

His sentencing was delayed twice -- first so he could get dental work done, including removal of his diamond-studded braces, then because of a fire at a Manhattan courthouse.

At Manhattan Supreme Court on Monday, the room was packed with onlookers, while more people crowded outside.

Carter was offered the chance to make a statement but declined, shaking his head.

His attorney requested that Carter have protective custody while he is incarcerated. The attorney also requested medical attention because of his recent dental surgery.

As Carter was leaving the courtroom, a fan said to him, "Keep your head up, Weezy," using the rapper's nickname.

Another man wore a T-shirt that said "Free Weezy."

Carter also faces felony drug possession and weapons charges in Arizona.

Lil' Wayne is a multiplatinum-selling and Grammy-winning rap artist. His hits include "The Block is Hot" and "Lollipop." His album "Tha Carter III" was the top selling disc of 2008. His latest album, "Rebirth," was released last month.

CNN's Jennifer Rizzo contributed to this report.

text: New

text: York

text: CNN

text: Lil

text: Wayne

text: was

text: sentenced

text: Monday

text: to

text: a

text: year

text: in

text: prison

text: The

text: rapper

text: whose

text: legal

text: name

text: is

text: Dwayne

text: Carter

text: pleaded

text: guilty

text: in

text: October

text: to

text: felony

text: gun

text: charges

text: as

text: part

text: of

text: a

text: deal

text: with

text: prosecutors

text: The

text: charges

text: stem

text: from

text: his

text: arrest

text: in

text: outside

text: New

text: York

text: City

text: 's

text: Beacon

text: Theater

text: According

text: to

text: police

text: Carter

text: had

text: a

text: pistol

text: on

text: his

text: tour

text: bus

text: His

text: attorney

text: said

text: it

text: belonged

text: to

text: someone

text: else

text: His

text: sentencing

text: was

text: delayed

text: twice

text: first

text: so

text: he

text: could

text: get

text: dental

text: work

text: done

text: including

text: removal

text: of

text: his

text: diamond

text: studded

text: braces

text: then

text: because

text: of

text: a

text: fire

text: at

text: a

text: Manhattan

text: courthouse

text: At

text: Manhattan

text: Supreme

text: Court

text: on

text: Monday

text: the

text: room

text: was

text: packed

text: with

text: onlookers

text: while

text: more

text: people

text: crowded

text: outside

text: Carter

text: was

text: offered

text: the

text: chance

text: to

text: make

text: a

text: statement

text: but

text: declined

text: shaking

text: his

text: head

text: His

text: attorney

text: requested

text: that

text: Carter

text: have

text: protective

text: custody

text: while

text: he

text: is

text: incarcerated

text: The

text: attorney

text: also

text: requested

text: medical

text: attention

text: because

text: of

text: his

text: recent

text: dental

text: surgery

text: As

text: Carter

text: was

text: leaving

text: the

text: courtroom

text: a

text: fan

text: said

text: to

text: him

text: Keep

text: your

text: head

text: up

text: Weezy

text: using

text: the

text: rapper

text: 's

text: nickname

text: Another

text: man

text: wore

text: a

text: T

text: shirt

text: that

text: said

text: Free

text: Weezy

text: Carter

text: also

text: faces

text: felony

text: drug

text: possession

text: and

text: weapons

text: charges

text: in

text: Arizona

text: Lil

text: Wayne

text: is

text: a

text: multiplatinum

text: selling

text: and

text: Grammy

text: winning

text: rap

text: artist

text: His

text: hits

text: include

text: The

text: Block

text: is

text: Hot

text: and

text: Lollipop

text: His

text: album

text: Tha

text: Carter

text: III

text: was

text: the

text: top

text: selling

text: disc

text: of

text: His

text: latest

text: album

text: Rebirth

text: was

text: released

text: last

text: month

text: CNN

text: 's

text: Jennifer

text: Rizzo

text: contributed

text: to

text: this

text: report

question: What did Dwayne Carter plead?

answer: guilty

text: guilty

question: What year was Lil Wayne arrested?

answer: 2007

question: When was Lil Wayne arrested?

answer: 2007

question: What did Lil Wayne plead guilty to?

answer: felony gun charges

text: felony gun charges

question: What do charges stem from?

answer: as part of a deal with prosecutors.

text: as part of a deal with prosecutors.

question: What did Lil' Wayne plead guilty of?

answer: felony gun charges

text: felony gun charges

question: What has Lil Wayne accomplished?

answer: multiplatinum-selling and Grammy-winning rap artist.

text: multiplatinum-selling and Grammy-winning rap artist.


text:
TAMPA, Florida (CNN) -- Some Christian congregations, particularly in lower income, urban areas, are turning to an unlikely source for help -- the Church of Scientology.

Rev, Charles Kennedy uses Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard's book during a Friday night sermon.

Scientologists do not worship God, much less Jesus Christ. The church has seen plenty of controversy and critics consider it a cult. So why are observant Christians embracing some of its teachings?

Two pastors who spoke recently with CNN explained that when it comes to religion, they still preach the core beliefs of Christianity. But when it comes to practicing what they preach in a modern world, borrowing from Scientology helps.

The Rev. Charles Kennedy, of the Glorious Church of God in Christ, a Pentecostal church in Tampa, Florida, and the Rev. James McLaughlin, of the Wayman Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas, are among the theological hybrids.  Watch Rev. Kennedy preach Â»

They say they are not scared off by programs with ties to a church that critics say has aggressive recruiting, secretive ways and rigid theology. As men of God rooted in Christian values, they do not see Scientology as a threat to their faith, but rather as a tool to augment it.

Scientology was founded in the 1950s by L. Ron Hubbard, a science fiction writer. Followers are taught that they are immortal spiritual beings called thetans. Although the church says there is a supreme being, its practices do not include worshipping God.

"I'm looking for solutions, and the people that I help, they don't ask me who L. Ron Hubbard is," said McLaughlin, who works with addicts. "You know what they say? 'Thank God.' "

Critic Rick Ross, a court-certified Scientology expert, sees something more sinister at work. He warned that mainstream acceptance makes it easier for the Scientologists to achieve their ultimate goal -- new recruits.

"Their hope is that through these programs, people will become more interested in L. Ron Hubbard, what else Mr. Hubbard had to offer, and this will lead them eventually to Scientology," Ross said.

The church has long been in the headlines for practices critics say are little more than cult-like mind control. It is also known for its stable of devout celebrity followers.

And according to published reports, Scientology has been recently diversifying its outreach to include other religions and ethnic groups.

Kennedy, McLaughlin and a handful of other Christian church leaders -- no one can say how many -- are finding answers to their communities' needs in Scientology's social programs.

For Kennedy, it began two years ago when he attended a meeting at the Church of Scientology's spiritual headquarters in Clearwater, Florida. He was introduced to a book called "The Way to Happiness" -- Hubbard's 64-page, self-described "common sense guide to better living."

In the book, which lays out ways to maintain a temperate lifestyle, Kennedy found a message he believed could help lift his predominantly lower income African-American congregation. He said the book's 21 principles help them with their struggle in an urban environment where there is too much crime and addiction and too little opportunity.

Kennedy knew that before he could introduce any Scientology-related text to his congregation, he would have to prove that it did not contradict his Christian beliefs. And so, he found Scripture to match each of the 21 principles.

Now Kennedy uses "The Way to Happiness" as a how-to supplement to his sermons. He believes it is easier to understand and clearer to follow than ancient Scriptures taken from the Bible.

When asked whether Scientology's values contradict the religion of Jesus Christ, Kennedy replies, "Sometimes yes. Sometimes no." But he says his congregation can relate to "The Way to Happiness."

Kennedy admits other pastors have criticized him, but the disapproval is not enough to discourage him. He insists that he has witnessed the changes "The Way to Happiness" has inspired in people. He also maintains that the Scientologists, many of whom he calls friends, are successful at outreach and getting desired results.

At Kennedy's C. L. Kennedy Center, free tutoring based on Hubbard's "study tech" philosophies is provided to dozens of children and some adults. Kennedy's daughter, Jimirra, is one of the instructors. She said "study tech" and the Scientology orientation classes she attended helped her graduate from high school and become a poised woman.

Though Jimirra Kennedy insists she does not ascribe to the religious side of Scientology, she still considers herself, at least in part, Scientologist. "We say this all the time and I know my father says this, but I am like a Pentecostal Scientologist, that's what we are."

Critics like Ross are alarmed by such a blurring of the lines. They consider it a marketing win for Scientology.

In Houston, McLaughlin says he is not one to argue with success. Driven by a need to address the rampant drug problem in his community, McLaughlin spent years searching for a solution before he discovered "Narconon," Scientology's nonprofit drug rehab center, in 2001.

McLaughlin trained at Narconon and brought the techniques back to his community to launch "First Step Faith Step," a program that combines Hubbard's methods with the teachings of Christianity.

He claims a 70- to 80-percent rehabilitation success rate.

Kennedy and McLaughlin said they have never lost a member of their congregations to Scientology.

"I think that they truly believe that this may help their communities, but in my opinion, they're naÃ¯ve," Ross said. Scientologists, he added, "have their own agenda."

The Church of Scientology would not grant CNN an interview, nor would its representatives answer questions about the Hubbard-based programs.  E-mail to a friend

text: TAMPA

text: Florida

text: CNN

text: Some

text: Christian

text: congregations

text: particularly

text: in

text: lower

text: income

text: urban

text: areas

text: are

text: turning

text: to

text: an

text: unlikely

text: source

text: for

text: help

text: the

text: Church

text: of

text: Scientology

text: Rev

text: Charles

text: Kennedy

text: uses

text: Scientology

text: founder

text: L.

text: Ron

text: Hubbard

text: 's

text: book

text: during

text: a

text: Friday

text: night

text: sermon

text: Scientologists

text: do

text: not

text: worship

text: God

text: much

text: less

text: Jesus

text: Christ

text: The

text: church

text: has

text: seen

text: plenty

text: of

text: controversy

text: and

text: critics

text: consider

text: it

text: a

text: cult

text: So

text: why

text: are

text: observant

text: Christians

text: embracing

text: some

text: of

text: its

text: teachings

text: Two

text: pastors

text: who

text: spoke

text: recently

text: with

text: CNN

text: explained

text: that

text: when

text: it

text: comes

text: to

text: religion

text: they

text: still

text: preach

text: the

text: core

text: beliefs

text: of

text: Christianity

text: But

text: when

text: it

text: comes

text: to

text: practicing

text: what

text: they

text: preach

text: in

text: a

text: modern

text: world

text: borrowing

text: from

text: Scientology

text: helps

text: The

text: Rev.

text: Charles

text: Kennedy

text: of

text: the

text: Glorious

text: Church

text: of

text: God

text: in

text: Christ

text: a

text: Pentecostal

text: church

text: in

text: Tampa

text: Florida

text: and

text: the

text: Rev.

text: James

text: McLaughlin

text: of

text: the

text: Wayman

text: Chapel

text: African

text: Methodist

text: Episcopal

text: Church

text: in

text: Houston

text: Texas

text: are

text: among

text: the

text: theological

text: hybrids

text: Watch

text: Rev.

text: Kennedy

text: preach

text: Â

text: They

text: say

text: they

text: are

text: not

text: scared

text: off

text: by

text: programs

text: with

text: ties

text: to

text: a

text: church

text: that

text: critics

text: say

text: has

text: aggressive

text: recruiting

text: secretive

text: ways

text: and

text: rigid

text: theology

text: As

text: men

text: of

text: God

text: rooted

text: in

text: Christian

text: values

text: they

text: do

text: not

text: see

text: Scientology

text: as

text: a

text: threat

text: to

text: their

text: faith

text: but

text: rather

text: as

text: a

text: tool

text: to

text: augment

text: it

text: Scientology

text: was

text: founded

text: in

text: the

text: by

text: L.

text: Ron

text: Hubbard

text: a

text: science

text: fiction

text: writer

text: Followers

text: are

text: taught

text: that

text: they

text: are

text: immortal

text: spiritual

text: beings

text: called

text: thetans

text: Although

text: the

text: church

text: says

text: there

text: is

text: a

text: supreme

text: being

text: its

text: practices

text: do

text: not

text: include

text: worshipping

text: God

text: I

text: 'm

text: looking

text: for

text: solutions

text: and

text: the

text: people

text: that

text: I

text: help

text: they

text: do

text: n't

text: ask

text: me

text: who

text: L.

text: Ron

text: Hubbard

text: is

text: said

text: McLaughlin

text: who

text: works

text: with

text: addicts

text: You

text: know

text: what

text: they

text: say

text: Thank

text: God

text: Critic

text: Rick

text: Ross

text: a

text: court

text: certified

text: Scientology

text: expert

text: sees

text: something

text: more

text: sinister

text: at

text: work

text: He

text: warned

text: that

text: mainstream

text: acceptance

text: makes

text: it

text: easier

text: for

text: the

text: Scientologists

text: to

text: achieve

text: their

text: ultimate

text: goal

text: new

text: recruits

text: Their

text: hope

text: is

text: that

text: through

text: these

text: programs

text: people

text: will

text: become

text: more

text: interested

text: in

text: L.

text: Ron

text: Hubbard

text: what

text: else

text: Mr.

text: Hubbard

text: had

text: to

text: offer

text: and

text: this

text: will

text: lead

text: them

text: eventually

text: to

text: Scientology

text: Ross

text: said

text: The

text: church

text: has

text: long

text: been

text: in

text: the

text: headlines

text: for

text: practices

text: critics

text: say

text: are

text: little

text: more

text: than

text: cult

text: like

text: mind

text: control

text: It

text: is

text: also

text: known

text: for

text: its

text: stable

text: of

text: devout

text: celebrity

text: followers

text: And

text: according

text: to

text: published

text: reports

text: Scientology

text: has

text: been

text: recently

text: diversifying

text: its

text: outreach

text: to

text: include

text: other

text: religions

text: and

text: ethnic

text: groups

text: Kennedy

text: McLaughlin

text: and

text: a

text: handful

text: of

text: other

text: Christian

text: church

text: leaders

text: no

text: one

text: can

text: say

text: how

text: many

text: are

text: finding

text: answers

text: to

text: their

text: communities

text: needs

text: in

text: Scientology

text: 's

text: social

text: programs

text: For

text: Kennedy

text: it

text: began

text: two

text: years

text: ago

text: when

text: he

text: attended

text: a

text: meeting

text: at

text: the

text: Church

text: of

text: Scientology

text: 's

text: spiritual

text: headquarters

text: in

text: Clearwater

text: Florida

text: He

text: was

text: introduced

text: to

text: a

text: book

text: called

text: The

text: Way

text: to

text: Happiness

text: Hubbard

text: 's

text: self

text: described

text: common

text: sense

text: guide

text: to

text: better

text: living

text: In

text: the

text: book

text: which

text: lays

text: out

text: ways

text: to

text: maintain

text: a

text: temperate

text: lifestyle

text: Kennedy

text: found

text: a

text: message

text: he

text: believed

text: could

text: help

text: lift

text: his

text: predominantly

text: lower

text: income

text: African

text: American

text: congregation

text: He

text: said

text: the

text: book

text: 's

text: principles

text: help

text: them

text: with

text: their

text: struggle

text: in

text: an

text: urban

text: environment

text: where

text: there

text: is

text: too

text: much

text: crime

text: and

text: addiction

text: and

text: too

text: little

text: opportunity

text: Kennedy

text: knew

text: that

text: before

text: he

text: could

text: introduce

text: any

text: Scientology

text: related

text: text

text: to

text: his

text: congregation

text: he

text: would

text: have

text: to

text: prove

text: that

text: it

text: did

text: not

text: contradict

text: his

text: Christian

text: beliefs

text: And

text: so

text: he

text: found

text: Scripture

text: to

text: match

text: each

text: of

text: the

text: principles

text: Now

text: Kennedy

text: uses

text: The

text: Way

text: to

text: Happiness

text: as

text: a

text: how

text: to

text: supplement

text: to

text: his

text: sermons

text: He

text: believes

text: it

text: is

text: easier

text: to

text: understand

text: and

text: clearer

text: to

text: follow

text: than

text: ancient

text: Scriptures

text: taken

text: from

text: the

text: Bible

text: When

text: asked

text: whether

text: Scientology

text: 's

text: values

text: contradict

text: the

text: religion

text: of

text: Jesus

text: Christ

text: Kennedy

text: replies

text: Sometimes

text: yes

text: Sometimes

text: no

text: But

text: he

text: says

text: his

text: congregation

text: can

text: relate

text: to

text: The

text: Way

text: to

text: Happiness

text: Kennedy

text: admits

text: other

text: pastors

text: have

text: criticized

text: him

text: but

text: the

text: disapproval

text: is

text: not

text: enough

text: to

text: discourage

text: him

text: He

text: insists

text: that

text: he

text: has

text: witnessed

text: the

text: changes

text: The

text: Way

text: to

text: Happiness

text: has

text: inspired

text: in

text: people

text: He

text: also

text: maintains

text: that

text: the

text: Scientologists

text: many

text: of

text: whom

text: he

text: calls

text: friends

text: are

text: successful

text: at

text: outreach

text: and

text: getting

text: desired

text: results

text: At

text: Kennedy

text: 's

text: C.

text: L.

text: Kennedy

text: Center

text: free

text: tutoring

text: based

text: on

text: Hubbard

text: 's

text: study

text: tech

text: philosophies

text: is

text: provided

text: to

text: dozens

text: of

text: children

text: and

text: some

text: adults

text: Kennedy

text: 's

text: daughter

text: Jimirra

text: is

text: one

text: of

text: the

text: instructors

text: She

text: said

text: study

text: tech

text: and

text: the

text: Scientology

text: orientation

text: classes

text: she

text: attended

text: helped

text: her

text: graduate

text: from

text: high

text: school

text: and

text: become

text: a

text: poised

text: woman

text: Though

text: Jimirra

text: Kennedy

text: insists

text: she

text: does

text: not

text: ascribe

text: to

text: the

text: religious

text: side

text: of

text: Scientology

text: she

text: still

text: considers

text: herself

text: at

text: least

text: in

text: part

text: Scientologist

text: We

text: say

text: this

text: all

text: the

text: time

text: and

text: I

text: know

text: my

text: father

text: says

text: this

text: but

text: I

text: am

text: like

text: a

text: Pentecostal

text: Scientologist

text: that

text: 's

text: what

text: we

text: are

text: Critics

text: like

text: Ross

text: are

text: alarmed

text: by

text: such

text: a

text: blurring

text: of

text: the

text: lines

text: They

text: consider

text: it

text: a

text: marketing

text: win

text: for

text: Scientology

text: In

text: Houston

text: McLaughlin

text: says

text: he

text: is

text: not

text: one

text: to

text: argue

text: with

text: success

text: Driven

text: by

text: a

text: need

text: to

text: address

text: the

text: rampant

text: drug

text: problem

text: in

text: his

text: community

text: McLaughlin

text: spent

text: years

text: searching

text: for

text: a

text: solution

text: before

text: he

text: discovered

text: Narconon

text: Scientology

text: 's

text: nonprofit

text: drug

text: rehab

text: center

text: in

text: McLaughlin

text: trained

text: at

text: Narconon

text: and

text: brought

text: the

text: techniques

text: back

text: to

text: his

text: community

text: to

text: launch

text: First

text: Step

text: Faith

text: Step

text: a

text: program

text: that

text: combines

text: Hubbard

text: 's

text: methods

text: with

text: the

text: teachings

text: of

text: Christianity

text: He

text: claims

text: a

text: to

text: rehabilitation

text: success

text: rate

text: Kennedy

text: and

text: McLaughlin

text: said

text: they

text: have

text: never

text: lost

text: a

text: member

text: of

text: their

text: congregations

text: to

text: Scientology

text: I

text: think

text: that

text: they

text: truly

text: believe

text: that

text: this

text: may

text: help

text: their

text: communities

text: but

text: in

text: my

text: opinion

text: they

text: 're

text: naÃ¯ve

text: Ross

text: said

text: Scientologists

text: he

text: added

text: have

text: their

text: own

text: agenda

text: The

text: Church

text: of

text: Scientology

text: would

text: not

text: grant

text: CNN

text: an

text: interview

text: nor

text: would

text: its

text: representatives

text: answer

text: questions

text: about

text: the

text: Hubbard

text: based

text: programs

text: E

text: mail

text: to

text: a

text: friend

question: What is the success rate with addicts?

answer: 70- to 80-percent

text: 70- to 80-percent

question: What percent success rate with addicts?

answer: 70- to 80-percent

text: 70- to 80-percent

question: What do Christian pastors borrow ideas from to preach temperate lifestyle?

answer: the Church of Scientology.

text: the Church of Scientology.

question: who claims a 70 percent success rate?

answer: McLaughlin

text: McLaughlin

question: From where do Christian Pastors borrow ideas for preaching temperate lifestyle?

answer: Church of Scientology.

text: Church of Scientology.

question: Who think Scientology is a cult?

answer: critics

text: critics

question: what is the claimed success rate?

answer: 70- to 80-percent rehabilitation

text: 70- to 80-percent rehabilitation

question: Who borrowed ideas from Scientology?

answer: Christian congregations,

text: Christian congregations,

question: What is the Houston's Pastor's success rate with addicts?

answer: 70- to 80-percent

text: 70- to 80-percent

question: What do critics call Scientology?

answer: cult.

text: cult.

question: who is the critic?

answer: Rick Ross,

text: Rick Ross,

question: What does the pastor claim success rate for?

answer: rehabilitation

text: rehabilitation

question: What do critics say is a cult?

answer: Church of Scientology.

text: Church of Scientology.

question: what are christian pastors borrowing from scientology?

answer: practicing

text: practicing

question: According to Pastor, how much is success rate?

answer: 70-

question: Who borrows ideas from Scientology?

answer: Christian congregations,

text: Christian congregations,

question: Who said Scientology is cult?

answer: critics

text: critics

question: What kind of scientology is this?

answer: Pentecostal Scientologist,

text: Pentecostal Scientologist,

question: What is the success rate with addicts that a pastor in Houston, Texas claims?

answer: 70- to 80-percent

text: 70- to 80-percent

question: What do Christian pastors borrow ideas from?

answer: the Church of Scientology.

text: the Church of Scientology.

question: What is Scientology

answer: was founded in the 1950s by L. Ron Hubbard, a science fiction writer. Followers are taught that they are immortal spiritual beings called thetans. Although the church says there

text: was founded in the 1950s by L. Ron Hubbard, a science fiction writer. Followers are taught that they are immortal spiritual beings called thetans. Although the church says there


text:
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Iraq's smaller religious groups have been facing "ongoing severe abuses," and the situation requires a response from the United States, a religious freedom watchdog said Tuesday.

In late November, members of a Christian Iraqi family sit in a home in Lebanon after fleeing violence in Mosul.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom issued a report citing "threats and intimidation" against Chaldo-Assyrians and other Christians, Sabean-Mandaeans and Yazidis.

The commission wants the U.S. State Department to designate Iraq as a "country of particular concern" -- a status that would allow policy responses, including public condemnations, the denial of state visits, and even sanctions. Spokeswoman Judith Ingram said such a designation would draw attention to the abuses and "encourage a robust policy response."

There has been "reconciliation" between Iraq's dominant Shiite and Sunni religious groups, but tensions continue to reverberate and that's a concern, the commission said. But the smaller groups don't have "militia or tribal structures to protect them" and they "do not receive adequate official protection."

"Iraq's non-Muslim religious minorities -- particularly Christians, Mandaeans and Yazidis -- have suffered religiously-based attacks and other abuses, and have fled the country, at rates far disproportionate to their numbers, seriously threatening these communities' continued existence in Iraq," the report said.

"Lacking militias, and in the case of the Mandaeans unable to defend themselves for religious reasons, they are easy prey for extremists and criminals, and they do not receive adequate protection from the authorities. As in earlier years, they also are caught in the middle of a Kurdish-Arab struggle for control of disputed northern areas where the minorities are concentrated and have been targeted because of this."

Examples include Christian protest over provincial election legislation and anti-Christian violence in Mosul this autumn and election intimidation of non-Muslims in Nineveh province in 2005. The Iraqi Constitution also "gives Islam a preferred status, providing a potential justification for abuses and discrimination against non-Muslims."

The commission is recommending that the incoming Obama administration ensure "safe and fair provincial elections" and "security and safety for all Iraqis." It calls for making prevention of religious abuse a "high priority" and urging the Kurdish region to support "minority rights." It also urges addressing the displaced persons' and refugee problem.

CNN's Joe Sterling contributed to this report.

text: WASHINGTON

text: CNN

text: Iraq

text: 's

text: smaller

text: religious

text: groups

text: have

text: been

text: facing

text: ongoing

text: severe

text: abuses

text: and

text: the

text: situation

text: requires

text: a

text: response

text: from

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: a

text: religious

text: freedom

text: watchdog

text: said

text: Tuesday

text: In

text: late

text: November

text: members

text: of

text: a

text: Christian

text: Iraqi

text: family

text: sit

text: in

text: a

text: home

text: in

text: Lebanon

text: after

text: fleeing

text: violence

text: in

text: Mosul

text: The

text: U.S.

text: Commission

text: on

text: International

text: Religious

text: Freedom

text: issued

text: a

text: report

text: citing

text: threats

text: and

text: intimidation

text: against

text: Chaldo

text: Assyrians

text: and

text: other

text: Christians

text: Sabean

text: Mandaeans

text: and

text: Yazidis

text: The

text: commission

text: wants

text: the

text: U.S.

text: State

text: Department

text: to

text: designate

text: Iraq

text: as

text: a

text: country

text: of

text: particular

text: concern

text: a

text: status

text: that

text: would

text: allow

text: policy

text: responses

text: including

text: public

text: condemnations

text: the

text: denial

text: of

text: state

text: visits

text: and

text: even

text: sanctions

text: Spokeswoman

text: Judith

text: Ingram

text: said

text: such

text: a

text: designation

text: would

text: draw

text: attention

text: to

text: the

text: abuses

text: and

text: encourage

text: a

text: robust

text: policy

text: response

text: There

text: has

text: been

text: reconciliation

text: between

text: Iraq

text: 's

text: dominant

text: Shiite

text: and

text: Sunni

text: religious

text: groups

text: but

text: tensions

text: continue

text: to

text: reverberate

text: and

text: that

text: 's

text: a

text: concern

text: the

text: commission

text: said

text: But

text: the

text: smaller

text: groups

text: do

text: n't

text: have

text: militia

text: or

text: tribal

text: structures

text: to

text: protect

text: them

text: and

text: they

text: do

text: not

text: receive

text: adequate

text: official

text: protection

text: Iraq

text: 's

text: non

text: Muslim

text: religious

text: minorities

text: particularly

text: Christians

text: Mandaeans

text: and

text: Yazidis

text: have

text: suffered

text: religiously

text: based

text: attacks

text: and

text: other

text: abuses

text: and

text: have

text: fled

text: the

text: country

text: at

text: rates

text: far

text: disproportionate

text: to

text: their

text: numbers

text: seriously

text: threatening

text: these

text: communities

text: continued

text: existence

text: in

text: Iraq

text: the

text: report

text: said

text: Lacking

text: militias

text: and

text: in

text: the

text: case

text: of

text: the

text: Mandaeans

text: unable

text: to

text: defend

text: themselves

text: for

text: religious

text: reasons

text: they

text: are

text: easy

text: prey

text: for

text: extremists

text: and

text: criminals

text: and

text: they

text: do

text: not

text: receive

text: adequate

text: protection

text: from

text: the

text: authorities

text: As

text: in

text: earlier

text: years

text: they

text: also

text: are

text: caught

text: in

text: the

text: middle

text: of

text: a

text: Kurdish

text: Arab

text: struggle

text: for

text: control

text: of

text: disputed

text: northern

text: areas

text: where

text: the

text: minorities

text: are

text: concentrated

text: and

text: have

text: been

text: targeted

text: because

text: of

text: this

text: Examples

text: include

text: Christian

text: protest

text: over

text: provincial

text: election

text: legislation

text: and

text: anti

text: Christian

text: violence

text: in

text: Mosul

text: this

text: autumn

text: and

text: election

text: intimidation

text: of

text: non

text: Muslims

text: in

text: Nineveh

text: province

text: in

text: The

text: Iraqi

text: Constitution

text: also

text: gives

text: Islam

text: a

text: preferred

text: status

text: providing

text: a

text: potential

text: justification

text: for

text: abuses

text: and

text: discrimination

text: against

text: non

text: Muslims

text: The

text: commission

text: is

text: recommending

text: that

text: the

text: incoming

text: Obama

text: administration

text: ensure

text: safe

text: and

text: fair

text: provincial

text: elections

text: and

text: security

text: and

text: safety

text: for

text: all

text: Iraqis

text: It

text: calls

text: for

text: making

text: prevention

text: of

text: religious

text: abuse

text: a

text: high

text: priority

text: and

text: urging

text: the

text: Kurdish

text: region

text: to

text: support

text: minority

text: rights

text: It

text: also

text: urges

text: addressing

text: the

text: displaced

text: persons

text: and

text: refugee

text: problem

text: CNN

text: 's

text: Joe

text: Sterling

text: contributed

text: to

text: this

text: report

question: What do smaller religious groups in Iraq lack?

answer: "Lacking militias,

text: "Lacking militias,

question: Who urges protection of Irag's minority religions?

answer: The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

text: The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

question: Who doesn't have any militias or tribal structures?

answer: the smaller groups

text: the smaller groups

question: Who is urging that these religious minorities be protected?

answer: Judith Ingram

text: Judith Ingram

question: What is the U.S administration urged to ensure?

answer: "safe and fair provincial elections" and "security and safety for all

text: "safe and fair provincial elections" and "security and safety for all

question: Which US President is incoming?

answer: Obama

text: Obama

question: What don't smaller groups have?

answer: "militia or tribal structures to protect them"

text: "militia or tribal structures to protect them"

question: Who urged the incoming U.S. administration to ensure safety for all Iraqis?

answer: Commission on International Religious Freedom

text: Commission on International Religious Freedom


text:
(PEOPLE.com) -- K.D. Lang and her girlfriend are calling it quits.

Lang, 50, filed legal documents to end her domestic partnership with Jamie Price, who's been her partner for nearly nine years.

Lang filed for dissolution of domestic partnership, citing irreconcilable differences, according to the papers filed on December 28 and obtained by PEOPLE. A rep for Lang did not respond to request for comment.

The couple met through their mutual Buddhist teacher, according to New York Magazine.

News of the longtime musician's filing was first reported by TMZ.

See the full article at PEOPLE.com.

Â© 2011 People and Time Inc. All rights reserved.

text: PEOPLE.com

text: K.D.

text: Lang

text: and

text: her

text: girlfriend

text: are

text: calling

text: it

text: quits

text: Lang

text: filed

text: legal

text: documents

text: to

text: end

text: her

text: domestic

text: partnership

text: with

text: Jamie

text: Price

text: who

text: 's

text: been

text: her

text: partner

text: for

text: nearly

text: nine

text: years

text: Lang

text: filed

text: for

text: dissolution

text: of

text: domestic

text: partnership

text: citing

text: irreconcilable

text: differences

text: according

text: to

text: the

text: papers

text: filed

text: on

text: December

text: and

text: obtained

text: by

text: PEOPLE

text: A

text: rep

text: for

text: Lang

text: did

text: not

text: respond

text: to

text: request

text: for

text: comment

text: The

text: couple

text: met

text: through

text: their

text: mutual

text: Buddhist

text: teacher

text: according

text: to

text: New

text: York

text: Magazine

text: News

text: of

text: the

text: longtime

text: musician

text: 's

text: filing

text: was

text: first

text: reported

text: by

text: TMZ

text: See

text: the

text: full

text: article

text: at

text: PEOPLE.com

text: Â

text: People

text: and

text: Time

text: Inc.

text: All

text: rights

text: reserved

question: Who was his partner?

answer: Jamie Price,

text: Jamie Price,

question: Where did they meet?

answer: through their mutual Buddhist teacher,

text: through their mutual Buddhist teacher,

question: What caused her to  end her domestic partnership?

answer: irreconcilable differences,

text: irreconcilable differences,

question: What did Lang do?

answer: filed for dissolution of domestic partnership,

text: filed for dissolution of domestic partnership,

question: Who was her partner?

answer: Jamie Price,

text: Jamie Price,

question: Who filed the docs?

answer: K.D. Lang

text: K.D. Lang


text:
(CNN) -- As last night's Republican presidential debate over national security issues demonstrated, credibility is crucial to winning a debate.

Think of credibility like money you have in a bank. Each time you stretch it thin, you have less the next time you might need it. It is your own personal bank of believability.

Knowing your arguments and facts is one way to gain credibility. Mitt Romney fattened his credibility bank account at the expense of Rick Perry, who supported a no fly zone over Syria. Romney argued that a no fly zone over Syria would be pointless since the Syrian government has 5,000 tanks. Romney jokingly said it would make more sense to impose a "no drive zone."

Jon Huntsman made a similar deposit when he stated that sanctions on Iran would not work since "the Chinese aren't going to play ball and the Russians aren't going to play ball," and Iran has already decided to go nuclear. Huntsman's cited the examples of Libya (which gave up its nuclear ambition, and later the government was overthrown with the help of the United States) and North Korea (which has tested nuclear weapons and whose government is still in power.)

Another way to maintain credibility is to cite proof for your arguments. Michele Bachmann has said things in previous debates (President Obama wants Medicare to collapse) and in last night's debate (suggesting that the CIA cannot interrogate terrorist suspects any longer because the ACLU is in charge) that were not very credible. These frequent ATM withdrawals hurt Bachmann because a lack of believability spills over.

Her disagreement with Rick Perry about whether to give aid to Pakistan should have been an excellent point for her. She showcased her knowledge of the subject, saying that we exchange intelligence information and the United States must have our interest represented. Bachmann called Pakistan "too nuclear to fail," and chastised Perry for being naÃÂ¯ve when he said he would not give Pakistan one penny until it proved it had America's best interests in mind.

This was a terrific answer that warranted applause because it was thoughtful, logical and well reasoned. What did she get? Crickets. Why? Because her believability bank is in the red.

Ron Paul is an enigma. He can provide such thoughtful answers at one time and later interject completely unsubstantiated statements. He was banking responsibly with his argument that the war on drugs was a failure and a reason for much of the violence in Mexico. Paul reminded us that prescription drugs kill many more people than illegal drugs do and that alcohol is a deadly drug.

Paul's argument was factually accurate, even if unpopular with many conservatives. But then Paul writes an overdraft with moderate Republicans by saying things like aid to Africa for malaria or AIDS prevention is "all worthless." Paul hit the daily double. Unpopular answer? Check. Wrong on facts? Check. There are countless examples of disease prevention aid being effective. Could aid be more effective? Sure. But that was not Paul's answer. He simply asserted that aid is worthless, but he had no proof.

Answering questions with non-answers simply isn't credible. For example, Herman Cain twice last night reached into a very old bag of tricks to answer questions with the standard "I'd consult the experts" line.

Actually, he originally answered a question about terrorist profiling with his support of "targeted identification." But when asked a follow-up not 20 seconds later, he retreated by saying he would "ask the professionals."

Nothing hurts your credibility worse than flip-flopping on the same question and diving into a non-answer. Cain's bank account is probably under a thousand dollars. But that still leaves him 999.

Finally, to save credibility, you should be prepared to defend your position when giving a potentially unpopular answer. Newt Gingrich had two answers that the conservative wing of his party might not like, but he defended them well. Gingrich said it was possible to cut some of the military because, "If it takes 15 to 20 years to build a weapons system when Apple changes technology every nine months, there's something profoundly wrong with the system."

And Gingrich went against the Republican current when he stated that some long-term illegal immigrants should be allowed to stay legally, but without citizenship, in the United States. Romney and others said giving amnesty would be a magnet for more people to come illegally to the United States. Gingrich said we should be humane, and he was ready to take the heat for his stance. Gingrich has enough credibility banked because of his stances on other issues that he was able to withstand the criticism on this one.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Todd Graham.

text: CNN

text: As

text: last

text: night

text: 's

text: Republican

text: presidential

text: debate

text: over

text: national

text: security

text: issues

text: demonstrated

text: credibility

text: is

text: crucial

text: to

text: winning

text: a

text: debate

text: Think

text: of

text: credibility

text: like

text: money

text: you

text: have

text: in

text: a

text: bank

text: Each

text: time

text: you

text: stretch

text: it

text: thin

text: you

text: have

text: less

text: the

text: next

text: time

text: you

text: might

text: need

text: it

text: It

text: is

text: your

text: own

text: personal

text: bank

text: of

text: believability

text: Knowing

text: your

text: arguments

text: and

text: facts

text: is

text: one

text: way

text: to

text: gain

text: credibility

text: Mitt

text: Romney

text: fattened

text: his

text: credibility

text: bank

text: account

text: at

text: the

text: expense

text: of

text: Rick

text: Perry

text: who

text: supported

text: a

text: no

text: fly

text: zone

text: over

text: Syria

text: Romney

text: argued

text: that

text: a

text: no

text: fly

text: zone

text: over

text: Syria

text: would

text: be

text: pointless

text: since

text: the

text: Syrian

text: government

text: has

text: tanks

text: Romney

text: jokingly

text: said

text: it

text: would

text: make

text: more

text: sense

text: to

text: impose

text: a

text: no

text: drive

text: zone

text: Jon

text: Huntsman

text: made

text: a

text: similar

text: deposit

text: when

text: he

text: stated

text: that

text: sanctions

text: on

text: Iran

text: would

text: not

text: work

text: since

text: the

text: Chinese

text: are

text: n't

text: going

text: to

text: play

text: ball

text: and

text: the

text: Russians

text: are

text: n't

text: going

text: to

text: play

text: ball

text: and

text: Iran

text: has

text: already

text: decided

text: to

text: go

text: nuclear

text: Huntsman

text: 's

text: cited

text: the

text: examples

text: of

text: Libya

text: which

text: gave

text: up

text: its

text: nuclear

text: ambition

text: and

text: later

text: the

text: government

text: was

text: overthrown

text: with

text: the

text: help

text: of

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: and

text: North

text: Korea

text: which

text: has

text: tested

text: nuclear

text: weapons

text: and

text: whose

text: government

text: is

text: still

text: in

text: power

text: Another

text: way

text: to

text: maintain

text: credibility

text: is

text: to

text: cite

text: proof

text: for

text: your

text: arguments

text: Michele

text: Bachmann

text: has

text: said

text: things

text: in

text: previous

text: debates

text: President

text: Obama

text: wants

text: Medicare

text: to

text: collapse

text: and

text: in

text: last

text: night

text: 's

text: debate

text: suggesting

text: that

text: the

text: CIA

text: can

text: not

text: interrogate

text: terrorist

text: suspects

text: any

text: longer

text: because

text: the

text: ACLU

text: is

text: in

text: charge

text: that

text: were

text: not

text: very

text: credible

text: These

text: frequent

text: ATM

text: withdrawals

text: hurt

text: Bachmann

text: because

text: a

text: lack

text: of

text: believability

text: spills

text: over

text: Her

text: disagreement

text: with

text: Rick

text: Perry

text: about

text: whether

text: to

text: give

text: aid

text: to

text: Pakistan

text: should

text: have

text: been

text: an

text: excellent

text: point

text: for

text: her

text: She

text: showcased

text: her

text: knowledge

text: of

text: the

text: subject

text: saying

text: that

text: we

text: exchange

text: intelligence

text: information

text: and

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: must

text: have

text: our

text: interest

text: represented

text: Bachmann

text: called

text: Pakistan

text: too

text: nuclear

text: to

text: fail

text: and

text: chastised

text: Perry

text: for

text: being

text: naÃÂ¯ve

text: when

text: he

text: said

text: he

text: would

text: not

text: give

text: Pakistan

text: one

text: penny

text: until

text: it

text: proved

text: it

text: had

text: America

text: 's

text: best

text: interests

text: in

text: mind

text: This

text: was

text: a

text: terrific

text: answer

text: that

text: warranted

text: applause

text: because

text: it

text: was

text: thoughtful

text: logical

text: and

text: well

text: reasoned

text: What

text: did

text: she

text: get

text: Crickets

text: Why

text: Because

text: her

text: believability

text: bank

text: is

text: in

text: the

text: red

text: Ron

text: Paul

text: is

text: an

text: enigma

text: He

text: can

text: provide

text: such

text: thoughtful

text: answers

text: at

text: one

text: time

text: and

text: later

text: interject

text: completely

text: unsubstantiated

text: statements

text: He

text: was

text: banking

text: responsibly

text: with

text: his

text: argument

text: that

text: the

text: war

text: on

text: drugs

text: was

text: a

text: failure

text: and

text: a

text: reason

text: for

text: much

text: of

text: the

text: violence

text: in

text: Mexico

text: Paul

text: reminded

text: us

text: that

text: prescription

text: drugs

text: kill

text: many

text: more

text: people

text: than

text: illegal

text: drugs

text: do

text: and

text: that

text: alcohol

text: is

text: a

text: deadly

text: drug

text: Paul

text: 's

text: argument

text: was

text: factually

text: accurate

text: even

text: if

text: unpopular

text: with

text: many

text: conservatives

text: But

text: then

text: Paul

text: writes

text: an

text: overdraft

text: with

text: moderate

text: Republicans

text: by

text: saying

text: things

text: like

text: aid

text: to

text: Africa

text: for

text: malaria

text: or

text: AIDS

text: prevention

text: is

text: all

text: worthless

text: Paul

text: hit

text: the

text: daily

text: double

text: Unpopular

text: answer

text: Check

text: Wrong

text: on

text: facts

text: Check

text: There

text: are

text: countless

text: examples

text: of

text: disease

text: prevention

text: aid

text: being

text: effective

text: Could

text: aid

text: be

text: more

text: effective

text: Sure

text: But

text: that

text: was

text: not

text: Paul

text: 's

text: answer

text: He

text: simply

text: asserted

text: that

text: aid

text: is

text: worthless

text: but

text: he

text: had

text: no

text: proof

text: Answering

text: questions

text: with

text: non

text: answers

text: simply

text: is

text: n't

text: credible

text: For

text: example

text: Herman

text: Cain

text: twice

text: last

text: night

text: reached

text: into

text: a

text: very

text: old

text: bag

text: of

text: tricks

text: to

text: answer

text: questions

text: with

text: the

text: standard

text: I

text: 'd

text: consult

text: the

text: experts

text: line

text: Actually

text: he

text: originally

text: answered

text: a

text: question

text: about

text: terrorist

text: profiling

text: with

text: his

text: support

text: of

text: targeted

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text: flip

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text: But

text: that

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text: defend

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text: position

text: when

text: giving

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text: potentially

text: unpopular

text: answer

text: Newt

text: Gingrich

text: had

text: two

text: answers

text: that

text: the

text: conservative

text: wing

text: of

text: his

text: party

text: might

text: not

text: like

text: but

text: he

text: defended

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text: well

text: Gingrich

text: said

text: it

text: was

text: possible

text: to

text: cut

text: some

text: of

text: the

text: military

text: because

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text: it

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text: build

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text: when

text: Apple

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text: nine

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text: there

text: 's

text: something

text: profoundly

text: wrong

text: with

text: the

text: system

text: And

text: Gingrich

text: went

text: against

text: the

text: Republican

text: current

text: when

text: he

text: stated

text: that

text: some

text: long

text: term

text: illegal

text: immigrants

text: should

text: be

text: allowed

text: to

text: stay

text: legally

text: but

text: without

text: citizenship

text: in

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: Romney

text: and

text: others

text: said

text: giving

text: amnesty

text: would

text: be

text: a

text: magnet

text: for

text: more

text: people

text: to

text: come

text: illegally

text: to

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text: United

text: States

text: Gingrich

text: said

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text: should

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text: humane

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text: he

text: was

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text: stance

text: Gingrich

text: has

text: enough

text: credibility

text: banked

text: because

text: of

text: his

text: stances

text: on

text: other

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text: that

text: he

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text: withstand

text: the

text: criticism

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text: The

text: opinions

text: expressed

text: in

text: this

text: commentary

text: are

text: solely

text: those

text: of

text: Todd

text: Graham

question: who added to their credibility?

answer: Mitt Romney

text: Mitt Romney

question: what did Gingrich successfully defend?

answer: d that some long-term illegal immigrants should be allowed to stay legally, but without citizenship, in the United States

text: d that some long-term illegal immigrants should be allowed to stay legally, but without citizenship, in the United States

question: What was successfully defended

answer: d two answer

text: d two answer


text:
(CNN) -- The music isn't new, but the discovery that a young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart "almost certainly" composed it is a stunning revelation.

A researcher in Austria says the works were probably transcribed by Mozart's father, as young Mozart played.

The two compositions -- a concerto in G and a prelude in G -- have long been in the files at the International Mozarteum Foundation in Salzburg, Austria, as anonymous works and were even published in the book "New Mozart Edition" in 1982.

Now Ulrich Leisinger, director of the foundation's research department, believes the works actually were composed by Mozart before he was old enough to write music, and that Mozart's father, Leopold, transcribed them.

The foundation said in a statement that Leisinger analyzed the handwriting and other "stylistic criteria" to determine the music was "almost certainly unknown compositions by" the young Mozart.

The compositions were found in a book, compiled by Mozart's father, that was used for practice and the musical education of both Mozart and his sister, according to the statement.

Leisinger's analyses "support the claim that they were actually composed by the young Mozart, who was not yet versed in musical notation, and transcribed by his father as the boy played the works at the keyboard," the statement said.

Jeffrey Kimpton, president of the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan, called the works "a remarkable historical find."

He said Leopold Mozart transcribed his son's early works as a way of preserving them.

"When parents go to a piano recital of an early student, a young student, who's playing for the first time, they get a video tape, they get a DVD, that's a way of recording it," Kimpton said. "I think what's exciting is that Mozart's father wanted to preserve this incredible genius. The young boy at this time didn't know how to write music, but he sure could play it. It's like a family photo or video album."

Finding such historical treasures is like detective work, Kimpton said.

"You're kind of putting together a DNA picture," he said. "This particular museum has hundreds of manuscripts. Over time as you learn more and more by various scholars working on this, you might turn the page and you may have looked at it a hundred times before but suddenly begin to see some things or understand some things that make some sense."

Mozart was born in Salzburg in 1756 and started composing when he was 5 years old. By the time of his death in 1791, he had written more than 600 pieces of music.

text: CNN

text: The

text: music

text: is

text: n't

text: new

text: but

text: the

text: discovery

text: that

text: a

text: young

text: Wolfgang

text: Amadeus

text: Mozart

text: almost

text: certainly

text: composed

text: it

text: is

text: a

text: stunning

text: revelation

text: A

text: researcher

text: in

text: Austria

text: says

text: the

text: works

text: were

text: probably

text: transcribed

text: by

text: Mozart

text: 's

text: father

text: as

text: young

text: Mozart

text: played

text: The

text: two

text: compositions

text: a

text: concerto

text: in

text: G

text: and

text: a

text: prelude

text: in

text: G

text: have

text: long

text: been

text: in

text: the

text: files

text: at

text: the

text: International

text: Mozarteum

text: Foundation

text: in

text: Salzburg

text: Austria

text: as

text: anonymous

text: works

text: and

text: were

text: even

text: published

text: in

text: the

text: book

text: New

text: Mozart

text: Edition

text: in

text: Now

text: Ulrich

text: Leisinger

text: director

text: of

text: the

text: foundation

text: 's

text: research

text: department

text: believes

text: the

text: works

text: actually

text: were

text: composed

text: by

text: Mozart

text: before

text: he

text: was

text: old

text: enough

text: to

text: write

text: music

text: and

text: that

text: Mozart

text: 's

text: father

text: Leopold

text: transcribed

text: them

text: The

text: foundation

text: said

text: in

text: a

text: statement

text: that

text: Leisinger

text: analyzed

text: the

text: handwriting

text: and

text: other

text: stylistic

text: criteria

text: to

text: determine

text: the

text: music

text: was

text: almost

text: certainly

text: unknown

text: compositions

text: by

text: the

text: young

text: Mozart

text: The

text: compositions

text: were

text: found

text: in

text: a

text: book

text: compiled

text: by

text: Mozart

text: 's

text: father

text: that

text: was

text: used

text: for

text: practice

text: and

text: the

text: musical

text: education

text: of

text: both

text: Mozart

text: and

text: his

text: sister

text: according

text: to

text: the

text: statement

text: Leisinger

text: 's

text: analyses

text: support

text: the

text: claim

text: that

text: they

text: were

text: actually

text: composed

text: by

text: the

text: young

text: Mozart

text: who

text: was

text: not

text: yet

text: versed

text: in

text: musical

text: notation

text: and

text: transcribed

text: by

text: his

text: father

text: as

text: the

text: boy

text: played

text: the

text: works

text: at

text: the

text: keyboard

text: the

text: statement

text: said

text: Jeffrey

text: Kimpton

text: president

text: of

text: the

text: Interlochen

text: Center

text: for

text: the

text: Arts

text: in

text: Michigan

text: called

text: the

text: works

text: a

text: remarkable

text: historical

text: find

text: He

text: said

text: Leopold

text: Mozart

text: transcribed

text: his

text: son

text: 's

text: early

text: works

text: as

text: a

text: way

text: of

text: preserving

text: them

text: When

text: parents

text: go

text: to

text: a

text: piano

text: recital

text: of

text: an

text: early

text: student

text: a

text: young

text: student

text: who

text: 's

text: playing

text: for

text: the

text: first

text: time

text: they

text: get

text: a

text: video

text: tape

text: they

text: get

text: a

text: DVD

text: that

text: 's

text: a

text: way

text: of

text: recording

text: it

text: Kimpton

text: said

text: I

text: think

text: what

text: 's

text: exciting

text: is

text: that

text: Mozart

text: 's

text: father

text: wanted

text: to

text: preserve

text: this

text: incredible

text: genius

text: The

text: young

text: boy

text: at

text: this

text: time

text: did

text: n't

text: know

text: how

text: to

text: write

text: music

text: but

text: he

text: sure

text: could

text: play

text: it

text: It

text: 's

text: like

text: a

text: family

text: photo

text: or

text: video

text: album

text: Finding

text: such

text: historical

text: treasures

text: is

text: like

text: detective

text: work

text: Kimpton

text: said

text: You

text: 're

text: kind

text: of

text: putting

text: together

text: a

text: DNA

text: picture

text: he

text: said

text: This

text: particular

text: museum

text: has

text: hundreds

text: of

text: manuscripts

text: Over

text: time

text: as

text: you

text: learn

text: more

text: and

text: more

text: by

text: various

text: scholars

text: working

text: on

text: this

text: you

text: might

text: turn

text: the

text: page

text: and

text: you

text: may

text: have

text: looked

text: at

text: it

text: a

text: hundred

text: times

text: before

text: but

text: suddenly

text: begin

text: to

text: see

text: some

text: things

text: or

text: understand

text: some

text: things

text: that

text: make

text: some

text: sense

text: Mozart

text: was

text: born

text: in

text: Salzburg

text: in

text: and

text: started

text: composing

text: when

text: he

text: was

text: years

text: old

text: By

text: the

text: time

text: of

text: his

text: death

text: in

text: he

text: had

text: written

text: more

text: than

text: pieces

text: of

text: music

question: What did researcher say?

answer: works were probably transcribed by Mozart's father, as young Mozart played.

text: works were probably transcribed by Mozart's father, as young Mozart played.

question: Who probably transcribed the music?

answer: Mozart's father,

text: Mozart's father,

question: Whos father transcribed the music?

answer: Mozart's

text: Mozart's

question: what did Mozart's father probably do?

answer: transcribed his son's early works

text: transcribed his son's early works

question: Where were the pieces found?

answer: the International Mozarteum Foundation in Salzburg, Austria,

text: the International Mozarteum Foundation in Salzburg, Austria,

question: Who are the two pieces likely composed by?

answer: Mozart

text: Mozart