On elementals in fantasy settings

I've noticed that most magical worlds that divide their magics along elemental lines usually fall into a number of habits, but differ in a few ways. I figured I'd talk about those, largely because I like to hearing the sound of my own voice.

First off, the most common one. Every single elemental divide has Air, Earth, Fire, and Water. They all do. For some reason, Fire is almost always evil (despite its nurturing qualities), and Water gets some kind of healing or empathy power. That said, we'll skip over those three and move on to more complex divisions, that have more that just four elements. It's not uncommon to see Ice or Wood included as a fourth element. Metal is also included sometimes, though most times it falls under the control of Earth (or, as a created element, none of them). Oriental element circles often have a fifth element being void, while sometimes you see pure magic filling up the space in the middle. When characters can control more than one element at a time, things can get very messy.

For example, lets say we have an Earth/Water user. Combining the two of them would create Mud, an odd but workable element, if not very useful. Earth/Fire would create Lava, a much more deadly combo. Presumably, opposites can't combine, though if you did mix Earth and Air, you'd probably get Dust. Fire/Air would most likely make Steam, while a theoretical Fire/Water mix would make...Boiling Water? I dunno. Air/Water might be... Mist? Ice? Not sure. Still, it's interesting to think about, at any rate.

Music, and why it should die.

Though you may not think it from the title, I actually like music. I even play in a band (a concert band, not a rock band. Remember, I'm a geek). I listen to it all the time and am not above the occasional illegal download when my iTunes bill is looking a bit long this month. So why would I say that music should die?

Because I live in a college dorm. And because I do, I have to put up with every idiot with speakers trying to rattle their very windows out of the walls. I'm not going to comment on kinds of music (that's a different rant), but simply on volume. What exactly is it that is so appealing about playing your music loud? I don't understand it. They are playing at volumes loud enough to deafen even someone passing by their closed door, how is that not painful? How can they even stand it, much less enjoy it?

I've been known to enjoy a little Metal music myself, and who doesn't like belting out Ride of the Valkyries at the top of his/her lungs? But this is ridiculous. And the worst part? If you ask them to turn it down, they look at you like you just told them their mothers commit sex acts with poultry.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go buy some headphones.