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Showing posts with label The Liberty Sphere. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Liberty Sphere. Show all posts

Saturday, August 08, 2009

Sorry for the Light Blogging This Week

Regular readers of The Liberty Sphere have noted the light blogging this week, and the Second Amendment News Roundup was posted for only 3 days. I do apologize.

This has been 'healthcare week' for me...I've been to 3 different doctors for my various and sundry maladies. An antibiotic was added this time that is downright unpleasant.

However, life goes on, I am doing fairly well overall, and I am still here ready to write.

The Roundup will be back on its regular schedule beginning Monday.

Saturday, December 27, 2008

In Case You Wanted to Know...

Someone recently asked me what criteria I use to determine what gets posted on The Liberty Sphere's 'Second Amendment News Roundup.'

It occurred to me that there may be others who wonder the same thing, hence this post.

How does one 'make it' to The Roundup (as if it is some sort of all-encompassing goal of gun bloggers, which I highly doubt)?

Have you ever wondered why some posts are chosen and others are not? Or maybe you wonder why perhaps what you thought was your 'best' post was overlooked but one of your less-than- stellar posts was chosen instead.

These are good questions.

First, I wish to address what The Roundup is not:

1. It is not necessarily a collection of 'the best of the web.' While good writing is normally a requirement, I am not necessarily looking for what is considered the best, particular if such a post has nothing to do with guns, human liberty, or politics.

2. It is not a copy of someone else's news roundup or an attempt to be what someone else has done in the past. The Roundup here on The Liberty Sphere bears my unique personality and interests. It may not be as good as others, or it may be better than others. That is not the issue. While I strive to be the best I can be, the Roundup will be stamped inevitably with my own idiosyncrasies, warts and all.

3. While feedback is appreciated and suggestions will always be considered, the Roundup is not determined by group opinion, that is, the decision as to what gets included is ultimately mine. This is not to say I will not consider posts that are pitched to me. And this is also not to say that new blogs will not be considered. I also consider blogs that may have been around for a long time but which may not have caught my attention as of yet.

4. The Roundup section is not a place for me to censor gun bloggers who may disagree with my opinion on the particulars of the Second Amendment, such as the Prags vs. the Three Percenters debate. The purpose of the Roundup is to present what's going on in the gun blogging community as a whole, and thus, all opinions will be represented at some time or another.

And this leads us to what The Roundup is, from a positive standpoint:

1. The Second Amendment News Roundup is designed to highlight the 2nd amendment to the U.S. Constitution and its ultimate importance to human liberty.

2. The Roundup will also highlight political matters that inevitably impact the exercise of liberty. At times the political posts may not deal directly with the 2nd Amendment but may indirectly impact our ability to exercise the 2nd amendment.

3. The posts that are chosen for the Roundup will normally reflect the overall goal of calling attention to the importance of the 2nd Amendment and the political issues that directly or indirectly impact our ability to exercise it.

4. In order to avoid annoying repetitiveness and redundancy, an issue addressed in an earlier post chosen for the Roundup will not be repeated by another writer's post in the same edition, unless that writer contributes something unique to the discussion of that issue. The exception to the redundancy issue is in the case of a major news story, such as the Heller decision, the result of which I posted 3 dozen posts by bloggers...all on the same issue. In short, there are times when presenting lots of different posts on the same subject is appropriate and times when it is inappropriate.

5. For those times you may have wondered 'why in the world did he pick THAT post!' I can only say that for variety's sake I sometimes make a choice precisely because no one else blogged on that particular issue. There are other times I will post something entirely trivial for comic relief or in order to 'play with' the blogger in question a bit. My sense of humor can sometimes be dry and understated.

6. Some posts beg for my ultimately intelligent, insightful, perceptive, and inherently wise commentary. Ahem. If I launch into lengthy commentary on your post it is not necessarily an indication I agree or disagree but that I, well, like to comment. I am, after all, a blogger. It's what I do.

7. I reserve the right to break my own rules. There are always exceptions to everything. This should not surprise you. It's my blog.

Well, that's about it. Oh, and one other thing--I notice I tend to favor bloggers who link to me. Human nature, I suppose. But even then, this is not always the case. I have linked to lots of blogs that never link to me and probably never will. But if I really like what they post, I will pick it although I don't get anything in return.

I do prefer those who return the favor, however...and that is simply being honest.

Ok, that's about all I need to say on this subject, that is, unless some of you have questions, need clarification, need to rant, or whatever. (Yeah, I know how some of you are). Heh.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

To Minimize and Marginalize

This blog is essentially about human liberty. If there is a common thread that holds all if its posts together it would be the fight to protect freedom and to stand against ALL attempts from ANY source to encroach upon that freedom.

One thing I have noticed after roughly 2 years of blogging is that there is an element in the blogosphere that will attempt to minimize and marginalize your voice unless you 'tow the party line,' i.e., agree with them.

Some time ago a fellow blogger warned that there are those around and about who would definitely attempt to minimize my voice.

This is 100% true.

The Liberty Sphere has been totally ignored by some who have received nothing but constant attention by me via the links to their blogs.

But I would be remiss without quickly acknowledging that this group is a minority. Most of you have been most supportive at one time or another.

I realize that this blog is not everyone's cup of tea. My opinions are strong, and I WILL fight for them. I don't mind calling a spade a spade, and that includes 'sacred cows' such as the NRA, the GOP, the Libertarian Party, Google, or any other group or entity that I think is headed down the wrong path on an issue.

This stance has included advertisers. I dropped American Express when they accepted a government bailout.

In fact, I have dropped ALL advertisers at this point. I am not going to be 'beholden' to anybody or afraid to speak my mind for the fear it may 'offend' someone. If anyone wishes to advertise here it will be due to their support for this blog's main purpose--to promote human liberty.

This goes for bloggers and readers as well. If my views on the 2nd Amendment, the 1st Amendment, politics, religion, or any other issue costs me readers and support, then so be it. I would rather forever dwell in the deepest bowels of blogosphere hell than to sell out my convictions in order to placate a misguided audience that may bring me a lot of 'traffic.'

I am not going to kiss ANYBODY's ass. I am my own man and I am capable of thinking quite independently and choosing my own path. I don't need either your approval or your permission.

If this means that I will only have a few hundred readers forever and ever, so be it.

But I will not budge. I will not back down. I will not tone down anything that I feel strongly about. And if this means you can't stomach it and thus won't support this blog, then perhaps all of your supposed support for 'free speech' is nothing more than bullshit.

Free speech, free expression, etc., is about nothing if not supporting speech that you may not like.

Come January I am going to have a 'tip jar' on this blog. If you like what's here, if you support my objectives, then you can support it of your own free will.

Oh, and to those of you wish I would just go away, I will quickly add that I have no intention of going anywhere. I am here to stay. So live with it.

Free speech, free Press, the right to free religious expression, the right to assemble freely, and the right to carry and use guns--these are the things I cherish.

Many obviously believe these values are no longer worth fighting for in America. You won't find that sentiment here. If these values are going down, they are not going down without a fight.

Central to human liberty is truth. And I am going to tell the truth come hell or high water.

Sunday, November 25, 2007

And Now A Word From Our Sponsors

Actually this is a word FOR our sponsors.

During this season of the year as we all begin to think about gift-giving, I would encourage you to visit the websites of the 3 businesses that place ads on The Liberty Sphere. If you are interested in purchasing their services or goods, be sure to click the link provided on this blog so that The Liberty Sphere gets the credit.

But at least pay them a visit to see what they have to offer. I don't think you will be disappointed.

Tiger Direct, which you will find by scrolling down to the very end of the page, offers the very best buys on the Internet when it comes to digital cameras, printers, scanners, and most anything electronic.

Rapid Fax is a service you will love. You can send faxes directly from your email quickly and inexpensively. You can even try it for free. (NOTE. The Rapid Fax link is down currently. It should be back up and running shortly).

Last but not least, if you are in the market to buy or sell a home, be sure you get an accurate assessment of the value of that home. Being armed with the facts saves you money. Instant Home Valuations is one of the fastest and most inexpensive methods of getting these facts. Pay them a visit.

OK, so I am an unabashed capitalist. Aren't you? And we capitalists are not only interested in prosperity, but we are always looking for a bargain. You won't find any better bargains than the businesses who advertise on The Liberty Sphere.

Shop early and shop often, (and help this poor blogger stay out of debtors' court).

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

The Liberty Sphere Featured in 'Tulsa Today'

The Liberty Sphere's article on the visit of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Columbia University is featured in the current issue of 'Tulsa Today' as its lead op-ed for its Wednesday online publication.

Tulsa Today features news and commentary of interest to persons living in and around Tulsa, Oklahoma. A variety of articles are presented that would be of great interest to persons living outside the Tulsa area as well.

Take the time to give it a look. The link to The Liberty Sphere article is found here:
http://www.tulsatoday.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1338&Itemid=2

Sunday, June 03, 2007

Democrats Debate Tonight

Washington, DC (TLS). The Democratic Presidential candidates take the stage this evening for their next debate at 7 PM, EDT. CNN will take the honors this time as the co-sponsor and broadcaster of the event.

As always, The Liberty Sphere will provide readers with our exclusive 'Liberty Rating System' of each of the candidates in the debate. The candidates will first receive a general evaluation based upon their debate performance alone--communication skills, answering the questions posed, ability to connect with the audience, etc.

Then, we will rate the candidates based on their adherence to the principles that promote and preserve human liberty, using our 8 key issues as indicators.

More about that tonight.

So, be sure to watch the debate and then check back with The Liberty Sphere this evening for our evaluation of the Democratic candidates.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Top Stories for Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Good Morning!

On today's Liberty Sphere you will find the following news stories and commentary for Tuesday:

**Why John McCain Will Never Be President

**Duncan Hunter--'Israel Should Not Give Up One Inch of Land'

**The Vanishing American--A Coup in the Making? An explosive take on the immigration compromise bill you simply MUST read!

**'CONVERT OR DIE!!' The Mantra of Muslim Extremists...read this account of what the Taliban told Pakistani Christians over the weekend...

SCROLL DOWN to read these stories and commentary by D. Martyn Lloyd-Morgan.

Have a great day!

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

The Liberty Sphere Policy on Errors/Corrections

Dear Liberty Sphere Readers:

A blog like The Liberty Sphere is ultimately dependent upon the reporting of factual information from which to draw commentary. Reliable commentary can be provided only if the basis for that commentary is accurate information.

From time to time we make errors in the reporting of facts, as do all news sources. Our policy is to immediately correct such errors as soon as they are discovered, and to alert readers that the post in question is a corrected version.

Today we reported that the infamous H.R. 1022 had made it through committee and had been submitted to be placed on the docket. That information is incorrect, and we apologize for the error.

H.R. 1022, the sweeping anti-gun legislation that poses as an 'assault weapons ban' has been formally submitted to the House Judiciary Committee for debate. The bill, first introduced by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, D-NY, now has 30 co-sponsors.

The fact that H.R. 1022 has not yet made it through the House Judiciary is no reason to grow complacent, however. This is the time to contact members of the House, particularly those who serve on the Judiciary Committee, to urge them to prevent this bill from making it to the House floor.

If those of us who value our 2nd Amendment rights can prevent this bill from seeing the light of day before the full House, then we will have scored a major victory for Constitutional rights.

One more thing about errors/corrections. We were fortunate enough today to catch our own error. There are times when things slip by us totally, however. If factual errors (as opposed to opinion) are found on The Liberty Sphere, be sure to alert us, and we will check it out and correct it if necessary. Simply leave a message in the comment section of the particular post in question.

Thank-you for your help. We deeply value our readers.

Sincerely,
D. Martyn Lloyd-Morgan
The Liberty Sphere

Sunday, March 04, 2007

The Liberty Sphere Welcomes Melanie Phillips

Washington, DC (TLS). The Liberty Sphere welcomes Melanie Phillips to our list of preferred links. You will find the link to her articles, designated as 'Melanie Phillips in the U.K.', in the left-column of The Liberty Sphere in our 'Links' section.

Writing from London, Phillips is a powerful voice for liberty in the midst of the Jihad across the Atlantic. Her poignant, crisply-written articles have become some of our favorites here at The Liberty Sphere, and we wanted our readers to have the added option of considering the perspective of someone in Great Britain who unashamedly stands for the freedoms that traditionally Americans and the Brits have held in common.

Consistently an enlightening and delightful read, Melanie Phillips provides a needed perspective in the trans-Atlantic alliance between the U.S. and the U.K.

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

LIBERTY ALERT! Gun Owners Target ATF

Washington, DC (TLS). This is a special Liberty Alert. Gun Owners of America has issued a special alert concerning the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Under the watch of U.S. Attorney-General Alberto Gonzalez, the 'BATFE' has had a haphazard and arbitrary manner of setting federal policy, often at the expense of gun manufacturers and gun owners.

For example, the Congressional Research Service found in 2005 that BATFE has no written guidelines for determining what is a firearm. Lacking in any clear definition to provide guidance, the agency has implemented arbitrary and often contradictory rules. The result has been decisions that negate one another, leading to confusion on the part of manufacturers who have suffered through confiscation of their products which had been previously determined to be legal.

Thus, Gun Owners of America has issued its alert for its members to urge President George W. Bush to reign in the Bureau.

Read the entire story of the dubious practices of the BATFE, phone numbers and contact information, and a sample letter to send to President Bush here:
http://www.gunowners.org/a022207.htm

Monday, February 26, 2007

Top O' The Morning! Monday, Feb. 26, 2007

Washington, DC (TLS). And a hearty 'top o' the morning' to ya! I hope you have a great Monday.

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE FOLLOWING LIBERTY SPHERE STORIES AND COMMENTARY!

**'The Lieberman Equation'--why Senator Joe Lieberman is THE power-broker in the Senate, either as a Democrat OR Republican!

**'Democrats to Expand "Hate Crimes" Legislation'--why the notion of 'hate crimes' is a bad idea.

**'America's Ever-Lasting Threat'--an eye-opening piece by Kyle Dabruzzi detailing the nature of the threat America faces in the War on Terror.

Monday, February 12, 2007

Top Stories For Monday, Feb. 12, 2007

Washington, DC (TLS). Good morning! A tip of the hat to all our readers on this Monday morning!

SCROLL DOWN TO READ THE FOLLOWING STORIES AND COMMENTARY!

Here are The Liberty Sphere's top stories and commentary for today:

**'Keep Your Guns Handy!' We will need our firearms as startling info comes our way about impending urban warfare WITHIN U.S. CITIES!

**'Cuba Revisited'--How the U.S. Government is using commercial TV stations in Florida to send anti-Communist programming to Cuba...and info on the underground black market for satellite dishes in Cuba!

**Ellen Goodman is an Idiot!'--With her latest column in which she compares man-made global warming skeptics to Holocaust deniers, Goodman lost ALL of her credibility.

As always, The Liberty Sphere will post updated information as circumstances warrant.