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Saturday, June 08, 2013

A new posting over at the ministry site

Hi. Over at the ministry site today I have a brief message and scripture that I hope are encouraging to you, along with TWO wonderful videos that I hope you will enjoy.

Do yourself a favor and go read and watch. Really.

I think you will be greatly encouraged in these troublesome times in which we live.

Access the new posting here: Martin Christian Ministries.

Thank you, and God bless!

Friday, June 07, 2013

Reasonable people know this is over the top

Explosive new revelations concerning Obama administration spying on citizens were revealed today. The disclosures indicate that the extent of monitoring of citizens who are not even suspected of crimes rises to the level of extreme alarm, and reasonable people know that this is over the top.

Regarding the monitoring of phone calls it was revealed that the Obama administration had tracked far more than just those phone calls that had potential ties to terrorists, but the phone calls of over 100 million American citizens.

Is the administration claiming, thus, that 100 million people are maintaining contact with terrorists overseas? If one believes the administration's explanation of the program, one would have to accept the premise that fully one third of the American population is involved in some way with overseas terrorists.

Click here to continue reading at Anthony G. Martin's National Conservative Examiner.

Thursday, June 06, 2013

Bloggers under attack in latest display of tyranny

Bloggers have come under attack as the public has been bombarded with a deluge of news stories concerning the targeting of the news media by the Obama administration. Most Constitutional watchdogs believe that the First Amendment is under direct assault.

The news of the administration's vendetta against the news media surfaced when it was disclosed that the AP had been secretly targeted, its phone lines monitored and its reporters tracked...

Click here to continue reading at Anthony G. Martin's National Conservative Examiner.

The Gun Rights and Liberty News Roundup for 6/6/2013


Stand Up America cringes over the latest revelations of government spying on American citizens, particularly when viewed within the context of other disturbing information we have discovered of late.

Mike Vanderboegh reports that Magpul, the manufacturer of gun magazines, has sold out of its limited-edition product in an attempt to fund a gun control lawsuit in Colorado.

Standing By has a must-read on the many broken promises inherent to Obamacare.

David Codrea provides the scoop on the lawsuit against the federal government being brought by an ATF whistleblower who blew the lid on the Fast and Furious scandal.

Tam tells it like it is about the latest spying scandal and then reams libertarian types who were so angry at George W. Bush that they decided they would support a complete scumbag like Obama. Sorry, but anyone who did that is no libertarian!

Kurt Hofmann says that since the anti-gun bigots don't currently have a mass shooting on which to do a gun control blood dance, they are now blaming the NRA for the recent rash of attempted poisonings!

Way Up North posts a fitting remembrance of D-Day the anniversary of which is today.

WRSA points to an intentional act of destruction perpetrated by the statists who seem emboldened by how much the Fuhrer gets away with.

Traction Control reports that the House has voted to place limits on DHS ammo purchases.

Nicki has yet another example of the numbskullery of the public school system.

Gateway Pundit posts a video of Congressman Trey Gowdy's dressing down of an IRS official today, which Twitchy called a "boom-worthy" performance. Gowdy was so passionate about his words that he fought back the tears.

From Every Blade of Grass: "Gun Control for Dummies."

Days of our Trailers provides a telling video on the abject ignorance of the gun control crowd. Watch this as someone tries to debate one of these imbeciles.

Pamela Geller reports that the bikini portion of the Miss World pageant has been nixed due to the protests of Muslims. Question: is there any other religion in the world that is accommodated as thoroughly and consistently as Islam? And more importantly, WHY???

Around O-Town says that terrorists are learning how to make explosives on TV.

Alphecca notes that many of the county sheriffs who are defying new gun control laws are not just in the state of Colorado. Good!

Roberta X has a story about "stupid gun tricks."

1 With a Bullet says he is in the process of bringing another person over to our side to join the ranks of gun enthusiasts.

A Geek with Guns comments on a writer's assessment as to why there are no libertarian countries in the world. Good reading.

Wednesday, June 05, 2013

Music of the spheres

There is an old hymn of the church that mentions the phenomenon known as "the music of the spheres." The reference goes back to an era when man's knowledge of the universe had advanced beyond that of an earth-centric world where the planet was flat, to a new understanding that placed the sun in the center of our solar system, with spherical planets revolving around it.

Many theologians at first condemned this new understanding of the universe as contrary to Biblical teaching. But others embraced the new understanding as an outgrowth of the belief that God's ways are "not our ways" and are far beyond our ability to fully grasp.

These theologians heartily accepted the new system of science which portrayed a universe that was made up of spheres moving around each other in harmony. It was even thought that this movement, and spinning of the earth, and it, in turn, spinning around other spheres created a heavenly, divine music, which became known as "the music of the spheres."

And, in fact, astronomers confirmed at one point as their understanding of the universe grew, that there is, indeed, a music that is made by the spin. It is more like a humming sound, a low pitched buzz, or hum, that is created by the movement of the planets and other objects in space.

God, thus, is the first composer, the first maestro, if you will, who created a system where music is made.

One piece of music seems to capture at least part of what I am talking about here. In it, I can seem to hear the "music of the spheres,' the divine sound made by a divine creation.

That piece of music is Gustav Holst's The Planets.

The piece is most remarkable due to Holst's interpretation of the music he hears when connected mystically to the sound of the planets. And the only one, in my opinion, who was worthy of a musician's interpretation of Holst was the late, great Eugene Ormandy of the Philadelphia Orchestra.

"The Planets," as all symphonies, is presented in various movements, and such is the case with this one. Thus, due to time constraints, I will offer only one of the group, the one titled, "Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity."

But first, a word about Ormandy.

If ever there were a musical genius, look no further than this Hungarian born violinist who made his mark as famed conductor of what was considered at the time as the best symphony orchestra in the world.

Ormandy began playing the violin at age three. By the age of six he could hear and identify complete symphonies with all of their harmonies and the various parts the instruments played. And by age seven he was already giving concerts as a violinist, including being invited to play for the royal family of Hungary. And by the age of 14 he had graduated from the university and began to establish himself as a virtuoso violinist who played all over Europe.

After coming to America, Ormandy began playing violin for various orchestras, and there are still recordings available to this day of a very young Eugene Ormandy being the featured violinist on some of the major classical recordings of the time.

But at one point he wrote to his father back in Hungary that although he enjoyed playing the violin he was always strapped for money. He stated that he could make much more money as a conductor, and that would be his next goal.

In Ormandy's case being at the right place at the right time was key. His violin work had earned him the attention of some very important people in classical music, and when he let it be known he was interested in conducting, several big names were willing to take a chance on him when the opportunity presented itself.

When Arturo Toscanini of the Philadelphia Orchestra became ill, he tapped Ormandy to conduct in his place at a scheduled concert. Ormandy was an immediate sensation. It just so happened that the Minnesota Symphony needed a permanent conductor, and, when word spread of Ormandy's triumph in Philly, he was immediately offered the job. Ormandy would stay with the Minnesota Symphony until 1936, when the famed Leopold Stokowski, who was then conductor for the Philadelphia Orchestra, offered him a job as assistant conductor.

Ormandy jumped at the chance to work with Stokowski. And later, when Stokowski fell ill and was no longer able to fulfill his duties, Ormandy was offered the position as sole musical director and conductor for the Philly Orchestra.

That was in 1938. For the next 44 years Ormandy would lead the Philadelphia Orchestra to become known as perhaps the best in the world, certainly the most recognized and awarded symphony of that era.

It was Ormandy who developed what became known as "the Philadelphia sound." That sound was based upon Ormandy's belief that a good orchestra should strive for balance above all, with an emphasis on strings and woodwinds. This gave the Philly Orchestra a velvety, romantic sound that was a distinct departure from what most orchestras were doing at the time in emphasizing brass instruments and its accompanying shrill tones.

Ormandy's manner of interpreting pieces of music based upon his beliefs about what an orchestra should sound like was a big hit with music lovers who bought the orchestra's works by the millions, but it left him vulnerable to the harshly critical voices of the old guard in music schools, and even among some of his peers.

Some of the music professors did not believe Ormandy's sound was suitable for the great classics such as Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, or Hayden. The private joke that students told around and about was that these "self appointed guardians of the old guard" always felt that they were obligated to get in a dig or two at Ormandy, or else they would have failed their students in some way.

Others, such as Igor Stravinsky, insulted Ormandy openly by stating that his interpretations "lacked imagination." Others said that Ormandy was lacking in passion and emotion as he led the orchestra. One in particular, a German musician, was quite open about his disdain for Ormandy, and the feeling was mutual. Ormandy once described him as "that little Nazi" when he had been particularly harsh in his criticism.

But, truth be told, egos are huge in music. And Ormandy was a perfect target because he was the one getting the most attention, and money. Further, the criticism of the old guard came across as nothing more than sour grapes. Ormandy had his defenders among some in the old guard who would quickly rush in to counter the criticism, more often than not by pointing out to listeners that when listening to Ormandy's interpretation of the great classics such as Bach, how could anyone with a discerning ear claim that this was not the absolute best rendition of the piece to date?

Personally, for my money I would not go out and buy a CD set of classical music unless it had either "Ormandy" or "Philadelphia Orchestra" on it. Why take a chance on something that may be below par when you can get the best?

As for Ormandy's manner of conducting, he was not into the theatrics and antics for which orchestra conductors became known with the advent of people like Leonard Bernstein of the New York Philharmonic. While Bernstein had a unique style that suited his personality, unfortunately many younger conductors today act as if he is THE role model who must be emulated whether it suits their personality or not.

Ormandy, on the other hand, was ultimately dignified. He did not wish to do anything on stage that would cheapen the experience of the music or to take one's focus off of the sound. He could seem detached, but a mere cursory look into his eyes as he led the orchestra told the real story. Here was a man who was ultimately passionate about the music. You could see it in his expressions. He could get a bit dramatic when the music called for it, but his ultimate desire was to focus the listener on the composer's piece...and, the wonderful orchestra playing it.

Ormandy's genius is only confirmed by the fact that he is a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Kennedy Center Honor for Lifetime Achievement, the invitation to bring the Philadelphia Orchestra to various venues around the world at at time when such a thing simply was not done.

It is also highly significant that Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra were the very first conductor/orchestra to be invited to do an extended performance tour throughout Communist China.

The piece below is a delightful number from Holst's The Planets. The focus is on jollity, and the music is befitting the subject matter. Note the well-oiled machine Ormandy had developed. Everything was in balance, except for one point, when, in the conductor's view, the brass section had become too loud -- a no no for Ormandy. You will see at that point that Ormandy discretely lifts up his finger to his mouth and forms the word "shhhh" as the signal that the trumpets needed to quiet down so as not to overshadow the other instruments.

Enjoy....this is as good as it gets.

Arrogance on display: Defiant Obama regime fights back

Critics have often described the Obama administration as the most arrogant administration in American history as the entire executive branch of government has seemingly adopted one of Barack Obama's hallmark traits -- unbridled arrogance.

Such arrogance was on display today with the news of two key appointments that defiantly fly in the face of Obama critics. Veteran Democratic strategist and Bill Clinton operative James Carville referred to the appointments as "in your face."

Click here to continue reading at Anthony G. Martin's National Conservative Examiner.

Tuesday, June 04, 2013

In remembrance: Tiananmen Square massacre by ChiComs

Today is the 24th anniversary of the courageous move by liberty-driven students and other dissidents to defy the Communist government of China, and the subsequent massacre of the protesters by the ChiComs.

The massacre served as a dreadful wake up call to those who believed that reforms in China, including the gradual shift to a more capitalistic economy, had served to soften the mission and resolve of the Communist government. The ChiComs were still every bit as committed to limiting personal freedom and liberty as ever. And if one dared defy them, they would come after you full force. And they would kill you in cold blood if necessary.

It is still forbidden for citizens in China to speak ill of their government. And is also illegal to speak of Tiananmen Square, and all references to the massacre on the Internet are still blocked by the Chinese government.

But patriots never forget tyranny and the murders that always accompany it. The Chinese government is a bunch of murdering bastards, period. And they are evil, pure evil, every bit as much as the Communists of the old Soviet Union.

To the degree that our own government in the United States gradually resembles China's disdain of individual liberty and ultimate personal freedom, then it, too, is evil.

The 4th shoe drops: Email scandal rocks administration

Weeks ago sources inside the government reported to The Examiner that the Obama administration was on the brink of being rocked by yet another scandal.

Still reeling from Benghazi, the IRS scandal, and the scandal involving the illegal tracking of the news media, including the Associated Press (AP), the administration, said informants, would be forced to contend with yet another example of widespread corruption that has come to be a symbol of the manner in which the administration operates. This was referred to as "the fourth shoe," meaning the fourth scandal that has shaken the administration in recent months along with the earlier three, Benghazi, the IRS, and the news media.

That "fourth shoe" has now dropped, according to a special report issue today by, ironically, the AP -- the very organization that was first targeted by the administration in its vendetta against the news media.

Click here to continue reading at Anthony G. Martin's National Conservative Examiner.

Monday, June 03, 2013

The Gun Rights and Liberty News Roundup for 6/3/2013


Kurt Hofmann declares that "now it's our turn for 'a good first step' regarding gun laws."

Mike Vanderboegh provides the video to his Temple, Texas Oathkeepers speech over the weekend.

WRSA highlights another aspect of self-defense and survival.

The War on Guns posts a "sign of the times."

Way Up North has some news from the Alaska legislature, particularly on the subject of the Second Amendment.

Michelle Malkin's latest syndicated column delves into the tracking of children by the public schools using iris scans.

Tam provides a report from the big gun show in Louisville and then from the Indy 1500 show.

Nicki calls our attention to what is being taught in American universities these days.

Brigid has a report from the Indianapolis Gun and Knife Show.

Golden Geese News says that "these people are full of crap and should be silenced." Take a look.

Days of our Trailers asks, "Why are Anti-Gun Activists so Violent and Hypocritical?"

Pamela Geller points to a must-read on Obama's all-out war on freedom.

Around O-Town reports that the Brits now want their handguns back. I always wondered how long that would take.

Stand Up America has the "smoking gun" interviews on the IRS scandal.

Gateway Pundit provides breaking news on the UN Gun Treaty the Obama administration will sign this week, which will likely create a national gun registry. Don't say we didn't tell you so.

Church group to sever ties with Boy Scouts over homosexuality

The largest Protestant denomination in the United States has announced that it will pass a resolution at its annual meeting this year in Houston urging that its churches sever ties with the Boy Scouts of America over the organization's recent decision to allow openly homosexual boys to join.

Many observers note that such a sharp departure from traditional Christian teaching is an outgrowth of the current push of a progressive government to force acceptance of homosexuality in all sectors of human life, even changing the definition of marriage to accommodate homosexuals.

Click here to continue reading at Anthony G. Martin's National Conservative Examiner.

Sunday, June 02, 2013

Eric Holder to be indicted?

Several news outlets are reporting today that sources within the White House are privately calling for the ouster of Attorney General Eric Holder. At the same time, conservatives in Congress and others such as Judge Jeanine Pirro of Fox News, have called for Holder to be indicted on criminal charges.

While the sources at the White House stopped short of calling for the indictment of Holder, the fact that they now believe he should resign or be forcibly removed from office is indicative of a growing sense of foreboding in the Obama administration concerning a perfect storm of scandals that have rocked the administration within the last few months, not the least of which is the Justice Department's vendetta against journalists who reported basic facts about the problems besetting Barack Obama.

Click here to continue reading at Anthony G. Martin's National Conservative Examiner.