Some people might chalk off my decision to post this as the result of repressed bourgeois greed and envy, or as a sign I've joined the Left-wing class warfare crusade, but I assure you it's neither. As an ardent supporter of the benefits of a free-exchange capitalist system, I am content to know that companies manufacture expensive automobiles and that consumers are willing and able to buy them. Yet there is so much that I despise about the televised ad campaigns depicting youthful upper middle-class people surprising their loved ones with a red bow-topped luxury car in the driveway on Christmas morn. Every year, my angst grows toward these commercials. And today the Washington Times reports how real people participate in the … [Read more...]
Drawing the Lines on Christmas
Cal Thomas is the closest to a modern-day, old-style Christian prophet that can be found anywhere in American news pages. His recent column on the kerfuffle over public celebrations of the Christmas holiday is a must-read for every believer. While you don't have to agree with every conclusion, he makes an excellent point: The effort by some cable TV hosts and ministers to force commercial establishments into wishing everyone a "Merry Christmas" might be more objectionable to the One who is the reason for the season than the "Happy Holidays" mantra required by some store managers. I have never understood why so many Christians feel the need to see and hear "Merry Christmas" proclaimed to them at stores by people who may not believe … [Read more...]
Detroit Lions Fans: Mad as Heck
It's finally come to this: an organized fan protest of the Detroit Lions and general manager Matt Millen. As a native of southeastern Michigan, I can sympathize with their plight. While there certainly are much worthier causes to march for - if marching is in your blood - you know the Lions franchise has lingered in the depths for too long. When you read this account from the Detroit Free Press, however, you realize just how pathetic an attempt the fan protest was. All you can say is... wow. It's embarrassing to think that Super Bowl XL comes to Ford Field in seven weeks. One might suggest the timing could hardly be worse. … [Read more...]
2nd Annual Beethoven’s Birthday Blog
Following in the spirit of this day's post from last year, a happy 235th anniversary of the birthday of the great Ludwig van Beethoven. This year, consider one of the master's all-time great works, the bittersweet pinnacle of his composition career: the Ninth Symphony, and the theme of joy. It's a familiar tale: an aging Beethoven, ill and deaf, conducting the orchestra and chorus in the premiere of his Ninth Symphony, conducting even after they had ceased to perform, after they had reached the end of the stunning new work, after the audience had already begun to applaud, continuing to conduct until a singer turned him around so that he could see the thunderous cheers that were resounding throughout the hall. The image is deeply … [Read more...]
I Guess They’re Not Reading My Blog, Anyway
Ouch... sometimes it's hard to realize there is a whole other world out there. A new study from the National Assessment of Adult Literacy shows that 5 percent of 222 million American adults simply cannot read or write English. And of the remaining 211 million: Some 30 million adults have "below basic" skills in prose. Their ability is so limited that they may not be able to make sense of a simple pamphlet, for example. By comparison, 95 million adults, or 44 percent of the population, have intermediate prose skills, meaning they can do moderately challenging activities. An example would be consulting a reference book to determine which foods contain a certain vitamin. I'm guessing that most of my readers emanate from the ranks of … [Read more...]
Voices from Iraq
On a day like today, I think it best to let my handful of readers listen to what people are actually saying from Iraq - eyewitnesses to the election and other activities. So enjoy: For some perspective, start with Byron York's analysis of an Iraqi poll downplayed in the MSM. Bill Roggio observed the huge electoral turnout in the Sunni city of Barwana. A reporter from Fairbanks, Alaska, visits Iraq and has her illusions shattered. Mohammed of Iraq the Model reports through PajamasMedia that high turnout extended the election one hour. Stay tuned... … [Read more...]
Getting the Purple Finger
If ever you've been inclined to dip your right index finger in purple ink, then my friend, there is no time like the present. Don't forget that you can show your solidarity with the brave men and women building a peaceful, democratic government in Iraq as they go to the polls on December 15 for their first parliamentary elections. Check out the links below to find out more: Purple Finger For Freedom Bill Bennett's open letter to store owners and managers KNUS (710 AM) is gathering digital photos of purple fingers to send along to Iraq Free Republic posts a collection of pictures from this week's early voting in Iraq … [Read more...]
Arctic Temps Recede
Colorado did one of its best imitations of "Eskimo Summer" yesterday, leaving at least one blogger's brain cells and fingers at a sub-optimal temperature for filing a meaningful post. As the mercury slowly rises today and tomorrow back to healthier daytime temps and less bitterly cold nighttime lows, expect Mount Virtus to resume regular blogging activities. So much to write about, so little time.... Meanwhile, if you know a Colorado public school teacher, please send them to independentmindedteacher.org, with valuable information on union political refunds, different membership organizations, and much more. … [Read more...]
You Can’t Make Up This Stuff
"Men Warm Globe, Women Feel the Heat, Group Claims": The debate over climate change evolved into a battle of the sexes Monday at the 11th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference in Montreal. The spokesman for a feminist-based environmental group accused men of being the biggest contributors to human-caused "global warming" and lamented that women are bearing the brunt of the negative climate consequences created by men. "Women and men are differently affected by climate change and they contribute differently to climate change," said Ulrike Rohr, director of the German-based group called "Genanet-Focal point gender, Environment, Sustainability." I think we married men need to complain less about those things we do get … [Read more...]
The Heights of Blogging
The RMA's own Joshua Sharf has developed into a reliable source for the local mainstream media on issues related to blogging. Kudos to the Denver Post for acknowledging the credibility and value of this burgeoning alternative media - specifically, Jim Hughes' article today on PirateBallerina's persistent pressure on Ward Churchill and the University of Colorado. Most significant in the story is the contrast between an academic's warped, myopic view (notably from a professor of journalism) and a blogger's insightful comments from a clear and lofty perspective. First: Johansen, who teaches journalism, said in an e-mail that Paine's gotchas are baseless and that he walked away from the committee because of what he saw as a nasty media … [Read more...]
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