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Home Archives for General

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

Donate to Hurricane Relief: Operation Renewed Hope

Are you a Christian and still looking to donate to a good organization that is working with the relief efforts in the Gulf Coast region? Try Operation Renewed Hope. Why Operation Renewed Hope? Here are some reasons: ORH has conducted remote jungle medical clinics since 1993, helping thousands who have very limited, or no access to medical care. We are one of the few agencies who work in these remote locations. Due to our very low budgets and tremendous efficiency, we can remain in areas of need for long periods of time when other, higher budget agencies have pulled out. ORH does not use project donations for salaries, office expenses or overhead costs. Each individual working with the organization raises his own salary money and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, General

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

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...]

Filed Under: Commemorative, General, My Life

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

RMA to Meet with Gov. Owens Again

Tomorrow is Colorado Governor Bill Owens' eighth and final State of the State Address. The legislative session has once again kicked off under Denver's golden dome, and Owens is going to do what he can to set the agenda with a Democratic majority in the legislature. Mark Salley, Deputy Secretary for the Governor's Office, has invited members of the Rocky Mountain Alliance to sit down and chat with the Governor after his big speech tomorrow. A big thanks to Gov. Owens and to Mark for setting up this meeting for the second straight year. Please check back tomorrow for a report. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

A Terrific Idea

After a week-long trip to Alaska (simply awesome), the post-vacation catchup, and some bandwidth issues, I'm finally back blogging. (Because of the bandwidth issues, I'll be limiting the number of vacation pics I post here.) But the main reason I'm blogging right now is to encourage readers to send a letter to our dear friend and fellow blogger Jim, who recently passed through a serious life-threatening challenge and is now facing the grim reality of a long and difficult recovery. Keep him in your prayers, and check out Clay's site for more information and where you can send Jim a card or a letter. What a ministry of encouragement that would be! … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, General, My Life

2/7/2026 By Ben 12 Comments

Is Durbin’s “Apology” Enough?

A few days ago I contacted Senator Ken Salazar's office to get a statement on Senator Dick Durbin's outrageous remarks. This morning I received the following message in my inbox: Thank you for contacting me regarding your concerns about comments attributed to Senator Durbin. I know Senator Durbin, and I know that he has only the deepest respect for our troops and their families. He did not -- and would not -- intend to criticize our troops. Nonetheless, to his credit, Senator Durbin recognized that he chose his words poorly and that he offended many people -- like yourself -- in using the words that he did. As a result, on June 21, Senator Durbin publicly apologized for his remarks on the floor of the United States Senate. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, General, National Politics, World Events

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

It’s Just “An Investment in the State”

The Tax Increase Crew has begun ratcheting up their campaign with guilt and scare tactics to kick off the Labor Day weekend. As reported by the Rocky Mountain News, the state announces that it has an overrun of revenues under the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR), albeit a smaller amount than projected a few months ago. "This is evidence that the economy is improving, but we still have less revenues than we did in 2001," said Henry Sobanet, director of Colorado's Office of State Planning and Budget. Next year, taxpayers will receive $15 each in TABOR refunds, an amount that figures to rise in successive years. Or you can vote for Referendum C and give more money for the next 5 years - and beyond - to state government. Go back and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

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...]

Filed Under: General, My Life, Sports and Leisure

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Outrage & Moral Indignation: An Alito Roundup

Re the Judge Alito confirmation hearings, I can't say it much better than Paul Zummo at ConfirmThem: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, National Politics

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

Praise for Coffman, Endorsement for Beauprez

Yesterday, a crowd of friends and supporters gathered in Littleton for a farewell send-off to Major Mike Coffman, our truly honorable State Treasurer who has temporarily resigned his post to spend a tour of duty in Iraq with the United States Marine Corps. The ceremony was simple but poignant, with former State Senate President John Andrews leading the invocation, an older Army veteran leading the Pledge of Allegiance (while he stood surrounded by all the veterans in attendance), and Miss Colorado 2004 Laura Tobey singing a beautiful rendition of our national anthem. Former Ambassador Sam Zakhem gave Mike Coffman high praise, comparing him to a modern day Nathan Hale ("I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country.") … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, National Politics

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

Iran in a New Light

Only a couple days after being "elected" as the new President of Iran, hard-liner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stops the charade and announces that his country plans to reconstitute its nuclear program. The reliable and knowledgeable Amir Taheri answers the question of whether the rest of us (especially, the West) should be worried by this development: Should the outside world be frightened? Not necessarily. Paradoxically, the clarity created by this election may prove useful. Khatami went around the world speaking about Hegel and Nietzsche to ruling elites and creating the illusion that the Islamic Republic was part of the global system symbolised by the World Trade Organisation, the Davos forum, and the Western non-governmental organisations … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, World Events

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Inside

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    The Rise & Fall of Al Gansee
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About Me

Ben DeGrow
Grateful and growing Christian, devoted husband and father of 3, public policy analyst, returned to Michigan by way of Colorado, conservative writer, lifelong learner, Detroit Tigers fan.

Recent Posts

  • AI-Enhanced Cyberbullying: The Dark Side of Teen Innovation
  • My Baker’s Dozen of Top 2023 Reads
  • Common Learning Disabilities in Children
  • Tips to Teach Kids to Set and Achieve Goals
  • The Christmas Music Countdown You’ve Been Looking For: 2022 Edition

Colorado News

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National News and Politics

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Blogs Extraordinaire

  • American Thinker
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  • Instapundit
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Completing the Blogroll

  • Alarming News
  • Black Five
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Christian Commentary et al.

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Conservative and GOP Sites

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Other Sites

  • Technorati
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Rocky Mountain Alliance 2.0

  • Reclaim the Blue
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  • View from a Height

To Contact Me:
bendegrow-at-gmail.com

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