Mount Virtus

"Happy to come back to Michigan, but I miss the mountains!"

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Home Archives for General

2/7/2026 By Ben 2 Comments

What I’m Thankful For #7: The Lovely Mrs. Virtus

This is one in a series of daily posts I conceived of writing many weeks ago while the election still raged on, as I looked for something to write about of more lasting value. The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving seemed perfectly appropriate for it. Just in case you wondered, the topics introduced are not necessarily in any particular order. I hope the series is of some small encouragement to you, even as my site traffic takes a dive. I have the historian's uncanny memory for dates. In an unusual role reversal, I was the one who pointed out to my wife the other day that today (November 13) is the 10th anniversary of when this poor schlep finally got the nerve to ask and our committed dating relationship began. Engagement and marriage … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, General, My Life Tagged With: anniversary, arranged, best friend, blessed, blessed match, complement, conscience, dates, decade, engagement, fool, genuine, gifts, God, God's grace, help-meet, historian, honest, immaturity, laughs, man, marriage, Mrs. Virtus, not funny, patient, praising, prayer partner, role reversal, sensitivities, spiritual growth, strengths, tenderhearted, thankfulness, thoughtful, thrifty, uncanny memory, unique, warm, weaknesses, wife

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Coming Very Soon: RMA Takes to the Blog Talk Radio Airwaves

Coming off the success of his own online weekly show, Joshua Sharf has taken the lead in setting up a Rocky Mountain Alliance show on Blog Talk Radio. The inaugural edition is set for next Tuesday, November 18, at 9 PM local Mountain time. Hosts will include a handful of RMA members (not confirmed whether I will be among them for the first edition). Guest details also soon forthcoming. The show promises to feature lighthearted and penetrating discussion of the week's events in national and Colorado politics. Hope you'll join us! … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, Colorado Politics, General, My Life, National Politics Tagged With: Blog Talk Radio, details, discussion, inaugural edition, Joshua Sharf, Rocky Mountain Alliance, weekly show

2/7/2026 By Ben 2 Comments

Who is the “Least Favorite” Person on the Right? And Whom Did I Vote For?

Breaking: The annual center-right blogger poll of "Least Favorite People on the Right" - brought to you by John Hawkins at Right Wing News - has been released. Each of the 46 center-right bloggers who participated submitted an unranked list of 12 nominees. The top 25 names - from "McCain staffers" to John McCain - have been released as part of the poll. For the first time I was a participant in the poll. Of the 12 names I suggested, 11 appear in the top 25. Personally, I don't consider a few of the other names to be "on the Right" - a loose designation, to be sure, and of necessity. Anyway, thought you may find the results interesting. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, General, National Politics Tagged With: bloggers, John Hawkins, John McCain, Least Favorite People, McCain staffers, poll, Right Wing News, unranked list

2/7/2026 By Ben 1 Comment

Get Out and Vote, Colorado GOP

If you haven't voted yet and still have a question about any of Colorado's statewide ballot measures, please check out my voter guide. Not sure what to do about judges? This is the best set of suggestions I've seen (and when in doubt, vote No). But whatever you do, please get out and vote! AN URGENT MESSAGE TO ALL COLORADO REPUBLICAN VOTERS From the Colorado Coalition of Conservative Bloggers As you know, Colorado has been labeled a "swing" state in this year's elections, and will be one of the states that will determine the direction of our nation for the next four or eight years. Historically, the voters in Colorado elected Republican candidates, largely because of the higher numbers of registered Republican voters. This Republican … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, My Life, National Politics Tagged With: Colorado, conservative bloggers, judges, Republican voters, statewide ballot, voter guide

2/7/2026 By Ben 3 Comments

Survivor Corps Operation Survivor: A Worthwhile Cause to Consider

In honor of Veterans Day being this week, I'd like to bring your attention to a worthwhile private program that benefits our troops and veterans, especially those affected by some of the invisible wounds of combat. Please consider if you are able to help Survivor Corps' Operation Survivor:Survivor Corps launched Operation Survivor in 2008 to help American service members returning home from war. This program enables these brave men and women to overcome the debilitating effects of trauma and to reintegrate into their families and communities. You can read more about it here. God bless America! … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General Tagged With: American, combat, communities, families, invisible wounds, Operation Survivor, private program, service members, Survivor Corps, trauma, troops, veterans, Veterans' Day

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

An Election Day Prayer

For my fellow Christians:1 Timothy 2:1-4 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, General, My Life, National Politics Tagged With: Christians, Election Day, prayer

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Bad Bill of the Decade Nominee: The So-Called Employee Free Choice Act

With Barack Obama as President and a growing Senate Democratic majority that seems to tick up with each passing day, it looks like the union bosses may get their disastrous and poorly-named Employee Free Choice Act after all. Here is the latest video offering (compliments of the Employee Freedom Action Committee) to remind everyone what we very well could be in store for: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fiscal Policy, General, Labor, National Politics Tagged With: Barack Obama, creative, Democratic majority, Employee Free Choice Act, Employee Freedom Action Committee, President, Senate, union bosses, video, YouTube

2/7/2026 By Ben 2 Comments

What I’m Thankful For #2: Freedom of Worship

This is one in a series of daily posts I conceived of writing many weeks ago while the election still raged on, as I looked for something to write about of more lasting value. The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving seemed perfectly appropriate for it. Just in case you wondered, the topics introduced are not necessarily in any particular order. I hope the series is of some small encouragement to you, even as my site traffic takes a dive. Human beings are hard-wired to worship. What we choose to worship is a day-by-day, moment-by-moment decision. There's an ongoing battle in human hearts for whom or what will receive our worship. Ultimately, no human government or other authority can dictate or regulate this most fundamental form of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, Cultural Conservatism, General, My Life, National Politics Tagged With: Constitution, First Amendment, free exercise of religion, freedom of worship, religious liberties, thankful

2/7/2026 By Ben 2 Comments

What I’m Thankful For #8: A Liberal Arts College Education

This is one in a series of daily posts I conceived of writing many weeks ago while the election still raged on, as I looked for something to write about of more lasting value. The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving seemed perfectly appropriate for it. Just in case you wondered, the topics introduced are not necessarily in any particular order. I hope the series is of some small encouragement to you, even as my site traffic takes a dive. If my mission in life were to go forth and make as much money as possible, I'd have to be considered a fool and a failure by now (some think the same of me, anyway). One of my first missteps would have been choosing to be a history major at a small liberal arts college of somewhat unique renown. But I have … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Education, General, My Life Tagged With: answers, cafeteria, debates, discussions, dorms, dull, grateful, Hillsdale College, history major, humble, lectures, liberal arts education, life, lifelong learning, listless moments, mission, money, professors, questions, scholarships, thankfulness, the beautiful, the good, the true, thirst for knowledge

2/7/2026 By Ben Leave a Comment

Brandon Shaffer? Evie Hudak is the “Extraordinarily Partisan” Candidate

Laughable quote of the day from Democrat state senator Brandon Shaffer, as reported in Politicker:In state Senate District 19, Shaffer gave Democrat Evie Hudak the edge over Republican Libby Szabo, saying Szabo is "extraordinarily partisan." "Eventually, there's enough of a base there, enough unaffiliated voters who are looking for more of a collaborative approach to getting things done across party lines, that they'll come home to Evie," Shaffer said. More of a collaborative approach from Evie Hudak? The Evie Hudak who publicly stated "I support the entire Democratic party platform"? I guess one would have to be "extraordinarily partisan" himself to think that represents a "collaborative approach". Yes, I'm still laughing. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General Tagged With: Brandon Shaffer, collaborative approach, Democrat, Democratic Party platform, Evie Hudak, extraordinarily partisan, laughable, Libby Szabo, party lines, questionable truth value, Republican, state senator, truth, unaffiliated voters, whopper

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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
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  • Tips to Teach Kids to Set and Achieve Goals
  • The Christmas Music Countdown You’ve Been Looking For: 2022 Edition

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To Contact Me:
bendegrow-at-gmail.com

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