It's not often we get to wish one another Happy Leap Day - the only other time for this blog was in the very early days of its existence. So let's celebrate the opportunity to catch our calendars up to the earth's solar revolution schedule, and enjoy the irony of what this day means. One of my favorite February 29 memories comes from my freshman year in college, walking to the buildings on "the Hill" and seeing homemade signs posted urging us to wish fellow student Sam a happy 5th birthday. No, Sam - whom I later got to know and appreciate for his good nature and good humor, not to mention his artistic and literary gifts - wasn't some sort of amazing prodigy. He was what Wikipedia informs me is called a "leapling." Another "leapling" is … [Read more...]
My 90-Year-Old Great Aunt: The “Cool” Florida Swimming Role Model
Featured on the United States Masters Swimming website:Three 90-year-old swimmers -- Kay Schimpf (left), with 1,525 yards, Frances Cichanski (center), with 1,700 yards, and Brud Cleaveland (right), with 1,700 yards, of the Florida Mavericks, completed the popular January postal event. They then joined teammates June Reynolds, 86, Cliff Eastwood, 86, and Charles Edwards, 88, to form a men's, a women's, and a mixed relay - all in the 85+ age group! Margie Hutinger of the Mavericks reports, "They are a special group of swimmers, as they showed a lot of spunk to do their swims, in spite of the adversities they had to overcome. They are cool role models for Masters swimming." [emphasis mine] That's my great aunt Frankie, my grandpa's "baby' … [Read more...]
Pitchers, Catchers Report: Here Comes an Amazing Tigers Season
Baseball is right around the corner. This morning, spring training begins for Detroit Tigers pitchers and catchers. In all my life, I've never looked forward to a season with such anticipation. After a couple spectacular offseason maneuvers, the Tigers sport an absolutely fearsome lineup and a starting rotation that will be the envy of most of Major League Baseball. Don't believe me? How about ESPN's Jayson Stark?Beware of Tigers: How many runs will the 2008 Tigers score, anyway? A thousand? Two thousand? More than the rest of their division combined? That will be one question we'll explore this spring, now that Miguel Cabrera and Edgar Renteria have pulled into Motown. But there's just enough uncertainty about issues like (A) Joel … [Read more...]
School Choice for Kids Website
I have been remiss in not blogging about this sooner, but many of my readers probably aren't aware of an innovative new website created by the Independence Institute (full disclosure: where I work), a website created and maintained in part by a lot of intensive labor from my own Mrs. Virtus. If you are a parent of school-age children in Colorado, nor if you care at all about education reform, please pay attention. You can watch this 28-minute video recently aired on Colorado public television to learn more about the School Choice for Kids website (and/or read about some of the site's features below): Add to My Profile | More Videos The School Choice for Kids site contains significant information about every public school in … [Read more...]
My Debut as Radio Show Host
For my devoted fans, I make my radio host debut tomorrow morning: that's Wednesday, January 9, from 9 AM to 11 AM, as I guest host the Amy Oliver show on News Talk 1310 KFKA in northern Colorado. You can listen online here. Topics will include education reform at Bruce Randolph School, government employee unions, and the New Hampshire presidential primary. There will no doubt be plenty to talk about, so hope you can listen in. Of course, some of you are thinking: Yikes, they're giving the mike to him? Has the world gone mad? Perhaps, but it should be a lot of fun. And a good way to flog the blog while I'm at it. … [Read more...]
Arvada West Republican Caucus: Romney Territory
From my own little corner of the Colorado caucus: I've just returned from a gathering of six Republican precincts held at Arvada West High School. The turnout of 141 shattered all records from recent memory, though probably was outdone by the Democrats who met on the other half of campus. If our six precincts are anywhere near representative of the state of Colorado, it's a lock for Romney. I confirmed this unofficial vote tally with the district captain: Mitt Romney - 94 (67%) Mike Huckabee - 20 (14%) John McCain - 12 (9%) Ron Paul - 10 (7%) Uncommitted - 5 (4%) In a night across the country that looks to be less than decisive for any candidate in either major party, Colorado should go into the Romney column. We'll wait for … [Read more...]
Mount Virtus Turns Four
I launched Mount Virtus four years ago today. On February 6, 2004, I was a complete neophyte in the world of blogging. Today, I am practically a blogging grandfather, but far from the bigtime. A lot has changed in four years. My how heady those early days were - ready to change the world, waiting for the 1,000th visitor, thrilled to receive a link or comment from anyone. (Someone noticed what I wrote?) Over the years, I've taken occasional breaks (never too long) from putting up posts here, and once or twice even contemplated letting it go. But here we are, two election cycles later, still hovered over my laptop, wearing my pajamas, typing away, trying to share a serious thought here and there. Okay, time to ditch the sentimentality … [Read more...]
We’ll Miss You, Rick
The Rocky Mountain News reports today what was first news to me a couple weeks ago: former Congressional candidate and rising GOP star Rick O'Donnell is moving to Texas to take on a new career challenge. I first met Rick shortly after I moved to Colorado, while he was working in Governor Owens' office. Though it's highly doubtful he remembers our meeting, some of his advice and suggestions were very helpful to me to help get my roots established and to make important contacts. I later had opportunity to interact with him in several education policy-related venues, and volunteered on his unsuccessful 2006 campaign for the 7th Congressional District. The timing of Rick's run for Congress was unfortunate, as he got swept up in a … [Read more...]
Readers Might Consider Poll on GOP Evangelicals Meaningless
I would be lying to say I didn't find poll results like this a little disconcerting: "More than half of GOP evangelicals might consider third-party candidate" if the Republicans nominate Giuliani for President. Except when you look at it closely, it doesn't really say that much. If you threw a party and ordered food based on the number who said they might consider attending, you very well could end up begging guests to take large portions of the leftovers home, or end up putting a lot in the freezer afterwards. Perhaps a more meaningful headline would have read: "Nearly half of GOP evangelicals won't even consider bolting the party, regardless of nominee." That's debatable, I suppose. Regardless, short of a real and specific … [Read more...]
Dedicated to My Grandpa, 100 Years from His Birth
Though it coincides with the 2007 election, I'm taking a break from politics to commemorate this special day. Today - November 6, 2007 - would be my grandfather's 100th birthday, were he still alive. A full century ago today, my Grandpa was welcomed to this earth. I didn't know him until he was over 70 years old, but only as time has passed have I come to appreciate him more fully. My Grandpa was a man with a tremendous work ethic and incredible moral character. He was honest to a fault. Faced with many difficulties, he showed remarkable loyalty and fidelity to his family. He saved his money, and used it wisely. Yet he was very generous, always willing to help his family or his neighbors. I never knew what to get him for Christmas. He … [Read more...]
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