Mount Virtus

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Mount Virtus?

Every day is seeking to rise to the challenge, 'neath the shadow of the mighty Rockies.

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Sometimes the choices are daunting or confusing, sometimes they're as clear as a Mile High view.

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If I had five more writers just like him, I think my job would be the easiest in journalism....

11/25/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Rocky Mountain Alliance Blog Talk Radio Returns Tonight at 9 PM

Tune in at 9 PM local Mountain Time this evening for the second edition of Rocky Mountain Alliance Blog Talk Radio, as Joshua, El Presidente, Night Twister, and I work to avoid the dreaded sophomore slump (also known as proving "you may be right, we (really) may be crazy.") Special guest is slated to be Red County's Michael Kerr from the great Pacific Northwest. Perhaps Michael can cite experiences from King County, Washington, to shed light on the current recount in Minnesota. Don't forget. If you miss the live broadcast of tonight's show, you can go back and download the podcast, or just use the handy widget on my sidebar to listen directly from Mount Virtus. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: blogging, General, My Life, National Politics Tagged With: Blog Talk Radio, crazy, download, El Presidente, Joshua Sharf, King County, Michael Kerr, Minnesota, Night Twister, Pacific Northwest, podcast, recount, Red County, Right, Rocky Mountain Alliance, sidebar, sophomore slump, special guest, widget

11/25/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

What I’m Thankful for #18: My Parents Decided to Keep Me

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. Two days to go until Thanksgiving, I would be remiss not to mention one of the things I'm most thankful for: my parents. It's true that you don't fully appreciate them and what they do until you have children of your own. My parents aren't perfect. I'd obviously be lying if I glossed over them as … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, Commemorative, General, My Life Tagged With: abridged version, annual tradition, appreciation, baked goods, blessings, brother, Buick Century, butterscotch bars, Chevy Astro, children, Christian, Christmas, church, dad, drivers license, easygoing, Family, few memories, football games, good discipline, good memories, grace, grateful things, hard-working, importance, keep, love, merciless teasing, molasses cookies, mom, oatmeal cakes, opportunities, outnumbered, parents, physical needs, Pontiac Silverdome, quiet, reserved, respect, sincere devotion, stable home enviroment, take for granted, thankfulness, Thanksgiving, things of God, well-deserved, wheel has turned, woodworking

11/24/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

Hmmm…Will Al Franken Find His Winning Recount Votes in Time?

Powerline has the latest update on the Norm Coleman-Al Franken recount saga. Not exactly the grand Florida melodrama of eight years ago. Nor does the angry, foul-mouthed comedian seem to have much reason to be less angry than usual. As I write this, Coleman's pre-recount lead of 206 now stands at 210 with 77 percent of the ballots totaled. According to Powerline, though, many of the untallied votes will come from Minneapolis precincts. Stuart Smalley Al Franken has to hope that some of the Twin Cities' deceased cousins in Chicago, Philadelphia, or King County, Washington, might have made a last-minute trek there to cast a vote for him from beyond the grave. ("I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and darn it, dead people like me.") Maybe a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, General, National Politics Tagged With: Al Franken, angry, ballots, Barack Obama, bone up, box, brilliant, Chicago, comedian, Congress, dead, December 2, Democrats, dumpster, firewall, foul-mouthed, Georgia, impulses, King County, Left, Minneapolis, Nate Silver, Norm Coleman, Philadelphia, Powerline, precincts, President-elect, reading material, recount, regression analysis, runoff election, Saxby Chambliss, timely, Twin Cities, votes

11/24/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

The Case for Colorado Spending Transparency: Jeffco Schools Edition

Quite simply, the people of Colorado deserve open, accountable, and transparent government. Not the kind where you as a taxpayer walk into the school district admin building, get a barrage of questions for asking for a copy of the district's credit card transactions, and have to pay $75 from your own pocket just to see how your money is being spent. That's Natalie Menten's story with Jeffco Public Schools, and you can hear it on an iVoices podcast: Shouldn't it be easier for citizens to access this information? Is creating a comprehensive, user-friendly, online searchable database asking too much of our governments? In these tumultuous economic times, placing the public eye on government spending should help ensure that money is … [Read more...]

Filed Under: clean government, Colorado Politics, Education, Fiscal Policy, General Tagged With: appropriate, citizens, Colorado, Colorado Spending Transparency, credit card transactions, cutting edge, government spending, governments, hard economic times, Independence Institute, information, iVoices podcast, Jeffco Public Schools, money, Natalie Menten, open government, pocket, prudent, public eye, questions, school district, searchable database, State Capitol, taxpayer, Transparency, user-friendly

11/24/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

What I’m Thankful for #17: The Grandest Music and Musical Genius

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 appreciation for many different kinds of music. Today I express my thanks particularly for the grand elevating pieces of music that lift the human heart upward, hopefully in expression of praise to the Creator: from Handel's Messiah to Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. The chorus at the end of the latter … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, General, My Life Tagged With: Beethoven, Boulder, brief moment, choir, Christmas music, Colorado, composer, Creator, crescendo, Hallelujah Chorus, Handel, heart, household, Messiah, Messiah Singalong, mind, music, musical genius, musical value, Ninth Symphony, Ode to Joy, orchestra, Scripture, soul, sounds of heaven, sublime moments, thankfulness, Thanksgiving, tradition

11/23/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

Do Social Cons and Libertarians Have More in Common Politically?

Lately I feel like I've been doing a lot of refereeing and discussion about the libertarian-social conservative debate. Along those lines, I believe my readers would gain a lot of insights from this American Thinker essay by libertarian Randall Hoven:Social conservatism is taking a beating lately. Not only did it lose in the recent elections, it is being blamed for the Republican losses. If only the religious right would get off the Republican Party's back, the GOP could win like it is supposed to again. I beg to differ. I'm anything but a social conservative. In nine presidential elections, I voted Libertarian in six. I am a hard core "limited government" conservative/libertarian; I want government out of my pocket-book and out of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, Colorado Politics, Cultural Conservatism, General, My Life, National Politics Tagged With: American Thinker, Bible, clearer perspective, common, conclusion, conservative, debate, essay, evidence, excellent points, GOP, humility, influence, insights, libertarian, limited government, love of liberty, political alliance, Randall Hoven, religion, Religious Right, Republican Party, social conservative, wilderness

11/23/2008 By Ben Leave a Comment

Susan Greene: Conservatives Need Not Apply for CSU Chancellor

Susan Greene at the Denver Post scoffs at the idea of retiring U.S. Senator Wayne Allard serving as president of Colorado State University:The National Education Association has graded him with an "F." And the American Association of University Women has rated his work with a "zero." "Sen. Allard is a kind and humble man. But his voting record on educational issues has not received passing grades," says former at-large University of Colorado Regent Jim Martin. "To appoint him would not be in the best interest of the institution or the state." Allard's environmental record — most notably, his doubts about humankind's part in climate change — also would besmirch the university. In other words, Greene is hanging a sign on the door … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, General Tagged With: advanced degree, American Association of University Women, argument, Bruce Benson, cocktail party denizens, Colorado State University, Denver Post, environmental record, federal government, gauche, Jim Martin, National Education Association, qualified, quality of education, regent, scoffs, skepticism, Susan Greene, Wayne Allard

11/23/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

What I’m Thankful for #16: Faith of the Martyrs and Divine Peace

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. We have no guarantee of domestic peace and harmony for all time. I am thankful for the freedom of worship, but recognize that it may not be a permanent condition for my own lifetime. American Christians have been remarkably blessed. The level of persecution faced by the most faithful here is small … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, General, My Life, World Events Tagged With: Apostle Paul, church history, domestic peace, early believers, faith, freedom of worship, harmony, highest price, martyrs, matchless peace, peace of God, persecution, Philippians, prayer, Roman coliseums, Stephen, Sudan, thankfulness, Thanksgiving

11/22/2008 By Ben 2 Comments

Victory in Iraq

I'm late in getting to it, but now is a good time to acknowledge November 22, 2008, as Victory in Iraq Day. Zombie has details. It has been a long, hard slog over there, and we owe the men and women who served there more than we can repay. Those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq most certainly have not died in vain. Victory In Iraq: The Obamamedia may not notice for many, many weeks. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, National Politics, World Events Tagged With: Iraq, notice, November 22, Obamamedia, victory, Victory in Iraq Day

11/22/2008 By Ben 1 Comment

What I’m Thankful for #15: Cinnamon

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. Did you think every entry in this series was going to be utterly serious? Well, first of all, you probably haven't been paying attention. But even if you have, there should be little doubt left. I am very thankful for cinnamon - the tastiest, most succulent, appetizing flavor. Can I get an Amen? Think of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, My Life, Random and Miscellaneous Tagged With: cinnamon, cinnamon doughnuts, cinnamon log, cinnamon rolls, natural stimulant, serious, tasty, thankfulness

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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

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Completing the Blogroll

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Rocky Mountain Alliance 2.0

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To Contact Me:
bendegrow-at-gmail.com

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