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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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Colorado Ballot Reviews

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

Writer / Editor For Hire

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

7/8/2006 By Ben 2 Comments

Taking Both Sides on Education?

Kiki Traylor, a Republican candidate in Senate District 22, may have some explaining to do. While it is clear she has raised much more money recently than her two party rivals - conservative alternatives Justin Everett and Mike Kopp - one source of funding gives cause to raise some eyebrows among political insiders. On June 19, the small donor committee for the teachers union - the Colorado Education Association (CEA) - contributed $1,000 to Taylor's campaign. (To see for yourself... 1. Go to the Secretary of State Campaign Finance page 2. Click "Search Committee Reports" 3. Execute a search for Public Education Committee 4. Scroll down to click on "Data-Entered Reports" 5. Click on the most recent report dated 6/28/06 6. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, Education, General

7/7/2006 By Ben Leave a Comment

Legislators Listen

Your state legislators listen from time to time - even some of the Democrats. Four Democrat state senators followed Ron Tupa (D - Boulder)'s lead and voted in favor of referring a Defend Colorado Now-type measure to the ballot for November: But after his vote, four Democrats then switched their "no" votes to "yes." They were Betty Boyd, of Lakewood; Ken Gordon, of Denver; Moe Keller, of Wheat Ridge; and Lois Tochtrop, of Thornton. "It seemed like the right thing to do," said Boyd. But Capitol observers noted that Boyd faces probably the toughest Senate contest in November, squaring off against Rep. Matt Knoedler, R-Lakewood. Several polls show Republicans and Democrats alike are fed up with illegal immigration and want … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General

7/6/2006 By Ben Leave a Comment

Good Grief

One too-cute Associated Press reporter, writing about the American Illiteracy Council's advocacy of "simplified spelling" or "moron-o-speak," thinks the balanced approach to the story requires writing every other paragraph in the absurd and improper style. Take this brief section, for example: Those in favor of simplified spelling say children would learn faster and illiteracy rates would drop. Opponents say a new system would make spelling even more confusing. Eether [sic] wae [sic], the consept [sic] has yet to capcher [sic] th [sic] publix [sic] imajinaeshun [sic]. Shucks, I wonder why. My imagination tends not to be captured by people who have lost the capacity to communicate clearly and to spell simple words. Buried … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Education, General, Random and Miscellaneous

7/3/2006 By Ben Leave a Comment

Add The Da Vinci Codebreaker to Your Spiritual Arsenal

James L. Garlow. The Da Vinci Codebreaker. Bloomington, MN: Bethany House, 2006. "In one sense, The Da Vinci Code has done Christianity and the Bible a great favor, sparking questions believers should have been asking and answering long before reading about 'the code.' If people will seriously examine the historical data, they will know what they believe and why they believe it." So writes Dr. James Garlow in the preface of his concise and easy-to-use new reference tool, The Da Vinci Codebreaker. As American evangelical Christianity continues to broaden and stretch, the need for solid depth in a biblical foundation becomes more apparent. That some Christian believers would shrink in doubt and embarrassment before the dubious … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Book Reviews, Christianity and Faith, General

7/3/2006 By Ben Leave a Comment

Go Get ‘Em, Tigers!

As a lifelong Detroit Tigers fan who has lived through many years of painful mediocrity and worse, I am really enjoying this season's developments. At about the midway point of the 2006 campaign, it seemed like another good time to pause and reflect on a few pertinent facts: 1. The Detroit Tigers not only lead the American League Central division, they have the best record in the American League and all of Major League Baseball - and have been in that position for many weeks now. 2. Detroit (56-26) is 2.5 games ahead of the world champion Chicago White Sox, 4.5 games ahead of the Boston Red Sox, 7.5 games ahead of the National League's best New York Mets, 8.5 games ahead of the New York Yankees, 10 games ahead of the very hot … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, My Life, Sports and Leisure

6/30/2006 By Ben Leave a Comment

Whither the Fourth?

Independence Day is almost upon us, but it appears about half of Americans couldn't care less about the real reason for the celebration. The results of a new survey from Zogby are disappointing - albeit not terribly surprising - and a bit enlightening as well. The pollster asked 1,884 American adults what the #1 reason for celebrating the coming holiday is (a holiday that just happens to be named Independence Day): Just 48% of those surveyed say that they specifically mark the Fourth of July as a time to celebrate America’s independence. Another 33% say they see the holiday as an opportunity to spend time with family and friends, while much smaller percentages look at the Fourth as just a day off from work (6%), or as a break from … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Commemorative, General, History, National Politics

6/29/2006 By Ben Leave a Comment

Ritter’s Campaign Manager for Beauprez

Here's a fun story totally ignored by Colorado's favorite purveyors of the political grapevine (aka, The Dead Guvs), from the Rocky Mountain News: "Ritter Aide Backed Beauprez in 2004." [Bill Ritter's campaign manager Greg] Kolomitz and his wife, Carla Lucero, both joined a group named Democrats for Beauprez. The congressman was facing Democrat Dave Thomas as Beauprez sought a second term in Congress. "He's a good guy and so we decided to support him," said Kolomitz. At the time, Kolomitz was president of CRL Associates, a Denver lobbying firm known for its clout at city hall. He says Maria Garcia Berry, the CEO of the firm and a prominent Republican, asked him to join the group supporting Beauprez. "Politics is all about … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General

6/29/2006 By Ben 1 Comment

Look Up There in the ‘Sphere… It’s a Blogger… No, It’s…

Your results:You are Superman Superman 65% Spider-Man 50% The Flash 50% Hulk 50% Green Lantern 45% Robin 35% Supergirl 33% Catwoman 25% Wonder Woman 23% Batman 20% Iron Man 20% You are mild-mannered, good, strong and you love to help others. Click here to take the "Which Superhero are you?" quiz... Well, you've never seen me and Superman in the same place at the same time, have you? Well... have you? Have you ever thought the whole Clark Kent connection could just be a ruse? Nah, neither have I. HT: Joshua … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, My Life, Random and Miscellaneous

6/29/2006 By Ben Leave a Comment

Fair and Balanced… Right

Here's a fair and balanced idea for a "news" article for today's Denver Post - 1) Have Karen Crummy interview a Democrat state legislator from Georgia (the state on which the recent Colorado Democrat "compromise" on immigration was based), Sam Zamarripa; 2) Use Zamarripa's quotes to express the futility and questionable motives of a Republican governors' efforts to address illegal immigration (congratulations to the Post for not using the term "undocumented workers") because: Zamarripa said he believes immigration should be handled by the federal government. 3) Fail to identify Zamarripa as a recent board member of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), a group that recently applauded the original … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General, National Politics

6/28/2006 By Ben Leave a Comment

The Teachers Union and Child Sex Trafficking

Say what? That's the typical response to a story highlighted at GOPUSA today: The Washington Education Association recently denied a Christian teacher's request to have her dues diverted to a charity that opposes sex trafficking. The teacher objected to funding the WEA's support for abortion and same-sex "marriage" with her dues. The controversial group that the union didn't want the teacher's money diverted to? Shared Hope International. As you can see here, Shared Hope's War Against Trafficking Alliance is hardly some sort of a narrow, right-wing project. In states where public school teachers are required to pay union dues in order to work, federal law allows legitimate religious objectors to divert their dues money to a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Education, General, National Politics

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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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