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.

Writer / Editor For Hire

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

6/21/2005 By Ben 6 Comments

The Scoop on the “Real” Saddam

Quick link blogging this morning: read this AP story from today's Washington Times - America's fascination with the details of celebrities' everyday lives takes another twisted turn as U.S. military personnel who guarded Saddam Hussein in an Iraq prison give GQ the big scoop on his living habits, favorite foods, and various personal opinions. The AP story gives no hint of the actions that earned Saddam the nickname "Butcher of Baghdad." How easy to forget.... … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, Random and Miscellaneous, World Events

6/17/2005 By Ben 3 Comments

Joe Wilson and the Downing Street Memo

Even one prominent career State Department official and notorious, embittered critic of President Bush's foreign policy has noted that some of the hullabaloo surrounding the Downing Street Memo is overblown: ...on Thursday, former U.S. Ambassador Joseph Wilson admitted that "we all believed" Saddam had WMD. "I believe the threat to the United States posed by Saddam's weapons of mass destruction -- which we all believed he had -- could have been dealt with using something less violent than the invasion, conquest and occupation of Iraq," Wilson said in a response to a question from Cybercast News Service following a Democrat-sponsored hearing on the matter. Wilson's comment, that "we all believed" Saddam had WMD, appeared to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, National Politics, World Events

6/16/2005 By Ben 1 Comment

“Dump Dick Durbin”

In light of the senior Senator from Illinois's outrageous and vile remarks about our military, this has got to be the most aptly-named blog of the day. After today's lame "apology" attempt, Dick Durbin has shown he is a man without honor. The second-highest ranking Democrat in the United States Senate making whiny, weasely remarks like this: ...I do not even know if the interrogator involved here was an American soldier. I didn't say that at any point. To suggest that I am criticizing American servicemen, I am not. I don't know who is responsible for this.... And this: To suggest that this is somehow an insult to the men and women serving in the uniform, nothing could be further from the truth. But it is no credit to them or … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, National Politics, World Events

6/16/2005 By Ben Leave a Comment

One-Way Teacher Exchange Program

Stories like this from the Washington Times - an account of Virginia school districts hiring more foreign nationals as teachers - points to some bigger issues going on in education today. Questions that need to be asked (and hopefully explored in future posts): Are our schools of education adequately preparing teachers for the profession? What incentives could be introduced to overcome shortages in hiring educators qualified to teach math, science, foreign language, or special education? What do we do about the single salary schedule, that pays all teachers in a district according to the same rate (by advanced degrees and seniority)? Is offering teachers "performance bonuses" even feasible, and how would you measure that? The … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Education, General

6/15/2005 By Ben 1 Comment

Outrages and More

Some of you may have noticed the dearth of extensive writing and posting here of late. Let's just call it "outrage fatigue." Everything from the Michael Jackson verdict to the obnoxious posturing over the Gitmo affair and more has caused my blood to boil in recent days. But frankly, I haven't had much to add to the conversation, and I haven't wanted to dwell on it anyways. Just in case you were wondering.... Meanwhile today, the news reports emerged from the Terri Schiavo autopsy. Her death by dehydration has not stifled the debate.... … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, My Life, National Politics, Random and Miscellaneous, World Events

6/15/2005 By Ben Leave a Comment

Italy and the Euro

The Washington Time reports today on a burgeoning political movement in Italy to oust the euro and bring back the lira as the national currency. I can almost see the sign now at the banks and exchanges: 1 euro = 1,000,000 lira. ...There have to be some jokes out there from this story - there have to be. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, Random and Miscellaneous, World Events

6/13/2005 By Ben Leave a Comment

Settling the Great Quarter Dispute

Clay takes a look at the "flip side" to give us the final lasting proof why Colorado beats Minnesota in the Great State Quarter War. If you haven't dropped by lately, check it out. And don't forget to cast your vote. (Looks like the controversy also continues to sweep through the MSM. Read David Harsanyi's Denver Post column today. ) … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, Random and Miscellaneous

6/10/2005 By Ben Leave a Comment

Wet and Wild Weekend for Baseball

Excited by the prospect of an early Friday game likely to end by sundown, Joshua was planning to be at Coors Field this afternoon for the game between the Detroit Tigers and Colorado Rockies. Knowing my deep dedication as a Tigers fan, he invited me along to today's game. I was thankful he thought of me but am tied up at work and have a 5:30 appointment besides, so I had to decline. Besides, I have tickets to attend the Saturday (with my friend Steve) and Sunday (with the lovely Mrs. Virtus) games. But the skies had opened and the rains had come earlier today, pushing back the starting time from 3:05 to 4:00. I hope Joshua found another companion to go to the game with - and if he did, I hope the contest speeds along enough so he can … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, My Life, Sports and Leisure

6/10/2005 By Ben 2 Comments

JeffCo Commissioners Facing the Challenges

When you see an elected politician roll up his sleeves and take up the challenge of a difficult but important campaign promise, it sure can restore some of your faith in the system and in the judgment of your fellow citizens. That's exactly how I feel as the new slate of Jefferson County commissioners has tackled and confronted the waste and corruption that have been plaguing some departments of government. The Denver Post explored the story in depth on Sunday and followed up with a laudable editorial in today's edition. Sunday's story revealed many glaring problems with the way our county government has run in recent years, including this dandy: Among Jefferson County employees, Bob Roark is the king of plastic. Over the last … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Colorado Politics, General

6/8/2005 By Ben 1 Comment

Blog Freedom News: The China Edition

In a story that may be of interest to some of my readers and friends in the Internet community (if they aren't already well aware of it), Cybercast News is reporting that the Chinese government plans a crackdown on blogs this summer. The Chinese government says a system has been developed to monitor sites in real time, searching each one for a registration number. Those not registered would face penalties, including fines of up to one million yuan (about $121,000). The ministry said almost 75 percent of all website already have been registered. The regulations were needed, it said, because of sex, violence, superstitions and "other harmful information" available online. Of course, it's not like anything like this would happen in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General, Random and Miscellaneous, 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

  • Colorado Senate News
  • Complete Colorado
  • Independence Institute
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National News and Politics

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  • Real Clear Politics
  • Reason
  • The Washington Times
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Blogs Extraordinaire

  • American Thinker
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  • E!! The True Conservative Story
  • EIA Intercepts
  • Evangelical Outpost
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  • Instapundit
  • LaShawn Barber
  • Lileks
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Completing the Blogroll

  • Alarming News
  • Black Five
  • Blogs of War
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  • Flypaper
  • Fraters Libertas
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Christian Commentary et al.

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Conservative and GOP Sites

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Colorado Blogs

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Other Sites

  • Technorati
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Rocky Mountain Alliance 2.0

  • Reclaim the Blue
  • The Business Word
  • The Daily Blogster
  • View from a Height

To Contact Me:
bendegrow-at-gmail.com

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