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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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....

How to Help a Friend in Need

2/7/2026 By Brooke Faulkner Leave a Comment

How to Help a Friend in Need

Everyone has a friend in need at one time or another. The widespread panic and quarantining of the coronavirus in early 2020 is a perfect example of a time when individuals that are hurting or scared simply need help.  This help can come in a variety of different ways including providing emotional, and even physical support, depending on the situation. If you have a friend in need, here are some suggestions and considerations for how you can go about advocating for your loved ones. Always Put Yourself in Their Shoes First When you hear that someone is hurting, it’s often tempting to rush off and “help” them as soon as possible. This help typically revolves around what you think you would want in a similar scenario. Instead, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christianity and Faith, General Tagged With: compassion

The Data of Online Safety for Children

2/7/2026 By Magnolia Potter Leave a Comment

The Data of Online Safety for Children

Children today are growing up in an era unlike any other — they’ve never known a time without the internet, streaming services, social media, and more. The average child spends roughly 3.5 hours online each day. While the ability to research topics instantly, complete homework online and talk to friends around the globe is phenomenal in some aspects, there are definitely some downsides. Rates of suicide and depression in children and teens are higher than ever before, attention spans are dwindling and cyberbullying is a pressing issue many kids face on a daily basis, but what does the data say about online safety as it pertains to children?  If your child has access to the internet, you should be well-versed on the dangers and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Internet, online safety

How Concerned Should Parents Be About The Concussion Crisis in Sports?

2/7/2026 By Magnolia Potter Leave a Comment

How Concerned Should Parents Be About The Concussion Crisis in Sports?

Image Source: Unsplash With researchers continuing to gather more evidence on the links between sports and concussions, parents should be wary about signing their children up to participate in activities such as football and ice hockey. It’s no secret Americans love sports, but brain injuries have become a top concern for players, coaches, and parents. Tragic stories of dementia, neurological conditions, and even suicide mean the bright Friday night lights can no longer blind those charged with young athletes’ well-being to the very real consequences of the concussion crisis in sports. From Pee-Wee football to the NFL, players are sustaining head injuries that could lead to chronic traumatic encephalopathy … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General

Before and After: Dealing With the Aftermath of an Accident

2/7/2026 By Magnolia Potter Leave a Comment

Before and After: Dealing With the Aftermath of an Accident

Image Source: Pixabay When you first got your driver’s license, it probably felt like your car was the ultimate freedom, that amazing rite of passage that signaled you had grown up at last. Now your car is the thing that makes it possible for you to live your busy life, getting to and from work, chauffeuring your kids from place to place, running your never-ending list of errands. You hop in and out countless times a day without even thinking. By now, your car has just become an extension of yourself. That is, until it isn’t.  The reality is that every time you get into your car, you’re barreling down often crowded highways and interstates at 40, 50, or even 70 and 80 miles an hour in a multi-ton missile. According to current … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General

The Pros and Cons of Working in the Gig Economy

2/7/2026 By Brooke Faulkner Leave a Comment

The Pros and Cons of Working in the Gig Economy

It’s likely you know or have heard of at least one person within your social network who has a flexible working arrangement. It could be they have the luxury of working from home a few days a week, or perhaps they’re full-on freelancers. This schedule may be enviable to someone who works full-time in a brick and mortar building. Who wouldn’t want to have the flexibility to work from the comfort of their bed during the workweek?  This growing trend of freelance and short-term work is also referred to as the gig economy. Forbes recently pointed to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report that noted 35% of the U.S. workforce in 2018 was gig workers. By 2020, the number is expected to jump to 43%. So why is nearly half of the American … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Labor Tagged With: benefits, gig economy, HR

Helping Children Cope with Divorce

2/7/2026 By Magnolia Potter Leave a Comment

Helping Children Cope with Divorce

When you become a parent, your children become your world. You want to shield them from every danger, every hurt. You want them to have only the best things in life. You want to give them a world of joy. But what if the one thing you can’t give them is the one thing they may want most in this world — a happy home? Divorce is never to be entered into lightly. Marriage is a covenant, one not easily broken. Sometimes, however, no matter how hard you try, it just can’t work out. Some rifts simply cannot be mended. How do you help your children to understand that sometimes it is better to find peace apart than war together? How do you help them mend? How do you return them to the joy they deserve? When It’s Over, Let It Be … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General

Sports Participation in Rural America is Declining: Here’s Why

2/7/2026 By Brooke Faulkner Leave a Comment

Sports Participation in Rural America is Declining: Here’s Why

In many towns in rural America, the Friday night lights of local football fields shine over empty fields, due to a significant and growing decline in sports participation. To put it into perspective, in the year 1983, 355 Nebraska high schools had football programs. Fast forward to 2013, and only 282 programs remained. The problem is exacerbated every year, as participation numbers continue to decline. Socioeconomic concerns, fear of injury, and a lack of available, qualified, and willing coaches seem to be sources of the problem. This is concerning for a number of reasons, as school athletics have a number of significant benefits to students. For one, regular physical activity has been scientifically proven to lower the likelihood of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General

Why Marijuana Is a Danger to Drivers and Those on the Road

2/7/2026 By Brooke Faulkner Leave a Comment

Why Marijuana Is a Danger to Drivers and Those on the Road

With marijuana use becoming legal in several states, you may be tempted to think of it as harmless. However, it’s not a harmless drug and is indeed dangerous, particularly when combined with driving. Just as it’s illegal to drink alcohol and drive, so is it illegal to use marijuana and drive. The truth is that marijuana has negative effects on drivers. It has caused accidents and ruined many lives. This article will look at what those dangers are, including some statistics, and explore how we can educate children about the dangers of marijuana use. Dangers of Drugged Driving The dangers of drugged driving should be obvious. However, even though awareness of the problem is increasing, we should still brace ourselves for a drastic … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General

Has The #MeToo Movement Helped Prevent Sexual Assaults on College Campuses?

2/7/2026 By Brooke Faulkner Leave a Comment

Has The #MeToo Movement Helped Prevent Sexual Assaults on College Campuses?

Even in the midst of the #MeToo movement, college campuses across the country continue to see an increase in the number of sexual assaults, with a surge happening from the start of the fall semester until Thanksgiving break — otherwise known as the “red zone.” It’s not exactly clear if the increase in reports is because there are more assaults happening or more assaults are actually being reported, nor does the rise in reports confirm an epidemic, even in the face of high-profile cases. However, the behavior of men is being scrutinized more as a result of the #MeToo movement, and the stigma of speaking up about cases of sexual assault is easing up. There are positive impacts taking place for both current and past generations. Is this … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General

Lifestyle Changes That Will Keep Your Family Healthy in 2020

2/7/2026 By Brooke Faulkner Leave a Comment

Lifestyle Changes That Will Keep Your Family Healthy in 2020

Have you been putting off making changes that could improve your family’s health? It can be difficult to implement lifestyle changes, especially when you have young children in the house, so you may put off those changes until the time is better. But that “right time” never does quite arrive. With the start of the new year, the best time to make those changes? It’s right now.  Take advantage of a fresh start in 2020 and make this the year you improve your family’s health. Set some health goals for your family, whether it’s getting more active, eating better, or prioritizing your mental health for increased happiness. These goals will give you something definite to work toward this year, and the following changes can help you to meet … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Health Care Tagged With: lifestyle

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Inside

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  • Mary and Jacob: From the Forgotten Dust
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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

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Blogs Extraordinaire

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Completing the Blogroll

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Other Sites

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Rocky Mountain Alliance 2.0

  • Reclaim the Blue
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To Contact Me:
bendegrow-at-gmail.com

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