Monthly Archives: May 2010

The ‘rainmaker’ and the sewer

Posted on May 29, 2010 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell Abe Munfakh calls himself a “rainmaker.” He’s running for state senate. “Rainmaker.” What he means is that he got contracts for the Ann Arbor engineering firm he headed. In the following April 22, 1992 Detroit Free Press article, … Continue reading →

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Matty and the squeaky-greens

Posted on May 21, 2010 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell The Sierra Club is crying foul. The Canada-based branch of the environmental group says the government-sponsored bridge, known as the Detroit River International Crossing, is ill-planned and unneeded. Ordinarily, a squeaky-green organization like Sierra would deserve great … Continue reading →

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We need a union

Posted on May 18, 2010 by hro50ta1

By Peppermint Patti JOTR Columnist It is true, Sophie, that my two-leggers put my name on top of these columns that I write free for them. That is as it should be, I suppose, though I hear the male two-legger often … Continue reading →

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Advice for televictims: Tough!

Posted on May 17, 2010 by hro50ta1

By Myrtle Mortbrain JOTR Consumerist I just don’t get it. All this gobbledygook from JOTR readers who say they’ve been bilked by their ATT bills. Know what I mean? Just like the NRA says, “Guns don’t kill people.” Well, you … Continue reading →

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Fake phone bills again

Posted on May 13, 2010 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell Early this year, I discovered that my ATT bill contained fees for services I’d never heard of, never ordered, yet was paying for. I had to make a slew of phone calls, but managed to have the … Continue reading →

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‘Loyalty’ and all that

Posted on May 10, 2010 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell Shhh! Please keep this under your hat. It’s an idea that could make me a bundle of money. I don’t mind sharing it with you, but please, PLEASE, don’t pass it on to somebody who might steal … Continue reading →

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Vote fraud in Bloomfield? You be the AG

Posted on May 9, 2010 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell If you’d been Michigan’s attorney general, what would you have done? Allowed a state trooper to proceed with his investigation into possible corruption in a 2001 election? Or would you have killed the investigation? The question is … Continue reading →

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Swell time

Posted on May 8, 2010 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell Thank you, Curt Guyette, for your swell story about our little May 1, 2010 venture into the Detroit River by canoe from the Riverside Park boat launch.

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Bloomfield Farce: Phony from the get-go

Posted on May 4, 2010 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell Six years ago, I wrote a story about election high-jinks in a development project that is back in the news. Wannabe real estate developer Craig Schubiner’s vaunted $2 billion Bloomfield Park, it turns out, is a huge … Continue reading →

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Matty Moroun, American

Posted on May 3, 2010 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell Recently, I wrote that Manuel “Matty” Moroun came from the Middle East. A reader pointed out that Matty himself told an interviewer he was born right in Detroit on June 5, 1927. Here is how he described … Continue reading →

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