Author Archives: hro50ta1

Faking it in Delray

By Joel Thurtell So what’s with Michigan Democrats? The two Democrats on the Michigan Senate’s Economic Development Committee abstained on October 20, 2001 from voting a bill to build a new Detroit River bridge onto the floor of the Senate. … Continue reading

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Historians into journalists

Journalism schools are not the only places where people can learn to be journalists. The University of Michigan History Department’s 2011 Newsletter adapted a JOTR post about the utility of a historian’s education. But we later had second thoughts. That … Continue reading

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Nurse faketitioners

By Joel Thurtell I was going to assign JOTR columnist and Professor of Mendacity Luke Warm to write one of his satirical essays dismantling an October 2, 2011 New York Times article about the desire of some nurses to assume … Continue reading

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Warning to historians

By Joel Thurtell If journalism is to be saved, who will resurrect it from the ashcan of history? Why, none other than historians. If they’re up to the task. Having made the pitch that grad school-trained historians — of whom … Continue reading

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Leaking is good (for us reporters)

LONDON — A Scotland Yard detective has been arrested on suspicion of leaking details about the phone hacking case to the news media, the police said on Friday. — The New York Times, August 20, 2011 By Agnes Bullster JOTR … Continue reading

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Snakebit!

By Joel Thurtell I grew up in the boondocks of western Michigan, which lies within the habitat area of the Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake. As a kid, I was fascinated knowing that there lives in my state a venomous snake. Albeit … Continue reading

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GOP blackmail

Mr. Obama said Mr. Boehner had stopped returning his calls when it became clear that rank-and-file House Republicans would not agree to raise revenues on wealthy Americans as part of a debt-reduction deal, despite Mr. Obama’s concessions on reducing future … Continue reading

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Blame overdue

By Joel Thurtell “I strongly support Senator McConnell’s efforts to avoid a default on our nation’s debt, and the last-case emergency proposal he outlined yesterday to ensure that Republicans aren’t unduly blamed for failure to raise the debt ceiling,” said … Continue reading

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Poetry, or…

By Peppermint Patti JOTR Columnist I pray that the Great Dog in the Sky will spare me, Sophie, from two-leggers who think they are poets. My male biped suffers from this affliction. Creative he is not, but thinks he is. … Continue reading

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Who’s greedy?

By Joel Thurtell Some independent bookstores are — gasp!! — charging admission to book signings. What nerve! Book signings are cultural events. Book signings give regular people a chance to mix with a famous or maybe not-so-famous author, hear the … Continue reading

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