Author Archives: hro50ta1

Please don’t go to this concert!

Posted on February 23, 2011 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell Striking musicians from the Detroit Symphony Orchestra are giving a concert this weekend. Please don’t go! It’s Saturday, February 26, 2011 at 8 p.m. in the First Presbyterian Church of Royal Oak, 529 Hendrie Boulevard, Royal Oak, … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Unions | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Crappy meeting

Posted on February 23, 2011 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell If you’re concerned about pollution in the Rouge and Detroit Rivers, there’s an important meeting tonight. The Department of Natural Resources and Environment will be discussing changes in permits for pollution levels the government will allow at … Continue reading →

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Tone deaf

Posted on February 23, 2011 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell My mistake. Dave Bing must be mayor of Kalamazoo. Or maybe Traverse City. Now that I think of it, Ironwood in the far-off Upper Peninsula is more likely. He can’t possibly be mayor of Detroit, which is … Continue reading →

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How to wreck an orchestra

Posted on February 22, 2011 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell Start with a world-class orchestra, one ranked in the top 10 in the United States. What would be the easiest way to destroy such a beacon of musicianship? Well, you could provoke a strike of musicians, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Unions | Tagged , , | 20 Comments

Scab music

Posted on February 22, 2011 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell Detroit Symphony Orchestra management wants to play hard rock. They want to keep their $400,000-a-year CEO and their pricey music director, but they want musicians to take a giant pay cut. Now, having had their cheapskate contract … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Unions | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Cronyism

Posted on February 21, 2011 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell When our new Michigan governor, Rick Snyder, announced his support for a government bridge between the U.S. and Canada at Detroit, bucking many of his own Republican legislators and a powerful billionaire, I was hopeful. It was … Continue reading →

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Dreaming of blue cheese

Posted on February 19, 2011 by hro50ta1

By Peppermint Patti A smart dog, Sophie, will not eat blue cheese. In public. What I mean by “public” is in the presence of two-leggers. A dog’s penchant for blue cheese, Sophie, is not something a two-legger readily understands. I … Continue reading →

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The man who wasn’t there

Posted on February 16, 2011 by hro50ta1

The statesman can only wait and listen until he hears the footsteps of God resounding through events, then he must jump up and grasp the hem of His coat, that is all. — Otto von Bismarck, quoted in Newsweek By … Continue reading →

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Gov learns hard way, Freep’s at lunch

Posted on February 13, 2011 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell Let’s see now. Rick Snyder was sworn in as governor how long ago? From today’s (February 13, 2011) Detroit Free Press, you’d think he was approaching the end of his first term. Hoo boy, time for a … Continue reading →

Posted in Joel's J School | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Township gets ‘earful,’ cider man gets $1 fine

Posted on February 10, 2011 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell So there is justice, after all. An Oakland County judge today listened to a lawyer for Oakland Township argue for a $7,500 fine to teach Rochester Cider Mill owner Tom Barkham a lesson. The lesson? Don’t sell … Continue reading →

Posted in Bad government, Cider | 1 Comment