Author Archives: hro50ta1

Bashing musicians at the News

Posted on October 4, 2010 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell The Detroit News was huffing and puffing when their editorial writers advised striking Detroit Symphony Orchestra musicians that “union-protected jobs with six-figure salaries are scarce in today’s Michigan. The musicians should hang on to theirs with both hands, … Continue reading →

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Memory hole

Posted on October 3, 2010 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell I waited for heated letters responding to Gina Kolata’s landmark article about Alzheimer’s disease in the Sunday, August 29, 2010 New York Times. “Years Later,” the Times headlined, “No Magic Bullet Against Alzheimer’s Disease.” Kolata’s article drummed … Continue reading →

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Me & Rupert

Posted on October 2, 2010 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell Never thought an impoverished writer like me would share common ground with a billionaire. Back in the day when I was a paid reporter, gathering and propagating news for the Detroit Free Press, I took heat for … Continue reading →

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Waiting for Rufous

Posted on October 1, 2010 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell Still hummin’. On Thursday, September 30, 2010, ruby-throated hummingbirds still were taking sugar water from the plastic feeders hanging from the eaves of our house in Plymouth, Michigan. When we left Georgian Bay in northern Ontario late … Continue reading →

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Floatin’ bull

Posted on September 30, 2010 by hro50ta1

By Walker Punt JOTR dramatist A play in three acts ACT ONE Scene: Impressario Bridge board room. Puppy Dog bounces in and spots The Old Man slumped in an overstuffed leather chair. A large scale model of a suspension bridge … Continue reading →

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Rattlesnake defense

Posted on September 27, 2010 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell Doesn’t the Detroit Zoo keep current snake antivenin on hand? Or do they just hand out-dated medicine to dogs, keeping the current supply for people? Those were some of the questions raised and not answered in a … Continue reading →

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

Slow worker? Off with her head!

Posted on September 23, 2010 by hro50ta1

By Rival Pong JOTR Labor Writer Finally, a solution to the worker productivity problem. If only Henry Ford had known this trick. There would have been no slow-downs, no work-to-rule, no strikes and indeed no contracts between management and labor. … Continue reading →

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Letter to The Times

Posted on September 17, 2010 by hro50ta1

To: Editor, The Rodent Times From: Bertha Rat, Chair-Rodent, Rat Anti-Discrimination League and Executive Ratperson, National Academy of Research Rats To the Editor: I have addressed my concerns to the editor of joelontheroad.com about a recent slur against all ratkind … Continue reading →

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Apologia

Posted on September 16, 2010 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell I want to apologize for a recent blog column in which I compared three Gannett honchos to pigs for splitting 10.6 million in salary and bonus bucks while firing 6,000 workers and asking the ones who remained … Continue reading →

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‘Privacy’ for snitches

Posted on September 14, 2010 by hro50ta1

A clerical error appears to have allowed Mr. Withers’s identity to be divulged: In most cases in the reports, references to Mr. Withers and his informant number, ME 338-R, have been blacked out. But in several locations, the F.B.I. appears … Continue reading →

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