Monthly Archives: August 2012

Thank you, Jack!

Posted on August 29, 2012 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell I’ve been very slow to acknowledge these kind words from Metro Times columnist Jack Lessenberry on June 20, 2012: The bridge to somewhere: You just had to be happy last week when Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper … Continue reading →

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Michigan CABs and the ‘Big Graphic’

Posted on August 27, 2012 by hro50ta1

MICHIGAN SCHOOLS LOAD THE FUTURE WITH DEBT By Joel Thurtell April 5, 1993 was doomsday for Capital Appreciation Bonds in Michigan. On that day, the Detroit Free Press exposed the horrendously bad deal almost 100 Michigan school districts had dished … Continue reading →

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Dayton & CABs

Posted on August 27, 2012 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell Thanks to Kevin Dayton for his latest post on California CABs. What Michigan did by banning CABs in 1994 is relevant to what’s been happening in California with school CAB debt since at least 2000. A Detroit … Continue reading →

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Me & Jimmy

Posted on August 27, 2012 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell Joelontheroad.com had its debut on Sunday, December 9, 2007, the same day I was featured on E! Entertainment as an “expert” on labor history and the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa on E! Hoffa show. Two years later, … Continue reading →

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Michigan’s CAB-killer law

Posted on August 25, 2012 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell On July 10, 1994, the Michigan Legislature approved Public Act 278, the law (PA278-1994-corrected0001) that banned Capital Appreciation Bonds. CABs have become controversial in California, where a prohibition on CABs is being debated. The relevant sections are: … Continue reading →

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MOUSE CODE

Posted on August 25, 2012 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell I’ve published another book. MOUSE CODE is for sale NOW on amazon.com. You can also order it from Barnes & Noble or any other bookseller with access to Books In Print. Here’s the release from Hardalee Press: … Continue reading →

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My 1993 CAB stories

Posted on August 24, 2012 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell Readers have asked to see my 1993 Detroit Free Press articles about Capital Appreciation Bonds that killed CABs in Michigan. The Michigan Legislature banned CABs in 1994 and ordered that all municipal bonds be competitively bid. With … Continue reading →

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I’m back

Posted on August 24, 2012 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell A week ago, somebody hacked my site. My blog was down, and it was a struggle to get it back. Thanks to Rob Docherty for responding to the emergency and cleaning the malware out of my code. … Continue reading →

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Who broke Poway?

Posted on August 23, 2012 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell According to CNBC, on August 7, 2012, Voice of San Diego reporter Will Carless “broke” the story of a billion-dollar borrowing boondoggle in the California school district of Poway. While Carless corrected CNBC for mispronouncing his name, … Continue reading →

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Letter to Times: Those independent Tarascans

Posted on August 15, 2012 by hro50ta1

Guess I’m just not on the radar at The New York Times. The latest of my unpublished letters to The Times: To the Editor: I was not surprised to learn that the people of Cheran in western Mexico expelled police, federal … Continue reading →

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