Category Archives: From My Files

Animal rights — spin, spin, spin

By Joel Thurtell “Pound release.” Fightin’ words. I remember a packed suburban Detroit city council meeting back in 1985 when well over a hundred angry citizens confronted elected officials over the issue of selling animals from the animal shelter for … Continue reading

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Pistol-packin’ Monica

[donation] By Joel Thurtell I’m against the death penalty, so I don’t agree with Monica Conyers that child-killers ought to be executed. Dealt with strictly? Absolutely. But the Detroit City Council President is correct when she says we ought to … Continue reading

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Hypocrisy: First Amendment and the “free” press

By Joel Thurtell The Detroit Free Press seemed both angry and mystified in its June 8, 2008 story about a Detroit judge who barred the public and media from a hearing about evidence in Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s text message … Continue reading

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Wannabe lawyer: Monica Conyers

  From my files…(updated) By Joel Thurtell Hubby’s a lawyer, and so is she. But what’s this? Monica Conyers, a Detroit city councilwoman and wife of U.S. Rep. John Conyers Jr., is not in the Michigan Bar Directory. Yet her … Continue reading

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Identity crisis again

I was just kidding when I said my birth certificate might cast doubt on whether I’m me. A clever little kicker to a mildly sarcastic story about the need — post 9/11 — to prove unequivocally who we are. Planning … Continue reading

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My (external) identity crisis

By the time you read this, I may well be back from my jaunt across the state of Michigan to my natal city. It’s my birthday, and I’m heading west in quest of my identity. I suppose you could say … Continue reading

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Stumble and recovery: Barbara-Rose Collins

Isn’t it amazing how some people are blessed with the ability to avoid near-certain political or social death, re-inventing themselves so they can let loose their bag of tricks in some new venue? I’m thinking about Barbara-Rose Collins, vaulted into … Continue reading

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Whatcha got in your purse, Mon?

By Joel Thurtell Monica Conyers says she wants more respect from her fellow Detroit City Council members. They might be wise to give her a bit more deference. Or maybe just a wide berth. All depends on whether she’s packin’ … Continue reading

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