Author Archives: hro50ta1

Can’t call it ‘bribe’

Posted on March 10, 2010 by hro50ta1

Any federal law that would impose a national 36 percent A.P.R. limit on our services, if enacted, would likely eliminate our ability to continue our current operations. — Advance America, largest payday lender in the U.S. By Joel Thurtell Can’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Bad government, banks | 1 Comment

A dog’s duty

Posted on March 9, 2010 by hro50ta1

By Peppermint Patti JOTR Columnist As a whole, Sophie, the Duties of a dog are divided into three parts. Personal Comfort. Security. Sleep. Personal Comfort and Sleep are the same? No, no, Sophie. Sleep and Personal Comfort are not the … Continue reading →

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Eighteen stories deep

Posted on March 6, 2010 by hro50ta1

A Short Story By Joel Thurtell The Old Man sat slouched in a tall-backed leather chair. He looked across his glass-topped desk at an array of toys that usually took his mind off anything that might trouble an octogenarian trucking … Continue reading →

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Bounce, Matty, bounce!

Posted on March 6, 2010 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell Rubber. That’s what Matty’s bridge application was made of. And the Coast Guard bounced his request to build a new bridge alongside his decrepit Ambassador span right back to the Grosse Pointe trucking tycoon. According to the Detroit … Continue reading →

Posted in Me & Matty | 2 Comments

CANADA ROCKS!

Posted on March 1, 2010 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell I was sitting in the living room of Zoe and Burnley McDougall’s house on Vim Island in McGregor Bay on Sunday, February 21, 2010, the day the U.S. Olympic hockey team beat the Canadians in the quarter … Continue reading →

Posted in Bay, People | 1 Comment

A lick is still a lick

Posted on February 23, 2010 by hro50ta1

By Peppermint Patti JOTR Columnist I like to play with their heads, Sophie, to the extent that two-leggers can be said to have heads. Hah! Overstatement? I don’t think so. I’m not saying two-leggers lack intelligence, exactly. On occasion, they … Continue reading →

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Henry the 8th and all that

Posted on February 16, 2010 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell What this country needs is more historians. Or at least, people who THINK like historians. Thinking like a historian involves two different kinds of mental concentration. First, a historian understands that, according to the laws of physics, … Continue reading →

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Measuring ‘progress’ in poor countries

Posted on February 13, 2010 by hro50ta1

By Joel Thurtell I know I’m paying too much for things that only a few years ago I’d have considered luxuries, prestige purchases that drained my savings without contributing lasting good to our household. Things like cell phones, and  even … Continue reading →

Posted in Bad government, Places | 1 Comment

‘A+’ for deceit

Posted on February 10, 2010 by hro50ta1

By Luke Warm Professor of Mendacity University of Munchausen My purpose in lecturing you today is to explain how it’s possible for a journalistic essay to be judged inferior or even given a failing grade according to conventional standards, when … Continue reading →

Posted in Joel's J School, Me & Matty | 3 Comments

Lunch and glory

Posted on February 7, 2010 by hro50ta1

By Peppermint Patti JOTR Columnist I caught a mouse once, Sophie. Just once. It was a powerful lesson to me, too. About pride, you know, hubris, chutzpah, all rolled into one package. I knew there was something wrong. This was … Continue reading →

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