Author: DOuG pRATt

Mutts to You!

Today’s MUTTS comic strip isn’t a one-of-a-kind artistic collaboration between cartoonist Patrick McDonnell and the recently retired Joe Sinnott, because one more will be coming along in a not-too-distant Sunday.

Mutts, by Patrick McDonnell, King Features Syndicate, March 24, 2019

The idea for this little project came out of a visit that McDonnell had with Joe a few months ago. As familiar as I am with Joe’s technique, I see none of it here. A few of Joe’s trademark “Sinnott dots” on the floor would have been a giveaway of his handiwork, but there are none to be found. I’m told that’s because Joe wanted to be true to McDonnell’s drawings when applying ink to them, and he certainly succeeded.

Death By a Thousand Clicks

For 36 years I worked on the technology side of medical information systems. Around 2010 it became obvious to me that the HITECH program under ARRA would be extremely disruptive.

Not only did HITECH distort the market in significant ways, it failed to produce the intended benefits. One effect of HITECH was hospitals that were already using electronic health records were able to switch vendors and buy more expensive systems, knowing that the government would reimburse them if they met the “meaningful use” requirements.

Kaiser Health News and Fortune Magazine have published a lengthy report on what went wrong.

At the same time that hospital decision makers were looking forward to their HITECH reimbursements, the big players went on merger and acquisition binges, creating large regional medical systems. Left behind were many small rural hospitals, called Critical Access Hospitals, that rely upon Medicaid and Medicare money. Many have closed, either because they didn’t have a buyer or, as covered in a recent Nashville Tennessean story, they chose to remain independent.

Did Whatever A Spider Could

After more than 42 years, the Amazing Spider-Man comic strip is coming to an end. Today is the last new Sunday edition of the strip, written by Roy Thomas (credited to Stan Lee) and illustrated by Alex Saviuk and Joltin’ Joe Sinnott. With no deadlines to meet after almost 70 years in the business, Joe can take it easy. Happy St. Patrick’s Day to my pal Joe!

The Amazing Spider-Man, King Features Syndicate, March 17, 2019

The Beat Stops Here

Hal Blaine, 1929-2019

Hal Blaine, the keeper of the beat at the heart of the Wrecking Crew of studio musicians, has passed away. Hailing from Holyoke, Massachusetts, the irrepressible Blaine’s drumming can be heard on an uncountable number of recordings, including these favorites.

All three records were produced at the now-defunct Gold Star Studios in Los Angeles. There it is, the glamorous home of the enormous Wall of Sound, around the corner on the left.

Gold Star Studios, 6252 Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles

Jennings on Trebek

Ken Jennings’ team placed second in the recent Jeopardy! All-Star Games, but I doubt that his 74-game winning streak will ever be broken. Ken has an interesting take on Alex Trebek in The New York Times. He places Alex alongside Walter Cronkite and Johnny Carson as one of the great television broadcasters. I can see his point, having a game show host to complement a journalist and a talk show host (who hosted game shows himself).

Captain Marvel Zapped Them Right Between the Eyes

There sure is plenty of zapping done in the Captain Marvel movie, and Brie Larson is certainly the best-looking incarnation of the character I’ve seen over the past 50+ years. The original Captain Marvel will be appearing in Shazam! next month, but this is the one I knew when I was a kid.

Marvel Super-Heroes #12, 1967, with art by Gene Colan and Frank Giacoia

One little movie semi-spoiler I’ll offer is that Nick Fury loses his left eye the same way I almost lost my right eye when I was 12. Before leaving the house for the school bus stop I decided to say goodbye to the family cat, while he was eating breakfast. With the inside of my eye oozing out of a large gash, I never made it to the bus stop that day.