Author: DOuG pRATt

The View From Table #20

The Phantom comic strip, 1/1/78, drawn by Sy Barry (possibly inked by Joe Giella)

At the NCS Reuben Awards dinner, I had the pleasure of being seated with artist Joe Staton and his wife Hilarie. Also at table #20 was Boston cartoonist Dave London (no relation to Bobby). Seated next to me was an 80-something gentleman, retired from a career in advertising, whose father worked at the MIT Radiation Lab during WWII.

Sy Barry is a retired expert practitioner of the classic comic book art style I appreciate so much. He received the King Features Elzie Segar Award, in recognition of the enduring influence of his art.

Sy Barry, accepting the Elzie Segar Award at the National Cartoonists Society dinner, August 15, 2025. That’s Colleen Doran, in fashionable peach, on the left.

Sy had a humorous and very warmly received acceptance speech. He lives north of Boston, in Andover.

https://www.dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2025/08/18/celebrating-sy/

Continue reading The View From Table #20

Fabrications

The Beatles are Fab

Their faces said it all, on the last day they were together, August 22, 1969, seven years and four days after Ringo joined the band*

This Detergent is Fab

Lady Penelope’s Car is Fab

Thunderbirds are GO!

Texas Instruments is Fab

* Seven short years, from ‘Love Me Do’ to ‘Abbey Road’. What was going on here, seven years ago? https://dograt.com/2018/08/

Hole. Jackson Hole.

Powell sounds like he will announce a 0.25% interest rate drop in September.

First, Trump demanded Intel’s CEO quit.

When the Chips Are Down

Now he wants the United States to own 10% of the company. Huh?

The Dow jumped to a new record after Powell’s speech today. If interest rates drop enough to move money out of Money Market accounts and CDs, that will inflate Wall Street further. Then we’ll have a bubble, and look out when it bursts.

Prior Authorization for Traditional Medicare

Last year, half an hour after hearing my cancer diagnosis on the phone, I had an appointment scheduled with a surgeon for the next day. The appointment was available by chance. Being able to act quickly, without checking with an insurer, was because I have traditional Medicare, rather than a Medicare Advantage plan. Trump wants to eliminate traditional Medicare.

Trump administration tiptoes into testing prior authorization in traditional Medicare

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/trump-administration-tiptoes-into-testing-prior-authorization-in-traditional-medicare-143012089.html