Category: Politics, Religion & Money

Oz Quacks Like a Duck

First there was the partisan propaganda contained in a fawning message from Social Security about the “Big Beautiful Bill.” Now there’s this from the Medicare:

Douglas,

I’m Dr. Mehmet Oz, head of the Medicare program, and I’m excited to introduce my new email series to help you stay healthy. As a doctor, I believe simple daily habits, like smart food choices and regular exercise, can help keep you healthier for longer and prevent future health problems.

One of the simplest ways to start is walking! Just 30 minutes of walking a day can:

Lower your risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes

Help manage your weight

Strengthen your bones and muscles, and reduce the risk of falls and injuries

Boost your mood and mental well-being

If 30 minutes a day is more than you can do right now, start slowly and gradually increase your time and distance. Remember to wear sturdy shoes and warm up before your walk.

Talk with your doctor during your yearly wellness visit about how walking might fit into your personalized prevention plan. I encourage you to take that first step. Even a short walk today is a step toward better health tomorrow.

Stay well,

Dr. Oz

Dr. Oz is playing it very safe with this gentle advice. There’s an option to unsubscribe from his “stay healthy” series, and I might do that; but first I’m interested in seeing if any quack medical claims from his TV show start creeping into these messages.

https://www.factcheck.org/2022/01/dr-fauci-still-treats-patients-contrary-to-dr-ozs-claim/

License to License

Unlike Comics Kingdom, GoComics cartoons can be licensed for various purposes, including blog posts. It’s $35 for a non-commercial license, with another $10 for a service fee.

I already had a problem with licensing strips. The latest credit card expiration year they provide is 2028, and only one of my cards has that date. The others are later. Without that card it wouldn’t be possible for me to license a comic strip for display here.

But now it’s a moot point, because even using the 2028 card, my latest order didn’t work. I’ve been charged only the $10 service fee. They’re breaking the #1 rule of business — don’t make it difficult for people to give you money.

I’ll tell ya what. Here’s a link to the comic strip I wanted to have here.

https://www.gocomics.com/tomthedancingbug/2025/07/11

Assuming they can fix their problems I’ll get a license, download my copy, and either update this post or publish a new one.

Art Spiegelman will be attending the NCS conference in Boston in August, and so will I. If I continue to be frustrated in my attempts to license comic strips, I’m sure someone from Andrews/McMeel will be there.

https://nationalcartoonists.com/2025-caniff-art-spiegelman/

Colbert Cancel Culture!

“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” will end in May 2026, Colbert and CBS announced on Thursday. The company said it will retire “The Late Show” franchise, and called it “purely a financial decision.”

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-late-show-stephen-colbert-end-may-2026/

This decision is Shari Redstone trying to further influence Trump to approve the Paramount buyout. That’s how this is financial. Before the shocker announcement, I was intending to post last night’s opening monologue.

If Colbert is being canceled, then I’ll self-cancel. “Prattling Before the Pratfall” will end on its 20th anniversary, September 5, 2026.

It Depends on Your Level of Interest

David Wessel provides a sane counterpoint to Trump’s idiotic name-calling of Jay Powell. Donald is perpetually stuck in “you’re fired!” mode.

Two additional points I think Wessel should have made are these:

  • The government’s cost of borrowing is a function of the bond market more than it is the federal funds rate. The connection becomes more acute if investors lose confidence in the Federal Reserve, which will be the result if Trump has his way. This will force Treasury bond rates higher to entice investors. So it will cost the government more, not less, to borrow money.
  • The cost of the Fed’s building renovations isn’t paid with taxes, the money comes from the Fed’s own investments.