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Tim Allen just joined a docudrama that aims to take down liberal, PC culture
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Tim Allen speaks on stage at the 44th annual Daytime Emmy Awards at the Pasadena Civic Center on Sunday, April 30, 2017, in Pasadena, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) - photo by Herb Scribner
Tim Allen will be in theaters this fall, but it won't be for a Christmas movie.

Allen just joined the cast of No Safe Spaces, a new movie aimed at disrupting the liberal and (politically correct) culture in Hollywood, on college campuses and in comedy," according to the New York Post.

Comedian Adam Carolla and conservative radio host Dennis Prager developed the film to promote free speech at a time they say the entertainment industry, media and college campuses too often shut down or blackball controversial viewpoints, according to the New York Post.

Nothing kills comedy quite like people who are constantly offended, Carolla told the Post. Its impossible to be funny if were not allowed to poke fun at each other, and thats whats happening with a new generation of people who seem to be offended for a living.

The cast released a clip to the New York Post of the upcoming film, which shows a roundtable discussion scene with Allen.

The film will highlight how college campuses have shut down speeches from conservative speakers, which are often met with student protests. One example of such speakers would be Ben Shapiro, a conservative commentator who has seen his speeches met with protests. Shapiro spoke at the University of Utah in September.

Allens experiences this last year make him a prime candidate for the docudrama. ABC canceled Last Man Standing in 2017 after six seasons on the air, despite the show having the second-highest ratings of all comedies on the network, according to the Deseret News. ABC executives said the show was canceled for scheduling reasons.

However, fans contested the show was canceled over ABCs liberal bias, saying the network didnt want to have Allens conservative character, Mike Baxter, on the network.

Fans have continued to fight for the show. In January, fans called for "Last Man Standing" to be revived after ABC decided to bring back the show Roseanne." That show's lead actress, Roseanne Barr, who is a supporter of President Donald Trump, said her shows character will also be a Trump supporter.

Allen told Fox News he was overwhelmed by fans who wanted to bring Last Man Standing back.

"The support from all the fans to bring back 'Last Man Standing' is truly overwhelming to me and so appreciated," Allen told Fox News. "I, along with the talented writers, wonderful crew and terrific actors, would definitely entertain the idea of bringing the show back as there is so much gas left in the tank, more to be said, and laughs to be had."

Allen fans will see his conservative views take shape in the new docudrama this fall.
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New Medicare cards are in the mail and scammers are on the prowl
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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has begun mailing new Medicare Health Insurance ID cards. The program no longer uses Social Security numbers to identify people. - photo by Lois M Collins
The federal government is beginning to send out new ID cards to the 58 million Americans who benefit from Medicare. But since many of the people who will receive them don't know they're coming or why, scammers are already gearing up to take advantage.

An AARP survey shows as many as three-fourths of Americans 65 and older have no idea the cards are coming, so some individuals may be duped with claims that they're supposed to pay a fee or provide personal information that will be used, instead, to defraud them.

The new cards are the first reissue in years, and the most striking part of the redesign is that the cards no longer carry the beneficiary's Social Security number. Congress mandated the removal of that number as an identifier for Medicare beneficiaries by next April. Instead, the card has a Medicare Beneficiary Identifier number, an 11-digit combination of numbers and letters.

The new Medicare cards are now being mailed out in batches, starting with the Eastern seaboard and moving west. Most Medicare beneficiaries will receive their cards over the next six months, as long as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has their correct mailing address. Once the cards are in hand, people can share the new identification number with their health care providers. During a transition period, either card is valid.

The old cards, which used Social Security numbers as the personal identification number, should be destroyed.

AARP recently launched an education campaign to warn consumers about scams related to the new Medicare cards.

The membership organization's "Fraud Watch" consultant, Frank Abagnale reformed con man, scammer and the subject of the movie and book "Catch Me If You Can" tells senior citizens the only time they need to carry the actual Medicare card is to health care appointments. Otherwise, it should be left in a safe place. If they want to carry one in their wallet or purse, he says, make a copy and black out the first seven numbers.

Since the cards were announced, scammers have already:

  • Called seniors and asked for their bank account information so that money on their old card could be returned. There is no money on the old card and CMS never asks for personal information over the phone.
  • Offered to send the new card after Medicare beneficiaries pay a $25 fee to cover expenses related to the card. The card is free.
  • Said the card will be mailed out as soon as the older person verifies his or her Social Security number, mailing address and other personal information. CMS already knows the beneficiary's Social Security number and it's no longer being used in conjunction with health care.
AARP and the Federal Trade Commission will hold a free online seminar about the cards and the fraud attempts they have spawned on Thursday, April 19, at 7 p.m. EDT. Register at: www.aarp.org/FraudWebinar. CMS also offers a "frequently asked questions" guide to the new cards.

The AARP Fraud Watch Network says consumers can sign up for its Watchdog Alert emails that deliver breaking scam information, or call a free helpline at 877-908-3360 to speak with volunteers trained in fraud counseling. Abagnale also hosts a weekly podcast for AARP, called The Perfect Scam.
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