Archives---September, 2005
September 30, 2005
...Yankees/Sox tonight at Fenway; ESPN; 7:00.
...The dynamic Atlanta Cruis-O-Matic is set for a gig Saturday night at Jake's Toadhouse on Lawrenceville Hwy. near North Druid Hills. Headlining, our hero's should take to the stage at or about midnight. Edward Tanner also reports the boys are set for an arena gig in Macon in November warming up for either Billy Joe Royal and/or the original Box Tops.
...Medical authorities have now confirmed what has been suspected for some time: Bill Bennett lives in an oxygen deprived environment. Yes, aborting Bennett's time on the planet would be unspeakably inhumane, but we would hear a lot fewer stupid proclamations.
September 29, 2005
...Props to Suttle World Norcross correspondent cuzin Bill who reports of the tragic fall from grace of former Brave Rick Camp (see story). This conviction will probably dashes Camp's hopes of being inducted into Cooperstown.
...If their current growth rate continues and strict energy controls/efficiency are not put into place, in ten years China's demand for oil will outstrip current worldwide output.
...Amazing...with four playoff spots still up for grabs, not a single MLB game is nationally televised today. Instead of the White Sox at 2:00 this afternoon, WGN viewers will be treated to Magnum PI.
September 28. 2005
...In the streak department, it is difficult to bring to mind past or imagine future achievements that will even approach what the Atlanta Braves accomplished last night in clinching their FOURTEENTH CONSECUTIVE DIVISION TITLE! And these are 162 games seasons boys and girls. For those with a clue about the greatest game ever invented by humanoids, no further explanation is required. For those that don't (and, unfortunately, that includes a large portion of the Braves fan base), there's not enough time to explain. Meanwhile, somewhere in the southeastern United States, Rick Camp is driving his tractor. Individual tix for the Divisional Series are on sale now and start at $11, so no excuses.
September 27, 2005
...Flags at CONTROL will fly at half staff today to salute the passing of Agent 86/Maxwell Smart. Don Adams was 82. An icon of 60's American pop culture, Adams, according to an obit found by dear bride Yolanda, derived his unmistakable voice as a drill instructor in the Marine Corps. A lot of those post traumatic stress syndrome cases are beginning to make sense now. Dude shleps home from the jungles of Vietnam in 1968 following a two year tour, flips on the TV, plops down on the sofa and Tennessee Tuxedo is his DI. That, brothers and sisters, will make you hear the choppers. The gentle surfer who has had his or her eye on that Skittle Pool game endorsed by Adams listed on eBay may wish to wait a bit. Prices should return to the $15-20 level before long.
...While not being terribly fatalistic in the fatalism department, I am one to recognize trends. "Offered for your consideration:" Friday night the Fleshtones (two members of which combine with Shernoff to form the Master Plan) play a couple of sets at Manitoba's. Sunday, DUFFLE witnesses The Dictators bust loose for their first win of the young season by posting a whopping 82 "big cat points." Then Monday/yesterday, Mr. Mailman brings a CARE package from cuzin Sal in Boston containing several CDs, including a demo version of DFFD---complete with cover art!!! Its an interesting effort, with the cover photo of the band at Manitoba's, and includes a couple never before heard Dictators' tunes that didn't make the final cut for reasons intuitively obvious to the most casual of listeners. This could be a sign boys and girls. Closed door meetings continue at Hillbilly Dictators Jihad World Headquarters as to whether or not to elevate the Haj alert level to "no tan pants." The group did release a statement prior to beginning their meeting giving major props to Sal for his tireless efforts ministering to our our gormandizing ways.
...Will be interesting to get cuzin Sal's take regarding his World Champion Bosox who play 7 straight home games, basically tied with the Yankees to finish off the regular season. Fenway is the center of the weekend's sporting universe. Its only hoped that TV and MLB will realize same. Given the races in both leagues, its stunning that the only baseball available in this market last night was the Braves v. Rockies. Amazing ESPN isn't picking up the front end of today's day/night twin bill at 1:00. Surely this isn't an indication of uncle Bud being asleep at the switch. Meanwhile the Phillies loss last night puts the Braves magic number at 1. May as well wait til its official before beginning some comment on 14 CONSECUTIVE DIVISION TITLES.
September 27, 2005
...The best I can count, since the turn of the twentieth century there have been exactly three "successful" second terms for a president---two different Roosevelts and Reagan. No, there's no Bush on the list, but it still beats the hell out of the crew at the New York Times who explained to Russert yesterday that this whole conservative thing just hadn't worked out and it was time to return to the task of taxing ourselves into prosperity. SSDD---"conservative" Republicans control two branches of government and federal spending expands by 25% in the last 5 years. Meanwhile, Democrats want to throw money at the problem. No doubt, this would be less perplexing if I had an Ivy League pedigree. Could we at least get someone from the Big 10 or ACC?
...Though not in the brotherhood, I'll join the folks who proudly used the first pick in their fantasy league's draft to take Payton Manning by proclaiming: "Lucy, you got some splainin to do." Shuffling off to Buffalo, the league is still investigating allegations that Falcon owner Arthur Blank violated the time space continuum and substituted the Fearsome Foursome for ATL's defensive line (if the league allowed players over 50 to use the head slap, Deacon Jones could play today). A good win is an understatement. Yesterday was the most impressive regular season road win I can recall (remember the 20+ consecutive road losses?) in the franchise's history---that turns 40 next season for those keeping score at home.
...Reckon nephew Ridge and I will take advantage of school being called off the next couple days to DRIVE over to a tank farm and admire silos of diesel fuel that are doubtlessly less empty. Bartender!
September 25, 2005
...And you felt pretty smart when you landed that diesel contract with the Forsyth County School System. Georgia's government schools will literally take a bus man's holiday Monday and Tuesday, a preemptive action initiated by Gov. Perdue last week. The idea was to conserve the supply of diesel fuel. Mass suicide would also have a very positive impact on petroleum reserves around the ATL as well. Meanwhile, Rita proved to be a bigger mess than menace with little loss of life. Ongoing flooding is now the concern as the now downgraded tropical depression is expected to drop as much as two FEET of water in some areas.
...Is Chi Chi Rodriguez a natural born citizen of the US? If so, he's my '08 presidential candidate. No doubt equally as capable as many of his predecessors, I would expect Chi Chi to look stupid bumping around the country blankly staring at screens of data in FEMA bunkers about which he had no clue, and it would be a hell of a lot more fun.
...As speculated, the numbers preceding Georgia and Tech are a bit too high. Georgia did win in a less than decisive victory over Mississippi State while VA Tech put the wood to the Yellow Jackets. Meanwhile, George Washington remains undefeated. Speaking of which the Colonials finally announced their 2005-6 hoops schedule. Closest encounters are games in Winston-Salem against Wake and A10 contests against in Greensboro and Richmond.
...Perhaps its the return of the NHL or just the phase of the moon, but minor league hockey is in disarray. Not that its been the most consistent product in smaller markets over the years, but two different leagues have disappeared including nearby southeastern franchises in Macon, Columbus, Asheville and Birmingham. THE ECHL and AHL continue to thrive, so we get our third Gladiators' season cranking up in a few weeks, but where did all the Zambonis go?
September 24, 2005
...Daybreak is an hour or so away from the Texas/Louisiana coast, and we'll let the mainstream media take it from there.
..."The Fleshtones are playing Manitoba's on Friday, Sept. 23. Two half-hour sets, 11pm-11:30 and 12:15am-12:45 ....." So sayeth The Dictators web site. Trust all went well, and while its been carefully explained to me while standing in the place, the notion of any band playing Manitoba's just doesn't compute. Stately Roberts/Suttle Manor's living room has as much square footage. Needless to say, the bigger story is perhaps this is a breach in the feud that The Dictators underground has demanded for low these many months. A pithy review of the review of the recently released Viva Dictators CD from some chap who identifies himself as President & co-Founder of the Hillbilly Dictators Jihad now appears on punknews.org
...Hola autumn. And despite nature's thermostat being stuck, it can't come a day too soon. While punctuated with some fun and glory, the just past summer was a category 4 fart storm on the Suttle-Simpson scale.
...Today's "marquee" college football match up has been pushed back to Monday when Tennessee visits Baton Rouge to take on battered, but still #3 LSU. This leaves little to savor Saturday excepting Tech's trip to VA Tech at 3:30.
September 23, 2005
...Care for a perspective from on the ground (zero)? Live streaming audio from KTRH --- Newsradio AM 740 Houston, Texas. Traffic reports should be interesting if nothing else.
...Stop whatever you're doing now! The heart and lung machine will keep the patient going just fine for a while. Quick! Get in your automobile(s) and drive in a reckless manner to the nearest gasoline retailer and fill your car! Twice! Do so in a panic! Hurry! Now! Make sure to pick up some milk, bread and toilet paper just in case. The ironic part, is much like a ATL winter weather event, my gauge is near "E" at this writing, just like the fridge was always empty about the time Guy Sharp started rolling up his sleeves.
...Rebuilding...if one were starting a major population center from scratch, would we defacto zone affordable housing out of the picture once again? See boys and girls here's the rub: its stipulated that you want the convenience of nearby service and retail businesses, not to mention those resort bound vacations on occasion. You demand these goods and services because you can afford them, and the a large portion of the affordability equation includes a $6-8/hour labor component. Such a labor force is often reluctant to commute the 50 miles a day necessary because the only housing that can be afforded by folks making $6-8/hour is banished to the hinterlands, far away from the pristine suburban and urban areas they serve. Zoning laws mandating large lots sizes, large square footage on new construction and prohibiting manufactured housing has accomplished this over the past 50 years or so. If you truly could rebuild, would you make it the same way? Enjoy your mucho grande double espresso and have a nice day.
...Could spend a lot of words explaining how engineering and the like aren't my area of expertise, but let's just cut to the chase: I'm dumber than a rock. Anyone wanna help me do some ciphering? Sam's has a 5200 BTU ceramic heater unit for $70. I can plug in my costs, just tell me how to figure out if its worthwhile using more electricity than natural gas for the coming heating season. Given the expected 50% rise in natural gas prices, the curves have to cross somewhere, but if after amortizing the cost of the heater, I end up $12 ahead come Easter...
...In his typically seamless manner, nephew Ridge completes his first week at Tucker High School (1918---obviously not the same building, but was clueless until visiting their web site a day ago) today, fully acculturated, largely due the same maggotry.......errrrr............group of young lads that make up Ridge's peer group, remain intact. And so we begin academic year 3, and I am proud to report that not once have the words" turn down that infernal racket" (nor any reasonable facsimile thereof) parsed my lips.
September 22, 2005
...Just a passing notion, so stop me when I'm wrong...That darn debt clock, you know, the one that shows $8 trillion in unfunded mandates? Who were the folks in Congress in voted to appropriate the money and who were the Presidents who, for the most part, signed off on the spending? I think that would be Democrats and Republicans. Who was in charge of the various federal, state and local agencies that failed to properly respond to Katrina? Once again, I think they were Democrats and Republicans. Who's been at the helm as the federal government crafted over 33,000 words regulating cabbage? I'm gonna go out on a limb and say Democrats and Republicans. Who runs those superlative institutions of elementary and secondary education known as government schools? Come on. Sing along at home. Over a fairly short period of time 30 years or so ago, the same American public who elected all these folks were able to figure out that Detroit produced abject shit and began buying Toyotas faster than they could be rolled off the line. Seems like folks might be looking feverishly for a different political dealership, but come the '06 off year elections and who'll be on the ballot? Democrats and Republicans. Kinky Friedman's Texas gubernatorial is a duly noted exception.
...Shower curtain rod sales will be brisk across New England today after Randy Johnson shuts down the Red Sox and propels the Yankees into first place in the American League East. Remember, safety first, so make sure to lift from the knees when cutting down your loved ones.
...Breaking news...China has announced it will make changes in currency exchange rules. Nobody knows exactly what that means, excepting the currency may begin to float---a move that would lend more stability as we navigate the uncharted waters of the "its a small world after all" economy.
September 21, 2005
...Memo to White House and various other federal, state and local agencies: please consult your local listings and dial in the Weather Channel. Be patient. Soon your attention will be directed to a 500 mile wide red blob in the Gulf of Mexico. This is a category 4 hurricane and believed headed towards to Texas coast. A lot of people live in this area. Please govern appropriately. Thank you.
...Memo to Mother Nature: this hurricane thing has gotten completely out of hand and the ATL's forecast high today is 93. Given its late September (click here for Buy Out Berman), perhaps you might consider mixing in an arctic high pressure system to cool ambient conditions locally and provide some sheering defense against these damn storms. We'll start eating real butter again, promise.
...Yes, in theory, a rise in interest rates diminishes the number of dollars chasing various goods and services, and thereby reduces the threat of inflation. It is also true, in theory, that an unemployment rate of 60% would be an effective inflation fighter as well.
September 20, 2005
...SCOREBOARD! Washington 14 South America's Team 13.
...The gentle surfer will kindly accept my apologies for the late publication. Poweb (the official web host of Suttle World) was experiencing some technical difficulties this morning.
September 19, 2005
...Memo to mother nature: September 15th has come and gone. Feel free to dial back the thermostat at your earliest convenience.
...DUFFLE 2005 is beginning to look dismal for Dictators fans, as the Suttle entry appears poised to move to 0-2. Meanwhile it would appear as though 3 teams are set to post 2-0 starts; and, this just in: my team cannot suck enough.
...Stately Roberts/Suttle Manor extends its most heartfelt thanks to neighbors Cindy and Deidre for their care, concern and good works/eats as we muddled through a most trying weekend. Also major props to Hogan---niece Jessica's somewhat close acquaintance who just coincidentally happens to be a testosterone based unit. Class acts all.
...Wild Card fever as the last two weeks of baseball's regular season begin. The permutations are too numerous for cogent discussion so just take a look at the standings for yourselves. Noteworthy is that while the White Sox quietly went about accumulating the best record in baseball during the first half of the season, they may now be quietly involved in one of the greatest collapses in baseball history.
...Suttle World stipulates to being behind regarding takes on ongoing affairs such as Katrina recovery, the Roberts confirmation process and the machinations of the markets. In spite of this deficiency, there is a growing outrage over the Braves doorbell sound effect. Many a pitchfork has been sharpened and torch soaked in pitch as we prepare to march on the Ted if necessary to eliminate the scourge from our television sets. Where's censor laureate Michael Powell when you really need him?
September 17, 2005
...Poverty. Yep, we'd pretty well managed to pass that sucker by and avoid the queasy feeling that knowledge of such things can bring. And why not ignore it? After welfare reform and the booming economy of the past two decades the problem had pretty much solved itself. But along comes Katrina and among its many stunning images are those of that darn underclass. The evil left wing media, this time in the form of Newsweek, even had the nerve of literally putting the face of poverty on its current cover. Its not a pleasant site for our compassionate conservative friends who are uncomfortable with the fact that jingoisms haven't eliminated the scourge. The left will gaze in that direction to make some political hay, but has trouble looking poverty straight in the eye largely because they're staring at their Great Society. A cogent dialogue on the subject is certainly out of the question, so the best we can hope for is another big spot news story to distract us once again. In the meantime, everyone just grab hold of your bootstraps. What, no boots? No problem---just get on the internet and with your credit card....
...STDY---Same Take Different Year. Impressive with an opening win against Boise State, Georgia squeaked by a dubious South Carolina in Athens and is either not the 7th best team in the country, or Division I football is down again this year. Tech is equally tough to figure. They snap Auburns win streak on the road and then struggle against a Maryland team that struggled against Navy the previous week. Louisiana Lafayette and UConn, respectively, should provide for a Saturday of good live practice, allowing us to gather again in a couple of weeks to reassess the local collegiate tootsie ball scene.
...Cruis-O-Matic gig tonight at Houck's Steak House in east Cobb. Edward Tanner reports the boys will start at 9:00 and play through midnight. Unforeseen circumstances may prevent our attendance, but should we make it, a more detailed accounting of their efforts and some new pics are in the works.
...Props to the good folks at GPC and the entire Georgia University system generally I reckon. Yesterday afforded the opportunity to visit the Gwinnett campus of GPC where I was struck by the absolutely civilized environment on the now two building grounds. New, clean, attractive, and stuff worked. Keep scratching those lottery tickets fools...errrr... folks. A lot of first and second generation immigrant kids are getting a pretty damn good start on higher education from what I can tell.
...Just a little history on the Pledge of Allegiance. Written in the 19th century by a Baptist Minister (albeit a self admitted Christian Socialist), the right reverend did not see fit to include the phrase "under God." That was added by Congress in 1954 after a lobbying effort by the Knights of Columbus. The separation issue before the courts at present is in the nit picking department. What amazes me is that no one objects to government agents/teachers leading kids in a pledge of allegiance to the damn government, God or otherwise. Suttle of course has the diplomatic solution: simply replace the pledge with a different mantra:
"First rule
is!:
The law of Germany.
Second rule is!:
Be nice to mommy.
Third rule is!:
Don't talk to commies.
Fourth rule is!:
Eat Polish
salami."
Much like Jefferson, Joey continues to teach us if
we'll only listen.
September 16, 2005
...President Bush did as well as could be expected in his address to the nation last night from New Orleans. Given his rhetorical limitations and the circumstances at hand, the President did an important mea culpa and outlined an ambitious undertaking to rebuild the Katrina devastated area. From the I told you so department, comes the recollection of Suttle World's take on the effort shortly after the storm: US taxpayers are going to pick up most of the tab for the rehab, so could we please do it right? The idea of inspectors general to oversee the massive federal spending looks nice on paper, and is a prudent move depending on who is chosen. Being a dutiful citizen, Suttle World proposes the following list as a beginning of those who should be considered: Warren Buffet, me, Walter Williams, Zell Miller and David Wells (just making sure you're paying attention). More to come.
..."On weekends. A flashy rock n roll guitar. I'm cruising in my daddy's car. I do my homework in the bar." And such is the most predictable Teengenerate agenda for nephew Ridge this weekend. Tonight, a date with buddy Nathan as they take in Motley Crue at Phillips (no comment from a guy who actually paid money to see Judas Priest). Saturday its off to east Cobb to catch Cruis-O-Matic at Houck's Steak House.
September 15, 2005
...Just not enough time for the necessary takes of current goings on. Twenty years ago, the thought of Delta filing bankruptcy was unimaginable on two levels. First, how could Delta ever fail? Second, if for whatever reasons they did, the impact on the Atlanta economy would be devastating. Well, Delta and Northwest both filed their respective Chapter 11 petitions yesterday and life carries on as we know it. Delta is still a big employer in the area and their gradual decline has had a tremendous impact on individuals who long ago signed on as lifers. Still, yesterday's filing is little more than a legal two-step, with the bigger question of survivability the larger and very much unanswered question. From a consumer's perspective, my guess is that Southwest would be more than happy to occupy a lot of the gate space now being used by the two carriers should it become available.
...More comment required, but suffice to say that Andruw Jones is not just having a MVP season. He's having a HOF season (not a year that puts one into Cooperstown---just a Faster and Louder MVP season). This is most gratifying to Suttle World who has always been in the center fielder's corner. More amazing than gratifying are his detractors who continue the mantra of "well, but..." Well, but this! Let's see: the game's best defensive center fielder is going to hit at least 45 dingers with 140 RBIs. The last guy to do that was named DiMaggio, who up until A Rod this year, was the only right handed hitting Yankee to ever have 40 homers in a season. Speaking of the Braves, neighbor Cindy chimes in on the great door bell debacle in email yesterday that is republished here despite a rather rude trumping in DUFFLE Week I.
Meant to weigh in on this
yesterday but better late
than never:
Deidre and I both despise that particular sound
effect
as it causes our dogs to FREAK OUT everytime they
hear
it. And I must admit going to the door myself on
more
than one alcohol-related occasion.
Pavlov + Baseball = PavBall?
Why are they screwing with us in this manner????
Stop the madness. No ding-dongs!
September 14. 2005
...The inept Suttle World staff has yet to get me a figure on the amount of money spent in the name of homeland security over the past 4 years. This I do know: 1) the emergency preparedness along the Mississippi Gulf Coast is akin to that of Bangladesh. 2) The power can go out over the entirety of freakin Los Angeles and it takes over a half hour to determine some idea of the cause. 3) I cannot carry a spear gun nor a disposable lighter aboard an aircraft. More to come.
...We welcome nephew Ridge as he once again resettles into stately Roberts/Suttle Manor. Reckon Suttle World will have to take a deservedly greater interest in the happenings of the Tucker Tigers. Given their vaulted status of late, the media does a pretty decent job at covering high school football, but this may well finally prompt the attendance of some hoops and baseball in the coming months.
...Pressed for time. Without objection, permission to extend and revise my remarks, especially as they relate to a portion of what my buddy Sen. Kennedy said yesterday in prepared remarks during the Roberts confirmation hearings.
September 13, 2005
...Back and running after resolving the techno issues with the good folks at Powweb. Again, while they dropped the billing ball for a few days, this is the only real interaction I've had with the group in the two and a half years of Suttle World. Deduction leads me to believe they must be doing a pretty decent job---justifying the couple extra dollars a month expense as opposed to the untested dirt cheap hosts out there.
...DUFFLE Week I is done. The Dixie Pipes, Great Falconi, Clayfus and Mother Tuckers are big winners and move a game up on the rest of the field.
...Though the Braves have only 9 home games (plus post season) remaining, it is still not too late to demand Turner Field ixnay the damn door bell/ding-dong sound effect played periodically. STOP IT! I've answered the door no less than 5 times this season only to find nobody there. Postseason ticket tip, especially for day games---eBay. Gotta be careful, but often one can find holders of corporate seats they can't use, don't want to go to waste and will let go for 10 bucks a throw if you'll motor over to Roswell or wherever to pick them up. Caveat emptor---look for the described safe suburban seller. A guy named Phil who'll meet you at a QuickTrip could be a problem with counterfeiting/bar codes and all.
...Big win for the Falcons---on Monday night for God's sake.
...Regardless of to which side of the aisle on leans, one will be hard pressed find more statesmanlike remarks than those made by Judge Roberts yesterday before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Text---click here. A radical advocate for the rule of law. What a concept.
September 12, 2005
...Apologies to the gentle surfer who may have found Suttle World unavailable earlier today. It would seem as though the good folks at Powweb didn't get around to renewing my request to re-up the hosting package over the weekend. In all fairness, this is the only time they've dropped the ball in over two years, so que sera sera.
...Busy morning with update coming as service returns. DUFFLE scores updated on home page, and other usual updates made as is the custom.
September 11, 2005
...The date tells the story. Lessons learned remain to be seen.
September 10, 2005
...Suttle will be clicking the TV Listings link at Suttle Sports shortly to determine what football fare is available to local viewing throughout the day. The marquee match up comes tonight as Texas travels to Columbus to take on Ohio State in a battle of the perennially over rated. This brings to mind the seasonal rant requesting a championship playoff for Division I schools. We'll start this year asking politely: pretty please?
...We welcome nephew Ridge back to stately Roberts/Suttle Manor and congratulate dear old Dad on his return home after a week in the Duke Medical Center lock up. The consensus seems to be that several gallons of IV Draino followed by a couple of units of stem cells should cause his blood to behave in the manner intended.
September 8, 2005
...Memo to DUFFLE owners: please check your teams and report any problems ASAP. Again, if you can fix the problem with a simple drop/add on your end, then go ahead at no charge. If its more complicated (the only problem I could foresee is possibly with the numerous Johnson's, but there, all picks seemed pretty clear to me when entering last night). Changes will be affect before 5:00 this evening if necessary.
September 7, 2005
...First, a bit of
housekeeping---the "Continuing Features"
traditionally listed, inappropriately, at the top
of this page have been moved to the still under
construction
along with an amalgamation of other items of immense
fascination. Given its never locked and no
one requires a combination to get in, the reason
for choosing the vault metaphor is left to the
psychoanalytic crowd. Meanwhile, Suttle
World is looking to expand its horizons by
bringing in reports from correspondents. For
instance, cuzin Bill has been enlisted as a correspondent
for both the official pizza bomber and ugly ass
mascot (a Hall of Fame for which is being
created). Volunteers welcome as there are
several slot to fill. Do you have the
silliness necessary to cut it in Suttle
World? Email
for details.
...
draft is tonight at stately
Roberts/Suttle Manor. The gavel falls at
7:30 and at this writing, it is believed that five
of our now nine owners will be present. It
is most disappointing, though understandable, that
brother Bill had to bow out from the hollers of
Ellijay. We'll view this as a sabbatical and
expect your return in '06. The league can
run fine with 9 teams, but there is room for a
tenth should anyone be interested. Email
for details.
...When all is said and done with regard to the slowed response in New Orleans following Katrina (the remainder of the Gulf Coast is worthy of discussion, but we're staying in NO for now.), race indeed may have played a roll in a manner I have not yet heard mentioned. Is it possible somewhere, somebody made a call to not deploy military and law enforcement preemptively because they feared the photos of armed troops marshalling black folks around in a yet to be devastated city? If so, the lessons learned from the Clinton years of governing by overnight polling and focus groups was lost on whomever at the expense of thousands of lives. Meanwhile, Fox News would appear to have built a pretty decent links page for Katrina Relief. Will continue looking for more and/or better.
...Braves beat the hapless Mets last night in a pitching duel that lacked the glitter advertised. Still, the good guys have a 6.5 game lead on their way to A FOURTEENTH CONSECUTIVE DIVISION TITLE! High school sophomores entire lives have been lived under a pennant. Call me Furman Bisher, but sometimes I kinda miss the bad old days...
September 5, 2005 LABOR DAY
...Just got the shout out from President Bush regarding his upping the stakes in the Publisher's Clearinghouse Supreme Court Sweepstakes and supercharging the nomination of Judge John Roberts to that of Chief Justice. Can't say I saw that one coming, but reckon the White House felt it necessary to take preemptive action lest this bring back Sandy, the human random decision generator, notion took hold.
...Blood drive this afternoon (noon to 5:00) at Northlake. Similar blood collection efforts are underway around the ATL and the nation on a faster and louder basis as a result of the Katrina disaster. Click for details.
...Pushed for time as the year's first fantasy football draft begins in less than an hour. Work hard, or don't work or whatever it is one is supposed to do to enjoy their Labor Day. No additions to the Katrina Relief links page, but still a good start for those looking to give cash. Submission still welcome, a couple so far. Will get posted ASAP.
September 4, 2005
...Difficult to imagine all nine chairs being taken when the Supreme Court hears its first oral arguments for the coming term October 3 with the unfortunate but not unexpected fact that Chief Justice William Rehnquist will not be down for breakfast this morning. Did I mention I attended the sixth grade at Churchill Road Elementary School with his daughter Nancy---the year he was appointed to the court by President Nixon? Also difficult to imagine a story pushing Katrina aside for the moment, but two vacancies on the high court is news indeed, though one needn't have been a part of the inside the Beltway crowd to have cashed this quinella.
...A short list of Katrina relief organizations is now up for your reference. More to come, and, again, your local organization or church's efforts info is also cheerfully solicited. Email here. It would appear as though the cavalry has finally arrived to most of the huge areas of devastation. This morning's talking heads should prove most interesting. The Suttle World proverbial list, with sharpened #2 pencil, is within arm's length to record any and all finger pointers, after first returning the favor.
...Props to Tech!!! Big win against the Plainsmen on the plain, or whatever that ugly ass place is called, last night. (Links: Tech, Georgia) Meanwhile, Georgia comes up big against a ranked Boise State team that I gotta believe was scheduled several years ago when they were still Boise State/Maryland Eastern Shoresque. Regardless, it does leave one wondering if some of these newly emerging programs from the West and and Midwest are all that when matched up against a traditional school, especially in the southeast on a hot-humid September afternoon. So the home team gets off to a great start on the road with one of the country's toughest schedules staring them down and Dawg Nation gets pumped up---a preferred state of being in the coming weeks, under the now "the bigger they are...." coping strategy for dealing with the insufferable. Meanwhile, George Washington remains undefeated.
...Should the
gentle surfer be an aficionado of a previously
featured topic of Suttle World that would
currently appear to be out of reach, let not your
heart be troubled. Still under construction
is 
Here one will be directed to such
epic areas as the Peachtree Old Fart Golf Classic,
the Dirt Square Gorf Rats and other stuff now
launched from the top of this briefing. The
intranet of Suttle World if you will. Also
under re-construction is the Suttle
Sports page. Its ugly now, but still has
the appropriate links needed to navigate with web
Wide World of Sports.
September 3, 2005
...Suttle World's admonishment/bitch slap of the left for trying to take political advantage of the Katrina disaster requires amendment. Seems as though they where just the first on the scene of what has quickly become a lovely game of national finger pointing from the usual suspects on both sides of the aisle, each wrapped in his/her own wholly unrelated agenda. Frustrating is an understatement on several levels. First, federal spending for the fiscal year ending in less than four weeks should come in at right around $2.5 trillion!; and this is the preparedness we get for a catastrophic disaster of exactly these proportions that's been on the drawing board since before forever?!! Second, it would appear there will be fingers to point, but there will also be plenty of time to affect said pointing after such time as the hundreds of thousands of American refugee's kids have formula, old folks have access to appropriate maintenance medications and the whole crew can avoid defecating in their own water supply. Again, blood drives are being conducted all over the metro ATL this weekend as is presumed to be the case around the country---click for details. Neighbor Cindy was kind enough to pass along the URL of an ATL organization coordinating animal/pet rescue and temporary adoption. The list of such good folks will grow in the days and weeks to come. Suttle World will try to get a Katrina relief page up and running later today. Any and all suggestions regarding civic organizations or a church with which you are involved that is providing or planning to provide relief efforts are welcomed---email. Caveat donor! Suttle World can speak from personal knowledge about a few organizations but makes no claims of the bonafides of any group. Merely contact info. The gentle surfer must take it from there.
...In the aftermath department, an unsolicited mental hygiene tip from Suttle World. It would seem almost universal that reasonable folks/non-sociopathic are wrestling several bears. Its a combination punch starting with the stinging left jab of frustration at not being to be of any immediate help. Excepting law enforcement and health care folks, there is nothing other than give money, that any of us can accomplish to ease the current human suffering. Next comes the heavy overhand right that is the guilt involved with enjoying any aspect of one's own life, much less a holiday weekend soiree or some such in the face of Katrina. Question: just generally speaking, would you pay $5/hour to have fun? Define fun any way you wish, and most of the above mentioned reasonable folks would answer in the affirmative. Suggestion: go ahead with your Labor Day weekend activities and pay $5 and hour for the privilege. Going with the little lady to Bob's for a cookout? Yeah, the festivities will be overshadowed by Katrina, but "pay" $5 for every hour spent at the get together. Consider running the idea past other in attendance and you might be surprised to end up with a kitty of $100+ to give the Red Cross, et al. Same deal for playing golf, watching a ball game or movie on TV, sex, etc... $5 an hour into the jar. Just an idea.
...A couple of final Katrina takes---amplifying one floated yesterday. This runs against the oh so grand libertarian principals of Suttle World, but just as I never expected Harry Browne to win the White House in 2000, I'm in touch with the fact that the massive clean up and rebuilding effort will fall on the U.S. taxpayer. That being the case, how about we get this right? This is nearly Marshall Plan in scope and will define the Bush administration as much as the response to the attacks of September 11th. Astute observation from dear old Dad who notes Congress could convene from a recess in less than 24 hours when the issue was Terry Schiavo. Took six days this time around. I'll take it from there and overstate the obvious by noting something about which way the TV cameras are pointed or some such. The rest of the world (all along the food chain) is mortified at the seeming failure to respond and well/over covered lawlessness in New Orleans by the cable all missing pretty white girl news networks. Suttle World has little use for "world opinion" regarding the manner in which our nation conducts its affairs, except when its right.
...Speaking of dear old Dad...First, thanks to the many who have inquired as to his well being of late. The latest report has Bill Suttle at Duke Medical Center as an in patient, recovering from the stem cell transplant performed over the past week. Dad sounds amazingly strong and anxious to be let loose---the procedure was completed Thursday, they're just hanging on to him for observation. I must confess preferring the lock down at Duke for a few days, despite being able to sympathize with the tedium of an extended hospital stay---he gets stronger and Mary gets a little more rest, maybe. Oh yeah, the big picture is looking rather optimistic as well. Though it required strolling an extra block down Chemo Ave. (a week of inpatient chemo), the latest results indicated a full remission going into the aforementioned stem cell procedure last week---about as good as it gets.
...So what you think. Launch of the beta version of the new and improved Suttle World appeared early yesterday afternoon, following regular publication. There's still a long way to go (compounded by not knowing exactly where that long way is), but I must admit to being fairly pleased with the change over/"upgrade" so far. The gentle surfer's take is always appreciated.
September 2, 2005
...As noted on by the home page marquee, there is a blood drive set for noon to 5:00 this coming Monday/Labor Day at Northlake Mall. Numerous drives are taking place over the holiday weekend both here in the ATL and around the country---click here for Red Cross blood donor site (very user friendly allowing one to set appointments and the like. Unless you have a bus to donate, there would appear to be, unfortunately, little else one can "do" at this particular point to assist the refugees of this catastrophe, less than a day's drive from stately Roberts/Suttle Manor. This assumes you're not the Partridge family or picked up a bus at the Trailways auction. Of course, give what you wish to whom you choose, but we continue to think long term. Given nephew Ridge is not currently residing at stately Roberts/Suttle Manor, there is plenty of room, and have agreed taking folks in through some reasonable organization is a real possibility. It just appears as though waiting for the dust to settle is the order of the day---literally.
...Caught Franklin/Billy Jr. Graham interviewed last night on Fox. First, shame on you for pushing your own agenda, though no doubt you're right: if only we had agents of government leading kids/citizens in prayer in government schools, none of the looting in New Orleans would have happened. Beyond that the guy had several very positive pro active suggestions that are thinking long term. First the right reverend made a plea for every church of every denomination in the southeastern United States take in 10 refugee families. Sure, that might be a challenge for the Nebo (NC) United Methodist Church, but if the Behemoth Baptist Church down the street takes in 15...it would have a tremendous impact. Graham also suggested (and this idea may have well been floated prior) taking able bodied refugee volunteers, and hire them at $20-30/hour assisting in the demolition and rebuilding efforts that will eventually have to be affected. Given its a given that the U.S. taxpayers/Fed are going to pick up the lion's share of the tab for clean up and reconstruction, you may as well use the labor of the displaced in a singular well coordinated efficient effort. There are a seemingly infinite number of ergs yet to be expended. If one is looking for a very dim silver lining at present: unemployment could drop a full point or more.
...Work on the promised new and improved Suttle World (beta version) is nearing completion. Beta may well prove a generous adjective. Alas, if WYSIWYG were only true... And if its new the gentle surfer seeks, disappointment lurks, though the look and organization should eventually prove to be more better.
September 1, 2005
...For those capable/eligible, donating blood is the singular suggestion that I can make at this particular point in disaster recovery. Presently there does not appear to be a shortage of cash, nor anything for folks to spend it on, and given the lessons learned after the outpouring immediately following the September 11th attacks, we have made the conscious decision to allow the dust to settle before choosing where to make our meager contributions. Well over 100,000 refugees in the United States is beyond comprehension. The left attempting to make political hay out of the most catastrophic natural disaster in this nation's history is repulsive beyond words.
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