Archives---March 2010
March 31, 2010
...Suttle World, nor the gentle surfer, just can't beat opening day/night. There's the smell of freshly cut grass and the hot dogs left over from last season; the bright, perfectly painted white foul lines; crisp, clean new uniforms, Suttle World in blue; moms and dads huddled together as the temperature fell with the sun. Wait! "Dead ball. Send him back coach. He left too early." Yes, Suttle World has now worked its first two games, umpiring for the Little League most proximate to stately Roberts/Suttle Manor 2.0. The originally scheduled opener for Monday was postponed due to weather. Suttle World had no objections whatsoever---avoiding a first time out in over 20 years with the big kids (11 & 12). Tuesday afforded the opportunity to shake some rust off the old Suttle World hinges by first, unexpectedly, calling a 6 y/o game (umpire didn't show), followed by Suttle World's scheduled 2 ump, 9 y/o game. It was a blast, and Suttle World was pleased to depart without the need for security. More details to follow.
...Suttle World would respectively suggests that if a loss by Roger Federer in a non-major is a prominent headline on the web this morning, its a slow news day.
..."(AP) CLEVELAND – Police say a motorist fleeing officers in Cleveland abandoned his car and jumped a fence — landing in what turned out to be a prison yard."
...Starting a two week engagement this evening, the planet Mercury will be appearing nightly in a sky near the gentle surfer. Astronomers say that Mercury and Venus will appear unusually close together between now and April 10. Because Venus is one of the brightest objects in the night sky it can be used as a pointer to find the hard-to-see Mercury. The gentle surfer is advised to look in the lower western sky about an hour after sunset. Find Venus and look down and to the right for Mercury. Yep, go to Venus, hang a right, and you can't miss it.
March 30, 2010
...Its a no basketball Tuesday in Suttle World, excepting for props sent up the eastern seaboard to the New Jersey Nets who captured their 10th win of the season last night against San Antonio. The victory moves the Nets to 10-64 on the season, and ensures the 1972-3 Philadelphia 76ers will continue to hold the title of the worst NBA season of all time. Suttle World wonders if Tom Van Arsdale pops a bottle of bubbly each season once the last team has won its tenth regular season games in an inverted geezer Dolphins kinda deal.
...According to the Associated Press, police in Punxsutawney, PA last week charged 55-year-old Donald Wolfe, of Brookville with public drunkenness after several witnesses saw him trying to resuscitate a long-dead possum on the side of the road. Not only did Wolfe physically try to bring the possum back to life but he may have also tried invoking religious avenues as one witness reported seeing him performing what she described as a possum séance. The latter probably offered better hope as State Police Trooper Jamie Levier reported that the possum had been dead for a while. John Barleycorn takes yet another round on points.
...Suttle World is shocked! Shocked! Ricky Martin must feel great relief by ending years of rumors by announcing that he is, in fact, gay. Suttle World is delighted Martin is out of the closet. This will make it that much easier to get him out of the house, and gone for good. La vida this. On second thought, maybe not.
March 29, 2010
...No shockers, just two thrilling basketball games to set up the Final Four this weekend in Indy. Michigan State makes another appearance, and is joined by Duke. This, of course, sets up 2010's Second High Holy of Sport this Saturday when the Spartans and Butler tip off around 6:00. Duke and WV will make for the nightcap.
...At least 37 are counted among the dead from two rush hour suicide bombings on Moscow's Metro system earlier today. Russian officials are pinning the blame on Islamic rebels from the Caucasus region.
...Egyptian archaeologists have unearthed a 3,500-year-old door to the afterlife from the tomb of a high-ranking Egyptian official near Karnak (Suttle World just couldn't make this stuff up) temple in Luxor. None of the archaeological party that entered the door have been heard from since, and local authorities say they have no plans for any search and rescue efforts.
...Reluctantly, Suttle World revisits the rink, with some expectation the ever inept Suttle World staff has finally gotten things correct. Rochester Technical, Miami, Wisconsin and Boston College are the four entrants. Suttle World will stop while its ahead, and provide greater insight as the staff has the opportunity to study the matter further.
...While in the hockey aisle, Suttle World is delighted to belatedly report that minor league hockey will return to the region of stately Roberts/Suttle Manor 2.0 next season. The Johnstown, PA Chiefs (yep, same as the infamous Slap Shot movie) will close shop and move to Greenville, SC for the 2010-11 campaign. Like many towns/cities of its size (600,000 metro, not including Spartanburg), Greenville has hosted several minor league clubs in the past, and has been actively seeking a new team to occupy ice space that has remained frozen in the local civic center since the last ECHL club fled in 2006. As a show of respect to a city that simply couldn't support them, ownership has left the name "Chiefs" with Johnstown, and will hold a contest to re-name the relocated squad later this year.
March 28, 2010
...Its just whacky. Sure George Mason proved the impossible doable, but Butler? Suttle World is reasonably certain it could ask all gentle surfers with the Gentleman's Gentlemen of Butler in their Final Four to raise their hands, and that there would be no risk of any rotator cuff damage. This Hillbillies of West Virginia, now that's another story. A #2 seed getting its ticket punched for Indy isn't much of a shocker, unless one considers they didn't make a two point bucket for nearly the first 23 minutes of the game, and rarely trailed. The Mountaineers looked big and beefy. Kentucky looked young, and also like a force to be dealt with for the next couple of seasons. Today: Tennessee v. Michigan State at 2:20, followed by Baylor and Duke. Suttle World won't pick a game, but does predict Fan Man will parachute onto the court during the second half of the Tennessee game.
...Moving over to the collegiate rink, the gentle surfer will find two entrants into this year's Frozen Four next week in beautiful downtown Detroit (was Newark already booked?). Wisconsin emerges from the Western Division with a win over St. Cloud State, while RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) gets its first ever berth with a win over New Hampshire. Today, its Yale v. Boston College (5:30 EDT-ESPNU) and Michigan against Miami (no, of Florida) to determine the last teams to advance. Props to Alabama-Huntsville for representing well once again in the tournament. Suttle World wants to know who picks up the team's travel budget. They play a respectable schedule, just no one within 500 miles of campus.
...President Obama is an accomplished individual. Despite the demands of the office, he has time for 179 public appearances on health deform and 15 recess appointments immediately after Congress leaves town, but everyone has their limits, and that, no doubt explains why Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu was stiffed while in Washington last week. Very presidential. The gentle surfer that wishes to begin waving bye-bye to Jimmy Carter 2.0 now, does, in fact, risk rotator cuff injury.
March 27, 2010
...The big lesson from Friday night's NCAA tournament---don't underestimate Tom Izzo when Michigan State gets this deep. In the big upset of the evening, Tennessee knocks off Ohio State. Like the rest of the planet, Suttle World had written off the Volunteers ages ago when it lost four players prior to the season. Still they're monsters who have as a good a shot as anyone (obviously, for an entire universe that is bracket impaired). Today, who the hell knows? Suttle World certainly isn't going to pretend to have a clue---just watch and enjoy. Butler and K State tip it off first at 4:30 followed by West Virginia and Kentucky.
...Suttle World certainly extends its concerns to the families and loved ones of the 46 South Korean sailors who are still missing following an explosion aboard their naval vessel yesterday. That said, if it had to blow up, Suttle World is most pleased that it was an accident as opposed to a North Korean torpedo. A limited nuclear exchange can really put a damper on an otherwise pleasant spring weekend.
...Get ready for health deform. AT&T announced yesterday that it will go ahead and write off $1 BILLION this quarter in anticipation of the costs associated with the monstrosity that don't even take effect until the latter part of the decade. Other major US corporations are expected to follow suit. $10 TRILLION in extra debt over the next ten years, with unemployment right around 10%. Symmetric/parallel construction. if nothing else.
...Memo to members of Congress returning home for your spring break: enjoy the vacation, and the interesting chit-chat to be enjoyed with constituents. 11% of them approve of the job you're doing, so it should be a fun holiday for all.
March 26, 2010
...If there was a perfect bracket (unlike the over 5 million submitted to ESPN) prior to last night somewhere in the known universe, it is not in that condition this morning. Yeah, Suttle World thought Syracuse a tad overrated (much like long gone Jayhawks), but didn't see Butler coming. Xavier drops a double overtime heartbreaker to K State, and prevents Suttle World from looking a little on the smart side. The only upset Suttle World sees today is Northern Iowa over Michigan State, and the betting public tends to agree. Otherwise, Ohio State, Baylor and Duke should survive without much trouble. A four team parlay pays 10:1, and might be worth tossing a fin towards the betting cage.
..."(AP) BARCELONA, Spain – Up to a third of breast cancer cases in Western countries could be avoided if women ate less and exercised more, researchers at a conference said Thursday, renewing a sensitive debate about how lifestyle factors affect the disease." Assuming the research is worth a damn, Suttle World would speculate that the same applies to most all cancers and chronic disease. That whacky immune system and all, don't ya know?
March 25, 2010
...The record is pretty clear: Suttle World does not care for the recently passed health deform legislation. That said, Suttle World had the benefit to ask a physician yesterday as to his take on the new law of the land. The good doctor was generally pleased with the bill, and Suttle World simply listened as opposed to debating the notion with someone who has passed organic chemistry and gross anatomy. Suttle World continues to object, but is willing to listen and learn from those who continue to fight in the trenches.
..."(AP) WASHINGTON – After nine straight hours of beating back Republican amendments, Senate Democrats hit a temporary snag Thursday in their drive to rush through a package of fixes to the big health care law signed by President Barack Obama." It was a dark and stormy night...
...Tourney time again---the biggest let down from the first weekend being all games starting around bed time for Suttle World. Suttle World has given the gentle surfer enough upsets to be way ahead on the money line. Now its time to follow the chalk, with a singular exception in the form of Xavier---as in, how does the gentle surfer like the Atlantic 10 now? Suttle World says take West Virginia, Kentucky (hey---Suttle World got Cornell into the sweet 16), Syracuse and Xavier. Like the rest of the planet, Suttle World's brackets are a mess, but following the sage advice of Gene, the Caucasian, on the money line would have the gentle surfer rolling in bucks.
...Yes, baseball starts in less than a week, but there are much bigger fish to fry in the interim.
March 23, 2010
...How whacky is this year's NCAA Tournament? ESPN is reporting that none of the over 5 million bracket entries submitted on ESPN.com is perfect as the big dance approaches sweet sixteen games Thursday and Friday night.
...Monday was the second busiest day in the 15 year history of the Drudge Report with over 36 million visits to the site. Though a worthwhile check during any breaking news story, Suttle World has long had little use for Drudge who merely provides links to major wire service stories with often outrageously out of context, re-written headlines.
March 22, 2010
...Yes, it is a dumbfounding day in Suttle World. Democrats did indeed form in what Guinness now recognizes as the world's largest ever circular firing squad, and passed the Senate's health deform measure Sunday night---a bill everyone dislikes. For the gentle surfer who understands that this bill that the President will sign into law on Tuesday is so wrong on so many levels, no explanation is necessary. To the gentle surfer who does not, no Sylvan class would be sufficient. Suffice to say its the next 204 days until the off-year elections. Does anybody remember last August?---or say gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey, or a Republican being elected to Ted Kennedy's seat?
...And then there were 16, and Suttle World picked the two big upsets from the NCAA tournament Sunday in the form of Cornell and Xavier (following a Saturday in which it had Northern Iowa, St. Mary's). Aside from that, and a buzzer beater win by Michigan State, it was a Sunday to follow the chalk. Duke is the lone ACC school standing. The Big 10 continues to represent unusually well, and the Big East still has two alive. This is far from Duke's best squad, but Suttle World now sees the Blue Devils winning it all, with Xavier, West Virginia and Ohio State as the other Final Four schools.
March 21, 2010
...A Sunday triple treat in Suttle World. Spring has officially rolled around on the calendar, and as an added special surprise May Day could arrive as early as 2:00 this afternoon (EDT). Suttle World could ramble on about the vote being the most important in the history of the House, and the impending fall of the Republic, but even if Democrats gather in a circular firing squad and pass the idiotic Senate health deform measure, its far from a done deal---just too close for Suttle World's comfort. First, unless the Vice President declares marshal law, and overrules the Senate parliamentarian (Suttle World spelled it right on the first shot!), there are a thousand or so amendments that will require a vote in the Senate during this pseudo reconciliation process. Second, now Republicans would really have something to run on come November. Hell, Suttle World will even take a quick trip up the every dark cloud has a silver lining aisle, and fantasize about a voter revolution that would change the party in power in Congress, that would extend the Bush tax cuts and give the economy a puncher's chance of recovering.
...The third and crowning scoop on today's ice cream cone is, of course, the NCAA Tournament. Suttle World was looking pretty damn smart when the fighting Rosaries of St. Mary's bounced #2 seed Villanova and #1 Kentucky fell to the Plows of Northern Iowa, but ends the day at a tepid 5-3. Taking Wake over Kentucky was no more of a stretch than the first two upsets, and the #1 Wildcats win is far from a shock. Suttle World was most impressed by Tennessee, and from where in the hell did Washington come? The Pac 10 was awful, and this may not have been their best ball club. Eight more contests today will leave sixteen left standing for next weekend's action. Suttle World would like to take the dog in all eight, but can't in good faith. Today's picks (in order played; lower seed/underdog in italics): Syracuse (Gonzaga has a real shot here, and at +$250 on the money line, looks very attractive), Ohio State (ditto), Maryland, West Virginia, Cornell, Xavier, Texas A&M, and Duke. Not terribly bold, but most likely the reality.
March 20, 2010
...So the daring pick of Vermont over #1 Syracuse didn't exactly pan out as predicted, making Suttle World a tepid 11-5 on the second day of March Madness that was fun, but not quite the thriller that Thursday proved to be. Regardless, the dance continues this afternoon with eight more games on tap. The first may be the most compelling as St. Mary's takes on Villanova. The Gaels are on a big time roll, and Nova struggled out of the gate. On paper, the 8:15 contest between Kentucky and Wake Forest would appear to be the marquee game, and Suttle World likes the Deacon Demons (do Vickers have different demons?). In the other six contests Suttle World will take Ohio, Northern Iowa, Butler, Kansas State, New Mexico and Baylor. Yes, that would be four huge upsets today! And the Big 10 goes 5-0 on their opening day---an amazing state of affairs to which Suttle World tips its hat.
...Suttle World knows Democrats don't have 216 votes at this writing to pass the Senate's health deform bill, and still has serious doubts that enough will materialize before the House votes late Sunday on the 2,300 page measure passed on Christmas Eve. For what its worth, Suttle World thought the President read a mean teleprompter yesterday afternoon at James Madison University, but does find it interesting that while acknowledging distinguished faculty at the school, he failed to mention renown economics professor Dr. Walter Williams, who gladly explains to the gentle surfer in his March 10 column how ridiculous the notion of government health care is for starters.
...Suttle World would make an announcement that, "all Lithuanians please leave the building," but has too much basketball to watch today to get involved with New Jersey law enforcement.
...The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with a Houston jury that said J. Howard Marshall was mentally fit and under no undue pressure when he wrote a will leaving nearly all of his $1.6 billion estate to his son E. Pierce Marshall and nothing to Anna Nicole Smith. Memo to the 9th US Circuit: Anna doesn't care. It also strikes Suttle World that perfecting service during this appeals process must have proven most difficult.
..."(AFP) - Americans who don't pay their taxes face hefty fines, can have their property seized or their wages withheld. Or worse still, they could find themselves named and shamed on the Internet." Suttle World immediately wonders how far down on the list of shame Treasury Secretary "Little" Timmy Geithner's name will appear.
March 19, 2010
...And they're off...with one hell of a break from the gate of the NCAA Tournament. For the record, Suttle World neglected to complete a bracket prior to the start of play yesterday, and none are worse for the wear, given Suttle World had only about half the upsets, with the few others not working out ( i.e. San Diego St.). Would the gentle surfers who speculated that the Big East would put seven teams in, only to have three of their four entries out after the first day of play please raise their hands? Thank you. Suttle World will refrain from beating the Big 10 about the head and shoulders for being overrated, largely because no Big 10 teams were among the 32 that played Thursday. Wake wins, for Suttle World, an unexpected overtime thriller over Texas. Many argue that the first two days of the tournament are the best, and Suttle World is loath to disagree, excepting that some years, they can be long days of blowout after blowout. Such was not the case Thursday. Looking ahead to Friday's action, first and foremost, Suttle World has a burning question. If Le Moyne with a student body of 3,500 can go into the Carrier Dome and beat Syracuse in an exhibition game last November, why can't the Catamounts of Vermont become the first ever #16 seed to knock off a #1 in the form of the Orangemen? Look for an early upset, with Suttle World taking #12 Cornell to beat 5th seeded Temple. Every other matchup has great potential. Watch and enjoy the greatest spectacle in sport. The gentle surfer is asked to please ignore that Carolina will most likely get whooped by Mississippi State tomorrow in a second round NIT game with an 11:00 am (EDT) tip of in Starkville. This is after staggering past William & Mary in round one. And how is GW doing in its NIT bracket? Well, seems as though the Colonials' invitation got lost in the mail. Coastal Carolina, sure. Troy and Stony Brook?---no problem. Even good old Quinnipiac University got in, not George Washington. For the gentle surfer trying to keep score at home, Suttle World is far from a straight chalk follower as it today takes (winners listed in order of games played today, with picked higher seeds/underdogs in italics): West Virginia, Cornell, Clemson (ACC sentimental only), Wisconsin, Georgia Tech (not necessarily just sentimental if they've learned in inbound the ball in the last week), New Mexico State, Ohio State, Maryland, Siena, Texas A&M, Duke, California, Xavier, Pitt, Florida State, and VERMONT.
...If its Friday, bride of Suttle World has successfully made her return to stately Roberts/Suttle Manor 2.0. Such, in fact, is the case, following a most efficient commute Thursday evening. Spring teases the western North Carolina area with sunny skies and a high temperature forecast in the mid 60s,
...Suttle World is now the proud owner of one pair of steel toe shoes, and looks forward to assembling a lovely collection of eagerly donated slings and arrows in the near future.
March 18, 2010
...Suttle World is tired of health deform, Imus. The gentle surfer is all too familiar with the former mantra, but this morning it serves as a peg upon which to hang a logical notion that has become a taboo subject. The last time Suttle World checked, there were 50 states that composed the United States of America--the fourth largest nation on the planet (by area), occupied by about 300 million people. Why can't we let the states compete? Not just with regard to health care, but everything from education to motor vehicle codes. In any given year, one in seven Americans move, so relocation, while a pain in the ass, is very doable. If the gentle surfer prefers the way New Mexico runs its "railroad" than the state in which the currently resides, then move to that state. Alas, this has been a trip through Fantasy Land. The Ninth and Tenth Amendments have become arcane and ignored parts of the Constitution, so that the imperial federal government can make one size fits all policy for all the citizens of all the several states. PS---Pelosi still doesn't have enough votes, because the House hasn't voted. Mercifully, Suttle World sees no change in the status quo prior to the Easter recess.
...The Boston Celtics lost their first game on St. Patrick's Day in 42 years yesterday. That's almost as good as Army beating Notre Dame.
...March Madness (sue me) cranks up this afternoon. The Suttle World bracket will be published prior to the first tip off this afternoon. Check back, and look for the link on the home page. There have been more "wide open" tourneys in the past, but not many. Observations over the regular season leave Suttle World under the impression that San Diego State has about as much of a shot as any of the #1 seeds.
...Suttle World extends its most major props to IV Waring who is set to graduate from his basic training in the Navy's submarine program in Chicago this week. Pops Waring and the entire mishpuka are said to be in route to the Windy City to take part in the festivities. Good job, mom and dad.
March 17, 2010 - St. Patrick's Day
...Suttle World welcomes the gentle surfer to the first amateur day/night of 2010. The gentle surfer determined to engage in the "festivities" of today will have over eight months to clean the puke off their shoes until the next time around the block on Halloween, New Year's Eve rounds off the big three days that make the room spin for the unskilled alcohol consumer. This raises Suttle World's continuing curiosity of those who get knee walking drunk in the southern hemisphere. Does the room spin the other direction?
...Given its official, Suttle World will take one more trip down the "I told you so" aisle that Tiger would make his return at the Masters.
...At this writing, inflation numbers for the past month are not in. What is known is that the Fed announced yesterday that interest rates would remain just above zero. Such is a fine state of affairs for the sixteen people in the country that are now house shopping, but it concerns Suttle World greatly. Typically, monetary policy/interest rates are adjusted to either stimulate or slow down the economy. The economy remains hideous after almost two years of a close to zero LIBOR, and Suttle World sees little room to lower rates below nothing.
...If Speaker Pelosi, who has now absorbed enough Botox to be a Clutch Cargo character, had the votes to pass the Senate's health deform bill, the House would have already done so. "We need to pass this so we can see what's in it," is among the great politico quotes in recent history, with the Speaker knocking former President Clinton's "meaning of is" down a notch.
March 16, 2010
...Play in game tonight. Winthrop and
Arkansas-Pine Bluff will tip if off in Dayton tonight to determine the 64th
entry into this years NCAA tourn
ament.
...Helping out with another struggling morning update is cuzin Matt with another stellar installment of Bruner's Texas Takes
March 15, 2010
...Suttle World begins the week with a few of those whacky little things called facts. Overall, the profit margin for health insurance companies was a modest 3.4 percent over 2009, according to data provided by Morningstar. That ranks 87th out of 215 industries and slightly above the median of 2.2 percent. By this measure, the most profitable industry over the past year has been beverages, with a 25.9 percent profit margin. Alas, the "evil insurance industry" argument is blown out of the water as backers continue to avoid the question of why a sixth of the nation's economy must fall under government control to cover 20 million chronically uninsured.
...No real surprises for Suttle World as the 2010 NCAA Men's Basketball brackets were unveiled yesterday evening. Props to the A-10 for sending three teams (Temple, Richmond and Xavier) to the big dance. Tech gets a tough first round draw against Oklahoma State (Suttle World is pleased with the Jackets success, but still doesn't understand how a team that can't inbound the ball could get to an ACC Final). The most unusual feature is that only one school from North Carolina (Duke) still playing, while South Carolina sends three---Clemson along with the mighty Winthrop and Wofford. The official Suttle World brackets will be released prior to Tuesday's "play-in" game.
March 14, 2010
...Another Sunday, and another cast of talking heads yammering on about the moot point of health deform. Suttle World does not believe that Speaker Pelosi has or will get enough support from her own party, that is incontinent with fear over the bill's status, to pass the Senate version. The "not me coach" TV spots of Congressional incumbents are already beginning to air at stately Roberts/Suttle Manor 2.0. Meanwhile, the White House has set itself up for a PR nightmare. President Obama delays his departure for an overseas trip until the end of this week when Congress goes into recess. This means the President will now be photographed climbing onto Marine 1 with his tail tucked between his legs, and then present himself to the leaders of Australia and Indonesia as the emasculated leader that he will have become. Only 232 shopping days left until the November elections, and another 730 until Jimmy Carter 2.0 is vanquished. Suttle World is really glad the President has changed to focus the discussion to jobs, as promised in the State of the Union. Otherwise, this health deform thing would be getting pretty tedious.
...Once again Suttle World is delighted to not be on the selection committee for the NCAA tournament. Upsets in conference tournaments all week, combined with a wide open field, and its going make for a tough job today in Lawrence (or wherever the hell it is they meet). Props to West Virginia on their first ever Big East title. Four conference championships will be decided this afternoon, and then the brackets unveiled at 6:00.
March 13, 2010
...Thousands of New York City taxi drivers overcharged passengers by more than $8.3 million over the past two years by setting their meters improperly. Only $8.3 million. Suttle World would have speculated that small an overcharge could be rung up in a half dozen fares from midtown to JFK. That's less than a dollar a head for the entire metro New York area. The gentle surfer concerned over such mundane things should just be glad it didn't get bit by the goat while riding up 2nd Avenue.
...The Euro Herschel Walker space station is reporting that some of their new fangled gear has picked up on molecules that could be the foundation for life in the Orion nebula. Time out! This thing can break down the molecular composition of stuff millions of light years away? The Brits have yet to master forced air heat, and Euros don't get deodorant, but they can do this!?
...Yes, boys and girls, its that time of year again. One of those two occasions each time around that we re-set clocks that are already in perfectly good working order. Sunrise Sunday morning at stately Roberts/Suttle Manor 2.0 - 8:23, and why? Does daylight saving time save energy? Nope, objectively proven to not be the case, along with major losses in worker productivity at the times of the clock changes. Suttle World contends daylight saving time only survives so that sun will not rise at 4:30 during mid summer in The Hamptons.
...Sorry about SOTD, but it had to show up eventually on the Every Day Is Saturday TV Theme Song edition. Clutch Cargo, the John Wayne Gacy of "cartoons."
...Props to Georgia Tech who held on to advance in the ACC Tournament last night over Maryland. The win most likely puts the Jackets into the NCAA tournament. Evan Turner's 40 foot buzzer beater over Michigan proves once again Suttle World's contention of college hoops having the greatest thrill possibility in any given game, as the Big 10 once again prepares to enter too many teams that will fall by the wayside next weekend. To paraphrase many of the genius minds of Wall Street, its a stock picker's market with regard to a winner this year.
March 12, 2010
...And so the 2009-10 basketball campaign ends for the defending national champion North Carolina Tar Heels, as they fall to Georgia Tech for a third time this season in the first round of the ACC Tournament last night in Greensboro. Carolina finishes a disappointing 16-16. The one (or two) and done mentality of current college players is as evident this season as any. There are some pretty good ball clubs out there, but none appears to be dominant. The conference tournament schedule is hot and heavy today. The gentle surfer is urged to check its local listings for details.
...Now word on the street redeems Suttle World, as news organs are now filled with the speculation of Tiger's return to golf at Augusta National. Again, its the only tournament of the year in which Woods can be reasonably certain of a "civilized" welcome from the highly disciplined Masters' gallery.
...A melancholy AMF to Merlin Olsen who shuffled off this mortal coil yesterday. A Hall of Fame defensive lineman with the Rams' fearsome foursome cum commentator and serviceable TV actor, Olsen was 69----a shortened life like so many of his colleagues.
March 11, 2010
...Suttle World remains preoccupied with the de-moving process that is proving to be most daunting. In hindsight, the current state of affairs was predictable, given that eleven years worth of stuff (pared down though it may have been) is a lot to transfer from stately Roberts/Suttle Manor and properly arrange in stately Roberts/Suttle Manor 2.0. "The beat [down] goes on."
...Speaking of beat downs, George Washington whimpered away from another disappointing season---dropping to Dayton 70-60 Tuesday night in first round Atlantic 10 Tournament play. More college hoops takes as the big tournaments get a bit deeper into play this weekend.
...The Transportation Department said Thursday that its projections show traffic deaths declined nearly 9 percent in 2009 to fewer than 34,000. That's the lowest level since 1954. Highway deaths have dropped steadily since 2005. Suttle World would hasten to add that this trend can be easily reversed by imposing new CAFE regulations. Last year's data, of course, can be attributed to the stimulus package that, as the gentle surfer is well aware, not only creates jobs, but also raises the dead.
March 9, 2010
...The White House and congressional Democrats running Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY) out of town with rumors of a sex scandal to get rid of a Dem who wasn't going to go along with a health deform bill is nothing new or disturbing. The fact that the main stream media makes no reference to the ultimate in hard ball intra-party politics is alarming.
...The mighty fighting Colonials travel to play Dayton tonight in the first round of the Atlantic 10 Tournament. The Flyers, a notoriously tough team on their home court, went 14-2 in Dayton so far this season. If a tornado strikes the arena, and the game is moved to Georgia Tech---played before 37 people, GW has a shot, otherwise, its say goodnight, Gracie on the 2009-10 season. Cornel, East Tennessee, Murray State, Northern Iowa, Old Dominion, Siena, Winthrop, Wofford and big upset winner Saint Mary's have all secured bids in the NCAA tournament by virtue of having won their respective conferences' championships.
March 8, 2010
...Given Suttle World hasn't darkened the doors of a movie theater in over 15 years, last night's little award show on the west coast is of absolutely no interest at all to Suttle World.
...The long and thrilling birthday weekend
continues today with yet more de-moving activities up to and including an
attempt to obtain driving privileges from the
great state of North Carolina.
...Fortunately for the gentle surfer, another flat morning update is rescued as cuzin Matt can step to the plate and gets the week off to a big start with yet another stellar installment of Bruner's Texas Takes.
...The record will show that it was thirty-nine years ago tonight that Joe Frazier won a unanimous decision over Muhammad Ali at Madison Square Garden in their first of three epic heavyweight championship fights.
March 7, 2010
...Let the word come forth with the fanfare of a thousand trumpets that today marks bride of Suttle World's successful completion of yet another full orbit of the sun. The stately Roberts/Suttle Manor 2.0 is busily at work preparing for the days festivities that are scheduled to include furniture moving, box unpacking and a trip out of the cave to forage in a social manner this evening.
...Speaking of foraging (Suttle World: always the master of the segue), Suttle World speculates that many creatures great and small will forage about on this Sunday that is forecast to enjoy sunny skies and a high nearing 60°---the first of its type in nearly three months. Remnants of snow are becoming more difficult to find, but some have warned local authorities that they are fully armed with a northerly exposure, and plan to hold out until June.
...Bring on the tourneys! West Virginia's win in overtime over Villanova in Philly yesterday afternoon was proof positive that college basketball provides the best chance of a thriller as compared to any other sport each time a contest starts. Carolina and GW had dreadful Saturdays, while #1 Syracuse went down at the hands of Louisville.
...Less than 200 miles to the south, Wiffle Atlanta, is meeting for an impromptu work out at Medlock Park around 2:00 this afternoon. In related news, Commissioner Jordan has announced his resignation from the league effective this season. A five year long full-time job of getting the league up and running have been a smashing success, and Jordan now moves on to pursue more pressing matters. Meanwhile, cuzin Blaine Milam has picked up the reins, and will, no doubt, do a stellar job in this, Wiffle Atlanta's sixth season.
...Suttle World shouldn't be handing out munitions for the short bus, opposition crowd. Using reconciliation to jam through a health deform bill isn't a nuclear option, its a kamikaze mission. Do the unthinkable on this bill, and the unthinkable of losing majorities in both chambers is highly likely. In contrast, letting the process run its course will result in no hideous law for Republicans to run against this fall.
March 6, 2010
...Suttle World is most pleased to see dawn arriving on an earlier schedule, and absolutely dreads next weekend, when clocks that operate perfectly well, will be set ahead one hour, and push back sunrise until sometime just after 10:30. Suttle World has always been simply annoyed at the practice of daylight saving time, but now there appears to be some empiricism to the point. A 2009 Michigan State University published by the American Psychological Association study showed that DST has adverse effects on the American workplace.
..."One-Adam 12. One-Adam 12. Be on the lookout for a 459 suspect, described as a sumo wrestler carrying an ATM." That was evidently the call over Moscow Police radio this week. Sumo dude just threw the 200 lb ATM on his shoulder and started shlepping away from a Moscow shopping mall---the original home of the ATM. Police made the arrest as sumo dude and an accomplice tried to load it into a car.
...A number of media sources are now contradicting Suttle World's certainty that Tiger will make his return to golf at Augusta. Word on the street has The Masters quietly requesting that he not make it his first event, so as to avoid any tawdry attention. Come to think of it, the guy who created the greatest sign in sports' history: "Martha [Burk], Iron My Shirt!," outside Augusta National might come up with something equally clever. Bottom line: Suttle World got it wrong. The same sources are also indicating that Woods will return at Arnie's Bay Hill Classic.
...Its the last weekend of for the regular season of most of college hoops, with the lesser leagues already playing tournaments to determine the traditional list of 6-8 Chaminades that end up in the brackets every year. And although a down year for the Tar Heels, its still Carolina at Duke tonight at 9:00 (ESPN). Meanwhile, the mighty fighting Colonials of GWU drop to (16-12, 6-9) with a loss to the Aspirins of St. Joseph's earlier this week. The Colonials have the privilege of ending their season on the road in Philly against 20th ranked Temple. Still, GW appears destined to finish in the top 12 of the Atlantic 10 Conference, and earn an entry into their own conference's tournament. Memo to Karl Hobbs: coach, you may want to keep an empty cardboard box in the trunk just in case.
...Suttle World extends its most fervent apologies for not having beat NECKCAR about the head and shoulders. "The Super Bowl" of racing that is the famed Daytona 500 is thwarted by a pot hole in the super speedway?!!!!! Suttle World asks the gentle surfer to consider this announcement before the start of the real Super Bowl: "Ladies and Gentlemen, your attention please. Due to a large pot hole in the center of the field, only about a half of today's Super Bowl game will count, and the contest will take eight and half hours to complete. Thank you." A pot hole?!!!!! Sure, there were pot holes o plenty for Braves and Falcons to navigate at the old Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, but that didn't count, because no Brave or Falcon of that era ever got a whiff of anything Super Bowl like. Yes, basketball has had roof leaks, and hockey has confronted serious fog issues during Stanley Cup games, but those were fixed by tearing down the old arenas and installing amenities such as HVAC, and that was over thirty years ago! A pot hole?!!!!!! Suttle World really enjoys those yellow flags too. Yep, nothing like watching a competition being played out, even though it doesn't really count---sorta like watching a first baseman toss infield for an hour. A pot hole?!!! Danica Patrick doesn't exactly do it for Suttle World either. Sure she's a hottie, but in the driver's gear she looks like just another 40 or so waiting for the command: "Gort! Klaatu barada nikto!"
March 5, 2010
...Suttle World believes the children are our dinner, up to and including the typically tougher and stringier cuts from college students. Memo to Golden State higher education protestors: shut up and pay up.
...The final score from last night's contest in Arlington: Pentagon Police 1 Nut Case 0.
...The Friday morning to do list is a tad longer in Suttle World this Friday, so it once again mails in an update in a less than scintillating week of commentary.
March 4, 2010
...Its Thursday morning story time in Suttle World. In a neighboring county near to that in which stately Roberts/Suttle Manor 2.0 is situated, one of the few large employers, a stone mill, closed last week, eliminating the final 80 jobs that numbered over 300 in the company's hay days. Meanwhile, the county's largest town will see a 60 year long business close on an already mostly vacant main street due to a lack of traffic. Unemployment is around 40%, and there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Suttle World does not find this little story (one repeated many times in smaller, rural communities across the country) to be sad. Suttle World finds it infuriating. Twas taxes and regulation that killed the economy. The Obama administration seem to believe that the current 10% unemployment rate can be solved by government extending grants to grow organic arugula in an energy efficient manner. Suttle World would suggest a different strategy. Get rid of the damn federal income tax, NOW! A repeal of the 16th Amendment is the greatest of all possible stimulus packages.
...Jack Nicklaus tells reporters that he thinks Tiger will make his return at Augusta next month. Really? Does a golden bear poop in the woods? Of course Woods will return to play the Masters (if he returns at all this year). First, its a major, and aside from the babes, majors are all Tiger really cares about. Second, and even more importantly, Woods can come back on Augusta National and avoid any ugly remarks from the gallery that would be summarily executed by an old guy in an ugly green jacket, armed with an automatic weapon. These geezers frown on patrons passing gas, much less making some idiotic remark, and losing their badges for a lifetime.
March 3, 2010
...While some areas near stately Roberts/Suttle Manor 2.0 received up to nine inches of snowfall yesterday, the Manor itself recorded approximately a half foot of the white stuff. Local schools are closed today, and secondary roads are nearly impassable from the refreeze overnight. Consequently, Suttle World will continue to shovel the interior of stately Roberts/Suttle Manor 2.0, as it is hostage to he elements for at least the first half of the day.
March 2, 2010
...Suttle World mails in a brief update this Tuesday as snow that began falling shortly after daybreak now is beginning to cover streets. Up to six inches is forecast, and Suttle World has a number of outdoor duties that are better accomplished with a dusting as opposed to half a foot of the white stuff.
...Yes, there are pockets of civil unrest and looting now happening in Chile. That said, the video Suttle World has seen of "looting" included items such as food and diapers, as opposed to televisions and booze---the preferred booty of American looters. The devastation from last Saturday's earthquake is incredible, and Suttle World still contends that Chileans are handling the disaster better than most areas of the US.
March 1, 2010
...March comes in like a lamb, and a non-shivering lamb at that even at stately Roberts/Suttle Manor's 2,248 foot elevation. A melancholy day break farewell to bride of Suttle World (who continues her ATL commute) was followed by the traditional AM session of the walking of the dogs in temps that were near the freezing mark. The March 1st forecast is for mostly sunny skies and a high near the 50° mark, but tradition returns Tuesday with several inches of snow expected.
...For all the beating about the head and shoulders the Olympics deservedly receives from Suttle World, yesterday's gold medal hockey game was a real thriller. Yes, Suttle World was pulling for the good old US of A, but Bing Crosby scoring the game winner in overtime gives the Canadians one hockey gold medal to go along with their six of thirty NHL franchises. Suttle World speculates that there must be some reason why 90% of Canada's population lives within 100 miles of the US border.
...The AP headline screams: "Drug Gangs Taking Over US Public Lands." The gentle surfer probably is familiar with the situation on the west coast where mostly Mexican drug gangs have set up shop in northern California to grow cannabis in national forests or some such. Suttle World has a solution. Legalize cannabis, and the price falls to that of other dead house plants, thus providing no motive for a drug gang to form, mush less "invade" US public lands. The gentle surfer in the back waving its hand back and forth is excused, and may use the rest room. To the other gentle surfer jumping up and down about Australian researchers who have allegedly found a link between long term cannabis use and an increased incidence of psychosis: two things; 1) The war on the war on drugs aint about the dope you dope. Its about the notion that an individual owns themselves, and, therefore, may make their own decisions about what to and not to put into their body. 2) The study doesn't entertain the notion that those prone to develop a psychosis may also be apt to be long term cannabis users, because that would be arguing semantics, and GET THESE SPIDERS OFF OF ME!
...Though weary, there was progress made in arranging and unpacking in and around stately Roberts/Suttle Manor 2.0 over the past weekend. Many ergs remain, and many things remain missing in action, but the search and rescue effort continues as rooms finally begin to take shape. The past eight weeks have been spent largely shoveling snow outside. The next eight should be preoccupied with shoveling Suttle World crap inside.
WORLD 
