Ray Glier, a Decatur resident and sportswriter who contributes to the New York Times, USA Today, and many other news and sports publications, has written a book, How the SEC Became Goliath: The Making of College Football’s Most Dominant Conference, published by Simon & Schuster.

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) has won the last six national titles in big time football. Not only that, but 5 of the top 11 schools in the current AP rankings are undefeated SEC schools. (Georgia is #5.)

If you’re as cynical as I am about college football, you might have assumed that the SEC achieved this success through a combination of first-rate slime and unrivaled corruption. (Think Lane Kiflin, Cam Newton, etc.)

Ray looks at the phenomenal success of the SEC and makes a convincing argument that they got where they’re at with the biggest players, superior coaching, and lots and lots of money. It’s a fun book; Ray not only knows his stuff but also writes with humor.

If you want to see Ray talk about How the SEC Became Goliath, you’re in luck. Today starts what has officially been declared “The Week of Ray.”

The Week of Ray

Wednesday, September 26th, Manuel’s Tavern, presented by A Cappella Books, 7pm, free.

Thursday, September 27th, Alabama Booksmith (Birmingham), 4pm, free.

Friday, September 28th, Little Shop of Stories, tailgating (with beer, soda, chips, and hot dogs) at 6:30 p.m., presentation at 7pm, free (because “Ray Glier” rhymes with “free beer”).

Tuesday, October 2nd, Eagle Eye Bookshop, 7pm, free.

Also This Week

Cliff Graubart, author of The Curious Vision of Sammy Levitt and Other Stories, An Evening with Pat Conroy and Cliff Graubart with an introduction by Terry Kay, Thursday, September 27th, 7pm, Jimmy Carter Presidential Library, presented by A Cappella Books, $28 for individuals, $38 for couples (autographed book included). (Please note: Pat Conroy and Terry Kay will not be signing at the event.)

Eric Litwin, author of Pete the Cat Saves Christmas, (book release party), Friday, September 29th, 6pm, Little Shop of Stories, free (because it’s all good).

Adam Gidwitz, author of In a Glass Grimmly, Wednesday, October 3rd, 7pm, Little Shop of Stories, free.

* The ability to make official declarations is just one of the many perks of being a Decatur Metro contributor.

The AJC reports this morning that the DeKalb County Commission voted on Tuesday to make recycling services free to all residents, eliminating a one-time $30 subscription fee.  According to the article, DeKalb County recycling participation is only at 21% currently, and the commissioners hope to double that number by waiving the fee.

The the fee has been eliminated, residents still need to opt-in and sign up in order to participate.

• Decatur Root Beer Festival tix go on sale next month [LSOS]
• ASO lockout either extends or ends today [ArtsATL]
• Atlanta mayor proposes new panhandling law [ABC]
• Music Midtown comes of age [ArtsATL]
• Barilla pasta factory cures absentee problem [Planet Money]
• Chicago plans to end pedestrian deaths in 10 years [Chi Tribune]

Photo courtesy of Carl via Flickr

The City Schools of Decatur sent out this press release late yesterday…

Decatur, GA (2012)- Recently-released Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores show Decatur High School seniors scoring above state and national averages.

The Decatur average SAT composite score (mathematics, critical reading and writing combined) increased by 52 points from 1518 to 1570. The state average SAT composite score increased from 1445 to 1452. The national average SAT composite score dropped from 1500 to 1498.

The Critical Reading section offers the highest scores of each of the three subtests. The 539 average (800 is a perfect score on this sub-test) is 51 points above the state and 43 points above the nation.

Increasing achievement and improving instruction in mathematics continues to be a priority in Decatur. Students’ math scores increased from 503 to 514 keeping pace with the nation and exceeding the state average.

Participation rates vary widely in Georgia high schools. Some schools have less than 40% of their students take the SAT. Decatur High boasted a 93% participation rate in 2012.

Read the rest of this entry »

• MARTA CEO Beverly Scott to head up Boston’s MBTA [Saporta Report]
• MARTA spends $50 million too much [AJC]
• …and audit suggests new sources of revenue for MARTA [ABC]
• Photo of Piedmont Park during the 1895 Cotton States and International Exposition [Atl History Center]
  
• Atlanta Streetcar rendering released [ATL Urbanist]
• “The driverless car is coming.  And we should be glad it is.” [WSJ]

Rendering courtesy of the Atlanta Streetcar’s Facebook page

I like a good game of “Telephone” as much as the next guy.  So let’s play, shalt we?

According to Patch, the AJC reported in their Sunday fish-wrap (but not yet on their website) that residents of Sagamore Hills and North Briarcliff communities in northern DeKalb County are now also considering cityhood, after Brookhaven became the latest new city in DeKalb after a July vote.  Non-Brookhavians may recall that particular vote as the “Hell No T-SPLOST!” vote.

According to Patch’s Jonathan Cribbs article, a community leader in the area made mention of potential Sagamore Hills city limits as “a combination of areas south of I-85, bookended by Northlake Mall on the east and the proposed commercial development near North Druid Hills Road on the west…”.  Cribbs also makes mention of an AJC map included with the article, which tags Druid Hills as another area interested in becoming an independent city.

Seems like the city trend in northern DeKalb might be beginning to snowball.

(NOTE: Cribbs’ article also states the AJC piece features some mention of Decatur’s recent annexation musings.  If/when I get that full article in front of me – or more likely when one of you all fills me in – we can discuss that too.)

David sends in this pic of the Metlife blimp over Decatur this past weekend.