Actually it's Suffet, with only a single t at the end. The name is probably a Farsi variant of Shofet, the Hebrew word for judge or magistrate, meaning a non-hereditary civil ruler, as in the Book of Judges. The word Suffet also appears in ancient Phoenician, where it has the same meaning. Hannibal's father, Amilcar Barca, had been the Suffet of Carthage, and Hannibal later held that office himself.

Anne and I will be traveling with our spouses as official goodwill ambassadors from the New York Pinewoods Folk Music Club, and our schedule includes the following:

• Friday, October 17, 2008. Orpington Friday Folk at the Liberal Club. 7 Station Road. Orpington, Kent. 8:30 PM.

• Saturday, October 18, 2008, 3:00-5:00 PM. Anarchist Bookfair at Queen Mary & Westfield College. Mile End Road. London. Anne and I will be among several performers, and each of us will be doing two 10-minute sets some time during those two hours.

• Sunday, October 19, 2008. FAB (Folk - Acoustic - Blues) Club at the White Hart Pub. Argent Street. Grays, Essex. 2:30 PM. As noted in this thread.

• Thursday, October 23, 2008. Black Swan Folk Club at the Black Swan Inn. Peasholme Green. York. 8:00 PM.

• Saturday, October 25, 2008. House session and potluck at the residence of Elizabeth "Liz the Sqeak" Draper. Plaistow, London. 7:00 PM until whenever. Please bring songs, food, and beverages to share. LtS or send her a PM for location, direction, and other details.

--- Steve