t41 zzz

thinkpad t41 running current as of a few hours ago
xorg, gnome 2.21, ...

if i execute zzz it suspends s3 seemingly quite happily

when i open lid, there is disk activity, the numlock and
shiftlock lights flash a bit (this was normal behavior
when zzz last worked some weeks back), and the screen
comes back on.  but ...

it never completes the zzz script, i.e. no shell prompt.
if i put an echo in /etc/rc.resume it shows it has been
executed.

though i can move the cursor with the touchpad, focus
never grabs any window.

and there is no response to keyboard.

at kevin oberman's recommendation, i added radionctl
hacks a la

    if [ -x /usr/local/bin/radeontool ]; then
       /usr/local/bin/radeontool light on
       fi

to suspend/resume.  no effect.

suggestions on how to fix or even how to debug would
be appreciated.

randy