Weekend smoke.

My first smoke of the summer. This is a 12 lb. boston butt already pulled after I smoked it over the weekend. Turned out pretty tasty. Injected with marinade and seasonings. Put in smoker for 14 hours at 215 degrees. FTC wrap. Fell off the bone.

Arkansas homegrown tomatoes courtesy of N. Little Rock farmers market.

True.

Except for the fact that there is no job security.

This doesn't look like a Weapon of Mass Destruction to me.

Hmm...click title and read the article. While your at it, read between the lines. This is the reason Bushy boy had sent the troops. Not WMD's. You can't tell me Darth Cheney isn't dipping his toes in the iraq black gold. Hell, he's swimming in it. Too much blood for oil IMHO.

Sunday funnies.

Arkansas Own.

Mr. Levon Helm.

Big Fish Friday.

Yeah...thats me. Yeah...i worked up a sweat pulling that hoss into the boat.

Chinese Democracy

This guy has been holed up basically since 1992 working on an album that even the Dr. Pepper suits don't think will ever come out. Well, supposebly (i got a buddy that says supposebly instead of supposedly...props KM!), these are some tracks that have leaked on this here internets. Click title and take a listen to "better." Did it really take him the better part of 16 years to write/produce this?
Keep in mind that when he started:
Internet had yet to exist as we all know it.
ProTools....wha????
Gibson hadn't put out that guitar that teaches itself yet.
Who's Velvet Revolver?

Let me introduce to you...Torquenstein.

This machine is serious about road rallies. Click title. Enjoy.

R.I.P. George Carlin

Dan Reeder

John Prine signed this guy to his record label. I would have to...if I had a record label.

Honey, we've got company

This fella appeared in my backyard Friday before last. I snapped this pic with my cell phone at around 8 am. By the time 3 pm rolled around, he was still hanging out back there.

Office lingo hand jive.

Nice little article on workplace lingo and phrases non of us should ever use again. Click title.

My old boss used to use the term, "You can't beat farts out of a dead mule," OUTLOUD during big executive meetings while I was working for a large blue chip fortune 100 company. He didn't give a shit.

I love that guy.

I'm out.

We here at Floatysworld are on temporary hiatus. Stay tuned as we might update you while on our journey. Wish you were here.
Regards,
FloatyDevice

Arkansas Parks and Tourism Promo.

From the looks of the map, it looked like the camera zoomed in somewhere on Interstate 540...probably around Rudy.

R.I.P. BO

Guitarist George Thorogood, a Diddley disciple, put it bluntly.

"[Chuck Berry's] 'Maybellene' is a country song sped up," Thorogood told Rolling Stone in 2005. " 'Johnny B. Goode' is blues sped up. But you listen to 'Bo Diddley,' and you say, 'What in the Jesus is that?' "

Webbies.

Ok...here are some of the websites I have been perusing over that past couple of weeks. Of course, lets not forget the great sites just to the left of this post. Enjoyable reading can always be found on TMFW, strangepup, and The Arkansas Times blogs.

Big Fish Friday.

Is this where we're headed?

Remember this movie? The Road Warrior featuring Mel Gibson. His breakout role. A great fantasy movie depicting a world where gas is at such a premium that people will kill for it.
This movie might have been ahead of its time. Let's hope fantasy doesn't become reality.
With Mel's drinking problem, I don't think he should get behind the wheel.

$$$Four Dolla a gallon$$$

Big Fish Friday.

Happy Birthday Reverend.

I might have to go see this guy.

He plays in LR every couple of months. Never seen him before but had heard good things. Looked up one of my all time favorite songs on youtube and found his version. Check it out.

Sign o' the Times

Just read that the Polar Bear is now a protected species. To bad we can not say that for the American worker and American companies.

Diggin' stix

I have a recomendation for you. Pringles is now making these things called Pringles Stix. Damn good eatin'. Try'em. I hope they don't go the way of Corn Quistos. Does anyone other than me remember these things?

You can feel it.

Her telephone rang 'bout a quarter to nine
She heard his voice on the other end of the line
She wondered what was wrong this time
She never knew what his calls might bring
With a cowboy like him it could be anything
And she always expected the worst in the back of her mind.

He said, "It's cold out here and I'm all alone,
I didn't make the short go again and I'm coming home.
I know I've been away too long.
I never got a chance to write or call
And I know this rodeo has been hard on us all
But I'll be home soon
And honey is there something wrong?"

She said, "Don't bother comin' home.
By the time you get here I'll be long gone.
There's somebody new and he sure ain't no rodeo man."
He said, "I'm sorry it's come down to this.
There's so much about you that I'm gonna miss.
But it's alright baby, if I hurry I can still make Cheyenne.
Gotta go now baby, if I hurry I can still make Cheyenne.

He left that phone danglin' off the hook
Then slowly turned around and gave it one last look
Then he just walked away
He aimed his truck toward that Wyoming line
With a little luck he could still get there in time
And in that Cheyenne wind he could still hear her say.

She said, "Don't bother comin' home.
By the time you get here I'll be long gone.
There's somebody new and he sure ain't no rodeo man."
He said, "I'm sorry it's come down to this.
There's so much about you that I'm gonna miss.
But it's alright baby, if I hurry I can still make Cheyenne.
Gotta go now baby, if I hurry I can still make Cheyenne.

What a great song. Written by Aaron Barker and Erv Woosley and performed by George Strait. This song is so vivid that I can actually see it as an image plays out in my head. Good songs are like that. I can still make Cheyenne.

Big Fish Friday.

No coozy required.

Damn, I wish I could be there.

This happens to be one of my favorite movies of all time. Would love to hear Judge R. tell stories about Phoebe Cates.
SPICOLI, dude.
Click on the title above.

Can anyone guess the celebrity spawn?

Hayes Carll.

One of the best new albums that I own.

http://www.glossary.us/the-better-angels-of-our-nature-free-download/
I don't write music reviews. Lets leave that up to the people at Rolling Stone or your local paper. However, It would be wrong to not tell you about a fantastic album recently released by the band GLOSSARY.
This is one of those albums that has now taken place in my top 10 albums that I own. I will let the music speak and you can develop your own thoughts.
Go to the link above and download the entire album for free. Thats right, not only is this one of the true gems of 2008 but you can own it for FREE. The band wants you to spread the word and enjoy the music they create. Take a look at their website and you will also find where they say the best bar in America is right in our backdoor at The White Water Tavern. I have to agree with them as well.
Again, this album is free. If you like it, go out and see them when they come to your town. Give'em ten bucks. Money well spent.

Big Fish Friday.

Big fishin'.

Happy Monday.

Rub up all over the economy. Get some stimulation going.

News this weekend came out that the stimuation check from the government will be coming earlier than planned. With the housing market crisis, the lowering of interest rates, etc...our prez thinks this will help stimulate the economy.

Huh, let's put this in laymans terms. They are basically saying that they need to put some money in the pockets of the peanut gallery so they can go spend it at the concession stand.
We still are going to go back to our seats and watch the game that the government is playing. We are just watching this game by the bureucrats who run our nation. A game that no one will win. With the exception of the fat cats. Haliburton gets to shoot the freethrow in OT. I call foul.

So what's everyone gonna do with their free money? $600 bucks if your single, $1200 if your married.
A limited few will know exactly what to do with this money. Save it in an interest bearing account. Pay off any amount of debt one may have.

All very good ideas but what are MOST people going to do? People who may not have the common sense to do what they need to do with this "free" money?
My guess is they will purchase a couple of cartons of Winstons. Fill up the four wheel drive Ford F250 (you know the one with the sticker of Calvin peeing on a Chevy symbol.) Saturday night, go ahead and plunk down fifty bucks for a pay per view of WWE Wrestlemania 2008 grudge match. Can't pass up Rasslin' people! Get yourself a keg of Ol' Milwaukee's Best for the boys. Give a couple hundred bucks to the ol'lady. Have her run to the "wal marts" to build a stash of little debbie snack cakes. Might need to get a new deerstand while your at it. Hell, go ahead and get ya one of them new browning 12 guage. Oh wait a minute...meant to get me a new flat bottom boat. I'll put that on the credit card.
Get the idea?
Believe me...I'm not going to turn down $1200. It'll be a great band-aid for the wound this country has right now. Unfortunately, we need the wound stitched.

Big Fish Friday.

This gal is always out at Lake Conway when i'm driving down I40. She seems to catch quite a few.

Inspirational and motivating.

Even better than Matt Foley.

Does anybody else remember this?

This is the intro to a show called "It's Garry Shandling's Show". Obviously starring Garry Shandling. This was back in '86...maybe '87.
This show didn't last past probably one season, if that. But for some reason, I was really drawn to it. Very wry humor and alot of whine. At the time, it was different than the sitcoms of the 80's. Garry often talked directly to the camera. If memory serves me correct, it came on the ol' boob tube on Sunday night. A little start up network called Fox that you could only get by having one of those little circular UHF antennas.
Looking back on this show via some old youtube clips; I could see where Garry paved the way for another, then unknown, comic Jerry Seinfeld.
Listen to this intro song...Did Randy Newman write this? Sure sounds like it.
Gotta go check wikipedia on this bit of trivia.
Over and out,
FDV

UPDATE: "The show's bouncy, well-remembered theme song was "This is the Theme to Garry's Show", and was often a target of ridicule and disdain by the other castmembers. It was performed by Bill Lynch."
Found on Wikipedia.
Also this show ran for several seasons on Showtime (72 episodes total). Fox picked it up in 1988. That explains why I remember watching at the neighbors house that we lived near from 88 to 92. GOTDAM MY MEMORY IS FUZZY!

a riffle, a run, a pocket, a pool...

Kindly click title. Thank you.

Weekend feeling.

Saturday high of 74. Clear blue sky. Turn off this computer and go out and play. Theme song courtesy of Mr. Greg Brown.

Comcast doesn't even offer this..

...as they are ramming their poor customer service and outrageous prices up your butt.

Big Fish Friday.

Go F yourself Comcast

Reputation for poor customer satisfaction
There have been many reported incidents with individual customers describing less than satisfying interactions with Comcast's customer services. These include situations with technicians falling asleep on the job[15], customers having to spend hours on the phone to fix simple problems, and sending a bill addressed to "Bitch Dog" to a customer who had recently complained about her service.[16] On October 15, 2007, a 75-year old Comcast customer named Mona Shaw entered her local Comcast offices with a hammer and destroyed some office equipment before being arrested and fined for damages. Mrs. Shaw was angry and frustrated due to a previous encounter with Comcast customer service in which she and her husband wanted to speak with the manager and were forced to wait outside the offices for two hours before being informed that the manager had already gone home.[17][18] Comcast's customer service quality has prompted several individuals to create blogs and websites dedicated to informing the public of Comcast's service, including media columnist Bob Garfield's website, ComcastMustDie.com,[19], ComcastSucks.org,[20], and the online community, F-Comcast.com [21].
In 2004 and 2007, the American Customer Satisfaction Index survey found that Comcast had the worst customer satisfaction rating of any company or government agency in the country, including the Internal Revenue Service.[22] Comcast's Customer Service Rating by the ACSI surveys indicate that the company's customer service has not improved since the surveys began in 2001. Analysis of the surveys states that "Comcast is one of the lowest scoring companies in ACSI. As its customer satisfaction eroded by 7% over the past year, revenue increased by 12%." The ACSI analysis also addresses this contradiction, stating that "Such pricing power usually comes with some level of monopoly protection and most cable companies have little competition at the local level. This also means that a cable company can do well financially even though its customers are not particularly satisfied."[23][24]
Taken from Wikepedia.

These guys suck!

I've been experiencing this world...they need to rename it, "FuckyouuptheASStic!"
Rot in Hell Comcast. You sorry ass corporate monopoly piece of shit.

Big Fish Friday.

If you ever get the chance to go on a coed topless fishing trip, do it.

Use your Illusion

Weird dreams last night. Took me back to a place in time that I remember like yesterday but seems so distant in the same breath.

Cheers!

Big Fish Friday.

You can feel it in the room.

The late great Lowell George of Little Feat fame. Here he is explaining his slide guitar techniques to a roomful of Germans. Watch this whole clip. So much spirit and emotion filled up the room as he began playing and singing. This guy was a true genius of slide guitar.

Epic.

A major part of Michael Jackson's legacy is 1982's Thriller, which cemented his reputation as the top '80s pop musician. In its initial run, about 25 million copies of the album sold in the US, with another 20 million overseas.

Groundbreaking MTV videos for the album's title track, "Beat It," and "Billie Jean" were a big part of the record's success. Seven of Thriller's nine tracks entered the top ten, and the album remained at number one for 37 weeks in a row.

I remember getting Thriller as a Christmas gift in 1982. I was in second grade. I lived in a very rural town and we had a satellite dish. Remember the kind that stood about 16 feet tall and was about 12 feet in diameter? Yeah, one of those. Later that year, MJ released a video for Thriller on this little cable station called MTV.

Even though I was a child, I remember thinking that video seemed to be more theatrical than creepy.
Now, MJ seems more creepy than theatrical.

said best.

Big Fish Friday.

'nuff said.

Double black diamond state.

frontier airline
hertz rental
denver to basalt
buttermilk
green runs
figure it out
feeling good
roaring fork river
mexican food
snowmass
two creeks
greens and blues
talk of heidi klum
big burn
black run
shaky but controlled
frying pan river
a few casts no catch no release
beautiful
Della Reese?
$31 reuben sandwiches
blue run
action photo
calves ache
ibuprofen
pack our lunches
torn acl
stretcher
cuvee
laugh
deer crash
basalt to denver
hertz
frontier airline
home.

Big Fish Friday.

Technically, it is Saturday but I told you I would be back with BFF. So, here tis.

I'm Out.

Dear loyal readers,
Currently I am growing a beard and pretending to be a mountain man.
I will be back open for bidness on Friday, March 21st. with such popular features as Big Fish Friday.
Until I return, please enjoy the archives section.
Godspeed,
FDV

Opening act.

This is Kane Welch Kaplin. Saw them open for John Prine this past weekend. These guys are musicians in the true sense of the word. I went to buy their cd after the show. Sold out. They made some believers that night. Highly recommend.

R.I.P.

Just found out Jeff Healey passed away at age 41. He will be missed. "See the Light" blew me away when I was 16...still does.

Big Fish Friday.

Easy! Your gonna lose it!

2008 Song of the year (so far.)

Big Fish Friday.

Whoa! Easy there gal!

Somethings amiss...

This weekend, my better half and I went to a fancy schmancy restaurant for a little celebratory anniversary. I had been wanting to give this place a try for some time but wanted to wait for the special occasion.
We got there and were seated promptly. The better half ordered a glass of wine. I ordered a brew. The waitress was prompt and offered the specials of the evening as we perused our menus. We quickly decided that we were both in the mood for...Beef, it's what's for dinner.
We both ordered basically the same dinner. A six ounce filet that our waitress said was "aged 21 days." Whatever that means. We both like our steaks cooked MEDIUM. Soooooo, we placed our order and within 20 minutes we had our entree.
The beautiful one took the first bite and she made a little noise that I took to mean succulent. And she said it was.
I couldn't wait. I cut into mine and looked down. No pink. No red. Nothing but brown charred meat. The look on my face said everything. The waitress noticed and stepped forward.
"How is it?" she asked. "Well, it's ok," I replied, "but it definitely doesn't look like my wifes medium."
"Here, let us take care of that," she said as she picked up my plate.
I explained that I really have never done this before and I have heard the horror stories about what happens to the customers food if they were to send it back to the kitchen. Hey, I've read Anthony Bourdain.
"I've worked at other restaurants where I wouldn't recommend returning your food and it isn't like that here," she said, "Our chef runs a small kitchen and prides himself on getting it right."
Obviously, my next question was to ask her where she used to work.
"Outback Steakhouse."
Duly noted.
Aaaannnyway, ten minutes later and my new steak arrived. I cut into it and looked inside.
This time it had the look of uncooked sashimi at the sushi bar.
By this time, the manager had come over to check on us and offer us a free dessert for the problem.
I couldn't take it. There was no way that I was going to be able to even take one bite of this slab of meat.
"Well, it doesn't look like my wife's medium steak."
"I'm sorry, it doesn't," the manager said.
"Look, i have never sent food back to the kitchen. I'm not that guy that complains. But honestly, this is so rare that I won't be able to eat it."
Graciously, the manager took it back. We thought he would just put it on the grill for a few minutes. fifteen minutes passed and here he comes with a completely new steak.
This time, it was just right. Succulent.
And the free dessert was just as good.
Even though I had to order three steaks in one night, we will gladly go back.
And we will never complain at Outback.

Mr. Belding still rocks.

The best part of this video is near the end when all these girls line up to give Dennis Haskins aka Mr. Belding from Saved by the Bell a hug. The guy from Metal Skool comes correct.

Classic.

I can't believe this made it on television back when The Gong Show was on nationally broadcast television. I'm even more surprised that it made on tv again, this time on the game show network. This might be NSFW.

Big Fish Friday.

My fishing muse.

Retro Monday.

Welcome to Retro Monday. Nope, this ain't gonna be like VH1 "I love the 80's". This is going to be info, arts, and music that captivated our hearts from ages 12-26. Starting out is a band that brings memories of cruising the dirt roads of the county in my chevy silverado back in 1991. This is one of those bands that you might have never heard of but should have. This is The Four Horsemen. The song is Tired Wings. This band is just good ol' boy heavy southern rock. You can only find this on ebay now. I still have the cassette. Just about burned a hole in my Alpine speakers I got at "the wal-marts" back in the day. These guys kick. Enjoy.

Chop Suey.

谢谢你的圣诞礼物
~C Wong

Big Fish Friday.

Now that is a mighty big fish.

Sadness among the devastation.

These pictures were taken the day after the tornado struck Clinton, AR on Feb. 5, 2008. Some pictures are of the boat factory. Others are of what used to be the clubhouse at the golf course. Many pictures were taken as I drove down "Scenic 65". This is Hwy 65 that takes you through the town of Clinton. It was called "scenic" because of the beauty of the trees in the fall foliage. Those trees are now gone. Many homes were destroyed and some that still stand are merely frames of what used to be a home.
All kinds of stories and rumors are being told.
Someone told me that they found the Clinton Public Library sign in a tree in Mountain View (a town about 45 minutes away.)
Someone else told me they are still finding boats in Shirley, AR (about 20 min drive from Clinton) that came from the boat factory that you see the remains of the the photos attached. Who knows?
I do know this: Several good people up there don't have homes anymore. Nothing. Many have lost alot of their belongings. Three people lost their lives. In the same breath, there are many fortunate people who still have their families, friends, and homes (including me!) The tornado came, destroyed, and left. What it left was plenty of human spirit that is there right now doing what they can to help out those in need. This little town will never look the same.

This is how RAWK should be done. Click right HERE.

Click title.

Livin' the life I love. Lovin' the life I live.

James Blood Ulmer. Saw him last night at Hendrix College. Touring guitarst Vernon Reid was his bad ass usual self. You might remember him from his days in Living Colour and the opening riff of "Cult of personality."
It was good just to witness a blues legend. James is big sumbitch. Great spooky sounding blues guitar sound. He told some jokes but nobody could really understand him. I'm assuming they were jokes. He laughed after he spoke. Maybe he was laughing at all the middle class white folks diggin' on the music he was making. Hey, it was a free concert. Furthermore, it began at 7:30 pm. We were in bed by 10:00 pm. Geez, I'm getting old.
Check him out in the above video performing at Radio City Music Hall.

March 14-20

Rental cars will be rented.
Ski clothes will be purchased.
Bags will be packed.
Ipod shuffles will be loaded.
Beards will be grown.
Skis will be rented.
Mountain runs will be studied.
lift tickets will be attached.
giddiness will happen.
Bruises and scrapes will collect.
Muscles will be sore.
Beer will be drunk.
Friends will be enjoyed.
Sleep will feel so good.
Memories will be made.
Good times. Good times.

Rock me mama like a southbound train

without further ado...BIG FISH FRIDAY

With so much work to be done this week, we hadn't had time for the blog. We didn't catch a fish this week either but she is working on one. Photo brought to you by request...thanks LBJ!
FDV