Terry Beeson

If you find a chain of C-stores where this is NOT the policy, I would be surprised. I hate to say it, but it is a good policy IF there is a "pre-pay only" rule at the store. To me it is akin to selling booze or tobacco without checking ID first. My sister got nabbed for that one about a year or so ago. They let her off with a warning since she had asked for ID the four or five times prior they tested her. Yep... it's a hard lesson to learn and Ducky should be commended for stepping up to the plate, but I do cross my fingers that the lesson was learned and she will not be so trusting again. Sad to say, it's hard to trust your own mother anymore.... sheesh... One thing that does irritate me is when I pay for something with my credit card. I have the back marked in the signature block "Ask for ID." I've had to pull my DL out on many occasions and smiled at the clerk who asked me to do it. Those that don't ask for the ID make me wonder about the security policy of the store. When this happened one time, I asked the clerk about the note on the back and she said she thought that was my signature... she didn't even look at the back... Another good policy to have - check the back of all credit cards.

Kickinbass... Check on talkflyfishing.com or the forum on flyfishingarkansas.com ... The guy you need to talk to is maddog Mike Davis. He's from up that way and was up there recently for a visit with his folks. He can suggest some good water for you. OR you can email him at lrrtroutnut (at) suddenlink (dot) net

SLOW strips... Yeah, John and Leonard have been slow strippin' a lot together...

JOHN!.... I didn't know you were an ARKIE!!! Hell, I grew up not far from Conway. Use to work there and in LR. I KNEW there was somethin' good about you...

Actually, having worked in statistics for 25 years, I'm just very curious about the study and what it revealed. As Caddis and Ken said, the total makes a difference... Now with what CGB replied, the question becomes how much fuel was used and how many total laps/miles. I don't mean to make light of CGB's comments, but I have this "itch" to know all the details when it comes to a statistical study and experiment - which this was. Yeah, I remember the slower driving saves mpgs from the 70s gas shortage. That was what caused the big push for the 55 mph speed limit... NOT safety... even though that was and added bonus to help get some votes. I also remember Miss Daisy lecturing Hoke on the value of driving 15 in a 40 mph zone....

I KNEW you were EVIL!!!!.... You said it, Mrs Ducky... RESPECT is the key. No real "fear" or hatred... OR love for them.... just respect. But mostly I respect their right to stay away from me...

Why do I suddenly feel the urge to stand on one leg and cluck like a chicken? (Dang, GF... you're GOOD!!... )

CGB, 1.5 to 2 laps out of how many? 5? 500? There would be quite a difference depending on the total number of laps.

AMEN!!!!!

Wayne, you have a great point there... It was very refreshing to see on the news the other day a story about a national science fair and all the great young (16-18 year old) minds there. And they were AMERICAN! However, when they go to work for corporate America, they will be forced to sign an agreement on "intellectual property" and anything they invent, will be patented and owned by the corporation. I know a couple of guys who could be making a LOT of money on royalties, but don't have any rights under their patented processes and products. The corporations they work for are raking in the dollars instead.

BRANSON!!! Of course, I'm kidding. I got the right impression from your first post really. Not that there is anything wrong with the Smokies or the Rockies, but I would hope you didn't find that to be just another trip to Branson with taller mountains. That might not be the "real vacation" you're looking for. I would recommend a trip to the Gulf Coast for a change of pace. Relaxing beaches, a different kind of fishing, "tourist traps", and as for regional cooking, well, it's hard to beat the seafood down there... even if it ain't BBQ'd.... How about San Antonio? The Riverwalk is a GREAT place. The Alamo provides the history. And I'll bet you can find a place to fish down there as well. Another option? Pennsylvania. Kind of puts you back in the trout waters, but wanted to add that to the list with E TN, SC, NC, VA, and CO. And LOTS of history...

Rich, Phil is in Alaska... Far from the waters of Taneycomo... Catchin' big ol' big pheesh... and fly fishin' for whales... pro'ly feedin' Grizzly Bears... and dodgin' icebergs...

Commitments made it difficult to slow down the driving the last couple of weeks, but we did make a conscientious decision to stay home this holiday weekend and grill in the back yard instead of driving all over creation to "get away." With the job situation, I will have to wait until things are better, but I am looking to buy a more fuel efficient car to commute to work. I'm also thinking of giving up driving the big Dodge 4x4 down the driveway to get the mail and walk instead... That shouldn't be too difficult a walk since my driveway is only 30 feet long...

Around 3/4 to a million gallons of water flow through the hatchery per hour. That's not including the water in the river... just the hatchery. I just want to know how much impact this will have. I think the letter from Jed is right on target... Just the facts, ma'am... just the facts.

yeah... but clouds in SEVEN STATES Dano...

I think it's Polar Bear milk they drink... And you have to milk your own Polar Bear...

I think you really hit the nail on the head, Phil. If more of our business leaders and investors would have the same philosophy, we would all be much better off. But pure greed is driving investors and business leaders in today's society. And it is the quick dollar that everyone is after. Quarterly earnings are the barometer of every business and if there is a bad quarter, the business is in deeeeep doo-doo. It is also very sad on society's part that investors take a "knee jerk" reaction to any tidbit of news or information. If Alan Greenspan was overheard at a cocktail party saying prime rates would rise to 25% this year, just think what would happen the next day. And he's not even chairman of the FRS anymore... Remember when Katrina hit and what happened to gas then? Remember how people almost went to war at the gas pumps trying to fill up before the shortage hit? I kicked back, laughed at the ones lined up at the stations that afternoon, and never had a problem getting gas. What would one tank get you anyway? It was a panic caused by pure rumor. It was like every drop of gasoline in the US came from New Orleans. One lady even asked a group of us to pray for her hubby who was a tanker driver and would not have a job because there was no gas coming from New Orleans. I just shook my head. The simply diverted him to Texas and Oklahoma and he kept right on working. A man I worked for once told the story of his dad who in the 60s told his sons about a great investment they should look at. He wanted to invest a huge amount of their money in a building that would "pay US back in about thirty years" and thereafter, make them a good profit. The building was the Superdome in New Orleans and the dad was 79 years old at the time. He wasn't worried about quarterly profits. He saw a potential for a very long term investment to make good money. I doubt very seriously there are very many if any people willing to invest that kind of capital on a 30 year payback. I think I'm going to go put my $99 deposit down on an '08 "Smart Car."

Whale milk?

You should get with Zach Matthews on his site "The Itinerant Angler" and his forum. He knows that area of fishing about as well as anyone I know... well... along with some members of the forum. Phil's place is not a "real" vacation? You should show her who wears the pants in the family like I do... My wife told me we were going on a real vacation to the beach and I was NOT going fishing. I told her "Ain't no WAY I'm goin' to the beach and I WILL be going fishin' if I dang well please...." So... I'm gettin' packed to go to the beach... and I'm not packin' any fishin' gear... (Lord forgive me and be with the Pygmies down there in New Guinea...)

OK... just got off the phone with a friend from Jonesboro who said it was $2.999 there. It's $2.199 and better here in Springfield. It's usually 20 to 40 cents HIGHER in Jonesboro.... WHUT UP WID DAT?

AAAAaaaahhhh... Reminds me of a co-worker who along with me and a bunch of others were sitting in a "fancy" Italian restaurant in Chicago. Our "fearless leader" (a New Jersey boy) had ordered Calamari. Lloyd asked what it was, but Rob just said "eat it... it's good!" Now keep in mind, Lloyd KNEW what it was, but wasn't about to give Rob the satisfaction. Being the two "ignorant Arkies" in the group, Rob figured we had very little culture and would frown if we knew we were eating squid. Well, in a few minutes after enjoying several of the calimari, Lloyd elbowed me in the ribs and said, "watch this..." He looked across the table at Rob, who was engaged in a conversation with a customer, and proclaimed, "HEY ROB! I KNOW WHAT THIS IS... IT'S FRIED CATFISH LIPS!!!!!!" (Hmmmm.... NOW I know what to do with the Giant Man-Eating Taneycomo Killer Squid!!!!!)

You and Quillback have fun, GF... Just kiddin'... I'm in if I can make it... Are we gonna have gill fillets?

They are high in protein and low in fat. I've heard if you get them right out of the pupae casing, you can boil them for a minute and they taste like a clam chowder... I've also heard they are good covered with chocolate... To find out more, buy my book "The Cicada Diet Book"... Available for only $49.95 plus shipping and handling...

You guys have WAY too much time on your hands...

Reminds me of a time I was dining with my family - including my sister and mom - at a chain steakhouse several years back. My sister's steak was not cooked right, but we couldn't get our server back to the table. We continued to eat and my sister finished her baked potato, texas toast, and a veggie. Finally, the girl comes by, my sister complains about the steak, and a bit later the server comes back with a new steak, potato, toast, and veggie. PLUS, she did not pay for her meal. Good customer service is worth its weight in gold...