MATEWAN

Feckless Piker(FP): Oddvark and I watched the movie Matewan last night. How'd you like the movie Oddvark?

Oddvark (OC): I liked all that coal.

FP: What about Chris Cooper and Mary McDonnell, didn't you think they gave good performances?

OC: Oh yeah, the whole cast gave good performances, especially David Strathairn and Kevin Tighe. There's just something about all that coal though; it really turns me on.

FP: I guess they don't call you Oddvark for nothing.

OC: Hell, I would have fit right in there in Matewan at the turn of the century.

FP: Those union guys had guts. They were constantly being harassed, attacked and even killed by the Pinkertons.

OC: The pinkerwhats?

FP: Pinkertons. That was what they called the private detectives and private police that were hired by the corporate moguls to bust the unions back then. They used all kinds of underhanded tactics like spies, misinformation, blackmail, and even violence to stop the trade union movement from organizing the coal miners and railroad workers.

OC: Do we belong to a union Feckless?

FP: You have to have a job to belong to union.

DEL CASTILLO

Feckless Piker (FP): Oddvark, I think I know when we'll make our next appearance at Skipper's.

Oddvark (OC): What's Skipper's man?

FP: Put that oatmeal stout down and try to concentrate Oddvark. Skipper's is that great music venue we visited on Friday night. The one where we saw James Mc'Murtry.

OC: Oh yeah, I'm with you now. So who are we going to see next?

FP: We're going to see Del Castillo, that great Flamenco/Rock fusion band we saw at Tropical Heatwave this Spring. They're coming to Skipper's in mid-January.

OC: Those guys were great man! I'd give my right hand to play the guitar like those guys.

FP: Oddvark, do you ever give any thought to what comes out of your mouth?

OC: What?

FP: Never mind, let's just try to remember to go to Skipper's web sight so we can get ticket information. The webpage is at http://www.skipperssmokehouse.com/. Man, I can't wait to here those guitars singing again.

OC: Will there be oatmeal stout?

FP: No, no oatmeal stout. They have the next best thing though, Newcastle Brown Ale.

OC: I love brown liquids.

FP: Oddvark! There's people listening out there; don't be disgusting.

OC: You don't have to get so uppity just because you prefer Blue Moon heifer weisen. By the way, our fuel heater is running a little low tonight and it's supposed to be cold. You know what that means.

FP: Yeah, it's beanie weanies for dinner again. See you all next time.

SKIPPER'S SMOKE HOUSE

Feckless (FP): Well Oddvark that was quite a concert last night at Skipper's.

Oddvark (OC): Yeah that James McMurtry was pretty darn good. Great lyrics and excellent lead guitar. Kind of a mix between Dylan and Tom Petty.

FP: Yeah, and the people watching is the best at one of those WMNF/Skipper's events. We ought to go to those more often. The last one we went to was Tropical Heat Wave in May.

OC: I think I remember that. Was it down in Ybor?

FP: It was at the Cuban Club; you must of had a lot of those oatmeal stouts.

OC: As many as I can afford.

FP: It's been a long time since we posted to the blog. I wonder if anyone ever reads this thing.

OC: I doubt it man. It's fun all the same, when we get around to it.

FC: We should post more frequently. So much has happened since the last post. We have a new President-elect. The first African American ever elected President. The stock market has crashed. The Feds are dishing out money to Wall Street faster than you can say boo. We visited the District of Columbia. The football season is almost over. The Gators won the SEC Championship game over the number one ranked Alabama team (tonight).

OC: All that happened since our last post? Man we been slack!

FP: Slack is what we do Oddvark. Slack is what we do best.