Note 6 - Stock-based Compensation (Detail) - Summary of award activity related to our common stock (Long Term Incentive Plan [Member], USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012
Long Term Incentive Plan [Member]
Stock options outstanding - beginning of period	1,002,350
Stock options outstanding - beginning of period (in Dollars per share)	$ 7.50
Options granted	359,568
Options granted (in Dollars per share)	$ 1.99
Options expired	(32,150)
Options expired (in Dollars per share)	$ 8.61
Options forfeited	(1,500)
Options forfeited (in Dollars per share)	$ 7.64
Stock options outstanding - end of period	1,328,268
Stock options outstanding - end of period (in Dollars per share)	$ 5.98
Exercisable at end of period	968,700
Exercisable at end of period (in Dollars per share)	$ 7.47