Author: jbenton

3wk goes stereo

FYI, 3WK is now broadcasting in stereo after many months of focusing on low-bandwith mono connections. It’s a nice little slice of adventurous indie rock to get you through your work day.

galatoire’s waiter fired

A great link from Chuck, on the controversy surrounding the firing of a waiter at Galatoire’s, one of the classic old New Orleans Creole restaurants. It’s a fascinating story, and not just for those of us interested in the hidebound traditions of the city, with all their attendant benefits and drawbacks. Definitely worth a read. (There’s even a web site devoted to the waiter’s cause.)

brainstorming for texas living

It’s time again for crabwalk.com-as-focus-group. I’m meeting with the Texas Living staff tomorrow to discuss how to get more young readers interested in the section.
Among the questions we’re looking for answers to: What sorts of stories do young people want to read? What’s appealing about the section now? What sorts of topics and themes are young readers interested in? Any syndicated columns or features that would be good additions? Any good ways to get young voices in the paper?
I’d love to hear any ideas you guys have. (FYI, when they say young people, they pretty much mean 16-25 or so. I guess I’m not a young person any more. Sigh. By the way, I calculated on the drive back to Dallas last night that, as of Saturday, my 20s are now two-thirds over. Prepare the hearse.)

childhood photos

Every once in a while, people ask me why my photo page still offers up only a single rodent weasel, particularly now that I have a digital camera. Well, after Rayne this weekend, I present a new occasional crabwalk.com feature: I Wore That?
Consider it a trip through bad fashion decisions past. Luckily enough, all of today’s examples come from ages 5 to 9 or so, so fashion blame has to go primarily to the adults in my life who had credit cards and, thus, some degree of control over my clothing. (Note: these are digital photos of scrapbook photos, so the quality’s iffy on some. And these were designed for a Mac, so they’ll probably look dark on a PC.)
– A stunning vest. Archival research shows that Mazie was waaaay too into the vests-for-Josh movement in the early 1980s. Notice the lovely western pattern on the shirt, and the distant look in the eyes. (This is the same outfit, except I look really surly.)
– Speaking of western looks. That’s an allergy necklace, by the way.
– Look at the size of that bow tie! This was taken after my first communion, and the look on my face sums up my thoughts on organized religion at the time.
– Notice the writing on the shirt: “Drag Strip Fever.” That’s called casting against type. Also notice the watch: on my right wrist, not my left, a practice I continued until The Teen Years. And shoved so far up my arm it might as well be wrapped around my elbow.
– I’m sure my sour look is caused by my internal concerns about ethnic stereotyping.
– Look at those ears! Epic in scale! Thankfully, my head eventually grew to match them. (No jokes, please.)
– Fuzzy photo, but conclusive proof that I once wore overalls non-ironically.
– Check out those velcro kicks.
– Stylin’.
– Which one of these two people became a rock star and which one became a nerdy writer?
Finally, three bonus photos:
– Childhood bunnies.
– Proof that I wasn’t the only bad dresser circa 1984. (That’s Mazie on the left and my mom on the right.)
– And finally, I wrote this back in October:
In Pigeon Falls Forge [Tennessee], they had, among other things…the Police Museum, featuring the life story of McNairy County Sheriff Buford Pusser, who was shot eight times and knifed seven more (I have a very strong childhood memory of the sign at the entrance: “We Have Buford Pusser’s Death Car”).
Well, now there’s proof. (Cousins T-Ron and Pam on either side.)

chanda and kournikova upset no. 1 seed

Well, hot damn! Chanda and Anna Kournikova upset the No. 1 seed in doubles, Raymond/Stubbs, and are now in the Wimbledon semifinals. You can’t stop Chanda Rubin — you can only hope to contain her! The other side of the draw hasn’t fully developed yet, but Rubin/Kournikova will probably face Venus and Serena Williams next. Maybe the sisters will be tired from their dominating the singles side of the tournament.

in rayne, mazie looks great, unt lee jackson story

Happy July 4th, everyone. (Well, except Osama bin Laden. I’ve heard he reads crabwalk.com, and to you, sir, I daresay: “Sad July 4th!”)
I’m in Rayne, and I’m happy to report that Mazie looks great. She’d had a very rough stretch a month or so ago, including a stint in the hospital. But for the last week or so, she’s sounded great on the phone, and she’s as active, vibrant, and boisterous as ever. Geaux doctors!
Here’s my story in today’s paper, a profile of the new chancellor of the University of North Texas System.