Like weeds in the cracked pavement of an abandoned city playground, we thrive upon the steady trickle of your nomations. Water us.

Great news from the Times, which yesterday launched a new features offering "portraits of offbeat Americans." What's so great about the news? The feature is written by Charlie LeDuff, whose image could probably grace the GMiJ logo. LeDuff, last noted here for his participation on the gay rodeo circuit, will pen the portraits every other Monday, which means, at the very least, we've got a guaranteed entry every two weeks. We just can't get enough of Charlie's words. Or, you know, whoever's. After the jump, Charlie's first appearance.

Britt Craig is LeDuff's initial subject. He's a warrior, a philosopher, and a Minuteman. He's also - well, let's see how Charlie tells it:

Five miles past the paved road, up on a hill of no name, lives a one-eyed man with a one-eyed cat.

They sleep in a van parked against the patchwork fence that lines the border with Mexico. He is solitary, lean, trying to hold back a tidal wave of humanity. The cat is overweight.

Read the whole thing; LeDuff manages to elicit this terrific quote ("'He doesn't like being approached without radio contact,' says a man who goes by the moniker Gadget. 'He's only got one eye, but he knows how to use it.'"). But it doesn't get any better than the lead. We think it's got something to do with the cat. Either way, welcome aboard, Charlie. See you in two weeks.

Poised Against Incursions, a Man on the Border, Armed and Philosophical [NYT]