Let me start off by saying that my feelings towards mob activities and the results of such are in agreement with the author. I am of Italian decent and grew up in a predominately Italian neighborhood where I knew some of their sons and daughters and witnessed various acts of evil and selfishness that these self contained "wise guys" commit. I also knew some of the sympathizers of these people, so I can understand the full meaning expressed in the article. I think the sarcastic tone used by the author to present his feelings on the subject made for interesting reading. Using the basis theme of the various floral arrangements to symbolize each of the nasty deeds done by these good fellows was a good humorous twist which shows the authors disgust with such people. I also got the distinct feeling that the author finds it very ignorant of those who pay homage to these thugs. The article exposes how the ridiculous feeling of security and safe neighborhoods is felt by some people when the bad guys reside there. In reading I can see the phony outward appearances of community caring and the people helping personality they try to display. The author then sites the disregard for laws and total indifference to human life that these men really feel by their behind the scenes behavior. I also found it amusing when quoting their poor command of the English language, a reference to lack of educational skills. In regard to making my own changes to the article, I would not omit any sections because I feel full picture of the pros and cons of mobsters in the world is stated well as the pros being zero verses the cons being plentiful. I would however have added a couple of aspects to this subject. I would have started out expanding on the history of the Italian mob in this country, its roots, reasons for forming and immigrating to the United States. I feel this background helps to show why these people have always had a following from their own people and were feared by those around them throughout the past century.