"My previous attempt to rehabilitate FrankCastiglia and bring to the fore friendly bodyguard wacking failed, and failed miserably.  Whilst I helped Frank gain a new and more prestigious audience, not a single BG has been killed with permission.

So, what gives?

Well, is it a coincidence that in the place of BGs killed with permission we see ranking members of this thing killed instead?

The jury is out - but I think it's possible that there's at least a small chance of a link.

But to put all that to one side for now, I have a new initiative.

A relative of mine once, with some justification, tried to draw down royalties for addressing other members of this thing of ours as "son" - well, I'm here to say that we should reclaim the term, use it liberally, and at no cost.

Let us use Son as we might "Don" or "Boss" of "respected friend of mine" - let us rejoice in the honorific potential of what has been, at times, contentious.

I would like FrankCastiglia to lead on this vital work, and to use this gift as further remedial work towards rebuilding his tattered street speaking reputation.

I would also like to reestablish the Street Orator of the Year awards.  Clearly, Frank has zero chance of winning - be serious, son - but others have a chance.  I believe I have a strong chance.

I would like to nominate Hobbs, as he is pretty good.  I'd also like to take this opportunity to laugh at the fact that Flash-Fire just died.  He's a total idiot, hahahaha."

"Pigeon, I always thought you were the rat of the sky. A hideous pest that shit all over the place and just gets completely utterly in the way of everyone else. However, after your glowing endorsement for me as the Street Orator of the Year I find myself in a real predicament about what I'm to do with you...

I think you are still all of those things, but I do have a new found respect for you all of a sudden. We can build on that. I see a lot of great things in you. I think with the right guidance you can become more than a pigeon. You could become a parrot for a Mighty Pirate."

Hobbs waffled on, getting sidetracked by what he would be having for dinner this evening. @Isabella was trying to convert him down the path of Veganism, but Hobbs was not interested in that lifestyle. He was a red blooded male who should be eating real food, like beef and Elk. He continued.

"Street Orator of the Year? Of course I accept, what kind of egotistical arsehole would I be if I turned down such a prestigious award. I'll put it on the shelf next to my Last Ever Writing Competition award. It has now relegated my achievement of Godfather to the third best thing I've done in this life of crime. Clearly my rival and friend Sosabowski should be a very close second. As a fellow Philadelphia resident surely you endorse his candidacy? With Ian O'Keefe gone I also hear he's making a move for the VNP award as well."

"As for Frank? The self proclaimed second best speaker around these parts... he recently wrote to me declaring our friendship to be over in a petty and vindictive act. I am willing to support your mentoring of this man to the tune of $50,000 per speech, in the hope that this high financial incentive inspires the man to new levels."

"I support this award wholeheartedly and am happy to see my favourite buffoon Hobbs being nominated for this prestigious title. I'm sure the judging process to decide the eventual winner will be nothing but fair and balanced and will be free from any foul play."

"Though I am unsure if the unwashed masses are allowed to suggest additional nominees (or if there will be only one), I will attempt to do so anyways. I would like to posthumously nominate WhereWasI for Street Orator of the year for his widespread contributions to the field of Systematic Immolation."

"WhereWasI's influence is a very tangible thing and reaches far and wide, his magnum opus 'Systematic Immolation of Thought' is even still stocked in Public Libraries all around the country! For a more recent example of its influence: Stan_S_Stanman chose to quote a particularly profound passage of that glorious work only today! Can you think of any other street oration in this thing of ours that gets quoted a full 8 years after its inception? I think not."

"Hence my nomination, I can only hope that the feathered omnipotent organiser of this award will accept it."