Uncle Dunkel does the stereotypical thing that all the orators here in the mobster lifestyle do and jumps up on the soapbox. He lights a smoke under the lapel of his trenchcoat and tips back his fedora so his face can be seen and pulls out his (too) well used flask...

Here I am today, chilling in New York and minding my business.  Low an behold - the area is flooded with gangsters who start shooting at my bodyguards!!

Let's be pragmatic about this:

My bodyguards (me, a capo in Las Vegas) were shot at for the reason that a New York leader has fallen below the Mendoza line of activity here in this thing of ours.  

I don't know - but I'm not even mad at said leader.  While I try and throw a bit of crime around every day here, I don't begrudge a guy who wants to celly a little bit extra in the holiday season.

I'm just gonna say it: If we as a society can't be arsed to authorize leaders, or even personally ensure that our leaders who aren't meeting the standards as set out by the gods - then maybe it's time to lower them? (Update - I see things have changed as I speak here, but my question is going to remain.  There is more than one crew out there who is attacking our BG's and the frequency of these attacks seems to have picked up as of late) I don't see people lining up to lead.  It's expensive, time consuming and quite a hassle.  Maybe we need to take it easy on them.

Uncle Dunkel steps down off the soapbox as he takes a pull from his flask,  tips down his fedora, flicks away his cigarette and does all that other jazz that the gangsters around here do.

They say opinions are like aresholes, that everyone’s got one, well I say opinions are thin on the ground these days and arseholes? They’re pretty prevalent as always. Thank you for coming out and sharing yours Uncle, the former that is.

My standards are low, my expectations lower still but that doesn’t mean I’m not willing to recognise when someone’s willing to take the time and effort to step up, let’s remember you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. How we’re measuring successes of what is made of the opportunity is probably skewed, criticism of wrongdoings is as healthy as ever, recognition of doing something right, not so much, and as for gratitude? People are rarely sending flowers publicly.

This world is what you make it, right? From the East Coast to West we’re all afforded similar opportunities when we’re birthed into this thing of ours, it’s just that most of us are found wanting to some degree. I’m personally not a great orator of tales and I’m no social butterfly by any measure, these are my limitations and I’m accepting of them, I’m fortunate my beloved leader is too, so I do what I can elsewhere to make up for those shortcomings, where does that leave me? In the shadows mostly, not necessarily a bad thing for my long-term health but not very useful when it comes to your entertainment or my own future progression, that’s life and I choose not to be bitter.

My advice for what it’s worth is this, be prepared to take the rough with the smooth, if you’re thinking of going Bold ask yourself what is you want, from yourself and from others, what will you bring to the table? Will you be a benevolent leader, a ruthless leader, a person of the people? If you can’t answer those simple questions, you’re probably sporting the wrong shoes. Choose your hands carefully, make sure they compliment whatever style it is you’re bringing, if you’re all as unsocial as each other with limited engagement you’re likely to be forgotten before long.

I believe the risk is worth the reward just don’t be afraid to fail along the way, pray less to the gods and invest your efforts in those around you.

Honesty... Whoops, got caught listening to conceptualist there.  Let me start over....

Honestly - I can't disagree with you much Guy.  It is up to us, and what we are willing to do.  I'm happy to come about every so often and frolick in the streets, kill a few Durdens, sell a few drugs and call it a day.  I think we all are.  Leading is tough work.  It's time consuming, it involves a lot of discussion and quite honesty... FUCK

Quite honestly, It's not something this capo ever needs.  

I wish you luck in your journey my friend, and if you ever need a left hand mail bitch, I'd be happy to provide you my resume!