Hi, guys. It's been a while. To me, crime is crime. All crime comes down to one person (or group) preying upon the vulnerabilities of another person or group. I see nothing noble about it.

What fascinates us about the Mafia is that, for the most part, the people who created it and perpetuated are colorful, interesting and powerful people who -- if they'd channeled their resources and energies into something less misanthropic than organized crime -- probably would have been resounding successes.

But face it. Powerful, colorful and interesting people are irresistable. We gravitate to them like flies on s***. So it comes as no surprise that we build these people up, and no surprise that someone romanticized the Mafia and created a sympathetic, almost beloved character in Don Vito Corleone.