Revenge of the Prairie Apparently I wasn't the only one who thought it was a cool name: www.prairielanding.com (Courtesy of Scott O'Sheffield's)

Alert reader TLC sent the following email regarding my former hometown:

Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2004 4:00 PM
Subject: Re: Providence, HL
[. . .]
> Can you explain to me this whole
> unbutton-shirt-with-chest-hair-and-gold-chain thing to me?

I may not be able to explain the why, but a number of hows spring to mind:
1. There were parts of my company's offices where no music could be played unless it was Sinatra.
2. We once had our company retreat at the dog track.
3. The ex-mayor, "Buddy" Cianci, is in federal prison. He is widely regarded as a hero.
4. In many circles, strip clubs are considered a reasonable place to meet up with friends or colleagues.
5. I once wrote a campaign newsletter for a state official named Paulie.
6. My friend dated an ex-wrestler who was friends with Mobsters back in the day. One time they caught up with a guy they were after and for reasons I don't recall, dangled him headfirst off the Point Street Bridge. A cop saw them, sauntered over, and said, "Boys, boys, boys. You were gonna drop that guy. Do you know how much paperwork that woulda caused me?"
7. I met a lot of people who were "friends with" members of the Mob, and never met anyone who was actually in it.
8. Misquamicut Beach
There's probably more, and I invite others familiar with that excellent town to chime in.
 

¶ 9:49 PM