Gene,

You probably are tired of hearing it, but great stuff as usual.

I couldn't agree more that there is so much more information out there. One thing I love about illegal gambling research is that most of it is untouched virgin ground. The history of Las Vegas is fun to read about, but it has been researched to death. With illegals you start with one name or address and you open up an entire history that nobody else has put together. I get energized when I start to explore these people's lives. It starts with a mere name, and suddenly you are piecing together AN ENTIRE LIFE. You sometimes forget that these were people, like you and me, who worked hard, got married (many times divorced as well), had kids, and for many have passed on.

Before I started my research I assumed all illegal gambling was run by cut-throat mobsters and trigger happy roughians. Although there are plenty of those people, there are also the regular Joe who ran games in the back of his bar or nightclub. I've met some of these people personally and their story is no less entertaining than the mobsters (although usually less bloody!)

It is because of these "small pieces of clay" that their story is not forgotten.

Gene, thanks to you and your staff (of which I am happy to be one) and I look forward to many more.

Ed