You know back when I was in that barber shop quartet in Skokie, Illinois.......

Sometimes, in the course of conversation with people I don't know, I get asked where I was born.  When I tell them Skokie, Illinois, I usually get a blank stare.  I then have a few options in the game of "let's wipe off that blank Where-in-the-world-is-THAT stare, Jim!"

For $100

1) it's where all those periodic tables are generated (you know, the ones you used in 6th period chemistry)

For $500

2) Site of the attempted Nazi march in 1977-78..recreated by Danny Kaye in the 1981 TV special- (the watching of which was a Very Special TV event in our house, even though we left Illinois for California in 1973.) My parents made my brother and me watch it, which, I hate to admit, but at 9 years old, really didn't make an impact on me. 

For $1000

3) Usual Suspects...you know, the barbershop quartet....Keyser Soze?

Now I have a new gem! let's get ready for some diversity football! Order your T-shirts here!  (Here's the Chicago Sun-Times take on this year's match-up)

and here's another take on Skokie............................