Former Colombo crime family underboss John “Sonny” Franzese is back on the streets after being released from prison on Friday. The longtime wiseguy was welcomed home with open arms by his family at his daughter’s place in Brooklyn, New York.
John "Sonny" Franzese center
At 100 years old, Franzese was the oldest inmate in the federal prison system in the United States. He now will be looking to enjoy his last days in freedom surrounded by his loving family.
Newsday reports John "Sonny" Franzese left the Federal Medical Center in Devens, Massachusetts, in a wheelchair just before noon Friday. He was serving a 50-year sentence for bank robbery.
He was around when Joe Profaci was the boss. He was a capo in the mid-1950s and by 1964 he had been promoted to underboss. In the mid-1960s, he was convicted of masterminding several bank robberies. John "Sonny" Franzese, Michael Franzese's father, 100 years old, came out of prison on June 23, 2017. If he ever decide to write a book about his life in the Colombo family, it COSA NOSTRA FACEBOOK PAGE
His son, Michael, says the elder Franzese is planning to live with a daughter in Brooklyn. Franzese was accused of being involved in loan sharking and extortion. The U.S. Bureau of Prisons confirms he was the oldest prisoner until his release. He was paroled at least six times since his 1967 conviction, but each time ended back in prison.
The last Packard–the classic American luxury car with the famously enigmatic slogan “Ask the Man Who Owns One”–rolls off the production line at Packard’s plant in Detroit, Michigan on this day in 1956.
Mechanical engineer James Ward Packard and his brother, William Dowd Packard, built their first automobile, a buggy-type vehicle with a single cylinder engine, in Warren, Ohio in 1899. The Packard Motor Car Company earned fame early on for a four-cylinder aluminum speedster called the “Gray Wolf,” released in 1904.
It became one of the first American racing cars to be available for sale to the general public. With the 1916 release of the Twin Six, with its revolutionary V-12 engine, Packard established itself as the country’s leading luxury-car manufacturer. 1956 Packard Models
World War I saw Packard convert to war production earlier than most companies, and the Twin Six was adapted into the Liberty Aircraft engine, by far the most important single output of America’s wartime industry.
Packards had large, square bodies that suggested an elegant solidity, and the company was renowned for its hand-finished attention to detail. In the 1930s, however, the superior resources of General Motors and the success of its V-16 engine pushed Cadillac past Packard as the premier luxury car in America.
Packard diversified by producing a smaller, more affordable model, the One Twenty, which increased the company’s sales. The coming of World War II halted consumer car production in the United States.
In the postwar years, Packard struggled as Cadillac maintained a firm hold on the luxury car market and the media saddled the lumbering Packard with names like “bathtub” or “pregnant elephant.”
You might be set up to be the smart one and solve a problem or two for someone else. While it might be your idea of fun to perform and be clever, try to keep things simple, especially if this is a work-related issue. It will cost you little or no effort and win you a lot of admiration, and maybe some monetary reward later....
In the present position, this card signals the urgency of a situation of which you must seize to take advantage. In this position, The Magician indicates that your ability to be yourself and impress the right person or people can have a big impact on the direction your life takes. The Magician in the present position is a metaphor for your free will and good luck combining in a rare opportunity to move way ahead in life. When this card is in this position, take your great leap forward.
In the future position, The Magician is a card of amazing potency. This is an indication of your wishes being granted because you take the time to earn everything you want. The Magician represents manifesting your desires and visions. In the future, what you want will arrive when you follow the necessary course of action. You will no longer have to dream about being it; you will have become exactly who and what you wanted to be. More about this card
On this day in 1997, U.S. Air Force officials release a 231-page report dismissing long-standing claims of an alien spacecraft crash in Roswell, New Mexico, almost exactly 50 years earlier.
Public interest in Unidentified Flying Objects or UFOs, began to flourish in the 1940s, when developments in space travel and the dawn of the atomic age caused many Americans to turn their attention to the skies.
The town of Roswell, located near the Pecos River in southeastern New Mexico, became a magnet for UFO believers due to the strange events of early July 1947, when ranch foreman W.W. Brazel found a strange, shiny material scattered over some of his land.
He turned the material over to the sheriff, who passed it on to authorities at the nearby Air Force base. On July 8, Air Force officials announced they had recovered the wreckage of a “flying disk.” A local newspaper put the story on its front page, launching Roswell into the spotlight of the public’s UFO fascination.
The Air Force soon took back their story, however, saying the debris had been merely a downed weather balloon. Aside from die-hard UFO believers, or “ufologists,” public interest in the so-called “Roswell Incident” faded until the late 1970s, when claims surfaced that the military had invented the weather balloon story as a cover-up.
Believers in this theory argued that officials had in fact retrieved several alien bodies from the crashed spacecraft, which were now stored in the mysterious Area 51 installation in Nevada.
Seeking to dispel these suspicions, the Air Force issued a 1,000-page report in 1994 stating that the crashed object was actually a high-altitude weather balloon launched from a nearby missile test-site as part of a classified experiment aimed at monitoring the atmosphere in order to detect Soviet nuclear tests.
Moroun-owned Crown Enterprises is imploding 300,000 square feet (the hollowed out building space pictured here) of a 2.1 million-square-foot factory on Detroit's east side Saturday.
Part of the former Budd Wheel complex in Detroit, which is very close to Chrysler’s Mack Avenue and Jefferson North plants, is slated to be demolished this morning (June 24). The former owner of Liberty Motors was a proud naturalized American and he built a copy of the Independence Hall out front. That was demolished the first of this year.
Today they are demolishing the 3 story old part which still has Connor Creek running underneath the building. Rumor has it that Chrysler will be building a plant on this site.
They are closing Connor Ave 5am-7am so you will need to detour around this area. READ MORE HERE
The Strength card confirms that you have bold determination on your side, but it's also combined with a healthy dose of graciousness and gentleness so that you don't seem dominating or overbearing. You can rely on your inner strength to carry you through good times and bad, and today holds special promise because you have what it takes to overcome past difficulties with style and poise. The only steps you take are forward.
In the present position, Strength is one of the best cards in the Tarot deck. You are in the midst of getting to know how to rule your world. You are not domineering in this control. Strength is a card that exerts its control through understanding and cooperation. You are in charge, but others do your bidding because you have made it worth their while and created a joyful context in which all of you interact.
ABC NEWS: Officials denied parole Thursday for convicted killer Patricia Krenwinkel — a follower of cult leader Charles Manson — after considering whether battered women's syndrome affected her state of mind at the time of the notorious murders nearly five decades ago in California.
Krenwinkel, 69, was previously denied parole 13 times for the slayings of pregnant actress Sharon Tate and four other people.
The next night, she helped kill grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife Rosemary in what prosecutors say was an attempt by Manson to ignite a race war.
The decision on parole came six months after commissioners postponed the latest hearing so officials could investigate whether Krenwinkel was battered by Manson.
"They were willing to discount the level of control through the violence, threats, intimidation that was substantiated by their own investigators," Krenwinkel's attorney, Keith Wattley, said after the hearing. READ FULL STORY HERE
This woman is a monster': Sister of Manson murder victim Sharon Tate lashes out at Leslie van Houten after former beauty queen turned killer becomes eligible for parole
This is why Debra has started a petition on Change. org hoping to obtain enough signatures for California Governor Jerry Brown to deny Van Houten's parole.
LOS ANGELES — California Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday night blocked parole for Charles Manson follower and convicted killer Bruce Davis.
Brown’s rejection issued late Friday night is the fifth time Davis has been recommended for parole by a state panel only to see it blocked by a governor, and continues Brown’s unflinching pattern of refusing to allow anyone from Manson’s “family” to be freed.
On Feb. 1, the parole panel recommended release for the 74-year-old Davis, who is serving a life sentence for the 1969 slayings of musician Gary Hinman and stuntman Donald “Shorty” Shea. Davis was not involved in the more notorious killings of actress Sharon Tate and six others by Manson’s group. READ MORE
UK Theatrical Avant-Garde Rock band, WARD XVI, have released the second album teaser from their upcoming album ‘The Art Of Manipulation‘, out on July 1st, 2017 via Rock’N’Growl Records. The teaser can be viewed here:
WARD XVI recently released the first album teaser 1/3 featuring the first 4 tracks – Take My Hand, The Art Of Manipulation, The Flight, the brand new single Crystal Ball.
WARD XVI‘s debut album ‘The Art of Manipulation‘ is a 12-Track concept album telling the intraspective story of a female psychopath locked away in a high security asylum. ‘The Art of Manipulation‘ is a genre defying mix of hard-hitting metal riffs, soaring guitar solos, off-beat ska rhythms, melancholic piano, accordion, catchy female vocals, a hint of electro and to be released this summer.
Tracklist:
1. Intro
2. Take My Hand
3. The Art Of Manipulation
4. Interlude 1
5. The Flight
6. Crystal Ball
7. Hold Me
8. Interlude 2
9. Blackened Heart
10. Run For Your Lives
11. Adrenochromania
12. Cry Of The Siren
13. Toybox
14. Interlude 3
15. Inner Demon
16. Ward XVI
We are very excited to announce that United Sound Systems Recording Studios has been deemed a Historic site by the Michigan Historical Commission!
We invite you to celebrate this great milestone with us on Sunday, June 25, 2017 from 4pm-6pm at The Historic United Sound Systems Recording Studios. We hope to see you there.
We thank you for you continued support! We also thank Detroit Sound Conservancy for all of their efforts and assistance in obtaining the marker.
If you can’t make it to the celebration, be sure to stop by anytime and take a picture with the marker. Be sure to tag us in your pic on our social media! #Thisisus
This truly is great news! We plan to be there for the open house at 5840 Second Avenue in Detroit this Sunday. We hope to see you there!
Introduction:The 7 of Pentacles is very often a card about returns on investments. This can be literal such as a bank account returning money to you, or figuratively, such as the investments of time, effort, and energy that you have put into a relationship. You will be reaping what you have sown. This is generally positive.
General: In general, you should be feeling more secure than you have in a while. Things will be moving along well, and you'll be feeling hopeful about the future - with good cause. You may have to decide whether to put your energy into the things, people, and situations that you already are involved with, or whether to spend your energy trying to bring more into your life. Choose wisely.
Work:Your work is likely to be going smoothly and you will be reaping the rewards of past efforts - what is happening now or in the immediate future will be a direct result of what you have done in the past. Your finances are likely to be flowing well - you may not be "rolling" in money but you will certainly have enough to get by, and then some.
Love: With regard to love, the 7 of Pentacles points to things going well for the person that you have your heart set on. If you are not in a committed relationship,you need to be open to other possibilities, however.
None of us have just one person that is the ONLY person that we can be with and have a deep, soulful, happy relationship. Don't give in to feelings of suspicion or fear. All is well.
In 1992, Gotti was convicted of five murders, conspiracy to commit murder, racketeering, obstruction of justice, illegal gambling, extortion, tax evasion, and loansharking. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole and was transferred to United States Penitentiary, Marion.
Gotti, born and educated on the mean streets of New York City, became head of the powerful Gambino family after boss Paul Castellano was murdered outside a steakhouse in Manhattan in December 1985. The gang assassination, the first in three decades in New York, was organized by Gotti and his colleague Sammy “the Bull” Gravano.
The Gambino family was known for its illegal narcotics operations, gambling activities, and car theft. During the next five years, Gotti rapidly expanded his criminal empire, and his family grew into the nation’s most powerful Mafia family.
Despite wide publicity of his criminal activities, Gotti managed to avoid conviction several times, usually through witness intimidation. In 1990, however, he was indicted for conspiracy to commit murder in the death of Paul Castellano, and Gravano agreed to testify against him in a federal district court in exchange for a reduced prison sentence. While still imprisoned, Gotti died of throat cancer on June 10, 2002.
Legendary Violinist Darryl Way To Release New Concept Album/Rock Opera Called “Underworld”
London - Much to the excitement of prog music fans worldwide, legendary Curved Air violinist Darryl Way is releasing a new Concept Album/Rock Opera called “Underworld” on June 21st. “Underworld” is released in 2 versions: “Underworld Rock Opera Complete” which is the whole show with dialogue and narration and “Underworld Rock Opera the Songs” which just contains the songs.
Says Darryl, “Having touched on Greek mythology in my last album, 'Myths, Legends and Tales' I became fascinated with the idea of writing a major work based on one of these myths.
Originally I was going to set Shelley's epic poem 'Prometheus Unbound' to music, but on further investigation it became clear that it was a little too 'epic' and too big a mouthful to bite off.
Then the thought struck me of updating or re-imagining the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice and setting it in a period and environment that I was totally familiar with - the world of rock music and the 1970s. However, I felt a little uncomfortable with the idea of writing a musical, but then it occurred to me that it could be a rock opera, because it is 'song and drama' as opposed to 'song and dance' and with the addition of a narrator, it could be both a concept album as well as a theatrical production.
So in my Underworld, Orpheus is now a rock megastar and Persephone, the queen of the underworld, a nightclub owner and drug dealer. The Asp that Eurydice falls victim to on her wedding day, is replaced by an equally fatal drug addiction.
Glibly it could be described as a tale of 'Sex Drugs and Rock and Roll', but in essence it is a dark and powerful tale of 'Love, Betrayal and Revenge'. Underworld starts off gently with songs of love and longing but as the plot develops, the music darkens as we descend further and further into the murky realms, of the 'Underworld'.”
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Originally formed in 1969, Curved Air was a groundbreaking progressive art-rock band renowned for their showmanship. Darryl Way was noted for his flamboyant virtuoso exploration of the electric violin. He wrote the music for the Top 10 hit (reached #4) “Back Street Luv” and was a major contributor to the 3 albums that made the Top 20. With Curved Air he toured extensively, performing in practically every major city in both America and Europe.
Before becoming headliners themselves, Curved Air toured with Black Sabbath in the UK and in the USA they toured with Deep Purple, Jethro Tull and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. They also appeared on the same bill as The Doors, Steppenwolf, B.B. King, Johnny Winter and Dr. John.
After Curved Air Darryl went on to release several critically acclaimed solo albums in both 'rock' and 'classical' genres. Among these, was his 'Concerto For Electric Violin', which was premiered on the South Bank Show with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and himself as soloist.
He also performed this concerto live on German television with the Bravarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and in England with the Northern Sinfonia. Darryl's collaborations include working with Sir Tim Rice, Sting and Gary Brooker (Procol Harum).
In classical genres he has orchestrated Stewart Copeland's ballet “King Lear” for the San Francisco Ballet, and Stewart's opera “The Holy Blood and Crescent Moon”, premiered by the Cleveland Opera in the US. In 1996, Darryl's own opera “The Master and Margarita” was premiered at The Place Theatre in London. Alongside these projects, Darryl has also worked as a film and television composer.
As a violinist, Darryl has lead the London-based Electric Symphony Orchestra for concerts at the Royal Festival Hall, and lead and recorded with The Elektra Ensemble, performing classical and contemporary music.
As a session musician, he has recorded with Jethro Tull, Sky and Marrianne Faithful. He has also played with the National Philharmonic Orchestra on film scores such as “Die Hard”, “Licensed To Kill” and “Baron Munchausen”. Recent work includes being musical director for the soprano Emma Shapplin, for a series of televised UNHCR concerts at the Parthenon in Athens.
Recent compositions include a Symphonic Choral work entitled “Siren's Rock”, premiered at the Plymouth Guildhall with the South West Sinfonietta, Opera South West, Naomi Harvey (WNO) soprano and Stephen Crook, tenor. During his illustrious career, Darryl Way has created and been a major part of over 20 commercially released albums. His most recent releases “Ultra Violins,” “Children of the Cosmos” and “Myths, Legends and Tales” have all garnered rave reviews worldwide! And now, he will be releasing his highly anticipated new album “Underworld”!
Featuring:
Singers
Orpheo: Graham Foote
Dice: Sarah Vaughan
Vincent: Bryan Walters
George: James Goodman
Cassie: Nicola Avino
Thia: Rachel de Cock
“Wanna feel alive again”: Cassie McIvor
Solo soprano in end music: Naomi Harvey
Backing vocals: Juliet Hopkins and Richard Mead
Dialogue
Narrator: Rob Wheeler
Vincent: John Guilor
George: John Guilor
Musicians
Violin and keyboards: Darryl Way
Guitars: Richard Mead
Drums: Pete Skinner
