Twists in the Road for Cosa Nostra News

The Road of Death, Bolivia.
Well, I've finally done it.

I went and accepted a full-time position. 

I had been getting along nicely, but then lost a freelance client. I couldn't replace them, so I had to go "legit" and accept a full-time position in Manhattan.

I am looking forward to it. I am looking forward to having lunch with my friend Nikki, too!

Anyway, I am going to be posting less as a result. I know, this news probably gladdens my critics, but as I say, as much as I enjoy praise, it is the critics who make you better.

No more three-to-five stories a day.... I am not, however, throwing in the towel. I will write for this blog probably until the day I die, of old age or a mob hit if I finally piss them off too much.


Either way, it'll have been a fun ride.

In the past six months I have managed to steadily grow my audience by about one-third. I am getting a pretty solid 170,000 pageviews a month now. It took me three years to get to 2 million page views, and I am on track to reach 3 million much, much sooner than that.

Now if only Google would raise the goddamn CPC prices, I might make money off this thing. That is my dream, actually. To have enough money to blog (and gamble and drink and court beautiful women) without the need for a paycheck.

Maybe I'll write a book one day and make my fortune. Then I can lavish my full attention on this blog.

But as John Gotti said, you can't always roll 6s and 8s; some dark days, as we all have. I was going out of my mind one day, wondering if I needed to change the name "Cosa Nostra News."

But I ultimately realized I actually love it and that I will never change it. So sometimes you have to throw something away to realize how much you want it.

The bottom line is I never started this blog for money. I write this blog because I can't not write it.

I am obsessive. I am addicted to the "high" I get when I enter the zone, the place you go when you focus so intensely on your work, all other thoughts (and concerns) vanish from your mind.

I have written about 1,404 stories for this blog, which I started in 2011, but didn't really get serious about it until, I'd say, the spring of last year.

Total pageviews are about 2.4 million; total number of your comments: around 3,200.

I want to thank all the guys who have trusted me to tell their stories, or the stories of others. Some folks have given me insight and information that could have cost them a lot, but they trusted me and I always did right by them.

I have never burned a source and I never will.

I am going to end this now, because it is sounding like a farewell address, and it is not, it's just a: I will be starting a full-time job so I will no longer be able to offer such an expansive focus on this blog.

I will post weekly at least -- though I'd say several a times a week. I will continue the newsletter.

You continue reading, I'll continue writing. And if you don't like what I write, don't believe what I write, or think talking to an actual real life mobster is a supernatural event, I say: wake up and get a life.

I would never make stuff up "for headlines" as one critic rudely put it. There is simply too much to write about to have to make up stories...

Which reminds me: If there are stories any of you are waiting for me to write, please remind me in the comments below and I will try to get to them this week.

Other than that, I just wanna say thank you for reading and commenting and voting on each other's comments. I sincerely appreciate it... Meanwhile, I will try to post as much material I can in the next few days.

I may have a couple of surprises in store for you, as well....

Comments

  1. Youngstown's FinestJul 29, 2014, 2:15:00 PM

    Are we going to get the Spero and Bath Ave Crew story before you go on the lam?

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  2. Is anybody from the Bonanno family talking about a "deal" with the Feds over something connected to the Genovese family? Can't wait to read what you have to say.

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  3. I never said I know everything that is going on...did you find a lead in the New York Post? Good for you!

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  4. In my opinion, you should use a profile pic that doesn't make you look constipated.

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  5. Thanks Ed, Im looking forward to the Spero piece as well. And I am dying to find out about the high ranking Colombo informant.......I had Dellacroce as the Gambino informant. When do you think that will come to public light?? Great column, hope you can continue more frequently than you predict.
    -Suits

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  6. When you love to do something you make time for it so I'm sure we will be hearing from you more often then you think. Good luck with the new job!

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  7. ED have enjoyed ur articles and comments from others since i found this sight good luck in ur new Job hope to hear from u soon. PHILLY

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  8. Good Luck I Will Miss your stories, but will forward to when you do write...Do not give up on your Book....Will always keep you update if anything good happens.....

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  9. Best of luck Ed,always look forword to reading the articles you write,Thank you.

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  10. Thanks, folks. I don't plan to stop, just can't keep the same pace.

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  11. You have a great site Ed. I hope that you still find some time to spend on it. Best of luck with your new job as well.

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  12. Where quackquacks bro. passedJul 29, 2014, 11:29:00 PM

    Probably your only reader in coastal GA. I appreciate your diligent commitment to accuracy and your earnest refusal to neither sensationalize violent crime, no matter how organized, nor stand idly by for lazy or corrupt jurisprudence. Grateful for your earnest efforts to achieve balance and report truth. Best of luck.

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  13. Of course! This isn't goodbye just an announcement that I won't be able to post as much content. I'll never stop this thing of mine!!

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  14. good luck Ed love the site you are the best man!!

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  15. Best of luck ed. Hopefully you will settle that situation with google.

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  16. Love the newsletter Mr. Scarpo but you gotta do what you gotta do for you sir. I'll continue checking in to read new stories. Thanks for everything you have already written it has all been awesome!

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