Cosa Nostra News

I just deleted I believe more than a dozen comments; and I know who wrote at least one of them. I have to apologize to you and however many others contributed to a certain discussion that went on earlier on this blog; I was out all day so I couldn't nip this in the bud. My general policy is, please, please, please comment as much as you can! All feedback, input, criticism is appreciated. But at the same time I realize I have to evoke "barroom rules," which means talk about anything (stuff that is MAFIA-related would be quite appreciated), but keep opinions on two things to yourselves: Religion and Politics (meaning U.S. politics; you can post all you want about mob politics! I mean no Democrat vs. Republican-type debates.) Those hot-button issues are the most divisive there are, and as much as I believe in free speech, you have to choose your battles... This is not a platform for those agendas. This is  Cosa Nostra News ; please keep comments focused somehow, someway o...

I'd like to thank our readers, the New York Daily News (for crucial early support), as well as Mob Candy's Uncle Frank for letting me bolster my credibility as the sole owner/operator of this site by writing articles for his great magazine, which all Mafia aficianados should be reading! (Hey Frank, how about those contributor's copies for the Massino and Burke stories I wrote?) My goal is to ramp-up pageviews by providing more exclusive content. Maybe 2012 will be the year I manage to pull off... well, something. We will certainly keep you good people informed. And, please! Keep the comments coming! I only have feedback (and Google Analytics) to make sure I understand the types of stories you all prefer to read. Thanks again! EVL or Ed. L. or maybe I'll dust off my old nickname: "Fast Eddie" PS: Turns out, I did do a little dusting, as you'll all notice...

OK, for me it is inexplicable. I am talking about the level of media attention and celebrity now showering upon former drug-dealing mob moll Big Ang  Raiola . But since I don't think it is a subject worth a great amount of philosophical introspection, I will pass it by. From the BostonHerald.com  interview below, two things struck me. One is that there is actually a "Mob Wives" fanatic out there in the world who is brainless enough to have actually gotten a tattoo on him- or herself of Big Ang's face. I can't help but wonder where on the body they had that ink inserted.... Two, the Chicago version of the show will debut before the end of the year with an entirely different cast (well, geez, we'd sure hope so!). Have at it: Big Ang is on the far right; Drita is in the middle and Renee on the left. America's newest sweetheart is a chain-smoking Staten Island diva with a passion for plastic surgery. She's Angela 'Big Ang' Raiola, the late...

Renee, giving props where due, is the most popular. Karen Gravano won the dubious distinction. Ramona Rizzo is not too far behind.  After only three-four appearances on the show, that is quite a remarkable feat. Anyone could vote in this, and all, Cosa Nostra News polls; in this one, readers could vote for one or two wives, and they could change their votes up until the final moments before the poll closed. I am a bit surprised that Renee could be seen as most loved in that the least amount of people "hate" her -- 38 people, or 11% of the voters. I give her kudos for talking about her depression issues on television. Depression is a major problem in the U.S., and the more the "stars" with the bully pulpits address problems such as this one, the better for society, I believe. Drita and Carla fared much, much better than Gravano and Rizzo, running about neck-and-neck with each other, close behind Renee -- with 18% (61 votes) and 17% (60 votes)...