Confessions Of A Former Mafia Boss
(photo: Play the Game and Jens Astrup)
Michael Franzese is an American former New York mobster and caporegime of the Colombo crime family, and son of former underboss Sonny Franzese. He was heavily involved in the gasoline tax rackets in the 1980s. At the height of his operation, federal authorities claim Franzese generated close to a billion dollars a year in a gas-tax scheme he masterminded. Since then, he has publicly renounced organized crime, created a foundation for helping youth, and became a motivational speaker.
What was the main appeal of joining the mob for you?
I joined to help my day get out of prison. plain and simple. the money and power came for me later on. once i got in, i wanted both.
What is the process of becoming a “Made Man” like?
Very intense. very solemn, very serious. I took an oath with a picture of a saint burning in my hands. My thumb was cut with a knife and blood dropped on the floor. The oath is never to violate the brotherhood of La Cosa Nostra.
Poll of the Day
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Linkage
A damn fine collection of women, awesomeness and everything in between (nsfw) – Leenks
US withdraws from Afghanistan bringing an end to 20-year war – Financial Times
Perfect bluetooth speaker for the shower. The battery lasts long and the sound is very good – Amazon
China Limits Online Videogames to Three Hours a Week for Young People – WSJ
10 Excuses the Mind Will Tell You Before You Take the Next Step – Marc And Angel
10 Hurtful Things Grown-Up Children Often Do to Their Parents – Bright Side
100 Greatest Singers of All Time – Rolling Stone
20 Women Describe How Awful The Sex Was When They Lost Their Virginity – Thought Catalog
The complicated reality of doing what you love: I lost my hobby and gained a revenue stream – VOX
11 Self-Sabotaging Phrases to Drop From Your Vocabulary – Life Hacker
TV’s Most Confusing Episodes From Doctor Who to Westworld – Den of Geek
Ranking the Biggest NBA Finals Carry Jobs – The Pudding
Pop one of these tablets in your water pre-, during, or post-workout to rehydrate, cure headaches, and it also works well preventing hangovers – Amazon
5 Fitness Pillars to Stay in Shape for Your Entire Life – Men’s Health
I Stopped Taking My Phone into the Bathroom for a Month: It seemed impossible, till it wasn’t — and I’m a whole new man – Mel Magazine
Kraft Singles Aren’t Actually Cheese. Here’s Why – Mashed
NASA Has Completed Work on the James Webb Space Telescope – Extreme Tech
McDonald’s corporation quietly phased out Ronald McDonald, the companies clown mascot, due to the 2016 clown scare video fad – CBR
15 Obvious Photos That Require No Clarification – Linkiest
Why Brett Butler Is Broke: ‘Grace Under Fire’ Star on Struggles and Survival – Hollywood Reporter
Billie Eilish is blessed with a nice rack – Drunken
An 18-year-old boxer is in a coma after being knocked out and stretchered out of a ring – Insider
A Tribute To The Unwavering Loyalty Of Service Dogs
1. Through the good and bad, a dog will never leave their soldier’s side.
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Picture of the Day
Amou Haji, an 83-year-old Iranian, is considered by many as the world’s dirtiest man. Amou claims that he has not bathed in over 65 years. According to Amou, he is scared of water and this is the reason why he has not taken a shower in over six decades.
Local villagers who are obviously very familiar with Haji, explained that the 87-year-old who is covered in ash and dirt refuses to bathe because he is scared of water.
What is even more unusual is that his diet consists of rotten meat of dead animals, especially porcupines. He also enjoys smoking but it is not tobacco he prefers. He likes to smoke animal feces out of a rusty pipe.
Villagers explained that Haji has emotional trauma from when he was younger. This drove him to find solace in living a bizarre life alone.
15 Cat Owners Reveal Products That They Absolutely Swear By
My cat loved staring out the window. So we bought him a cat hammock that sticks to the window. He just sits on it all day and lounges and ocassionally gets excited when a bird enters his field of vision.
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By Making A Game Out Of Rejection, A Man Conquers Fear
Fear of rejection is a powerful motivator—or more accurately, anti-motivator. The sting of rejection is sharp, probably because most of us consider rejection humiliating. If fear of rejection holds too powerful an influence over your choices, Rejection Therapy may be up your alley.
The free game has one rule: You must be rejected by another person at least once, every single day.
It’s a simple but clever idea designed to help you build confidence and overcome your fear of rejection:
You can think of it as game, but this game involves your life and the treasures are real.
The five objectives of Rejection Therapy are:
1. To be more aware of how irrational social fears control and restrict our lives
2. Smash the tyranny of fear and reap the treasures (treasures include wealth, relationships and self-confidence)
3. Learn from, and even enjoy rejection
4. To not be attached to outcomes, especially when it involves the free agency of other people
5. Permit yourself to fail
Linkage
How to Spend Your Money for Maximum Happiness – Popular Science
The 8 rules for rookie combat pilots in World War I – Business Insider
Pumapards – Everything You Wanted To Know About The Puma/Leopard Hybrid – Ned Hardy
These boxer briefs are seriously awesome. I’ll never go back to cotton underwear again. The sport mesh fabric excels at breathing and wicking and has better odor-resistance than other fabrics. It feels soft on the inside and smooth on the outside so it slides against your pants instead of creating friction – Amazon
Online Trolls Actually Just Assholes All the Time, Study Finds – Gizmodo
More Than 100,000 People Are Hospitalized With COVID-19, The Most Since January – NPR
3rd conservative radio host who condemned vaccines dies of Covid – Politico
California: mother fights off mountain lion with bare hands to save 5-year-old son – The Guardian
On Getting Rejected a Lot (and Liking It) – Outside
Six Important Questions About Booster Shots Answered – Smithsonian
Why This $150,000 Porsche Costs $600,000 In Turkey – Jalopnik
Eight Marvelous and Melancholy Things I’ve Learned About Creativity – The Oatmeal
The Teen Years: 9 Cringe-Inducing Realizations – Wait But Why
Welcome aboard Led Zeppelin’s private plane, The Starship – Messy Nessy Chic
Everyone needs a good pair of house slippers. These make you feel like you are walking on damn marshmellows – Amazon
7 Big Mistakes Men Make When Texting Women – Medium
How Much Money Do I Need to Live Off of Interest? – The Motley Fool
Sci-Fi Author William Gibson Re-Enlists Buzz Rickson’s for A Blacked-Out Militaria Jacket – Unfinished Man
29 Wholesome Memes To Put You In A Good Mood After A Hard Day – Ruin My Week
The idea of ‘absolute time’ is an illusion. Physics and subjective experience reveal why – Big Think
Caring for the elderly has never been more expensive, exhausting, or invisible – VOX
Narco Suspect Evaded Authorities for Years While Starring on TikTok – VICE
Vanessa Hudgens looks good in a bikini – Drunken
Sports Hottie of the Day: Emery – Egotastic
Dave Grohl finally shared the stage with his 11-year-old drummer nemesis – Mashable
