1.
HBO
–
Home Box Office is an American premium cable and satellite television network that is owned by Time Warner through its respective flagship company Home Box Office, Inc. HBO is the oldest and longest continuously operating pay television service in the United States, in 2014, HBO had an adjusted operating income of US$1.79 billion, compared to the US$1.68 billion it accrued in 2013. HBO has 49 million subscribers in the United States and 130 million worldwide as of 2016, the network provides seven 24-hour multiplex channels, including HBO Comedy, HBO Latino, HBO Signature and HBO Family. It launched the streaming service HBO Now in April 2015, and has over 2 million subscribers in the United States as of February 2017. In addition to its U. S. subscriber base, HBO distributes content in at least 151 countries, HBO subscribers generally pay for an extra tier of service that includes other cable- and satellite-exclusive channels even before paying for the channel itself. Cable providers can require the use of a converter box – usually digital – in order to receive HBO, many HBO programs have been syndicated to other networks and broadcast television stations, and a number of HBO-produced series and films have been released on DVD. The new system, which Dolan named Sterling Information Services, became the first urban underground cable system in the United States. In that same year, Time-Life, Inc. purchased a 20% stake in Dolans company, in the summer of 1971, while on a family vacation in France, Charles Dolan began to think of ideas to make Sterling Manhattan profitable. He came up with the concept for a television service. Dolan later presented his idea to Time-Life management, though satellite distribution seemed only a distant possibility at the time, he persuaded Time-Life to back him on the project. To gauge whether consumers would be interested in subscribing to a pay television service, in a meeting of Dolan and some Time-Life executives who were working on the project, various other names were discussed for the new service. Home Box Office launched on November 8,1972, however, HBOs launch came without fanfare in the press, as it was not covered by any local or national media outlets. Home Box Office distributed its first sports event immediately after the film, Four months later in February 1973, Home Box Office aired its first television special, the Pennsylvania Polka Festival. Home Box Office would use a network of relay towers to distribute its programming to cable systems throughout its service area. Sterling Manhattan Cable continued to lose money because the company had only a small base of 20,000 customers in Manhattan. Time-Life dropped the Sterling name and the company was renamed Manhattan Cable Television under Time-Lifes control in March 1973, Gerald Levin, who had been with Home Box Office since it began operations as its vice president of programming, replaced Dolan as the companys president and chief executive officer. In September 1973, Time-Life, Inc. completed its acquisition of the pay service. HBO would eventually increase its fortunes within two years, by April 1975, the service had around 100,000 subscribers in Pennsylvania and New York state, in 1974, they settled on using a geostationary communications satellite to transmit HBO to cable providers throughout the United States
2.
The Sopranos
–
The Sopranos is an American crime drama television series created by David Chase. The story revolves around the character, New Jersey-based Italian American mobster Tony Soprano. The series portrays the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the requirements of his home life. These are often highlighted during his sessions with psychiatrist Jennifer Melfi. The series features Tonys family members, mafia colleagues and rivals, in prominent roles and story arcs, most notably his wife Carmela and protégé Christopher Moltisanti. After the pilot was ordered in 1997, the show premiered on the cable network HBO in the United States on January 10,1999. The series then went through syndication and has been broadcast on A&E in the United States, the Sopranos was produced by HBO, Chase Films, and Brad Grey Television. It was primarily filmed at Silvercup Studios, New York City, the executive producers throughout the shows run were David Chase, Brad Grey, Robin Green, Mitchell Burgess, Ilene S. Landress, Terence Winter, and Matthew Weiner. The Sopranos is widely regarded as one of the greatest television series of all time, the series also won a multitude of awards, including Peabody Awards for its first two seasons,21 Primetime Emmy Awards and five Golden Globe Awards. A staple of 2000s American popular culture, the series has been the subject of analysis, controversy. It has spawned books, a game, high-charting soundtrack albums. Several members of the shows cast and crew who were largely unknown to the public have had successful careers after The Sopranos. In 2013, the Writers Guild of America named The Sopranos the best-written TV series of all time, before creating The Sopranos, David Chase had worked as a television producer for more than 20 years. He had been employed as a staff writer/producer for several series and had co-created one short-lived original series, Almost Grown. He made his directorial debut in 1986 with the Enough Rope for Two episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents revival. He also directed episodes of Almost Grown and Ill Fly Away in 1988 and 1992, in 1996, he wrote and directed the television film The Rockford Files, Punishment and Crime. He served as showrunner for Ill Fly Away and Northern Exposure in the 1990s, Chase won his first Emmy Award in 1978 for his work on The Rockford Files and his second for writing the 1980 television film Off the Minnesota Strip. By 1996, he was a coveted showrunner, the story of The Sopranos was initially conceived as a feature film about a mobster in therapy having problems with his mother
3.
Gambling
–
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning money or material goods. Gambling thus requires three elements be present, consideration, chance and prize, the term gaming in this context typically refers to instances in which the activity has been specifically permitted by law. However, this distinction is not universally observed in the English-speaking world, for instance, in the United Kingdom, the regulator of gambling activities is called the Gambling Commission. Gambling is also an international commercial activity, with the legal gambling market totaling an estimated $335 billion in 2009. In other forms, gambling can be conducted with materials which have a value, many popular games played in modern casinos originate from Europe and China. Games such as craps, baccarat, roulette, and blackjack originate from different areas of Europe, a version of keno, an ancient Chinese lottery game, is played in casinos around the world. In addition, pai gow poker, a hybrid between pai gow and poker is also played, many jurisdictions, local as well as national, either ban gambling or heavily control it by licensing the vendors. Such regulation generally leads to gambling tourism and illegal gambling in the areas where it is not allowed, there is generally legislation requiring that the odds in gaming devices are statistically random, to prevent manufacturers from making some high-payoff results impossible. Since these high-payoffs have very low probability, a bias can quite easily be missed unless the odds are checked carefully. Most jurisdictions that allow gambling require participants to be above a certain age, in some jurisdictions, the gambling age differs depending on the type of gambling. For example, in many American states one must be over 21 to enter a casino, E. g. Nonetheless, both insurance and gambling contracts are typically considered aleatory contracts under most legal systems, though they are subject to different types of regulation. Under common law, particularly English Law, a contract may not give a casino bona fide purchaser status. For case law on recovery of gambling losses where the loser had stolen the funds see Rights of owner of money as against one who won it in gambling transaction from thief. This was a plot point in a Perry Mason novel, The Case of the Singing Skirt. Religious perspectives on gambling have been mixed, ancient Hindu poems like the Gamblers Lament and the Mahabharata testify to the popularity of gambling among ancient Indians. However, the text Arthashastra recommends taxation and control of gambling, ancient Jewish authorities frowned on gambling, even disqualifying professional gamblers from testifying in court. For these social and religious reasons, most legal jurisdictions limit gambling, in at least one case, the same bishop opposing a casino has sold land to be used for its construction. Although different interpretations of law exist in the Muslim world
4.
Kearny, New Jersey
–
Kearny is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States and a suburb of Newark. Kearny is named after Civil War general Philip Kearny and it began as a township formed by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 8,1867, from portions of Harrison Township. Portions of the township were taken on July 3,1895, Kearny was incorporated as a town on January 19,1899, based on the results of a referendum held two days earlier. The Arlington section of town was named for Arlington Station on the Erie Railroad at the Arlington Mill plant, owned by Arlington Mills of Lawrence, Massachusetts. The area of Kearny Township, created in 1867, had part of the original Crown Grant of 30,000 acres obtained by Major William Sandford of Barbados on July 4,1668. Major Sandford named it New Barbadoes Neck after his old home, as was the custom of the time, the Major paid 20 pounds sterling to Chief Tantaqua of the Hackensack tribe for all their reserve rights and titles. Sanfords friend Major Nathaniel Kingsland acquired the property in 1708 and sold the western tract of the Grant for 300 pounds sterling to Captain Arent Schuyler two years later. The new purchase included present-day Kearny, North Arlington, Lyndhurst, shortly after Schuylers purchase of his new homestead, a peculiar green stone was uncovered. It was sent to England for analysis and he learned that it contained 80% copper and his opening of a copper mine brought the first steam engine to America from England, it was used to pump out the deep mine shaft. The engine was delivered by its engineer, Josiah Hornblower. The engine and mines were destroyed by fire in 1772 and remained idle for some years, Schuyler Mansion played a role during the American Revolutionary War Era. When Lord Howe of England took possession of New York Harbor and they generally traveled over a road that today is referred to as the Belleville Turnpike, which was originally constructed in 1759 using cedar logs from the nearby swamps. In the middle 19th century, Kearny was the upper, or northern, a prominent citizen and resident of the upper section, General N. M. Halsted, felt it was impossible under these political conditions for his section to obtain proper recognition. He engaged an energetic campaign for an independent township and he succeeded when the NJ Legislature of 1867 on March 14, adopted an act creating the Township of Kearny. The town was named to honor Major General Phil Kearny, Commander of the New Jersey Forces in the Civil War, on April 8,1867, the first election of town officers was held. General N. M. Halsted was elected Chairman, the first official seat of Government was three rooms in the old Lodi Hotel, on the northeast corner of Schuyler and Harrison Avenues. In the early 1870s, Kearny erected its first Town Hall, on the corner of Kearny and Woodland Avenues and this served as a Town Hall, Court House, and Schoolhouse. The Minute Book of the Township states on August 16,1870, the first schoolhouse was housed in the Town Hall built at Kearny and Woodland Avenues in 1873
5.
New Jersey
–
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania, New Jersey is the fourth-smallest state but the 11th-most populous and the most densely populated of the 50 United States. New Jersey lies entirely within the statistical areas of New York City. New Jersey was inhabited by Native Americans for more than 2,800 years, in the early 17th century, the Dutch and the Swedes made the first European settlements. New Jersey was the site of decisive battles during the American Revolutionary War in the 18th century. In the 19th century, factories in cities such as Camden, Paterson, Newark, Trenton, around 180 million years ago, during the Jurassic Period, New Jersey bordered North Africa. The pressure of the collision between North America and Africa gave rise to the Appalachian Mountains, around 18,000 years ago, the Ice Age resulted in glaciers that reached New Jersey. As the glaciers retreated, they left behind Lake Passaic, as well as rivers, swamps. New Jersey was originally settled by Native Americans, with the Lenni-Lenape being dominant at the time of contact, scheyichbi is the Lenape name for the land that is now New Jersey. The Lenape society was divided into clans that were based upon common female ancestors. These clans were organized into three distinct phratries identified by their animal sign, Turtle, Turkey, and Wolf and they first encountered the Dutch in the early 17th century, and their primary relationship with the Europeans was through fur trade. The Dutch became the first Europeans to lay claim to lands in New Jersey, the Dutch colony of New Netherland consisted of parts of modern Middle Atlantic states. Although the European principle of ownership was not recognized by the Lenape. The first to do so was Michiel Pauw who established a patronship called Pavonia in 1630 along the North River which eventually became the Bergen, peter Minuits purchase of lands along the Delaware River established the colony of New Sweden. During the English Civil War, the Channel Island of Jersey remained loyal to the British Crown and it was from the Royal Square in St. Helier that Charles II of England was proclaimed King in 1649, following the execution of his father, Charles I. The North American lands were divided by Charles II, who gave his brother, the Duke of York, the region between New England and Maryland as a proprietary colony. James then granted the land between the Hudson River and the Delaware River to two friends who had remained loyal through the English Civil War, Sir George Carteret and Lord Berkeley of Stratton, the area was named the Province of New Jersey. Since the states inception, New Jersey has been characterized by ethnic, New England Congregationalists settled alongside Scots Presbyterians and Dutch Reformed migrants
6.
Christopher Moltisanti
–
Christopher Moltisanti, played by Michael Imperioli, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He is Tony Sopranos protégé and a member of the Soprano crime family, Tony Soprano has been a father figure to Christopher since the death of his father, Dickie Moltisanti. Tony affectionately refers to Christopher as his nephew, but in fact he is a cousin of Tonys wife Carmela as well as a distant cousin of Tony himself. Christopher is a volatile, narcissistic and impulsive young man, frustrated by his lack of progress in the business. Christopher oversteps his authority when he hijacks trucks under the protection of family boss Junior Soprano, to teach him a lesson, Junior orders a mock execution on him. Christopher shoots a bakery clerk in the foot for ignoring him, commenting It happens, in the second season Chris is shot by his subordinates Matthew Bevilaqua and Sean Gismonte but survives. In the third season Chris finally becomes a made man and this leads to friction with his new capo Paulie Gualtieri, culminating in the Pine Barrens incident and although they make an uneasy truce, they clash again on several occasions. By the sixth season he is promoted to capo, and Tony tells Christopher that he lead the family into the 21st century. Christopher has a tumultuous and abusive relationship with his long-term girlfriend Adriana La Cerva. He comes close to death when, enraged about rumors that his fiancée Adriana and Tony are having an affair, he pulls a gun on Tony and he is spared only after Tony Blundetto intercedes for him. In the fifth season Chris learns that Adriana has been working as an informant for the U. S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, valuing loyalty over love, Christopher reports Adrianas actions to Tony, who has Silvio Dante kill her. Christopher then marries his new girlfriend Kelli Lombardo and they have a daughter, Caitlyn and he grows disillusioned with Tony and frustrated with his progress in the family, and distances himself from the business by making a film and trying to become a Hollywood screenwriter. Christopher struggles throughout the series with major drug and alcohol addictions and repeatedly spends time at AA, Christophers efforts to stay clean of drugs and alcohol cause him to spend less time at their regular haunts further arousing Tonys suspicions. Christopher causes a car crash as he is driving Tony home while high, after seeing that Caitlyns baby seat has been completely destroyed in the accident, Tony suffocates the injured Chris and is finally rid of his troublesome nephew. The character of Christopher contains various nods to actor Michael Imperiolis own life, like Imperioli, Chris is a film and television buff with ambitions to be a scriptwriter, and there are references to Imperiolis appearances in Goodfellas and Dead Presidents. After auditioning for the role of Christopher, Imperioli thought that series creator David Chase was unimpressed with his audition, Chase also said he wanted Imperioli because he had appeared in Goodfellas. Christopher Moltisanti was born in 1969 to Richard Dickie Moltisanti, a soldier in the DiMeo crime family, Chris is a first cousin once removed of Carmela Soprano. Christophers father, Dickie, was killed when Chris was very young, Tony Soprano affectionately considers Christopher a nephew, and looks out for him over the years
7.
Humphrey Bogart
–
Humphrey DeForest Bogart was an American screen and stage actor whose performances in 1940s films noir such as The Maltese Falcon, Casablanca, and The Big Sleep earned him status as a cultural icon. Bogart began acting in 1921 after a hitch in the U. S. Navy in World War I and little success in various jobs in finance, gradually he became a regular in Broadway shows in the 1920s and 1930s. When the stock market crash of 1929 reduced the demand for plays, Bogarts breakthrough as a leading man came in 1941 with High Sierra and The Maltese Falcon. His last film was The Harder They Fall, during a film career of almost 30 years, Bogart appeared in more than 75 feature films. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked Bogart as the greatest male star of Classic American cinema, over his career, he received three Academy Award nominations for Best Actor, winning one. Bogart was born on Christmas Day,1899, in New York City, Belmont was the only child of the unhappy marriage of Adam Watkins Bogart, a Canandaigua, New York innkeeper, and his wife, Julia, a wealthy heiress. The name Bogart comes from the Dutch surname Bogaert, Belmont and Maud married in June 1898, he was a Presbyterian, of English and Dutch descent, and she was an Episcopalian of English heritage, and a descendant of Mayflower passenger John Howland. Young Humphrey was raised in the Episcopal faith, but was non-practicing for most of his adult life, the corrected January birthdate subsequently appeared—and in some cases, remains—in many otherwise authoritative sources. Sperber and Eric Lax documented, however, that Bogart always celebrated his birthday on December 25, Lauren Bacall confirmed in her autobiography that his birthday was always celebrated on Christmas Day, adding that he joked that he was cheated out of a present every year because of it. Bogarts father, Belmont, was a cardiopulmonary surgeon and his mother, Maud, was a commercial illustrator who received her art training in New York and France, including study with James McNeill Whistler. Later she became art director of the fashion magazine The Delineator and she used a drawing of baby Humphrey in a well-known advertising campaign for Mellins Baby Food. In her prime, she made over $50,000 a year, then a vast sum, the Bogarts lived in a fashionable Upper West Side apartment, and had an elegant cottage on a 55-acre estate on Canandaigua Lake in upstate New York. As a youngster, Humphreys gang of friends at the lake would put on theatricals, Humphrey had two younger sisters, Frances and Catherine Elizabeth. His parents were busy in their careers and frequently fought, very formal, they showed little emotion towards their children. Maud told her offspring to call her Maud not Mother, when pleased she lapped you on the shoulder, almost the way a man does, Bogart recalled. I was brought up very unsentimentally but very straightforwardly, a kiss, in our family, was an event. Our mother and father didnt glug over my two sisters and me. As a boy, Bogart was teased for his curls, tidiness, the pictures his mother had him pose for, the Little Lord Fauntleroy clothes she dressed him in
8.
Frank Sinatra
–
Francis Albert Sinatra was an American singer, actor, and producer who was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century. He is one of the music artists of all time. Born in Hoboken, New Jersey, to Italian immigrants, Sinatra began his career in the swing era with bandleaders Harry James. Sinatra found success as a solo artist after he signed with Columbia Records in 1943 and he released his debut album, The Voice of Frank Sinatra, in 1946. Sinatras professional career had stalled by the early 1950s, and he turned to Las Vegas and his career was reborn in 1953 with the success of From Here to Eternity, with his performance subsequently winning an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor. Sinatra released several critically lauded albums, including In the Wee Small Hours, Come Fly with Me, Only the Lonely and Nice n Easy. Sinatra left Capitol in 1960 to start his own label, Reprise Records. It was followed by 1968s collaboration with Duke Ellington, using his Las Vegas shows as a home base, he toured both within the United States and internationally until a short time before his death in 1998. Sinatra forged a successful career as a film actor. After winning an Academy Award for From Here to Eternity, he starred in The Man with the Golden Arm and he appeared in various musicals such as On the Town, Guys and Dolls, High Society, and Pal Joey, winning another Golden Globe for the latter. Toward the end of his career, he associated with playing detectives. Sinatra would later receive the Golden Globe Cecil B, on television, The Frank Sinatra Show began on ABC in 1950, and he continued to make appearances on television throughout the 1950s and 1960s. While Sinatra never formally learned how to read music, he had a natural, intuitive understanding of it, a perfectionist, renowned for his impeccable dress sense and cleanliness, he always insisted on recording live with his band. His bright blue eyes earned him the popular nickname Ol Blue Eyes, Sinatra led a colorful personal life, and was often involved in turbulent affairs with women, such as with his second wife Ava Gardner. He went on to marry Mia Farrow in 1966 and Barbara Marx in 1976, Sinatra had several violent confrontations, usually with journalists he felt had crossed him, or work bosses with whom he had disagreements. He was honored at the Kennedy Center Honors in 1983, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Ronald Reagan in 1985, Sinatra was also the recipient of eleven Grammy Awards, including the Grammy Trustees Award, Grammy Legend Award and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. After his death, American music critic Robert Christgau called him the greatest singer of the 20th century, Francis Albert Sinatra was born on December 12,1915, in an upstairs tenement at 415 Monroe Street in Hoboken, New Jersey. He was the child of Italian immigrants Antonino Martino Marty Sinatra
9.
Edward G. Robinson
–
Edward G. Robinson was a Romanian-born American actor. A popular star on stage and screen during Hollywoods Golden Age, he appeared in 40 Broadway plays and he is best remembered for his tough-guy roles as a gangster, such as his star-making film Little Caesar and Key Largo. During the 1930s and 1940s, he was a public critic of fascism and Nazism. His activism included contributing over $250,000 to more than 850 organizations involved in war relief, along with cultural, educational, during the 1950s, he was called to testify at the House Un-American Activities Committee during the Red Scare, but was cleared of any Communist involvement. Robinson received an Honorary Academy Award for his work in the film industry and he is ranked #24 in the American Film Institutes list of the 25 greatest male stars of Classic American cinema. Robinson was born as Emanuel Goldenberg to a Yiddish-speaking Romanian Jewish family in Bucharest, the son of Sarah and Morris Goldenberg, after one of his brothers was attacked by an antisemitic mob, the family decided to emigrate to the United States. Robinson arrived in New York City on February 14,1903, at Ellis Island I was born again, he wrote. Life for me began when I was 10 years old, an interest in acting and performing in front of people led to him winning an American Academy of Dramatic Arts scholarship, after which he changed his name to Edward G. Robinson. He served in the US Navy during World War I, but was never sent overseas and he began his acting career in the Yiddish Theater District in 1913 and made his Broadway debut in 1915. In 1923 made his debut as E. G. Robinson in the silent film. He played a gangster in the 1927 Broadway police/crime drama The Racket. Robinson went on to make a total of 101 films in his 50-year career. In 1939, at the time World War II broke out in Europe, he played an FBI agent in Confessions of a Nazi Spy, the first American film which showed Nazism as a threat to the United States. He volunteered for service in June 1942 but was disqualified due to his age at 48, although he became an active. The following year he played Paul Ehrlich in Dr. Ehrlichs Magic Bullet and Paul Julius Reuter in A Dispatch from Reuters and his career rehabilitation received a boost in 1954, when noted anti-communist director Cecil B. DeMille cast him as the traitorous Dathan in The Ten Commandments, the film was released in 1956, as was his psychological thriller Nightmare. As it turned out, Robinson died only days later. He had been notified of the honor, but died two months before the ceremony, so the award was accepted by his widow, Jane Robinson
10.
Dean Martin
–
Dean Martin was an Italian-American singer, actor, comedian, and film producer. One of the most popular and enduring American entertainers of the century, Martin was nicknamed the King of Cool for his seemingly effortless charisma. He and Jerry Lewis were partners in the popular comedy team Martin. He was a member of the Rat Pack and a star in concert stages, nightclubs, recordings, motion pictures and he was the host of the television variety program The Dean Martin Show and The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast. Martin was born on June 7,1917, in Steubenville, Ohio, to an Italian father, Gaetano Alfonso Crocetti, and an Italian-American mother, Angela Crocetti. His father, who was a barber, was originally from Montesilvano, in Abruzzo, Martin had an older brother named William Alfonso Crocetti. Martins first language was an Abruzzese dialect of Italian, and he did not speak English until he started school at the age of five and he attended Grant Elementary School in Steubenville where he was bullied for his broken English. He later took up the drums as a hobby as a teenager, Martin then dropped out of Steubenville High School in the 10th grade because he thought he was smarter than his teachers. He bootlegged liquor, served as a croupier, was a blackjack dealer, worked in a steel mill. At 15 he was a boxer who billed himself as Kid Crochet and his prizefighting earned him a broken nose, a scarred lip, many broken knuckles, and a bruised body. Of his 12 bouts, he said, I won all but 11, for a time, he roomed with Sonny King, who, like Martin, was starting in show business and had little money. It is said that Martin and King held bare-knuckle matches in their apartment, fighting until one was knocked out, Martin knocked out King in the first round of an amateur boxing match. Martin gave up boxing to work as a roulette stickman and croupier in an illegal casino behind a tobacco shop, at the same time he sang with local bands, calling himself Dino Martini. He got his break working for the Ernie McKay Orchestra and he sang in a crooning style influenced by Harry Mills, among others. In the early 1940s, he started singing for bandleader Sammy Watkins, in October 1941 Martin married Elizabeth Betty Anne McDonald. They had four children before the marriage ended in 1949, Martin worked for various bands throughout the early 1940s, mostly on looks and personality until he developed his own singing style. Martin flopped at the Riobamba, a nightclub in New York, when he followed Frank Sinatra in 1943, Martin was drafted into the United States Army in 1944 during World War II, serving a year in Akron, Ohio. He was reclassified as 4-F and discharged, possibly because of a double hernia, by 1946, Martin was doing well, but he was little more than an East Coast nightclub singer with a common style, similar to that of Bing Crosby
11.
Meat
–
Meat is animal flesh that is eaten as food. Humans have hunted and killed animals for meat since prehistoric times, the advent of civilization allowed the domestication of animals such as chickens, sheep, pigs and cattle. This eventually led to their use in production on an industrial scale with the aid of slaughterhouses. Meat is mainly composed of water, protein, and fat and it is edible raw, but is normally eaten after it has been cooked and seasoned or processed in a variety of ways. Unprocessed meat will spoil or rot within hours or days as a result of infection with and decomposition by bacteria, most often, meat refers to skeletal muscle and associated fat and other tissues, but it may also describe other edible tissues such as offal. The word meat comes from the Old English word mete, which referred to food in general, the term is related to mad in Danish, mat in Swedish and Norwegian, and matur in Icelandic and Faroese, which also mean food. The word mete also exists in Old Frisian to denote important food, differentiating it from swiets, paleontological evidence suggests that meat constituted a substantial proportion of the diet of even the earliest humans. Early hunter-gatherers depended on the hunting of large animals such as bison. Several breeds of sheep were established in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt by 3500–3000 BC, today, more than 200 sheep-breeds exist. Cattle were domesticated in Mesopotamia after settled agriculture was established about 5000 BC, modern domesticated cattle fall into the groups Bos taurus and Bos indicus, both descended from the now-extinct aurochs. The breeding of cattle, cattle optimized for meat production as opposed to animals best suited for draught or dairy purposes. Domestic pigs, which are descended from boars, are known to have existed about 2500 BC in modern-day Hungary and in Troy, earlier pottery from Jericho. Pork sausages and hams were of commercial importance in Greco-Roman times. Pigs continue to be bred intensively as they are being optimized to produce meat best suited for meat products. Other animals are or have raised or hunted for their flesh. The type of meat consumed varies much between different cultures, changes over time, depending on such as tradition and the availability of the animals. The amount and kind of meat consumed also varies by income, horses are commonly eaten in France, Italy, Germany and Japan, among other countries. Horses and other mammals such as reindeer were hunted during the late Paleolithic in western Europe
12.
Pork
–
Pork is the culinary name for meat from the domestic pig. It is the most commonly consumed meat worldwide, with evidence of pig husbandry dating back to 5000 BC, Pork is eaten both freshly cooked and preserved. Curing extends the life of the pork products. Ham, smoked pork, gammon, bacon and sausage are examples of preserved pork, charcuterie is the branch of cooking devoted to prepared meat products, many from pork. Pork is the most popular meat in East and Southeast Asia and it is highly prized in Asian cuisines for its fat content and pleasant texture. Consumption of pork is forbidden by Jewish and Muslim dietary law, the sale of pork is illegal or severely restricted in Israel and in certain Muslim countries, particularly those where sharia law is part of their constitution. The pig is one of the oldest forms of livestock, having been domesticated as early as 5000 BC and it is believed to have been domesticated either in the Near East or in China from the wild boar. The adaptable nature and omnivorous diet of this creature allowed early humans to domesticate it much earlier than other forms of livestock. Pigs were mostly used for food, but people also used their hides for shields and shoes, their bones for tools and weapons, and their bristles for brushes. Charcuterie is the branch of cooking devoted to prepared meat products such as bacon, ham, sausage, terrines, galantines, pâtés, and confit, primarily from pork. Originally intended as a way to preserve meats before the advent of refrigeration, in 15th century France, local guilds regulated tradesmen in the food production industry in each city. The guilds that produced charcuterie were those of the charcutiers, the members of this guild produced a traditional range of cooked or salted and dried meats, which varied, sometimes distinctively, from region to region. The only raw meat the charcutiers were allowed to sell was unrendered lard, the charcutier prepared numerous items, including pâtés, rillettes, sausages, bacon, trotters, and head cheese. Due to the nature of the meat in Western culinary history. The year-round availability of meat and fruits has not diminished the popularity of this combination on Western plates, Pork is the most widely eaten meat in the world, accounting for about 38% of meat production worldwide. Consumption varies widely from place to place, the meat is taboo to eat in the Middle East and most of the Muslim world because of Jewish kosher and Islamic Halal dietary restrictions. But pork is widely consumed in East and Southeast Asia, Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, as the result, large numbers of pork recipes are developed throughout the world. Feijoada for example, the dish of Brazil, is traditionally prepared with pork trimmings, ears, tail
13.
Sausage
–
A sausage is a cylindrical meat product usually made from ground meat, often pork, beef, or veal, along with salt, spices and other flavourings, and breadcrumbs, with a skin around it. Typically, a sausage is formed in a traditionally made from intestine. Sausages that are sold uncooked are usually cooked in many ways, some sausages are cooked during processing and the casing may then be removed. Sausage making is a food preservation technique. Sausages may be preserved by curing, drying, smoking, or freezing, some cured or smoked sausages can be stored without refrigeration. Most fresh sausages must be refrigerated or frozen until they are cooked, there is a huge range of national and regional varieties of sausages, which differ by their flavouring or spicing ingredients, the meat used in them and their manner of preparation. The word sausage was first used in English in the mid-15th century and this word came. from Old North French saussiche. The French word saussiche came. from Vulgar Latin *salsica sausage, from salsicus seasoned with salt, Sausage making is an outcome of efficient butchery. Traditionally, sausage makers would salt various tissues and organs such as scraps, organ meats, blood and they would then stuff them into tubular casings made from the cleaned intestines of the animal, producing the characteristic cylindrical shape. Hence, sausages, puddings, and salami are among the oldest of prepared foods, whether cooked, early humans made the first sausages by stuffing roasted intestines into stomachs. The Greek poet Homer mentioned a kind of sausage in the Odyssey, Epicharmus wrote a comedy titled The Sausage. Evidence suggests that sausages were already popular both among the ancient Greeks and Romans, and most likely with the tribes occupying the larger part of Europe. The most famous sausage in ancient Italy was from Lucania and was called lucanica, during the reign of the Roman emperor Nero, sausages were associated with the Lupercalia festival. Early in the 10th century during the Byzantine Empire, Leo VI the Wise outlawed the production of blood sausages following cases of food poisoning, traditionally, sausage casings were made of the cleaned intestines, or stomachs in the case of haggis and other traditional puddings. Today, however, natural casings are often replaced by collagen, cellulose, or even plastic casings, some forms of sausage, such as sliced sausage, are prepared without a casing. Additionally, luncheon meat and sausage meat are now available without casings in tin cans, a sausage consists of meat, cut into pieces or ground, and filled into a casing, with other ingredients. Ingredients may include a cheap starch filler such as breadcrumbs, seasoning and flavourings such as spices, the meat may be from any animal, but is often pork, beef, or veal. The lean meat-to-fat ratio is dependent upon the style and producer, speciality sausages with other ingredients such as apple and leek are also made
14.
Delicatessen
–
A delicatessen or deli is a retail establishment that sells a selection of unusual or foreign prepared foods. Delicatessens originated in Germany during the 1700s and spread to the United States in the mid-1800s, European immigrants to the United States, especially Ashkenazi Jews, popularized the delicatessen in American culture beginning in the late 1800s. Delicatessen is a German loanword which first appeared in English in 1889 and is the plural of Delikatesse, in German it was originally a French loanword, délicatesse, meaning delicious things. Its root word is the Latin adjective delicatus, meaning giving pleasure, delightful, the first Americanized short version of this word, deli, came into existence c. 1954. The German food company Dallmayr is credited with being the first delicatessen created, in 1700, it became the first store to import bananas, mangoes, and plums to the German population from faraway places such as the Canary Islands and China. Over 300 years later, it remains the largest business of its kind in Europe, the first delicatessens to appear in the United States were in New York City in the mid-1800s, with the first known use of this word occurring in 1885. These catered to the German immigrant population living there, as the German-Jewish population increased in New York City during the mid- to late 1800s, kosher delicatessens began to open, the first was founded in 1889. In the United States, by the late 20th to early 21st centuries, supermarkets, local economy stores, and fast food outlets began using the word to describe sections of their stores. The decline of the deli as an independent retail establishment was most noted in New York City, from a high in the 1930s of about 1,500 Jewish delicatessens, in most of Australia, the term delicatessen retains its European meaning. Large supermarket chains often have a department, and independent delicatessens exist throughout the country. Both types of deli offer a variety of cured meats, sausages, pickled vegetables, dips, breads, Deli also denotes a small convenience store or milk bar in Western and South Australia, and some businesses use deli as part of their business name. Traditional delicatessens also exist in these states, with continental delicatessen sometimes used to indicate the European version, in Canada, both meanings of delicatessen are used. In Europe delicatessen means high-quality, expensive foods and stores, in German-speaking countries a common synonym is Feinkost, and shops which sell it are called Feinkostläden. Department stores often have a Delikatessenabteilung, European delicatessens include Fauchon in Paris, Dallmayr in Munich, Harrods and Fortnum & Mason in London, and Peck in Milan. Although U. S. -style delicatessens are also found in Europe, in Russia, shops and supermarket sections approximating US-style delis are called kulinariya and offer salads and main courses. Delicate meats and cheeses, cold-cut and sliced hot, are sold in a separate section, the Eliseevsky food store in central Moscow, with its fin de siècle decor, is similar to a European delicatessen. From the Tsarist era, it was preserved by the Soviets as an outlet for difficult-to-obtain Russian delicacies, delicatessens may also provide foods from other countries and cultures which is not readily available in local food stores. In Italy, the deli can be called gastronomia, negozio di specialità gastronomiche, in France it is nowadays known as a traiteur or épicerie fine
15.
Silvio Dante
–
Silvio Manfred Dante, played by Steven Van Zandt, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He is the consigliere to Tony Soprano in the Soprano crime family and he is usually a behind the scenes figure and tries not to draw much attention to himself. He does very well at maintaining a legitimate business image as the manager and owner of the Bada Bing strip club. Silvio usually keeps his cool in even the worst situations but has known to unleash his terrible fury and excessive anger when necessary. Silvio is a movie and film connoisseur and has a mind for movie lines. they pulled me back in. Silvio is one of the most loyal mobsters in the Soprano crime family and he is notorious on the show for executing FBI informants and traitors. According to The Sopranos, A Family History, Silvio was born in June 1957, his father was Joseph Beppo Dante, Silvio was a childhood friend of Tony and his early criminal activity often involved Tony, Ralph Cifaretto and Jackie Aprile, Sr. His original career plan was to be a singer. Silvios support was instrumental in ensuring Tony took over as capo following the death of his father, throughout his association with the Soprano crew, Silvio formed friendships with Salvatore Big Pussy Bonpensiero and Paulie Walnuts Gualtieri. Silvio is one of the more level-headed associates of Tony Soprano, where many of Tonys men immediately become hot-headed and resort to violence, Silvio generally helps to mediate many situations and gets along with everyone. He accompanies Tony to most of his sit-downs - a formal venue in the organization to resolve disputes, because of this, Tony relies on Silvio to be a clear-headed thinker and someone he can trust. Silvio is most often the one to quote mafia rules and norms when a decision is to be made. Silvios move to consigliere, once Tony becomes acting boss, seems completely natural, Silvios criminal interests include loan sharking and bookmaking but his day-to-day role is that of managing the Bada Bing, the most recent in a string of strip clubs that he has operated. The Bing, as it is referred to, is not only one of the crime familys major meeting spots. The most notable instance of Silvios clubs doubling as a house of prostitution is perhaps episode University, in spite of his misogyny, Silvio loves and cares about, and is a strong father for his teenage daughter Heather, whom he calls The Principessa. Silvio says that Heather disapproves of his profession calling it degrading to women, Tony has said to him, Youre a good father. When his daughters soccer coach was found to be involved with one of his players, Silvio looked for vengeance. Silvio has a record of executing traitors throughout the show
16.
Furio Giunta
–
Furio Giunta, played by Federico Castelluccio, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He is an Italian mobster working for Tony Soprano, eventually, he has to return to Italy after a flirtation with Tonys wife Carmela. Furio has long hair, which he wears in a ponytail. Tony meets Furio on a visit to Naples for business discussions with the Neapolitan Camorra mob boss Annalisa Zucca and he convinces her to let Furio come to New Jersey to work for him as part of an international car theft operation. This impulse to integrate Furio into his association emerged when he saw Furio beat a boy for playing with firecrackers which imitate the sound of gunshots. Tony Soprano saw that Furio had absolutely no inhibitions and a merciless wrath embedded by a sincere loyalty to his boss. Furio does not particularly excel at honest work, mainly because Artie imposes tougher standards on his kitchen workers than restaurants in Italy, such as hair nets and no smoking on duty. Furio is a loyal and dedicated soldier for Tony, but he not appear to be a violent individual outside of that context. He also displays a great deal of sentimentality and nostalgia when talking of his land of Naples. Furios first assignment is to extract payment from a massage parlor owner whose wife had convinced him to withhold payment, in an earlier visit Chris had acted in an intimidating manner and shoved a paintbrush dipped in paint into his nostril. Furio smashes up the place and shows no hesitation in hitting the guests or the owners wife and he then breaks the owners arm with a bat and shoots him in the kneecap, all of which makes a positive impression on Tony. He is one of the few people to know that Richie Aprile was killed, as Tony asks him, Furio makes collections from low-level associates Matthew Bevilaqua and Sean Gismonte and takes a cut of his own. Furios grabbiness with Matt and Sean causes problems later, as they are convinced they are being used by Tony, Furios role in the overall plot of season 3 is minor. Because of his injury, Furio walks with a cane for the next episode, in that episode, Furio accompanies Vito Spatafore when Vito hunts Jackie down and executes him. In the season 4 episode Everybody Hurts, a sly Frenchman named Jean-Pierre Colbert cons Artie Bucco into lending him $50,000 for a business investment back in France, Furio is tasked with reclaiming Tonys assumed debt from Jean-Pierre Colbert, which he does. Furio eventually begins to fall in love with Tonys wife, Carmela, Carmela tries to deflect her attraction by arranging dates for Furio. For a time, however, there is significant sexual tension between them, Carmela finds excuses to visit Furio, including assisting him in buying and decorating a house, and planning a house-warming party, but never stays alone with him. She brings an unwilling AJ along for cover, at the house-warming they share a sexually charged dance, Furio later claims he forgot his sunglasses at the Soprano house, just as a ploy to talk with Carmela
17.
Dwight Harris
–
Special Agent Dwight Harris, played by Matt Servitto, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He is an FBI agent assigned to Tony Sopranos case, a minor character during the first five seasons of the series, he plays a pivotal role throughout the sixth season as a de facto ally to Tony Soprano in his war against Phil Leotardo. Harris is an FBI Supervisor Agent-in-Charge specializing in investigation of the DiMeo crime family with the FBIs Newark Organized Crime Division Task Force and he is often seen staking out various family members. While investigating the family, he develops a friendly rapport with several of them. Like Tony, Harris is a fan of the New Jersey Nets, after September 11, Harris is reassigned to counter-terrorism duty in Pakistan, where he catches a bad stomach parasite. Nevertheless, when he returns to New Jersey he frequents Satriales pork store, apparently for the familiar food, with Harris now focused on terrorism, he and Tony seem to develop a more genuine friendship. In the Season 6 episode Kaisha, Harris appears at Satriales to inform Tony that someone in his crew could be in danger, although he has no specific details. Later on, Agent Harris and his partner, Agent Goddard, approached Tony at his home, Tony provides their names and a cell phone numbers to Agent Harris, who is appreciative. In return, Agent Harris promises to write a letter detailing Tonys assistance that will be placed in Tonys FBI file for a judge to consider in sentencing should Tony ever be convicted of a crime. He later tells Tony at Satriales that an informer amongst Phil Leotardos crew has told them that Tony is being targeted by the Lupertazzi family, Agent Harris meets with Tony Soprano, who offers him the name of the Muslim mens bank. When Agent Goddard later reports Leotardos murder, Harris exults in the success of his ploy, upon hearing that Phil Leotardo was killed, Agent Harris jubilantly cries, Were gonna win this thing. This is a reference to former FBI supervisor Lindley DeVecchio, who said the thing when he was told Lorenzo Larry Lampasi had been shot to death in front of his Brooklyn home. DeVecchio was later indicted for providing the Colombo family with information that led to four murders, Agent Harris motivation may be personal. In an earlier Season 6 episode, Agent Harris tells Tony that he has never liked Phil Leotardo ever since Phil tried to set up a female agent for a rape and beating. Late in Season 6 we learn that Agent Harris is either married to or more likely having an affair with a female FBI agent who appears to be the source of his info on Leotardo. Matt Servitto at the Internet Movie Database
18.
Pastry
–
Pastry is a dough of flour, water and shortening that may be savoury or sweetened. Sweetened pastries are often described as bakers confectionery, the word pastries suggests many kinds of baked products made from ingredients such as flour, sugar, milk, butter, shortening, baking powder, and eggs. Small tarts and other baked products are called pastries. The French word pâtisserie is also used in English for the same foods, common pastry dishes include pies, tarts, quiches and pasties. Pastry can also refer to the dough, from which such baked products are made. Pastry dough is rolled out thinly and used as a base for baked products, pastry is differentiated from bread by having a higher fat content, which contributes to a flaky or crumbly texture. A good pastry is light and airy and fatty, but firm enough to support the weight of the filling, when making a shortcrust pastry, care must be taken to blend the fat and flour thoroughly before adding any liquid. This ensures that the granules are adequately coated with fat. On the other hand, overmixing results in long gluten strands that toughen the pastry, Shortcrust pastry Shortcrust pastry is the simplest and most common pastry. It is made with flour, fat, butter, salt and this is used mainly in tarts. It is also the pastry that is used most often in making a quiche, the process of making pastry includes mixing of the fat and flour, adding water, and rolling out the paste. A related type is the sweetened sweetcrust pastry, also known as pâte sucrée, in which sugar, Flaky pastry Flaky pastry is a simple pastry that expands when cooked due to the number of layers. It bakes into a crisp, buttery pastry, the puff is obtained by the shard-like layers of fat, most often butter or shortening, creating layers which expand in the heat of the oven when baked. Puff pastry Puff pastry has many layers that cause it to expand or puff when baked, Puff pastry is made using flour, butter, salt, and water. The pastry rises up due to the water and fats expanding as they turn into steam upon heating, Puff pastries come out of the oven light, flaky, and tender. Choux pastry Choux pastry is a very light pastry that is filled with cream. Unlike other types of pastry, choux is in closer to a dough before being cooked which gives it the ability to be piped into various shapes such as the éclair. Its name originates from the French choux, meaning cabbage, owing to its rough cabbage-like shape after cooking, Choux begins as a mixture of milk or water and butter which are heated together until the butter melts, to which flour is added to form a dough
19.
Espresso
–
Espresso is coffee brewed by forcing a small amount of nearly boiling water under pressure through finely ground coffee beans. Espresso is generally thicker than coffee brewed by other methods, has a concentration of suspended and dissolved solids. As a result of the brewing process, the flavors. Espresso is also the base for drinks such as a caffè latte, cappuccino, caffè macchiato, caffè mocha, flat white. The spelling expresso is sometimes used, while some state that this spelling is incorrect. Espresso is made by forcing hot water under high pressure through finely ground. Tamping down the coffee promotes the waters even penetration of the grounds and this process produces an almost syrupy beverage by extracting both solid and dissolved components. The crema is produced by emulsifying the oils in the coffee into a colloid. Generally, one uses a machine to make espresso. Today, however, it is common for the pressure to be generated by an electric pump. The technical parameters outlined by the Italian Espresso National Institute for making a certified Italian espresso are and it is not a specific bean, bean blend, or roast level. Any bean or roasting level can be used to produce authentic espresso, for example, in southern Italy, a darker roast is generally preferred. Farther north, the moves toward slightly lighter roasts, while outside Italy. Espresso has risen in popularity worldwide since the 1980s, in the United States, cafés serve many variations by adding syrup, whipped cream, flavor extracts, soy milk, and spices to their drinks. The American Pacific Northwest has been viewed as the driver behind this trend, the popularity later spread to shops in other regions and into homes as kitchen-friendly machines became available at moderate cost. In other parts of the world, espresso has long been the method of coffee preparation in restaurants, bars. Angelo Moriondo’s Italian patent for a steam-driven instantaneous coffee beverage making device, author Ian Bersten, whose history of coffee brewers is cited below, claims to have been the first to discover Moriondo’s patent. Bersten describes the device as “… almost certainly the first Italian bar machine that controlled the supply of steam and water separately through the coffee” and Moriondo as “
20.
The Sopranos: Road to Respect
–
The Sopranos, Road to Respect is a 2006 video game based on the HBO series The Sopranos, which aired from January 10,1999 to June 10,2007. The game was released on November 7,2006, the games storyline takes place between the fifth and sixth seasons and centers on Big Pussy Bonpensieros illegitimate son, Joey LaRocca, as he makes his way through the family business. The player is able to take missions from the characters of the series at certain points in the game. Road to Respect differs from other mob-influenced games in that it is in a linear, however, players are able to play Texas Hold Em with members of the Family and visit Bada Bing. Unlike the TV show, the game focuses almost exclusively on the Mafia aspect of The Sopranos rather than the blend of family, business, the game begins with Tony Soprano offering Joey LaRocca, the protagonist, a place in the Mafia. During his first job, he accidentally kills Mario Buscetta, the nephew of Angelo Buscetta, Angelo is the boss of Philadelphia family. Angie sends a hitman to kill Joey, but Joey kills the hitman during a rooftop chase. A few days later, Tony’s son A. J. has a deal go bad on him, his partner wasted the drug money, prompting the dealers to kill his partner. Joey retrieves the car and kills one of the dealers, only to have the car stolen by Angie’s men, while Joey is fearful the theft of Tonys truck may get him whacked, Tony says that A. J. admitted responsibility. Tony has Joey retaliate for the theft by burning one of Angie’s businesses. A few days later, Angie returns Tony’s car, completely wrecked and he finds Angie at the docks, where he kills Angie by throwing him off of his yacht. Through various intervals in the game, Joey is visited by the ghost of his dead father, for eliminating the rival boss Angie, Tony makes Joey. J. David Chase continues to write for the most part, the main character is voiced by Christian Maelen as Joey LaRocca. Other noted actors Monica Keena as Trishelle and Robert Costanzo as Angelo Buscetta, anthony DeSando, who played Brendan Filone on the series, voices an entirely new character as LaRoccas partner in crime, Reggie. The game received a score of 42. 78% from GameRankings and 42 out of 100 from Metacritic. The Sopranos, Road to Respect at MobyGames
21.
Elizabeth, New Jersey
–
Elizabeth is both the largest city and the county seat of Union County, in New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a population of 124,969. The population increased by 4,401 from the 120,568 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 10,566 from the 110,002 counted in the 1990 Census. For 2015, the Census Bureaus Population Estimates Program calculated a population of 129,007, in 2008, Elizabeth was named one of Americas 50 Greenest Cities by Popular Science magazine, the only city in New Jersey selected. Elizabeth, originally called Elizabethtown and part of the Elizabethtown Tract, was founded in 1664 by English settlers. The town was not named for Queen Elizabeth I as many people may assume and she was the daughter of Philippe de Carteret II, 3rd Seigneur de Sark and Anne Dowse. The town served as the first capital of New Jersey, after independence, it was from Elizabethtown that George Washington embarked by boat to Manhattan for his 1789 inauguration. There are numerous memorials and monuments of the American Revolution in Elizabeth, on March 19,1857, the city became part of the newly created Union County. Portions of the city were taken to form Linden Township on March 4,1861, the first major industry, the Singer Sewing Machine Company came to Elizabeth and employed as many as 2,000 people. In 1895, it saw one of the first car companies, the Electric Boat Company got its start building submarines for the United States Navy in Elizabeth, New Jersey, beginning with the launch of USS Holland in 1897. These pioneering naval craft were developed at Lewis Nixons Crescent Shipyard in Elizabeth between the years 1896–1903, Elizabeth grew in parallel to its sister city of Newark for many years, but has been more successful in retaining a middle-class presence and was mostly spared riots in the 1960s. On September 18,2016, a backpack holding five bombs was discovered outside NJ Transits Elizabeth train station, one bomb detonated accidentally when a bomb squad robot failed to disarm the contents of the backpack, no one was hurt. Police were initially unsure if this event was related to bombs in Seaside Park, New Jersey and Manhattan that had exploded the previous day. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city had an area of 13.464 square miles. Elizabeth is bordered to the southwest by Linden, to the west by Roselle and Roselle Park, to the northwest by Union and Hillside, to the east the city is across the Newark Bay from Bayonne in Hudson County and the Arthur Kill from Staten Island, New York. Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Elizabethport, the city of Elizabeth has several distinct districts and neighborhoods. Midtown also occasionally known as Uptown, is the commercial district. It includes the First Presbyterian Church and St. Johns Episcopal Church, the First Presbyterian Church was a battleground for the American Revolution
22.
Junior Soprano
–
Corrado John Soprano, Jr. played by Dominic Chianese, is a fictional character from the HBO TV series The Sopranos. A younger Corrado sometimes appears in flashbacks and is played by Rocco Sisto, Junior is portrayed as an arrogant, selfish, misanthropic, impulsive, and insecure character. In Mafia jargon, he ate alone, sharing little of his success with others, Junior was very envious of others who held an advantage or position of superiority over him. He had a relationship with his nephew Tony Soprano, for his fast ascendancy as a star of the family. He also ordered an execution on Christopher Moltisanti for hijacking one of his trucks. After a brief power struggle during season one, Tony stood aside, shortly afterwards Junior was indicted for racketeering and placed under house arrest, leaving Tony as de facto boss. Eventually a member of Juniors crew managed to intimidate one of the jurors, over this period Juniors mental state gradually deteriorated, resulting in him shooting Tony, believing him to be his old enemy Pussy Malanga. He was subsequently committed to a psychiatric hospital, when Tony visited him for the last time, it was apparent that Junior was in the advanced stages of dementia, as he did not even recognize his nephew. Gotti, and his relationship with longtime girlfriend Marjorie Alexander, Junior is also based on Uncle Joe Giacobbe, a veteran made man in the DeCavalcante crime family. Likewise, his attempt to feign illness in order to escape indictment for his crimes mirrors the real life case of Genovese crime family boss Vincent Gigante. According to series creator David Chase the name Junior was taken one of his own older cousins. Junior is Tony Sopranos uncle, Juniors younger brother was John Francis Johnny Boy Soprano, both Junior and Johnny Boy dropped out of high school to join the DiMeo crime family. Junior and Johnny Boy were responsible for acquiring longtime Soprano hangout and de facto headquarters, Satriales Meat Market, mr. Satriale was a gambling addict that owed Johnny money and refused to pay and was avoiding Johnny. Mr. Satriale eventually committed suicide, leaving the store in the Soprano brothers hands because of his large debts. Junior always watched after Tony but after Johnny Boys death from emphysema in 1986, following the arrest of DiMeo family boss Ercoli Eckley DiMeo in late 1995, Junior got into a trucking dispute with new acting boss Jackie Aprile, Sr. He fled to Boca Raton to avoid any repercussions but Tony arranged a sit down through Soprano soldier Sal Big Pussy Bonpensiero to solve the problem, Junior greatly resented having to answer to Aprile, who used to fetch Junior sambucas. In the opening episode, Junior planned to kill Little Pussy Malanga in Vesuvio, Tony made many attempts to prevent the murder and eventually resorted to fire bombing the restaurant to force its closure so the hit would happen elsewhere. Upon Jackies death, Tony and Junior squabbled over control of the family, brendan Filone, an associate of Tonys crew, was killed by Juniors right-hand man, Mikey Palmice
23.
Tony Soprano
–
Anthony John Tony Soprano is a fictional character and the protagonist in the HBO television drama series The Sopranos, portrayed by James Gandolfini. The Italian-American character was conceived by Sopranos creator and show runner David Chase, the character is loosely based on real-life New Jersey mobster Vincent Vinny Ocean Palermo, a former caporegime and de facto boss of the DeCavalcante crime family of New Jersey. Considered to be the model for the DiMeo crime family, several involving the DeCavalcantes were incorporated into Sopranos scripts. Bobby Boriello portrayed Soprano as a child in one episode and Danny Petrillo played the character as a teenager in three episodes, in the first season, Tony is a capo in the DiMeo crime family. He often displays behavior traits characteristic of a violent sociopath, and he seeks treatment from Dr. Jennifer Melfi in the first episode and remains in therapy on and off up until the penultimate episode of the series. Tony was born in 1960, to Livia and Johnny Boy Soprano and he grew up living with his mother, father, and two sisters, Janice and Barbara, in the Ironbound neighborhood – known to locals as Down Neck – in Newark, New Jersey. His father was a capo in the DiMeo crime family and Tony recalls some of his activities in flashbacks on the show, Tonys paternal grandfather, Corrado Soprano Sr. was a master stonemason who emigrated from Avellino, Italy in 1910. He helped to build a church in Tonys old neighborhood in Newark, Tony takes his children there so he can tell them about their heritage and the value of hard work. Bobby Boriello played Tony in the episode Down Neck, in which Tony recalls childhood events relating to his realization that his father was involved in organized crime. He recalls how his father, Johnny Boy Soprano, used his sister, Janice. At the time, Tony thought Janice was his fathers favorite child, Tony has a troubled relationship with Janice, because she is always asking him for money and once tried to sell Livias house by herself. Tony also was forced to dispose of the body of Janices re-acquainted boyfriend Richie Aprile, Tony went to high school with Artie Bucco and Davey Scatino, and remains friends with them into adult life. He played baseball and football, and according to Sal Bonpensiero and he met his future bride, Carmela DeAngelis, in high school. Tony was close to his cousin Tony Blundetto, and the cousins and relations called them Tony-Uncle-Al. In their teenage years, the two Tonys spent summers at the farm of their uncle Pat Blundetto, who was a soldier in the DiMeo organization, Blundetto was arrested for his part in a hijacking when the two Tonys were young men. Tony was supposed to join Blundetto on the job but failed to appear because of an attack after an argument with his mother. At the time, he told people he had attacked and injured by black gangsters. Tony attended Seton Hall University for a semester and a half before dropping out to pursue a life of crime, Tony was part of an unofficial crew of young criminals consisting of Silvio Dante, Ralph Cifaretto, and Jackie Aprile, Sr
24.
Richie Aprile
–
Richard Richie Aprile, Sr. played by David Proval, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He made his first appearance in two, recently released from a ten-year prison sentence, and soon began to cause trouble. Feeling disrespected by Beansie Gaeta, Richie ran him over with his car, there was continual tension between Richie and Tony Soprano, who was younger and had been subordinate to Richie before his prison term, but who was now boss of the family. He also rekindled an old relationship with Tonys sister Janice Soprano, Richie Aprile, the older brother of acting DiMeo crime family boss Jackie Aprile, Sr. was a capo in the DiMeo crime family before being sent to prison for ten years. While Richie was in prison, Jackie died, Richie came back to a different family. Richie had known Tony since before Tony had become a man, Tony himself recalled for years he had to buy dinners at Benihana and Peter Luger Steak House for Richie. Tony and Richie had gotten along in the old days, Richie intervened on Tony, Richie still sees Tony as his younger brothers friend and subsequently has difficulty accepting orders from him. Richie feels he is entitled to control of the family for having paid his dues in prison. Tony promises to give Richie his due, an offer which Richie immediately rebuffs by saying that what is his is not Tonys to give, Richies tensions with Tony escalate throughout Season 2. One of Richies first actions as a man is to confront his old partner Peter Beansie Gaeta. When Beansie fails to pay Richie at Richies welcome back party, Richie tracks him down again, later, Richie waits for Beansie by his car, and when he goes to get in, Richie rams Beansie with his car, crushing Beansie between the two vehicles. Richie then puts the car in gear and drives over the Beansie again, Richie is later forced by Tony to make amends by building Beansie a ramp for his wheelchair, instead, Richie sends a construction crew to tear up Beansies house, never putting in the ramp. Richie comments to Paulie and Silvio, Ill build a ramp up to your ass, Richie loans money to Tonys childhood friend Davey Scatino and eventually cuts him off when Scatino starts to miss payments. Scatino manages to get a seat at Tonys high-stakes executive game despite owing Richie money, however, Richie turns up and when he finds Davey playing he flew into a rage. Tony intervenes because he cannot afford to lose face by allowing one of his players to be harmed, Tony later punishes Richie for his disruptive behavior at the executive game, for which Richie feigns apologies by presenting Tony with an old school leather jacket. After the game, Scatino is so heavily indebted to Tony, Richie dislikes Tonys protégé Christopher Moltisanti because of his violent relationship with Richies niece, Adriana La Cerva, and warns Christopher of the consequences should he ever hit her again. Christophers two young associates, Matthew Bevilaqua and Sean Gismonte, learn of Richies dislike for their boss, the shooting goes wrong, however, and Christopher survives. Richie had nothing to do with planning the hit and when he learns of it, he refuses to help Bevilaqua, Richie and Janice Soprano, Tonys sister, used to date in high school
25.
Dismemberment
–
Dismemberment is the act of cutting, tearing, pulling, wrenching or otherwise removing the limbs of a living thing. It has been practised upon human beings as a form of punishment, can occur as a result of a traumatic accident, or in connection with murder, suicide. As opposed to surgical amputation of the limbs, dismemberment is often fatal to all, in criminology, a distinction is made between offensive and defensive dismemberment. Intentional, criminal dismemberment is known as mayhem, sliced to pieces by elephant Particularly in South-Eastern Asia, execution by trained elephants was a form of capital punishment practiced for several centuries. The techniques by which the person was actually executed varied widely but did, on occasion. They were ordered, accordingly, to be thrown to the elephants and their hoofs were cased with sharp iron instruments, and the extremities of these were like knives. The fate of Wilhelm von Grumbach in 1567, a knight in the Holy Roman Empire who was fond of making his own private wars and was thus condemned for treason, is also worthy of note. Gout-ridden, he was carried to the site in a chair. The executioner then ripped out his heart, and stuck it in von Grumbachs face with the words, afterwards, the executioner quartered von Grumbachs body. His principal associate was given the treatment, and an eyewitness avers that after his heart had been ripped out. One example of a highly aggravated execution is illustrated by the fate of Bastian Karnhars on July 16,1600, the two several halves are then suspended on a camel, and paraded through the streets, for the edification of all beholders. This punishment was, for example, meted out to Hwang Sa-Yong in 1801, china The Five Pains is a Chinese variation invented during the Qin dynasty. Current use Dismemberment is no longer used by most modern governments as a form of execution or torture, ravaillacs extended torture and execution has been described like this, He was condemned to be tortured with red-hot pincers on four limbs and on each breast. His wounds were to be sprinkled with molten lead and boiling oil and his body was then to be torn in pieces by four horses, the remains being subsequently burnt. When the horses failed to disconnect the sinews between his body and his limbs, his body, still alive, was quartered with a knife and his friend, the infamous Casanova, reports that he watched the dreadful sight for four hours. The following is an extract from the official death sentence issued by the Spanish authorities which condemns Túpac Amaru II to torture. The torso will then be taken to the hill overlooking the city, where it will be burned in a bonfire. Tupac Amarus head will be sent to Tinta to be displayed for three days in the place of execution and then placed upon a pike at the principal entrance to the city
26.
Bobby Baccalieri
–
Robert Bobby Bacala Baccalieri, Jr. played by Steve Schirripa, is a fictional character on the HBO series The Sopranos. A mobster, he is first shown as one of the soldiers, throughout the series, he rises through the ranks of the organized crime organization, becoming a capo, as well as Tony Sopranos brother-in-law. Toward the end of the series, Bobby becomes an underboss to Tony, Bobby, unlike many of his fellow wiseguys, was big-hearted and quite shy. He ran Junior Sopranos old loan shark business, although not officially a captain until much later, Bobby was a high-ranking soldier who ran Junior Sopranos old crew and reported directly to Junior, and later to Tony. Before his death, he was thought to be being groomed for the job of boss, Bobby was the son of Bobby Baccalieri, Sr. a highly respected mobster, who fronted as a barber. Bobbys father returned from retirement for one last job before his death from lung cancer, before joining Junior Sopranos crew Bobby was a head waiter until at least 1986 and was groomed by his father, Bobby Sr. At some point, Bobby became a man, although without making his bones. Bobby was married to Karen Baccalieri until her death in a car crash, Bobby was quite different from the other men in the Soprano crime family. He was quiet, almost shy, kind-hearted and even-tempered, these made him well liked. He was obese, which brought him much ridicule, but he was very loyal and he bore no lasting grudges against Paulie Gualtieri or Christopher Moltisanti, who carried out these hits, and appeared briefly looking delighted on the day Christopher became a made man. Bobby operated Junior Sopranos loan shark business in his stead and acted as Juniors assistant while Junior was under house arrest on racketeering charges. Junior eventually rewarded him by putting Bobby in charge of his loan shark operation during the part of his prosecution. Bobby was made acting capo when Junior had Murf Lupo step down in For All Debts Public, Bobby was very loyal to his wife, Karen, and was the only made man in the Soprano crew without a comare. The only time he was seen with another woman other than his wife was in the episode University. When Ralphie walks back into the Bada Bing after beating Tracee to death, however, Bobby lost his wife in a car accident and took it especially hard. Following Karens death, Janice Soprano, along many other women, actively pursued Bobby, trying to help him out as much as possible. When his grief continued, Janice went so far as to use the internet to expose his children to a Ouija board within their house and this frightened them and cleared a path for Janice to demonstrate that Bobbys grief was affecting his children. Despite Bobbys initial reluctance, the two were married and he soon fathered a daughter, Domenica
27.
Tony Blundetto
–
Anthony Tony Blundetto, played by Steve Buscemi, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He is Tony Sopranos cousin who is released from prison at the beginning of the fifth season. Upon release, Tony Blundetto begins to pursue a straight, non-criminal life, however, he is eventually overpowered by the challenges of civilian life and turns back to crime, dragging the DiMeo Crime Family into the Lupertazzi Crime Familys power struggle. For his work in season 5, Buscemi received critical acclaim and was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, anthony Tony Blundetto is introduced in the second episode of season 5, Rat Pack. He is a cousin of Tony Soprano and Christopher Moltisanti, to distinguish between them, they were called Tony Uncle Johnny and Tony Uncle Al when they were kids, after their fathers first names. Blundetto, Soprano, and Moltisanti all grew up and played on a farm owned by their uncle, growing up, both Tonys were very close and Blundetto told Moltisanti that he loved Soprano like a brother. The two Tonys would often bully Moltisanti, in the episode Unidentified Black Males, it is also revealed that he has a genius level I. Q. of 158. He sports a number of crude prison tattoos, on his forearms, biceps, chest, back. In 1986, Blundetto was arrested, tried, and incarcerated for almost 17 years for the hijacking of a truck. Although Blundetto doesnt know thats the reason Soprano never showed, Soprano tells Blundetto he was mugged by a group of men the night of the hijacking. Blundetto denies this ill will, but Tony still harbors enormous guilt, in the Spring of 2004, Blundetto is released from Federal Correctional Complex, Allenwood, along with a string of other well-known mobsters, which the media labels The Class of 04. After Blundettos parole, he not to return to a life of crime and has the incentive to stay straight. Instead, he decides to go into massage therapy. Soprano gets his cousin a job working for a company owned by a Korean man named Kim. Kim doesnt trust Blundetto at all and shows his overt racial prejudice against him since he is a white ex-con. When Kim, however, finds out about Blundettos aspiration to become a massage therapist, he begins to take a liking to him. With the help of Gwen, a girlfriend he met via the Internet while in prison, Kim sets up Blundetto with an empty storefront he owns in West Caldwell to establish the massage parlor/spa. After fighting on the phone with Gwen, he takes his anger and frustration out in a beating he gives Kim, ostensibly because he has been doing all of the work, Blundetto then meets Tony Soprano, at Nuovo Vesuvio for a meal
28.
Paulie Gualtieri
–
Peter Paul Paulie Walnuts Gualtieri is a fictional character played by Tony Sirico on the HBO series The Sopranos. Paulie begins the series as a soldier, and later becomes a caporegime, according to The Sopranos, A Family History, Peter Paul Paulie Gualtieri, son of Gennaro Gualtieri, has been a troubled street kid from the age of nine. He dropped out of school after the grade and spent time in. When he was seventeen, he became an enforcer/bodyguard for Johnny Boy Soprano, Tonys father. His mother, later discovered to be his aunt, worked at a Kresges department store during Paulies childhood and early adulthood, but has since retired. Paulies grandfather, who emigrated to the United States in 1910, is from Ariano Irpino, Paulies grandfather and Tonys paternal grandparents were from the same province in Italy. Paulie spent four years in the U. S. Army Signal Corps, although Paulie did not have a long military career, he still is proud of it, and few of the other Sopranos characters had military experience. Afterwards, he spent more time in and out of prison on various criminal charges, eventually, he works his way up through the DiMeo crime family, reaching the rank of Captain in 2000, shortly after Anthony Tony Soprano becomes the de facto boss. In 2006, Paulie is promoted to underboss, and Christopher Moltisanti is put in charge of Paulies crew, Paulie got his nickname Paulie Walnuts due to hijacking a truck in the early 1990s which he believed to be filled with television-sets, but only contained walnuts. His surname is taken from real life DeCavalcante crime family mobster Frank Gualtieri, Paulie is one of the shows most colorful characters. Paulie has displayed kindness and loyalty, and usually cracks jokes, nevertheless, Paulie is recognized throughout the series as one of the top earners and one of Tonys most trustworthy friends in his inner circle of Paulie, Silvio Dante, and Christopher Moltisanti. By the end of the series, he is also the member of Tonys original core crew that is alive, active. Paulie has no children, and alone among his colleagues remains single and he is suffering from nightmares after hearing Chris talk about his trip to Hell after being shot. In the first season, Paulie is a member of Tonys crew. He executes a Colombian drug dealer and steals a quantity of drugs. When suspicions that Big Pussy is an informant first surface, Paulie volunteers to investigate and his method of taking Pussy to a bath house and trying to get him to undress for a steambath lacks subtlety and drives Pussy into hiding. In the second season, when Tony becomes the street boss, while Junior remains boss only in name. This meant that Pussy, Chris, and Furio Giunta amongst others, to help set up the crews stolen car distribution operation, Paulie travels with Tony and Chris to Italy
29.
Vito Spatafore
–
Vito Spatafore Sr. played by Joseph R. Gannascoli, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. He was a member of the DiMeo Crime Family and a subordinate of Tony Soprano and he was married to Marie Spatafore with two children, Francesca and Vito Jr. and was a closeted homosexual. This was revealed in the fifth season, and became one of the more prominent subplots in the sixth season. He is a sports fan and attended the 1998 World Series. In the season 3 episode Another Toothpick, Vitos brother, Bryan Spatafore, is beaten with a golf club by a young hot-head known as Salvatore Mustang Sally Intile. Vito is vindictive and demands someone render Sals comeuppance, Tony Soprano enlists the help of Bobby Baccalieris father, Bobby Baccalieri Sr. to perform the hit on Mustang Sally. Although the cover story for Jackie Jr, Vito is subsequently promoted to capo of the Aprile Crew, as he was second-in-command. By the Season 6 premiere Members Only in 2006, Vito had lost over 160 pounds, Tony was shot by Uncle Junior in the same episode, and was in a coma for the next two episodes. While Tonys recovery seemed uncertain, Vito hinted at the idea that he should take over as boss, at the time, Silvio Dante was acting boss, but ended up suffering an asthma attack from the stress. Vito informed DiMeo Family capo Larry Boy Barese that he was the best candidate for boss since he was the capo of the crew in the family. While Tony was comatose, Vito also provided information to Paulie about the location of $1 million in drug money hidden by Colombian drug dealers, Paulie and one of Vitos men stole the money, although they were nearly killed by two Colombians guarding the stash. Paulie was seriously injured during the theft when one of the dealers kneed him in the groin, Paulie demanded a higher cut because of his injury. Paulie and Vito also became angry when Silvio demanded a percentage of the cut go to Carmela in case Tony did not recover. Tony finally awoke from his coma, which made everyone ecstatic—except Vito who was hoping to step in and his weight problems and attempts to lose weight resemble the health problems which were suffered by Colombo Crime Family capo Gerald Clemenza. Vito intimidates Finn into silence, conveying the impression that if Finn lets the word slip the consequences could result in his own demise. In the episode Mr. & Mrs. John Sacrimoni Request, during the wedding of Johnny Sacks daughter, Allegra and he and his family left the wedding. But back at home, Vito informed his wife he was going to make some collections and she found it odd that he would be making collections so late at night. Later, that evening while making a collection at a gay bar, Vito tried to play it off as a joke, although the two men were not fooled
30.
Big Pussy Bonpensiero
–
Salvatore Big Pussy Bonpensiero, played by Vincent Pastore, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series The Sopranos. Not to be confused with fellow New Jersey mobster Little Pussy Malanga, Big Pussy was one of the men who worked for Tony Soprano and the two were close friends. The son of Lino Bonpensiero, Salvatore Bonpensiero started out as a cat burglar and it is also very likely that he started out solely with the nickname Pussy, then got the nickname Big Pussy to avoid confusion with Little Pussy Malanga. The name confusion is referenced in the first episode when Tonys confidante Herman Hesh Rabkin mistakenly believes that Junior plans to whack Big Pussy and this showed in particular Bonpensieros high status in the Soprano crew and his closeness to Tony, referring to him as my Pussy. Big Pussy also ran an auto shop with his brother Edward Duke Bonpensiero. He married his wife, Angela in 1976 and he was an associate of Johnny Boy Soprano during the 1960s alongside Paulie Gualtieri, until he supported Johnny during the unrest of 1983. Bonpensiero was made sometime after this and acted as a soldier in the Soprano crew from then on and he remained loyal to the Soprano family and backed Johnnys wishes to have his son, Tony Soprano, become capo of the crew following Johnnys death in 1986. Bonpensiero worked alongside other longtime Soprano soldiers, Paulie Walnuts Gualtieri, following the death of the elder Soprano, Bonpensiero also took on Johnnys tradition of dressing as Santa Claus and giving out presents to local children at Satriales Pork Store at Christmas time. Bonpensiero was a man who doted on his wife Angie. However, the money he made from the mob was not enough to raise his three children and put them through college, and he began trafficking in heroin on the side. Soprano, his capo, and Jackie Aprile Sr. then acting boss, were aware of his sideline, Aprile had advised Big Pussy that if he were in need of money, Pussy could come to him. Given Bonpensieros middle adulthood, even the concept of facing the minimum thirty years in jail would have been a life sentence. He agreed and was assigned FBI Agent Skip Lipari as a handler — he was revealed as an informant in the episode Do Not Resuscitate. In various flashbacks to 1995, it is shown that Bonpensiero was instrumental in organizing a sit-down between high ranking captain, Junior Soprano, and acting boss, Jackie Aprile Senior. He traveled to Boca Raton to persuade Junior to return to New Jersey and he was suspiciously late for the sitdown and blamed health problems with his comares mother. He arrived to the Christmas celebrations that year already in his Santa suit and he became angry when Gualtieri hugged him, quizzed Soprano about business, and almost got into a fight with Moltisanti. Soprano later remembered these events and decided Bonpensiero must have turned informant shortly before this and this conflicts with the episode Do Not Resuscitate, when Agent Lapari said to Pussy you been with us since 98. In 1999, Bonpensiero was a part of the Soprano crews operation and was exposed to a number of things he could have reported
31.
Santa Claus
–
Some maintain Santa Claus also absorbed elements of the Germanic god Wodan, who was associated with the pagan midwinter event of Yule and led the Wild Hunt, a ghostly procession through the sky. This image has been maintained and reinforced through song, radio, television, childrens books, films and he accomplishes this feat with the aid of his elves, who make the toys in his workshop at the North Pole, and his flying reindeer, who pull his sleigh. He is commonly portrayed as living at the North Pole and saying ho ho ho often, Saint Nicholas of Myra was a 4th-century Greek Christian bishop of Myra in Lycia, a province of the Byzantine Empire, now in Turkey. Nicholas was famous for his generous gifts to the poor, in presenting the three impoverished daughters of a pious Christian with dowries so that they would not have to become prostitutes. He was very religious from an age and devoted his life entirely to Christianity. In continental Europe he is portrayed as a bearded bishop in canonical robes. The remains of Saint Nicholas are in Italy, in 1087, the Italian city of Bari mounted an expedition to locate the tomb of the Saint. The reliquary of St. Nicholas was conquered by Italian sailors, a basilica was constructed the same year to store the loot and the area became a pilgrimage site for the devout. Sailors from Bari collected just half of Nicholas skeleton, leaving all the fragments in the grave. These were collected by Venetian sailors during the First Crusade and taken to Venice, where a church to St. Nicholas, the patron of sailors, was built on the San Nicolò al Lido. This tradition was confirmed in two important scientific investigations of the relics in Bari and Venice, which revealed that the relics in the two Italian cities belong to the same skeleton. Saint Nicholas was later claimed as a saint of many diverse groups, from archers, sailors. He is also the saint of both Amsterdam and Moscow. During the Middle Ages, often on the evening before his day of 6 December. So Saint Nicholas changed to Santa Claus, martin Luther first suggested the Christkind as the bringer of gifts. But Nicholas remained popular as gifts bearer for the people, Father Christmas dates back as far as 16th century in England during the reign of Henry VIII, when he was pictured as a large man in green or scarlet robes lined with fur. He typified the spirit of good cheer at Christmas, bringing peace, joy, good food and wine, as England no longer kept the feast day of Saint Nicholas on 6 December, the Father Christmas celebration was moved to 25 December to coincide with Christmas Day. The Victorian revival of Christmas included Father Christmas as the emblem of good cheer, in the Netherlands and Belgium the character of Santa Claus has to compete with that of Sinterklaas, Santas presumed progenitor
32.
Butcher
–
A butcher is a person who may slaughter animals, dress their flesh, sell their meat or do any combination of these three tasks. They may prepare standard cuts of meat and poultry for sale in retail or wholesale food establishments, a butcher may be employed by supermarkets, grocery stores, butcher shops and fish markets, slaughter house, or may be self-employed. An ancient trade, whose duties may date back to the domestication of livestock, today, many jurisdictions offer trade certifications for butchers. Some areas expect a three-year apprenticeship followed by the option of becoming a master butcher, butchery is a traditional line of work. In the industrialized world, slaughterhouses use butchers to slaughter the animals, the steps include stunning, exsanguination, skinning or scalding and dehairing, evisceration and splitting. Secondary butchery involves boning and trimming primal cuts in preparation for sale, historically, primary and secondary butchery were performed in the same establishment, but the advent of methods of preservation and low cost transportation has largely separated them. In parts of the world, it is common for butchers to perform many or all of the butchers duties, where refrigeration is less common, these skills are required to sell the meat of slaughtered animals. Some butchers sell their goods in specialized stores, commonly termed a butcher shop, butchers at a butcher shop may perform primary butchery, but will typically perform secondary butchery to prepare fresh cuts of meat for sale. These shops may also sell related products, such as food supplies, baked goods. Butcher shops can have a variety of animal types, meat cuts. Additionally, butcher shops may focus on a culture, or nationality. Some butcher shops, termed meat delis, may include a delicatessen. In the United States and Canada, butcher shops are becoming common because of the increasing popularity of supermarkets. A primal cut is a piece of meat initially separated from the carcass during butchering, different countries and cultures make these cuts in different ways, and primal cuts also differ between type of carcass. The British, American and French primal cuts all differ in some respects, a notable example is fatback, which in Europe is an important primal cut of pork, but in North America is regarded as trimmings to be used in sausage or rendered into lard. The primal cuts may be complete or cut further. See also Butcher In various periods and cultures, the butcher has been applied to people who act cruelly to other human beings or slaughter them
33.
The Sopranos (season 1)
–
The first season of The Sopranos aired on HBO from January 10 to April 4,1999. The first season was released on DVD in region 1 on December 12,2000, the season introduces DiMeo Crime Family Capo Tony Soprano and his family, as well as his troubled relationship with his mother Livia. Also troubled is his relationship with his Uncle Junior, who locked in a power struggle with Tony after the death of the Crime Family Boss. Tony also begins therapy sessions with Dr. Melfi after his attacks become more frequent. Due to Juniors plotting of an assassination, Tony also gets embroiled in a plot against childhood friend Artie Bucco, deseret News expressed approval for the shows clear insight into the modern incarnations of family and mortality and ambition. Marvin Kitman of Newsday wrote, Its a great show, the best new series of the year, basically, its everything Im always looking for in drama. Its beautifully written, authentic, without the plastic Los Angeles look and its funny in a darkly comedic way, involving as a soap opera, and quirky. I never quite know whats going to happen, even though the matter is by no means unprecedented for television
34.
The Sopranos (episode)
–
The Sopranos, which is also known as Pilot, is the first episode of the HBO television drama series The Sopranos, which premiered on January 10,1999. It was written and directed by the creator and executive producer David Chase. New Jersey-based mobster Tony Soprano of the DiMeo crime family unexpectedly becomes short of breath, after his doctors are unable to find any physical problem with Tony, his collapse is diagnosed as a panic attack. He is referred to psychiatrist Jennifer Melfi, in their first meeting, the two discuss the events that led to his collapse. Presenting himself as a management consultant, Tony begins detailing the day of his attack to Dr. Melfi. Tony is initially uncooperative, expressing scorn for the practice of psychiatry and he tells Dr. Melfi about the stress of his business life—he has a feeling that he has come in at the end of something and describes a reverence for times past. Tony tells Dr. Melfi a story about a family of ducks landing in his pool and he has a little stress in his home life with his daughter, Meadow, associating with a friend, Hunter Scangarelo, who his wife feels is a bad influence. Later he mentions that his wife and daughter are not getting along, Tony also tells Dr. Melfi about the stress of training his nephew in the family business. After establishing the rules of what will fall under doctor-patient confidentiality, Tony opens up about his career. Tony details the stress of caring for his mother, Livia. He also mentions his wifes relationship with her priest, Father Phil Intintola, by the end of their first session Dr. Melfi succeeds in making Tony admit he feels depressed, but he storms out when she presses him further about the ducks. A second panic attack occurs following Livias derisive outburst at Green Grove and this sends Tony back to Dr. Melfi who prescribes Prozac. Tony does not attend their next appointment, but when he bumps into her at a restaurant and she gives credit to their therapy sessions. Tony describes a dream where a bird steals his penis, Dr. Melfi extrapolates from this to reveal that Tony projected his love for his family onto the family of ducks living in his back pool. This brings him to tears, to his consternation and she tells him that their flight from the pool sparked his panic attack through the overwhelming fear of somehow losing his own family. When dining out with his mistress, Tony is greeted by the restaurant manager and he later gives the same speech when Tony arrives with Carmela, aiding Tony in covering up his infidelity. At this dinner, Tony confesses to Carmela that he is taking Prozac, Carmela, who thinks Tony is about to confess to more adultery, is overjoyed and tells Tony she is proud of him. Tony stresses that he told her because she is the only person he is absolutely honest with
35.
46 Long
–
46 Long is the second episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos. It was written by David Chase, directed by Dan Attias and was originally broadcast on January 17,1999 and they hijack a shipment of DVD players from a Comley Truck and assault the driver at his behest so he can avoid suspicion. They deliver the players to Tony, Silvio and Paulie at the Bada Bing, Tony tells Chris he does not like Brendans methamphetamine habit. Chris and Brendans activities upset Junior Soprano, who is actually being paid to protect the Comley Trucking vehicles. After Uncle Junior has a sit-down with acting boss, Jackie Aprile, Sr. and Tony Soprano, he complains about the loose cannon behavior of Brendan and Chris and it is revealed that Jackie is suffering from cancer and is musing over naming his successor. When Tony leaves, Junior complains to Jackie about Tonys treatment of his mother, Tony later relays Juniors message to Chris at Satriales. Chris complains to Tony that he is due his button after his work on the Triboro Towers garbage disputes, Brendan offends Tony by insulting Jackie and this prompts Tony to literally throw him out. Tony takes Chriss $15,000 tribute and pockets $5,000, only giving Junior $10,000 while not telling Chris and Brendan. Brendan and Chris, both high on crystal meth, are negligent of the made to them and plan another hijacking on a delivery of Italian suits departing that night at a club. However, when Brendan arrives to pick up his partner in crime, Brendan, who is apparently high on crystal meth, pulls off the hijacking on his own. This time, he is accompanied by two cohorts, Antjuan and Special K, when the truck driver is threatened, he steps out of the truck. Special K accidentally drops his gun which fires, killing the driver from the ricochet bullet, the two associates flee from the scene and Brendan is left cursing and fearful of what might happen. Pussy and Paulie are sent to find out who stole Anthony Juniors science teachers car and they are able to find the perpetrators but find the car has been chopped into parts, which forces them to steal a new one in its place. After the teacher receives a similar-looking vehicle, thinking it is the same one, the teacher, however, is confused as to why the paint is still wet, the interior is a different color, and the key is different despite the presence of identical plates. Livia rejects both offers and becomes distraught about the loss of her husband, a saint, Tony hires a Trinidadian nurse to take care of her. Livia complains to Tony that the nurse has been stealing, Livia drives her friend Fanny home and accidentally knocks her over while attempting to back out of the driveway. Her doctors say she cannot live any longer and Tony places Livia in the Green Grove retirement community. While visiting her house to pack up her things, Tony has another panic attack, Tonys therapy continues and he discusses his mother with Dr. Melfi
36.
Denial, Anger, Acceptance
–
Denial, Anger, Acceptance is the third episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos. It was written by Mark Saraceni, directed by Nick Gomez, Junior and Mikey Palmice discuss their options for dealing with the two and Tony, and Junior begins to agree with Mikey. Silvio Dante approaches Tony on behalf of hotel owner Shlomo Teittleman, a Hasidic Jew, the man agrees to turn over 25% of his business to Tony if he is able to force the mans son-in-law into agreeing to a divorce with no compensation. This is because the son-in-law wants 50% and the government has put an end to the self-policing Hasidics previously available to the hotel owner, however, Tonys Jewish friend, Hesh Rabkin, warns Tony not to get involved with the Hasids. Paulie Gualtieri and Silvio accost Ariel, the son-in-law, but are unable to convince him to walk away from the marriage, Ariel challenges the men to kill him, believing his murder will bring spiritual harm to the Teittleman family, as well as to Paulie and Silvio. He references Masada, site of a siege between a small number of Jews and legions of Roman soldiers that ended in the mass suicide of the Jews who chose death over enslavement. Paulie and Silvio cant crack him so they call Tony away from time with his mistress Irina to help them. Tony, angered by having to be dragged away from his fling, asks Ariel why in the world he is being so stubborn about this, especially since most men would be glad to be rid of a nagging wife. Ariel states that he has put up with his father-in-law for years, as well as providing for his wife by paying medical bills and vacations to Israel, and that he cannot accept a penniless divorce. Tony cannot intimidate Ariel either, so he is forced to swallow his pride and call Hesh in the night hours. After taking Heshs suggestion that the threat of castration is worse than death, when Tony insists on the original 25% arrangement Shlomo says he has created a golem, when Tony asks what that means, he calls him a Frankenstein. In therapy, Tony discusses the cancer diagnosis of acting boss, Jackie Aprile, Tony becomes angry and storms out because he thinks psychiatrists try to manipulate people into feeling certain things. The crew visit Jackie in hospital where he is being cared for by his wife, Tony later returns with a dancer, dressed like a nurse, from the Bada Bing to give Jackie a private party. On a third visit, Jackies condition seems to have worsened, Tony discusses Jackies downturn and the insult from Shlomo with Dr. Melfi. She asks him if he feels like a monster, i. e. lacking in feelings, Carmela organizes a silent auction at the Soprano home to raise money for a pediatric hospital. She recruits Charmaine and Artie Bucco to cater the event while visiting their new home, Tony and Artie have a brotherly food fight after Tony tells Artie to stop whining about the fire in his restaurant and start looking towards the future. Carmela offends Charmaine by treating her like a servant by using the hand gesture she uses when calling her maid. The SATs and their choir recital fall on the same day and they decide the best solution is to get some speed from Christopher and Brendan
37.
Meadowlands (The Sopranos)
–
Meadowlands is the fourth episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos. It was written by Jason Cahill, directed by John Patterson, unfortunately, Makazian assumes Melfi is a mistress of Tonys, and oversteps the mark, when he sees Melfi with a date, he pulls the pair over on a false accusation of crossing the double yellow line. Tonys dangerous feelings even lead him to consider quitting therapy, but Carmela insists he continue, in fact, Carmela goes so far as to warn Tony that without continued therapy, their marriage will be at serious risk. A. J. is left confused when a physically bigger classmate, Jeremy Piocosta, backs down from a fight with him, with some guidance from Meadow, A. J. comes to realize that Jeremy was intimidated by Tonys reputation as a gangster. Tony had coincidentally met Jeremys father the day before at a plant nursery as Tony was seeking pesticide for his garden corn, Tonys friendliness while holding an axe confused Jeremys father, and probably provoked Jeremy to quit the fight. Meadow educates A. J. on what exactly their father does for a living by showing him several Mafia-themed websites, Christopher, meanwhile, is running scared after his mock execution, which has left him in a neck brace. He is even more unnerved when he and Adriana discover Brendan Filone lying dead in his bathtub and his initial fears that Tony is exacting vengeance on him for giving drugs to Meadow are only allayed when he angrily questions her and discovers that she has not revealed the transaction. However, after finding that Junior is responsible, and has also assumed collection of money owed to Tonys crew. Christopher also implies that he take out Mikey Palmice. Tony does not allow Christopher to go forward with his plans because Mikey is a made man, Tony instead takes a ride to the luncheonette, beats Mikey, and proceeds to staple his suit with a stolen staple gun. He then confronts Junior about his actions against Brendan and Christopher. Junior coldly refutes Tonys offers of compromise and tells Tony the next time he comes to see him, after some unwitting inspiration from Dr. Melfi about giving the elderly the illusion of control, Tony concedes leadership of the family to Junior, which gives Tony several strategic advantages. Tony can avoid a violent war and obtain income-earning properties and contracts as payment from Junior in exchange for his recommendation, with Junior as boss, Junior now becomes the primary target for federal investigations against the family instead of Tony. Content with his decision, Tony opts to remain in therapy, at Jackies funeral, Silvio and the capos worry about Tonys decision to make Junior boss. Tony reminds them that he has only made Junior content and that every major decision will still be made by him, Christopher tells Tony about the FBI presence at the funeral, to which Tony jokingly says that they got Juniors good side. A knowing look and nods in the direction of the federal agents taking pictures, a. J. then looks at his father who gives him a smile and wink, thus confirming A. J. s suspicions about his fathers profession. Vin Makazian, A corrupt detective in the Essex County police force whom Tony employs, Larry Boy Barese, Jimmy Altieri, Ray Curto, Capos in the DiMeo crime family who all have a Captains Dinner with Tony and later attend the funeral. Jackie Aprile, Sr, stomach cancer The Meadowlands is an area in northern New Jersey
38.
College (The Sopranos)
–
College is the fifth episode of the first season of the HBO television drama series The Sopranos, which originally aired on February 7,1999. It was written by co-producer James Manos Jr. and series creator/executive producer David Chase, the episode was rated as the best of the series by TIME magazine, and was ranked #2 on TV Guides list of TVs Top 100 Episodes of All Time. The pair first visit Bates College, and Meadow makes a joke about the schools well-known non-sexual atmosphere, on the drive from Bates to Colby College, Tony is taken aback when his daughter asks if he is in the Mafia, and his instinctive reaction is to deny everything. When Meadow proves skeptical, he relents and admits that a portion of his income is from illegal gambling, Meadow admits to taking speed to study for SATs, but after Tony reacts angrily, will not state her source of the drugs. Both seem relieved by this mutual honesty on difficult topics, despite Meadows obvious alarm and suspicions at his agitated reaction, Tony resolves to locate the man, confirm his identity, and personally execute him, all while continuing his trip with Meadow. Tony leaves his daughter at a bar while he tracks down Petrulio. He confirms Petrulios identity when he sees a bust of Ronald Reagan in Petrulios office, Tony fails to realize that his snooping has not gone unnoticed. Carrying a handgun, Petrulio tracks Tony and his back to the roadside motel where they are staying. However, the presence of two elderly bystanders prevents Petrulio from taking a shot at an unsuspecting Tony, the next morning, Tony drops off Meadow for an interview at Colby College, and leaves to ambush Petrulio at his workplace. Tony strangles him with a length of wire as Petrulio pleads for his life. Meanwhile, back in New Jersey, Carmela has been at home recovering from a case of the flu, Father Phil and Carmela relax with baked ziti, wine, and the film The Remains of the Day. Carmelas emotions are spurred when Dr. Melfi phones to reschedule Tonys appointment, Carmela pours her heart out to Father Phil about her marriage and her fears for her children and her soul, and then takes communion with him. Carmela is nearly driven to kiss the priest romantically, but the moment is lost when his stomach revolts, the Father sleeps it off on the sofa until morning. Fabian Febby Petrulio, garroted by Tony Soprano for being an FBI informant while on Tonys college trip with his daughter Meadow, the title refers to the fact that the entire episode revolves around Tony taking Meadow on a tour of colleges in Maine. Series creator David Chase has stated that when HBO first read the script, Chase said that he believed fans would turn on Tony if the character didnt commit murder, because the omission would make him appear weak. Eventually, Chase won the decision and the episode has become a fan favorite, Chase named this as his favorite episode because of its self-contained nature. James Gandolfini and Jamie-Lynn Sigler similarly cite this installment, gas station and car chase scenes were in Rockland County, 9W Palisades, Pearl River and Orangeburg locations. Restaurant scene was filmed in The Old 76 House in Tappan, the college locations and the Maine scenes in College were actually filmed in rural New Jersey
39.
Pax Soprana
–
Pax Soprana is the sixth episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos. It was written by Frank Renzulli, directed by Alan Taylor, but as Juniors lead henchman, Mikey Palmice, says when he busts up Sammy Grigios card game, Junior aint respecting old arrangements. He changes old deals and attempts to have more money funneled toward him, while allowing less to trickle down to his capos. Tony allowed Junior to gain control of the family in the hope that he himself would be able to be the de facto boss and he decides that Rusty should be killed for this infraction, to be made an example of. The next day, Palmice, with the help of Joey Eggs Marino, abduct Rusty, after they throw him over, they notice some witnesses sitting on the other side of the bridge and pay them off to say it was a suicide. After more persuading from the capos, Tony meets with his uncle at a local Little League baseball game to try to convince him to share more of his newfound wealth. With historical evidence related to the skills of Augustus Caesar. Junior decides to divide the money he received from Hesh and give it to his capos, Tony later returns his share to Hesh personally. Meanwhile, Tony is having difficulty with his libido, and is fantasizing about Dr. Melfi, through intrusive thoughts and dreams. At his therapy session he professes his love for Dr. Melfi, who tries to explain what he feels is not love, Carmela expresses a jealousy towards Melfi that shes never felt about Tonys mistresses. Later, Carmela tells Tony that she wants to be the woman in his life to help him, even though Tony really controls the family, Junior becomes the main focus of the FBI. At a banquet to honor the new boss, the Feds are in attendance, with the photographic information they gather from their button cameras, they move Junior up their hierarchy board, to replace the late Jackie Aprile, Sr as boss. Tonys position as captain remains unchanged, he is on the level as the other capos. John Johnny Sack Sacrimoni, The underboss of the Lupertazzi crime family, dominic Capri, Grandson of Uncle Juniors tailor Mr. Capri who committed suicide after taking designer drugs sold by Rusty Irish. Rusty Irish, murdered by Mikey Palmice with help of Joseph Marino on orders from uncle Junior, Pax Romana was an era initiated by the Roman Emperor Augustus, mentioned by Tony in his conversation with Uncle Junior. The song played when Mikey and his boys shake down a game which is under Jimmy Altieris protection is Willy Nilly by Rufus Thomas. The song played when Mr. Capri fits Junior for a new suit is When the Boys in Your Arms by Connie Francis, while Junior visits Livia at Green Grove, some of the other seniors are singing to I Whistle a Happy Tune. The song played as Christopher walks into the game at Satriales is Coconut Boogaloo
40.
Down Neck
–
Down Neck is the seventh episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos. It was written by Robin Green and Mitchell Burgess, and directed by Lorraine Senna Ferrara and this episode is the only one in the entire series directed by a woman, aired on February 21,1999. Tony and Carmela are called in to see the principal of A. J. s school, the principal is accompanied by the school psychologist who tells them that A. J. may have ADD. The school is lenient in disciplining A. J. because of this and this incident prompts Tony to recall his own childhood when he first learned about his familys involvement in the Mafia. In therapy he discusses this with Dr. Melfi, included in Tonys memory is the time his father wanted to move the family to Reno, Nevada, to manage a supper club for Rocco Alatore. Tonys mother refused and said she would rather suffocate the children than move, Tony, visiting his mother in the nursing home, asks her how Rocco is doing and she responds that Rocco is now a billionaire. Tony reminds her of the request to move and she denies that they were considering moving or that she was involved in the decision to stay. A. J. is punished by his parents and forbidden to watch TV and he also has to visit his grandmother, Livia, at Green Grove. During one visit, A. J. discusses his encounter with a school therapist, when Livia reacts negatively, A. J. informs her that Tony is seeing a psychiatrist, something A. J. learned after eavesdropping on a conversation between his parents. Later, Livia is poised to pass on information to Junior. Johnny Boy Soprano, Tonys deceased father who appears in flashbacks to his childhood and he was the long-time capo of the original Soprano crew until his death from emphysema in 1986. Janice Soprano, Tonys older sister who appears as a child in flashbacks and she will first appear as an adult in the episode Guy Walks into a Psychiatrists Office. Barbara Soprano, Tonys younger sister who appears as an infant in flashbacks and she will also first appear as an adult in the episode Guy Walks into a Psychiatrists Office. Down Neck refers to the Ironbound section of Newark, New Jersey where Tony grew up, while being tested for ADD, A. J. mentions the animated series South Park. He specifically mentions the first episode, Cartman Gets an Anal Probe, although the flashbacks are set in 1967, some anachronistic modern-day motor vehicles and people wearing modern clothing are visible in the background in some of the scenes. The Rideland scene was filmed on Sand Lane, at South Beach Amusement Park in Staten Island, when Carmela mentions Meadows suspicions on Tonys true occupation, flashbacks from College appear briefly which includes Meadow asking him if hes in the Mafia and killing Febby. The song played on the television during Tonys flashback to 1967 was a performance of Lonely Too Long by The Rascals on The Ed Sullivan Show. The song played while Tony takes his Prozac and remembers his childhood is White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane and it is also played when he makes ice-cream sundaes with A. J. and into the end credits
