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  Little Vic and the Great Mafia War

  Larry McShane

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  June 20, 1991. A five-man hit team waited in a car outside the Long Island home of Victor Orena, the acting crime boss of the Colombo crime family. Orena recognized the vehicle—and managed to escape with his life. Over the next year, more shots would be fired in what would become the last major mob war in New York's crime-soaked history—and one of the bloodiest. The war ended with Orena's 1992 arrest and conviction for racketeering. 
   
   
   
  With shocking new revelations from Orena's son Andrew, this eye-opening account takes listeners inside the criminal underworld of New York's infamous "Five Families" from the point of view of one of its rising stars. The grandson of Sicilian immigrants, Victor Orena ingratiated himself with the local Mafiosi during his teens. Ascending the ranks, he eventually became acting boss of the family when its don Carmine "The Snake" Persico was sentenced to prison. But as Persico struggled to maintain control from behind bars, Orena decided to seize that power for himself—launching a ruthless mob war the city would never forget. 
   
   
   
  Featuring a rogues gallery of legendary mobsters—from the Gallo brothers to the Gambinos and John Gotti—this riveting account sheds new light on one of the most fascinating chapters in American crime.

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  The African Emperor - The Life...

  Simon Elliott

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  Septimius Severus was Rome's black emperor. Born in the blistering heat of a North African spring in Leptis Magna AD 145, he died in the freezing cold of a northern British winter in York in AD 211. A giant of an emperor, whose career can be counted in superlatives, Severus was in power at the height of Rome's might. He led the largest army to ever campaign in Britain, comprising 50,000 men, part of a Roman military establishment which peaked at 33 legions under his rule.
  
  
  
  Born into the richest family, in the richest part of the Roman Empire, Severus monumentalised his rule across the empire. He visited - and often fought in - every region. Where he did, he left a mighty legacy in the built environment, for example in Rome where much of the Forum Romanum and most of the imperial palaces are Severan. In North Africa, his hometown of Leptis Magna is all Severan, as are the Roman cities at the Atlas mountains. In London, the land walls that still define the City's Square Mile were delineated under his rule. Visitors to the under croft at York Minster can stand where he died.
  
  
  Septimius Severus was one of the greatest warrior emperors, a hard man who almost died in battle several times and whose attitude is reflected in his deathbed advice to two sons: 'Be of one mind with your family, enrich the soldiers, and despise the rest.'

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  Lord Haw-Haw: The Life and...

  Editors Charles River

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  In Germany, the most threatening and caustic radio personality was Mildred Gillars, known to the troops as the foreboding “Axis Sally,” but in Britain, one Nazi broadcaster became famous above all others. The man who became known as “Lord Haw-Haw” broadcast daily programs from Germany, introduced with a deliberate parody of the BBC by using the words “Germany calling…” These propaganda broadcasts were widely derided in Britain, but thousands listened to them every day and the distinctive voice of Lord Haw-Haw became as instantly recognizable to listeners in the UK as that of Prime Minster Winston Churchill. Although his accent was odd, he appeared to be British, leading so many of the Britons who listened to him to wonder who he was, and why he was broadcasting on behalf of the Nazis.  
  	As it turned out, Lord Haw-Haw was an American who had moved among fascist circles in Britain before moving to Germany shortly before the war. He specialized in acidic diatribes against the men and women working for the Western Allies, broadcasting from Berlin and easily heard in London. Reports over the airwaves suggested that specific family members had died back home or that male siblings had been killed in action. Wives and girlfriends were reported to be unfaithful in a soldier’s absence by agencies who claimed to be aware of such matters. Enemy assaults upon the Allies’ willingness to fight were frequently followed with fictitious reports of American, British, or other collaborators’ defeats. Dire threats were levied against those serving in specific locations, with precise military information invoked for enhanced credibility. 
  	Somewhat fittingly, Lord Haw-Haw’s impact on the war is still debated, and what happened to him at the end of the war is also the subject of arguments. 

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  The Cruel Sky - A Heavy Bomber...

  Robert Thompson

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  The men who flew American heavy bombers over Europe in World War II were very young—most were either in their late teens or early twenties. There they faced a gauntlet of razor sharp antiaircraft artillery bursts and fighter aircraft firing cannons that shattered Plexiglas, metal, engines, and bone. It is no wonder that bomber crews suffered some of the highest casualty rates of any service during the war. Yet, their courage and sacrifice would help the Allies secure an overwhelming victory over Hitler's Germany. That bravery and the extreme dangers these young men faced in combat over Europe are vividly portrayed in The Cruel Sky. Using the 451st Bombardment Group (Heavy) of the Fifteenth Air Force as the focus for this compelling narrative, author Robert Thompson describes how the bomber group was established and trained, what is took to fly its aircraft—the Consolidated B-24 Liberator—the opposition they faced, and the harrowing stories of the missions for which the group received three Distinguished Unit Citations, one of only two units so honored during World War II. Relying on official reports and firsthand accounts of those who flew with the 451st, the book provides a fresh and personal perspective of the deadly air war over Europe that was critical in defeating the Nazis and liberating millions.

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  The Synesthesia Experience -...

  Maureen Seaberg

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  A violinist sees a scarlet form when he plays a certain note; a rock star sees waves of blue and green as he composes a ballad; an actress tastes cake when she utters the word "table." Described by some as a superpower this mingling of the senses is called "synesthesia," and the people who possess this amazing gift are called "synesthetes." 
   
   
    
  What happens when a journalist turns her lens on a mystery happening in her own life? Maureen Seaberg did just that and lived for a year exploring her synesthesia. The wondrous brain trait is often described as blended senses, but for Maureen, synesthesia is not an idle "brain tick" that can be explained away by science (although it does offer some important clues). It is a unique ability to tap into and reveal a greater creative universe and even the divine. 
   
   
   
  Join her as she visits top neuroscientists, rock stars, violinists, other synesthetes, philosophers, savants, quantum physicists, and even Tibetan lamas in her journey toward the truth. 
   
   
   
  Step into Maureen's shimmering alternate universe as she explores this fascinating subject, combining clear explanations of groundbreaking scientific research with an exploration of deeper understanding of our senses.

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  In Her Own Words - The Political...

  Davis Truman

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  This book delves into Kamala Harris's powerful and nuanced speeches and offers an in-depth analysis of her use of language. A meticulous examination reveals how Harris's choice of words and pronouns, such as "we" and "I," is deliberately crafted to connect with her audience, balance personal authority with collective identity, and foster a sense of unity and shared purpose. 
  Kamala Harris presents herself as relatable and empathetic, aligning her experiences and emotions with her audience. Highlighting the importance of careful attention to language, this book underscores how understanding and analyzing the use of pronouns and vocabulary in political speeches can enhance our appreciation of rhetorical strategies. It also serves as a guide to utilizing these techniques effectively and safeguarding ourselves from manipulation, providing valuable insights into the art of persuasion and the intricate craft of political communication.

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