20 years sopranos

Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. criticized The Sopranos television show yesterday for stereotyping Italian-Americans and his home state of New Jersey.In a talk at Rutgers University, Alito complained of “an insidious connection popular culture often makes between being a gangster and being Italian,” the Trenton Times reports.As examples, he cited The Godfather movies that connect Italian food with being a gangster and The Sopranos TV show, formerly on HBO, linking New Jersey to the Mafia. He also referred to pizza restaurants, such as Little Caesar’s or Capone’s, that are named for gangsters or movies about them.Before joining the U.S. Supreme Court in 2006 and moving to Virginia, Alito had lived for almost 20 years in a New Jersey neighborhood in the same area where Sopranos character Tony Soprano lived.“You have a trifecta—gangsters, Italian-Americans, New Jersey—wedded in the popular American imagination,” he said, according to a report in … [Read more...] about Justice Alito Criticizes ‘Sopranos’ Stereotypes

Vadim Imperioli, son of ‘The Sopranos’ actor Michael Imperioli, was arrested for allegedly spray painting a swastika in a dorm at Purchase College in New York.School officials told The Journal News that they had been investigating the incident since the graffiti was discovered on November 20. College spokeswoman Betsy Aldredge said it was found on the dorm’s bulletin board. School police were assisted by New York State officers in making the arrest, according to State Police Capt. Doug Larkin.Imperioli was charged with criminal mischief, normally a misdemeanor, but Assistant District Attorney Catalina Blanco Buitrago said her office may upgrade it to a felony charge. This isn’t his only current criminal case, as he is facing a larceny charge related to unauthorized use of a car. Imperioli also served three years probation for vandalism in California. He was in court on Tuesday for the larceny case, at which point Buitrago asked the judge … [Read more...] about Son of ‘Sopranos’ Star Allegedly Drew Swastika on Dorm Wall

Vanessa Grant, a transactional lawyer with specific expertise in the technology and life sciences industries, made the move to Norton Rose Fulbright Canada from Gowling WLG. Grant has 20 years of experience practising M&A and corporate finance including private equity. She is the co-Director of the Osgoode Hall LLM program in business law, where she teaches corporate finance. Additionally, she is the Chair of SummerWorks Theatre Festival. A performer herself, Grant holds a degree in vocal performance and is a freelance opera singer (mezzo soprano). … [Read more...] about Vanessa Grant moves to Norton Rose Fulbright

New York is no stranger to invasions by unwanted creatures. Throughout the years, King Kong, the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man and the Cloverfield monster have all wreaked havoc on the City That Never Sleeps. The latest threat to take Manhattan, however, is quite a bit smaller. And although it sounds like it came from a lullaby, it is unfortunately not fiction. New York is being invaded by bedbugs.Recent months have seen an unprecedented rise in bedbug infestation reports across the city. New York City's 311 information hotline reported that calls about bedbugs increased from around 22,000 in 2008 to nearly 34,000 in 2009 -- a 54% jump in only a year.New York's struggles with the pest have become emblematic of what is quickly becoming a national issue. Over the summer, bedbug infestations closed down the Time Warner Center, home to CNN's New York offices, and various retail stores around Manhattan, including Abercrombie & Fitch, Victoria's Secret and Hollister. Bedbugs were discovered … [Read more...] about Bedbugs Bite the Big Apple – City’s Response.

The will of the late Sopranos star James Gandolfini is a “disaster,” a “catastrophe” and “a nightmare from a tax standpoint,” according to an estates lawyer who reviewed the document.Lawyer William Zabel reviewed Gandolfini’s will for the New York Daily News. Gandolfini left 80 percent of his estimated $70 million estate to his sisters and 9-month-old daughter, making the 80 percent subject to a “death tax” of about 55 percent, Zabel said. That means more than $30 million would have to be paid to the government.Gandolfini left 20 percent of his estate to his wife, Deborah Lin, but the 20 percent is calculated after the taxes are paid. That means Lin will get 20 percent of the $40 million that remains after taxes are paid, rather than 20 percent of $70 million.Gandolfini also had a trust for his wife and at least one trust for his 13-year-old son. It’s unclear if future royalties will go into the estate or his wife’s … [Read more...] about Gandolfini’s will is a tax ‘catastrophe,’ estates lawyer says