French and Spanish police arrested the reputed leader of ETA’s commando units on Monday — dealing a devastating blow to the armed Basque separatist group.
Mikel de Garikoitz Aspiazu Rubina, 35, is suspected of taking part in several killings, including the December shooting deaths of two Spanish guardsmen in France, according to French and Spanish officials.
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said Aspiazu Rubina — known by the alias “Txeroki” (pronounced cher-OH-kee) — has been the operational chief of ETA’s hit squads and bombing units for several years.
The armed group has been fighting since the late 1960s to create an independent Basque homeland in northern Spain and southwest France. The violence has claimed more than 800 lives.
A car carrying one of Israel’s top mafia kingpins exploded as it traveled in central Tel Aviv on Monday, killing him and threatening to unleash an all-out war in Israel’s increasingly violent underworld.
Israeli police officials identified the dead man as Yaakov Alperon — known informally as “Don Alperon” — the head of one of the country’s most powerful crime families. The bloodied body was wearing the same polo shirt Alperon was seen sporting earlier in the day at a Tel Aviv courthouse.
Medics said three bystanders were also lightly wounded in the explosion, including a 13-year-old boy.
Israelis are accustomed to violence with their Palestinian neighbors but have traditionally felt relatively safe from violent crime. In recent years, however, mob wars also have plagued Israeli towns and cities.
Rival underworld gangs have waged bloody battles for control of gambling and protection rackets, including one involving bottle recycling.
The G Manifesto’s Best Break out Hip-Hop Artist, Wale disses Ed Hardy.
Great work.
The Rest is Up to You…
Michael Porfirio Mason
AKA The Peoples Champ
AKA Your favorite International Playboy’s, favorite International Playboy
The Guide to Getting More out of Life
http://www.thegmanifesto.com
It’s not secret that I have distain for Ed Hardy and “Ed Hardy Guy” and have waged a personal war against the latter. (Just like I waged a victorious campaign against “Shiny Shirt Guy”, “Trucker Hat Guy” and “Striped Shirt Guy” before him.)
Chris R sent me the info on Elitaste dissing Ed Hardy:
Let’s face it, most of the people who read this site probably hate Ed Hardy as much as Wale does. I used to hate Ed Hardy. And don’t get me wrong, you would never catch me wearing it. But here’s what I’ve realized about Ed Hardy (and you can throw Von Dutch, Christian Audigier and Affliction in there too), as much as I hate them, never before has a clothing company told you so much about the person wearing it. With the rise of streetwear over the past few years, you have all these kids aspiring to be something or associated with something, but with Ed Hardy, there is like ZERO irony in wearing it. People genuinely think it’s cool. They aren’t TRYING to be cool. They actually think they’ve achieved coolness and that Ed Hardy is the tits when it comes to t-shirts (or trucker hats with roses and rhinestones). The poor decision-making that goes into incorporating Ed Hardy into a wardrobe is very telling about someone’s taste and thought process. With that said, I have turned my disdain of Ed Hardy into something of a human litmus test; a sort of fashion iodine that exposes douchebaggery. Although I think athletes can be exempted from this, as I saw Michael Beasley get turned away from Villa (a very hot club in LA) for wearing Ed Hardy. He just doesn’t know any better.
Michael Porfirio Mason
AKA The Peoples Champ
AKA Your favorite International Playboy’s, favorite International Playboy
The Guide to Getting More out of Life
http://www.thegmanifesto.com
Chris Paciello spent seven years in jail for his role in a heist gone awry, ending his run as one of South Beach’s biggest nightlife forces. Today, two years removed from his release from prison, he is enjoying his new life as an L.A. restaurateur.
The pivotal moment in Chris’ criminal career occurred on February 18th, 1993. He was 21 years old and drove the car containing members of the Crew to Staten Island after they had heard rumors about a cash-filled safe hidden in the Shemtov residence. “The worst thing I did was get into that car and take a ride to go rob that house,” Paciello says with remorse. “It was so routine for me to do these crimes that it never crossed my mind that something like that could happen. When I heard that gunshot, I knew my life was over. I couldn’t even fathom what happened. I never hurt anyone for money. Yeah, I fought with people. I’m the type of guy who will knock you down and then feel bad and help you up. I would rob these banks and no one was getting hurt. After that, I knew we were at a different level. It was a different ball game. I had to get out of New York. I had about $400,000 to my name from illegal activities. I was very unhappy with life at that point. I knew I was either going to end up dead or in jail for the rest of my life.” Except for his lawyer, he never told anyone the events of that day.
South Beach Stories
In September 1994, Paciello relocated to Miami Beach with his life savings and a desire to open a nightclub. With one foot in the past (he brought along a drug-dealing, club-experienced partner named “Lord Michael” Caruso) and one in the future (he swore off delinquency), Chris tackled the world of nightlife with his typical bravado. “I felt a New York-style nightclub would work in Miami,” he says. “I don’t know if it was vision, brains, balls or just plain stupidity, but I did it. I figured out how to use my drive and motivation to become successful doing legal stuff.” Risk opened in November 1994 in the former Mickey’s space (actor Mickey Rourke’s failed nightclub) on Washington Avenue. While it wasn’t the Second Coming of nightlife, Risk was known for its progressive music and anything-goes atmosphere. “Risk wasn’t clicking at first,” Chris continues. “It was successful. I was making money, but not a lot of money. There was a famous party at that space called Fat Black Pussycat. I brought it back. It was a legendary night. It kept Risk going and introduced me to all the locals.”
Going Hollywood
Chris was released on September 8th, 2006. He has the date tattooed on his right wrist. “I was shell-shocked for about a week or two,” he acknowledges. “In jail, everything is so controlled and provided for you. And then all of a sudden you have these choices and responsibilities. I was messed up. I didn’t think I would be, but I was. I wanted to remember the small things that are so important. Like walking into a shower without having shower shoes on. Eating with metal utensils, not plastic. Opening the refrigerator when you want a drink of water. The little things that you can’t do in jail. Jail is humiliating and demeaning. Most of the people, including myself, deserved to be there at that time. I try not to be bitter. I have no right. I hurt people and I deserved to be there. Right now, I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
While people assumed Paciello would return to Miami Beach or New York, he chose Los Angeles for a fresh start. For the first year he readjusted to civilian life and took stock of his situation. As for worrying about his safety, Chris downplays any threats from the Mafia. “I’m not bragging that nobody could touch me,” he says. “I could walk outside and get hit by a car. But I lived my life way worse in New York looking over my shoulder, carrying guns and robbing drug dealers. Those things could have gotten me killed a lot quicker than me changing my life and becoming a citizen. I’ve heard that I had reconstructive surgery. I own a club in Israel. I live in Brazil. I’ve heard it all. I’m here. You see me. I look the same. I’m out all the time. If someone feels they want to come after me and get revenge, then that’s going to happen. I don’t live my life in fear.
Michael Porfirio Mason
AKA The Peoples Champ
AKA Your favorite International Playboy’s, favorite International Playboy
The Guide to Getting More out of Life
http://www.thegmanifesto.com
