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Another Commodore 64 port to grace our home computer screens and mentioned by Excess‚ is the Commodore 16‚ Plus/4‚ ZX Spectrum and VIC 20 game of Tower of Evil. A top down action game which was first released from 1984 to 1985 and published by Creative Sparks. A game in which you play the role of Andros who was banished years ago by King Salimos and can only return when he rescues the kidnapped

Richard Kuklinski was an American criminal known as the Iceman‚ an apt nickname for the cold-blooded murderer he was. Though he was convicted of four out of five counts of murder‚ he claimed to have killed between 100 and 200 men for which authorities couldn’t find proof.  Many also dismissed Richard’s claims because he was often seen as fanciful. He even said that he was one of four men who had been responsible for the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa‚ a labor union leader.  Richard said the team kidnapped and murdered Hoffa in 1975. Authorities eventually declared Hoffa dead but they called Richard’s claim a hoax.  One thing is for certain‚ Richard had a temper. Half the time his family dealt with “Bad Richie‚” a violent husband and father. But if they were lucky‚ they also experienced time with “Good Richie‚” a hard-working patriarch and affectionate husband and father.  Unfortunately for five people—or maybe more—they met the Iceman. Richard Kuklinski‚ “The Iceman” Like Father‚ Like Sons Richard was born on April 11‚ 1935‚ in Jersey City‚ New Jersey to Polish immigrant Stanley Kuklinski and Irish-American Anna Cecilia McNally. He was the second of four children.  He claimed to have a difficult childhood with an abusive mother and father. Richard had a younger brother‚ Joseph Kuklinski‚ who was convicted of raping and murdering 12-year-old Pamela Dial.  One day in 1970‚ Joseph lured Pamela to the roof of a five-story building by stealing her dog and making her believe that he saved her pet. After raping and murdering Pamela‚ Joseph threw her body and the dog from the roof. The dog survived and alerted people in the vicinity of the crime.  When Richard was asked about Joseph’s crimes‚ the Iceman reportedly replied: “We come from the same father.”  Stanley was reportedly a raging alcoholic who often beat his children and sometimes his wife Anna Cecilia. But Richard said alcohol was not the trigger for Stanley’s violent nature. In a documentary interview‚ Richard said this about Stanley: “To Stanley‚ it doesn’t matter if he was drinking or not. He was a nasty son of a b***h until the day he died.”  The Kuklinski patriarch left a mark on his kids‚ literally. But it was the eldest of the Kuklinski children who got the worst of it. Florian Kuklinski was only seven years old when he died due to extensive beatings from his father.  However‚ the Kuklinski couple hid the real cause of death from the authorities. They claimed that Florian fell down a flight of stairs.  Richard inherited his rage from his father. However‚ what was different about him was that he didn’t physically abuse his children. “There is nothing I wouldn’t do for my children. Nothing. I’d kill everybody in this room‚” Richard said in the same interview.  He had five children from two marriages. He first married Linda and had two sons with her‚ Richard Jr. and David. He cheated on Linda with Barbara Pedrici whom he married after divorcing Linda. They had three children together‚ daughters Merrick and Christin‚ and son Dwayne.  Richard may not have laid a hand on his children but he was still emotionally abusive because of his rage. The wives were a different story. He once stabbed Barbara in the back because she confessed that she wanted to see other people.  Barbara said that Richard was a good provider. She never asked where Richard got his money. She only knew him as a wholesale distributor. She feared that if she asked Richard why they had more money than they should based on his profession‚ the Iceman might throw a tantrum and become violent.  The Beginnings of a Murderous Existence According to Murderpedia‚ Richard’s first kill was when he was just 13 years old. He beat to death his bully‚ Charley Lane‚ a leader of a small gang of teenagers.  Richard claimed that he had been badly beaten by Lane and his gang‚ so when he was well enough‚ he found a piece of wood and beat the gang leader until his last breath. Richard dumped Lane’s body off a bridge in South Jersey‚ never to be found.  It wasn’t enough of a revenge as Richard sought out the other members of the gang with a metal pole. Many of them were beaten within an inch of their lives. It was then that Richard discovered the power of violence. He said it was better to give than to receive.  People weren’t the only victims of his wrath. Richard said he tortured and killed cats and dogs too.  Richard’s motivation for killing people changed when he was older and had started a family. He then started killing people for money.  George Malliband In the 1960s‚ Richard worked at a film laboratory. As a side hustle‚ he would make bootleg copies of Disney films and pornography and sell them to people.  In 1980‚ he met George William Malliband Jr. because of his videotape business. Richard shot Malliband five times‚ stole his $27‚000‚ and stuffed his body inside a barrel. Louis Masgay Richard met Louis Magsay for another videotape deal in 1981‚ the last time the latter was seen alive. Masgay reportedly had $95‚000 during his death.  His body was found 15 months later with ice crystals in his body’s tissues that indicated the body was frozen before being dumped. It was then that Richard got his moniker‚ the Iceman. Paul Hoffman By the 1980s‚ Richard was wearing many hats. He had a video piracy business and a robbery gang‚ while also selling drugs and working as a hitman for several crime families.  Paul Hoffman was a pharmacist who wanted to resell Richard’s supply of Tagamet. They met in 1982. But Richard beat him to death with a tire iron and got Hoffman’s $25‚000‚ which was supposed to be his Tagamet payment. Gary Smith Gary Smith and Daniel Deppner were Richard’s cohorts in the burglary business. As the gang was under investigation by the police‚ Richard and Deppner suspected that Smith wanted to become an informant. Before he could talk to the authorities‚ Richard and Deppner fed Smith a cyanide-laced hamburger while Smith was strangled.  Daniel Deppner Richard also used cyanide to kill Deppner and then strangled him after. Deppner’s body was dumped in the woods but was found in 1983 surrounded by vultures.  The Iceman was charged with the murder of Malliband‚ Masgay‚ Hoffman‚ Smith‚ and Deppner. In 1988‚ Richard was found guilty of killing Smith and Deppner but jurors didn’t think he was a cold-blooded murderer who deserved the death penalty.  He was sentenced to 60 years in prison instead. Richard pleaded guilty to killing Malliband and Masgay and was sentenced to two life imprisonments.  Since he was already destined to live the rest of his life behind bars‚ prosecutors no longer pursued the Hoffman murder even with Richard’s confession. Richard Kuklinski’s mugshots Public Interest for the Iceman While incarcerated‚ Richard granted a series of interviews to journalists‚ psychiatrists‚ criminologists‚ and writers. Some of his interviews were featured in documentaries:  The Iceman Tapes: Conversations With a Killer (1992) The Iceman: The True Story of a Cold-Blooded Killer (1993) The Iceman Confesses: Secrets of a Mafia Hitman (2001) Writers Anthony Bruno and Philip Carlo also wrote biographies‚ The Iceman: The True Story of a Cold-Blooded Killer (1993) and The Ice Man: Confessions of  Mafia Contract Killer (2006)‚ respectively. Then in 2012‚ a crime film‚ The Iceman‚ loosely based on Richard’s life was released. Michael Shannon played Richard and the supporting cast included Winona Ryder‚ Chris Evans‚ Ray Liotta‚ and James Franco.  During his media blitz‚ Richard claimed to have killed between 100 and 200 people. Cyanide poisoning was his favorite killing method but he also used guns‚ grenades‚ bombs‚ crossbows‚ and ice picks.  Dozens of his kills were reportedly for the Mafia. He named the Five Families of New York City—Bonanno‚ Colombo‚ Gambino‚ Genovese‚ Lucchese‚ and the DeCavalcante family of New Jersey—as some of his bosses.  Some of the big names he claimed to have murdered were Carmine Galante of the Bonanno family‚ Paul Castellano of the Gambino family‚ Castellano’s bodyguard Thomas Bilotti‚ and Mafia member John Favara.  Was he an assassin? Richard didn’t think so‚ saying: “Assassin sounds so exotic. I was just a murderer.” But authorities were dubious of his Mafia account. Retired special agent Dominick Polifrone‚ who helped arrest Richard‚ did not believe the Iceman’s body count was that high.  “He liked to boast about all the sh*t he was doing‚ but I don’t believe he killed 200 people. I don’t believe he killed 100 people. I’ll go as high as 15‚ maybe. I can document five. You want to add a few here and there? Okay. Still‚ he was the type of guy who‚ when he took on something or you caused something with his family‚ you were dead‚” Polifrone told A&;E publication.  Richard died of cardiac arrest on March 5‚ 2006. He was 70 and had been in prison for around 19 years.  Conclusion Richard Kuklinski loved to brag that he killed around 200 people. Authorities didn’t corroborate this claim but the truth is still horrifying. Richard was convicted of four murders and charged with five.  There was also a bully he claimed to have killed when he was a mere teenager and whose body was never found. It seemed right that he became known as the Iceman because of his history of cold-blooded murder.The post Richard Kuklinski: Cold-Blooded Killer Known as the Iceman first appeared on History Defined.

It was April 1945 and World War II was winding down. Germany officially surrendered on May 7‚ 1954‚ and the next day was declared V-E Day or Victory in Europe Day. While patrolling certain parts of Germany‚ American troops chanced upon top-secret Nazi documents. The documents were brought to the Marburg Castle in Hesse‚ Germany‚ where they were read and analyzed. Allied leaders were shocked to learn that the Nazis had ties to the Duke of Windsor Edward VIII. This was the uncle of the late Queen Elizabeth II‚ and the longest-reigning British monarch. So‚ what was in the Marburg files? Wallis Simpson‚ The Duke of Windsor and Hitler‚ circa 1937 Marburg Files: The Discovery American troops were traveling and operating on the outskirts of the Degenershausen Estate in April 1945. While doing their rounds‚ they chanced upon abandoned German military vehicles. Most of them contained documents from the Nazi government.  The discovery was attributed to First Lieutenant David D. Silberberg of the 47th Infantry Regiment‚ 9th Infantry Division. It was quite apropos considering Silberberg was a natural-born German. He was born in the Harz Mountains in 1921 but his family fled the country in 1936 following the Nazi government’s rise to power in the 1930s.  While still at war‚ Silberberg wanted to hit two birds with one stone by visiting the Harz region where he was born. By then‚ he was already a naturalized American citizen after joining the U.S. Army in 1942.  In a report‚ World War II’s 9th Infantry Division quoted Silberberg’s reaction upon seeing the German vehicles with a lot of scattered papers: “While wrecked vehicles along the roads were commonplace‚ one truck caught my attention right outside the town of Degenershausen. It was lying in a ditch with papers scattered all around it. I picked up one of the papers and saw that it was signed by Joachim von Ribbentrop‚ the foreign minister of Nazi Germany.” It was just the tip of the iceberg. It turns out that the Nazis had stored a lot of documents in a home called the Schloss Degenershausen since 1943.  The documents they found inside contained signatures of the highest-ranking German officials: Adolf Hitler‚ Führer of the Nazi Party Kaiser William II‚ Commander-in-chief of the German armed forces Otto von Bismarck‚ Chancellor of the German Reich Other famous World War I and World War II generals Because of the importance and relevance of the documents‚ Colonel Dickson of G-2 (Intelligence) of the First US Army feared that German paratroopers would try to destroy them by wrecking the property.  Dickson ordered the transfer of the documents to Marburg Castle in Hesse. More documents were found in other properties in Germany and the most important ones were transported to Marburg where they could remain under close watch.  More than a hundred trucks transported some 400 tons of documents to the castle. When officers reviewed the documents‚ they were shocked to discover at least 60 files referring to correspondences between the Duke of Windsor and some officials of the Nazi government.  The Duke of Windsor The Marburg files are often referred to as the Windsor files or Duke of Windsor files because of the main character involved in the controversial documents.  Edward VIII served in the British Army during the First World War. He was a popular prince because he had charm‚ charisma‚ a great fashion sense‚ and a penchant for having affairs.  It would have been more convenient if Edward VIII continued with his appetite for affairs. But instead‚ he fell in love with married American socialite Wallis Simpson.  When Edward VIII and Simpson fell in love‚ the latter became a twice-divorced American socialite—a fact that didn’t sit well with the monarchy. Edward VIII tried to introduce Simpson to his parents in 1935 but the king and queen refused to receive the American.  Portrait of Prince Edward‚ Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII) (1894–1972) In 1936‚ King George V died and Edward VIII ascended to the throne. King Edward VIII was among the few monarchs who ruled while single. It was not the only thing that set him apart as he also had a knack for breaking British monarchy traditions.  When the newly crowned king declared that he wanted to marry Simpson‚ the British Cabinet and the Dominion governments opposed it. It was also a marriage that wouldn’t be acceptable to the Catholic Church.  So‚ Edward VIII abdicated the throne and became one of the briefest-reigning monarchs in the world‚ serving less than a year as king. He was given the title Duke of Windsor when his younger brother George VI became king. Edward married Simpson who later became the Duchess of Windsor.  People thought that would be the end of Edward VIII’s controversies but that wasn’t his style.  Was the Duke of Windsor a Nazi Sympathizer? Following the couple’s marriage in 1937‚ they went on a trip to Germany and met with Hitler despite the disapproval of then-Member of Parliament Winston Churchill.  It was the start of a controversial friendship that the British government wanted to hide from the world. Duke Edward VIII felt that he and Wallis were more welcome in Germany than when they were with his own family.  At the end of the couple’s 12-day tour of the country‚ Hitler reportedly remarked that Wallis would have been a good queen. This only cemented the Duke’s regard for the Führer.  The Duke and Duchess of Windsor mostly lived in France after Edward abdicated.  When France fell to the Nazis‚ the couple traveled to Madrid‚ Spain where Germany tried to use them as pawns to take control of the British government. Though the United Kingdom had no idea that this was going on‚ the Marburg files shed light on these developments. The files contained evidence that Duke Edward VIII communicated with high-ranking Nazi officials to implement what was then known as Operation Willi.  Operation Willi On June 19‚ 1940‚ the Windsor royal couple was in a convoy traveling to the safety of the Spanish border from France. Though Spain was a neutral territory and wasn’t officially a part of the Axis Powers‚ Spanish dictator Francisco Franco was pro-Nazi.  He was willing to join the Axis group but Hitler thought his demands were too high. Spanish officials started communicating with their German counterparts on what to do with the Windsors shortly after their arrival.  Joachim von Ribbentrop‚ the Nazi Minister of Foreign Affairs‚ wanted Spain to detain the Windsor couple for as long as possible. However‚ he didn’t want to make it seem like Germany was behind it.  Hence‚ Spain tried to seduce the Duke with lavish offers to stay in the country. However‚ the Duke was perceptive enough to realize that Spain might join World War II‚ so he and his wife escaped to Portugal while waiting for Churchill to make arrangements for their homecoming. Ribbentrop was livid.  The Duke and Duchess were living a life of peace and calm in Portugal when Edward VIII received a threatening communication from Churchill. Churchill‚ who had become Prime Minister in 1940‚ said that he could be court-martialed if they didn’t go home to the U.K. immediately.  The Prime Minister sweetened the deal by offering the Duke the position of governor in the Bahamas. But Ribbentrop was not done with his plotting.  Operation Willi involved making Duke Edward VIII believe that the British Secret Service was out to kill him. The idea wouldn’t have seemed that farfetched since the Duke already felt like the black sheep of the family. Moreover‚ Hitler promised the Duke 50 million Swiss Francs if he were cooperative.  Hitler didn’t want his friends to be harmed‚ so peaceful negotiations were important. He wanted the couple to go back to Spain which was a more Axis-friendly territory. At the behest of the Nazi government‚ a Spanish envoy was sent to Portugal to negotiate terms with the Duke and Duchess.  Away from his family and compatriots‚ Duke Edward VIII considered the offer though he had no idea that the Germans were behind it. In the end‚ the Duke decided to serve the monarchy and leave for the Bahamas.  Release of the Marburg Files Germany wanted to force the British monarchy’s surrender by kidnapping the Windsors and blackmailing the government.  Hitler also had plans to reinstate Edward VIII as the king of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Empire‚ and Emperor of India. More importantly‚ Wallis would be his queen‚ which was important to Edward since King George VI would not even give Edward VIII’s wife the title of “royal highness.” However‚ the documents didn’t indicate that the Duke accepted Hitler’s offer. The most damning statements from the Duke which were uncovered from the Marburg Files were: He believed conflict might have been avoided had he stayed king. He wanted a peaceful compromise with Germany. He encouraged more bombing attacks against the U.K. to force them into peace negotiations.  There was no proof that Duke Edward VIII was a Nazi sympathizer‚ but it didn’t change the fact that the contents of the Marburg Files were embarrassing for the British monarchy.  King George VI and Churchill wanted to bury the files. Some parts were eventually released in 1954‚ two years after the death of King George VI and the start of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. Their entirety was released in 1957.  In 1996‚ the files were sent to the Public Record Office in Kew‚ London.  Conclusion Every family has a black sheep. For the Windsors‚ it was Edward VIII‚ a womanizer who didn’t follow conventions.  Today‚ he would be considered a romantic for abdicating the throne for the woman he loved. But he was also an embarrassment to the family‚ especially since his wife Wallis Simpson was twice divorced.  What was even more embarrassing for Duke Edward VIII and the Windsors were his ties with the Nazis during World War II as evidenced by the Marburg files.The post Marburg Files: How the Duke of Windsor was Exposed first appeared on History Defined.

During the late 19th century‚ America was going through a period of profound economic transformation. The Industrial Revolution was in full swing‚ cities were expanding rapidly‚ and the country was transitioning from an agrarian society to an industrial powerhouse. This era was also marked by significant financial turbulence‚ including the financial panics in 1884 and 1893. These resulted in bank failures‚ business closures‚ and widespread unemployment. It was also during this time that the popularity of boxing reached unprecedented heights. Boxers were no longer anonymous figures but national celebrities with controversial personalities. Their fights were greatly anticipated events and the media covered them extensively. Jack Burke and Andy Bowen were two such celebrated figures who emerged as boxing stars during this era. Their historic match‚ which took place on April 6‚ 1893‚ in New Orleans‚ Louisiana‚ became known as the longest boxing match in history‚ lasting an astonishing 110 rounds over seven hours and 19 minutes. Late 19th-Century Boxing: A Glimpse into a Bygone Era By the end of the 19th century‚ the sport of boxing had evolved into a major pastime. It attracted millions of spectators from diverse backgrounds and all walks of life.  Before the radio‚ boxing matches were one of the main sources of entertainment. They provided a temporary escape from the financial worries and uncertainties that plagued the nation during this tumultuous period. This growing fascination with boxing wasn’t merely coincidental. The panic of 1893 had cast a looming shadow over the country. People needed an outlet and they found that outlet through watching modern-day gladiators fighting it out in a ring. The Fighters: Andy Bowen and Jack Burke The names Andy Bowen and Jack Burke may not be well known to people today but during their heyday in the 1890s these men were national icons.  Andy Bowen (1867-1894) Andy Bowen Andy Bowen was born in New Orleans in 1867. He began his boxing career in his early twenties and rapidly gained recognition as a skilled and formidable fighter.  Bowen was known for his strong build‚ robust physique‚ and resilience in the ring. Bowen was highly regarded for his relentless fighting spirit and the ability to withstand grueling bouts. Jack Burke (1873-1942) Jack Burke Jack Burke was born in 1873 and enjoyed considerable success during the late 19th century. His reputation as a fighter grew as he scored multiple victories in the ring‚ earning him recognition as a formidable contender.  Burke was known for his agility‚ quick footwork‚ and an adaptable fighting style.  The Historic Fight On April 6‚ 1893‚ approximately 8‚500 spectators gathered to witness the historic boxing match. Initially‚ Bowen had arranged the fight with another opponent‚ but when that opponent withdrew‚ Jack Burke stepped into the ring.  This epic contest endured for 110 rounds‚ spanning over seven hours with each round lasting three minutes. The fight went on so long that some spectators fell asleep in their seats. By the 108th round‚ with no apparent victor‚ referee John Duffy decided that if there was no winner in the next two rounds‚ the fight would be declared a “no contest.” After two more exhausting rounds‚ the fighters were unable to emerge from their corners. Duffy ultimately declared the match a “no contest.” Jack Burke had broken all the bones in both his hands‚ which left him bedridden for six weeks. The Aftermath Not much is known about John Burke after the historic bout with Andy Bowen. The only thing that is known for sure is that despite the severe injuries to his hands‚ Burke did not immediately retire from boxing. Instead‚ he chose to continue competing.  Tragically‚ Andy Bowen’s life and boxing career came to a devastating end during his final fight. On April 22‚ 1894‚ just a year after his historic match with Jack Burke‚ Andy Bowen faced another formidable opponent‚ Charles “Jack” Harris.  It was an intense fight that took a toll on Bowen. After several rounds of intense fighting combined with the suffocating heat inside the arena‚ it started to become clear that Bowen was getting weaker. During the 18th round‚ Bowen’s body gave out and he collapsed from exhaustion in the ring. He was removed from the ring and treated for his injuries and heat stroke. He was treated with ice baths to bring down his core temperature but his condition only worsened. The next day on April 23‚ 1894‚ Andy Bowen succumbed to his injuries. He was only 27 years old. The Significance of the Bowen vs. Burke Match Bowen vs. Burke’s legacy serves as a reminder of the sport’s roots. It was a time when fighters weren’t just athletes but warriors battling exhaustion and adversity.  We have to remember that during this time America was transitioning from gas lamps to eclectic lights. Street lights and electrified venues meant that people could stay out longer‚ no more going to bed as soon as the sun went down. This opened up a whole new world of entertainment during a time when people needed it the most.  The marathon fight between Bowen and Burke captured the public’s imagination and diverted their attention from their own economic hardships. It became a symbol of endurance and resilience‚ offering a sense of hope and inspiration to the public. The Legacy of Bowen and Burke The Bowen vs. The Burke match was the most talked about event of the year and became a significant part of the American zeitgeist. Newspapers and periodicals provided extensive coverage‚ while the fight inspired discussions‚ debates‚ and even theatrical adaptations.  The match also influenced the sport of boxing itself. It set a precedent for otherlong fights by underscoring the importance of conditioning‚ training‚ and the limits of the human body.  In modern times‚ this iconic fight has continued to inspire various forms of media. Documentaries and books have delved into the details of the match‚ celebrating the fortitude of Bowen and Burke. Their story has become a symbol of unwavering determination‚ transcending time and inspiring new generations of athletes and enthusiasts. References April 6‚ 1893: Jack Burke Versus Andy Bowen in The Longest Boxing Match Everhttps://onthisdayinsports.blogspot.com/2014/04/april-6-1893-jack-burke-and-andy-bowen.html Andy Bowenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Bowen Jack Burkehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Burke_(boxer)The post Burke vs Bowen: The Longest Boxing Match in History first appeared on History Defined.

Photo: Alamy President Donald Trump on Friday called for the gag order in the ongoing case against him in Washington‚ D.C.‚ to be lifted just hours after a New York… The post Trump calls for gag order in D.C. case to be lifted in wake of New York appellate decision first appeared on Right Side Broadcasting Network (RSBN).

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