As the details of HBO's Boardwalk Empire emerged, it quickly became the most anticipated programme in the network's history. The excitement was understandable - not only was the show created by Terence Winter, the man behind The Sopranos, but Martin Scorsese was one of the executive producers and would make a rare crossover to television by directing the pilot. Plus the cast was headed by the great Steve Buscemi and included some of the finest character actors in the business, whose previous work has included No Country for Old Men, This is England, and The Wire. Now that the prohibition epic has finally hit our screens, Boardwalk Empire has proven to be every bit as smart, brutal and thrilling as had been anticipated. Already renewed for a second season, it is set to become one of the defining series of the decades.This indispensible accompaniment to the show is brimming with fascinating details about the series, covering the historical background, how the 1920s was reconstructed, the realities of filming, biographies of key members of the cast and crew, and much, much more.

Providing a timely and much-needed investigation of how U.S. law enforcement carries out its public safety and crime fighting mandates, this book is an invaluable resource for students, educators, and concerned citizens. Does America face an epidemic of police officers abusing their powers and disregarding constitutional rights, especially in communities of color? Or are such accusations unfair, especially given the enormous challenges of enforcing the law in 21st-century America? This book provides a unique frame of reference for understanding how some of the issues between the police and the public emerged, identifying events that have shaped current relationships between the police and the public, as well as the public's expectations and perceptions of the police. An authoritative resource for understanding modern law enforcement and its relationship with American communities, this volume addresses subjects including the legal underpinnings of various law enforcement actions and practices; the so-called militarization of police departments; the increased use of force and surveillance to combat crime and terrorism, and to generally "keep the peace"; and the perspectives of Black Lives Matter activists and other critics of American law enforcement. The entries provide readers with expert analysis of current topics related to the intensifying debate about the American police state; examine the scope of law enforcement issues that have existed for centuries, and explain why they continue to exist; and cover new mandates for exercising police power, enabling readers to critically analyze what is presented to them in the media. Included throughout the book are excerpts from important laws, speeches, reports, and studies pertaining to the subject of the use and abuse of police power in the United States

Serial killer H.H. Holmes built his murder castle in Chicago, but he met the hangman in Philadelphia. Al Capone served his first prison sentence here. The real-life killers who inspired HBO’s Boardwalk Empire lived and died here. America’s first bank robbery was pulled off here in 1798. The country’s first kidnapping for ransom came off without a hitch in 1874. A South Philadelphia man hatched the largest mass murder plot in U.S. history in the 1930s. His partners in crime were unhappy housewives. Catholics and Protestants aimed cannon at each other in city streets in 1844. Civil rights hero Octavius V. Catto was gunned down on South Street in 1871. Take a walk with us through city history. Would you pass Eastern State Penitentiary on April 3, 1945, just as famed bank robber Willie Sutton popped out of an escape tunnel in broad daylight? Or you might have been one of the invited guests at H.H. Holmes’ hanging at Moyamensing Prison on a gray morning in May 1896. It still ranks as one of the most bizarre executions in city history. Or, if you walked down Washington Lane on July 1, 1874, would you have been alert enough to stop the two men who lured little blond Charley Ross away with candy? You might have stopped America’s first kidnapping for ransom, the one that gave rise to the admonition, “Never take candy from a stranger.” The case inspired the Leopold and Loeb kidnapping. Then there was the bank robber whose funeral drew thousands of spectators and the burglary defendant so alluring that conversation would stop whenever she entered the courtroom. Mix in murderous maids, bumbling burglars, and unflinching local heroes and you have True Crime Philadelphia.

A fan guide to one of television's most exciting shows, exploring its combination of political intrigue and family dysfunction against an epic fantasy backdrop Hailed by critics and dubbed The Sopranos meets The Lord of the Rings, HBO's lavish adaptation of George R.R. Martin's series of fantasy novels has cast its spell over audiences thanks to its memorable characters, surprise deaths, and violent action, and this exhaustive guide will document the background dramas that have helped make it such a huge success. Readers will find biographies of the main actors, episode guides, an overview of how the show has already become part of pop culture, an in-depth look into the compelling world that George R.R. Martin created, and more.

Were you among the estimated 15 million worldwide viewers that immersed themselves in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana during the first month of Stranger Things being released on Netflix? Or even a subsequent, self-confessed, super-fan? Yes? Well, good news! In anticipation of the second season of Stranger Things, premiering on Halloween 2017, Daniel Bettridge provides us with an ultimate fan guide on an A to Z journey from Atari to the Upside Down. So you can brush up on your knowledge and get ready for what's yet to come! Providing an all new insight into one of the world's most popular television programmes, Bettridge explores the show, its many themes and influences and so much more; giving you the inside information from an outsider's perspective. Pop-culture writer, (and Stranger Things super-fan) Daniel Bettridge, is the author of Travel Guide to Westeros and has written for publications including The Times, the Guardian, the Independent and Vulture.

A 2021 USA Today Bestseller! Get thousands of facts at your fingertips with this essential resource: business, the arts and pop culture, science and technology, U.S. history and government, world geography, sports, and so much more. The World Almanac® is America’s bestselling reference book of all time, with more than 83 million copies sold. For more than 150 years, this compendium of information has been the authoritative source for school, library, business, and home. The 2022 edition of The World Almanac reviews the biggest events of 2021 and will be your go-to source for questions on any topic in the upcoming year. Praised as a “treasure trove of political, economic, scientific and educational statistics and information” by The Wall Street Journal, The World Almanac and Book of Facts will answer all of your trivia needs effortlessly. Features include: Special Feature: Coronavirus Status Report: A special section provides up-to-the-minute information about the world’s largest public health crisis in at least a century. Statistical data and graphics across dozens of chapters show how the pandemic continues to affect the economy, work, family life, education, and culture. Special Feature: 20 Years in Afghanistan: The World Almanac provides history, data, and other context for the end of America's longest war and the future of Afghanistan and its people. 2021—Top 10 News Topics: The editors of The World Almanac list the top stories that held the world's attention in 2021. 2021—Year in Sports: Hundreds of pages of trivia and statistics that are essential for any sports fan, featuring complete coverage of the Olympic Games in Tokyo and the sports world's ongoing adaptations to the coronavirus pandemic, and much more. 2021—Year in Pictures: Striking full-color images from around the world in 2021, covering news, entertainment, science, and sports. 2021—Offbeat News Stories: The World Almanac editors found some of the strangest news stories of the year. World Almanac Editors' Picks: Time Capsule: The World Almanac lists the items that most came to symbolize the year 2021, from news and sports to pop culture. World Almanac Editors' Picks: Memorable Recent Sports Scandals: From a trash-can banging, sign-stealing scandal to the doping of horses and humans, World Almanac editors select some of the sports world's biggest black marks from the last 20 years. The World at a Glance: This annual feature of The World Almanac provides a quick look at the surprising stats and curious facts that define the changing world. The Biden Administration: Complete coverage of the presidential transition in Washington, DC, including cabinet-level leadership and the filling of other key administration roles. Other New Highlights: First data available from the 2020 Census, congressional appropriation and redistricting, and much more.