NEPA in the national headlines. (Philadelphia, Scranton: crime, houses, college)

[W-B proud]

It seems our little corner of the world is really getting some world recognition lately...unfortunately, mostly for all the wrong reasons. First the Luzerne County courthouse scandel with the putting the kids in lock-up for finacial gain, the mob ties, the corruption. This has made news around the world, and can easily be made into a movie or book, and I wouldn't be suprised, if in a few years, it doesn't. Second, the Russle Buffalino story and the supposed "hit" he put out on Jimmy Hoffa. According to The Corbett show, a movie will be made featuring Robert D'enero from the book "I hear you paint houses" about how former Kingston resident and maffia boss Russel Bufalino who suppossedly put out the "hit" on Jimmy Hoffa, and this reportedly took place at a well known Old Forge eatery!! Russle Bufalino was a regular in the W-B area, and commonly ate at many area restaraunts like Perigino's in W-B and Pileggi's in Kingston, he was very well known in The Wyoming Valley, and often hob-knobbed with the area politicians and leaders. This is a world famous mobbster, and he lived right here in Kingston! Third, the Bryan Kocis murder. I did a little reseach on this story. Apparently Bryan Kocis, the gay movie producer was a big shot in the gay porn industry. His company "Cobra Video" is one of the biggest, well known companies in the entire industry and the gay actor ''Brent Corrigan" is one of the biggest up and coming porn stars in the gay porn universe, and world famous in the gay porn world, like Jenna Jameson, in the regular porn world. He was in Wilkes-Barre testifing last week. This story is all over the internet, and well known throughout the porn industry. Cobra Video is equivalent to Playboy in the gay porn world. This story is on numerous blogs, and webpages from all over the country and this happened in our own back yard. Who even knew that Bryan Kocis and his company was this world wide? I never even heard of this guy until this story came about. This is the kind of company that you'd expect to be in L.A., Miami, New York, but no, it was right here in Dallas, Pa. and all the people involved in this are literally famous "gay porn movie stars" that are known all over the world in thier industry, and all this is trial is taking place here in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. This too could be made into a movie. Fourth, Bishop Martino who is becoming nationally recognized as a no nonsense, hard line bishop, and his lashing out at famous politicians and College Misericordia. This too is making national headlines, especially in catholic circles, and has gotten former U.S. senator Rick Santorum's attention, who wrote a colomn about it in the Philadelphia Inquirer. All this this taking place right now in NEPA!!! All this with the national attention that Scranton recieved during the presidential elections, and it's safe to say that our area is becoming pretty famous! ...for better or worse.

[Jungle George]

"Like sands through the hourglass....these are The Days Of Our Lives....."


YouTube - Days of Our Lives open - March 2008

[Jackie2008]

Or "All My Criminals"

[odessa3]

There was a huge article in "Rolling Stone" magazine last year about the Bryan Kocis murder.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by odessa3

There was a huge article in "Rolling Stone" magazine last year about the Bryan Kocis murder.

Psha! Crime just doesn't happen in the Back Mountain (or at least that's what local realtors will say!) LOL!

[W-B proud]

Yeah, It's a huge story across the nation, but it is almost on the backburner here in Luzerne County because of all the other stuff going on with the judges and the courthouse, and rightfully so because that has a direct impact on our lives, where as the Bryan Kocis murder seems almost disconnected from our area with all the players being from outside our area, but like I said earlier, there are national blogs and news stories about this, and it is a very huge story in the gay porn industry right now. Apparently, Bryan Kocis was the "Hugh Hefner" of gay porn. He was a top dog in that industry, and Sean Lockhart a.k.a "Brent Corrigan" is one of the most famous, sought after porn actors in the buisness. He is like the Brad Pitt of the gay porn world. Bryan Kocis was a very low-key, recluse, and most people in this region probably didn't even know that such a big player in the porn industry even lived here. I've never even heard of this guy until his murder took place, and I'm a bona-fide news junkie. I guess last week when Sean Lockhart came to town to testify, many national media outlets also showed up. If you Google any of these porn stars names entire pages of blogs and news articles pop-up from around the country, and here in NEPA, where all this took place, it's almost an afterthought. It's like a page five story, because of all the other crap that is happening right now. It's amazing that all this is taking place here, in Luzerne County. This is more of a story you would hear about in L.A or San Francisco or something.

[SteelCityRising]

This story hits too close to me considering I spoke with Brian Kocis back when I was 19 about potentially "modeling" for him. Yes, I was young, stupid, and naive at the time---craving some additional cash. No, I didn't pursue the offer to fruition once I cogitated it around a bit and realized what disastrous consequences it could have for me professionally if recruiters/employers found out what I had done in the past. I suppose it was all for the better as I wouldn't want my name brought into the media spotlight unfavorably if I were called upon to testify as a witness. Just as quickly as Cobra Video has gone under there's apparently a new local start-up coming in to take its place, but I won't further elaborate upon what I know about that.

[Retired Law 08]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

This story hits too close to me considering I spoke with Brian Kocis back when I was 19 about potentially "modeling" for him. Yes, I was young, stupid, and naive at the time---craving some additional cash. No, I didn't pursue the offer to fruition once I cogitated it around a bit and realized what disastrous consequences it could have for me professionally if recruiters/employers found out what I had done in the past. I suppose it was all for the better as I wouldn't want my name brought into the media spotlight unfavorably if I were called upon to testify as a witness. Just as quickly as Cobra Video has gone under there's apparently a new local start-up coming in to take its place, but I won't further elaborate upon what I know about that.

http://bestsmileys.com/notlistening/2.gif (broken link)

[Jungle George]

I haven't cogitated in YEARS!!!!

[W-B proud]

If this had happened in New York or L.A. it would be on "Nightline", "Court TV", MSNBC ect.