Gym shooter a classic mass murderer, experts say

George Sodini, the man who killed three women and wounded nine others before killing himself Tuesday at a Pennsylvania fitness center, showed in his writings typical characteristics of a mass murderer, experts say. “What distinguishes the mass murderer who takes his own life afterwards from the person who just commits suicide is the externalization of blame,” said James Alan Fox, a Northeastern University professor and author of six books on mass murder.

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Iran militia members exposed by blogger

Amir Farshad Ebrahimi sits at his computer in a small apartment in Berlin clicking through data bases with thousands of photos. He clicks back and forth between the Web and the photos of demonstrations in Iran for hours. The pictures show plain-clothed men beating up demonstrators in Iranian cities after the disputed presidential elections.

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Book Excerpt: Reset by Kurt Anderson

Author Kurt Andersen’s new book, Reset: How This Crisis Can Restore Our Values and Renew America, examines the economic, political and cultural opportunities to be found in the wake of the financial crises. In this excerpt, the second of five pieces to appear on TIME.com, he examines the corporate ingenuity that often arises in the wake of fiscal disaster. If you want to feel encouraged about our economic near future — not this damned decade but the teens — go talk to some venture capitalists

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Afghan challengers target Karzai

In less than three weeks, Afghan voters — still reeling from one of the most violent months since the war on terror started — head to the polls for what some call the country’s first-ever truly contested election. Two candidates, former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah and former Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani, have emerged as the top contenders among the dozens hoping to unseat President Hamid Karzai, who has led the country since shortly after the 2001 fall of the Taliban and is seeking re-election.

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