Tag Archives: personal

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.

Chris Brown to face judge for sentencing Wednesday

Singer Chris Brown’s punishment for assaulting his pop star girlfriend, Rihanna, is expected to become official Wednesday in a Los Angeles courtroom. Rihanna will not attend Brown’s sentencing, where a judge is expected to impose five years of probation and about 1,400 hours in “labor-oriented service.” “Her presence is not required,” Rihanna’s lawyer Donald Etra said. “She will be working out of state.” Rihanna, whose real name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, appeared briefly in court in June after Brown admitted guilt to a felony assault in a plea deal

‘Relieved’ Schumacher visits Massa in hospital

Formula One legend Michael Schumacher has admitted his relief after visiting stricken Ferrari driver Felipe Massa in hospital. The seven-time world champion has agreed to come out of retirement to replace Massa in the short term following the Brazilian’s freak accident in Hungary which left him fighting for his life. The 40-year-old had not previously had the time to visit Massa, last year’s world championship runner-up, as he has been undergoing medical tests and getting up to speed for his eagerly-anticipated racing return by practicing in a 2007 Ferrari

Coppola’s wife: ‘Apocalypse Now’ was ‘out of control’

Eleanor Coppola met her husband, Francis in Ireland in 1962. It was on the set of splatter flick “Dementia 13” — she was the shy set decorator; he was the ambitious rookie director. They began dating and three months later she became pregnant and the couple married.

Tom Brokaw on Walter Cronkite

Walter Cronkite was the most famous journalist of his time, the personification of success in his beloved profession, with all that brought with it: a journalism school named for him, a Presidential Medal of Freedom and the adulation of his peers and audience. Yet I always had the feeling that if late in life someone had tapped him on the shoulder and said, “Walter, we’re a little shorthanded this week

Africans reach out to Obama via text messages

The text messages address various issues and come from all over the African continent. From the personal: “Obama, as a young lady I dream of being the president. U r a huge encouragement.” To cries for help: “Dear president, Darfur firing again…waiting for peace through the change u promised.” To calls for intervention: “Encourage African leaders to improve the quality and access to education for citizens.” The messages, from Ghana, Sudan and South Africa respectively, were among more than 5,000 sent to Barack Obama during his first visit as president to sub-Saharan Africa as president

South Korean president to donate fortune

Donating to charity itself is a relatively new phenomenon in a society that traditionally values family units. So the announcement that South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak will be donating $26 million, the bulk of his wealth, to charity, is considered highly unusual. The president’s office said the money will be used to set up a new youth scholarship program