A Disturbing Motif: Online Manifesto, Mass Shooting

As the authorities sort out motives from emotions in the Arizona shooting rampage, one aspect of the multiple-tragedies event is clear: Jared Loughner, the alleged gunman, had an active Internet presence.

Like many people nowadays, Loughner, 22, has lived a public life. He reportedly had a MySpace page — which has been removed since the Jan. 8 shootings — and a YouTube Channel, under the user name Classitup10.

Anyone with a computer and an Internet connection can see remnants of Loughner's online existence and get a creepy glimpse into his psyche. You can read his abstruse personal philosophy in his text-laden videos. You don't have to wait for his manifesto to be released by the FBI or published by The New York Times. You can go to YouTube.

Loughner's YouTube profile page, created in October 2010, lists several schools and colleges. He names his favorite books, including Animal Farm, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Phantom Tollbooth and Mein Kampf.

One of his videos, titled "Hello," has been viewed by more than 1.5 million people. It begins: "Hello, my name is Jared Lee Loughner. This video is my introduction to you! My favorite activity is conscience dreaming; the greatest inspiration for my political business information. Some of you don't dream — sadly."

He writes: "I know who's listening: Government Officials, and the People. Nearly all the people … aren't aware of mind control and brainwash methods."

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The Arizona Tragedy and the Politics of Blood Libel

Glenn Reynolds, WSJShortly after November's electoral defeat for the Democrats, pollster Mark Penn appeared on Chris Matthews's TV show and remarked that what President Obama needed to reconnect with the American people was another Oklahoma City bombing. To judge from the reaction to Saturday's tragic shootings in Arizona, many on the left (and in the press) agree, and for a while hoped that Jared Lee Loughner's killing spree might fill the bill.

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Can A Computer Become A Jeopardy! Champ?

Coming soon: a first-ever human vs. machine Jeopardy! competition. The show will air in February, with two matches being played over three consecutive days. Watson, an IBM computing system, will challenge top Jeopardy! winners Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter. Host Guy Raz speaks with Dave Ferrucci, the scientist leading the IBM Research team that created Watson. The computer is programmed to rival the human ability to answer spoken questions with speed and accuracy.

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