Wealthy British playboy Thanos Papalexis killed tenant to finish £2m property deal (Times U.K.)

Worst landlord of the year. The millionaire is convicted of torturing and killing a shy caretaker known as Bambi because he refused to move out of a London building that Papalexis, a U.S.-based developer with a Florida mansion, was trying to sell. Papalexis's ex-lover (a former Miami porn star and high-priced hooker) told authorities that he confessed to her. Papalexis, with two Albanian henchmen, put a hood over the caretaker, tied him to a chair, beat him, and strangled him. He wrapped the body in a sheet, soaked the corpse with paint thinner, and hid it in a garage pit.

Fuld says being "dumped on" for Lehman failure (Reuters)

Poor guy. Ensconced in his country home in the Idaho mountains, the former CEO holds a pity party with a reporter who knocked on his door. Laments that he was the fall guy.

Bank of America demands thumbprint from armless bloke (Register U.K.)

Florida man, born without arms, tried to cash check made out to his wife and showed two photo IDs, but teller and branch manager refused to cash it because he couldn't give them a thumbprint. They did, however, offer to open a new account for him in his own name.

Schools Aided by Stimulus Money Still Facing Cuts (NYT)

Judges Punish Wall Street as Regulators Just Talk About Reform (Bloomberg)

"As [the battle to reform regulation of] a reluctant Wall Street inches forward about how to prevent another disaster, judges are taking the first steps toward the same goal, punishing executives and issuing rulings with national impact."

Key Week for Obama Starts on Feisty Note (WSJ)

Obama stars at boisterous Labor Day rally as showdown nears over his plans for government-run health insurance versus developing bipartisan move — see "New Fee on Health Insurance Companies Is Proposed to Help Expand Coverage" — in Congress to approve bills without such a plan.

8 Questions About Health-Care Reform (WashPost)

Handy guide.

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The Bernanke Fed's Bogus Transparency (Seeking Alpha)

Fed fights Andy Cuomo's attempt to question its officials under oath about what Bernanke told BofA's Ken Lewis last year during the Merrill mess. And the Fed won't release details of its lending program.

Volunteer 5-0: Civilian Patrols Grow As Recession Puts Citizens on Guard (WSJ)

Short-staffed police departments, so citizen "cadres" take over some duties.

Gold Rallies to 18-Month High on Dollar's Weakness, Inflation (Bloomberg)

A sign that investors uncertain about recovery from recession.

U.S. hiring outlook dips, better elsewhere (Reuters)

"A forward-looking measure of hiring intentions dipped slightly in the United States even as it improved in many other countries."

"Gang of 6" not done with healthcare bill (Salon)

Russian Tycoon's Fall Spurs Money Hunt (WSJ)

"Two London court battles over oil producer Sibir's near-collapse are opening a rare window into the murky world of Russian crony capitalism."

New York Fights Off Tourism Plunge as 'Big Summer' Fills Hotels (Bloomberg)

"Historically low crime, a 26 percent decline in hotel-room charges and the dollar's 13 percent drop in value against the euro since March will attract 44.7 million visitors in 2009," a lower-than-expected decline of only 5 percent from last year.

Ministers 'waved through' sale of riot equipment to Libya (Times U.K.)

British officials OK'd export of crowd-control water cannons and SUVs despite warnings that they would be used for internal repression. Sale was approved while BP (with the help of the British government) was negotiating a big oil deal with Libya.

Stocks Show Why Analysts Dismiss Economists on Growth (Bloomberg)

China Says First Jet to Cost Less Than Boeing, Airbus (Bloomberg)

It'll be a few years, but China's government-controlled Comac will be a major player in the soaring market for big commercial jets.

'Everyone Is Guilty' of Aid Means U.S. May Find Future WTO Wins Elusive (Bloomberg)

"The U.S. may find its success in a trade dispute over European subsidies to Airbus SAS difficult to repeat after the Bush and Obama administrations gave billions of dollars to banks and automakers during the financial crisis."

Without a Job, but Working the Campaign Trail (NYT)

Kraft's $16.7 Billion Cadbury Bid May Thaw Mergers (Bloomberg)

Velveeta/chocolate milk hookup (being fought by Cadbury) is a sign that money for big deals is also liquifying.

Google Earth take its lumps in Europe and China (NY Post)

Same problems with Google Books. Giant company searches for answers.