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The Full Feed from HuffingtonPost.com         Cory Maye Freed After 10 Years In Prison: The Back Story July 6, 2011 at 10:38 AM   MONTICELLO, Miss. -- It's Friday, July 1, 2011, a little past 8:15 a.m. when I arrive at the Lawrence County, Mississippi, courthouse. As I walk toward the building, I run into Dorothy Maye, the mother of Cory Maye. She's beaming. "I thought you'd be wearing a smile today, Miss Dorothy," I say. She gives me a quick but firm embrace. She scolded me years ago when I tried to shake her hand. "I don't shake," she said. "I hug." Later that day, she expects to hear Judge Prentiss Howell tell the courtroom that after 9 and a half years in prison -- including two on death row and another three in Parchman Penitentiary's notoriously violent Unit 32 -- her son will soon be coming home. Cory Maye, now 30, was convicted in 2004 of shooting and killing Prentiss, Mississippi, police officer Ron Jones, Jr. during a botched drug raid on Maye's home on the day after Christmas in 2001. Maye says he was asleep as the raid began at 12:30 a.m. and had no idea the men breaking into his home were police. The police say they announced themselves. Maye had no prior criminal record, and police found all of a marijuana roach in his apartment, which under other circumstances would garner a $100 fine. Read More... More on Death Penalty         Snooth: The Scoop on Wine Ice Cream July 6, 2011 at 10:38 AM   It's no surprise that we gravitate towards cool, crisp whites and chilled rosés during these warm summer months. Easy to drink and easy to enjoy, a wine's quaffable nature is precisely what we're after! But as much as we enjoy a chilled glass (preferably al fresco) on its own, it's great to know there are other ways to delight in a wine's refreshment. In this case, in scoop form! Well, it makes a lot of sense, combining our favorite summer sippers with our favorite summer dessert. Whether it's ice cream, sorbet or granita, we've got you covered. Check out the variety in this list and give yourself a reason to dust off that ice cream maker. After all, July is officially declared National Ice Cream Month! Read More... More on Wine         U.S. Warns Terrorists Considering Surgically Implanting Bombs In Humans July 6, 2011 at 10:38 AM   WASHINGTON — The U.S. government has warned domestic and international airlines that some terrorists are considering surgically implanting explosives into humans to carry out attacks, The Associated Press has learned. There is no intelligence pointing to a specific plot, but the U.S. shared its concerns last week with executives at domestic and international carriers. Read More... More on Terrorism         Wombat The Size Of A Rhinoceros, Diprotodon, Found In Australia July 6, 2011 at 10:38 AM   Scientists in Australia have uncovered an ancient wombat the size of a rhinoceros, The Telegraph reports. "It was the biggest of them all â€" the biggest marsupial that ever lived on any continent," Professor Sue Hand, a paleontologist at the University of New South Wales, told Australian Geographic. The plant-eating diprotodon, a relative of the modern wombat, roamed Australia 2.5 million years ago and became extinct around 55,000 years ago. The fossil of the car-sized creature found in Australia is the most complete skeleton of its kind, AFP reports. According to the Daily Mail, the giant wombat weighs around three tons and stretches up to 14 feet long. Read More... More on Animals         The Best Places To Be A Vegan Prisoner July 6, 2011 at 10:38 AM   Jails aren't exactly known for their fine cuisine, but at least if you are a vegan and arrested in San Francisco, you can rest easy knowing that vegan meals will be provided. In California, the law requires that vegetarian or kosher meals are served to those that observe diets for religious reasons. However, vegan meals are more of a courtesy than a mandate. In the mid-1990s, 40 members of PETA were arrested after demonstrating outside of Neiman Marcus. They requested vegan meals and ever since, vegan meals have been provided. In other parts of the country, vegan prisoners are not always so lucky. There have been several documented instances of denying requests of vegan prisonerss (see here and here). Read More...         All Google+ Profiles Will Be Made Public By July 31 July 6, 2011 at 10:28 AM   Want to keep your Google profile between you and your friends? Too bad. Google+ profiles will not be allowed to remain private, with users required to make at least their full name and gender public in order to use the site. Google wrote on its public profiles page of the upcoming change: Read More... More on Online Privacy         Steve Jobs Biography Renamed: 'iSteve' Becomes 'Steve Jobs July 6, 2011 at 10:21 AM   Walter Isaacson's forthcoming authorized biography of Apple CEO Steve Jobs has a new title. The book, set for release in March 2012, initially appeared on Amazon.com with the title "iSteve: The Book of Jobs." It has since been renamed and is now listed simply as "Steve Jobs: A Biography." According to Fortune, Read More...         Jessica Alba Shows Baby Bump, Talks 'Dark Angel' In Latina Magazine (PHOTO) July 6, 2011 at 10:21 AM   While most stars with child work hard to hide their baby bumps, Jessica Alba proudly flaunts her newest accessory on the cover of Latina Magazine -- and looks outstanding while doing so. The "Sin City" and "Spy Kids 4" star talks about motherhood, bump accentuation and her career in the new issue, giving some pointers to her fellow actresses about how to handle their growing passengers. Having already had one child (daughter Honor) and announcing in February that her second one is on the way, she's an expert. "If you are sporting a pregnant belly, it's better to show it than to hide it," she tells the magazine. "If you look in the mirror and you look really wide and frumpy, then you're going to appear really wide and frumpy. The more figure-forming your clothes, even though you have more curves, the better. I like long, thin sweaters that kind of hide my hips and my booty, so there's not a huge emphasis on how big they're getting." Read More... More on Jessica Alba         Endless Simmer: Food Bloggers Give Panera's Menu a Gluten-Free Makeover July 6, 2011 at 10:21 AM   Remember the team of activist food bloggers who took our list of America's Top 10 New Sandwiches and made vegan versions of each sandwich? Well, they're at it again. This time, they're giving one of America's biggest bakery chains a GF makeover. Namely Marly writes: I recently met a friend for breakfast at Panera and was surprised, nay shocked, to learn that they didn't offer any gluten-free items at the bread bar. How could this be? Are they not aware of the growing number of people who are flocking toward gluten-free lifestyles? Read More... More on Photo Galleries         U.S. Warns Terrorists Considering Surgically Implanting Bombs In Humans July 6, 2011 at 10:21 AM   WASHINGTON -- The U.S. government is warning airlines that some terrorists are considering surgically implanting explosives into humans to carry out attacks. There is no intelligence pointing to a specific plot, but the U.S. has shared this information with executives at domestic and international carriers. Read More... More on Terrorism         'Eloise'-Themed Tricycle Garage Opens At The Plaza July 6, 2011 at 10:21 AM   MANHATTAN -- The Plaza Hotel is offering guests yet another way to experience the beloved Eloise children's books during their visit to the Big Apple. Beginning this month, guests of the hotel can rent Eloise-themed bicycles, tricycles and scooters from the their real-life "Tricycle Garage" and use the vehicles to tour Central Park and other nearby landmarks, a company statement announced. Read More...         Military Suicide Condolence Letters: White House Lifts Ban July 6, 2011 at 10:21 AM   The White House says that families of service members who commit suicide while deployed abroad are now getting condolence letters from the president just like families of troops who die in other ways. The White House has been reviewing the policy since 2009, lobbied by some military families. A White House official said Tuesday that the change was made this week. The official spoke anonymously to discuss policy deliberations. “The president feels strongly that we need to destigmatize the mental health costs of war to prevent these tragic deaths, and changing this policy is part of that process,” a senior White House official said in a statement. Read More... More on Iraq         P.G. Sittenfeld: Why Politicians Get Fat July 6, 2011 at 9:49 AM   Two Saturdays ago, I devoured five hot dogs at three different festivals during the day. It turns out burgers and hotdogs are as common as handshakes on the campaign trail. Read More... More on Diet         Mayor Bloomberg Blasts Perp Walks Weeks After Defending Them July 6, 2011 at 9:49 AM   MANHATTAN -- Mayor Michael Bloomberg flip-flopped on perp walks Tuesday, blasting the practice as "outrageous" two months after saying he had no problem with them. Bloomberg's sudden change came to light as he was discussing the crumbling case against former IMF Chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn, where the French politician was subjected to a humiliating gantlet of press photographers who snapped pictures of him in handcuffs. "I've always thought that the perp walks were outrageous," the mayor told reporters in Brooklyn Tuesday, marking a drastic reversal in his position on the NYPD's long-standing tradition of walking high-profile suspects in handcuffs in front of reporters and cameras. Read More... More on Michael Bloomberg         Brenda 'Sue' Fulton, Openly Gay Veteran, Named To West Point Advisory Board July 6, 2011 at 9:49 AM   President Barack Obama has named Brenda S. “Sue” Fulton to the Board of Visitors of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, making her the first openly gay or lesbian person to serve there. Fulton is an army veteran who graduated from West Point in 1980, part of the first class to include women. She is the executive director and co-founder of Knights Out, an organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered West Point graduates and their supporters, and a founding member of OutServe, which represents actively-serving LGBT military personnel who cannot reveal their sexual identity. “I would hope it would symbolize to all people gay and straight that anti-gay bias in the military is a thing of the past,” Fulton told the Wall Street Journal about her new appointment. “I would hope it would tell them that if you’re willing to serve your country and you’re qualified, other factors don’t matter,” she said. “I see my role as in some sense helping West point send that message -- that we respect all people equally. That’s part of our values, that’s part of our code.” Read More... More on Don't Ask Don't Tell         John Merrow: David Brooks, Diane Ravitch And The Education Wars July 6, 2011 at 9:49 AM   As always, remember that John's book The Influence of Teachers is for sale at Amazon. Last week in this space, I speculated about the most influential educator in America. Although I put forth more than a half dozen names, most respondents 'voted' for Diane Ravitch, the historian/policymaker/apostate whose book, The Death and Life of the Great American Public School, is a best seller. Read More... More on Education Reform         Porta-Potty Blocks Traffic On Tri-State Tollway July 6, 2011 at 9:49 AM   July 6, 2011 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- Some early-morning drivers experienced slight delays northbound on the Tri-State Tollway Wednesday after a 'porta-potty' fell off of a truck and blocked at least one lane. Read More...         Maria Rodale: Top 10 Reasons to Sign Up for My Newsletter + Giveaway July 6, 2011 at 9:49 AM   I've been blogging for about two years now, and it's time to step up my game--with a newsletter! I really love blogging. It's the perfect creative outlet for all my diverse interests--whether it's organic tirades, utterly simple and yummiful recipes, or insights into my eclectic reading and musical tastes. And whether you read these posts right on my mariasfarmcountrykitchen.com blog, the Huffington Post, Care2.com, or Facebook or Twitter, or some random linkage, the truth is, I want you to be counted. I want to know that you are with me! So here are my top 10 reasons to sign up for my newsletter: 1. It's free. For many people, that alone should be enough. But I know you all need more reasons than that! Read More...         Dogfish Head Strawberry Beer Brewing Documented In 'Cinemagraphs' July 6, 2011 at 9:33 AM   Sam Calagione, the founder and president of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, clearly enjoys adventurous brewing. But less exotic crafting has its appeal, too, as Kevin Burg and Jamie Beck's "cinemagraphs" -- photographs with movement on a loop -- make clear. Read More... More on Beer         Rockies Fall To Atlanta Braves Without Heavy-Hitters Troy Tulowitzki, Carlos Gonzalez July 6, 2011 at 9:33 AM   ATLANTA — The short-handed Colorado Rockies, held to only singles as they played without two of their top hitters, couldn't afford to give up a three-run double – especially to the opposing starting pitcher. Freddie Freeman's third homer in two games gave Atlanta the early lead, Derek Lowe hit a three-run double and the Braves beat Colorado 5-3 on Tuesday night. Read More... More on Denver News         New Gender-Neutral Forms For NYC Marriage Licenses July 6, 2011 at 9:33 AM   NEW YORK — Same-sex couples can start applying for marriage licenses in New York City using online forms that now feature gender-neutral terminology. The Office of the City Clerk made new forms available on its website Tuesday. Read More... More on Marriage         Phoenix Dust Storm: Arizona Hit With Monstrous 'Haboob' (PHOTOS/VIDEO) July 6, 2011 at 9:33 AM   A monstrous dust storm roared through Phoenix, Arizona on Tuesday night, delaying flights and causing power outages for thousands of people. The AP reports that the massive dust cloud, also known as a "haboob," was around 5,000 feet when it arrived in Phoenix, but radar data reveals that it reached heights anywhere from 8,000 to 10,000 feet high prior. The storm appeared to be around 50 miles wide in some areas, KSAZ-TV reported. The dust storm originated in Tucson, and was a part of Arizona's monsoon season. According to CNN, the dust storm prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to issue a ground stop on flights at Phoenix's Sky Harbor Airport for about an hour and 15 minutes. At it's peak, the storm left 10,000 customers without power, Jenna Shaver of the Arizona Public Service told CNN. Read More... More on Extreme Weather         Researcher Uses Light To Grow Bigger Crawfish July 6, 2011 at 9:33 AM   NEW ORLEANS -- A Louisiana researcher looking into ways to produce more and bigger crawfish in the same space said she's had success with lighting the ponds at night and believes her work could pave the way for expanding crawfish farming in cooler areas. Crawfish is one of the nation's biggest aquaculture crops, with the number of pounds harvested second only to catfish in most years. While Louisiana produces almost all of the fresh – not frozen – crawfish eaten in this country, there are farms at least as far north as the Carolinas and Virginia. Crawfish also are raised in Europe and Australia. Read More...         Chicago Fireworks Videos: July 4th Celebrations From Air And Land July 6, 2011 at 9:33 AM   We all know that fireworks are illegal in Chicago. So technically, these videos never happened. That being said, three of our favorite local blogs found three distinct and amazing videos of homemade July 4th fireworks extravaganzas around the city. Now that most of us have recovered from the long weekend's festivities, we figured we'd take one last look at the explosive, straight-from-Indiana beauty that we set off to celebrate our freedom. The first clip is via WBEZ: a beautiful shot of dusk on the 4th, just before 9 p.m., taken from a private plane flying over the South Side: Read More... More on Video         6 Yoga Poses for Depression and Anxiety July 6, 2011 at 9:15 AM   Yoga -- the ancient Indian word for the union of mind and body -- is more than a fitness regimen. Despite its current avatar, yoga is really about calming the mind through a combination of breathing and physical poses. The names of the various asanas or poses are in themselves indications of the purpose they are supposed to fulfill: warrior pose for confidence and strength, wind-releasing pose for stomach problems and so on. Combinations of poses can also be used for specific conditions: slow stretching poses for better sleep or a specific set of asanas for pregnancy. This slideshow describes six yoga poses recommended by Virayoga's Elena Brower that lend themselves to the alleviation of anxiety and depression -- from the warm, comforting embrace of the child pose to the relaxing stretch of the cat pose. Read More... More on Healthy Living Spirit         Weighing Morocco's New Constitution July 6, 2011 at 9:15 AM   2011 has been a year of unprecedented political tumult in Morocco. As neighboring North African regimes collapsed under the weight of popular pressure, demonstrators have convened in Moroccan cities as well, naming their uprising after the day of their largest initial gathering, February 20, and calling for greater democracy. Read More...         Alastair Campbell: On the Perils of Diarywriting; Lessons Learned; and The Opportunities of New Media July 6, 2011 at 9:15 AM   What I write in my diary at night gets published some years down the track, in a different context for different times. The raw and immediate can sometimes look a bit odd when even the author has forgotten all about it. Read More... More on UK Issues         Diet Guru Dukan Loses Libel Case Against Rival July 6, 2011 at 9:15 AM   PARIS -- French nutritionist Pierre Dukan, whose protein-rich diets are popular from Hollywood to Paris, lost in court Tuesday against a rival he accused of libel – and was fined himself. Dukan had filed a legal complaint against another diet doctor, Jean-Michel Cohen, who criticized Dukan's method in a magazine. Read More... More on Diet         Cynthia R. Green, Ph.D.: 8 Easy Ways to Make Your Brain Perform Better July 6, 2011 at 9:15 AM   While many of us want to improve our brain health, we aren't always sure what exactly we need to do, or -- more likely -- simply can't imagine putting one more "must-do" item on our list. Read More... More on Memory and Cognition         Timothy Karr: Google vs. Facebook: Should Human Rights Factor in Your Choice of Social Network? July 6, 2011 at 9:15 AM   Question: What would billionaire Mark Zuckerberg lose by refusing Chinese demands that he censor Facebook? What would he and his company gain from being more principled? Read More... More on China         Sam Harris: Drugs and the Meaning of Life July 6, 2011 at 9:15 AM   One of the great responsibilities we have as a society is to educate ourselves, along with the next generation, about which substances are worth ingesting, and for what purpose, and which are not. Read More... More on Drugs         Bant Breen: Are You a City Mouse or a Country Mouse? July 6, 2011 at 9:15 AM   While I like city living, the challenges of urban family life weaken my resolve. City living may be better in many respects, but does it offer better value for money? Read More... More on Family         Bella DePaulo: 5 Things You Didn't Know About Getting Duped July 6, 2011 at 9:15 AM   Maybe you are confident that you are a terrific lie detector -- you are sure you can separate the trustworthy from the slime. Surprise! More than a dozen studies have shown that there is no link between confidence and skill. Read More... More on The Inner Life         Scott Barry Kaufman, Ph.D.: The Dark Triad and Impulsivity July 6, 2011 at 9:15 AM   The "dark triad" -- a combination of Machiavellianism, subclinical narcissism and subclinical psychopathy -- is an overarching trait that everyone has to some degree. Unfortunately, some people just have a lot more of it than others. Read More... More on Mind         Ed and Deb Shapiro: The Daily Chill Pill July 6, 2011 at 9:15 AM   You can transform adversity into acceptance, selfishness into kindness, just like palm trees that transform muddy water into sweet coconut milk. Read More... More on Wisdom         Jetstar Bans Disabled Child From Boarding With Stroller July 6, 2011 at 9:15 AM   Australian discount airline Jetstar is taking heat for not allowing a child with Down syndrome to board a plane with his stroller. Two-year-old Theo Scott, who has has Down syndrome and suffers from a rare condition known as non-neurogenic neurogenic bladder, was traveling with his family Friday from Wellington to Auckland, New Zealand, The Dominion Post reports. Read More... More on Airlines         Roger Housden: How To Be a Better Listener July 6, 2011 at 9:15 AM   After a period of silence, we ourselves will have a different sound. The energy and life that we normally disperse in a day's worth of words would still be circulating in our body. Read More... More on Wisdom         112th Congress: Fast Pace In House Leads To Lawmaker Mistakes, Confusion On Votes July 6, 2011 at 9:15 AM   The rapid-fire succession of floor votes in the House this year has triggered lawmaker confusion and mistakes. Read More... More on Michele Bachmann         Jane Brunette: Recognizing That We Are All Buddhas: The Path To Fearlessness July 6, 2011 at 9:15 AM   Normally we see the world through our false projections. These feel true because they are familiar, but they are actually distortions born of conditioning and negative habits of mind. Read More... More on Spiritual Development         C. M. Rubin: The Global Search for Education: The Future of Jobs? July 6, 2011 at 8:59 AM   The impact of education on prosperity has been a subject of long debate. However, Professor Hugh Lauder explains, "the links between education and a modern economy are much more complex than policy makers would have us believe." Read More...         Watch Facebook's 'Awesome' Announcement LIVE Here: Skype Video Chat Coming? July 6, 2011 at 8:59 AM   As promised, Facebook will make an "awesome" announcement today, July 6, at 10 a.m. PST (1 p.m. EST, 6 p.m. GMT) at the company's headquarters in Paolo Alto, California. It's rumored that Facebook will announce a partnership with Skype that will integrate video chat directly into the Facebook platform. Group chats are also rumored to be on the docket, though some speculate that Facebook may take today to unveil a new mobile platform. If you didn't receive an invitation to attend the event, Facebook provides a live stream at its Facebook Live channel. Read More... More on Video         Stacey Dash In Runway Magazine Looking Amazing, Talking Workout (PHOTOS) July 6, 2011 at 8:59 AM   Stacey Dash stars alongside Lisa Ray in VH1′s popular drama series "Single Ladies." The sexy 40+ starlet reinvigorated her acting career in Val, a hopeful 'I love, love' kind of girl. Stacey is featured in Runway Magazine where she discusses staying in shape, upcoming projects and her fashion sense. Read More...         Kate Moss Covers British Vogue For First Post-Wedding Spread (PHOTOS) July 6, 2011 at 8:59 AM   Kate Moss, er, Mrs. Jamie Hince, covers the August issue of British Vogue. To play wifey, the glossy dressed her up in '40s-inspired frocks topped off with a glossy red pout and a chignon. What else is inside, aside from more Kate? Jemima Khan's essay on overcoming her fear of flying, Arizona Muse in midi-length skirts and a profile on Burberry's Christopher Bailey. Take a sneak peek at the newlywed's spread. And for more, head over to Vogue.co.uk. Read More... More on Models         Reporters Change An Insular Jewish World July 6, 2011 at 8:59 AM   JERUSALEM — In the insular world of ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel, the fact that the news is being reported is itself important news. A decade ago, brawling between two ultra-Orthodox factions over real estate in Jerusalem would almost certainly not have been reported in the community's media. Neither would a bitter debate over ethnic segregation in a girls' school, or an incident in which a member of a Hasidic sect in New York attacked and badly burned a community dissident. Read More...         'The Myth of the American Sleepover' Trailer: David Robert Mitchell Film First Look (VIDEO) July 6, 2011 at 8:59 AM   High school never truly ends, its lessons and laugh, taunts and first times living forever in memories. Those years are a shared (sometimes unfortunately so) experience, so many hands holding on to the electric fence at once, and so movies that touched hearts during that shared adolescence quickly become beloved classics -- and those that can cater to both the emotions of those that can most directly relate, and the viewer looking back at that time, well, those are the stories that stick. FIrst time director David Robert Mitchell, who to this point has only completed two short films, looks to capture both that present pain and yearning reminiscence in his debut feature, "The Myth of the American Sleepover." A sort of mini-"Love Actually" story, it follows a number of interconnected story lines about teenagers doing their best to grasp on to the last days of the summer -- and make it count for something heavier than pool parties. "Sleepover" stars a largely unknown cast that is already gaining special critical notice: aside from being a nice metaphor for the sense of invisibility during high school, the group won the Special Jury Prize for Best Ensemble Cast at the 2010 South By Southwest competition. Read More...         Nine-Year-Old Boy Shot In Head In Chicago's Roseland Neighborhood July 6, 2011 at 8:59 AM   CHICAGO — Police in Chicago are investigating after a 9-year-old boy was shot in the head in the city's Roseland neighborhood. Authorities say the shooting happened outside at about 3:20 a.m. Wednesday. Read More...         Minnesota Government Shutdown 2011: Budget Talks Continue Amid Shutdown July 6, 2011 at 8:59 AM   ST. PAUL, Minn. — The small police department in the central Minnesota town of Hutchinson has seen three patrol officers leave in recent weeks, but the chief can't hire replacements because of the state government shutdown. The possibility of a long closure is raising the stakes for people and groups across Minnesota that rely on state money or programs, even those tangentially affected like Hutchinson police. New hires need a state license, but that office is closed, so specialized investigators are being pulled to work patrol shifts, said Chief Daniel Hatten. Read More... More on Mark Dayton         Keli Goff: Is Religion a Greater Political Barrier Than Race? July 6, 2011 at 8:59 AM   President Obama's first few years in office appear to have confirmed a fundamental shift in the role identity politics play in a candidate's so-called electability. Racial identity is no longer the greatest barrier to elected office. Religious identity is. Read More... More on Barack Obama         U.S. Banks Finally Increasing Lending In Good Sign For Investors July 6, 2011 at 8:59 AM   Major U.S. banks appear to be finally opening the lending spigot. Second-quarter earnings reports due this month are likely to reveal a slight reversal of the long-term shrinkage in bank loan books, one of several positive signs for investors, bank analysts said. Read More... More on Citibank         European Union Cracks Down On Mobile Roaming Charges To Spur Competition July 6, 2011 at 8:59 AM   (AP) BRUSSELS â€" The European Union is introducing new rules that would make it cheaper to use mobile and smartphones abroad. The proposals from the EU's executive Commission Wednesday seek to spur competition among providers and put new caps on roaming charges. For the first time, the EU is slapping caps on the price individuals have to pay for going online from a smartphone or tablet computer when moving from one country to another. The EU is made up of 27 countries. 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