The Huffington Post | Full News Feed

'Spider-Man,' 'Breaking Dawn,' 'The Notebook' And More All-Wet Love Scenes (VIDEO)

2012-02-10T15:05:08Z

Some of the most romantic moments in movies happen when two incredibly attractive people get soaking wet -- which is why there are so many unforgettable scenes of lovers kissing in the rain, going for a midnight swim or rolling in the surf. As Hollywood discovered long ago, getting wet is sexy. With Valentine's Day around the corner -- and "Breaking Dawn" and its waterfall make-out hitting DVD and Blu-ray -- here are some of our favorite, wettest romantic scenes.

VIDEOS:

Nikki Haley Fights 'Big, Green, Ugly Monster'

2012-02-10T15:03:05Z

Governor Nikki Haley once called it a big, green, ugly monster. In a 36-2 vote on Tuesday, South Carolina senators moved to eliminate the state's Budget and Control Board. Legislators say that puts more financial power in the hands of Governor Haley.

Sinead O'Connor, 'The Wolf Is Getting Married': New Video Weaves A Wild Web (VIDEO)

2012-02-10T15:00:57Z

In an empty room, a figure sits in a chair, wrapped in a white cocoon. Long strings attach to her wrapped body, forming a delicate web that slowly pulls scraps of lace off her skin to reveal tattoos, an eye, and eventually, the woman beneath.

It's not performance art, it's Sinead O'Connor's latest video for "The Wolf Is Getting Married," off of her next, and ninth, album, How About I Be Me (And You Be You)? Though the song begins on a somber note, with O'Connor singing, "I was too free, if that's possible to be, no safety is what I mean, no solid foundation to keep me," it soon transforms into a simple celebration of love. "Your smile makes me smile," she sings, "Your laugh makes me laugh."

"How About I Be Me (And You Be You)?" will be released on February 21. Three of the songs off the album -- "4th And Vine," "Take Off Your Shoes," and "Old Lady" -- are available to stream here.

Bioterrorism Funding Withers As Death Germs Thrive In Labs, Nature

2012-02-10T14:59:34Z

Part of a series investigating the complex links between human, animal and environmental health: The Infection Loop.

In early October 2001, just days after Bob Stevens hiked through North Carolina's Chimney Rock Park and drank from a waterfall, government officials were retracing his steps. They were desperate to know why the 63-year-old man lay gravely ill in a Florida hospital. His diagnosis: anthrax.

"We scratched our heads," says Dr. D.A. Henderson, who served as the first director of the U.S. Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness following Sept. 11. While anthrax can thrive in nature, and has been known to kill livestock, human exposure is very rare. Nevertheless, officials searched for evidence of this bacterial disease, covering a trail between Stevens' herb garden in Lantana, Fla., and an Irish Pub in Charlotte, N.C. Nothing surfaced. It wasn't until several days later, when more anthrax cases popped up in New York City, that it became clear that this was an unnatural and deliberate attack -- delivered via a tainted letter.

Florida Schools Offer Look At Problems With No Child Left Behind Education Law

2012-02-10T14:44:56Z

MIAMI -- By almost any measure, Norma Butler Bossard Elementary is a top performing school in Miami: It has consistently been rated an `A' by the state, and students have achieved high scores on Florida's standardized math and reading exams.

Yet when it comes to the federal No Child Left Behind law, the school hasn't lived up to expectations. Last year, 79 percent of students had to be at grade level in reading and 80 percent in math. Overall, the students exceeded those goals. But two groups – English language learners and the economically disadvantaged – did not.

Justin Massler, Celebrity Stalker, Pleads Guilty To Harassing Ivanka Trump

2012-02-10T14:41:50Z

NEW YORK — A self-described celebrity stalker admitted Thursday to harassing Ivanka Trump by barraging her and her husband with bizarre tweets, emails and online videos.

Justin Massler, who for months had been deemed psychologically unfit for trial, pleaded guilty Thursday to aggravated harassment and criminal contempt charges. He was sentenced to six months jail time that he had already served, plus five years of probation, during which he must continue psychiatric treatment and medication.

Joseph Hardesty, California Gold Mine Owner, Surrenders To Face Charges

2012-02-10T14:39:08Z

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A man who state and local officials say is running a massive illegal gold-mining operation in California's Sierra Nevada surrendered Thursday to face 14 criminal charges of operating without permits and polluting a creek.

Joseph Hardesty also faces state fines of nearly $900,000. He was booked into El Dorado County Jail on the charges, which include four felonies, and was being held in lieu of $75,000 bond.

His attorney, William Brewer, says Hardesty turned himself in after investigators from the district attorney's office searched for him at his mother's home and the home of his partner in the Big Cut Mine, near Placerville.

10 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Zombies

2012-02-10T14:38:52Z

The zombies that we know and presumably love/fear may have infiltrated popular culture through books like H.P. Lovecraft's 'Herbert West: Re-Animator,' films such as George Romero's 'Night of the Living Dead' and TV shows like AMC's The Walking Dead (which returns Sunday, February 12th).

But their existence isn't just limited to the page or the screen. Turns out, they walk among us. They have always walked among us. In fact, they are one of us.

"Somebody That I Used To Know" Parody: The Key Of Awesome Does Gotye Justice (VIDEO)

2012-02-10T14:38:20Z

Music fans might be familiar with Gotye's song "Somebody That I Used To Know," but it's more likely that you're one of the 30 million people who has watched a cover of the song to date. Canadian indie group Walk Off the Earth posted a video of all five of them using the same guitar in order to perform the song back in January, and it blew up virally.

Well now The Key of Awesome have stepped in, and they're (stick with us) parodying the cover of the song.

So if you're a Gotye fan, or a Walk Off the Earth fan, or even just a comedy fan, this video is probably right up your alley.

Ann Pettway, Woman Charged With Kidnapping Baby From Harlem Hospital, Expected To Plead Guilty

2012-02-10T14:35:02Z

NEW YORK — A prosecutor in a case against a North Carolina woman accused of snatching a newborn from a New York City hospital more than two decades ago says she will plead guilty Friday to criminal charges.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Surratt (suh-RAT') told a judge Thursday the plea will take place as part of a deal with the government.

10 Of The Longest Celebrity Marriages

2012-02-10T14:33:00Z

In honor of cupid's holiday, YourTango.com decided to take refuge from the bombardment of celeb couples calling it quits and the pre-nup analyses by taking a look at some of Hollywood's lasting partnerships. Standing both the test of time and the peering eyes of the public (not to mention the paparazzi), some of Tinseltown's longest marriages are the real deal. Which lasting romance tugs at your heartstrings?

For the rest of the longest-married celebs go to Yourtango.com.

Michael Lohan To Work At Burger King?

2012-02-10T14:31:50Z

Michael Lohan is finally gearing up to ask the burning question that may or may not have been on his mind for years -- "Would you like fries with that?"

Heart-Shaped Foods That You Wouldn't Expect (PHOTOS)

2012-02-10T14:27:43Z

When it comes to Valentine's Day, everyone is familiar with foods that suddenly turn heart-shaped -- cookies, cakes, chocolate, etc. But what about a heart-shaped burger? Heart-shaped cucumber? HuffPost Food has rounded up some of the more "out there" heart-shaped foods, just in case you want to think a little out-of-the-box when it comes to Valentine's Day dining.

Dustin Hoffman On The Academy Awards: 'It's Boring'

2012-02-10T14:26:24Z

Stars: they're just us! Even they think the Oscars are boring.

In a new interview with Maxim, two-time Academy Award winner Dustin Hoffman says what you've been thinking for years.

"It's boring!" he said, when asked about attending the ceremony. "It lasts forever, and don't think you're seeing spontaneous behavior. You see couples who are suddenly smooching, and, well, there's a guy sitting on the ground with the camera at their knees."

Read More...
More on academy awards 2012

Obama's Contraception Rule A Matter Of Life-Altering Care For Some

2012-02-10T14:24:38Z

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The debate over President Barack Obama's new contraception-coverage rule has been largely been considered through the frame of religious liberties, federal authorities and electoral consequences.

For Kimberly Dudley, however, there is a significant, often delicate, medical component being lost in the discussion.

Dudley is one of approximately five million women who suffer from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or PCOS, a complex disorder that is a major cause of female subfertility. The condition affected her mother and her six aunts, all of whom were forced to have hysterectomies before the age of 35.