First the bad news: a growing number of economists suggest the U.S. has significant chance of falling into another recession -- and today's GDP numbers aren't much comfort.

The good news, however, is that not every prominent economist shares that view. Ross Devol, the Executive Director of Economic Research, at the Milken Institute, a non-partisan think tank based in Santa Monica, California, believes "a return to modest but sustainable growth is close at hand."

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WASHINGTON — U.S. economic growth slowed in the second three months of the year to its lowest rate in almost a year, the government reported Friday.

JERSEY SHORE (The Borowitz Report) - One day after President Obama revealed that he had no idea who Snooki was, the cast member of "Jersey Shore" said that the lack of awareness was mutual.

"I've heard of Barack Obama, but I don't know who that is," she said. "I guess I don't really follow sports."

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In the maelstrom of rhetoric that swirls around the Middle East the warnings of Hezbollah should ring alarm bells. Concern that the investigation into the killing of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri will implicate a "Hezbollah commando unit" brought Hassan Nasrallah out to address a press conference where he ominously warned that the Shia movement "know how to defend themselves".

This month has also seen an intensive Israeli military rehearsal of a war with Lebanon in addition to the release of maps and previously classified aerial photographs of what Israel described as a network of Hezbollah weapons depots and command centres in south Lebanon.

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Revised government numbers out this morning show GDP growth was zero for 2008 and -2.6 percent for 2009, the worst drop since 1946....


Economic growth - Government - Economic - Social Sciences - United States David Kurtz http://talkingpointsmemo.com/

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The PBS ombudsman is defending the network's airing of a Sarah Palin joke during the news program "Need to Know."

Following Palin's widely-mocked use of the non-word "refudiate," comedian and HuffPost blogger Andy Borowitz joked about "Palinese" on last week's episode of the program.

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Summertime and swimming holes are synonymous in many of our minds. Who doesn't strike up the image of children jumping into swimming holes as an emblem of summer? While beaches may be first choice for many, we here at HuffPost Green are big fans of swimming holes. Especially when we consider the water quality of our nation's oceans, many more may opt for swimming holes in rivers, ponds, lakes or streams. So take the plunge and head to your favorite swimming hole.

But first, flip through our slideshow for some destination inspiration. And, as always, we want to hear from you. Tell us about your favorite swimming holes in the comments.

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Jessica Biel hit Berlin to promote "The A-Team," bringing with her a suitcase full of style. At the Germany premiere on Thursday night, the actress wore a strapless blue Versace dress, Sergio Rossi shoes and Tiffany & Co. jewelry.



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Chelsea Clinton's wedding isn't the first First Daughter nuptials to turn into a media circus. Take Nellie Grant, daughter of President Ulysses S. Grant, for example--a drawing of her saying "I do!" made the front page of the papers on June 6, 1874. Other, modern examples include Luci and Lynda Johnson's weddings, Tricia Nixon as the "Cover Girl" bride and Jenna Hager just two years ago. Take a look back with us and vote for your favorite First Daughter wedding moment.



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On the surface, a judge's decision to block tough provisions of Arizona's immigration law was a defeat for the state's Republican governor and a win for the Democratic Obama administration. But neither party is sure it will play out that way politically, either this fall or beyond.

A gun-wielding robber was caught on tape while attempting to hold up a cell phone store in Chicago. Video surveillance shows the store's manager grabbing the gun from the robber's hands and the two fell to the floor and wrestled over the weapon, during which time the robber pulled the trigger and sent a bullet through a female employee's arm, according to CBS News.

"I was happy to be alive," said the store manager. "I knew that if he had won that battle for the gun, that it might not have turned out that way."

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The thing about those truly wondrous places--the Galapagos and the pyramids of the world--are that they came long before us and they'll outlast us. But as we all know, the impact of humans is taking a devastating toll on some of Earth's most iconic travel destinations. Many factors threaten their survival, and in some cases, the next generations might only read about these places in textbooks. Get there while you can, but tread lightly so you don't contribute to their demise. Jetsetter has found properties or tour operators in each of these endangered destinations that let you rest easy while taking these once-in-a-lifetime trips. (Text and captions courtesy of Jetsetter.com)



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Only a handful of coroner races are contested during a typical election cycle, but this year 20 of Colorado's 64 counties have battles for the job of managing death investigations on their ballots.

As the first day of classes creeps up on us, we thought we'd give you some reasons to anticipate the start of school. Nine reasons, to be exact -- from robots to iPads to healthy, delicious meals delivered to your dorm room. Got your backpack packed yet?

Let us know which one's your favorite in the comments section.

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Surrounded by tribal leaders from across the nation, President Barack Obama signed legislation Thursday designed to plug holes in a patchwork system of justice that critics say allows serious reservation crime to routinely go unpunished.

AUSTIN — More than a dozen prominent Dallas business and civic leaders, including several who supported Kay Bailey Hutchison in the Republican primary for governor, have signed a letter backing Democrat Bill White in his effort to unseat Republican Gov. Rick Perry in the Nov. 2 general election.

The state attorney general is investigating two Florida companies over claims they offered free emergency response training for oil spill clean up work but then withheld students' training certificates unless they paid a large fee.

Calling the wording of a Republican-backed constitutional amendment on health care "manifestly misleading," a Circuit Court judge in Leon County has tossed it off the November ballot.

Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava said his designs for the first phase of Denver International Airport's south terminal redevelopment will complement the airport's best-known architectural element, the white-tented roof.