Romney's birth certificate evokes his father's controversy  —  (Reuters) - Finally, there is definitive proof: The presidential candidate was born in the United States, and his father was not.  —  Yes, Republican Mitt Romney appears eligible to be president, according to a copy …

REPORT: Aaron Walker Arrested After Maryland Hearing on Kimberlin Case UPDATE: Walker Now Released  —  UPDATE 6:25 p.m. ET: Sources say that blogger Aaron Walker has been released from custody in Rockville, Maryland.  He was charged with “incitement,” but released on his own recognizance.

President Obama Causes Outrage with Reference to ‘Polish Death Camp’  —  Poles and Polish-Americans expressed outrage today at President Obama's reference earlier to “a Polish death camp” — as opposed to a Nazi death camp in German-occupied Poland.  —  “The White House will apologize …

Obama Awards Medal of Freedom to Democratic Socialists of America Chair  —  President Obama awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Tuesday to Dolores Huerta, an 82-year-old labor activist and co-founder of the United Farm Workers union.  —  Huerta is also an honorary chair of the Democratic Socialists of America.

Stubborn Infection, Spread by Insects, Is Called ‘The New AIDS of the Americas’  —  Chagas disease, caused by parasites transmitted to humans by blood-sucking insects, has been named “the new AIDS of the Americas” in a lengthy editorial published in PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

NBC Willfully Undermines Chris Hayes With Today Show Segment  —  Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy  —  I haven't fully weighed in on Chris Hayes' segment from Sunday about the use of concepts like heroism and valor when discussing the US military, and I'm not sure I have to.

Romney Campaign Releases “With Mitt” iPhone App, Misspells “America”  —  In the word of one Democratic operative, it's basically “Mittstagram.”  App allows supporters to overlay pro-Romney text over images and share with friends.  —  Zeke Miller  —  an hour ago  —  22 responses

The job of the White House Press Secretary is simple: to answer questions from the press* without actually answering them.  To form aloud words that are assembled into sentences and then stacked up into paragraphs, giving the appearance of communication, but without communicating.

Robert Mugabe appointed as UN international envoy for tourism  —  The Zimbabwe president, accused of ethnic cleansing and bankrupting his country, asked to champion tourism  —  With a line-up that includes Drew Barrymore, David Beckham, Orlando Bloom, and Ricky Martin …

Edwards put move on gal, 25  —  GREENSBORO, NC — Horndog hubby John Edwards shamelessly hit on comely co-eds just months after his wife, Elizabeth, died of cancer.  —  Edwards, 58, who is on trial on charges of campaign-finance violations, flexed his trial-lawyer charm on pretty Andrea Love …

Ted Cruz forces runoff against David Dewhurst in Texas Senate race  —  Former Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz (R) has forced a runoff election with Texas Lieutenant Gov. David Dewhurst (R), a victory for the Tea Party candidate against a better-known and much better-funded foe.

A Response to Political Rumors  —  While I've gone to great lengths to keep this website a forum for ideas, and not a personal forum, I should say something about the various stories regarding my political future in Virginia, the state that has been my primary home since late December 2010.

Commerce considers labeling Arab Americans a disadvantaged minority  —  The Commerce Department is considering naming Arab Americans a socially and economically disadvantaged minority group that is eligible for special business assistance.  —  The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee …

Doc Watson, Folk Musician, Dies at 89  —  Doc Watson, the guitarist and folk singer whose flat-picking style elevated the acoustic guitar to solo status in bluegrass and country music, and whose interpretations of traditional American music profoundly influenced generations of folk and rock guitarists …

Lena Dunham's Looks, the Misogyny of the ‘Girls’ Backlash, and Staying In Your Assigned Story  —  In a much-circulated comment in a thread about this week's episode of Girls, the AV Club's Todd VanDerWerff, in response to a commenter declaring that Lena Dunham needs to be funnier …

Obama safe in Michigan  —  Barack Obama won't have to worry too much about holding Michigan for the Democrats this fall- he leads Mitt Romney 53-39 there, a lead little changed from PPP's last poll of the state in February when his advantage was 54-38.  —  Romney just doesn't have much of a home field advantage in the state.