6/1: Morning Communique

THESE DAYS

Americans are 42% more likely than Canadians to have diabetes, 32% more likely to have high blood pressure, and 12% more likely to have arthritis, Harvard Medical School researchers found.

Some banks in Florida have posted signs asking patrons to remove hats and sunglasses before doing any banking so their surveillance cameras can get a better look at would-be robbers.

Connecticut librarians spoke about their fight to stop the FBI from gaining access to patrons's library records at a news conference Tuesday organized by the American Civil Liberties Union. [via American Street]

MINNESOTA BLOG OF THE DAY

Edina resident Erik Tinberg blogs on Faith No More, Star Wars Legos, and lucky boxer shorts at The Magic Bullet.

[Minnesota-based blog directory]

TIME WASTERS

A glossary of Unusual Sexual Terms

The two reasons Freakonomics co-author Steven D. Levitt loves the Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport.

U.S. Senate candidate Ford Bell's blog

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

"Conduct physical & spiritual warfare: using the power of prayer to strengthen your troops in combat and wield modern military weaponry throughout the game world."

-- An excerpt from the online description of LEFT BEHIND: Eternal Forces, where players command forces through battles across New York City, based on the Left Behind End Times novel series [via Pharyngula]