6/20: Morning Communique

THESE DAYS

Just weeks before the release of a movie about the death of the electric car made by General Motors, the Smithsonian Institution has removed its EV1 electric sedan from display and replaced it with a high-tech SUV. GM happens to be one of the Smithsonian's biggest contributors. [via Undernews]

Scientists in Italy have uncorked a new finding about grapes: The fruit might be packing melatonin, a sleep hormone.

A real estate transaction last December left House Speaker Dennis Hastert with a seven-figure profit and in prime position to reap further benefits as the exurban region west of Chicago continues its growth boosted by a Hastert-backed federally funded proposed highway.

MINNESOTA BLOG OF THE DAY

Thirty-eight-year-old suburban dad "Sean Aqui" lends voice to the silent majority known as the moderate middle at Midtopia.

[Minnesota-based blog directory]

TIME WASTERS

For your child's next birthday party or David Lynch movie: The animatronic panda suit

For the little playa on your Christmas list: Baby Hip Hop

Connie Chung ensuring she never works in broadcast journalism ever again. [via Drudge]

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

"It's, you know, another boy, another girl, which country, which race would fit best with the kids."

-- Actress Angelina Jolie, on "Anderson Cooper 360," discussing the various criteria for adopting another child. Jolie currently has three children.