8/30 Morning Communiqué

THESE DAYS

This morning, the Minnesota Marine Art Museum in Winona will play host to a contingent of politicians and business types from Luxembourg, so, if you're in the neighborhood, stop by and say "hi."

Responding to numerous "reports of unpleasant meetings" from Alpine trail hikers, the Swiss Hiking Federation is advising against hugging the cows.

Some commercial sex workers in Kenya who apparently are immune to HIV might be carrying a gene that protects them from contracting the virus, according to a study presented at the XVI International AIDS Conference in Toronto. [via Digg]

A company called Baby Rock Records has created lullaby versions of songs by Metallica, Tool, and the Pixies.

MINNESOTA BLOG OF THE DAY

Political and social commentary not for the faint of heart at Big Daddy Malcontent.

[Minnesota-based blog directory]

TIME WASTERS

Robin Williams plays a Jon Stewart-like political comedian that runs for the presidency in Barry Levinson's Man of the Year, with Christopher Walken, Laura Linney, and Lewis Black.

A politically incorrect Jell-O commerical from the 1950s

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

"I didn't even know what school he was from. Then I decided to Google him and found all this information about how awesome he was in college. I guess I should have done that before the draft. I also should have Googled Donte Whitner, because apparently he isn't very good."

-- 80-year-old Buffalo Bills GM Marv Levy, regretting passing on Denver's rookie QB Jay Cutler, and drafting Ohio State safety Donte Whitner instead