4/9 Morning Communiqué

CITY PAGES BLOGS AND NEWS

Today is the last day to cast your ballot for the Best of the Twin Cities 2007

Download free MP3s from local artists such as Apraxia, Danny y Elliot, OBCT, the Hold Steady, STNNNG, and more at Music To Go.

THESE DAYS

The Catholic-run Jikei Hospital in Japan said it would set up a hatch into which unwanted infants can be anonymously dropped.

When the 2,350 slot machines at the recently closed Sands Casino Hotel in Atlantic City were being removed, workers discovered 26 years of dropped coins totally $17,193.34.

A Salem, Wisconsin, woman had one of her hands severed in an accident while working at a Kenosha chocolate factory.

MINNESOTA BLOG OF THE DAY

Molly Millett has launched a Harry Potter-centric blog called Big Harry Deal in anticipation of the July 21 release of the seventh and final book in J.K. Rowling's boy wizard series.

[Minnesota-based blog directory]

TIME WASTERS

Jack Kerouac's sketch of his On the Road route

Take the Name That Hair Metal Band quiz!

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

"I think Channel 2 started it when they shoved their microphone so close to Gavin's face that he pretended to blow it."

— San Francisco blogger Beth Spotswood, responding to video showing Mayor Gavin Newsom opening his mouth around a television reporter's microphone