7/9 Morning Communiqué

CITY PAGES BLOGS AND NEWS

Steve Monaco has posted the newest Monday Movie Quiz at Couch Pundit.

The City Pages Media Taster lets you actually hear the great music you read about in City Pages—just launch, click, and listen. Simply download the Media Taster and you'll automatically receive a digital mixtape of music on a semi-regular basis (including free MP3s), legal and free of charge.

THESE DAYS

The number of U.S.-paid private contractors in Iraq now exceeds that of American combat troops, newly released figures show.

On June 29, Sprint sent letters notifying some customers that their service would be canceled by the end of July due to excessive calls to customer service.

Pew Research Center reports show that the rate of non-marital childbearing has ballooned to 36.8% of all births in 2005, from 5.3% in 1960. [via Undernews]

MINNESOTA BLOG OF THE DAY

Margaret and Max keep a close eye on the local trouble spots at Minneapolis/St. Paul Crime Watch.

[Minnesota-based blog directory]

TIME WASTERS

Who was the best athlete to wear the number 7? John Elway or Mickey Mantle? Sports Illustrated picks the best athletes by number.

Heavy Metal quilts: Quiltsrÿche

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

"At first it was kind of funny to see these people wandering around the downtown streets and filing into the hotel, but after the novelty wore off it just made everyone feel creepy."

— Milwaukee Brewers broadcaster Jim Powell, on the team's recent road trip to Pittsburgh, staying in a hotel where a furry convention was in progress [via Deadspin]