def METHOD_NAME(conn):
    """
    returns the number of checkpoints and their intervals
    """
    stmt = """
    SELECT
        total_checkpoints,
        seconds_since_start / total_checkpoints / 60 AS minutes_between_checkpoints
        FROM
        (SELECT
        EXTRACT(EPOCH FROM (now() - pg_postmaster_start_time())) AS seconds_since_start,
        (checkpoints_timed+checkpoints_req) AS total_checkpoints
        FROM pg_stat_bgwriter
        ) AS sub;
    """
    check_points = conn.execute(stmt).fetchone()
    return {"num. checkpoints": check_points[0], "checkpoint interval": check_points[1]}