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Schmerber v. California (1966) was a landmark US Supreme Court case that clarified whether a search warrant is required before taking blood samples from a suspect, and whether those samples may be introduced into evidence in a criminal prosecution. In a 5–4 opinion, the court held that forced extraction of a blood sample is not compelled testimony and does not violate the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination. The court also held that search warrants are ordinarily required by the Fourth Amendment for intrusions into the human body, except under exigent circumstances. In 2013, the Supreme Court specified in Missouri v. McNeely that a warrant may be required for a blood sample from someone suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol, even though their blood alcohol level is likely to drop before a warrant can be obtained. Because the court's ruling in Schmerber prohibited the use of warrantless blood tests in most circumstances, some commentators argue that the decision was responsible for the proliferation of breathalyzers to test for alcohol and urine analyses to test for controlled substances in criminal investigations. (Full article...)

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The papyrus on which the Tithonus poem is preserved
The papyrus on which the Tithonus poem is preserved

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LeBron James in 2014
LeBron James

On this day...

June 20: June solstice (22:34 UTC, 2016); Midsummer festivities (Northern Hemisphere); Winter solstice festivals (Southern Hemisphere); Day of the Holy Spirit (Eastern Christianity, 2016); World Refugee Day; International Surfing Day; Flag Day in Argentina

Queen Victoria in her coronation robes
Queen Victoria in her coronation robes
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There are 21 counties in the U.S. state of New Jersey. These counties together contain 565 municipalities, or administrative entities composed of clearly defined territory; 250 boroughs, 52 cities, 15 towns, 244 townships, and 4 villages. In New Jersey, a county is a local level of government between the state and municipalities. County government in New Jersey includes a Board of Chosen Freeholders, sheriff, clerk, and surrogate (responsible for uncontested and routine probate), all of whom are elected officials. Counties organized under the Optional County Charter Law may also have an elected county executive. Counties traditionally perform state-mandated duties such as the maintenance of jails, parks, and certain roads. The site of a county's administration and courts is called the county seat. (Full list...)

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WonderSwan

The WonderSwan is a handheld game console released exclusively in Japan by Bandai in 1999. Developed by Gunpei Yokoi's company Koto Laboratory and Bandai, the WonderSwan was powered by a 16-bit central processing unit and took advantage of a low price point and long battery life in comparison to its competition. The system featured numerous first-party titles based on licensed anime properties, as well as significant third-party support from Square, Namco, and Taito. The WonderSwan and its two later models, the WonderSwan Color and SwanCrystal, were officially supported until being discontinued in 2003, after being marginalized by Nintendo's Game Boy Advance. In all its variations, the system sold an estimated 3.5 million units.

Pictured here is the WonderSwan Color, released in 2000. It had a color screen and was available in five casing colors.

Photograph: Evan Amos

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