Land Of The Flea

Supreme Court strikes down warrantless blood tests in DUI cases

"Police following up on drunk driving investigations will no longer be able to draw their suspect’s blood without a court order authorizing the search, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday. In a 5-4 decision, with Justices Sonya Sotomayor, Antonin Scalia, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Anthony Kennedy and Elena Kagan making up the majority, the court ruled that the natural expiration of alcohol in the bloodstream does not constitute 'destruction of evidence,' which would otherwise give officers cause for a warrantless search." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSupreme Court strikes down warrantless blood tests in DUI cases

Sen. Chambliss: ‘We can’t just leave event security to communities’

"Chambliss did say that security around the country would have to change for large public events, including greater involvement by the federal government. 'This was a soft target. It was not a target that was able to be totally protected,' he said. 'This particular incident is going to cause the administration and Congress to evaluate our overall security programs around the country, particularly for major events. We can't leave it just to the communities that host these events to provide the security.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSen. Chambliss: ‘We can’t just leave event security to communities’

The Role Disability Insurance is Playing in Discouraging Young Adults from Working

"Of the nearly nine million former workers receiving federal disability payments, more than 2.5 million are in their 20s, 30s and 40s. 'It is difficult to overstate the role that the SSDI program plays in discouraging' employment among these young people, Messrs. Autor and Duggan said in one of their research papers, urging reform." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Role Disability Insurance is Playing in Discouraging Young Adults from Working

Some Good Cartoons if You’re Suffering from Post-Tax Return Traumatic Stress Disorder

"For the past 30 or so years, I’ve done my own taxes by hand. I thought this was a good approach because it would help me better understand the practical challenges of the tax code. But it’s time to confess that I broke down and used Turbotax for yesterday’s tax return. To help me deal with yesterday’s traumatic experience, I’m sharing some very good cartoons." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSome Good Cartoons if You’re Suffering from Post-Tax Return Traumatic Stress Disorder

A Telling Gold Anecdote From Hong Kong

"Went to Hang Seng bullion counter yesterday. The line was out the door. It took an hour wait to see a teller. When I asked if people were buying in the dip or selling in panic, she told me that they haven't had once ounce of gold sold back to them all day. She told me they have sold more gold in 24 hrs than they normally do in 3 months. Yes, there was a lot of extra security. The guy in front of me bought over $1 million USD in gold. He paid in cash and walked out of the door with the bullion in a Nike bag. Amazing. [..] Here, the man would be arrested and jailed just for having his own money in cash. Oh, and the cash would be stolen." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingA Telling Gold Anecdote From Hong Kong

Drug czar: No state can nullify federal marijuana ban

"President Barack Obama’s drug czar toed a strict line on marijuana Wednesday, saying federal laws will prevail regardless of state-level efforts to legalize pot. Gil Kerlikowske said enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 — which ranks marijuana as a Schedule One drug alongside heroin, LSD and ecstasy — remains in the hands of the US Department of Justice. 'No state, no executive can nullify a statute that has been passed by Congress,' the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy told a National Press Club luncheon." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDrug czar: No state can nullify federal marijuana ban

Drug czar: No state can nullify federal marijuana ban

"President Barack Obama’s drug czar toed a strict line on marijuana Wednesday, saying federal laws will prevail regardless of state-level efforts to legalize pot. Gil Kerlikowske said enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 — which ranks marijuana as a Schedule One drug alongside heroin, LSD and ecstasy — remains in the hands of the US Department of Justice. 'No state, no executive can nullify a statute that has been passed by Congress,' the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy told a National Press Club luncheon." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDrug czar: No state can nullify federal marijuana ban

Drug czar: No state can nullify federal marijuana ban

"President Barack Obama’s drug czar toed a strict line on marijuana Wednesday, saying federal laws will prevail regardless of state-level efforts to legalize pot. Gil Kerlikowske said enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 — which ranks marijuana as a Schedule One drug alongside heroin, LSD and ecstasy — remains in the hands of the US Department of Justice. 'No state, no executive can nullify a statute that has been passed by Congress,' the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy told a National Press Club luncheon." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDrug czar: No state can nullify federal marijuana ban

Number of Chinese becoming US citizens declines

"The number of Chinese who became US citizens has declined annually over the last five years to 31,868 in 2012 from 40,017 in 2008, according to the US Department of Homeland Security. Tao Lin, a New York-based immigration law expert, said naturalization for Chinese appears to be changing. 'It's not like the old-fashioned way when Chinese immigrants would come to the US, gain their citizenship, stay and assimilate to US culture,' said Lin, managing attorney of T. Lin & Associates. 'You're seeing more Chinese people returning to China.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNumber of Chinese becoming US citizens declines

Ron Paul Supporter Sues City Of St. Peters Following Caucus Arrest

"Stafford, 45, of O’Fallon, was arrested after things got out of control at a March 2012 St. Charles County GOP caucus. After a rules disagreement, St. Peters Police attempted to clear Francis Howell North High School and close the caucus. Stafford remained in the parking lot, trying to reconvene a meeting he said was improperly shut down, standing on a chair. During his trial in July 2012, officers said that they did not order him to leave as he was standing on the chair, but arrested him for disobeying orders to leave, and they felt everyone knew they were to leave the area. Police arrested Stafford and charged him with trespassing." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRon Paul Supporter Sues City Of St. Peters Following Caucus Arrest