Just think for a moment about all of the information that the Texas state government stores on its computers. Do you ever wonder about the emails that got sent to Governor Rick Perry last week from his staff after he announced that Texas potentially could secede from the United States? I'm sure there were a few interesting exchanges. Or, how about all of the records of court proceedings that have been sealed because they reveal...
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There are various ways in which we use our cars as a form of personal expression. If we choose to drive a bright yellow sports car, that is sending a different signal then that of getting behind the wheel of a gray minivan. We sometimes use the roof of our car to display flags that show our loyalty to the United States, the Texas Longhorns, or even the local high school. Some cars are blanketed...
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Have you ever dreamed of landing a walk-on role in the next 19th century period piece starring Meryl Streep? Or, maybe you envision yourself starring opposite Tom Hanks in a blockbuster romantic comedy that will dominate the box office all summer long? You know that you would be clutching an Academy Award in your hands if only you lived in New York or Los Angeles, as all of the major movies seem to be filmed...
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Television and movies sometimes like to make fun of the practice of psychiatry and treat its relevance in a trivial light. For example, a dad unintentionally scares his children when he jumps into their bedroom dressed as a clown and mom is heard saying, "Well, I guess we'll be using those college savings for years of therapy bills instead." In reality, millions of men and women seek psychiatric treatment for genuine and serious problems of...
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I speak from personal experience. I have three children. And the moments following the birth of a child in a hospital are a flurry of emotions and activity. A proud father cuts the umbilical cord, the baby is weighed and measured, and the infant takes that first precious nap (hopefully!) in his mother's arms. During these first couple of days, at least in Texas, doctors also take a sample of the newborn's blood to test...
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One of the most important roles that our government plays, from the smallest City Council all the way to the White House and the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., is the protection of its people from harm. We have laws in place to protect our citizens from physical crimes, such as murder, assault, and rape. And our government also works to defend those who have been the victim of those crimes which leave no physical...
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Last June, I wrote a blog post and article about a seventeen-year-old boy from Pasadena, Texas by the name of Thomas Moses Ramirez. He had reached the unfortunate conclusion that by killing a fifteen-year-old girl who he believed to be interfering with his attempts to reconcile with a girlfriend, he would create the opportunity for love to blossom again. Ramirez found an undercover officer who was posing as a contract killer and offered him $150...
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While parents take comfort knowing that their teenagers have cell phones in their possession when it comes to issues of safety while out with friends or working late at night, there also are legitimate concerns with this wonderful piece of technology. Are kids using the phones to communicate with friends with whom you have made it clear a relationship is not allowed? Are they being used as instruments to cheat during exams? There is also...
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The annual ritual of spring break is in full swing for high school and college students everywhere, including here in Texas. Beaches right here in our great state of Texas are a popular destination for young people looking for a week of fun away from parents and teachers. In preparation, tanning salons are filled with those who want to look like they already have spent weeks lounging by the water on the day they arrive....
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Freedom of speech has been a cherished right in our country ever since the Constitution was ratified more than 200 years ago. This essential component of the First Amendment has protected those who have publicly criticized our government, expressed opinions that may be deemed offensive by some, or wear clothing that symbolizes a particular view point. Or, as a recent case here in Texas has proven, freedom of speech can be used as a defense...
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