You would be hard-pressed to find a person who would be willing to assert that smoking cigarettes is good for your health, at least no one who would be taken seriously. The surgeon general's warning that is found on every cigarette pack does not state, "The federal government recommends that you smoke five to seven cigarettes a day to better your quality of life." However, with the fact that smoking is bad for your health...
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You are an upstanding worker under government contract who has devoted years of service to your employer. You have never taken as much as a paper clip from your desk for personal use. You use company time effectively and efficiently and are always honest about your achievements as well as the areas in which you still could use some professional improvement. However, you have recently seen evidence that your boss and others are not playing...
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When most people picture the work of an attorney, they probably imagine someone standing in front of a jury trying to convince twelve men and women, using strong facts and emotion, to see their way on a particular case. Thanks to television and movies, this characterization of a lawyer certainly is reasonable. And, there are amazing trial lawyers who do spend their careers in a courtroom arguing on behalf of their clients. The reality is,...
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One of the most difficult challenges that any person can experience is that of a divorce. The process is often emotionally devastating and financially draining. However, despite the hardships that must be faced during the dissolution process, the reality is that thousands of marriages will end in divorce every year in our country. The divorce rate in the United States in 2005, the last year for which reliable data is available, was 3.6 for every...
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The internet certainly has provided our society with wonderful conveniences that we use every day. Simply by typing a web site address, you can shop for new clothes at two o'clock in the morning, get directions to the best Chinese restaurant in town, reconnect with friends you haven't seen in twenty years, and complete research for a school project. However, there is also a dangerous downside to this piece of modern technology. The internet has...
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When I read that Nigerian officials are part of a scheme involving millions of dollars, I immediately assume that the story is referencing those infamous scam emails in which some fictional member of Nigerian royalty needs to wire five million to dollars to anyone who will provide a social security number and bank account. However, the scenario that unfolded in a federal courtroom today was not one that revolved around email recipients who need to...
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When Michael Jackson unexpectedly passed away last week, the world was stunned by the death of the fifty-year-old entertainer who left an indelible mark on pop culture. He was preparing for a world tour that was advertised as his fans' last opportunity to see the King of Pop perform on stage. Whether motivated by a desire to sing again or by undeniable financial problems, the tour that would have brought hundreds of thousands into arenas...
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Divorce entails both physical and financial separation from one's spouse. And, as the U.S. slowly emerges from a severe recession, many people contemplating divorce are concerned about the effect of divorce on their finances. However, understanding how property division works in divorce and its impact on one's finances can help allay some anxiety over the process. Because Texas is a community property state, almost all assets - whether physical or financial - either spouse acquires...
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When President Obama won the presidency, he did so in part by declaring his consistent opposition to the war in Iraq and his promise that as president he would bring an end to American military conflict in Iraq as quickly as would be considered responsible. The President seems to be moving in this direction, with announcement to have all American forces out of that country by December 2011. The gradual withdrawal of troops affects not...
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With summer quickly approaching, we know that many Texans will be enjoying the wonderful outdoor opportunities that our state offers. Many of our Texas residents who live along the coastline or near one of our many other waterways have invested in a boat. The water provides a great way to relax or engage in sports during these long, hot months. The boaters in Texas will want to know that a potential new restriction to their...
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