Out of 26 million Texans, you may have an idea to change the world. You may have had several ideas to change the world. But only a tiny minority of you pushed through the U.S. Patent office from application to successful patent. We've seen Texans change the world many times over. Jack Kilby did it with Texas Instruments in 1958 with the integrated circuit, causing the start of the digital revolution, which, in part, is why you can read these words over your electronic device.
Over the last few years, Texas Business has brought its feature: Texas Business Patent of the Day. This list is of the ones that were either extremely clever, odd or strange. One thing becomes apparent from these patents and the patent that runs daily in Texas Business—Texans have a unique mind set.
Though the history of the Corn Dog is disputed, the State Fair of Texas claims to have introduced the Corny Dog sometime between 1938 and 1942. As a paean to that invention that now sits in the freezer section of every grocery store in the southwest, here are the fried foods the State Fair of Texas has introduced, or tried to introduce, in the last seven years.
Dead Texas musicians live on every time you hear their songs. Their songs play everywhere, so the dead Texas musicians appear to be immortal. Here's the short list.
Don't get caught up with John Wayne religion. For one thing, he's not Texan. He's in some fine movies involving Texas, most notably The Searchers, but none of his movies can make the best cut of Texas movies. Here's the short list.
Unsung Texas Business Journalists Mention that one is a reporter, and there's a spark of interest. Mention that one is a business news reporter, and watch the eyes glaze over. Except to the players, business and economic journalists are unappreciated. While many wish to become sports reporters when they grow up, most do not realize that business journalists cover the Real Game. Mention that reporter covers business, and watch the eyes glaze over. A toast to these below on the short list and the numerous unnamed ones slogging away. Full Story » TexasBusiness.com
Best Texas Mexican Food: The Short List No, we're not going to debate the difference between Tex-Mex, Mex-Tex, Mexican and Texican food. Just know these establishments are the pinnacle of Texas Mexican fare. No brag, just fact. Full Story » TexasBusiness.com
Best Texas Burgers Texas Burgers. . While a hamburger is merely sustenance and gratification for a meal, the memory a good Texas burger can give rise to Homeric odes. The short list. Full Story » TexasBusiness.com
Texas Business reports: The $46 million construction contract for the first facility of the Airmen Training Complex (ATC) that will be built at Lackland Air Force Base was awarded to the Balfour Beatty/Satterfield & Pontikes Joint Venture, it was announced by Merrick & Company, lead architect and engineer for the project.
The $46 million awarded contract is for a dormitory that includes space for 1,248 recruits, administrative offices, and day rooms. This dormitory is one of eight housing units that will eventually be part of the ATC, along with four dining-classroom facilities, and ATC campus utility infrastructure upgrades.
The remaining portions of the ATC will be put out to bid, with the first of four dining-classroom facilities being awarded in February, 2010. Portions of the ATC will be set aside for small business participation that will include landscaping, irrigation, sidewalks, parking areas, and training facilities associated with each dormitory such as running tracks, drill pads, war skills areas, and weapons cleaning pavilions.
The majority of this dormitory’s first floor is open to the exterior and includes a skylight to provide covered formation space, so training can occur during the inclement weather. Other features of the facility include a utility crawlspace, mechanical penthouse, AT/FP requirements and design for a sought-after LEED Silver certification. It’s anticipated that construction of all the facilities will take approximately nine years to complete. Construction of the first dormitory will begin immediately.
Merrick & Company provided architecture, mechanical/electrical/structural engineering, and interior design for the project, with K.M. Ng & Associates of San Antonio providing civil engineering and exterior electrical engineering services.
Merrick will also be providing construction management during construction.
The Balfour Beatty/Satterfield & Pontikes Joint Venture is comprised of Balfour Beatty Construction, a Dallas-based construction management company with 2,200 employees serving public and private clients across the U.S. Satterfield & Pontikes is a Houston, Texas-based, 550-person construction company that focuses on the Texas and Louisiana regions.
The Texas News Scrawl is a handy reference to stories Texas Business recommends from other news sources. Some of the stories that Texas Business currently suggests include: America’s greatest threat: Unsafe work conditions; The West News proves the value of a great weekly newspaper in a community torn up with grief and chaos; Chinese investors checking out Texas, Austin; Texas makes bounce house operators carry liability coverage, but not plants like West Fertilizer; bSpaceX’s Grasshopper leaping to NM spaceport;American Airlines, US Airways to name post-merger leadership within weeks; Texas power cushion seen at lowest level in a decade; Media outlets reflect Houston's diversity; and more.
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