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
Climate Change, Development Could Prove Costly For Gulf Coast Texas Business notes this story by National Underwriter: Increasing risk factors along the Gulf Coast, including climate change and continued economic development in disaster-prone areas, could cost communities more than $350 billion in economic losses over the next 20 years, a new study claims.Full Story »
Texas Truck Sales Reflect Booming Agriculture Texas Business notes this story by Tim Higgins of Bloomberg: Rising U.S. farm incomes are helping fuel increasing pickup truck sales, providing automakers some extra momentum as the industry recovers from the worst sales in almost three decades.Full Story »
Waco releases annual budget Texas Business notes this story by Carmen Galvan of the Baylor Lariat: Waco City Council has approved the 2010-2011 official city budget of $209,190,483, according to the annual operating and capital budget released by Waco.Full Story »
Agribusiness
Fruit Fanatics: Pomegranates at home in Texas Texas Business notes this story by Clay Coppedge of Country World News: The pomegranate has become a controversial superstar in the world of food and horticulture this year. Full Story »
Texas Business reports:After Hurricane Rita destroyed a competitor’s deepwater oil rig four years ago, a Houston firm was able to buy it and rebuild the well for profit.
Texas Business reports:A McKinney firm won an $11.5 million to work on targeting systems for Predator and Reaper systems, the U.S. Department of Defense announced.
Med-Mal Down, Doctor Shortage Up? Texas Business notes this story by Jordan Smith in the Austin Chronicle: According to the Texas Medical Association, the 2003 tort reforms they pushed so hard for are paying off – for reals. Full Story »
International Texas
Mexican Consulate coming to Waco Texas Business notes this story by Susan I. Nelson of Texas Immigration Lawyer Blog:The Mexican Consulate of Austin will come to Waco on Saturday, October 30th.Full Story »
Legal
Central Texas Teenager Busted For Cattle Rustling Thursday Texas Business notes this story by KWTX: A Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association investigation led to the arrest of a Calvert teenager Thursday in the theft of 45 head of cattle from ranches in Robertson County.Full Story »
Texas Slaps Amazon With $269M Tax Assessment Texas Business notes this story by the Austin American-Statesman: Amazon Inc. said it has received a $269 million bill for four years worth of sales taxes from Texas authorities.Full Story »
Media
Communications fair provides networking, job opportunities Texas Business notes this story by Nick Nelson of the Daily Toreador: More than 25 local and statewide companies were at the Frazier Alumni Pavilion to recruit students at the College of Mass Communications Career Fair on Thursday.Full Story »
Unique spin on NFL flap Texas Business recommends this story by David Barron of the Houston Chronicle: We have a winner in next year’s Sports Emmy category for Best Irony: Rodney Harrison, one of the NFL’s most feared tacklers during his career with the Chargers and Patriots, speaking out about violent play in the NFL.Full Story »
Movie Industry
Austin film industry needs incubator to thrive, leaders say Texas Business notes this story by Matthew Odam of the Austin American-Statesman: The days of doing video production work in exchange for a free gym membership and thus a place to shower will seem like a lifetime ago for local filmmaker Eric Hueber when he attends tonight 's world premiere of his movie "Rainbows End" at the 17th annual Austin Film Festival.Full Story »
Chipmaker Wintegra sold for $240 million Texas Business recommends this story by Kirk Ladendorf of the Austin American-Statesman: A California semiconductor company has agreed to buy Austin-based Wintegra Inc. for $240 million, the companies announced Thursday.Full Story »
Tourism professionals visit Palestine, TSR Texas Business notes this story by the Palestine Herald-Press: Twenty-one tourism professionals from across the state got a sampling of Palestine hospitality while visiting the city this week.Full Story »
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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