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
Baylor University is about to find out. The university won its first ever Heisman through Robert Griffin III last month. I watched with many of the rest of you during that lame show short on highlights and long on amazing boring patter. I also was pleased to see him announce he would forgo his final year of eligibility and enter the NFL draft.
While I did enjoy Griffin’s injection of a bit of life into this wooden program with his Superman socks, the payoff for enduring the show was seeing Griffin named the 2011 Heisman winner.
Griffin, or RG3 as he is known to millions now, is assured permanent fame as long as this particular North American culture values American football.
The payoff for Baylor University is still to come. Its football stadium exists in another part of the city in an awkward location. That location is due, no doubt, to business and politics more than five decades ago.
Already buoyed by a winning season, that Waco university has a long, frustrated desire that has festered for at least 15 years. Despite having spectacular men and women’s basketball teams this season, the success of those programs have been overshadowed by the floodgates are opening for donations to build a $200 million football stadium with a bridge across the Brazos River connecting the project to the campus.
Baylor lost a bid for the George W. Bush Library under construction at the SMU campus, which it had planned to locate across the Brazos. That is an undisputed economic coup for SMU. However, a new Baylor football stadium, courtesy of Robert Griffin III spurring donors, is the better deal.
Upon completion, I do expect a bronze statue of RGIII at the entrance.
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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