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: Anchorage, ALASKA – Dowland-Bach Corporation, a subsidiary of Koniag Development Corporation, has opened offices in Houston and Midland, Texas.
“Establishing operations in Texas enables Dowland-Bach to produce long-term benefits for our non-Alaska-based customers,” said Lynn Johnson, co-founder and president of Dowland-Bach, in a prepared statement. “It will ultimately serve to strengthen our offering to the worldwide upstream oil and gas industry.”
The new Texas locations serve as sales and support locations for Dowland-Bach’s suite of reliable wellhead safety systems, integrated control panels, chemical injection solutions and automation engineering services. The Midland office will serve the booming Permian Basin and other onshore domestic activity, while the Houston location will focus on large-scale projects and international and offshore markets.
To lead its Houston operations, Dowland-Bach hired Pat Trickett, a 22-year oilfield veteran, as its global sales manager. Geoff Wheeler will continue to serve as vice president, based in Midland.
Founded in 1975 to meet the need for failsafe wellhead shutdown systems at the Prudhoe Bay Oilfield in Alaska, Anchorage-based Dowland-Bach has since produced more than 7,000 wellhead control systems for customers in Alaska and around the world. Dowland-Bach is part of the Koniag Inc. family of companies. Koniag is an Alaska Native Regional Corporation formed pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA). Koniag represents the Alutiiq descendants from the Kodiak Island Archipelago and portions of the Alaska Peninsula.
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: American Airlines continues to shed jobs; Chemical Safety Board shut out of West probe by ATF; 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;and more.