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: Screening of documentary film, “An Inconvenient Tax,” followed by panel discussion with University of Texas at Austin tax and policy experts and filmmaker Vincent Vittorio.
When: April 19, 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for University of Texas at Austin students and at 6:45 p.m. for the public. Admission is free.
Where: Blanton Museum of Art Theater, University of Texas at Austin
Background: "An Inconvenient Tax," a documentary film produced by Vincent Vittorio and directed by Christopher Marshall, explores the notion that Americ a's tax system is broken. But rather than taking a particular political point of view and proposing the solution, the film features an eclectic mix of economists, academics, historians, politicians and bureaucrats, including Noam Chomsky, Steve Forbes, Mike Huckabee, Dave M. Walker and others, who seek to unravel this tangled issue through discussions of the history of the income tax, problems in the tax code and by offering insights on how to move forward.
“Audiences have told us they have a better grasp of the tax code, and even accountants have said they see things differently,” Vittorio said. “We focused on the history as a way to understand how to devise an effective solution.”
The filmmakers have opted to screen the film at universities, often accompanied by scholars to continue the conversation with the audience. The panel at The University of Texas at Austin will include:
Lillian Mills, professor and Deloitte Centennial Fellow in Accounting in the McCombs School of Business (moderator)
Brian Lendecky, lecturer in the Department of Accounting
Robert Peroni, Fondren Foundation Centennial Chair for Faculty Excellence in the School of Law
John Robinson, C. Aubrey Smith Professor in Accounting
Vincent Vittorio, writer and producer, “An Inconvenient Tax”
Vincent Vittorio founded Life Is My Movie in 2001 as an avenue for film and television ventures.
In his work, Vittorio focuses on the human condition as a social construct. A graduate of the University of Florida, Vittorio earned a bachelor of science degree in journalism with an emphasis in telecommunication production as well as a bachelor of arts in English with a concentration in film and media studies. In addition, Vittorio has completed coursework at Savannah College of Art and Design and Spalding University in film and television production and screenwriting.
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