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: IRVING—Caliber Funding LLC, a national wholesale and retail mortgage lender, appointed Jim Ferriter as president, effective immediately.
“Caliber represents an exciting opportunity in the mortgage origination business, and it has been growing significantly over the past year,” Ferriter said in a prepared statement. “I look forward to working with the team here of talented professionals to deliver an improved experience to our customers and business partners in wholesale and retail mortgage services.”
Caliber Funding recently expanded its operations with the addition of approximately 300 professionals from MetLife Inc.'s home loans division and the addition of four new regional markets, which include New England, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Great Lakes area (Indiana / Michigan / Ohio), and the Philadelphia / New Jersey / Delaware area.
As president, Ferriter succeeds former chief executive Brian Simon who is no longer with the organization.
Ferriter most recently served as senior vice president, retail production of Caliber Funding. Prior to that, he was a national sales director at Surety Lender Services from 2010. Before his work at Surety Lender Services, he was an executive vice president at GMAC ResCap, where his production ranged between $9-12 billion annually. In addition, he previously served as a senior vice president /head retail lending executive at JP Morgan Chase, where he led a group of more than 3,000 loan officers in 250 locations.
Caliber Funding LLC is a wholesale and retail originator of prime, conforming, FHA and VA mortgages. Caliber operates in 44 states across the United States, with operations centers in Texas and Arizona.
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: 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;American Airlines, US Airways to name post-merger leadership within weeks; and more.