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: TYLER—United States Attorney John M. Bales announced that Candido Patino was sentenced for structuring and assisting in structuring transactions with a domestic financial institution in the Eastern District of Texas.
Patino, 46, pleaded guilty to a violation of 31 U.S.C. § 5324 (structuring) on June 1, 2011. During a hearing before United States Judge Leonard E. Davis, Patino was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment, a fine of $10,000 and a term of supervised release of two years.
Financial institutions are required to file a Currency Transaction Report (CTR) with the Internal Revenue Service when a customer conducts a currency transaction (such as a deposit or withdrawal) in excess of $10,000.
Making cash deposits or withdrawals in amounts or in a manner to cause the financial institution to fail to file a CTR is referred to as “structuring” and is prohibited by federal law.
According to information presented in court, Patino operated a money transmitting business out of a restaurant he owned in Kilgore, Texas.
Individuals who wanted to transfer funds to Mexico typically paid cash to Patino for such services. Patino then deposited the currency into a bank account at a federally-insured credit union.
Between July 2008 and October 2009, Patino, who was aware of the credit union's reporting obligation, made over 300 structured cash deposits in a manner intended to evade the CTR requirement.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Coan.
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.