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
A group of Texas optometrists is lobbying the State Legislature for more power to negotiate contracts with health insurance companies, and the measure they are supporting could hit consumers’ wallets, some business advocates say.
Texas Business reports: FORT WORTH—AZZ incorporated, a manufacturer of electrical products and a provider of galvanizing services, completed the acquisition of Aquilex Specialty Repair and Overhaul LLC, a provider of maintenance, repair and revitalization services to the nuclear and fossil fuel power generation markets, as well as the refining and industrial markets.
Texas Business reports: Texas service sector activity expanded in February, according to business executives responding to the Texas Service Sector Outlook Survey. The revenue index, a key measure of state service sector conditions, rose from 8.4 to 14.2, with 34 percent of respondents noting revenues increased from January.
Texas Business reports: IRVING, Texas—With a $1.1 million incentive from the state, TEKsystems Global Services plans to locate a new IT center in Irving.
Texas Business reports: AUSTIN—Big data Platform-as-a-Service provider Infochimps announced the Infochimps Enterprise Cloud, a network of big data-focused data centers and system integrators, which, combined with its big data cloud services, allows enterprises to quickly and simply deploy elastic big data solutions in public, virtual private and private clouds.
Texas Business reports: ADP plans to expand its operations in El Paso, creating 585 jobs and $22 million in capital investment. Texas is providing $2.4 million from the Texas Enterprise Fund (TEF) to ADP.
Texas Business reports: FORT WORTH—Texas Christian University contracted with MCS Fire & Security for the upgrade of its existing fire alarm system and integrate it into its mass notification and emergency communication system.
Texas Business reports: Texas service sector activity expanded in October, according to business executives responding to the Texas Service Sector Outlook Survey. The revenue index, a key measure of state service sector conditions, edged down from 15 to 13.5, suggesting growth slowed slightly from September.
Texas Business reports: SAN ANTONIO—Texas Armoring Corporation, producer of lightweight armored passenger vehicles, said bulletproof vehicle sales rose dramatically after Muslim protests erupted last week due to a short video which was posted online portraying the Prophet Mohammad in a negative light.
Texas Business reports: AUSTIN, Texas and NANJING, China—China Comservice Jiangsu Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Communications Services Corporation Limited (CCSJS) and InRoom Broadcasting Network LLC, (InRoom) signed a five year agreement to provide IPTV and cloud computing systems and services to the global hospitality market through at least August 2017 and to share respective technology and expertise.
Texas Business reports: DALLAS—Frontier Oilfield Services Inc. completed the acquisition of Chico Coffman Tank Trucks Inc., including its wholly owned subsidiary, Coffman Disposal LLC, which had audited gross revenue in 2011 of $40.5 million and net income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of $3,263,000.
Texas Business reports: AUSTIN—San Francisco’s Digital Realty Trust Inc., a provider of data center solutions, completed the acquisition of 8025 North Interstate 35, a 62,000-square-foot data center facility located in Austin, Texas.
Texas Business reports: The Texas A&M University System and Texas A&M University awarded a contract to Compass Group USA to manage and operate dining services, building maintenance, landscaping services and custodial services located in Brazos County.
Texas Business reports: SAN ANTONIO—Southwest Airlines opened its new customer support and services center. The new center, located at Interstate 35 and O'Connor, replaces the old facility located at Medical Drive, where Southwest Airlines employees provided service to customers for more than 30 years.
Texas Business reports: ALLEN—InSO , an international call center with corporate office in Texas and international call center located in India, reached a new contract with Urbanspoon for restaurant verification and prequalification for leads and data mining.
After a Tower Climber Falls, Stand Down Called for on AT&T Projects Following a worker's non-fatal 100-foot fall from a Texas cell tower last week, one of AT&T's construction management firms has instituted a stand down across several states, requiring that its subcontractors review safety practices.Full Story » Ryan Knutson, PBS Frontline, and Liz Day, ProPublica
Texas Business reports: At a time when large corporations have swallowed personal service, a small, family-run business in Waco is committed to building relationships and catering to the mom and pop restaurants we all love.
Texas Business reports: A Louisiana firm won a $9.4 million contract to perform pipeline services in Houston, the U.S. Department of Defense announced.
Texas Business reports: BOCA RATON, Fla.—- InterpWorks Corporation, a Florida-based company, completed the acquisition of The Black Book Depot, based in Waco.
Texas Business reports: A California firm won a $7.4 million contract to recondition the site of an East Texas ammo plant, the U.S. Department of Defense announced.
Texas Business reports: Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport reached an agreement with AT&T to provide free Wi-Fi to all visitors at the airport.
Texas Business reports: THE WOODLANDS—TETRA Technologies Inc.’s subsidiary, TETRA Investments Company U.K. Limited, acquired Optima Solutions Holdings Limited ( Optima ) for GBP 40 million (approximately $62.7 million equivalent) plus contingent consideration to be paid in the future depending on profitability.
Texas Business reports: PLANO—PFSweb Inc. entered into a lease for 78,000 square feet of space in the Renaissance Tower building in the downtown corridor of Dallas which will be the new location of the company's North Texas customer care center.
Texas Business reports: IRVING—Heartland Automotive Services Inc., America's largest Jiffy Lube franchisee, expanded in New England with the acquisition of 10 Massachusetts sites.
Texas Business reports: RICHARDSON—Vertex Business Services signed a five-year contract with Think Energy, the GDF SUEZ Energy Resources business established to serve small commercial electricity customers, to provide a fully hosted retail CIS solution, including call center management and back office operations.
Texas Business reports: HOUSTON—Global NuTech Inc. dba Texas Gulf Energy Inc. acquired 100% of the equity interests of Texas based Fishbone Solutions Ltd.
Texas Business reports: STAMFORD, Conn.— Cenveo Inc. plans to sell its Forms and Business Documents Group ("Documents Group") to Ennis Inc., manufacturer of printed business products & apparel headquartered in Midlothian, Texas.
Texas Business reports: HOUSTON—Oilfield Instrumentation, which provides real-time drilling instrumentation and engineering laboratories to the oil and gas community, is expanding its Bakersfield rental fleet to accommodate increasing activity by local clientele.
Texas Business reports: GEORGETOWN, Texas—AirBorn Inc., a Texas-based manufacturer of electronic components and provider of solutions for multiple industries, acquired AESCO Electronics, a full-service electronics manufacturer and distributor with divisions in Ohio and Massachusetts.
Texas Business reports: HOUSTON—DePelchin Children's Center will combine with Caring Family Network (CFN), an Austin-based foster care and adoption agency with locations throughout Central Texas including Austin, Brownwood, Kerrville, Lubbock and San Antonio.
Texas Business reports: CINCINNATI—The O'Gara Group Inc., a provider of diverse security and defense products and services, bought Protection Devices Inc. (PDI) based in San Antonio.
Texas Business reports: HOUSTON—Oilfield Instrumentation (OI), which provides real-time drilling instrumentation and engineering laboratories, and sister company Advanced Building Services (ABS), a provider of custom well-site accommodations, will open its second service center in the Eagle Ford shale fields January 15.
Texas Business reports: HOUSTON—Heartland Automotive Services Inc., America's largest Jiffy Lube Franchisee, expanded into a new market with an acquisition of 18 locations in the Spokane, Washington area and nearby communities in Idaho and Oregon.
Texas Business reports: HOUSTON— DXP Enterprises Inc. plans to acquire substantially all the assets of C.W. Rod Tool Company , a distributor of cuttings tools, abrasives, coolants and machine shop supplies.
Texas Business reports: GRAPEVINE—Greenhunter Energy Inc., a diversified renewable energy company focused on water resource management in the unconventional oil and shale resource plays, announced its wholly owned subsidiary, GreenHunter Water, has executed a definitive agreement to acquire approximately 99 mineral acres and 84 surface acres located in West Virginia where it will develop a commercial water service facility.
Texas Business reports: IRVING—Heartland Automotive Services Inc., America's largest Jiffy Lube Franchisee, announced the recent acquisitions of multiple entities in the Midwest and West.
Texas Business reports: Houston—Service Corporation International, the largest provider of deathcare products and services in North America bought 70 percent of the outstanding shares of The Neptune Society Inc.
New Jersey-based GRM Expands Into Texas Texas Business reports: GRM, a New Jersey-based provider in full cycle records management, announced its entry into the Houston market.Full Story » TexasBusiness.com
Texas Business reports: El Paso—The El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce announced that Facilities Connection, ran by Patty Holland-Branch, has been ranked number 20 on The Initiative for a Competitive Inner City(ICIC) 100 list for the fastest growing companies located in America inner cities.
Texas Business reports: Houston’s Consolidated Graphics Inc. announced that EGT Printing Solutions, a Consolidated Graphics company, has acquired certain assets of The EGT Group, headquartered in Detroit, Michigan.
Texas Business reports: Dallas—Safeguard Security Holdings Inc., a provider of corporate, industrial and residential security solutions, announced that its Acquient business unit has signed on TXDOT (Texas Department of Transportation).
Texas Business reports: Houston’s Total Safety, a provider of integrated safety services and compliance solutions, acquired substantially all of the assets and ongoing business of Webb, Murray & Associates Inc., a Houston-based fire protection and safety services company.
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: 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.
American Dollar Exchange Rate
