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: BRYAN—Skanska USA Building and BOKA Powell LLC completed a 130,000-square-foot, clinical building on the Texas A&M Health Science Center Bryan campus.
The $26 million facility is a Class A office, clinical and education space integrating ancillary medical services with physician practices, allied health college programs and the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine.
The building design encourages strong collaboration among students, medical professionals and support personnel.
The new facility provides programs for the Texas A&M Health Science Center, the Texas Brain and Spine Institute, Mary Crowley Cancer Research Centers and Blinn College Allied Health programs. Blinn College created a new platform for teaching its allied health programs, a simulated hospital that includes emergency medical services, nursing, physical therapy, radiology, surgical technology and respiratory therapy.
Designed with two distinct lobbies, private entrances and elevators, the center provides a separation between the clinicians, patients and students. The design will help Blinn College double its enrollment of nurses in the next five years.
Rose Rock Capital, in partnership with U.S. HealthRealty, was the developer and provided financing for the project. BOKA Powell LLC was the programmer, designer and architect of record. Skanska USA Building provided construction manager services for the project.
Skanska USA is headquartered in New York with 36 offices across the country and employs approximately 7,000 employees. Skanska USA generated $4.8 billion in revenue in 2010.
BOKA Powell is an architectural design, planning and interior design firm, with office locations in Dallas, Fort Worth and Austin.
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.