Texas History Minute

One person with the world in ways no one can imagine One invention, coming from one person tinkering in a lab or workshop can go from science fiction fantasies to an indispensable part of modern life in only a short time now Some of these remarkable devices, such as the integrated circuit and the hand-held calculator were largely the result of the dedication and imagination of one man, adopted Texan and Nobel Prize winner Jack Kilby

Kilby was born in Jefferson City, Missouri, in 1923 When he was still very young, the family moved to Great Bend, Kansas, where his father ran an electrical supply company This, coupled with his father’s interest in short-wave radio, nurtured a fascination with electronics He spent hours studying the field and putting together different gadgets After his graduation from high school, Kilby enrolled at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champlain and earned a bachelors degree in electrical engineering in 1947

After his college graduation, he landed a job with an electronics manufacturer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin Anxious to further his education while working full-time, he went to night school where he eventually earned a masters degree in electrical engineering the Milwaukee Extension of the University of Wisconsin in 1950 Three years later, he created his first invention: a plug-in circuit that helped computer engineers expand the capacity of computers It would become the first of ten patents he would hold when approved in 1959

Texas Instruments, a still fairly new Dallas company, was interested in his ideas on circuit miniaturization and hired him as a researcher and developer in 1958 Within a few months of his arrival, he made a revolutionary breakthrough He helped develop the integrated circuit, a forerunner of the microchip that allows modern computers to operate Kilby’s invention, for which he secured three patents for different parts of the design, allowed computers to perform calculations faster and for computers to start becoming smaller and cheaper Shortly afterward, the U S Air Force began contracted with Texas Instruments to experiment with Kilby’s integrated circuit, which were soon being incorporated into new computer designs Three more patents were secured as Kilby perfected the initial design. With Kilby’s breakthrough, engineers raced to top one another to make circuit designs smaller, faster, and more efficient

In 1965, Kilby and his team invented the thermal printer, using heat for printing with industrial devices instead of the cumbersome mechanical keys used in typewriters for decades by this point This allowed for increased speed and efficiency and fewer mechanical problems It was soon being used in the new computers that Texas Instruments was producing

By 1967, one of the earliest practical applications of the integrated circuit was developed by Kilby for the general public, the handheld electronic calculator Homes and businesses across the nation were transformed as it became an essential device for everything from household budgets to schoolwork The patent for this invention was granted in 1974

From 1978 to 1984, he served as a distinguished professor of electrical engineering at Texas A&M University Kilby formally retired from Texas Instruments in 1983, just as the computer revolution he had helped inaugurate was getting underway As the world embraced computers in the 1980s, an increasing number of the new generation of designers, engineers, and programmers pointed to the importance of Kilby's work in making new computer technology possible He often spoke to colleges and businesses around the world in his retirement years

In 2000, he received the highest honor in science for his lifetime of achievement when he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics, sharing the award with Z I. Alferov of Russia and Herbert Kroemer of Germany, who had also made major breakthroughs in semiconductor research The mild-mannered engineer for TI was now recognized as one of history's most brilliant minds Kilby died in Dallas in 2005 at age 82

Dr Bridges is a Texas native, writer, and history professor He can be reached at drkenbridges@gmail.com.

Why is there so much dissension?

We realize there is a battle between good and evil, but in order to have clear lines drawn that help us identify the differences, we must actually know truth from error This may sound elementary, but it seems the failure of recognizing and embracing truth is the reason why there is so much confusion and hatred in the world How so? When we look back through history and listen to all the arguing that is going on all around us today, we notice there is bitter disagreement about most everything Politics and religion lead the charge when it comes to dissent and conflicts and unfortunately it has always been this way Truth is attainable among countless false opinions and interpretations; however, this is where we must include another important consideration and that is deception There is certainly no shortage of enthusiasm, passion, or sincerity when it comes to people believing they are correct; however, we are also aware that humans can be sincerely wrong In other words, if everyone could find, understand, and accept God’s truth, we would all agree and love each other In this way of thinking, truth is associated with knowing God and error is directly connected with perverse antagonism. Sounds simple doesn’t it? Sadly, it is not y Holland was not a process that evolved or developed gradually, which makes it impossible for us to comprehend. This is another one of those complex subjects that we just accept and embrace by faith Throughout the history of the world, we see the definitions of God’s original explanation of right and wrong has undergone some major remodeling as mankind attempts to improve or correct God’s laws into a more acceptable way of living Apparently, there has always been rebellious movers and shakers who believe that perfect truth can become outdated and lose its relevance It’s not a secret this is happening today with those who are convinced their intelligence allows them the authority to implement and replace divine instructions while establishing a more popular and permissive civilization receptive to new worldview modifications, they will agree to discard the Bible and welcome the idea of progressive advancement Sadly, we are witnessing a society that is boldly justifying sin and openly making excuses to abandon any type of spiritual accountability toward God’s perfect righteousness “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” John 17:17

Learn more about Billy’s new book, “Convictions and Considerations” at billyhollandministries com

Verse of the Week

When we mention the word truth, is there really such a thing as universal and absolute truth? I believe that God and his word is absolute truth regardless of timeline, culture, or location, it is the highest standard for our lives Some might say this is a narrowminded opinion but actually this revelation did not originally come from me or any other human for that matter It is a promise in the Bible and I personally choose to believe the author that cannot fail or lie It also says that God was from the beginning which means that truth has always existed It

Taking a closer look, we realize it’s not that mankind is complaining that God’s way is wrong, but that we simply do not want to be told what to do We are stubborn like a child and will crawl on our hands and knees across hot blacktop to resist submission Rebellion is embedded in our nature and is blatant arrogance toward the one who created and loves us Every person is given a free-will to decide what they will believe and whom they will obey God does not force anyone to accept his truth and allows everyone to live by whatever standards they choose Freedom is another word to be considered within this discussion, but the interpretation can be dangerous We rejoice that God’s truth will set us free from the bondage of sin, but the natural concept of freedom is to live however we want which is nothing less than unrestrained carnality It takes the same amount of determination to bypass God’s truth and create a defiant independent lifestyle, as is needed for an individual to humbly embrace his true truth This gives us an insight to the real cause of hatred and strife which is insubordination toward what is infinitely holy If someone is trusting God as the way, the truth, and the life, they would never accept or compromise with the new philosophies of social acceptance and political correctness On the other hand, if an individual is

Tips to grow your small business

Living with children

Taylor Kovar

Hey Taylor - I run a little online retail company and I’m looking to expand Business is going well but not booming, so I’m wondering how I can slowly grow my company without making some potentially fatal mistake - Marjorie

Hey Marjorie - Congrats on the success! Those first steps toward growing your company are the most daunting, especially when you’ve been doing everything on your own and already have an established system To put your mind at ease, here are a few ways you might be able to test expansion

1 Market future deals Especially with a young business like yours, it’s hard to know when you can increase volume without taking too big of a hit on earnings This is why a lot of small businesses market on the promise of growth If you can guarantee savings to future customers, that could allow you to increase inventory you know will get purchased You don’t want to do a huge marketing blitz and have a bunch of prospective clients ask for something you don’t have in stock, so offering some sort of future promotional deal might provide a happy medium

2 Form alliances Sometimes another established business can give you just the right kind of boost If you can either get a promotional deal through another site or offer some sort of in-kind exchange, people will hear about your services from a trusted source This can save you loads of money in the marketing department and can also offer a trickle of new clientele as opposed to opening a floodgate you’re not prepared for

3 Start outsourcing Gr seems overwhelming be there’s too much to do certain aspects of the bu you can outsource to oth workers, you’ll free up can then use to focus sq growth Start with freela work on a part-time bas then as your operation p steam and gets bigger y increase the workload or hire fulltime staff In addition to easing your personal workload, outsourcing lets you add elements to your business that might spur growth Get someone to write articles you can post on related blogs or hire a small firm to do a little PR campaign If you go about it in the right way, a little money spent on outsourcing can have huge returns I’ve got an article up at GoFarWithKovarcom that can help guide you through the process of hiring freelancers

I’m excited to see where your business goes, Marjorie Keep taking those small steps forward and you’ll end up where you want to be

As I crisscross the country in public speaker mode, I poll people in various demographic categories I ask how they were raised, what their parents were like, how their parents disciplined, how they raised their own kids, their perceptions of how their kids are raising their grandkids, and so on Most of the folks in question don’t have any idea that I’m polling them, which I think generally results in answers that are spontaneous and forthright One question I ask of people across the age spectrum: “Did your parents talk to you much about your feelings?” If yes, I then ask, “Did they seem to feel it was important that you got in touch with and expressed your feelings?”

Most folks in the below-45 age group answer yes to both questions By contrast, I’ve yet to meet someone around my own age (1940s or 1950s baby boomer) who has answered yes to either question Boomers, especially the older ones, think the questions are funny, in fact seized upon this to make the case that kids raised prior to the advent of what I call “psychological parenting” – including yours truly – were not allowed to express feelings freely That is correct We were being trained in responsible, pro-social behavior, and it goes without saying that adults who feel entitled to express their feelings freely are not desirable as nextdoor neighbors, friends, spouses or evens seat-mates on cross-country flights The habit of expressing one’s feelings freely is typical of people who are known to “suffer” from inflated view of self disorder. We boomers were taught that emotions are private things, to be kept under wraps for the most part Our parents, by and large, were able to recognize feelings that needed to be affirmed and those that did not One of the most important of all understandings concerning feelings has to do with the FACT that the authenticity of a feeling and the power of a feeling are not one and the same Powerful feelings can be and often are selfdestructive as well as destructive to relationships

Disclaimer: Information presented is for educational purposes only and is not an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies Investments involve risk and, unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed Be sure to first consult with a qualified financial adviser and/or tax professional before implementing any strategy discussed herein To submit a question to be answered in this column, please send it via email to Question@GoFarWithKovar com, or via USPS to Taylor Kovar, 415 S 1st St, Suite 300, Lufkin, TX 75901

“Are you kidding?” is a typical response

I have a decent memory of my childhood and I don’t remember my parents ever having a conversation with me about emotional matters On those occasions when I was emoting about something, they’d usually tell me that crying or moping or whatever I was doing wasn’t going to help matters; that I needed to think clearly and figure out how I was going to solve the problem, whatever it was In that regard at least, my childhood experience seems to have been the norm

It was not even unusual for a child in the 1950s to occasionally hear, “If you don’t stop crying, I’ll give you something to cry about,” usually said in a gruff, masculine voice Mind you, I’m not promoting that policy, simply reporting it. A better way of saying the same thing: “You’re making a mountain out of a molehill When you can get control of yourself, we’ll talk about it ”

Mental health professionals, as their perceived cultural significance began to wax in the late 1960s,

Thinking clearly is more important than “being in touch” with and expressing one’s feelings and thinking clearly requires good emotional control That’s why it is so vital that parents model excellent emotional control and insist, lovingly, upon the same from their kids

Start early In the example of a toddler who throws “fits” when things aren’t to his liking, assign them to a “tantrum place” – a benign, neutral place where tantrums can be isolated and run their course My daughter’s tantrum place was the half-bath (aka powder room) downstairs We began using the tantrum place when she was approaching her third birthday, the understanding being that she could let herself out when she had restored self-control From that point on, her tantrums were far, far fewer and lasted no more than a few minutes A fair arrangement, I’d say Family psychologist John Rosemond: johnrosemond com, parentguru com

John Rosemond has worked with families, children, and parents since 1971 in the field of family psychology In 1971, John earned his masters in psychology from Western Illinois University and was elected to the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society

Former Howe High School Band Director Elmer Schenk (middle) was inducted into the Texas Bandmasters Hall of Fame over the weekend. Requirements are that the candidate is at least 65 years of age (or deceased) and retired, have taught a minimum of 10 years in the state of Texas, and have produced and maintained a consistently outstanding band program HHS won three state championships under Schenk's guidance in 1980, 1995, and 1997