Brownsville Tech Live

21/07/2024

21/07/2024

Rescuing baby froggies all afternoon.

21/07/2024

And here they are, along with Mac N Cheese and Baked Beans. They were good.

21/07/2024

It's cheat day. I'm gonna try these precooked baby back ribs from Sam's.

21/07/2024

Just when I thought I had read it all and seen it all, someone comes out with this article. Interesting read, not sure it's more coincidence than reality..but it's a fun read.

With training camp set to open on Wednesday, the Dallas Cowboys officially begin their run on a new NFL season. We rarely mix sports and politics around here, but the fact is that we’re also

21/07/2024

Why all 50 states don't decide who the next President is going to be? It's all about the Electoral College and the magic number of 270. Democrats start off with 198 electoral votes in their column, Republicans start off with 188 votes in their column, these rarely change which means 152 remaining electoral votes are up for grabs, these are the battleground states. So if you live in Texas or California, your vote pretty much doesn't factor in to who becomes the the President of the United States..it's the Battleground States that decide for 330 million Americans.

And for those on each side ready to throw rocks at the Electoral College, blame it on George Washington and the Founding Father's. It was designed this way because they had a "distrust" that the "commoners" could make electoral decisions correctly.

20/07/2024

With no one volunteering to adopt these beautiful fur balls, we are getting close to making a decision that I didn't want to make. Which is to take these kittens to the local animal shelter to see if they can succeed in finding them good homes. I don't like the idea as our shelters down here are not "no kill shelters", I wish they weren't. I've really grown to these little ones but I have practically a Zoo here at home already and it's getting difficult to take care of all of them.

19/07/2024

https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/business/olive-garden-darden-buys-chuys/3594770/?_osource=SocialFlowFB_DFWBrand&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1bG9DxG23Ye9aZoMMMSbDh9rMGGp6uGhmwDfaVtthISu6uhKneN17nhq4_aem_9nB5DCoL5MGX8gZO-IeaJA

The parent company of Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse says it's buying the Tex-Mex chain Chuy’s.

19/07/2024

We are back and it's the start of a brand new season, (Season #2) for football! Dallas Cowboy Training Camp starts July, 25th in Oxnard, California. We will cover the latest with regards as to whose in, whose out as player's vy for a coveted spot on the 53 man roster for the regular season.

Only on South Texas' premier podcast network broadcasting across ELEVEN social media platforms.

19/07/2024

I will never complain about a network wiring closet again.

18/07/2024

You will never achieve greatness or reach your potential if you just want to work 9 to 5.

17/07/2024

The Left is going crazy over the move of SpaceX HQ. They are calling us the "Mosquito Coast". And have called us apartheid supporters. So much for them looking out for the "everyday man"? This is hypocrisy at its best. This has nothing to do with protecting wildlife, the beach or even access to the beach. This is their plain hatred of the most successful man on the planet. Ah but the hypocrites don't want to get rid of their Teslas. Quieren andar como "fresas" enseñándo el Tesla. If you really are genuine in your beliefs then go back to driving your old gas guzzler.

17/07/2024

Well it's here, it's Dallas Cowboys Training Camp and it's Season #2 for The Spin Zone. We will bring you the latest on training camp, whose in, whose out as they vy for making it on the 53 man roster. Will this be our year? Starting July 25th.

Only on South Texas' premier podcast network broadcasting across ELEVEN social media platforms.

17/07/2024

https://riograndeguardian.com/cowen-welcomes-musks-decision-to-move-spacexs-corporate-hq-to-boca-chica/

In social media posts, SpaceX and X owner Elon Musk said he is moving the two companies from California to Texas because of state policies in the Golden State.

16/07/2024

What a week. Elon endorses Trump. Elon announced today that SpaceX Headquarters will be moving to Starbase right here in Brownsville. And now X (formerly Twitter) is moving to Austin. The local liberals have had the sand shaken from the bottoms of their feet. There appears to be a Red Tsunami in the making. The groups that continue to oppose SpaceX at every turn appear to be fighting a losing endeavor. The election results this November will possibly result in a more favorable and friendly FAA. For those still sitting on the fence, they may have no choice but to hop on their surfboard and ride the inevitable wave. It's Kowabunga Dude!

16/07/2024

Stop by Starbase and take a photo with Barbacoa the Bull and Elvis. 9am this Saturday!

13/07/2024

My foot and leg are back to normal. I didn't think the pain, swelling or bruising would ever go away. I'm too young to walk around using a cane even though some people recommended it. I did want to ride a scooter at Walmart but none were available every time I went. Oh well.

13/07/2024

Kermit was in pool. Saved him from drowning.

13/07/2024

We are proud to bring you live highlights of the upcoming Republican National Convention this coming week. Brownsville Tech Live has added an RNC News Ticker on our mobile app as well as special section covering all the latest with regards to the convention this coming week with links to all the major national news sources. And for my Democrat friends don't feel left out, we will be covering you next month at your convention. We are always fair and balanced.

Only on South Texas' premier podcast network, broadcasting across ELEVEN social media platforms.

12/07/2024

Up to 25 Launches and Landings for Starship Heavy from Boca Chica! It appears that The Angry Astronaut has admitted he was wrong when he predicted that SpaceX would move all Starship operations to the Cape. This is great news for Brownsville, South Texas and of course Starbase.

I wuz wrong!! According to the FAA, SpaceX is seriously upgrading the launch cadence at Boca Chica! How bad will the opposition be?PLUS, more updates on the...

12/07/2024

This is the crux of the problem. When we have a neighboring airport running social media ads claiming that travelers can save over 30% on tickets when flying from there vs. flying from the Brownsville or McAllen aiports. Whether the claims are true or untrue is besides the point. There is a marketing campaign at work to poach travelers. We need to step up our marketing efforts. Most travelers are already spending more than just for the plain airfare ticket, they are spending on parking, they are spending a baggages fees and some because they can't seem to travel without placing nourishment in their tummies are spending on concessions. That cheap ticket doesn't turn out to be as cheap as they thought it was once you add up all of the expenditures. Anyone that chooses to travel isn't that cost consciencious by the time all is said and done.

I'm all for cooperating or taking a regional approach across the Valley whenever possible, but not at the expense of Brownsville's self interests. We should never give an inch just so that we can all sit around the campfire, clapping our hands and singing Kumbaya just because we all want to get along. It should be BROWNSVILLE FIRST!

There appears to be a marketing war for the heart and soul of travelers across the Valley, we need to step up our marketing efforts. Social media advertising works, it sells, it makes the difference between winning and losing and there is still a role for physical advertising beyond simply city bus advertising, we should be targeting every bus stop, every street corner, every school, every church or parish. The days of having other's define who we are should end today, negative articles defining us "the poor of the poor" should not go unanswered. For those who have traveled across the world and sadly even within the US know that there are places beyond the 956 that are "truly" poor, ghosts towns with little to no industry, unimaginable poverty, I'll take Brownsville and Valley any day compared to some of those areas. We have a rendevous with Destiny, an opportunity to build a future not only for our children and grandchilden but for the planet and the universe. The time for mediocrity is over. Let's step it up!

11/07/2024

Being in the "information business", I have access to data sources that most citizens in Brownsville do not. Ever since Avelo announced abruptly last week that they were ending service to BRO and their excuse was "the routes were not profitable", a little bug annoyed my ear with regards to the overall status of enplanements when it comes to service in Brownsville. It appears no one wants to talk nor ask hard questions when it comes as to why a "ulta-low cost carrier" with flights as low as $69 to popular vacation spots could possibly fail. even from Brownsville, TX. There isn't a given day where I don't see a pics from normal citizens out there flying to some of these vacation spots....it begs the question, "what gives?" So I went to work gathering as much information as I could. While I was unable to get actual Avelo passenger data, I was able to gather enplanement data since 2022 which clearly shows that enplanements at BRO have been increasing quite a bit since COVID back in 2022. Additionally, the plane load factors, the % of a plane being completely booked is above 80% during most months. I also went ahead and captured Harligen's enplanement and load factor data and obviously they have a higher passenger count, primarily because 70% of the air traffic is exclusive to Southwest. No surprise there. So the data clearly shows that people are flying out of BRO and the planes are almost full, how could we possibly not be profitable as the Avelo Executive Team so eloquently put it. I've heard many explanations as to the why, but the official story coming from Avelo was that "operating costs" at the destination airports (particularly Orlando) had risen substantially which ate into
their profit margin...Maybe so, but if that's the case, shop for another airport in the Orlando area close by if costs have increased...Don't axe service to the airports such as Brownsville who need access to these vacation destinations. Find a crop duster airfield for God's sake, if Matamoros and Reynosa have proven anything, people will fly from there battling, the heat in the Summer and the Wind/Rain and Cold in the Winter as there no jet bridges for boarding passengers, all in the name of cheap airfares to Cancun, CDMX or Monterrey. The data and the excuses don't match I think the citizens of Brownsville are entitled to a better explanation. It's simply not enough any longer to allow any business or company to simply come in to town, get everyone hot, heavy and excited and then bail out a year later just because. As aforementioned, I don't have specific Avelo enplanement data yet, but if the the planes were basically empty, even with $69 fares, then shame on us for not taking advantage of the opportunity and providing the lack luster support. I still believe we are entitled to a refund for the marketing paint job on city buses we did for Avelo, that's the least they could do to make it up short of restoring service down the road. :)

Data attached for those that love numbers, my good friend Carlos Cascos would be proud, it's all in the numbers.

11/07/2024

This makes absolutely no sense...How could Brownsville and South Padre Island had lower sales tax revenue over this time last year? Brownsville was lower, but SPI was even lower. I'm curious to find out what particular business contributed to the uptick in sales tax in some of these cities. Some of these don't even have robust retail establishments. Something doesn't jive.

10/07/2024

This is a good one. I'm not falling for this. Like I've said before, if he wants to get a hold of me, he knows how to reach me. These bots and trolls are incredible. They run around pretending to be someone else. It's a dangerous world we live in.

08/07/2024

Blackie takes care of her sister. Anyone interested in adopting him, please inbox me.

04/07/2024

For those that have plants or shrubs near your pool, save yourself headaches and yank them out. Settle for a rock garden instead. My biggest mistake 8 yrs ago was planting shrubs. I plan to yank them out or scale them down close to the ground.

04/07/2024

I'd be curious to see what the enplanement data actually shows with regards to Avelo's traffic over the last year and half of operating in Brownsville. According to the CEO, the routes were unprofitable, well what does that mean? Were the planes flying in and out of Brownsville empty, partially empty, 3/4 or 1/2 or 1 /4 full, what does "unprofitable" actually mean? This is the second ultra low cost carrier that has exited the Brownsville market, if people aren't willing to pay a cheap $69 air fare, then what gives? I do know that there were extra fees with regards to seating, baggage, concessions, etc, but then the same holds true of for any "ultra-low cost carrier". Allegiant isn't any better when it comes to extra fees. They came and left years ago.

Understandably, the airline industry is much smaller today than it was in 1979 when the airlines were deregulated. Flights became cheaper, but your choices became less and great airlines either merged or went out of business altogether. The Mexican airline industry also has seen consolidation as well, far less airlines in that market. These "ultra-low cost" carriers are not the same as Southwest which is considered a "low-cost carrier". There is a difference but what drives Harlingen's enplanements at least 70% is Southwest, followed by the carriers that service Brownsville. Viva Aerobus entered the Harlingen market and quickly exited a year or so ago for similar reasons. Some say this is because it's cheaper to fly out of Reynosa and of course now Matamoros, so the likelihood of them servicing any Valley city will be extremely difficult in the future. Just drive across the border and catch of flight to Monterrey, Cancun or CDMX. I hope that the recent announcement that Aerus would offering flights to Monterrey is successful, but we've seen this play out before across the other Valley airports, air service comes and goes. There isn't enough rich Mexican condominium owners on the island to justify the cost of operating a modern jet or even a turboprop like an ATR...it takes money to keep a jet flying profitably.

I'm not one to blame anyone for the announcement today, in the end it's about consumer demand, that's what drives business to determine whether to continue servicing a particular market. But we should ask hard questions to Avelo's executive leadership with regards to what they termed "unprofitable", what does the data show and what can we learn from it so that when we do land another carrier, and I'm certain we will, that we avoid the same pitfalls. Do we have a marketing problem? Do we have a pricing problem? It's not the lack of modern facilities that's for sure. It's something else..something else drives people to drive 27 miles or even 50 miles away to catch a similar flight and that is the kicker to the answer to the equation. Why did we lose Avelo and why? If it's just a business decision by the Avelo executive team, then I demand a refund for the paint job marketing their airline on city buses, that's the least they can do by leaving us high and dry at the mercy of United and American.