Wait, this guy is the current CDC director? Why not hire Jim Bakker?
1 Like
My home is in the Seattle area and talking with the people here makes me wonder how this will permanently change things in the future.
Our office tower cost about $1 million/year/floor. But how many people really needs to be at the work place? Do we still need the many admin people who does the many errand work for us? A lot of these change were happening but were in a much slower pace but this event really accelerates things.
We do indeed living in interesting times.
2 Likes
Remote teaching is starting in grade schools because of things like this DC church rector who gave Communion and shook hands with worshippers has coronavirus | CNN
It looks like Boeing, Hilton Worldwide, and Wynn Resorts have all fully drawn down their credit revolvers. This means they are expecting the credit markets to sieze up and want to get all the cash they can to stave off a liquidity crunch. This could cause a run on the banks as companies race to get cash before their limits are cut.
It reminds me of 2008 when all the banks started eliminating credit card limits and eliminating HELOC loans. In hindsight back then the smartest thing was to fully draw down all these credit facilities before they got cut.
2 Likes
I think I’m starting to lose my extreme optimism (that was much more realist and pessimist than the median).
1 Like
What happens without AAs and EAs. 
Wednesday’s news:
Some universities in WA and OR (UW, WSU and UO) announced going online only and cancelling in-person classes and gatherings. King County (Seattle area) cancelling public schools for the time being, putting more stress on working families for child care. WA and OR governers ban state wide social gatherings of over 250 people.
New Rochelle (suburb of NYC) quarantines about 1,000 individuals under the direction of the National Guard.
WHO announces coronavirus a world-wide pandemic. Trump announces NBA suspending its season and travel ban from Europe to US for 30 days. US officially has entered a 20% down bear market.
It’s starting to hit the fan here in the US.
1 Like
Yes, and just think - they could invest all that savings in employee salaries and benefits - and reduced costs to consumers!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
No, but srsly, I’ve often wondered why more companies - esp techs like Amazon where my son works - don’t encourage more working from home. Seems like a lot of major benefits with comparatively few drawbacks. Maybe this will make them rethink – but probably not.
2 Likes
Just cancelled trip to Costa Rica after seeing the level 3 health advisory. Seems like a hassle even if everything went fine with testing, voluntary quarantine for people going abroad from virtually every place, etc… gonna end up losing about $200 in the cancellation from non-refundable stuff but I guess not taking the vacation will save me $5k so I’m still ahead !!! 
But if I think of this same process being replicated thousand or million of times, I’m not surprised the travel industry is as good as dead short term.
2 Likes
I would advise against canceling things prematurely if there’s some form of penalty for canceling. Better to wait out the service provider and see if they cancel.
2 Likes
Well the trip was next week so waiting is not really an option. Yes we’ll eat the cancellation fees (if we have to, I’l still try to get them waived) but waiting more will just pile up more cancellation fees (starting after 11:59pm tonight).
We also have Europe travel planned for June. This one, I’ll keep monitoring and wait until the last minute to minimize cancellation fees. Some like flights, there is no need to rush to cancel/change since there is no benefit or disadvantage to doing it until the last minute. Basically cancel right before the deadline for cancellation fees and monitor provider changes in policies. For flights, there are lot of opportunities to cancel for free especially as airlines shuffle their schedules which may allow you a get out of jail option. It’s a nasty tightrope to walk but I’m all for minimizing my cancellation costs.
3 Likes
We have Spain scheduled for May 1-13. I suspect at this point it’ll get shelved, I’ll be out a couple non-refundable hotels but that’s it. I’m planning Hawaii as a backup since we’re going to need some kind of break after being cooped up working from home with each other for 2 months.
The local news folks have been sending out crews to SeaTac. It’s a ghost town - I have never seen the ticketing counters there that empty in the 15 years I’ve lived here.
1 Like
I don’t think Trump announced the NBA deal. I think it just happened at about the same time and headlines mentioned both.
But if it sounds like a win, then it’s definitely from Trump!
Here’s Johnny.
1 Like
Has anyone started thinking about drawing down their credit lines and HELOCs before banks start reducing their exposure?
I reallocated the shares in my retirement account. In less than two months, I lost $64K of contributions and gains over the last two years. #panic 
1 Like
I’m glad that we’re not going away this year. I normally book through priceline and their name your own price reservations are stated to be non-refundable. I’ve never had to test it, though.
In the grand scheme of things, anybody invested in anything probably lost more than that just today.
1 Like
I guess we may have some cheap fare this fall so I’ll plan to do some travel then. Assuming that I’m still alive and kicking.
I’ll flying back to the Seattle area tomorrow, hopefully they don’t cancel the flight.