Disqus - Latest Comments for Ballardog

Re: S&P tests its October low at 4278.94

Ballardog — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 10:33:30 -0000

Must be getting close to a bottom, TD Ameritrade NQ futures data feed is down. smh

Re: WHO speaking on Covid: Delta variant circulating in areas of low vaccination

Ballardog — Wed, 18 Aug 2021 10:25:59 -0000

Oregon has a vaccination rate of at least 70%, but delta is surging, breaking new infection records everyday. I know of at least half a dozen people who have been infected, one in the hospital, all have been vaccinated. The homeless seem to be immune though.

Re: US June CPI +% y/y +5.4% vs +4.9% expected

Ballardog — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 09:08:14 -0000

Used car prices are insane. I bought a 2019 Honda Passport almost a year ago, put 20k miles on it and it is now worth $5k more than what I paid for it. Almost the same price as it was brand new. Prices aren't expected to come down anytime soon as supply chains struggle and parts are hard to come by, so transitory as it relates to used car prices is not something to count on.

Re: The Fed needs to see this chart to understand labor force participation

Ballardog — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 10:42:41 -0000

Much of the finger pointing has been at the expanded unemployment benefits disincentivizing workers from returning to their jobs but the data doesn't support this.
The same problem of exists in other parts of the world including Europe and the UK. Kids going back to school in the fall is going to be much more of an impact than expiring unemployment benefits. Even prior to the pandemic the service industry was struggling to find workers because they were competing with Amazon, Uber, Lyft and other better paying jobs. I just saw Lyft was advertising $32 an hour for drivers in Portland, Oregon. Who wants to work in a restaurant for $12 an hour with no benefits dealing when you can work for Amazon delivery or in a warehouse for 15-17 an hour with full benefits? The pandemic created a paradigm shift in the way we do business and live, this has blown apart models and it isn't going to fix itself overnight.

Re: Bitcoin rout extends lower. BTC/USD now under $50k

Ballardog — Wed, 12 May 2021 20:12:15 -0000

Implications are being realized and translating into panic selling.

Re: Speaker Pelosi press conference postponed again

Ballardog — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 13:26:44 -0000

Hmmm. Maybe you shouldn't get the vaccine prior to the press conference? She might not be feeling very well?

Re: Coronavirus - Los Angels orders the closure of restaurants, bars, night clubs

Ballardog — Sun, 15 Mar 2020 23:33:22 -0000

Washington State and Oregon are doing the same.

Re: 15 people from Washington nursing home sent to hospital

Ballardog — Fri, 06 Mar 2020 13:57:29 -0000

I've been in self imposed quarantine in Seattle with a sore throat and runny nose for a week now. So far it seems to be nothing more than a cold. You really don't know how many people are infected because they have only been testing the critically ill. My guess is it is infecting way more people than is being reported but with mild symptoms. The real problem is the city is pretty much shut down, the restaurants and businesses in the service industry are going to get killed. They have a $16 an hour minimum wage here and very high rent.

Re: The timing of US testing is key

Ballardog — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 15:48:43 -0000

Thanks. I live in Seattle and have a cold so there's a little paranoia.

Re: The timing of US testing is key

Ballardog — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 14:30:03 -0000

At what point in the illness did you get a fever?

Re: The timing of US testing is key

Ballardog — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 12:23:43 -0000

Here in Seattle they have only had enough test kits to test those that are in critical condition. It is likely that it is much more widespread than is being reported. As of today that is going to change as local hospitals are gaining access to testing kits. The University of Washington is ramping up to 1,500 tests a day capacity. Expect the numbers reported to jump in the next few days as results start coming in.

Re: Bernie Sanders Could Be the Stock Market’s Best Friend

Ballardog — Wed, 12 Feb 2020 20:37:06 -0000

In the unlikely event he wins the election we would be in the midst of one of the largest market collapses in history before he even has a chance to take the oath of office. This is not rocket science, it is a basic understanding of Wall Street and a common sense application of the regulatory power he would control. It is incredible that we are in an age of so much ignorance of what has made this country the leader in economic prosperity, growth and innovation.

Re: seattle-parking-ticket-kiosk

Ballardog — Tue, 31 Dec 2019 02:16:56 -0000

Who on KIRO was foolish enough to publish this story. This gal is a wacko attention seeker. Just search her name.

Re: dori-rideshare-surcharge

Ballardog — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 15:55:46 -0000

Yes, it isn't as big a hit as you would think but buying a brand new car to drive full time is a financial error. And if you do your taxes correctly you can write off most of your income.

Rideshare is such a unique business model that a company owning their own vehicles as opposed to the drivers is not a simple math comparison you can make.

Re: dori-rideshare-surcharge

Ballardog — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 12:30:15 -0000

I've been driving rideshare for years, contrary to union propaganda drivers can earn significantly more than the minimum wage even with all the expenses. That being said it is a supply and demand business and income can vary widely. The business model will not work if drivers are employees, and if you tax the fare it will diminish the number of trips, and will take more of the fare from the driver. Most likely it will have the effect of lower income for drivers, If you consider income in relation to other jobs in Seattle this is a tax on the poor. It's really that simple.

Re: Pearl District Residents Organize Against Hotel Tower

Ballardog — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 20:20:44 -0000

First it will be the parking and road diets, then comes the congestion, then the hoards of people, then the tolling and the taxes. Next thing you know all the small businesses are either closing or going out of business and you are left with large retail and restaurant chains and multi family bedroom communities, costs continue to rise and you find yourself in a box with limited windows for 2k a month and nothing to do but fight to get to and from work everyday to pay for your $20 hamburgers. It's called urban density with the excuse is that it is for the environment and affordable housing, and it sucks. Don't let them frick it up like they did in Seattle.

Re: US stocks climb to the best levels of the day

Ballardog — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 18:44:22 -0000

Doggie error, it's Impossible Foods that has the roundup burger. Beyond Meat is in the clear, no gmo ingredients and is gluten free.

Re: US stocks climb to the best levels of the day

Ballardog — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 15:25:18 -0000

Have you tried their roundup burger? Tastes like chickweed. What's a dog to do?

Re: rep-pramila-jayapal-sanders-college-debt-bill

Ballardog — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 01:47:51 -0000

I have a better idea. Stop the government from guaranteeing student loans! Sheesh.

Re: Cable hits six-month high as December high gives way

Ballardog — Tue, 18 Apr 2017 13:51:17 -0000

Nice call. Not 1.30 yet but that was a mean pop to 1.29. Managed to get a quick 95 pips on futures out of it.

Re: USD/CAD hits a fresh 11-year high

Ballardog — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 13:57:34 -0000

Hmmm. Time for some x-mas shopping in Canada.

Re: City not quite ready to hitch a ride with Uber

Ballardog — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 15:32:39 -0000

This is ridiculous. They should be paying Uber and Lyft to operate in the city as the benefits are so enormous. Ride sharing companies are so efficient they encourage people not to drink and drive and will create more than a 1,000 jobs. Drivers typically make more than a Taxi driver and have accountability due to the rating system. If there is a wild west frontier in transportation it is that of Taxicabs.

Heck, the amount of drunk drivers kept off the road by ride sharing companies should alone trump any (if there are any ) legitimate regulatory concerns. The city has no common sense and the politicians are obviously unqualified and more beholden to special interest than what is best for the people they are supposed to represent.

Re: Leverage as High as 50-1 Lures OTC Forex Traders Who Mostly Lose

Ballardog — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 14:36:40 -0000

Politicians will be looking for some resolve and the regulators will be looking for scapegoats and new rules while minimizing the damage at the top.

Re: Leverage as High as 50-1 Lures OTC Forex Traders Who Mostly Lose

Ballardog — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 14:34:25 -0000

Everyone starts out as an amateur, most lose some make money. If there are no amateurs there eventually be no one left.

Re: Leverage as High as 50-1 Lures OTC Forex Traders Who Mostly Lose

Ballardog — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 14:30:32 -0000

Regulators are constantly trying to save you from yourselves while letting well funded elitists maintain their hold of the top. 50-1 leverage is nothing in the forex market while trading fractions of pennies. If they are so concerned about roulette wheels go shut down Vegas. Leverage should be allowed to those with small positions and small accounts and not allowed when the positions are large enough to manipulate the market. Get your head straight Greenberger, regulate the big boys and the fraud, get out of the way of the little guys trying to compete with the likes of you.