Years of excitement had finally boiled down to this last weekend for the release of, Star Wars Episode 7, The Force Awakens. Star Wars fans old and new put on thier Darth Vader costumes, dusted off their lightsabers, and packed theaters around the world to experience one of the most highly anticipated movies in the history of global cinema. I for one had not watched any of the previous movies before watching this one. It was a very well made, easy to follow movie for me that is bound to be a Blockbuster hit in its coming theatrical months.
What does this mean for Disney's stock "force"? Battling the news that its cable business, which accounts for 50% of Disney's revenue, is rapidly heading downhill, Star Wars has the magnitude to overturn the loss that Disney will feel from the losses at ESPN and Disney Channel. Underperform? I think not. With the biggest domestic (248M) and international (281M) opening weekends, Star Wars might as well have established itself as the savior for Disney's declining cable business. The scary part about all this, the movie is just getting started, let alone the money Disney will rake in when all merchandise, especially gifts for the holiday season, are taken into account. The movie hasn't even debuted in the largest movie market, China, and won't until January 21st. Not to mention the new Star Wars themed areas, in Disney theme parks which will once again attract an audience of all ages. Wall street has predicted that Disney's quarter over quarter revenue will rse from 13.5B to 14.75B and EPS from $1.2 to $1.4. This massive jump in top and bottom line is expected because of the movie, the question to be asked is will Disney meet, miss, or exceed the jump that Wall Street expects.
How did this come about? Back in 2012 Disney bought the Star Wars franchise from George Lucas and Lucasfilm for 4 Billion dollars, yes a B. Looking at it now many say Disney bought at a very discounted price. After its opening weekend, many analysts predict Star Wars merchandise and ticket sales alone could well easily cross the 3 Billion dollar mark. This, with two more movies still left to produce in the trilogy, both of which will probably be equally as big if not bigger. Its no doubt that the Star Wars empire will bring great fortune for Disney in the short and long future, not to say JJ Abrams has picked up a fan or two along the way. As said in the title, the Force Awakens?... it can't be awoken... becasue it never slept, and this is the force that will carry Disney's stock soaring to new heights.
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Friday, December 18, 2015
Looking Forward to an Even Year
With the recent acquistions of past Cy Young award candidates Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija, the San Francisco Giants have put themselves in prime position to win yet another even year championship, a feat similarly accomplished by the ballclub back in 2010, '12, and '14. San Francisco has been buzzing in hopes for their 4th world series ring in 7 years and Gneral Manager Bobby Evans is doing all he can to set the club up for yet another even year marathon. Cueto and Samardzija give pillars of hope to a diminshing pitching staff led by ace Madison Bumgarner. Giant fan favorites Jake Peavy and Matt Cain will roundabout the back end of the starting five.
After eight rollercoaster years, Tim Lincecum, now a free agent, remains on the Giants radar heading into January but coming off hip surgery and with a starting five already in place the hopes of Lincecum's return to the bay seems slim to none. Evans even mentioned they would take a look at Lincecum but he would be better of evaluating better playing options with other teams considering the situation the Giants are already in.
So what will 2016 realistically look like for the ballclub on the shores of McCovey Cove. It will all depend of the bounceback years of three major starters. Cueto had a very average year while winning a World Series with the Royals but the Gaints acquired him to see vintage Cinncinati Reds Cueto who had four consecutive years of sub 3 ERA. Similarly, Samardzija had a poor year with around a 4.50 ERA for the White Sox. The Giants have him locked up for the next 5 years with hopes to see him return to his all star form from back in 2014 in which he plyed for the Chicago Cubs and the Oakland Athletics. The Gaints are also very optimistic to see a positive workhorse year from 5th starter Matt Cain who has been on and off battling different injuries ever since he cut himself making a sandwhich in the clubhouse two years ago. On the offensive side, the Giants hope to showcase their homegrown infield in Matt Duffy, gold Glove winner Brandon Crawford, Joe Panik, Brandon Belt, and All Star MVP Buster Posey. The outfield is rounded out by veternas Hunter Pence, Angel Pagan, and a rotation amongst youngsters for the last spot.
The only thing standing in between, the and another postseason run is health. Every year after a championship many key players have been injured for extended periods of time just all but sealing the deal on another odd year. Once again, many pieces are perfectly in place for team members to have a healthy year. After two huge offseason acquisitions, the Giants look poised to make a strong run at the postseason. The good news, its an even year and the odds are even in their favor.
After eight rollercoaster years, Tim Lincecum, now a free agent, remains on the Giants radar heading into January but coming off hip surgery and with a starting five already in place the hopes of Lincecum's return to the bay seems slim to none. Evans even mentioned they would take a look at Lincecum but he would be better of evaluating better playing options with other teams considering the situation the Giants are already in.
So what will 2016 realistically look like for the ballclub on the shores of McCovey Cove. It will all depend of the bounceback years of three major starters. Cueto had a very average year while winning a World Series with the Royals but the Gaints acquired him to see vintage Cinncinati Reds Cueto who had four consecutive years of sub 3 ERA. Similarly, Samardzija had a poor year with around a 4.50 ERA for the White Sox. The Giants have him locked up for the next 5 years with hopes to see him return to his all star form from back in 2014 in which he plyed for the Chicago Cubs and the Oakland Athletics. The Gaints are also very optimistic to see a positive workhorse year from 5th starter Matt Cain who has been on and off battling different injuries ever since he cut himself making a sandwhich in the clubhouse two years ago. On the offensive side, the Giants hope to showcase their homegrown infield in Matt Duffy, gold Glove winner Brandon Crawford, Joe Panik, Brandon Belt, and All Star MVP Buster Posey. The outfield is rounded out by veternas Hunter Pence, Angel Pagan, and a rotation amongst youngsters for the last spot.
The only thing standing in between, the and another postseason run is health. Every year after a championship many key players have been injured for extended periods of time just all but sealing the deal on another odd year. Once again, many pieces are perfectly in place for team members to have a healthy year. After two huge offseason acquisitions, the Giants look poised to make a strong run at the postseason. The good news, its an even year and the odds are even in their favor.
Monday, December 14, 2015
Reality of Rejection
It is that time of the year again. High School Seniors finish up their final college applications and begin to hear back from the ones they applied early to. Unfortunately, we live in such a flawed American education system, one in which these bright young minds let the decisions of others affect the person they are on the inside. An acceptance feels like being on top of the world, a feeling of homeliness for the next four years. But rejection... rejection is an absolute different feeling. A feeling of the world crashing down around you, making you think your hard work over the last four years was useless. A feeling of wondering whether or not you belong, questioning if you'll have a home for the next four years. But nonetheless, it is a feeling of failure, failure out of someone else's judgement. Nearing the end of grade school, these feelings get assembled on a figurative totem pole with the ones who have gotten in, residing at the top, looking down at the ones who have not.
Having been rejected nine times, there were many times I asked myself, what my worth was. Why the person on either side of me was better than I was. I had poured my heart and soul into four years of high school.. for what? To be told, I was not good enough, not once, not twice, not thrice, but nine times over? After much thought, I had come to the conclusion, whatever had happened, happened for a reason. Nearly nine months later, I'm sure glad it did because I am very proud of the person I have grown to become in my first semester at Cal Poly, and am excited to see the person I will become over the ensuing three and a half years. Everybody finds their niche, and all students end up understanding that, but they don't exactly come to the realization until they have started their college education.
The biggest problem in this process occurs in coping with rejection. Talk it out with people you love the most, family, friends, your dog. They are all there for you, to listen. Don't let one decision tell you how good you are, don't let a school tell you you're not good enough, but most of all don't let the process play your mind, becasue in the it is a miniscule part of your life, and a very distant memory just a couple years down the line. The decision takes a couple minutes, the sadness lasts for a week, the frustration maybe for a month, but in just a couple years, all those schools will feel the SADNESS and FRUSTRATION, as a result of their WRONG DECISION.
Having been rejected nine times, there were many times I asked myself, what my worth was. Why the person on either side of me was better than I was. I had poured my heart and soul into four years of high school.. for what? To be told, I was not good enough, not once, not twice, not thrice, but nine times over? After much thought, I had come to the conclusion, whatever had happened, happened for a reason. Nearly nine months later, I'm sure glad it did because I am very proud of the person I have grown to become in my first semester at Cal Poly, and am excited to see the person I will become over the ensuing three and a half years. Everybody finds their niche, and all students end up understanding that, but they don't exactly come to the realization until they have started their college education.
The biggest problem in this process occurs in coping with rejection. Talk it out with people you love the most, family, friends, your dog. They are all there for you, to listen. Don't let one decision tell you how good you are, don't let a school tell you you're not good enough, but most of all don't let the process play your mind, becasue in the it is a miniscule part of your life, and a very distant memory just a couple years down the line. The decision takes a couple minutes, the sadness lasts for a week, the frustration maybe for a month, but in just a couple years, all those schools will feel the SADNESS and FRUSTRATION, as a result of their WRONG DECISION.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)