Short Term vs. Long Term Investing

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Investing varies from person to person. Some people want quick cash while others want a steady increase in profit. Both can help and both can hurt. Long term investing and short term investing are the most common options for investors. Depending on the amount of time he/she needs the money by, the choices for investments vary from slow growth over the course of several years, to quick profit that could be sold for a profit just a few days later. The choices are vast, and each have their own perks and risks.

To begin, we are going to skim over a term known as The Efficient Market Hypothesis. On one of the most credible economic websites on the internet; Investopedia, they define it by saying "it is impossible to "beat the market" because stock market efficiency causes existing share prices to always incorporate and reflect all relevant information." In simpler terms it pretty much means that no matter what a stock will trade for its fair value and because of this an investor cannot purchase undervalued stocks or sell a stock for an inflated price. Now that we have covered The Efficient Market Hypothesis we can move onto the topic at hand.

On a website known as EdwardJones.com, the author Edward Jones, is the founder of Edward Jones Investments which is an investment company based in Missouri. In his article Jones writes about the short term vs the long term when investing. We are going to be starting with short term. To begin Jones writes "When you purchase a short-term vehicle, you are generally not expecting much in the way of a return or an increase in value. Typically, you purchase short-term investments for the relatively greater degree of principal protection they are designed to provide." Short term investments obviously will not lead to as great of a return as a longer term investment because there just isn't enough time to accumulate a huge profit. So why do it? There is a greater sense of security to buy a stock only to sell it a few days or even hours later. The chance of losing a ton of money is low so the risk is low. However, there are exceptions. Stocks known as penny stocks are the riskiest and highest reward short term stocks. A penny stock is any stock that trades under $1. These types of stocks are an investing class favorite because one can double their investment in an extremely short period of time. We're talking seconds because an increase in a stock that's value is less than a dollar by .01 cents can give a huge return depending on the amount initially invested. As expected this risk can also lead to that same amount of money disappearing and the potential loss is immense.

Now, onto the more common stock invested in by an average citizen; The long term investment. This stock is very common for people saving for retirement because of a steady growth over a long period. Jones states "When you purchase an investment that you intend to keep for many years, you may be expecting the investment to increase in value so that you can eventually sell it for a profit. In addition, you may be looking for the investment to provide income." These stocks tend to be less risky in the sense that one probably won't lose their entire investment in a minute like what can happen with penny stocks. However, there is a chance that one can lose more because typically the longer term stocks have more money invested in them to make a greater profit.

So, which is better? This answer really depends on the investor and when the money is needed. If money is needed fairly soon a short term investment would be better or if the money is being invested until retirement, a long term investment would prove more beneficial.

Warner Bros & Cashing In

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As to be expected, the corperate giant Warner Bros. Entertainment is cashing in on the heartbreaking loss of beloved actor Gene Wilder. Wilder's most notable film was Willy Wonka which scored four million in the box office and captured the hearts of many, now regarded as a classic. Subsequently after Wilder died (Aug 29, 2016) Warner Bros. made the executive decision to start work on a prequel.

This is to be expected as Warner Bros knows well that this next movie will sell tremendously, thanks to the unfortunate loss. Fans are furious as stated in an article by SMH, "On Twitter, one film editor called it an "insult to Gene Wilder's legacy" while others suggested it would "sully" his character." Another fan writes, "How do you dishonour the memory of Gene Wilder? Announce a remake that nobody has asked for or wanted. Well done Warner Bros. You idiots."

Ironically, though this move does not make Warner Bros idiots, it actually makes them an economically smart corporation. A respectable move? No, but this kind of stuff happens all of the time, and with business and profit in mind this makes Warner Bros. smart.

This also begs the question as to why Warner Bros would do something so insensitive? This is obviously a cash grab so what gives? Well, as cynical as all of this is, you can't expect anything better from a company. Sure, the movies bring you tears and full your heart but that isn't by the hand of the production company, the only interest in the company is the money. The emotional pull is left to the creatives down on set. It's all structured and thought out and as many complain about the lack of new content and overabundance of prequels or sequels, this won't change unless the consumers do. Warner Bros. is concerned about the profit and if profit has been seen to lie in prequels and sequels then that will be the types of movies made, especially since less and less are going to theaters. Additionally, the decision to make this film is a trade-off; Warner Bros. now cannot make a new, original film as many have been crying for.

Pros of Vegetarianism

Think About the Positives

If you had the chance to make the world a better place would you? Well, according to Amy Van Deusen’s, 6 Reasons to Eat Less Meat, not eating meat may be the solution. Amy gives many examples and great statistics on this wonderful topic. By becoming vegetarian, animal Cruelty, diabetes, high cholesterol, and etc can all be prevented.

SOURCE: https://www.chil.org

1. "Fatty red meats and many processed meats are high in saturated fat, which raises LDL (bad) cholesterol and increases risk of coronary heart disease,’ says Dr. Rachel K. Johnson, a spokesperson for the American Heart Association and professor of Nutrition and Medicine at the University of Vermont.” While these risks are very prevalent, other research has also proven that there is a link between meat and; colon, prostate, pancreatic, and gastric cancer!

2. "Eating a plant-based meal for lunch instead of a burger saves 2.5 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions, 133 gallons of water, and 24 square feet of land, according to the people over at the PB&J Campaign. They've calculated that in just three lunches, you'll have saved more water than you'll save by switching to a low-flow shower head.”  As of now, the world is in a horrible place. We are experiencing drought in certain areas of the world and losing more and more raw materials by the minute.

3. “A large-scale 2010 study from Imperial College London found that those who ate about 250 grams a day (the size of one half-pound steak) of red meat, poultry, or processed meat gained more weight over five years than those who ate less meat, even if they consumed the same amount of calories overall.” A person’s health is very important, without good health, your life will be cut very short. That is why it is important to be cautious with what you put in your body. It has been proven that eating a vegetarian diet increases your lifespan significantly.

4. “According to the USDA, 9.1 billion cows, chickens, turkeys, ducks, pigs, and sheep were slaughtered for food in 2011. And these animals often suffer greatly in tiny cages, crates, and pens, before enduring frequently cruel slaughter practices.” There are extremely inhumane practices on animals to produce the meat in your cheeseburger from McDonald’s and many other fast food restaurants. They are treated with such disrespect and spend most of their lives being tortured and  isolated.

5. “The Humane Society of the United States estimates that if every American cut out meat just once a week, about 1.4 billion animals could be spared each year.”  Many innocent animals are tortured on a daily basis,  beat, and separated from their young.  No matter where you live, there are substitutes for meat like veggie burgers, beans, vegetables, quinoa, lentils, and much much  more!

6. “In modern factory farms, animals are routinely injected with hormones and stimulants to make them grow bigger and faster. Many dairy ranchers use recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) to enhance milk production, despite the fact that this chemical - which has been implicated in causing cancer and other diseases - shows up in milk.”  Many cows, pigs, and chickens grow up on hormones which is a chemical.  This means there is chemicals, bacteria, and poisons in the meat.

7. “A vegetarian diet reduces the destruction of tropical rain forests, wildlife habitat, and help to save endangered species! Rain forests are vital to life on earth.” Rain forests regulate the global climate and the water cycle, absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and provide humans with medicines, food, and much more. When eating meat,  some dioxins within the meat are released into the atmosphere, causing pollution.

All in all, there are many evident pros of eating a meatless diet, like a longer lifespan, better moods, and living with a guiltless conscience.

Future Question: How did vegetarianism start?

BLOG POST #4

You pick up the new Samsung Note 7 and you like the feel of the phone and its new accessories and then BOOM!! Samsung has noticed and recalled the Samsung Note 7 due to the battery explosions, you as a consumer are feeling that your phone is not a phone, but a portable bomb. From the New York Times author Paul Mozur, in his article “Samsung to Recall 2.5 Million Galaxy Note 7s Over Battery Fires” he explains the Samsung issue and how Samsung can bounce back. In this post, I am researching the different ways that a company like Samsung can do in order to hold or regain its customers from leaving their business for another rival company like Apple.

Before we start to show how Samsung can fix the problem, we need to recognize and analyze how the problem happened. Paul Mozur states in his article that the battery of the Samsung is a lithium-ion battery which is also used for “Laptops, Cars, and the phones” however the battery is so reactive that it can problems like “over-heating, melting, or even exploding”. Samsung had to recall “2.5 million Samsung Note 7 phones” because the issue of the phone can cause potential harm to the user. There have been cases of third-degree burns, videos of the phone screen melting, and even airline companies not allowing Samsung Note 7s in their planes because of the risk of fire. Samsung needs to act fast and Bryan Ma, states “ If you look at the previous instances in tech history where there have been recalls, as long as it doesn’t drag on to the point that the company becomes the butt of a joke, then it should be minor.”

Before the incident,  “Samsung’s smartphone sales rose to 5.5%, while the Apple sales went down 15%.” This meany that Samsung was beating Apple in sales. With their latest phone being on recall and Apple releasing the iPhone 7, Samsung will need a couple options to save their downfall. One option that can work, being able to advertise the new Samsung VR and other appliances that apart of the Samsung market. Another option, that is to quickly fix the problem of the Samsung Note 7 itself and do it  “before the Christmas holidays” if not “their sales will exponentially deplete and Apple will boosts its sales with the new iPhone 7.” So no matter how badly the Samsung Note 7 is, the least that Samsung can do is to re-engineer the battery of the Samsung Note 7 to continue to produce its product and remove the recall. I will research how companies know which certain features to add in their new product in order to get the most consumers.

Hamilton Tickets Are Expensive but Worth It

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As our nation grows, the distribution of wealth becomes more and more uneven. The wealthy are able to see the Broadway productions that are popular while the poor aren't always given the same opportunities. I argue that Hamilton has been able to stay such a success even with high ticket prices because the audience gains much more out of the show than the money they would be saving.


Hamilton, although being well known for it’s incredible casting choices, songs, and story line, is also famous for its incredibly high ticket prices.  Even though Hamilton tickets can cost upwards of $3,000, people are still spending money on this show compared to tickets for Waitress which are roughly $300 at most.

According to TicketMaster the tickets in the rear mezzanine can cost between approximately $400-$550; the front mezzanine can cost between $700-$1500.  And the front orchestra section costs between $570-$3,100.  Obviously, the tickets are expensive.  Although the cost of tickets varies, no matter where you get a seat the price is expensive.  However, when reading the article titled, "I Paid $2,500 for a 'Hamilton' Ticket. I'm Happy About It", by New York Times, a reputable news source in NYC, written by Gregory Mankiw, a Harvard economics teacher, it explains that price-gouging the tickets have been able to keep the show a success because it is keeping the show aloft by the enormous price. When I looked further into the comment section of this article, many people disagreed with the price gouging of the tickets. They pointed out that while the show might be worth the money, it is still not morally right for the prices to be that high, especially when companies like Ticket Master (the middle man of the transaction) are making about 80% of the profits. Hamilton tickets are becoming a highly controversial topic, and even though there are raffles the day of shows for people to get free tickets, people are still complaining about the prices. But, for the past year, Hamilton has been able to stay on top even with the controversy because the people realize they are gaining much more than what their money can give them.

The price of the tickets is determined by the value of the show.  Hamilton includes the fastest rap song in Broadway History, has won 11 Tony's, and includes a powerful cast.  Hamilton’s ticket prices are much more expensive than other shows currently on Broadway because the audience gets more out of seeing Hamilton than it does by seeing other shows.  People are therefore willing to pay the incredibly high prices because they know the experience they get from the show is worth the money.  The audience is aware that when purchasing tickets voluntarily they are gaining more from the trade than they are giving.

Last I will research the history behind the musical which makes it so popular.  

Dark sides of a Circus

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Who doesn’t love to go see exotic/dangerous animals perform goofy tricks while being whipped around by their masters? Well the people may enjoy it, but they animals despise it. These facts come from PETA they are credible because of their role in the ethical treatment of animals. When a circus has to travel from show to show the animals are locked up for upto 100 hours straight with little to no exercise. Forcing animals to perform in circuses by using whips and electric prods is unfair to the animals. It also puts the people who attend these events in danger because who knows when an animal is going to decide enough is enough.

Everyone loves to see animals do silly stunts, but when it comes to training the animals everyone turns their head to the abusive training that they receive. Trainers use,“whips, ropes, bullhooks, electric prods, and other weapons as well as food deprivation,”(PETA). They abuse and starve animals for weeks just to perform one stunt at a show in front of a small crowd. The trainers use these methods to assert dominance over the animal. Circus animals are,“born into captivity and forced to grow up around humans in an unnatural, stressful environment,” (PETA), and they grow up not knowing what it feels like to be free these trainers enslave the animals for their own good, where as a human we wouldn’t want to be enslaved by others and be teased by seeing that other people are still free.

Having a group of people watch a particularly dangerous animal perform tricks doesn’t seem like the best idea. An elephant named Tyke finally had enough of his abusive training and went rogue in the streets of Hawaii. It ended up injuring multiple people before it was brutally shot down in the middle of the street. If keepers aren’t able to keep their animals’ behavior, then attending these performances is putting the audience in danger of these rogue animals.  

What Films Warner Bros Chooses To Make

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How does Warner Bros know which films to choose to produce? Why and how does Warner Bros chose the films they do be it a sequel, book adaptation, or something completely new?

Warner Bros is a company and will almost always go for the cash-in route. If they play it safe and create a spectacle they’re almost guaranteed a success. They will chose what already works, for instance, the Batman trilogy. Christopher Nolan was their go-to director until recently with the new Batman V Superman. Nolan worked and generated them money which is why they stuck with him. An article by The Collider states, “....even as The Dark Knight was hailed as one of the best superhero movies ever made and climbed the box office charts, Warner Bros. still wasn’t coming out and announcing a release date for Batman 3 the Monday after opening weekend. They allowed Nolan to go off and recharge his batteries on an original project, a little movie called Inception that scored $825 million at the box office—for Warner Bros., no less.”

This recent article by Chitwod of The Collider explains the sequential order of Warner Bros’s films and their either success or failure. His knowledge in this area is clearly identifiable. He goes on the explain how Batman’s new director Zac Snyder let down their most recent flick “Batman V Superman”. To reinforce the idea that Warner Bros will still gravitate towards what works, the film was even still produced by Christopher Nolan. So, even when trying someone or something new, they will still follow what has shown success and profit in the past, which is a large part of the process in how they chose what films to produce.