The Daily Note - Chasing Rabbits

Hardly a day goes by without news about medicine.  Besides the highly controversial health care bill constantly being debated, there are numerous categories of cures up for discussion. It wasn't that long ago that hot debate raged about  embryonic stem cell research and now the new and almost constant buzz is about local legalization of medical marijuana.

There are traders who trade on the news about medical breakthroughs,  new wonder drugs awaiting approvals or test results.  There are traders who specialize in pharma and health and to them I tip my hat. I've tried trading them but after a few singes to my account, I decided it was no my cup. I just hate waking in the morning to find that my favorite promising drug company just folded due to a test that turned.   

Some drug discoveries barely make a ripple, while other's are heralded as the next aspirin.  I do not know how it is decided, as to which drug will be pushed and which not, but pushed they are via the news and advertising, and for a long time now I've been wondering  about where or if it will end.  There is no doubt that multi millions are spent on campings and more multi millions are made and I am not one to begrudge or change the flow of free trade and competition.  Yet I still wonder, to what end are we so much in love with the magic pills they offer through the boobtube.

Drugs have probably become one of the top advertised products now invading our homes. Most of them would be laughable if people truly listened to all the side effects, (after all who wants to pop a pill that says the side effect maybe what already ails you or that it may cause your death), but those smiling faces are so convincing that the drug most likely will cure anything we want as long as "we believe".

What concerns me most about those ads is not what the adults will succumb to, but what our children are learning: "All that ails you can be solved with a pill." ?  Children hear the jingle, see the smiling happy people, and equate the two, like it or not.  I bet most parents are so tuned out that they don't educate their children about ads in general, let alone an ad that will cure what ails which plays straight into the hand of those who like to control our lives.

 How clever to teach this to children by those with much to gain; and I don't mean just the drug companies. I mean the endless list of  people who know what our choices should be. Those who wish to have control over all aspects of our lives. Those sitting  in yet to be determined government regulatory offices over our health matters. As choices are reduced little by little, drugs available, legally or not,  more and more, if you have any concern for the future of your generation, I seriously suggest starting to teach your children about control and the lack of it. 

The ads will not go away, nor will they become less invasive. Discerning differences about what is good for you and what is not,  will forever be the choice you must preserve for yourself . Unless of course you prefer chasing rabbits.


Happy Trading, Living and Dancing
Anni

The Daily Pick - GENZ



 ©DayTrading with Anni 2010 All Rights Reserved

The Daily Note - A Little Less Talk

Too many traders saying too much can be distracting and demoralizing. Focus gets lost & trading becomes a chase.  That's when you should realize that there is no substitute for confidence. 

The problem is too many traders confuse confidence with consensus: thinking that if others agree, than it must be right or okay to buy/short "xyz" company. Often finding that not everyone can be right all the time, and that perhaps it was better to listen to the "gut" than to "listen" to Twitter. Remember there are always good ideas out there but if your whole day is spent on chasing them, consider signing yourself out of "trader" status.

It is really important to lower the interference and raise the focus when trading. If you are well prepared as a trader, you need to stick with your plan and not be distracted by other ideas. These rules may help:

• If you find that you are distracted by posts, turn off the site, hide it or make it mute.
• Save the learning for non trading hours; that is, when you are not in the middle of a trade or looking for a new one
• Make it a rule to check out an idea you find interesting. Ideas, that are good and your style can adapt, are just as good after you tested them.

 Confidence comes out of your own actions and not the ideas of others and like self-esteem, it cannot be awarded it can only be earned. So give yourself some credit and turn off the noise and not the knowledge that you have acquired. Trade your game then hone your skills. There is plenty of time for banter afterwards.

Happy Trading, Living and Dancing
Anni


The Daily Pick - VNO

©DayTrading with Anni 2010 All Rights Reserved

The Daily Note - Writing, Naturally!

I'm not used to dictating. When I write, I usually use my 10 fingers and click away on the keyboard. Today, I'm trying out this new program "Dragon", "Naturally Speaking" by Nuance, Inc. (NUAN) to write my words. Why you may ask? It is because I am trying to find a faster way to write my quickly flowing thoughts. It is much like trying to enter a trade quicker than it takes to type.

Quick actions when thoughts can command would be the ideal to do most of the things we traders try to attain. With today's electronics, we want to have the best tools to maximize our potential gains, and oft that means being able to click the entry at the same moment as the thought occurs. Similarly, I find that the thoughts running through my head about an idea, also quickly fade if I cannot get it on paper fast enough. Although this has not changed my ability to write good articles, it has frustrated me at times when my muse or channeling ability seem to go faster than my 10 fingers can carry.

But when trying the "Dragon",(my pet name for it,) I find that other frustrating events occur. For one, "Dragon", like all pets and programs, needs to be trained. It is expected and at the same time one needs to be accepting that training and learning a program will take some time. However, what else I have found is that "Dragon" seems to like to add words where none have been spoken. In other words, it attempts to finish my thoughts before I even have them. I'd like to think that its a way of channeling except that the subject matter is not very well followed, and leads the purpose of my articles astray. Leaving me with more corrections to make post my dictation, than the original story may have taken if I just went ahead and typed it.

Obviously "Dragon" and I still have some training work to do. It is a reminder, yet again, that "machines" are only as perfect as man's ability to teach and as a teacher I have often found frustrating not to be able to infuse my students with all the nuances of knowledge.

So, for now, until I can tame my "Dragon" to be more precise, it will remain a successful tool for my day trading room where I command it to let people know about upcoming trade entries, while my fingers are busy setting up and searching for more trades. In this, "Dragon" does very well, except for a few funny typos, which at times leave us more amused than amazed, naturally.



Happy Trading, Living and Dancing
Anni

The Daily Pick - NUAN

©DayTrading with Anni 2010 All Rights Reserved