Whitewater canoeing trip

Last weekend, 12 friends and I paddled 28 miles along a remote river in northern Maine. We started with a bright sunny day. A halo hovered around the sun. A long mountain range traced the river to our right as we paddled south.

On the first day, we portaged (carried) our seven boats and multitudes of gear beside the river to avoid treacherous water falls and unpassable drops. We also enjoyed fun stretches of whitewater, requiring us to pause, review  the rapids, and choose the best route down river.






After camping on Saturday night and enjoying the campfire and good food, we awoke to steady rain on Sunday. We packed our wet tents and gear, and began our second day of paddling. The rapids again were fun, but we also had 2 more portages, one of which was long and tough on our spirits. We also enjoyed seeing two different 20 foot waterfalls, which we certainly portaged around. Eventually, the rain stopped by mid day.

My partner and I ran most of the rapids well. A few times, we had to bail out our canoe at the bottom of the rapid. I remember just one disagreement when I wanted to steer the canoe next to a huge rock, and my partner grumbled, "you're killing me" as we passed by it. One boat capsized but the crew managed to reach the shore safely. The worst accident was a cut finger while my friend tried to open an entangled knot.

On Monday, we paddled mostly flatwater and saw our first signs of civilization, a few camps along the river. Eagles passed overhead a few times. The trout and salmon fishing was impressive. We finished the trip with a fun rapid passing below a small bridge. Our last portage was just a short carry from the riverside to our vehicles. This group has paddled together for at least 12 years. This trip was another great one.

Influences of Twitter and StockTwits

As a Twitter and StockTwits member, I enjoy these social media outlets. However, when making decisions to buy or sell stocks, I encourage people to limit the influence of these communication channels.

I see three main reasons to join these networks. First is to learn from people you respect. If there is a trader consistently posting good ideas, trades, and profits, I encourage you to study this person. What are the common attributes about the stocks they like? When do they post ideas for buying? Where is the market at this time? I've developed many www.finviz.com/screener.ashx screens based on tweets and stocks from people I respect.

The second reason to join these networks is to create a journal for your thoughts. Every post represents hopefully your best stock ideas and stock-related actions at that time. At later dates, review your posts and see how your stocks performed. Even if you don't act on a great idea, remember why and when this stock was great. I recommend posting finviz links to charts, for example, http://finviz.com/screener.ashx?v=211&ta=0&o=-change&t=,RUBI,VWR Just edit the URL to include stock symbols of interest that day. Ideally, your journal chronicles your journey into trading or investing, and you can learn from reviewing it again and again.

The third reason to join a social network is to gain additional indicators on your stock ideas. Ideally, you like the stock where it is priced, how the chart looks, and the company's financial condition or prospects. Social network comments are another indicator. Do people you respect like this stock? Are too many people posting ideas about this stock? Aside from robots, are people not tweeting about this stock?

Ideally, I view Twitter and Stocktwits as news, commentary and entertainment, ultimately secondary to my stock ideas. Buying or selling a stock should be influenced more strongly by one's objective ideas alone. Good luck.

Stock ideas $GILD, $GPOR, and $CMGE

All of these stocks are high-growth. $GILD appears to be breaking a descending trendline. While the volume isn't huge, relatively speaking, the buying has been steady lately.

$GPOR has moved nicely for a few days. I can picture a small pullback within a week and an eventual move towards 54.

$CMGE is probably a dangerous stock - combining China and gaming. The chart is quite compelling, however. With no resistance since early December, this stock looks to move higher. Buyer beware.

Reviewing some recent breakouts $RMBS, $NWBO, $CYNO, $AKRX

$RMBS appears to be a failed breakout and needs to hold support. It had heavy selling but certainly didn't finish at the lows today.

$NWBO approaches near-term resistance at 8.60. This hated and heavily-shorted stock is probably due for a pullback.

$CYNO also looks vulnerable. It will be interesting if it can hold 31. Although, this high-growth stock could trend higher in a channel. Perhaps it will find buyers at the 50 day moving average.

$AKRX is testing resistance from early March. It has moved strong since early April, and seems this high-growth stock is ready to drop a few points. Perhaps it bases between 50 and 52 before doing anything significant.

April 14 2014

None of my ideas from yesterday panned out, but I did enjoy a nice move in $CLNE from a purchase on Friday. Here are some new ideas:

$KLIC is a high-growth stock looking to break this descending trendline. I see increasing volume on the daily chart. Resistance is roughly $16.50.

$HCLP is another high-growth stock. This stock has been basing for almost three months. I'm guessing this stock can clear $38.50 and continue higher. Time will tell.

$NTCT is likely basing here, but it could ready for new highs in 2015. The trend has been higher, except for the last 3 weeks or so. This is another high-growth stock that looks good to me.

$ULTA had nice buying volume today and appears to be ready. If it gets above $155, this could be the start of a steady move higher.

As with all my ideas, please know I am a regular guy on the Internet and not a pro. I learn from my mistakes, and many of my mistakes lost me money. Be responsible for your own trades, but try to learn from good stocks and good traders.

Stocks April 13, 2015

Here are some stocks I like. $ACAS is high-growth and basing above 15. The volume indicates this one could move significantly before testing any resistance.

$SRNE is another high-growth stock. This one seems to find support around 12. Biotechs are dangerous, so be prepared for big gains or losses. I like this setup but time will tell.

$ARTX is seemingly a financially sound and high-growth company based on current Finviz.com numbers. However, the price and size of the company make it super speculative. Maybe this is a good combination? I suggest seeing if this stock will hold 3 bucks. 

Upcoming Whitewater Canoe Trip

In June, the gang and I will paddle the East Branch of the Penobscot River in Maine. This waterway runs north to south, parallel and east of Baxter State Park -- a 200,000 acre park well known to me. We will paddle about 30 miles, portage a few sections, run some fun whitewater, and canoe the same trip done by Henry David Thoreau. I've explored a remote mountain tributary feeding this river. On the East Branch of the Penobscot, we should see lots of wildlife, ideally moose, deer, ducks, and eagles. Seeing a bear would be awesome. The fishing should be cool, too.