Wind Up, Wind Down

Thanks to GTAT spiking, I am up more than 1.5% for the day. Even though I like it, I had to sell half of the position–because I am winding down operations–preparing for the worst.

At same time, I averaged down in AAPL (original basis is $570) and bulked up on USG. I am prepared for both stocks to trade lower, post earnings. Naturally, I think they will trade up; but I am not in the names for today’s earnings announcements. Considering I sold USG close to $30, I am already $4.5 points ahead of the game.

I trimmed back on two old man stocks, KMB and CHD, as valuations reach absurd levels.

The inner gambler in me wants to buy MOAR, act reckless and drink 20 cans of red bull while throwing whole persons through thin sheets of wall board. Then I’d punch their faces in with clawhammers, whilst drinking more red bull from a chalice made from the bones of my enemies.

But I’m not going to do any of that. I’ve made a commitment to excellence and will practice the very discretion that I preach here until at least next week.

I bought AAPL and USG.

This is ridiculous. Some loser hacked the Associated Press’s twitter account and published a story that two bombs detonated at the white house, injuring Obama.

This is more reason to hate high frequency trading, where robots run amok based upon baseless faux news, which could be easily discarded by people with brains.

Now look at the drop in the SPY, following that fake news.

How many people just got stopped out of positions due to this?

I hope the testicle fondlers who did this get buried in a Federal prison.

These stocks have been cast aside over the past month, profits enjoyed by the bears who are embedded in the names.

However, all good things must come to an end sometime, especially for bears.

I like several of these names and may try my luck on another soon.

These VECO numbers were so good, it’s boosting the entire sector. The obvious sympathy plays are AIXG and RBCN. However, another sapphire play, one that I am very long, is GTAT and has yet to move to the upside. Other notable movers are JKS, YGE and TSL.

PSMI is a derivative play too, a customer of RBCN.

If you’re looking for a heavily shorted sector that might move and go “African Mask” on short sellers, these names are of interest.

I started a position in USG into earnings.

Keep in mind, I had sold this close to $30 a short while ago.

Regardless of whether I think the market will drop or not. I’ve been outspoken about a certain name and industry for almost 6 month. I will be buying it ahead of earnings, initiating a “half” position, instead of a full sized one.

DEVELOPING…

You’re not all gonna be rich. If you’re rich, you’ll never make it to mega-rich, wealthy enough to own your own jet/yacht/island.

Just because you “work hard” doesn’t entitle you to success. Sometimes idiots toil in the wind and get burned. That’s just a wind burn pal, not hard work. Hard work isn’t fun. It’s inherently uncomfortable.

Your $12,000 account can never get to $3 million, no matter how many times you tell me it’s possible. Every hundred years a Babe Ruth is born. Having said that, there is only one Babe Ruth every hundred years.

You will never get rich quick. Moreover, why do you feel that you are the guy, out of millions, who will win the lottery? It borders on the delusional.

Also, stay within your realm of expertise. For example: if you happen to be a really great wine retailer/taster, odds are that’s your calling, not a web entrepreneur/Anthony Robbins wannabe. If by chance you are talented at multiple tasks, consider yourself a Babe Ruth.

Nothing lasts forever. Stock market rallies, marriages, friendships, and most importantly the ability to be great. Babe Ruth once played for the Boston Braves.

Throughout my life, I’ve managed to lower my expectations for just about everything; therefore, I am never disappointed. I don’t expect things to go swimmingly for the rest of my life. As a matter of fact, I envision turmoil and hardship, even though there’s nothing in my life that can possibly indicate that occurrence. I am fueled by a refusal to fail, on all levels. When I do fail, I do not pout or crawl into a hole and I certainly do not grab the proverbial sword and thrust into battle like a half-witted jackass.

I do not mean to burst your bubble. We all have whimsical dreams and expectations. Do you remember your first night in that one bedroom apartment? Or how about the first time you drove a care or took a sip of beer or kissed a girl? I bet you felt invisible, with a spry boldness bordering on audacious–until you were taken down a few notches and learned the hard way how unusually cruel life could be sometimes.

The stock market is the ultimate humbling mechanism. On occasion, we all swing for the fences, in a haphazard attempt to accomplish great things, the stuff that’s penned in books and displayed on the teevee. Inspiration. The smart investor understands when the pitcher is too hard to hit, it’s better to choke up on the bat and aim for a single or a double down the right field line–instead of striking out and letting his team down due to vanity.

I’ve finally convinced my good friend, “The Devil”, to contribute to iBankCoin. Once we launch the new website design, he will be integrated into the site. His style is a lot different from all on the site, including myself. Whereas some utilize charts, algos and hunches, he tends to resort of his rolodex for old fashioned stock ideas.

I am sure you will find value, for it will only cost your time.

Heavily shorted stocks are where the money is to be made now. Stocks like WRLD, NFLX, PAMT and UNXL are poised to trade up. It’s true, it’s no coincidence that I added in UNXL and PAMT into that sentence. I happen to know a good deal about the two and feel they’ll trade up soon.

But my heart isn’t into the spec game right now. Both names are small capped and thinly traded, not exactly what I’m looking for now.

One stock that does fit my criteria is USG, a very cheap name indeed.

Aside from that, CREE and RAS keeps surging, while the stocks I am long are stuck in mud. I made a mistake getting longs names I do not like and refusing to buy the ones I do like when they were down.

I’m limiting the damage through inaction, waiting for my trade.

You’re gonna have your brains blown out of you one day. I meant that in the most figuratively way possible. There isn’t a chance in red hell this streak continues, uninterrupted, beyond May.

Laugh at the guy in the space capsule if you must. But rest assured, by the time “The Fly’s” birthdate arrives, you’re gonna be shining my shoes again.

I took the day off today, went to the movies with Mrs. Fly. We saw Space Odyssey the remix, called Oblivion. It was a solid film, reminiscent of the fake lives we all lead here in on Wall Street, dependent on machines to kill off the human race.

At any rate, I’m not a whole lot of fun right now. You might be better served visiting the blogs of others, here at iBC.

I’ll wrap this sucker up after the bell.