All Entries in the "Offbeat" Category
Keep it in Perspective
August 1, 2006 at 11:22 pm
I just read Toddo’s latest post at MarketWatch and although I was already somewhat familiar with his story, reading it was 5 minutes very well spent.
He wrote it at a good time for a lot of traders caught on the wrong side of the market lately, so if that’s you be sure to check it out. His perspective is honest and clear….. “be careful what you wish for,” he even warns. At the end of the day, he’s dead right. Regardless of what you’ve made (or lost) as a trader, you’re going to need people by your side to make it even halfway worth while.
If you’re struggling right now, keep things in perspective.
Very Superstitious
May 25, 2006 at 5:13 pm
There’s little controversy over the idea that trading is largely a head game. Throw in the spectrum of emotions which ranges from pure elation (home-run trade) to all-out fear (blown stop-loss), and there’s a lot of ground to cover. Somewhere in between the extremes is the topic of superstitions, and traders have a LOT of them! Those with risky jobs are the most likely to have superstitions or rituals in an effort to maintain emotional stability, so traders certainly fit the mold! What about you?
As a rule, I’m not a superstitious person. I’m not afraid to step on sidewalk cracks or walk under a ladder. I don’t carry a rabbit’s foot or consult my daily horoscope. I really just do my thing each day and try not to worry about the things which are out of my control, even though it sometimes rains after I wash my car ;-).
When it comes to trading, there are lots of opportunities to think that our actions lead to certain results. The only one I can think of for me is that early on in my trading career, I’d set my dream car of the week as the wallpaper on my PC. It was completely unrelated to trading, but somehow I found that about every time I’d do that, I’d go on a losing streak! I think it probably just made me overly aggressive in an effort to make the money to buy the car, but the result seemed to be poor trading. These days, you won’t find a sports car as my PC wallpaper, which is probably ironic coming from the guy who just claimed not to be superstitious! (Traders know when to break the rules, right?)!
I’ve seen and heard of some interesting trader superstitions:
– I knew one trader who insisted on using the same keyboard he started trading with, no matter which PC he happened to be using. There was nothing special about the keyboard of course, he just felt it was his connection to good trading mojo.
– One trader avoided the number ’13’ at all costs. He wouldn’t bid or offer at the .13 level, he wouldn’t take a 13-cent winner or loser when he wanted out, and he traded more carefully when it was the 13th of the month.
– Jim Cramer has mentioned wearing a lucky green shirt to snap out of a losing streak back at his old hedge fund.
What about you? Do you have some funny trading rituals or quirks like refusing to wear red when you’re long? Do you avoid specific restaurants because of the “poor track record” it’s left you with on trading days after eating there?
Let’s have a little fun with this…..if you’ve got some trading superstitions, post them in the comments section below and let the rest of us know if we’re missing out on something that works for you!
Have a fun & safe holiday weekend,
Jeff White
President, The Stock Bandit, Inc.
www.TheStockBandit.com
Masters Trivia Results
April 4, 2006 at 12:28 pm
The results are in, and today’s t-shirt for the Masters Trivia has been claimed! Congratulations to Jason T. of Scottsdale, AZ on winning today’s trivia! He’s in the right place to love golf, and his 3-part answer certainly demonstrated some Masters expertise. Jason, nice work – your t-shirt is on its way!
The correct answers were:
1) Holes 11, 12, and 13 make up Amen Corner at Augusta National.
2) Ben Hogan shot 66 at age 54 to post the lowest round by a senior back in 1967.
3) Nick Price and Greg Norman share the course record of 63 at Augusta National.
Thanks to all who participated in today’s trivia. Those of you who answered correctly but weren’t the first to do so, take heart! Just like missing out on a good trade, there will be more T-Shirt Trivia opportunities ahead! Thanks again for participating and for reading TheStockBandit.net!
See you back here tomorrow for more market chatter and trader talk!
Remember to subscribe to this feed so you won’t ever miss a post!
Jeff White
President, The Stock Bandit, Inc.
www.TheStockBandit.com
T-Shirt Trivia: The Masters
April 4, 2006 at 9:55 am
It’s Masters week and that means one thing: I’m glued to the TV from Thursday through Sunday! It’s my favorite major to watch and one of my best college golf memories is the time I was able to visit Augusta National (clubhouse, Champions’ locker room & all!). So, it’s only fitting that this week’s T-Shirt Trivia takes us to the Georgia pines and dogwoods of Augusta! If you’re trading today, you have no shot at winning a green jacket…..but here’s your shot at winning a green t-shirt!
The first person to answer all 3 questions correctly will win a free T-shirt from TheStockBandit.com!
Only a few rules apply:
1. You must use the contact form when you submit your answer.
2. Include your name & mailing address when you submit your answer.
3. Only the first completely correct answer submitted will win a t-shirt.
Today’s T-Shirt Trivia has 3 parts:
1) Which holes make up Amen Corner at the Masters?
2) At the age of 54, this golfer shot a 66 for the lowest round by a senior in The Masters. Who was it?
3) Which two men share the course record of 63 at Augusta National?
If you know the answers, send me your name & address (and shirt size) via the contact form, and the first to correctly answer all 3 questions wins today’s t-shirt! Good luck!
Jeff White
President, The Stock Bandit, Inc.
www.TheStockBandit.com
Three for Three
March 28, 2006 at 1:08 pm
The results are in, and today’s t-shirt for the Jack Black trivia has been claimed! Congratulations to Keith B. of Minneapolis, MN on winning today’s trivia! His 3-part answer was one of the fastest ever submitted (perhaps Keith is a GOOG market-maker?). Keith, nice work – your t-shirt is on its way!
The correct answers were:
– Jack Black’s real character in School of Rock was Dewey Finn, but he posed as his roommate Ned Schneebly so that he could substitute teach for extra cash
– Jack Black’s student band in the movie calls itself School of Rock
– Jack Black’s real-life band is called Tenacious D
Thanks to all who participated in today’s diversion ahead of the big Fed announcement today. Those of you who answered correctly but weren’t the first to do so, take heart! Next week, T-Shirt Trivia will return on Tuesday and you’ll have another shot at it. Thanks again for participating and for reading TheStockBandit.net!
See you back here tomorrow for more market chatter and trader talk!
Remember to subscribe to this feed so you won’t ever miss a post!
Jeff White
President, The Stock Bandit, Inc.
www.TheStockBandit.com
Tuesday T-Shirt Trivia Two
March 21, 2006 at 10:59 am
One of the nice things about trading is that you can wear a t-shirt and jeans every day. But, wearing part of this morning’s Krispy Kreme jelly doughnut blowout doesn’t look too pretty. Win today’s trivia and get yourself a replacement!
Oh, and wear a bib next time.
Now let’s get to the main event!
Only a few rules apply:
1. You must use the contact form when you submit your answer.
2. Include your name & mailing address when you submit your answer.
3. Only the first completely correct answer submitted will win a t-shirt.
Today’s 2-part T-Shirt Trivia comes from an episode of Seinfeld (one of the very best shows out there).
In one particular episode, George Costanza pretends to be a marine biologist to impress a woman and he saves a whale.
– What did they find in the whale’s blowhole?
– How did that object get there?
If you know the answer, send me your name & address via the contact form, and the first to correctly answer both questions wins today’s t-shirt! Good luck!
Jeff White
President, The Stock Bandit, Inc.
www.TheStockBandit.com
Tuesday T-Shirt Trivia!
March 14, 2006 at 9:14 am
As part of my ongoing effort to clothe homeless traders, I’m starting a weekly fun segment called T-Shirt Trivia! For the next little while on Tuesdays, I’ll put up a random question (which may contain multiple parts), and the very first person to contact me will win a T-shirt from TheStockBandit.com!
Buying BIDU at $150.00 proved to be a mistake for this poor trader. There’s always hope though. Let’s hear it for wireless networks!Only a few rules apply:
1. You must use the contact form when you submit your answer.
2. Include your name & mailing address when you submit your answer.
3. Only the first completely correct answer submitted will win a t-shirt.
Now, let’s get started!
Because we trade for the money, and it’s about more than “just the Benjamins,” this week’s trivia question pertains to some “paper” of the past. The first person to correctly answer (first & last names) whose pictures are on the front of the following U.S. currencies wins this week’s shirt:
– $500 Bill
– $1,000 Bill
– $5,000 Bill
– $10,000 Bill
If you know the answer, send me your name & address via the contact form, and the first to correctly identify who’s on the front of each bill wins. Good luck!
Jeff White
President, The Stock Bandit, Inc.
www.TheStockBandit.com
