Just a quick comment on playing the game long and short. Personaly I don't short mostly because I don't like the practice, but also because I basically don't know how. What I do however is traid long on what I concider to be an excelent prospect from one trading account and then I buy and sell out of another account during the up and down swings of said company. Not day trading per say, more like weekly or monthly trading. These methods have worked for me quite well over the years.
I love money!
Rage Against The Machine