I can't understand any of this technical analysis, either the mechanics of working it all out or why it should work as a tool for prediction in the first place. When I hear a technician say something I agree with it makes me feel better, e.g. FB this week bullish on the gold stocks. When I hear someone talking the other way I just shut my ears and ignore it.

We all need a discipline that we can believe in. The very worst approach is constant chopping and changing. You might get lucky for a while but in the long run the brokers take your money in fees and spreads (and it drives you nuts when you make bad calls). I like JP's approach of picking a few long term trends and sticking to them in a pig headed manner regardless. Peak Oil and the collapse of fiat currency are my two themes and I stick with them until I'm right, accumulating when I can and when I think there is value. Right now I see value everywhere but haven't a pot to piss in which I find very frustrating...