well, i think you have started a nice thread here.
i am also a novice, been trading for couple of weeks. its certainly not as easy as anticipated. forums such as this one do help though. i would eventually like to be a day trader. so far i am roughly even on my trades, am looking at getting a decent chart system which i'm sure will help.
at the moment i am working on entry and exit points trying to work them out via fundamental analysis.
in the thread 'understanding a company' you answered my question regarding great announcements by company's, but stock going down. great answer by the way. i am trying to use this to better my entry and exits and hopefully become the smart money.
day trading.................way way down the track