I only see 2 ways to know how to effectively pick stocks: have insider information, or watch certain stocks for long enough to develop a pattern - something I figured out in economics class in highschool.
What's sad is that Boxer, Fienstein, or the San Fran mayor are all very interested in becoming california's next governor, and with any of the 3 we'll be fucked! And what's worse is that many ignorant fools will blame our current problems on the outgoing *republican* governor, so a democrat will likely be next 
that is impossible, just look at what happened with Ob....oh wait...
