BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com BloggingStocks http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/media/feedlogo.gif BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Slacker Moms vs. Alpha Moms: Media-brewed battle or real cultural divide?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/05/11/slacker-moms-vs-alpha-moms-media-brewed-battle-or-real-cultura/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/05/11/slacker-moms-vs-alpha-moms-media-brewed-battle-or-real-cultura/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/05/11/slacker-moms-vs-alpha-moms-media-brewed-battle-or-real-cultura/#commentsEven though I have an "Alpha Mom" t-shirt, I'm afraid I really fall into the "Slacker Mom" (or "Beta Mom") camp. Do I want what's best for my children? Sure, but I'm not going to give up my career or my sanity to get it. I'll admit it: I let my kids see my cry, and sometimes when I'm in a particularly awful mood I put a DVD on "repeat," lock myself in the bathroom and take a good, lonely soak. While my girlfriends from business school and even my buddy Isabel Kallman (who runs the Alpha Mom network) were taking their three-year-olds to soccer practice and playdates and swimming lessons, I was discovering that I really didn't like singing "The Wheels on the Bus" and trying to convince my own three-year-old that he should go to bed before midnight.

According to the USA Today, "There's a backlash brewing ... an anti-Alpha movement is taking hold. Those moms have it together sometimes. They may forget to send back permission slips or lose track of their turn for team snacks ... Some, including former CBS TV news anchor René Syler, have written books advising the Alphas to lighten up." Whenever I see an article starting out with the "backlash" concept, I have to admit, my first reaction is to backlash myself. Not against those perfect moms that I observe, with wonder, from afar (and, yes, sometimes wish weren't quite so perfect). But against the media who's so obviously taking advantage of a couple of marquis moms to brew a controversy that will sell books ... but may not actually reflect the realities of mothering.

The article calls the Alpha Mom a "marketing creation," while in the same breath pitting her against the moms who just don't have it quite so together, who (according to their book titles) let their children run with scissors, and embrace their perfect imperfection.

Like any other media-created divide, it's a fiction, but I can't fault the fiction for having ill will. These Slacker Moms have a kind-and-gentler message: that how a child turns out isn't entirely his mom's fault -- and it certainly won't make a lasting difference if mama forgets to buy candles for his birthday cake or sends him to playgroup with a storebought snack.

If media is going to embrace the not-so-Alpha Moms, I say, hear hear! Up with the Slackers! Here's to moms who don't apologize for neglecting the goodie bags, who accept their inability to sit through Music Together class, who let their kids watch SpongeBob and who don't sweat it if little Braden can't kick a soccer ball to save his life. Here's to discovering the wonder in a piece of trash your two-year-old picks up; here's to enjoying your five-year-old's astonishing tricks with his toy shotgun.

Whoever you are, Alpha, Slacker or in between, here's to holding the awesome task of being nurturer, protector, kisser-of-tears in your hands and not letting go.

Slacker Moms vs. Alpha Moms: Media-brewed battle or real cultural divide? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 11 May 2007 22:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphaalpha momalpha momsAlphaMomAlphaMomsbeta momBetaMommamamamasmommomsslackerslacker momSlackerMomsuper momSuperMomFri, 11 May 2007 22:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Daily Option Update - February 9, 2007]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/02/09/daily-option-update-february-9-2007/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/02/09/daily-option-update-february-9-2007/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/02/09/daily-option-update-february-9-2007/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Note: The Daily Option Update is provided by Stock Options Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

Volatility Index S&P 500 Options-VIX up .63 to 11.07.

New Century Financial Corp. (NYSE:NEW) implied volatility & put volume Aggressive on Subprime risk

New Century Financial is a real estate investment trust, providing mortgage products to borrowers nationwide, is recently down $1.95 to $17.29. New Century Financial sold off 35% yesterday after announcing it would restate operating results for the first three quarters of 2006. Roth Capital says, "we have no reasonable basis on which to calculate estimates of GAAP earnings, taxable income, dividends or fair value. We are, therefore, suspending our estimates, price target and rating."

New Century Financial call option volume of 16,187 contracts compares to put volume of 41,414 contracts. NEW March option implied volatility of 92 is above a level 69 from yesterday and its 26-week average of 43 according to Track Data, suggesting aggressive price fluctuations.

Continue reading Daily Option Update - February 9, 2007

Daily Option Update - February 9, 2007 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 09 Feb 2007 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaplaggresivealphaAppleBRCMdeltaFosterheavyintra-dayLargemaMasterCardNewnewsoptionsswingtop 10Top10volumeFri, 09 Feb 2007 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Daily Option Update - February 8, 2007]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/02/08/daily-option-update-february-8-2007/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/02/08/daily-option-update-february-8-2007/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/02/08/daily-option-update-february-8-2007/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Note: The Daily Option Update is provided by Stock Options Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

Volatility Index S&P 500 Options-VIX up .27 to 10.59.

New Century Financial Corp. NYSE: NEW implied volatility bid up as NEW sells off on restatement. New Century Fin'l, a real estate investment trust, providing mortgage products to borrowers nationwide, is recently down $8.72 to $21.45. New Century Fin'l announced it will have to restate operating results for the first three quarters of 2006. Merrill Lynch downgraded NEW to Sell, Jeffries lowered to Hold & Friedman Billings downgraded NEW to Underperform. NEW March option implied volatility of 69 is above its 26-week average of 42 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price risks.


H&R Block-NYSE:HRB April option implied volatility & put volume elevated on hedging. H&R Block is recently down $.30 to $24.54. Soleil said on 2/7/07 "we rate H&R Block Buy; $29 price target. We believe Block is close to entraining sale of the company (whole or in parts)." H&R Block call option volume of 2,945 contracts compares to put volume of 42,299 contracts. HRB April option implied volatility of 33 is above its 26-week average of 26 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price fluctuations.

Option volume leaders today were: Cisco-(NASDAQ-CSCO), Akamai (NASDAQ: AKAM), Bristol Meyers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) and Apple Computer (NASDAQ: AAPL).

Daily Option Update - February 8, 2007 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 08 Feb 2007 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alphaAppleBristol meyersBristolMeyersCenturycomputerdeltagammahedgehrblocklosersmoneyNewoptionprofitssalesSquibbtop five moversTopFiveMoverstradervolumewinThu, 08 Feb 2007 15:50:00 EST