We’re pretty water-logged here in South Florida after Hurricane Fay this week, so here’s hoping for drier days ahead…

But meanwhile, I can always make time on a Friday, hiding in my rain-slacker if necessary, to dive into a little Community Shout-out…

You know how I’m always marveling at all the newcomers to the TradeKing Leaderboard? Well, for the first time I can recall in the Leaderboard’s history, I actually know all the players on the list with one exception, BigD (unfortunately, not a pseudonym for me, much as I’d love to take credit for BigD’s returns).  Welcome, BigD!

Interesting find by EnglishTeach this week: apparently the SEC has just decided to allow corporate blogs as a valid means of media dissemination for public disclosure purposes. If that’s not validation for this blog’s existence, I don’t know what is! At the same time, I’ll be curious to see how PR and marketing departments may put this new channel to use when it comes time to make various public releases…will blogs just get lumped in as another media channel with major releases, or will companies experiment with advance releases via blogs to “feel out” the market’s reception to their news? Chime in here, if you’ve got a prediction on that one.

Otherwise, ‘tis the quiet season before the trading storm re-commences after Labor Day, so activity in the TK Community is following suit. However, I can’t resist closing with a little weekend-ready ditty from WallStreetKing. Good one!

Enjoy your weekend, and stay dry, everyone…


[image: star in the rain by transp on flickr]

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Follow the markets at the TradeKing Blog, learn options strategies from the Options Guy, or check out expert commentary on real client trades at TK All-Stars.

I'm thinking it will take the form of a parallel to other media.  Maybe corporations will add official blogs to their websites?  Not sure really.  I received a blurb in an email that included ads for media conventions and announcements for media training seminars, so it may be still in the drawing board phase.  It does seem a normal step considering how quickly news media has shifted online.

Don, Hope things will get better over there. With the hurricane and all. Was thinking to take trip to Orlando/Miami/Key-west for labor day weekend but probably not the right timing. About the corporate blog, I guess maybe many people don't know how to get information from the SEC website (e.g. 8K or 10Q) and they probably find it easier to check it from the company website. I still think they should still use the regular channel to disseminate material information (through Business Wire, Reuters etc) and file it to the SEC as well. btw, it's been pretty good 2 weeks with the olympics.. the opening and closing shows are pretty good.. nice pics (star in the rain). Sidarta

Don, On the resolution to eat healthy/get back in shape. I know what you mean. I still eat like crazy sometimes (and the other times, I just eat a lot :) ). Eating (and cooking) is one of my passion so it is hard for me not to eat much but I do try to remember to be reasonable when eating (e.g. stop eating when I start to feel full). Glad to hear that Courtney cooks well and feed you well. Hope you get the ball rolling before the end of the year as you stated your new goal. Find some exercise/sport that you can actually enjoy. that would help the exercise become less of a chore/burden. I'll try to ask you about it from time to time. Sidarta

Sorry for the slow response, folks. You'd think this time of year would be the slowest, but the hustle never seems to slow over here at TK. Also, I've noticed August is a big catch-up month for all the autumn launch plans...watch this space for all the goods on that front!
 
Definitely wanted to chime in before it's too late on the corporate blog discussion - really interesting stuff. I agree with Corbinb2 that blogs are increasingly recognized as a valid form of information about a company and, as such, get figured into general public relations strategy. It's a huge validation of Web 2.0 and this medium that the SEC recognizes this channel as big enough to constitute official public disclosure. People, we were ALL a part of that movement! Nice to see the needle move, eh?
 
At the same time, I like to think that blogs will settle into a niche that's slightly different from press releases, speaking engagements and more traditional ways companies engage with the world. Just like video really DIDN'T kill the radio star, there's a role for different media channels that's tailored to that medium's audience, mode of engagement and other quirks. I really would hate to see the real back-and-forth we've seen develop around blogs and the community devolve into pure corporate-speak - but, luckily, Web 2.0 wouldn't make that form of mono-speak very effective anyway.
 
Meanwhile, in other news, we're holding up here well with Gustav (cross your fingers!). Having our second, fully redundant office in Charlotte means we're ready for just about anything that hurricane season can throw at us. That said, I'm not about to challenge Mother Nature to an arm-wrestle if we can bypass it!
 
Sidarta, my old pal! I owe you that blog post about my fitness-progress. I just keep waiting for a little more progress to get around to it... ;-)