Straight to the Source

This column was originally published on RealMoney on Feb. 14 at 11:24 a.m. EST. It's being republished as a bonus for TheStreet.com readers. For more information about subscribing to RealMoney, please click here.

While I always try to respond to reader requests for source material on options in the various forms -- books, websites, seminars, software and more recently blogs -- I realize I have not published a list since those lazy hazy days of last Labor Day weekend.

And because I'll be out of the office until later this afternoon, here is an updated, thoroughly consolidated, barely annotated, yet highly recommended list of places to click, quiver and blink away the day.

Building the base of the education pyramid, one can start with the Option Institute Corp. website. It is not only chock full of basic information from a glossary of terms, it offers basic strategies, an FAQ, books, and best of all, its 1-888-Options hotline is always manned by a friendly and knowledgeable staff. Don't know what's going to happen to your options after a spinoff or stock split? Give them a call. Another great educational site is Optionetics, which has a variety of screening tools and software. ...