Friday, March 14, 2008

Western views and Buddhist teachings on honesty

The concept of honesty applies to all behaviors. One cannot refuse to consider factual information, for example, and still claim that one's knowledge, belief, or position is an attempt to be truthful or is held in "good faith." Such willful blindness is clearly a product of one's desires and simply has nothing to do with the human ability to know. Basing one's positions on what one wants — rather than unbiased evidence gathering — is dishonest even when good intentions can be cited — after all even villains could cite good intentions and intended glory for a select group of people. Clearly then, an unbiased approach to the truth is a requirement of honesty.

Because intentions are closely related to fairness, and certainly affect the degree of honesty/dishonesty, there is a widespread confusion about honesty. There is also a general belief that one is necessarily aware that dishonest behavior is dishonest. But it's at the moment when one disregards information in order to benefit, or protect their beliefs, that one shows whether they are interested in the truth or whether they have a lack of respect for the truth, which is dishonesty, regardless of whether they mislabel it stubbornness or conviction. Socrates had much to say about truth, honesty and morality, and explained that if people really understood that their behavior was wrong — then they simply would not choose it. Furthermore, the more dishonest someone is, the less likely they are to understand honesty and to characterize their behavior as wrong. Unfortunately, honesty and morality have been marginalized to specific lists of behaviors that change over time (like fashion). The understanding that honesty requires an unbiased approach to the truth and to evidence gathering at all times, collides with ideologies of all types. This would explain why honesty, although often discussed -- has failed to become a cultural norm. Ideologies and idealism inherently exaggerate and suppress evidence in order to support their perspectives. They essentially state that their way is the only right way to view the world. This erodes the practice and understanding of honesty and creates ongoing conflicts in all human relationships.

“Real honesty is being honest about what your possibilities are, what your potentials are. That's where true honesty lies. It stretches us. It’s not simply admitting where we are - that’s a beginning step, it’s not the end step. So be honest about where you are but also be honest about what your possibilities are. That keeps the challenge of the path always before us.”

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Bridal jewelry in Virginia

Recently I have been to the marriage of one of my good friends in Virginia. The jewelry the bride had worn is really attractive. This kind of jewelry is handmade with Japanese ‘chiyogami’ or washi papers. Many of the designs are based on Kimono textiles. This kind of Jewelry women prefer for parties or casual outings. Mostly semi-precious stone necklaces are very popular because women of all ages wear them. Young teenage boys also do wear them as a fashion statement. Women usually go for the gemstone jewelry according to their birthday or for popular gemstones like aquamarine, Blue Topaz, Emerald, Opal, and Garnet. In the rings section, committed couples wear casual promise rings. Engagement rings made of diamond and steel carry huge orders. As for fashion and casual wear by uncommitted boys and girls, gemstone rings are widely used. Engagement rings made of diamonds and brilliant engraves have different ranges of price depending on the design and weight. No bride is complete without wearing a beautiful set of jewelry to cherish her dream wedding. In the east brides usually wear gold jewelry like, bangles and necklaces. But in the western side solo gold is worn very rarely but gold with diamond; pearl and rhinestone jewelry is more preferred by brides.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

EDGAR

The electronic filing system created by the Securities and Exchange Commission for the purpose of increasing efficiency and accessibility to corporate filings. This system is used by all publicly traded companies when submitting required documents to the SEC. Corporate documents are time sensitive, and the creation of EDGAR has greatly decreased the time it takes for corporate documents to become publicly available.

EDGAR, the Electronic Data-Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system, performs automated collection, validation, indexing, acceptance, and forwarding of submissions by companies and others who are required by law to file forms with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Companies were phased in to EDGAR filing over a three-year period, ending 6 May 1996. As of that date, all public domestic companies were required to make their filings on EDGAR, except for filings made in paper because of a hardship exemption. Third-party filings with respect to these companies, such as tender offers and Schedule 13D filings, are also filed on EDGAR. The vast majorities of documents are now filed electronically and are available via EDGAR. It should also be noted that the actual annual report to shareholders except in the case of mutual fund companies are to be submitted on EDGAR, although some companies do so voluntarily. However, the annual report on Form 10-K or Form 10-KSB, which contains much of the same information, is required to be filed on EDGAR. So EDGAR has became an effective electronic filing system, created by SEC.