12. April 2008 by admin.

I was discussing on the definition of unity with a close friend, and we used the Socratic method, as well as Ch’an (Zen) logic to arrive at a conclusion.

He asked, “What is unity?”

I replied, “Diversity.”

He asked me to clarify on this definition.

I paused for a few moments, and said,

“Unity is having significant diversity to contribute to the whole.”

An atom, then, is the perfect example of harmonious unity. Where the atom can be made up of many different elementary particles (quarks, gluons, electrons, leptons), they all function as a coherent whole. So is the solar system. Although the planets vary vastly by planetary orbit (elliptical), speed (variable), and composition, they function as a coherent whole, with the Sun in the center.

That being said, my friend pointed out that the phrase on unity was a classic example of Greek irony, which seems paradoxical, but produces truth. Irony moves in multiple dimensions, and is the changing transition between opposing ideas; irony is the seed of movement. When an irony occurs, the unexpected element makes the idea more powerful. How do we teach irony? Through everyday experience, as well as drama in movies, plays, and novels.

Because irony can exist, the logical conclusion is that philosophy can be used against itself. Thus, philosophy by itself is not the proper method of obtaining truth. Traditional Aristotlean philosophy must be paired with intuition, include a moral element, as well as intertwine itself with religion - in order to obtain the truth.

Posted in Philosophy | No Comments »

12. April 2008 by admin.

“Risk cannot be eliminated, but it can be managed”

After completed my business conference, I would like to outline a few points of new type of insurance policy provided by Citigroup.

• Benefits to the deceased
• Automatic rebalancing
• Reallocation of funds

Traditional insurance policies do not include such benefits. In the the case of investments provided by Citigroup, principle protection, which is offering the market value or higher, is offered. A step-up is also given, which gives the highest value on every anniversary, although the highest value depends if the market goes up or down.

Automatic rebalancing offers solutions if the market screws up and one market you invested little in does unexpectedly better than the one you invested the most in. Rebalancing fixes the available funds and investments, and maintains the integrity of the investment portfolio.

Reallocation is a service provided to change stocks, with virtually an unlimited number of times, without going through a middleman, which incurs fees and taxes.

Speaking of the market, people remember the market lows (interest rates), when the economy is down at its worst nadir.

The lows seem to make the average interest rate over a hundred years much lower, but in truth, long-term growth is inevitable. What financial experts do for the common folk, is to have a share in that wealth.

The best investment options (1926-2006) are as follows:

• Small Company Stocks - 12.7%
• Large Company Stocks - 10.4%
• Long-Term Government Bonds - 5.4%
• Treasury Bills - 3.7%

Source: 2007 Morningstar, Inc.

Posted in Finance | No Comments »