That Feeling

Nature at one of its best.

Its been awhile since I've set foot on the island getaway of Singapore, also known as Sentosa. What better way to spend some quality time with your fellow classmates than a day in the great outdoors, by the sea?

Sun, Sea and Coconuts?

Great company and awesome sights (as seen in the photos) can certainly make one's day.

Well the trip made me realize that more often then not, simple pleasures in life are often around oneself; we just have to look around us carefully. Of course, everyone's interpretation of having fun or "chilling out" might differ from another individual, but if its what makes you happy, then hey, its called having fun I guess.

Take myself for example. The past couple of days for me were spent with dear Audrey here. Everywhere I went, she went with me. Yes, she may be a tad quiet but hey, its awesome company to me.

Here She is, just taking a snooze on the bed.

Oh apologies readers, it seems that I've yet to introduce to you guys the newest member of the metallic-stains management team.

Yes, Audrey the camera has been hard at work for many of the pictures you've seen here on metallic-stains and has played a considerable part in the peppering the posts with picture after picture.

Audrey's a Nikon D60 and has only recently joined the metallic-stains management team. Posts from now on will be introduced to her photo taking capabilities so keep a lookout for that.

Moving away from that.

Christmas is finally here! Ho ho ho!

I'm sure many of you guys out there are enjoying and soaking up the festive mood in full swing this very moment and rightly so as well.

A season of giving; the general mood of Christmas which is deeply influenced by the multiple marketing campaigns, I'm sure. But I have to agree that this is a season where one shows appreciation for the people around him/her.

Which was the reason why I chose to make "Christmas Deliveries" on Christmas eve itself.

To me, nothing beats the look on a person's face when he or she receives a present. The feeling of being able to make someone else happy and contented with a little action (or a little gift, for that matter) is simply overwhelming and truly delightful.

I've also noticed a changing trend in my personal mindset.

The me of 10 years ago would be satisfied with the latest toy or game gadget for Christmas but today, I'm more a fan of giving out smiles rather than receiving the latest technological gadget or the most expensive accessory.

I guess its a change we all face at some point in our lives were we feel that giving is much more important as compared to taking.

Interesting isn't it?

Well I managed to squeeze in a little time after my delivery rounds that day and decided to take a walk downtown, with Audrey strapped safely behind me of course.

The feeling, that atmosphere was really different that night as I recall now in retrospect. It was so significant that while I was having a little coffee break down at Starbucks that night, I penned down my thoughts.

Which went something like this;

That Feeling.

"

Title: "That Feeling"

Wrapper after Wrapper, bag after bag, its that time of the year again. To some, a hassle, to others, a joy.

And to a small other group, a significance.

You see smiles everyday but the smiles you see during this season are truly memorable. "Here, I made this for you", might not seem like much, but it can certainly light up one's day.

Nature finds substitutes well; while others on the other side of the world cope with snowflakes, we take out out umbrellas and hoodies.

A worthy substitute?

Nothing beats this feeling. The feeling of light drizzle against your skin, the feeling of having everything you need on your back, the feeling of unrivaled freedom.

With church bells chiming in the background to familiar Christmas melodies and the soft gentle wind blowing at your cheeks, one certainly feels and hopes that life is a dream and everyday should be as such.

As you settle down for a coffee, you stop and reminisce on the day long gone and the days soon to come. Surely nothing would be able to replace such a setting, will it?

Slowly, you take a sip of coffee. Its aroma pervades through your senses and your breath is coated with a deep flavor of roast.

Time seemingly stops as you gaze far but you stop, and started thinking again.

A soft Christmas tune plays in your head, reminding you of the occasion, such a celebrated even this is; minute by minute, the day approaches.

Santa will be proud of you today, as you are with yourself for joy and smiles are spread. A feeling unrivaled.

But wait, is everything done?

You glance around you and something serves as a reminder of an uncompleted task. Your focus shifts away and you start thinking about your family and friends.

What are they doing? Are they happy?

You sense the evident mood amongst the people around you and its hard not to get affected. Amidst casual conversations are hints of Christmas being distributed here and there.

This atmosphere is infectious, in a good way of course. It makes you want to stand up and proclaim, sing and dance, jump and scream.

Interestingly, you check your phone, take your camera out and snapped a couple of shots. This is the moment when you wished that life was like this everyday, every time.

With everyone happy, you wished that everyday was Christmas.

"Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year."

"

Over a slow cup of coffee, I penned the above down based on my mood, feelings and my observations around me at that time. Hope you guys enjoyed that little "narrative".

Its interesting what the season of Christmas means to each and everyone of us. So let me post this question to you readers out there;

"What does Christmas mean to you?"

Well for me, as I've mentioned, Christmas means being able to bring happiness to the people around me and seeing them contented and happy. Christmas also means making myself happy and positive and also an assurance that there is still hope and reason to smile at the end of the day.

Hope and a reason to Smile is what keeps this star shining.

Cliche stuff I know but I'm pretty sure the words "Christmas" and "Happiness" ain't exactly that far off for one encompasses the other and vice versa.

So yea, I really look forward to your responses and comments about the post and the question. Remember to check back for updates as the year 2009 looms upon us!

In the meantime, stay safe and happy and if you drink, don't drive.

And oh yea, from all of us here at metallic-stains, have a Happy and Brilliant Christmas!

Cya'll later.

"A very merry Christmas"

*Use of pictures from this post without the management team's approval or notice will result in undesirable consequences. Please, amidst the festive season stay safe, play it safe and live well.*

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Song of the Post


Now playing: John Lennon - Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
via FoxyTunes

Walking in a (Winter) Wonderland

Beauty of the night.

With Christmas lurking just around the corner, days away, the past couple of days were spent in crowded frequents, comfortable coffee houses (Starbucks) as well as scenic backdrops.

Indeed, the people around are getting into the Christmas mood evidently but it must be said that as compared to the previous year, moods ain't as high up.

Seeing that it was Christmas, I decided to give myself a little treat as well. Took a walk around town and looked around the music store, as usual.

A music CD would make a really good present for myself and amongst the myriad up for grabs, Paramore's CD/DVD, The Final Riot! caught my attention.

The Final Riot!

I must say, the cover of the album is certainly appealing on multiple levels, I'm sure you might agree as well. Kudos to the designer.

At $20.95, the DVD/CD is a steal of a buy. Aside from 15 Live tracks (featuring songs from both the first and second Paramore albums), this 2 CD set also features a live concert DVD.

Think, over one hour of hard hitting tracks from a budding alternative rock group with a dash of energy and stage presence. Certainly something to make you head bang to with addictive tempos and high octave vocals.

Okay don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to push the product here on metallic-stains but for those of you out there interested in the genre or the band, all I'm saying is that its worth the money and time.

Leaving that for now.

The annual season of Christmas is significant for various reasons, to each his own. But it also signals the coming end of the calender year.

And though it may seem a little early, I've decided to talk about a couple of resolutions for metallic-stains.blogspot.com upon the arrival of the year 2009.

This site was founded (or created, rather) a couple of months ago and has thus moved and evolved from its original purpose, look as well as feel, which is a good thing as change often spurs for improvement.

However what better way to mark the start of a new year then to implement further changes and improvements?

That being said, I thought about a change of fundamental posting frequency and classification for the posts you readers see here on the site. Here's the current breakdown;

- Periodic updates
- Periodic narratives
- Occasional articles

As seen, the flow and frequency of posts are rather irregular and unorganized. I plan to revolutionize and implement a change as seen here;

- Updates (Once per week)
- Subject Posts (Unrestricted per week)
- Narratives (Situational)
- Articles (At least 2 published monthly)

To me, the readers are my target audience and thus I feel that you guys have the right to know about the site's composition as well as organization.

And with this new implementation (with effect from 2009), I hope that readers will be able to orientate and adhere to a mode of consistency amongst the posts and publishes of metallic-stains.

So be sure to stick around. Feedback is of course, deeply valued amongst the management team so keep those coming in!

And moving on to the subject for today's post.

Eluding Silence.

The past couple of hours were fruitfully spent, well to me at least.

A little walk around town certainly helps one to think about things not usually considered as well as problems, of course.

Of course there was a reason for the walk but at this point in time, I would leave it undisclosed (but will reveal why in coming posts so be sure to check back).

What if one had everything to loose but, against all odds, chooses to stake everything on the line?

Many a time in the course of life, we find ourselves trapped in such situations which is often thought provoking; if we know we might (and most probably will) lose something, why are we doing it?

I guess situation varies. It largely pivots on the importance of that "something" to the person in question, which will determine how much the person is willing to stake and put on the line.

It must be said that it is human nature to deter from the things we feel less confident in achieving success. Quite understandably so at that for I'm pretty sure that most if not all of us, hate to fail or lose something significant.

We often hear of phrases like "I would give my (something significant) up, if I could have (something even more significant)" and I guess this is why humans engage in this curious behavior of putting all that we have on the line, simply put, we are always looking for something more.

It would be injustice to say that this behavior is due to greed but it does however, work along the logic of that.

We as humans, are always looking for something better, seeking improvement though we rarely identify this need but what if we lose it all? What if everything falls through and all is lost? That is another behavior to consider.

Moving forward, looking ahead.

It is an interesting process when failure exhumes one's period of life. Some individuals are able to get over it quickly while others linger on, in hopes of making amendments for things in the past.

For me personally, I daresay that I once lived in the past but ironically, I'm living in the future now.

Its good to anticipate failure but sometimes you go ahead with making mistakes though know perfectly what you're doing and the repercussions it may cause.

It takes a hurt to learn, sometimes.

So that's that, a little food for thought I guess. Be sure to check back for updates and lots of (Christmas) goodies to come. Watch this space.

Cya'll later

"Your Little Decoy"

*The owner and management team of metallic-stains holds no right, share or commission in the sales of Paramore's Final Riot! DVD/CD. All related references made belongs to its rightful owner. Usage of pictures (excluding the Final Riot! cover) without referencing or permission might result in undesirable consequences*

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Song of the Post


Now playing: Paramore - Decoy (Live)
via FoxyTunes

All I want for Christmas is my two cents worth

The quiet and empty streets where Solace and Tranquility is evident.

The long awaited term break is finally here and quite honestly, never a better time. As much as I enjoy the daily pressures of school work and assignments, the break will serve as an ideal period to rest the tired bones.

In retrospect, the term was filled with a rich variation of activities; assignments, school work, late nights and other commitments.

To sum it up in a nutshell, it was a real difference as compared to previous semesters. A myriad of assignments and expectations supplemented the time during the term, making it a real challenge as well as an ideal learning process within.

However, I would like to talk about one particular assignment which I thoroughly enjoyed, and one of my favorites to date in terms of the process and final product.

Disturbing, ain't it?

I'm pretty sure that, to many of you out there, lugging through town at the wee hours of the morning isn't exactly a norm for an assignment. But that was exactly what we did.

Basically, the assignment circled around nation building targeted at the youths of the nation and what we were expected to do was a simple photo montage of various pictures which depicted the group's interpretation of the theme.

Sounds juicy doesn't it?

Our group decided to do something a little different and thus had to go around in search of "empty" shots. The only way to do it? The wee hours of the morning.

So where are You?

Sure it was tiring but the end product was, to me personally, well worth the effort as we got the shots we wanted, which conveyed the effect and atmosphere that we intended to portray.

An abstract 4/6 of the Drool Bits Team.

Take a look at our final product for this assignment and feel free to give me your feedback and comments. The members of Drool Bits Productions look forward to these responses.



Moving away from that now.

Christmas is around the corner, but with a difference. The global financial crisis has indeed affected the bulk of consumers, both in physical spending power as well as psychological security.

Take a quick walk down down and you'll see that companies are doing their best to entice the wary consumers this festive season. From vivid decorations to "too-good-to-be-true" promotions, manufacturers and companies are going all out to get the sales they project for the period.

Marketers are truly put to the test.

I was in town recently and quite honestly, didn't understand the severity of the crisis until I began to observe what was actually happening.

The moment I stepped onto the cobbled sidewalks of the infamous shopping belt of Singapore, Christmas songs sung by a choir, filled the air with joy, hope and happiness; a typical Christmas scene, in short.

Little did I realize at that time that the source of the music wasn't from an actual Christmas choir but from multiple speakers planted onto the Christmas decorations which dotted the shopping belt.

I've also noticed the abundance of salvation army stands set up at regular intervals along the belt, with distinct bells to attract the public's graze and hopefully, with a few dollars to spare.

Few donated, partly due to the financial crisis but also partly due to the controversial charity fraud incident which happened a while back; trust amongst the people have yet to be earned.

Consumers are more wary about their spending ability due to the financial situation.

Certainly, the current crisis has put a drape on the festive atmosphere and rightly so. With higher demands of living, it isn't exactly easy to get by these days.

And on to more lighthearted content.

I've noticed quite a number of "Christmas Lists" springing up amongst the other blogs and pages which I visited and thought it would be interesting to do a personal list for myself.

So Here goes;

Christmas List 101

(non-material items)
1. Happiness
2. Emotional Stability
3. Health
4. An end to suffering everywhere
5. To build and bond with friends and family
6. A clearer mind in preparation for the new year ahead
7. People around me to be satisfied with their lives
8. Freedom

Cliche as it may seem, I feel very strongly about the above aspects as that is what really matters to us as human beings in essence.

However, here's the more material list, for good measure;

(material)
1. Nikon D60 (or something along those lines)
2. A decent Drum kit (but not really due to space constrains)
3. I can't really think of anything else
4. Oh yea here's one, Cowbells (for my Welcome to the Jungle drum cover)

Just for the record, number 1 on the material list is already in acquisition as I'm currently saving up/working and also, striking a compromise with my Dad (who is mildly interested in the product himself) for a decent entry grade DSLR.

I'm still open for comments as to which model I should get so feel free to supplement me with advice and feedback.

As for number 2 and 4, I'm sure Santa would have his work cut out lugging around a 5 piece drum kit on board his little reindeer cart thing, so I'll work towards a solution to purchase it myself, a long term thing though.

I have hopes for Christmas as with everyone else. A season for giving, as they call it but most importantly, a season to be jolly.

The family's Christmas tree still lies packed in the storage room since last year and quite honestly, I'm not too sure myself if it's gonna be out this time.

Be sure to check back for updates this festive season. Everyone might be on holiday, but here at metallic-stains, we work while on holiday.

So buckle up your coats, ready your wellingtons and dig up those ear muffs as Christmas is upon us.

Let us smile for all that's worth.

Happy Christmas! (in advance)

Cya'll later.

*All the images, pictures and video as seen in this post here on metallic-stains is the result of an affiliation between Drool Bits Productions and the management team of metallic-stains.blogspot.com. Usage of material or content from this post without the knowledge of either Drool Bits Productions or the metallic-stains management team is at the user's risk and legal action may be taken depending on the consequence. The people at Drool Bits Productions and metallic-stains.blogspot.com wishes everyone a safe and happy holiday.

"Your Crazy Kitten Smile"
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Song of the Post


Now playing: Radiohead - True Love Waits
via FoxyTunes

The Missing Piece

Sometimes we just need to sit back and think about that missing piece.

I've noticed that my posts are getting more and more irregular and infrequent (about one post weekly). But rest assured, this can be solely accredited to the huge influx of work being thrown on us as the holidays draw near.

Christmas holidays to be exact.

More content will be available once time frees up and quite honestly, I can't wait for the Christmas holidays. But then again, who can? I'm sure all of us would welcome the soon-to-be-here break with huge open arms.

The pass few days were largely interesting to me as an individual, personally and professionally. Largely due to a particular assignment given which required photographs to be taken, whilst at the same time, following the specific theme.

For 3 consecutive days, I've been lugging through the distinct landmarks of Singapore, in hopes of finding the shots that are required for the assignment as well as for personal interest.

Interestingly, the more shots I took for the assignment, the more I found myself attuned to the novelty of photography. I've always been an admirer of great photographs but never really about the process of capturing the picture but this assignment has certainly changed my perception.

I've learnt that there are various elements to taking a good photograph and that it isn't as simple as to "aim and shoot". A good photographer will have to possess key attributes such as patience and a good eye of perception.

Certainly no walk in the park but its certainly an interest worth considering (though a costly one).

And now, on to today's topic.

Ever felt that a little something is missing at a particular period, a particular place or a particular designation during your life?

We live in a fast paced society and there's certainly no denying that. From the time we take our first step into education until the day we pack the office and leave for home after completing the last day of work, I'm safe to say that we live a pacy life.

However, let us now take a step back, ignore the pacy demands of life and ponder over the missing piece.

I'm sure that many a time, we've had the feeling of "a little something missing".

You have just finished your novel but as you read through the narrative, you find that there is "a little something missing"; The painting that you've been working on is finally completed, but as you sit back to admire your work, you find that it lacks "a little something".

A void of substance is often accredited to this "missing piece". We know the empty space is there, but somehow, we don't and we are unable to find something to fit that missing space, inch for inch, prim and proper.

I feel that this can be referenced to multiple aspects of life; Work, businesses, products, relationships, family and the such.

The list goes on and on.

It is interesting that we, as human beings, are such peculiar creatures on this level. As the "missing piece" is hard to find, many give up without even trying. While in some other cases, the missing piece literally walks into your life but goes unnoticed through the oblivious human perception.

People, things and opportunities walk right into our lives, but will we take it?

Life is a journey that contains imperfections, mistakes as well as obstacles. Some say that life is a puzzle. Yes, we can say that life is like huge puzzle, but I'd like to think of life as an "un-completable" puzzle, divided into numerous segments.

To find the "missing piece" in life, one has to look and observe and most importantly, treasure the things we already have while working towards the things we want to achieve.

Its like taking a good picture, where one has to find the "missing element" in a setting and portraying that element effectively in a picture. Sure, identifying whatever's missing is by far, an audacious task, but it is through these experiences which will make us stronger and improve.

Thus, identify the emptiness and seek to find an answer for it. Search for that special missing piece to make your segment of the puzzle complete.

I'll end here for now, a little food for thought through the topic, I hope. Assignment awaits.

As per normal, I'll be updating with new content soon so stay tuned and check back in abit.

One more week towards the much deserved holidays, let us all hang in there and make that final dash to the checkpoint.

Cya'll later.

*All pictures as seen in this post belongs to the management team of metallic-stains.blogspot.com. Plagiarism without consent will result in undesirable consequences.

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Song of the Post


Now playing: Taking Back Sunday - Make Damn Sure
via FoxyTunes

5 Hours and the Farmer's conclusion

5 hours; that is how much sleep I'm getting on average for the past couple of weeks (not including weekends).

Its time for your weekly update here on metallic-stains but before that, allow me to share a couple of images which I collected over the past weeks. My less than impressive "portfolio", if you must.

"Irony"

This picture is filled with a cross of culture; where modernization meets tradition. We have a Lamborghini to the left of the picture, while a couple of Trishaws (and their riders) to the right.

To me personally, I feel that this picture describes change from a very abstract point of view. A mix of cultural, technological and societal change is the main theme of the picture as viewers get to see the contrast between the modern day mode of transport to the modest equivalent of the past.

The picture exudes an aura of thought and contrast between the two ends of the spectrum which will thus create a sense of irony, giving reason to the title of the picture.

"The Fall"

Shot at the Marina Bay area, One Fullerton to be exact and to be totally honest, I was blown away (literally) at the massive storm clouds which massed around the area that time.

This picture gives the viewers a sense of destructiveness and chaos which Mother Nature is capable of. A feeling of impending doom also radiates from this picture as grim and intimidating looking clouds frame the distinct skyline of the tall establishments there.

It also gives me a very desolated feel, as if hinting at the world's end. Sadness is also evident as with destruction comes the due emotive responses.

"Contrast"

Shot taken at around the same time as the previous picture, at the exact same location.

I find this one particularly interesting as it shows a whole world of difference; as if light meets dark. One hand, we see massively grim looking storm clouds gathering while on the other, light and peace pervades the atmosphere. Another apt title would have been along the lines of "Peace before the Storm".

This one struck me as a picture filled with the theme of conflict. Very often in life, we face conflicts, differences and stark changes. In a way, this picture hits at the battle between "light" and "dark", thus invoking the feel of conflict. Life is, in a way, similar to this picture for we are constantly on the move and thus are subjected to change inadvertently.


Alright, hope you guys enjoyed that little "photo-presentation" as much as I did while taking the pictures.

As mentioned at the beginning of the post, its been a rather hectic week (as with usual protocol) in school but thankfully, the weekends are here.

This is an interesting fact though. Many a time, we find ourselves on a Monday morning, stuck on a train packed with working class individuals all around, as they somehow manages to lug themselves out of bed and to work and you think to yourself "wished the weekends came sooner".

In that sense, the weekends are converted into temporarily motivating factors, which can be also termed, Motivators.

Day by day, our mind is boosted by the fact that the weekends are getting nearer and nearer and when you wake up on a Friday morning, you know you've made it through the week.

I guess its human nature to have such unorthodox sources of motivation, which is really interesting and thought provoking at that.

So yea, a little food for thought for the soul never hurts.

Moving on to some light hearted material.

One of the more interesting shirt labels I've seen.

Was in the shower a couple of minutes back and my shirt label caught my attention. There was a little description on it and here's what it said:

"The nice guys get washed away
Like the snow and the rain
There’s been a load of compromising
On the road to my horizon
I’m gonna be where
The lights are shining on me"

Yup, I know. You're probably having the same exact reaction as I did after reading this off the shirt label. Certainly one of the more interesting ones I've come across so far.

Really interesting stuff.

Alright, and now for a short conclusion for the "Discretion or Inspiration?" narrative which was posted awhile back.

Thank you all, for the feedback and comments on the narrative, looking forward to more responses. Feel free to "follow" or subscribe to metallic-stains via the options to the left side of the page.

Here goes;

"

A year had passed after the chain of events in the previous chapter and we start on a familiar corner in the marketplace set in the countryside.

The smell of spring was evident in the air as the light scent of fragrance flourished everywhere. The crowds had also returned but curiously, the marketplace had also seemingly grew in size and population; a rare occurrence as the people seldom stayed in the countryside for long.

A distinct tinkle of bells differentiated itself from the buzz of activity of the masses, who were busy with trade or purchases.

There at the corner, the Shepard stood, with the same amount of grace and demeanor as she always had, staff in hand.

Her gaze shifted from person to person as she surveyed and observed the crowd in the marketplace; this spring had brought new visitors as well as residents.

The Shepard made her move as she glided through the shifting mass of people and made her way through the crowds easily, the bells on her staff tinkling with every step she took.

She soon reached the outskirts of the marketplace and with a final glance back, she turned and walked into the vast plains of the countryside. Her footsteps light and quick, as if rushing to meet with someone.

Soon, the familiar sound of her herd greeted her as she crossed a ruined field, once a plantation and there in the middle of the vast field, a large house made out of bricks stood sturdily as golden rays of sun painted it in a shade of bright yellow.

*

Beads of sweat descended upon the wooden floors of the workshop. The Farmer leaned against a table as he slowly knocked the rough edges of the wood work that he's been working on for the past hour.

The tinkle of bells which he became so accustomed to in recent times made him stop and look up. He dropped his tools and stepped into the golden sunlight which bathed the the countryside.

*

Night soon fell upon the countryside. The Farmer settled for supper while the Shepard sat, quietly staring at him as he took the roasted chicken out of the oven, with due fragrance coming along with it.

A small smile framed the Shepard's face as the Farmer sat down. Her eyes met his and there was always this special connection between them; a connection indescribable by words alone.

It has thus been like this since the tragic incident a year back. Though the scars of those events will forever be etched in the Farmer's mind, he is thankful for this new rite of life but more importantly, the Shepard, for it was her who rescued him from the jaws of oblivion and it was her who stood by him all this while as he got his life back on track.

Now a year later, things have changed considerably in the countryside; people no longer left during the winter due to the availability of wool from the Shepard's herd and trade was booming and growing.

But for the Farmer, material indulgences are insignificant, for the greatest gift of all sat right in front of him at the dinner table, staring right into his eyes.

Lets Eat, the Farmer said, as a smile sneaked out through the corner of his mouth.

"

Hope you guys enjoyed the conclusive installment for the narrative. Unfortunately due to the excessive length constrains (as well as my energy level), I'm not able to fully develop and elaborate as much as I wanted to.

But nevertheless, I hope the narrative has brought a breath of fresh air and a little something to think about.

Okay, time for me to recharge my energy level and snooze the night away (whatever's left of the night anyway).

Remember to check back for updates and articles. Till then.

Cya'll later.

*All pictures as seen in this post strictly belongs to the owner of metallic-stains.blogspot.com and its management team. All rights reserved.

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Song of the Post

Now playing: The Beatles - A Day in the Life
via FoxyTunes

Welcome to the Polytechnic

Just in the the mood for a little editorial/promotional post for this update on metallic-stains. Read on to find out more...

"

Work, Work.

Introductory Address:

Congratulations on your graduation from secondary education. It must have been a grueling past couple of months for all of you out there who has been seamlessly hard at work, in preparation for the much dreaded O' level examinations.

Well, you've finally done it and here you are, standing at a crossroad between distinctly different paths, paths that will change and script your life from this new chapter of tertiary education and beyond. Certainly, much thought and deliberation must be put before you make your choice.

There are different paths to take en route to the first step towards tertiary education, though in our highly demanding society as such, results are the basis (more often than not) of qualification.

However, allow me, in less than 2 minutes of your precious time, try and convince (or so to speak) you, as an individual, why the option of a Polytechnic is both enticing and promising as a education prospect (with deep reference to the institution I'm currently studying at).

The Wide Spectrum of Expertise:

A polytechnic can be defined as an institution devoted to technical and industrial education and though this may seem unappealing in the past, it is fast adopting itself into the educational journey of Singapore's landscape.

Today, more and more people are willing to commit to polytechnics due to the flexibility, environment as well as the wide spectrum of skills taught through a myriad of courses available.

Love the Media? Why not choose a mass communication course, where you'll learn more about how the media functions, works and operates. You'll also be equipped with valuable skills and proficiencies needed for the industry.

From Business to Designing, Information Technology to Health Sciences. Polytechnics are certainly stepping it up a notch by improving both the quality and quantity of courses in which newly grads get to choose from.

It is thus safe to say that from whatever viewpoint you take, Polytechnics will certainly fulfill your interest and future industrial needs.

Future Potential:

Many universities around the world and locally have seen an increased intake from polytechnics. So upon reception of your diploma (depending on your results), you'll have the option of either stepping early into the industry or pursuing further and higher levels of education.

And since you're already "ready-made" for the industry, industries of the appropriate fields will be acceptable.

A Day in the Life:

Moving away from official dynamics, I'm pretty sure the rest of the relevant information can be found in your average "poly-promotion" flier so I'll talk about something which most (if not all) fliers miss out; the true lifestyle of students in Polytechnics.

Many perceive the typical poly life as
- Relaxed
- Fun
- Innovative
- Interesting
- University-like (in terms of freedom and orientation)

But no positive is possible without negatives like
- Slack (which means there's no need for work to be done)
- Full of negative influences
- A lack of future prospects

I feel that the positives speak for themselves as indeed, the poly lifestyle can be fun and enriching at the same time for the individual.

However, the negatives are attributed to the common misconceptions of modern society (in local context) and personally I feel that the poly life is NOT entirely composed to such negatives.

A typical poly day will start (depending on your timetable) at varying times of the day. Be it at 8am or 6pm, it is rather fluid in polytechnics.

There are 3 different types of classification for the mode of educational delivery, mainly;
- Lectures
- Tutorials
- Lab Sessions (Subjective)

For me personally, a typical day may be composed of something like this;
- Head to first lesson of the day, Lecture
- Break for Lunch with fellow classmates
- Head for after-lunch Tutorial/Lab Session
- End School
- Attend meetings and discussions for various Projects
- Head home
- Start on tutorials and projects given
- Rinse and repeat

How are we graded in Polytechnics? Well simply put, Polytechnics are very much project based and that often means working with different groups of people, on different projects, which can be a very good experience.

Of course there are your typical exams for certain modules, depending on its nature.

Awesome Classmates will make your day a lot better.

Ahh, how can I possibly overlook one of the most important aspects of poly life? New friends. For sure, one will be exposed to different people from all walks of life and thus in a way, widen horizons.

Friendships will be fostered and these relationships will be a significant part in poly life (or in life in general) and certainly will stay with you, etched in memory for a long time to come.

I personally feel that self discipline is vital while in a Polytechnic simply accredited to the fact that you will undoubtedly, have a lot of spare time on your hands. In a way, the poly life will be an interesting change for those who crave for the learning environment with a difference.

So you know where you are?

You're in the Poly

But no,

You're not gonna die.

"

I hope you guys enjoyed my little promotional review (in a way) that I put together as seen above. Apologies for the length and for readers who are not targeted in the context, apologies at that too.

Well the past couple of days were as usual, taxing both mentally and physically, as I've always mentioned. A roller-coaster of emotions for me personally with reasons which I choose not to disclose.

Winter approaches as the colds gradually stash light and warmth away for a couple of months. Well actually, it isn't that bad. I personally enjoy the "winter" we're getting here in the tropics of the world, with frequent rains to cool everything down.

The strain of late nights and taxing personal demands have kicked in, in a way, for me. But I guess this is where improvement steps in as a compulsory aspect.

Well, I guess that's pretty much all for this update. My iPhone cable is nowhere to be found and my iPhone is dangerously low on the juices, and partly why I'm saving up content for the next post (as photographs are in the phone, shoot). But trust me it'll be good.

I've also received feedback about metallic-stains which I appreciate very very much. A big thank you to those who supplemented me with thoughts and ways to improve (some of which are currently in consideration with the development team).

Due to the said demand, be sure to check back for the next post as I'll be concluding the previous mini-narrative (Inspiration or Desecration?) to end it off with a "after-content" line of feel.

Before I go, let me post a question in relation to today's main substantive, which I would dearly value feedback upon;

What is your ideal type of tertiary education system?

Feel free to comment via the comments option you see right above the tags for this post. I'll be waiting.

Cya'll later.

"Welcome to the Jungle, We've got fun and games..."

*The owner of this blog is in no way, obliged to write this promotional article and is doing it on his own accord. Readers are advised to treat this post as a reference with "a pinch of salt". The "Song of the Post" belongs to its rightful writer and creator.

----------------

Song of the Post;

Now playing: Guns N' Roses - Welcome to the Jungle
via FoxyTunes

Into the Water

Halloween awesome-ness indeed.

Spent the last couple of days on both ends on the spectrum; leisure and work. Both in epic proportions, if I may so graciously add.

Let us first run through a little update on the work front.

ICAs have been coming in in steady streaks but I guess its business as usual. Work has been taxing of late and rightly so. After all, change breeds improvement doesn't it?

On a side note, I've not been sleeping as I should. Well, not really as I should per se but more like "as much as I should have been sleeping". I rarely sleep before 3am as of recently months and I guess its taking a toll on my body, both physically and mentally.

The upside (or downside, depending how you look at it) though, is that I feel less and less tired even though I'm getting less and less sleep. Guess its the body's way of adapting to circumstances, no matter how harsh it is.

This certainly adds to the resume of the human body (Resilience? Check!) and without a doubt, it is one of the most intricately engineered masterpiece above all.

Moving onto the other side of the spectrum. This is what puts the "f" in "fun".

Darkened eyeliner, smudged mascara and scars left behind. Mildly disturbing indeed.

The party over the weekends was certainly one of the highlights of the week by a long shot.

All in the name of fun (love, peace and joy etc), we came all dressed up in various facades otherwise known as abnormal in typical social situations. From Ginger Spice to Slash, to a guy with slashes on his hands, the party saw a unique flow of attendees.

The Emo Kid strutting off his arms. Slash slashes slashes on slashed hands. The wounds are NOT real.
(But they do look disturbing on camera)

Activities largely revolved around food, socializing as well as the continuous sounds of Guns & Roses being blasted over the stereo system in the form of music videos.

I can safely say that everyone had a good laugh and a nice time there at the party for sure.

Alright, moving on now. I just thought of something which I came up, a couple of days back and thus had decided to add it to this post as part of the update.

It basically depicts a process of sorts. I'm sure everyone has been part of this process, though it goes largely overlooked in current societal contexts.

Here goes...

Picture this;

"

You're standing at the edge of a lake. You look down and you see a grim canopy of water, in shades darkness. You're unsure of your fate or what were you doing, standing at edge, seemingly staring into the face of death.

Should you take the plunge? How deep is the water? Is the water too cold or too hot? Questions as such pop into your mind bit by bit, like a typewriter, it slowly scripts fears into you.

As you prepare to take the jump, you hold your breath and not knowing what to expect, you're in the air. For that brief moment, time had seemed to malfunction and you think to yourself; am I doing the right thing? What will happen of me?

That was weird though, you thought.

Indeed, for you felt as if right before you took the plunge yourself, someone or something had pushed you down. What was it? You have no clue whatsoever.

Then a second thought hit you whist you were in midair; What if I couldn't swim, you thought to yourself, What if I drowned?

Time seemed to stop as sudden as it soon resumed and with a sudden spur, everything was a blur again and that was when you plunged into the water.

"

I'm sure most if not everyone has plunged "into the water" at some point in their lives; it is a common occurrence.

But the issue arises when one is seemingly "pushed" by who or what or something that we don't know. How should we react? Should we even react at all?

There are many aspects which can fit the bill of the "pusher" in this context, the most common accredited to emotions and feelings.

Many a time, our emotions "push" us into situations we don't fancy, don't feel good about, or into situations we feel unsure of; too many a time, in actual fact. But it must be noted that sometime, it is us, ourselves who take the final step off the edge; there was no "push".

A little food for thought then. Hmm...

Time to get back to work, certainly plenty to do. Be sure to check back for updates and articles as always.

Cya'll later.


"... or I'll just end up walking, in the cold November Rain"
----------------



Now playing: Guns N' Roses - November Rain
via FoxyTunes

Use The Force; Harnessing Change

This really just makes us sit back, and wonder if we're truly alone out here.

Sometimes Life grabs you by the feet and what happens? You trip over.

You look back to see what you've tripped upon, you see nothing and thus you move on with your life.

Or is it really how this works?

I guess the situation in our current context would differ vastly from that of mentioned above wouldn't it?

When Life grabs you by the feet and catches you off guard, causing you to trip and fall, will you, will anyone, "move on" just like that?

We cannot hide the fact that in Life, there are bumps, setbacks, problems and dilemmas around every corner, every phase. But let us take a step back and think, is there a greater reason elaborating on the reason for these "inconveniences" in the course of Life?

My last couple of weeks were spent, a huge delegation, to the priority of school work and worldly commitments. My only source of relaxation came from limited sources; music, friends and more importantly, family.

However, I've recently dug into the archives of my rather inadequate movie collection and revisited the epic saga also known as Star Wars.

Being one of my all time favorite production series as well as storyline (not forgetting the mouth watering technological marvels), a hint of nostalgia fitted knowingly into my mind, as I watched the entire series, over the course of weeks of course.

For some, Star Wars may just be another science fiction action series will an awesome (and elaborated) storyline with addictive content and indeed, I can be considered amongst "some". But personally, there is a deep underlying aspect behind this mammoth of a concept that George Lucas had put together.

Amidst a conversation a couple of hours back with my folks (who are, by the way, fans of the series too), this topic of Star Wars' content was brought up. It was mentioned that the storyline and themes of the series were based off those in the real world.

At first, I was skeptical about that claim; how can a movie with flying spaceships, alienated characters and men wielding laser swords replicate the real society? But thinking about it in retrospect, I found truth in that statement.

We cannot hide the fact that there is political tensions in the world we live in and that's the first replication to that of the series. There is an underlying message in the series as it revolves around the accent of politics in the background as a side plot to the main storyline. Manipulation is also evident as a fringe to the story line's themes.

"May the Force be with You"

I'm sure many have heard of this term at some point of their lives, whether its during a geeky online chat or even during your daily trip to the dentist, we cannot hide the influence this phrase has on society, though on a very subtle level.

The Force, however, does exist in real time context; let us view this with a little literal intent encrypted.

As mentioned at the start of this post; if Life grabs you by the legs and causes you to fall, what do you do?

Interestingly, I feel that this "Force" has its truths in this context.

There is no doubt that at some point in our lives, we have always felt like giving up, felt like not making the effort to recover from the fall caused by the bumpy road and as a result, we blame instead of rectify.

Is there a difference?

For sure, in my opinion. When we fall, what do we usually do on first reaction? We think and figure out how we fell. Next, we think about why we fell which will often encompass the negative, but natural, reaction of human beings; to blame.

Individualistically speaking, we react differently from different "falls". This is also dictated via the subject matter in question; "falling" out of love, for instance, will grant a different reaction from "failing" to close a business deal, so to speak.

I now question this intention; what is the purpose of blaming?

Till this day, I cannot safely accredit an answer for that lest the fact of venting frustrations. Naturally, human beings are highly emotive creatures and when we're at a loss, or in a situation of desperation, we automatically seek alternative forms of finding out the "right" solution.

Take this for example;

You enter this wonderful relationship with another individual and the both of you are happy, most of the time. Suddenly, there is a change in things and your partner has to move away, out of the country, thus signaling the end of the union.

You're at a lost, you will thus turn to blaming. Blaming the reality of distance and the fact that he or she has to leave because of that. But have you even thought that there might be another reason, aside from distance (for example), for the "fall"?

Certainly we don't see the un-obvious, for as the term suggests, is not obvious thus often overlooked, but what if there's a reason for everything that happens?

For many, a change in Life is often considered a good example of a "fall".

Like moving to another country for work purposes or as mentioned, getting hurt in a relationship; we often classify these as "falls" thus giving truth that little or no human is comfortable to change.

Fusing both blame and change, we then get this elaborated vicious cycle that limits and weakens the progress of humans individually as well as collectively.

I brought the issue of Star Wars up because I found that aside from the factors mentioned about the emulation of real life aspects, the issue of change and blame is very evident, and in fact, the root of all evil.

Allow me to elaborate.

Remember this little character called Anakin Skywalker? Oh, maybe the name "Darth Vader" would clear off some confused faces (if you don't know the plot, you might want to consider watching the series and/or reading up for a tint of the plot).

In a way, this entire storyline focuses on him; his founding, his development, his manifestation as well as ultimately, his end. A particular quote from the film that I found really insightful;

"Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering..."

Indeed, for the root of all evils starts from a change, which induces fear into him. This then paves the way for blame to step in as Anakin along the plot, starts blaming for the things around him and his situation, instead of his own wrong doings which is evident in the final climatic scene in Episode III, Revenge of the Sith, where an exasperated Obi-Wan says:

"You (Anakin) were the Chosen One! It was said that you would, destroy the Sith, not join them. It was you who would bring balance to the Force, not leave it in Darkness"

All of this with ultimately led to Anakin's suffering, as he ventures towards the dark side of the Force.

Which brings me to the next point of this topic.

I would largely like to believe that the "Force" does exist in Life, though not in the dramatic form you see in the movie. Everyone has this Force from within themselves, just that few can understand and truly master its potential.

The Force to me, is simply a way of thinking. It can be considered, to a certain extent, the very thing that drives you, the very thing that you live by and the very thing that you believe in.

Very so often during the various movies of Star Wars, we see the Jedi Knights in terrible situations, in need of their lightsaber. Which is when they call upon the Force to psychically summon the lightsaber.

Though this makes a good effect in the movie and fantasy world, I believe that there are real connotations to that subject matter.

Think of your lightsaber as something you need very badly. Something that, in the given situation, you require urgently and the Force as your mind.

Say for example, you really need a car for that Saturday night date you've been planning since first grade. That becomes your "lightsaber".

What do you do?

By using the Force to reach for the "lightsaber", which may result you in getting a part time job to raise the funds, or any action taken to obtain that "lightsaber".

Indeed we can classify the Force as a way of thinking but then again, I feel that subjectivity plays a part in this argument as everyone has different interpretations of the Force.

The constant fear of change, viewed in another perspective is just a way of moving another step up the stairway of life.

With the problem (fear of change) as well as the solution (using the Force) presented, it is now down to the matter of applying the solution to the problem.

Many a time, we are faced with the prospect of change and as mention, are naturally not acceptable to them. So what do we do?

Its all in the mind, I usually assure myself. Even if my "lightsaber" is something deemed too radical or hard to achieve, I'd still use the Force.

In a way, I feel that Life is, blatantly put, Change. Which makes perfect sense as Life encompasses a myriad of problems, big and small. Thus we must be susceptible to change and this can be achieved via the harnessing of the Force, in doing so bridging the gap between problem and solution.

An old quote from The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho states (and I'm sure I've mentioned it previously);

"If you want something bad enough, the entire universe will conspire for you to get it"

That, I feel, relates strongly to this "Force", when viewed from a certain aspect. Harness the change, eradicate fears and use the Force to achieve the seemingly impossible.

So the next time Life grabs you by the feet and you fall, learn from that experience and move on with the Force and your "lightsaber" set in your mind. Only then, will you propel up the endless steps of improvement set along the stairway of Life.


*The owner of this blog and author of this does NOT own any of the images you see in this particular post. Any related references made to "Star Wars" is purely nonprofitable and credit is reserved for the creator of the content as mentioned. The author and owner for this post, along with its management team, does not have any affiliations to the company behind "Star Wars".

----------------

Now playing: Cute Is What We Aim For - Lyrical Lies
via FoxyTunes

Discretion or Inspiration? (Part 2)

A place where no one dwells, where nature is untouched, where troubles are non-existent, where dreams live and where hope is alive.

Just a quick mid week update, though the main purpose of this post is to complete the narrative as seen in the previous post.

Life never fails to amaze. Well, at least for me. I've come to realize that there's more then meets the eye to life than "making money and dying peacefully". I mean we see "death" everyday (in the media, for starters) so I guess the society's already shaped and crafted in such a way that we discredit the true meaning of life in general.

Achieving dreams might seem like something out of a novel but I can assure you that it is very real. So real in fact, that even we, fail to notice its prominence.

Its good to dream, its good to aim and its good to plan your life. But what drives it is action, motivation as well as direction.

Dreams and ambitions do come true.

Oh well, on a lighter note, I realize that there is evident change in my sleeping pattern; I'm able to draw larger amounts of energy from lesser amounts of sleep. Something tells me that this isn't exactly what you'll define as a "healthy" lifestyle.

Hmm...

Alright, now for the finale on the previous running narrative. We'll pick it up right where we left; just as the farmer was about to fall asleep (the irony).


"

The morning will bring new hope, the farmer thought to himself as he climbed onto his bed as fell asleep. A soft rumble, barely audible, vocalized in a distance just as the farmer fell asleep...

(END OF PART 1)

-

A cruel dawn broke out against the countryside and though the morning had come, the golden sunshine that the people have grown accustomed to was nowhere to be found. Instead, a huge ominous cloud of enormous statue loomed over the vast fields of the countryside, many of which ripen and ready to harvest.

It was all calm, too calm and then, it was here.

A sudden impulse, and all hell broke loose. The farmer started into consciousness and jumped from his bed. A quick glance outside revealed only one thing as emotion gripped him like a predator on its prey; fear.

So all that talk about a storm and floods were true, the farmer thought to himself as he threw some clothes on, preparing for the worse while he did so.

As if on cue, the first drop of water from the sky descended with the loud complement of thunder in the sky. A light drizzle soon followed, peppering the fields with a dash of water, signaling something of a greater magnitude to follow.

The farmer could hear the light patter of rain falling upon the shack's frail, but sustainable roof; it often leaked. The tempo of the raindrops slowly increased as with the rate of his heartbeat.

-

With rain beating down harshly upon the farmer's already soaked overalls, the farmer didn't slow down for a minute as he repeated a simple chain of actions; pluck, dump into bag, move on to next harvest.

His mind however, was involved in a mix battle of conflict from within, as question after question filled his already troubled mind, deliberating about his actions and the consequence.

As if emphasizing on the already grim situation, streaks on lightning framed the livid skyline, thunder roaring as if in accomplice.

-

Time passed seemingly slow but the rain had only beat down with renewed vigor. And by now, the farmer's fatigue reached an all time low. His movements were sluggish and clumsy.

Bit by bit, his vision clouded. Was it the rain thickening? Or was it just after storm mist which shrouded his surroundings? He mumbled to himself, obviously in delirium and much suffering and torment.

The skies struck once more. A flash of pure energy hit home and the farmer felt the ground shaking, as if shattered by the powerful force of nature itself.

The world around him turned to black.

-

The countryside saw the worse storm that day, one of the most destructive in recent years.

Homes had to be rebuilt, harvest re-cultivated, and hopes had to be re-established. That year also saw the quietest mid autumn festival in the countryside; many lives were ruined and many others stripped of faith.

Few gathered around the traditional mid autumn bon-fire, which didn't looked as impressive as it was last year.

Already the countryside prophets predicted that the torrent of rain that struck the country a couple of days ago was only a fraction of what the year's winter would encompass and rage.

A light chime made its way amongst the small mass gathered there, seeking the last source of warmth before the harsh winter.

Voices were hushed and soft for everyone gathered and prayed softly. There were no feasts. There were no decorations, nor were there any song and dances; everyone provided with whatever little they have left from the storm.

As the Shepherd stepped into the circle that has been made around the minute bon-fire, the voices slowly focused from a distortion of mumbles.

"I heard that a farm on the outskirts..." said one.

"Yes, I've heard it too." Another commented.

"totally destroyed, that one" came the answer.

"The creator blesses them"

The Shepherd's curiosity got to her as she strained to eavesdrop further (no one talked to her as they found no use for her, largely due to her trade).

Sleepless nights had eroded her; her eyes looked tired, her face looked haggard and her hands were shaky. But nothing deteriorated more then her mind. Day and night, she kept thinking about that encounter with that farmer she encountered.

Something. Something made her feel that way, as if a voice was calling out to her everyday. But she failed to verbalize whatever that was making her feel this way.

Unknowingly, the Shepherd has wandered to a desolated spot which looked vaguely familiar to her. A feeling of deja-vu gripped her tightly as she replayed the encounter in her head. There was something about those eyes.

She then saw it. Right there, as if unaffected by the torrent of rain over the period of the pass few days; an apt comparison of the persistent feelings that eluded her all this time.

She knew what to do.

-

A cloud of smoke cleared and the smell of burnt wood was pervading the usually fragrant countryside air.

The farmer was kneeling in front of what looked like the remains of the shack he once lived in, tears welling up in the eyes as he looked in agony.

His shirt was stained with mud for he had fainted just as the rain climaxed a few days back. He had awoken with the devastation before he eyes; his ruined harvest, ravaged fields and more importantly, his destroyed shack.

His parents though, weren't anywhere to be found and he wept at the prospect of them being amongst the charred ruins.

-

The clouds above soon cleared and the countryside saw the first glimpse of the golden sun's rays through the canopy of clouds that raged its anger upon the countryside.

Slowly, golden rays illuminated the countryside, the vast pastures, the lush trees and the green grass, laden with water over the pass couple of days.

A tint of golden fell on the broken farmer as he wept before the devastation, with it, a soft, familiar sound of bells rang from afar.

The farmer doubted his ears but his vision could deceive him no more; a silhouette along the horizon against the setting sun confirmed his thoughts.

She's here, he said.

(End of Part 2)

"

Alright that's all for this part. I must say that a considerable amount of thought was put into this episode so I hope you guys enjoy it as much I writing it.

On a random note, its freaking cold where I am so.

Time for dinner but before I take my leave, I would like to share a particular song, as seen below, to all my readers out there.

Feel free to feedback about the narrative as you deem fit and I'm considering a follow up quite soon.

Cya'll later.

"These words were never easier to say, or her to second guess"

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Now playing: Mayday Parade - Miserable At Best
via FoxyTunes