The Education Medium

Complication leads to Beauty.

Teaching is never easy, with much variation from the saying "those who can't do, teach".

In my opinion, teaching and educating is one of, if not, the most demanding profession in the world. A big claim I know but few of you guys out there might agree.

Just reminisce and think back on the times when in school, especially high school, where your inner child would unleash himself or herself, much to the disdain and inconvenience to teachers and educators alike.

I'm guilty of that, and I'm sure many of you guys out there are too. Looking back, those memories are certainly amusing yet interesting to ponder over.

For me, my interpretation of teaching constitutes to commitment and that would mean passion; passion comes naturally with commitment. And being a part time educator myself, I've seen my fair share of hair pulling moments.

Take the session today (well, Thursday) for example. I guess my limits were tested and this is why I've always admired educators; they're able to extend their personal limits to boundaries which no ordinary human profession can.

To Learn and to Understand.

On a personal level, I've experience my fair share of awesome as well as not so awesome educators in my course of education for the pass, (pause to count the years) 12 years or so (including kindergarten, yea I know).

Thankfully, I've been more exposed to positive influences in the form of educators rather than those of the opposite spectrum. From those who literally became my "day care mother" to those who deeply inspired me, each and everyone of them etched in my mind.

There has always been this "power distance" between educators and students, an unknown "rule" between both parties (but more prominently amongst students). At lower levels of education, this is especially obvious, well for me at least.

During my days of primary education, I've always thought and looked at teachers with this aura like thing; teachers and students are not allowed to have friendships amongst the other, like how they treat their peers.

It a good thing though, I feel. For one, that certain level of respect is cultivated and it is definitely something that every human being will need to know and learn.

However as I progress through the levels of education, I noticed a change in this "power distance", especially my recent graduation to tertiary education.

At higher levels of education, we find that the distance between educator and student lessens. Lessens, but does not cease to exist, which can be a common but dangerous perception.

I feel that as that distance lessens, students and educators build closer bonds amongst each other and that is good, and healthy.

The declination comes when this distance is totally ignored.

As mentioned, it does NOT cease to exist and some people overlook that fact and the result? That level of respect is lost.

They say that respect is earned, and that everyone lives to be respected to a certain level. And when respect is lost, people feel violated, offended and insulted and that's where things go out of hand.

I guess that line has to be very distinctly drawn, the line that signifies and differentiates respect and building a relationship.

Underrated as it seems, I really feel that educators deserve all the credit that we can give them. After all, it is they who teach and educate, isn't it?

Well, that's that for a little update, on to the more realistic side of life.

I realize that this and the previous post were all themed around education and the such. I guess that might be a little mundane and dry but hey, we cannot deny the fact that its something each and every single one of us is exposed to can we?

On the lighter side, I foresee that next Tuesday, 10 of March, will be a really really good day, cause yet another awesome (in my opinion, haters feel free to dis) band is coming to town!

Lonely Road, their latest release.

Yes, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus.

I've been a (loyal) listener of their works since a couple of years ago and these guys are certainly one of the first few alternative/post hardcore bands that I listened to, so certainly an influence there.

Their latest release may come off as a little "pop-ish" and "mainstream", but all in all, a change in direction for the band, which may or may not be a good thing.

It still strikes a good chord with me though, so its all good. Be sure to check out their music on myspace or youtube, if you're interested (and go get the tickets if you're really up for it).

Alright, I guess that's it for this little update check back for updates and the lot. More good stuff to follow, I promise.

Till then, Godspeed.

*the owner of metallic-stains is in no way affiliated with the band as mentioned in this post but does express support in their music and style of expression. All songs and references made belong to the band and all rights belong to their respective owners.

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Now playing: The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus - You Better Pray
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".

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

i(am)Here

A little something happened on a certain weekend, during a certain time, at a certain place...

Its like telling the world that you've just bought an Apple product and you're loving it (which is largely true).

This is it.

I totally dig the packaging; its really attractive. Two separate boxes overlapping one another, in sleek black finishing, of course.

The iPhone 3G. And its finally within my possession. *inserts evil laughter here*

*

Well yea, a couple of days back, I took action and purchased the new Apple iPhone 3G. Loads of consideration were put into this consumer purchase process before I made my decision; some of you guys might recall my dilemma which I brought up, a couple a posts back.

Trust me, it was a largely intensive and volatile process as I had to carefully weigh the pros and cons of the purchase as compared to other products of either the same function and use.

It wasn't easy.

But in the end, I decided to pursue the trends of tomorrow and also due to the added fact of the new semester's workload, I'm sure the iPhone will fulfill whatever tasks its entrusted with and in doing so, maximizing its potential for use and improvement of efficiency.

Ta-dah!

My purpose of this post is mainly to help potential iPhone users, or rather, to warn them of the limitations as well as the (huge) benefits of the iPhone. Though I've been doing a little product research about the iPhone for about 3 months prior to my purchase, I was in for big "surprises" (good and bad) upon my first use of the beautifully crafted device.

Here's why;

Awesome-ness

Need I say more? I'm sure you've been hearing a steady flow of praises about this new product from Apple. From a marketing perspective, Apple has always been at the forefront of branding and positioning, whats more, with their avid use of awareness creation in their promotional tactics, Apple has established itself on a steady foothold in today's technology market.

And the iPhone 3G, doesn't by any means, undermine that fact. But in actual reality, has further consolidated Apple's world dominance on the technological market.

With its sleek appearance, sensitive (but durable) touch screen feature, this device will win tech geeks, as well as babes alike, over in a jiffy.

It isn't all looks though; the iPhone function as well as it looks. With awesome built in features, like the conventional iPod, the ever helpful Google maps, Photo viewer as well as the ever helpful Notepad, it pretty much speaks out for itself.

Its simply:
- an iPod (awesome music player)
- a Street directory
- a photo album
- an organizer
- a mobile device
- a web browser
- a mini computer
- a very sophisticated device

And I've not even started on apps yet.

The presence of the app store is what makes your iPhone different from your Uncle's business mobile device. Apps can do ANYTHING (okay almost anything, think logically). From being a lightsaber (from the app "Lightsaber Unleashed", Star War fans will understand what I'm ranting on about), to having a mobile online chat with your contacts, apps top this crown of gold with beautiful gems.

The iPhone is after all, a mobile device, and does not disappoint. I particularly enjoy the text message interface, which is in the form of a continuous chat orientation, which I'm sure, will be a huge hit to the next generation who are more obsessed in texting on their mobile devices rather than actually talking.

The iPhone is also very interactive. So interactive that I'm surprised that it actually can't talk. Every flick of the finger, tap of the thumb or swipe across the screen results in instant reaction from the iPhone. The brightness of the iPhone is also determined by the light intensity of your surroundings and you can't say that's not awesome.

It makes us wonder if technology can someday, take over the role of humans.

Why it blows (skip this part if you're a delusional Apple fan).

My first problem when I got my iPhone really got me on the nerves. Sure the package and everything else were perfect BUT the instruction manual, if it can be considered one, was really just a piece of "something that told me nothing useful".

For instance (and this was my second problem), I discovered that all my SIM contacts weren't in my iPhone. I looked through the product package and "instruction manual" in hopes of finding possible solutions but were largely in vain. The internet wasn't too helpful.

After a couple of taps and flicks on the iPhone, I finally found out why my SIM contacts weren't in the phone; they weren't imported from my SIM card, yet. Note that the manual or troubleshooting guides weren't able to offer me the solution.

Then comes the issue of the much talked about Battery life of the iPhone. Though this isn't a major issue for me as yet (probably due to my new battery), I foresee the limitations of the iPhone's battery, accredited due to its numerous functions.

Typing has also been a hassle for me though I'm slowly getting the hang of typing via tapping. For conventional cellphone users, it may take awhile to get used to tapping on the iPhone's screen for both speed and precision.

Don't have a stable internet connection? Well that will reduce your iPhone to a simple, "not-so-cool" device. Simply because a load of the iPhone's functions (ie. Maps, App store, Youtube, Safari and more) are internet intensive.

Think of an iPhone without the internet as say, Slash without his guitar or Ronaldo without his soccer boots.

Probably one of the most taxing problems (to me at least), is the absence of the Apple itunes store in the country that I'm living in; Singapore. This means that one of the most important feature of the iPhone, the itunes feature, is rendered totally obsolete until Apple decides to open a store locally.

For now, the app store is the only salvation to this problem.

Technology has its improvements, and thus humans must do the same.

All in all, I feel that the pros outweigh the cons, which is why I decided to purchase the iPhone as compared to the iPod touch or another Sony Phone.

Alright, that's all for this post I guess. Time to go get my accessories now the iPhone feels naked and unprotected. Remember to check back for updates, as well as articles and stay golden, my readers.

Cya'll later.

*Disclaimer. The owner of this blog and its management team holds no relation to the Apple corporation and does not get paid for promoting or analyzing its product(s). All Apple brand names and products belongs solely to the manufacturer and producers.*

People Love seeing other People in Pain

WARNING:
This post contains material and images not suitable for the young or those who have just consumed food. The stuns as described in this post are possible only at the discretion of the person attempting it and all related references made to the show/movie "Jackass" solely belongs to the creator and founder of the production. No person, animal or prominent business enterprise were harmed during the production for the content in this post.

(Insert Theme Music Here)

Title Screen and disclaimer of the show/movie "Jackass". I totally dig their symbol.

A total turnoff huh?

A couple of days ago, a bunch of crazy close buds and I decided, "hey, instead of hanging around aimlessly, lets go eat as much food as our stomachs can hold." (Well, it was actually my persistent request).

We headed to Sakae Sushi for a little afternoon buffet which proved worth both the time and money; a rough estimate of $17 for the quantity equivalent to two meals or so.

That, however, wasn't the bottom line.

About three quarters into our meal, we decided to "spice" things up and the kid within us took over. A couple of my friends decided to "dare" the rest of us to undertake and consume a vile concoction of Japanese spices (namely Wasabi and Ginger slices, due to the fact that we were in a Japanese Restaurant at that time).

"Eat this and drinks will be on me."

Awesome. Free drinks. Though consuming the concoction was pointless and somewhat treacherous, I decided to give it a go. The picture above is the result of my 3rd concoction.

Looks horrible doesn't it?

Quite awhile back, I stumbled (or was introduced, more rather) to a series entitled "Jackass" which was broadcast on MTV. It featured a group of daring (and often regarded as "crazy") people who performed crazy and often obscene stunts.

They would do things like riding bicycles up stairways, wear funny costumes down streets and during this particular episode, one of the members of the "crazy family", Steve-O, attempted to swallow a live goldfish down into his stomach which he then proceeded to vomit out, with the fish still alive and swimming. (For those interested, do a search on Youtube for little clips and snippets of various stunts)

From a media business's point of view, Jackass is a genius masterstroke. Mainly due to the fact that it operates on a very simple theory in business; Low costs, High profits.

Why is this so?

A lecturer of mine managed to shed some light on the reason as to why the show was able to do so well;

People Love seeing other People in Pain.

And in retrospect to what he told us, I found truth in that statement which I subject to the human nature. I guess in a way, the human behavior yields humor in seeing other people getting hurt, a satisfaction of sorts.

Yea. As compared to the stuff on Jackass, I'm sure what I pulled off back at the Japanese restaurant is insignificant. But there was one other major difference too.

The people who star in Jackass actually enjoy being there. They enjoy getting hurt, they enjoy doing stuff people would consider stupid and most importantly, they enjoy whatever they're doing.

To them, the greatest reward isn't money, fame or anything physical. It is the satisfaction of being able to complete a stunt and laugh their butts off while doing so.

To the normal majority, it may seem like stupidity but I feel that its something deeper. Its about enjoying something you do and getting a huge laugh out of it. This also constitutes to being different, stepping and standing out and making a point. And for this fact, I admire the guys from Jackass.

Sure life isn't by any means, a joke. But it isn't an emotional void either.

The greatest reward isn't physical and as in my case, I'm sure that without the reward of drinks on the house, I wouldn't even want to consider sampling the concoction. In a way, this is something that the seemingly "crazy" guys from Jackass understand, giving reason to whatever they're doing.

To me, the only thing that replicates such an attitude is the sole reason to the fabrication of my bucketlist, which by the way, is recently updated and can be viewed here, http://metallic-stains.blogspot.com/2008/04/its-like-well-new-goal-in-life.html

The society has a perception that "doing something different and stupid is totally pointless and outcast".

I feel that we should develop our own perceptions and look beyond the surface and be less superficial. Release our filters and stereotypical perceptions as the world should be embraced with its full purpose.

Alright, I'll stop here for now; plenty to digest I'm sure (no pun intended).

Remember to check back soon for updates not forgetting articles. The new semester is about the unfold and personally, there's no better time for it.

Cya'll later.

Pop Culture, Stereotypes and Californication

This picture doesn't belong to me but I thought it would be really interesting to include in today's post due to its relevance.

I came across this picture you see above while surfing for images about stereotypes and pop culture.

I've been thinking about the media's influence on society, both on a negative and positive foundation. Indeed, it is very interesting to fashion and chart societal trends based on the media's influences.

Has our society deteriorated to such a state where trends and routes are charted based on whatever that's coming out of the television channels or radio stations?

To some extent, I believe that the media can be considered a tool to lead as well as to assert certain ideologies into the typical society. The evident presence of "pop culture" is an obvious symptom that the society is very much influenced by the media.

Pop culture is actually, Popular culture in short and simply put, it refers "contemporary lifestyle and items that are well known and generally accepted" (as cited from dictionary.com). And by the term "generally accepted", I can safely assume that it means "generally accepted" by the society.

An intervention?

Certainly so as the media is the one which defines and tells the society of what's "generally accepted". Things like profanities are often shun upon in society as with certain issues like homosexuality, freedom of speech and even parenting issues.

We see pop cultures everyday, right from the minute you wake up as the radio blares from the kitchen while your mother makes you breakfast till the time comes for bed in the evening, with the late night news flashing images of destruction, chaos and poverty around the world.

We then come to the issue of stereotypes.

This, I feel, is a largely interesting topic to talk about. Especially since there are such a big myriad of different societal stereotypes that at some point their lives, everyone will be classified as a certain stereotype.

Again, we see stereotypes everyday and largely deduced from the way a person carries himself/herself and the general physical appearance as perceived by the general society.

Lets look at a couple of examples to start with;


Case 1: A teenager with streaks of red in his hair standing outside a train station smoking.

Case 2: A blonde having trouble at the counter with her payment causing a huge delay at the lines of a supermarket.

Case 3: A street performer playing the guitar along the underground subway.


I'm sure that most if not all of you have, in some form or another, came across such scenarios.

From the society's viewpoint, the teenager in case 1 would be commonly themed as a "gangster" or an individual with little or no education, someone's who's destined for failure in life. But what if I told you that the person in case 1 was an aspiring and rising young acting talent on the streets of Hollywood?

As with case 2, there is this common stereotype that "all blondes are dumb". But what if I told you that the reason of the delay was due to the lady not being able to find her credit card instead of her wits?

Case 3 is a common scenario. We see someone basking in the underground passageways with his guitar case opened in front of him and we automatically deduce that he's begging for alms. What if that street performer was a rich retiree with nothing more then a deep love for music running in his veins?

We see here that stereotypes are scary as it transforms people into something that they ain't suppose to be.

Personally, I have been the subject of stereotypes, as with my friends and the people around me. I'm sure everyone has been, at some point in their lives.

And I guess that was why the Red Hot Chili Peppers wrote the song "Californication" (as seen/heard here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tn28aGYytxs).

This song tells of the media's negative impact on society, which I feel, demonstrates and illustrates the situation perfectly.

Below is one of my favorite lyrical verses of the song;

It's the edge of the world
And all of western civilization
The sun may rise in the East
At least it settles in the final location
It's understood that Hollywood
sells Californication

Pay your surgeon very well
To break the spell of aging
Celebrity skin is this your chin
Or is that war your waging

[Chorus:]
First born unicorn
Hard core soft porn
Dream of Californication
Dream of Californication

There are various issues being talked (or sung, rather) about here. Things like Plastic Surgery, Hollywood and Pornography. The rest of the song talks about other social issues like natural disasters, the credibility of space travel and even teenage pregnancies.

The term Californication derives from California, the State (or was it county, I'll need verification on that) which Hollywood is located at.

I appreciate songs like these with deep meaning embedded in their lyrics though it must be noted that one a musical front, the Red Hot Chili Peppers is an awesome band in itself.

Moving slightly away from that, the new school semester is approaching and it spells a new chapter with newer challenges in the field of media.

I hope to revolutionize the media and its function for the better good. The media is a powerful thing in itself and when harnessed correctly, the possibilities are endless.

I foresee the new semester to be tougher than the previous and with good reason too; life is of course, based off improvements. And only then will we be able to develop further and better.

This will also see a personal challenge for me to juggle both my personal and professional mindset together in a delicate pendulum.

I hope you guys have enjoyed this post as much as I did though I have to admit that its a wee bit wordy for an "update" (but too informal for an article post).

But before I end this post, let me post a question back to you guys;

"Do you think that there should be Stereotypes in Society?"

So yea, just a little something for all of you to chew on and think about. I appreciate feedback so I'd love to hear from all of you!

Remember to check back for updates and article posts as I await the coming of the new semester.

Also, my best of wishes for all those who're en route to taking their major exams (ie. O levels, A levels, PSLE etc).

Cya'll later.

*All references made in this insight post is purely made up and fictional. Resemblances are strictly by coincidence. The owner and its management team does not, in any way, support smoking prior to the references made and hopes that all readers to lead a smoke-free, healthy lifestyle.*

Choice Number 1

"You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours."

The pass couple of days were somewhat inward as well as solitary for me as I dug deep into the uncharted regions of my mind, reflecting on everything that's been going on, everything that has happened, and everything that I foresee happening. To put it simply, I've been doing a thorough overhaul mentally.

I've thought about various issues, not only those related to me personally but also to the society as a whole. I've also come to realize that things aren't always what it turns out to be and that the society has a much stronger foothold on us than we had envisioned it.

A couple of weeks back, I received a call inquiring about my services as a tutor. In a way, I was really excited about taking in another student.

A few days back saw the first lesson with my new student (so now I have 2 students, for those of you keeping track at home) and it was, if I may comment, a new experience with regard to my previous student.

Not drawing any comparisons here but I'm really thankful, both from a professional and personal perspective for this new business opportunity. Again, having a new client means, naturally, newer challenges but I'm ready to face them head on.

During the lesson however, came a particular challenge that caught me off guard.

We chanced upon this "multiple choice" vocabulary question, one of those where you have to pick an answer out of the 4 given and write its corresponding number. It went like this;

Question: On Sunday, we went to the library to ____ books

1) Buy
2) Borrow
3) Lend
4) Draw

Well, I'm pretty sure you're sitting there in your chair going "that's easy, the answer's 2".

Yes, that was my presumption too. But sometimes like they say "ignorance is bliss".

"I think the answer is number 1!"

She (my student) then happily scribbled down her answer on the book and gave me a satisfied expression upon doing so.

"that's because sometimes libraries sell books too!"

Buy. Borrow. Yes common sense tells you that you "borrow" books from the library but is "buy" really deemed incorrect?

That was when I started thinking of the article which I posted recently; "Eating at Disambiguation; Agreeing is not Disagreeing". Why can't the answer be choice number 1?

"What if" the library decided to organize a book fare to sell its old books on that particular Sunday which the question was referring to?

I guess in reality, the "politically correct" answer would be option 2 as people NORMALLY borrow and not buy books at the library.

The presence of ambiguity (with huge reference to my article), has indeed elevated this question into a philosophical issue rather than a primary one (first grade) question.

Indeed, I was dumbfounded by the question as well as my student's response. In fact, there was a minute's grace before I gathered my assessment of her answer.

Life catches you unawares on more than one occasion and I guess, this is one such example. Here we see the clash between innocence and ambiguity in society. People automatically assume the norm.

Its like saying,

"Stop ___ on your computer, you've been at it all day!"

The "correct" answer being "playing" but can you entirely say that "working" is "politically incorrect"?

A child's innocence is the result of an unfiltered mind. The child may know of both sides as they're not subjected to typicality as yet.

Oh well.

On to lighter issues.

Sigh.

I have this strange urge to go and adopt a cat (thus the reason for the pictures in this post). I've been a fan of cats (as compared to dogs) for quite sometime now but only recently has this idea resurfaced (yes, I've considered the idea of adoption only to be rejected by my folks).

If only Life was like this.

I would take pictures of stray cats I see on the streets and along with a bunch of friends whom share the similar interest and fondness for cats, talk about them every time the thought pops up.

I sense a trip down to the local pet shelter sometime soon.

I've also decided (more or less) to purchase an iPhone, which will happen sometime soon during the week.

Figured that purchasing an iPhone will speed up my efficiency, both on a professional front as well as on a personal basis. Of course, I took into consideration a load of other factors.

Alright, I'd best get to bed; expected to be up early tomorrow prior to a significant event (which I may or may not update on).

Remember to check back for updates and articles.

Cya'll later.

*All Photos/Pictures used in this post belongs to their respective owners and photographers*

Hysteria's Revisit

Alright valued readers, as promised here's a little revisit on Hysteria's Call.

Again, I'm really really grateful for the comments and feedback received for the narrative so thank you (I'm really grateful thus explaining the repetitive thank yous)

For this post however, I'll be talk about the various themes and aspects in which I considered to be included in Hysteria's Call. I admit that given a little bit more time (as well as resources for that matter) I would have been able to further refine the narrative both in terms of story content as well as theme specification.

If you're feeling a little lost ("What the hell is Hysteria's Call anyway?") be sure to revisit the links on the navigation bar to your right for all installments of Hysteria's Call, 1 to 3.

And with that, lets get things started.

General Commentary

With Hysteria's Call, I thought it would be really interesting to incorporate a mixture of the elements such as nature (represented as the torrential rain) as well as industry and society (the setting of the office building, the man having a high business position etc).

That obviously created a stark contrast for the story plot's development as well as room for the development of certain themes which I'll touch on later on.

I also thought that it would be a good idea to point out the vulnerabilities of even the highest of figures in society (ie. the man) that even they, being human beings, have their breaking point as well as their weaknesses as well. Certainly, no one in the world is absolutely perfect.

The reason why I chose to segment the entire narrative into 3 parts is simply indicating a transition between different settings and scenes. Part 1 sees the man's journey to the cafe, part 2 sees the events unfolding in the cafe itself while part 3 climaxes and concludes the story.

Throughout these 3 parts, we are also able to see and foretell the man's slow degeneration in terms of his mental health, the process of how from having absolute power to even losing control of himself.

Indeed, the irony is evident; a man of great status and power, with control over others, not even able to control himself in the end.

Theme of Hysterics, lack of Self Restrain

Certainly the theme of self restrain, or the lost of self restrain, more rather, is the main underlying aspect of Hysteria's Call. It is the basis of the plot's development as well the main gist of the entire concept, thus giving meaning to the title in itself.

The lack of restrain and mental disorientation causes the man dear as the plot reveals bit by bit, the process of mental corrosion that ultimately leads to his demise.

Here, we are also able to observe the adverse but powerful effects of the human mind. So destructive that it can destroy everything with just a tinge of doubt or uneasiness. This theme clearly portrays what will happen when one loses control and grip over his mind.

And when it is unable to take it all, it self destructs.

We see a transformation. As mention, the man degenerates himself from one of power to a being of lesser status and all that solely with the effect of his mind.

Paranoia is the first tinge the man gets (as seen in part 1) and it eventually evolves into something greater when a heighten sense of stress is achieved (as seen in part 2) where it led to excessive behavior as well as actions (of which he'll soon regret). This evolves into something even greater (as seen in part 3) and as if backfiring, the entire effect falls on the reckoning of the man, of which he deals with harshly.

This is also another fine theme of what power can do to a human being. The excess of power, more rather, draws to the man and makes him vulnerable to a huge blow for he was always obtaining everything that he demanded, worked for or wanted at any all.

And when he doesn't get the due results, a chain reaction starts that leads to the development of the story's plot.

Theme of Love

Love is an energy that exists in no fixed orientation but is evident in all things living, especially in that of human beings.

Though the theme of love in Hysteria's Call is not as obvious as other narratives, there is still a slight interpretation for the simple fact that this energy exists throughout the process of life itself; certainly no exception here.

I've tried to visualize love of the most common and simplest (yet troubling in a sense, as some would comply) form; of that towards the relationship type of love. And thus, I've decided that a simple date between this high and mighty executive and his girlfriend (supposedly) would articulate the point substantially.

With this theme, the power of love is expressed in its own unique fashion especially since it sources from the hard and cold mind of the man. It also shows that he has a softer side and that he is just human.

It is also this power of love that serves as a catalyst for the man's insanity, thus substantiating the grip and attachment within the man himself. It can be considered as the tipping force that pivots the man's mental state of health, from being sane to the opposite.

It was also his addiction and obsession to love that contributed to his ultimate downfall in the end.

Theme of Signs

The existence and presence of signs are largely ignored in our modern society mainly because many people not only do not believe in them. Most regard them as skeptical religious material but with Hysteria's Call, I thought it would have been really good to bring out this aspect and to create awareness.

Signs are tell tale signals, which usually presents itself in the form of events. With Hysteria's Call, I thought it would be a really good idea to start off with a very subtle sign, namely the rain, and slowly progress to the encounter with the taxi driver.

The man's recollection of his day (while he was in the room of the cafe, seemingly waiting for his date), tells readers of the man's entire day's events, of which seem to be trying to tell him something.

Again, I've tried to be as subtle as I can to simulate conditions in reality; signs are often concealed amongst daily events and happenings that we take a natural or "coincidence".

I did that through the rain to not only create an atmosphere for the plot of the story but also to visualize a barrier in the said circumstances, a barrier preventing the man from meeting the fate that unfolded in the story.

The epitome of this theme comes through the encounter between the cab driver and the man, where, by some strange twist of fate, the cab gets stuck and is unable to bring the man to the cafe.

A major hint is dropped in that encounter, where the cabby tries to shout and warn the man but trails off (as seen in part 1). But the mention of signs is also seen in part 2 though sparsely which the man in the story treated with "a pinch of salt".

Conclusion and Parting Commentary

Overall, I'm personally satisfied with the development of Hysteria's Call, and I really hoped that you guys enjoyed it as much as I did. Sure there are alot of other themes to explore in this short narrative alone but due to length constrains, I guess this is enough food for thought for the time being.

I would (as expressed earlier) have wished for more time to develop the ending as well as certain segments of the story but the themes came out ideally in my view.

The reason why I chose not to disclose the man's identity (ie. his name) till the very end was down to a couple of reasons. One being that I wanted to keep the formality and i didn't really see the need to disclose his actual name and the other reason was that I valued the suspense till the end.

Feel free to share your comments about Hysteria's Call as well as its various themes via comments (located just right below this post, click on the (number) comments link).

I appreciate feedback from my readers so don't be shy!

Till then, remember to check back for updates and articles. Cause here at metallic-stains, we deliver (ripoff much?).

Cya'll later.

Hysteria's Call, Part 1

Alright, time for a little update.

Been pretty active these past couple of days largely due to the abundance of outdoor activity both for social purposes as well as personal lifestyle issues.

I'm in the midst of preparing for an upcoming article installment, thus have been doing the required amount of research these past couple of days as well. And don't mind the post's title; you'll be able to see the significance later on in this post.

Active and tiring as the days may be, it serves as an ideal reprieve from the late night projects and various tasks that would normally occupy the average media student. As I've mentioned, learning takes a different form once the holidays start.

Today has been especially hectic due to certain reasons not at my liberty to disclose. This period has also granted me to think about certain taxing issues that I'm sure everyone has in their mind, at some point of their lives.

I've also been looking around for various Universities and post-tertiary education sources. I guess that's what they call planning for the future, which is really, ideal and gives one a clear steer for their respective path in life.

I hold my considerations private to me but naturally, am free from advice from you, my readers. So if you guys have recommendations and better still, if you're in a certain university and would like to share the learning environment there, I'm eager to listen.

I seek further education (after my polytechnic studies in Media Studies and Management) in disciplines such as Media, Psychology, Mass Comm and various Legal aspects, just to name afew. So yea, just looking around for ideas and what not.

Of course, alot of hardwork will have to be invested and put in, in order for admissions to the best universities in the world. So lets all strive for the best and achieve what we seek to in our lives.

Moving on.

More particularly, moving back to the relation of this post and its title which relates greatly to the following narrative which I creatively thought about and through during my free time, just to occupy my mind.

As with my usual narratives, there are hidden meanings and interesting aspects to consider, so I hope you guys will enjoy and have a little food for thought.

So yea, here goes...

"

The man fancied a quick glance at his watch before he exited the building.

Outside, people in black raincoats and umbrellas were doing what they can to stay out and keep themselves as dry as possible, for that all important business meeting, or that exclusive date with a particular gorgeous chick.

Yes, this was the business district of in country and arguably the business capital of the world in itself. This is where high profiled personnel come in and out daily, to keep the economy going as well as to serve the nation; economics and finance was of utmost important.

The man was of no exception. He had nothing to gain in small business ventures but all to lose in big financial advancements and acquisitions of other companies. In essence, he held a high position in both his social ladder as well as his occupation.

He was labeled as the "cold-blooded" stereotype who often axed incapable or under par employees. He would walk into a hall full of the highest ranking officials and deliver a business proposal, messed up the first few lines, but still get the deal done; he was that highly valued.

However, as the rain poured and hammered its relentless fists upon the glass tinted windows of the building, to be precise the company's global headquarters, the man felt a cringe, as if the janitor suddenly decided to turn the radiator off.

Yes, it was time.

And for the first time in a long time, the man felt a very humanly fear creeping up upon him as he stood motionless in the hurried lobby.

Lets just get this over and done with, irritated at even his own cowardice, the man shook what fear was left within his hallowed mind and emptied it before making his move.

After paying the doorman a hefty tip, as with his usual routine, he stepped out of the building.

A sheet of grey enveloped his vision as he struggled for composure. The storm with getting really bad and the people who were out in the open were sparse, if not scattered, in the violent bedlam.

A pity, the man thought to himself as he hailed a nearby cab and signalled for it to drive.

"Going out in this violent storm, sir?" The cab smelled of dried leaves but the man had other things on his mind. Far more taxing issues.

"I hear that the south pier's flooded from all this rain and people are trapped. Communications have been cut off and people are stranded. I sure hope my wife brought her cellphone with her, been trying for ages to call her."

The man kept really quiet, clearly not interested in what the cab driver has to say, and not paying any attention to the conversation at hand as he fiddled with his coat and adjusted his cuffs, waiting in anticipation.

Around the sharp turn and the cab slowed to a halt as its engine fizzled to a dead silence.

Blast it, the man thought to himself and automatically dug up a 50 dollar note and literally threw it at the cabby before he could offer a remedy to the situation.

"Sir, wait! Remember the si..."

The man rallied his umbrella and walked in the direction of the cafe where he was supposed to have his appointment, cursing under his breath as the rain grew heavier, pounding upon his umbrella.

A beacon of light pieced the grim composure of the rainy surrounding as the man crossed another avenue two streets away.

He was there, and grateful to have even made it in this rain.

Now, she'd bloody be coming, he thought as he made his way across the street, the rain so heavy, masking any trace of his presence.

"

Okay, thats all for this first installment. I'm thinking of a 3 part series but yea, there is plenty to digest in this segment of the entire story so yea, hope you guys will have something to think about after reading this short part of the narrative.

Looking forward to comments and be sure to check back for article, updates and the continuation to this short narrative.

Cya'll later.

Would your Life be complete if...

Alright, time for a little update and a short insight session before returning to the monotony of factual written well... facts.

I've been rather, well, distracted of late partly due to certain emotive aspects swimming in my head and probably also due to the influx of various social issues. Blame the stress from exams or what not but yea, I guess thats the way life works out.

Interesting Stuff.

And I'm sure whats even more interesting, to the masses at least, at the moment is the Olympics and more importantly, records being broken and medals being awarded.

This is yet another turning point in the development of not only the sporting world but also civilization and society itself. It is also an awesome indication of movement and of achievement for mankind and the human mind.

There has been much talk around the town about Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt and even the attainment of medals for Team Singapore's Table Tennis Team (Female). Indeed we are stepping into a new era though oblivious to some, for there is a time of change, especially in the minds of people.

Sports isn't all about winning and this is substantiated by the fact that even participating in these games is considered an honor in itself.

Indeed. To these dedicated professionals, attaining a medal is a symbol of achievement and a symbol of completing something in their lives, which incidentally, is a very interesting detail to note.

Amidst my shower, I pondered upon this issue after watching telecast after telecast of Phelps' amazing swim, Bolt's breathtaking dash and articles of Singapore ending the 48 year medal drought.

So what is it that makes my life (so far) complete?

I drafted the following list;

- Being "one of a kind", with no one in existance exactly like me
- Being able to wake up every morning and sleep peacefully every night
- Having the spur to achieve what I was set to
- Having the ability to sense and feel for others
- Having emotions within me
- Having a place where I can go to which I can truly call my own
- Being able to be in the presence of people who appreciate life (ie. Family members, Friends)
- Being able to abide my intented day's plan
- Having total and complete control of my actions and consequences
- Being able to think critically
- Knowing how to apply appropriate emotions to certain situations
- Having the ability to judge and decide
- Having the freedom of preference
- The existance of past memories (good or bad)
- The ability to remember, record and most importantly...
- The ability to Dream

however, after coming with this list, I realised that my life wouldn't be half as decent if;

- I didn't have everything I needed to start my day
- Starbucks and Subway were never founded (the horror)
- I didn't have social skills
- I give in easily to temptation
- I don't learn from previous mistakes
- There is no one left on Earth (ie. I Am Legend)
- Everything was so clear cut and one way
- There were no goals to attain, nothing to work towards
- Life was just spending 80 or 90 (human) years on Earth

And a couple of buddies and I had a conversation over lunch about the movie "I Am Legend", bascially revolving around the fact that what if you were the last person on Earth.

The general reply I got was basically in this format:

"I'll (insert an activity that would be impossible to do normally) and die."

Well I guess I would do something along those lines as well. But then again, let us take a step back and look at the underlying meaning of this little statement; we cannot live without social interaction.

The thought of being alone on Earth is really horrible, though for the first week or maybe for the first month, it'll seem like the best time of your life, but gradually, the pleasure will rot away and in my opinion, it'll be a huge, massive torture.

This leaves thought that there is more to life that doing what you would want to achieve and dying. I guess its the little things in between that makes life complete and I guess that's why some say that "Life is a Journey".

Really interesting stuff.

So yea, I would like to gain a more in-depth feedback;

what makes your life, so far (whether you're 6, 17 or even 76) complete?

Just a little food for thought for you guys to ponder over and remember to check back for articles and updates, and I'm as always, looking forward to your comments and feedback on this issue.

Feel free to post a full length response on your blogs but be sure to link them via my comments when you're done.

Cya'll later.

The Receding Hairline and Frayed Inspirations; What is your Personal Legend?

Quite recently, I read a book, a rather inspirational and captivating one at that, I might add (readers might take a hint from the title of this post). Needless to say, I was heavily drawn into the values and beliefs put out by the author through this masterpiece; it was peculiarly similar to the very values I live by.

To regurgitate every single piece of information and key point in the book would be an infringement of copyright and what’s more, it would be painstakingly long for both the writer (me) and the readers (you) to clearly illiterate the entire story.

But to put it simply, the book teaches people to be conscious of their life and how they live it which then branches out into many different aspects in itself.

Venturing out of your safety zones, becoming what you were meant to be, not afraid to lose it all for your dreams, empowering them and having an open eye are just a sample of what the book brought into me.

Clearly, the book left an impact on me as my way of thinking is galvanized further in terms of my personal beliefs and my goal setting.

So what is this “Personal Legend” as put out in the book itself?

I found the concept of destiny rather amusing and absurd in the past for I personally believe that destiny is in the eye of the user; the people himself shapes his destiny.

Yes, if so I may say, destiny is intertwined with this “Personal Legend” as your personal legend is what you were meant to do when you were first given life. It is what grants you your full purpose of existence and what that will make you satisfied before the day comes (refer to article, Satisfaction; the Delighted Mother and the Inquisitive Child).

There is however, a stark difference my interpretation of the term “destiny” (refer to article, Tales of the Past III; what is Destiny?) as compared to this Personal Legend concept.

You see, to me, destiny is defined as an allocation, a fixed mould in the pattern of life, for what your life would be no matter what you do. Which also means that even if the person doesn’t work towards his goal, he will still get it cause it is after all, what he was meant to be.

Your Personal Legend on the other hand, is vastly different.

I believe that everyone in existence has a purpose that was allocated to him or her when he or she was given life. Uncanny resemblance with what was mentioned about destiny? Unfortunately this is where the similarities end.

Unlike destiny, your personal legend does not provide a smooth sailing path for the person while in pursuit of his or her goals. One of the many significant quotes from the book certainly tugged at my consciousness; “Every search begins with beginner’s luck and every search ends with the victor being severely tested” (Paulo Coelho, 1988, The Alchemist).

The term “beginner’s luck” is often heard in high class hotel casinos or even shady underground gambling dens but in this case, one will not get thrown out or mugged for winning. Beginner’s luck does exist, but is often overlooked and ignored by many.
It is a sign which indicates that one is on the right track to their personal legend as it is the creator’s way of signalling to you and encouraging you by giving you a little bit of leeway.

So why do we ignore such telltale signs?
Many people overlook the fact and existence of their personal legend, in the process numbing themselves to what they were meant to be and thus also restricting themselves to being something they are not.

Most of them give up without even trying while others give up after failures. Only a handful persist through all the challenges and emerge something more; a better, more complete person. Those who give up without trying is oblivious to even the existences of personal legends while those who give up in the process lack willpower and drive to see it till the end.

But who can we blame for such alterations?

The way the society works is similar to that of a dictatorship’s rule and I’m referring that in a metaphorical sense. The society shapes its people’s minds and more rather, sets down rules and stereotypes in certain contexts.

In a way, “protection” may seem the word here, but this also restricts people’s advances on their personal legend in a way. They might not want to venture out into the wilderness and out of their safety zones and fear is an integral part that constitutes to people not fulfilling their personal legends.

I’ve always enjoyed conversing with people, especially with elders. But sometimes I can’t help but wonder if they’ve heard of or even thought about issues like personal legends or destiny.

I sense that the society’s grip on people, especially the elders is strong, partly due to the fact that they’ve been raised that way, and partly because of their mindsets. Yes, many of them have inspirations since young but only a handful of them successfully see them through.

Again, this is a prime example of the case mentioned earlier where people either give up without trying or give up while trying. They are discouraged at the seemingly adamant feasibility of realising their personal legends as they usually find it “impractical”.

But what defines it as impractical?

Impracticality largely depends on the user; if that individual feels its impractical, it is. This is also where belief and motivation comes in. More rather, I find that these individuals give up due to the lack of motivation, the sole principle of working towards a goal or an aim (refer to article, Screaming Fans; The Motivational Force and Ambition) and as their hairline recedes, so does that drive
and inspiration.

I find it sad that people give up or don’t know about the concept of personal legends. I find it sad that we let the environment around us dictate how we should live and what we should or shouldn’t do. But I find it especially sad when people give up hope or on their lives.

“Its the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting” (Paulo Coelho, 1988, The Alchemist). Many a time, I’ve come across people who come and tell me that life is “boring” and that they don’t see the joy in living.

By relishing your personal legend also means making a dream come true. And to those people, who tell me life is boring, I tell them to keep holding on and they’ll find what they’ll need and work towards their personal legends.

As for myself?

I daresay that I’ve found the path to my personal legend and that is the media. Due to its highly personal details however, I will not reveal certain details but I truly believe that this is what I was meant to be doing.

Though it may seem like a bold claim, the feeling speaks for itself. Many challenges are thrown at me, which I hope will make me stronger in the end.
There were times, awhile back, when I wasn’t sure of my personal legend or didn’t know that such a thing existed.

I felt lost, unsure and insecure. I didn’t know what I wanted nor had a clear precise goal in mind. I would give up on things or a particular aim due to distractions for clearly, my drive wasn’t there; I aim not to repeat what I’ve been through.

Yes, sometimes when challenges are thrown at you, headfirst and you can’t handle them, it may seem as if all hope is lost and failure presumes which naturally, isn’t the case here.

Challenges to me are tests. Tests that will make you stronger as it is the creator’s way or ensuring only the finest and strongest succeed in achieving their personal legend. Pass this test and another one takes its place and another and another, until the “victor is severely tested”.

Sure its no walk in the park but when you’ve finally found your “pot of treasure”, satisfaction grips you like a vice and you’ve made it for sure.

So have you found your personal legend? No matter what it is, how harsh the conditions or how impossible the odds are, hope is important for it is what keeps the engine up there going.

Thus let us empower our lives and find our respective personal legends and claim our justly deserved “pot of treasure”


*The above insight contains a only selected number of themes mentioned from the book itself. All references made belongs to the author and its contents*