Gold – The Yellow Metal

Since time immemorial human kind has been obsessed with the yellow metal called gold. History has seen murderous plots hatched, countless throats slit and many wars fought over this precious metal. The reasons behind man’s propensity to possess this metal are unfathomable. Many learned men have tried to explain this phenomenon over the years and failed. Even to this day we see that investing in gold is the safest option that most long term investors are still eager about, unlike the stock markets which have let people down countless times in the past. Moreover, gold prices are shooting up each day owing to the lowering of crude oil prices, all thanks to the global economic downslide which is in full swing right now.

Man’s constant obsession with the yellow metal gave rise to popular myths revolving around alchemy and the philosophers stone, which was professed to bear the power to turn into gold, any metal which came into contact with it . During ancient times, the kingdoms of the orient, particularly Persia and India were renowned for their huge gold reserves. Even today one can find golden temples in India. Gold in its most common form is used for crafting jewelry. Gold jewelry has been in vogue for centuries now and its popularity continues unabated. Even though Platinum and diamond jewelry have also gained popularity among consumers, they have not eroded the gold market, but instead have created their own niches in the jewelry industry. The metal also finds uses in technology as well, especially space and satellite technology and is also used as a raw material in the manufacture of computer components.

Metal Alloys and their uses

A metal alloy is a compound that consists of more than one element. It is usually made by combining two or more metals to produce an entirely new compound metal with unique properties that might be different from the parent ingredients. Although there are quite a few alloys that have been around for some time, the most popular ones being bronze and cast iron, technological advancement has seen countless alloys being developed in the last half a century alone, primarily for industrial application. There are some rare alloys too, that occur in nature without mans intervention.

Metal alloys have many varied and wonderful used in today’s world. Most of the metals that we see around today are alloys and are found in diverse places ranging from your kitchen cabinet to a space shuttle. Alloys find useful application in the manufacturing industry, particularly in the manufacture of automobile parts and in aviation technology. Alloys have also been developed for use in the packaging industry as packaging materials.
Based on the parent metals that they are derived from, alloys can be classified as alloys of aluminum, copper, gold, iron, silver or other metals. Alloys often have more stability than their parent metals as well as increased strength and resistance to corrosion. Steel is a classic example of an alloy being superior in every respect from its parent metal, iron. Unlike iron steel does not rust, is malleable and ductile and possess great strength. Metal alloys are in wide spread use in today’s world and find practical applications in every walk of life.

Metals and their role in the advancement of human civilization

The discovery of metal is widely touted as the most significant milestone in the history of mankind since the invention of the wheel. Had it not been for metals and the fillip they gave to the advancement of civilization, mankind would have been stuck in the Stone Age for ever, using crude stone weapons for hunting and crafting stone tools and utensils for daily use.

Gold was the first of the ancient metals to be discovered, followed by copper, silver, lead, tin, mercury and iron. The ancients could not find any practical applications for gold and silver in their day to day life as they were soft metals with low boiling points. But instead of being relegated to the background they were used to make jewels due to their high malleability and ductility. It was not until copper was discovered that mankind found practical applications for metals. Copper was ideal for crafting weapons and tools and led to significant advancement in metallurgy post its discovery.

In time, other metals like tin and mercury were also discovered and found application as additives for making alloys. Bronze an alloy of copper, made by combining it with tin, found significant utilitarian value in the life of the ancients and were used to craft utensils and statues. Mercury was given the name of liquid silver due to its high lustre and resemblance to molten silver and is said to have been worshipped by the Egyptians. The last of the ancient metals to be discovered was iron and its discovery had momentous implications for the growth of civilization by bringing about unprecedented advancements in the field of weaponry and tool manufacture.

The Obsession with Precious Metal

The obsession with precious metal and the jewelry that it can create has provided many a socialite with the basic standard of appropriateness. However, our obsession with precious metal has also led us away from the simplicity and uniqueness that other gifts and tokens can offer us. When there isn’t enough money to purchase a precious metal, there is a sense of shame that the would be purchaser suffers rather than pride in finding the most perfect gift that can be afforded. When precious metal becomes more important than the motivation for the bestowment, haven’t we lost sight of something important?

While the precious metals of the world will forever be a better quality and outlast the cheaper metals that we can obtain as part of the gift giving experience, their prices and their status leave some people desperately without, as though somehow they are not quite as good as those who are adorned with much precious metal. This is an inaccurate view but one that many of us still cling to like the belief that money creates status. What creates the most happiness is a freedom to express love and intention in the best way possible. Going into debt for years is not always the best way to care for a loved one, and an engagement ring crafted from the more expensive precious metal is not necessarily the most loving option. Would you rather make payments for years because you sprung for the precious metal or would rather have a little extra cash over the years to find other ways to express your love and devotion?

Metal

Metal pins were once thought to be the answer to many of yesterday’s medical problems. Orthopedic surgeons placed metal pins into people’s legs, arms, heads, and spines with the intention of relieving pain and fixing medical problems. It was initially thought to be a good idea. However, over time the metal can cause just as many problems as the original problem did. The older metal pins are likely to eventually break down inside the body. The newer ones can cause distinct problems with the blood stream and the immune system. The body has proven over time that the metal we like to stick into people in an effort to fix them has backfired. We now have a whole host of people who are walking away with metal body parts waiting for the day that their metal fails them.

Insurance companies are denying additional surgeries to help fix the problem before it becomes debilitating. Old injuries and health problems are now creeping back up and because of the medical implants many insurance companies are calling it a preexisting condition and refusing to pay for additional surgery. This leaves tens of thousands of people looking toward their future in a wheelchair or without the use of a limb. It is compounded when the metal is implanted in the head or the spine. These unfortunate individuals are looking at paralysis or worse. The metal that was once considered a huge gift is now a curse. DO we sue the doctors, science, or the original insurance company in order to get a little help to return to the functional world?

Ballads

Those are the most beautiful and magnificent songs when it is about metal music. You know, from time to time we are tired of all those banging songs and we need something that calms us down and something that is nice and slow. We need slow music and low tunes and we need some kind of mystery in those and this whole stuff we can find in mental music ballads. You know, those are songs way different from all other slow songs. In most cases songs are written by people about love and romance and feelings and so on. And the same is often true for ballads, but those are songs of way different feelings. It is also all about love but it is some kind of different love. It is more like true love that penetrates the very heart of people and those are words that really mean something great and you can feel it somewhere inside of you. Ballads are songs you listen with your heart but not with your ears and that is why you will never find songs better than those of metal ballad kind. I adore those songs and I guess my adoration is reasonable.

Nothing but metal subculture

There is nothing bad in music and the genre if this music doesn’t matter but there is something bad people can bring in music by their behavior. They recognize music as the way to step aside and to walk away from other people and to say “Hey, I’m different”. They are people who don’t really need music but they are people who are extremely lonely and this is their way to attract attention of society, they really need attention of their parents and they need attention of people around them and that is why they silently scream for that attention they need. They are not music lovers but they are more like fanatics. They have different clothes and different hairs and different make up, in other words they do anything to make other people notice them and gear them. It is the problem inside of people and music has nothing to do with it and so it is wrong when people say that metal subculture drives teens mad, this subculture is just the result of loneliness. This loneliness they have inside makes them act like that in order to attract your attention.

Dull mood

No matter on the theme of song you hear it is always of dull mood. I guess no matter on the mood and kind of words people use to express their thoughts and feelings there is still one common and typical mood for a music genre and it may not be changed. And so it happened that common mood for metal music is a dull mood. There is music that can make you feel better and there is music that improves your mood even in case there is no meaning in those words you hear. Everything depends on tunes and mood of those tunes and that is why no matter in the words of song, no matter on meaning of those there is always a dull mood that follows music of this genre. I guess the mood of music doesn’t depend on the meaning of words because t is a mood of soul of people music reflects and souls of metal genre followers are dull because they know something they can’t talk about. Music is a way to learn more and there is something they learn and this knowledge makes them dull and frustrated and of the same kind is their music.

Hard music

It is music that is way different from the common genre of music. I mean it is way different from the genre that is a mass genre for people today. There is music in these songs and another words and everything is different when talking about this music. And the main difference if this music is that there is a sense and the meaning in lyrics. Those people who are devotees of metal music are people of different kind and different nature. There is nothing weird in these people but they are of less quantity than those lovers of mass music. And it is actually nit a drawback but it is like a merit of them. They are people of own point of view and they are people of different point of view. They write real songs but not something to sell for people who can’t make up his own mind. So, the main difference of metal music is that there is a meaning in each word of its lyrics. People have to appreciate songs like these and people have to appreciate music like this because in case they won’t they will be deprived of music and the only genre left for them will be mass music of no meaning and no sense and no beauty. And it is nit music and people will never be happy with it.

Age of death

This is all about the Age of people that is the age of death for the metal music. Actually, metal music will be alive for another great number of years just like any other music bit there is always an age when music dies inside of people. It is about those people who recognize metal music as the whole meaning of their lives. They are people who deep into this culture and they want to remain their till the end of their lives and they actually think they will. But, there are a few of those who really remained metalists no matter on their age and others get out of this culture and became common people. So, the age is subculture inside of people is a rather short age and there is nothing that can make it live longer. Well, there is something and the name for that something is miracle or obsession. Music is just a way for people o express themselves and when they feel this task is fulfilled they have another things to do, another more important things and this is how mental music dies inside of those people who were the devotees.

Metal jam session

There are jam sessions for those people who really love music and who think it is not enough to stay at home and listen for the VDs they have. Jam session is really something and it is way different from everything you have ever seen. And the metal jam session is the peculiar kind of session at all. There are people who gather together to feel the whole energy of the music they like. And the energy of metal music is energy of aggression. It is a strong and tough energy and it drives people, it drives people wild and makes them different from themselves. And the metal jam session makes a crowd of people dressed black and thirsty for the same music and the same energy. And when this energy is given them through powerful acoustic system it is multiplied and has great influence on people. And plus, this energy is also multiplied with hundreds of people around them. They feel they are unity and they are together and they are people of the same life and view. Not every person can handle such a session.

Colored in black

This music colored in black and people who listen for this music are also colored in black. It is the black color their favorite and they have everything black. They have black clothes and they have black hair and eyes and shoes and bag and all those accessories they have are black. It is the music colored in black but there is nothing black except the color in this music. People who follow this subculture, the subculture of metal music are people who prefer black color in everything, but, black is just a color and there is nothing black or dull in people themselves. They are not black inside they are black just outside and it is like it is some defensive stuff. They are the same teenagers with others and they like having fun and walking somewhere together with their friends and they like this life and they have the same life with others. But, the black color of their image sometimes makes people think they are aggressive or something but they are not and it is wrong to think like that. It is just they have music that unites them and color that unites them. Actually black is a classic color and there is nothing special or mystic in it.

The subculture

Music is something that binds people together; it is a reason for them to unite and a reason for them to recognize each other as people of the same points of view and the whole stuff. So, the same is also true for metal music. It is music of a subculture, or maybe it would be right to say that it is subculture that is based on music. Any subculture you know is like the unique society inside of the huge one and the same is true for this subculture. People who follow this subculture are people who are not okay with the common flow of this life and those rules most people follow. So, they create a new society and they know that there are only people of the same points of view around them and this fact helps them feel better. The subculture is not just a group of people but it is a group of people with an ideology they really trust in. they are different according to their behavior and their appearance and way of life. Though, there is nothing dull in this subculture, as most people think. There is nothing dull and mystical or something.

Variety of subgenres

There are numbers of genres of metal music ad each subgenre has it peculiarities and its special features and it devotees. There are people that are heave metal funs but they prefer power-metal as a subgenre and they will never listen for some another music. And there are people that are crazy about doom-metal – another subgenre of heavy metal music. People are different and they prefer different music and they can find anything they need in it. There is also such a subgenre as speed-metal. It is the subgenre that is almost like thrash heavy metal. There were even people that believed that it is the same genre. Though, those are two different subgenres and the real heavy metal fan will never confuse those, believe me. As you can see, the variety of subgenres of heavy metal music is broad and it strikes imagination and I guess people did their best in order to develop this music and make it perfect for everyone. So, I guess even in case you are not the heavy metal fan you know now that there is something to appreciate those musicians for. They did their best.

Old heavy metal fans and young ones

There is a generation gap and you know about it for sure. And the generation gap is a typical feature of relationships between people and it doesn’t matter what sphere it is about. And the same generation gap is common for people that love music. There are people of different ages that love the same music but they are people of different generations and different points of view. They like metal though they believe that metal is the music of their generation. See, those old heavy metal fans say there is no metal music today and there were only old time when people produced real and true metal. They say modern metal music has nothing to do with art and it is all about money and there is no soul in this music and it is not music at all. But, the same words are common for young heavy metal fans. They say that modern metal music is the only true music and it keeps the mood and soul of generation. It is the generation gap that makes people so different and even music can’t unite them. It is the way things are and the way things were and the way they will be.

Thrash-metal

It is the peculiar genre of metal music that appeared in late eighties. It was United States of America the motherland of thrash-metal. Metallic was the first and the most famous band of this genre. It was loud and aggressive music and it stroked people with its mood and energy. This genre of music was greatly influenced by punk- rock and in case you are real metal music lover you can notice those tunes of punk-rock in thrash-metal. The main feature of this genre were staccatos of electro-guitar and drums. Later this genre gave birth to another and that was speed-metal. Though, some people say that speed-metal and thrash-metal are two genres that were developed at the same time and those were so different at first that people failed to recognize them and distinguish one from another. Though, thrash-metal was also a source for angry-metal. It is something like the greatly accented and multiplied (from the point of view of energy) form of trash-metal. One way or another thrash-metal is one of the most popular metal genres and Metallic is the most famous band, and songs of these band are hits even for those people who were never metal devotees.