Being mature and acting mature

Maturity is always mentioned during meetings, be it a church committee or outside.

But what matters most (to me at least), is whether this person is actually matured or acting mature.

What’s the difference of being mature and acting mature?

Being mature is a characteristic a person gains as they are growing up. That’s why they say people mature at different ages depending on the person. People tend to mature because of experiences they go through. It’s like playing music, you can’t be a professional overnight but you can look professional. And it’s from the way you play people can tell whether you really are a professional.

Acting mature is… acting mature. This people are actually more immature than any other people. It’s because they want to show people that they are matured, they behave so. And it’s easy to spot this people.

Just sit at a meeting and observe, usually the acting mature ones will be the ones disagreeing with others and always wanting their ideas to be used. But the irony is that a really matured person just has to suggest one idea, and it will be used. Funny huh?

Just came back from a Christmas gathering at my friend’s house. So there were three tables. First table, the uncles and aunties. Second table, my friend’s big brother’s gang, and third, us.

For the first table, understandable that they were chatting all the way as they were either siblings or in laws.

Second and third table, high school gang.

But the third table was unique, all three races were there. I seldom see this guys, but yet when we meet up, we somehow chat like old friends (d’uh!). Let me put it in another way, our current lifestyles are pushed aside for an important reason, friendship.

Some are accomplished musicians (as in really accomplished), some are having a career and some are about to complete their degree. Yet, we are still able to hang out despite our different status.

You know how it is in Malaysia, construction workers cannot mingle with the CEOs. It’s like water and oil. This is because of the ego of the higher class. Or rather, people with “status”.

This is how I see the Malaysian society, separated due to status. Even at worship places, education centers and workplaces, this phenomenon happens.

Let’s not bring race in.

If people were to not look at a status of another person, this world/nation would be a better place.

Think of this, a person with status" has many “friends”, but will this person have friends during his/her hard times?

I dare say no.

A post which caught my attention

Most musicians would know a guy by the name of Gapnap. Well, if you don’t, you should find out about him. Was checking out his website for guitar equipments and something caught my eye. The title said, “Church Musicians”. So I opened it, and read it. Sad to say, he made sense. Here’s the post:

Early Stage :

Generally , most church musicians will have the “upper hand” over non-church musicians . Because ,

1) They are exposed to playing with a band at a younger age , like a 14 years old guitarist can play side by side with a 40 years old veteran pianist .

2) They experienced the band politics , band practice routine and screw ups on the stage when they were younger. Making mistakes in a church isn’t too bad , because you know , the Church crowd will always love you . No matter how much you screw up , they are suppose to encourage you .

3) Normally , if your parents see you playing for church (guitar , drum or piano) , they will be more than happy to invest a RM5000 musical instrument for you on your birthday . Try talking to a broke ass non-church musician , their parents probably banned them from playing music .

4) Adding on , not only your parents will PAY for extra music lessons . You have ALOT of teachers and sifus to guide you in your journey .

a) Your current guitar teacher in your music school

b) Church’s Best Guitarist

c) Church’s Best Pianist (learn theory)

d) Church’s Best Drummer (Timing , Attack and Dynamics)

e) Church’s Best Bassist …..err ..nvm . You are not gonna learn from him

So you can say , a young church musician is a spoil brat . Okay , the better word would be BLESSED.  With loads of Ass kissing in their lives too .

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Their strength over non-church musicians would be :

1 ) Hearing

2 ) Music arrangement

3 ) Experience

4 ) Chords

5 ) Tone

6 ) Song composition

7 ) Timing

8 ) Contacts

9 ) Probably more confidence .

However , I notice that many church musicians are only good in ONE STYLE . Which is the Churchy way of playing (Worship Style) , Of course there are some that can play funk , blues and jazz as well.

Ask them to go a little bit more heavier , such as metal or grunge …they will have no idea . Yeah , if its a performance , there is still stage presence , showmanship , attitude and energy …lots of things to compare . So a church musician might have the upper hand , but they do not completely pawn a non church musician . oh yeah , not to mention TECHNIQUE AND SHRED TOO

What I am really annoyed by CERTAIN Church Musicians .

Is not their playing , but their attitude .

They know they have the upper hand . They have the experience . They are the master of hearing . *chords*

They can go on a stage , act super confident , not knowing what the chords are . Just find out the Key and go wack with the band .

I think it is really really stupid .

When you’re on stage . It is either .

1) You have a freaking book in front of you .

or

2) You memorize the WHOLE thing . I mean , seriously , MEMORIZE it all . The Chords , The Timing and The Attack . And Do it properly , like a how a ROCKSTAR DOES IT .

Those church musicians who goes to a practice , or play for church , and think he is all that great and he do not need the chords cause HE CAN FIGURE IT OUT ON THE SPOT OR HE CAN HANDLE IT . Are dumb piece of crap .

What will happen is ,

1 ) You try to follow the bassist or the pianist . Great you follow them . Do you realized your timing is off by 1 second ? think about it .

2) The whole band plays G Bm C D , you play G Em C D . And it will sound like shit when everybody in the band is playing different chords .

So really lah , take that ROCKSTAR CHURCH MUSICIAN Attitude off . I know in church , no matter how much you suck , people will always tell you “its good its good”.

Take it as a compliment and move on . Don’t dwell on your past glory . People kiss your ass and say you are good doesn’t mean you do not need to improve anymore .Now i know why my guitar heroes are all non-church musician .

Ok , you see ah . Hearing the chords is great talent . If you are playing ALONE or a DUET ONLY . That I think is fine . But being in a band ? Dude , things are not so simple . You have coordination , attacks and time signatures that requires the whole band to execute them TOGETHER . YOU NEED TO SOUND TOGETHER LIKE ONE . You need a PLAN that everybody in your band understands . If you don’t know the chords and the plan , you play COCK ah ?

I am sick of playing together with such church musicians .

You wanna laugh at people who plays with a music sheet in front of them ?

Dude , go watch RTM , see the professional world class musicians ..all also got music sheets in front of them..

Go Orchestra , pro violin players also see music sheets .

Playing without a music sheet in front of you , doesn’t make you superior or a better musician . You’re just showing off , and you try too hard. By the way . You play like shit and you fail . You made shitloads of mistakes and you keep repeating them . Waste my time sial practicing with you .

Even Guthrie Govan plays with a music sheet in front of him. Go and laugh at him lah.

 

*I think he happen to jam with the wrong person*

But yeah, playing for church is for God, not ourselves. It’s ok to have the chord sheet in front of you.

One statement which I totally agree:

You memorize the WHOLE thing . I mean , seriously , MEMORIZE it all . The Chords , The Timing and The Attack

That is why most of the time I listen just to get the tune, not for the music arrangement.

Game Review – FIFA 2010

I don’t know how it is on the PS3 or a desktop with really good graphic card, but on the PS2, it’s bad. Why?

• Using the normal camera view, you can see the players skipping frames.
• At times you don’t hear the whistle.
• The game freezes a few seconds during substitution.

As for the gameplay, I hated it since FIFA 2004.

First, the players tire out easily. Their aiming is rubbish even with aid. Speed is slow. The AI seem to never tire out.

So much for a life like game. That’s why I always preferred Winning Eleven/PES.

 

And Michael Owen looks like a fetus.

I’m so sick of people tagging metal and punk music as satanic!

Game Review: PES 2010

For those who played PES 2009, I’m sure that they want certain bugs taken away:

• The triangle passing thing is terrible! But the computer can do it really sweet.
• Opponent can somehow run faster than you, with or without the ball on 5-star and 6-star modes.
• Referee sides the computer more even if the support stance is saved as “Player”.

And I’m sure they hope that certain bugs remained:

• The volleying is awesome! Though looks fake at times.
• If you take a shot while running diagonally, chances are you will score.

Let’s answer those first.

• Triangle passing bug is no more (or less). Advisable to use manual aim pass. At times the auto pass seem to aim at the opponent.
• Opponent only runs faster than you if your player is tired. But that rarely happens.
• REFEREE STILL SIDES THE OPPONENT!!! Oh I need a new controller.
• Volleying is still awesome! If you control the power of your shot.
• The chances of scoring while running diagonally is now like when you’re running straight.

Now for the new bugs/ControllerThrowingCatalyst I spotted on PES 2010:

• If you happen to bump into your opponent, and both take a stumble (but not falling). The opponent regains composure faster. This sucks when it happens near your goal mouth.
• If your opponent slides and trips you (but not falling), for some reason he will get up and get the ball before you regain composure. BUT WHEN YOU SLIDE AND TRIP HIM, IT’S EITHER A FOUL OR HE REGAINS COMPOSURE QUICKER.
• The player runs in whatever direction you point him to as long you are not having the ball. D’uh you say. The player does not lock on to the ball even if he was right in front of the ball. This sucks when you are trying to save the ball from going out.
• Liverpool seem awfully strong. (but I still beat them 10-9!!! and I was trailing)

New/Improved features which I think is great:

• When you are trailing, your players tend to make more mistakes (bad passes, rougher tackles), like in real life.
• The dribbling. Previous PES’s dribbling can be a sore. This time when you turn, the player keeps the ball really really near his feet.
• Your keeper moves more.
• Through passes are awesome!
• Berbatov looks like Berbatov.
• Practice on a few tactical plays. The AI will remember them. *Owen always runs into the middle when Giggs touches the ball*

Overall I think this is a great game. Need a lot of patience especially playing “Top Player” mode, which is the hardest mode.

To Genting and back

As most of you probably know by now, the MYF committee went to Awana Hotel, Genting for their committee retreat. 9 of us went. 4 guys, 5 girls.

Went with 2 cars, Persona and Satria. First time driving the Persona up Genting. So took the opportunity to test its power. Was pretty smooth. Car didn’t struggle much and there were 5 people in the car.

As for the planning, can’t say much, just wait for next year.

Maybe it's just not going to happen

A month ago, someone added me on MSN. It was some guy from a forum who saw my post about forming a mainstream band. Cool, finally someone responded. Within the next few days, we found all the members. So we chose the songs, which for some reason were songs that I used to jam with my first band (Silent Cypher). Every time the jamming day comes by, one of the member will say that he can't make it, so we would have to cancel jamming. Happened so many times that I'm beginning to wonder whether this band will happen or not...

Nearly "drank" this bug.

I need to jam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hopefully can start again after the 6th.

Will be playing for another band as well.