project rain

The Verve may have split five years ago, but they left something to remember about. While most recalls their melancholic tunes of "Bittersweet Symphony", other worthy singles were not given decent credits.

"This Could Be My Moment" dates back to the band's 1997 Urban Hymns sessions, and is included on their best of compilation This Is Music: The Singles 92-98, out November 1. Not sure when it will hit Malaysian shores though.



However, you can listen to an exclusive sample of the track from today at thiscouldbemymoment.com

The other unreleased track on the compilation is titled Monte Carlo, making up the following tracklisting:

This Is Music
Slide Away
Lucky Man
History
She’s A Superstar
On Your Own
Blue
Sonnet
All In The Mind
The Drugs Don’t Work
Gravity Grave
Bitter Sweet Symphony
This Could Be My Moment
Monte Carlo

My domain registration has been declined due to payment failure. I was enraged as that was almost impossible, plus it was only US$25. After few calls and emails between here and there, my STUPID card issuing bank told me that my credit card cannot be used for online transactions. Plus I do not have any options to give authorisation or anything like that in order to use it online. I am a heavy user of internet shopping. I have cancelled all my other credit cards in attempt to curb my water-like-spending and just left one card for my transactions. And I have the crappiest one. Oh jolly!

Johnny Ramone, founder of punk The Ramones has died after 5 years battle with prostate cancer.

Johnny Ramone was one of the original members of the struggling Ramones, whose hit songs "I wanna be sedated" and "Blitzkrieg Bop," among others, earned them an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.

Johnny Ramone co-founded "The Ramones" in 1974 in New York along with singer Joey Ramone, bassist DeeDee Ramone and drummer Tommy Ramone, who is the only surviving member of the original band.

Since its debut album in 1976, the band struggled for commercial success, but they left a formidable imprint on the rock genre. Though they never had a Top 40 song, the Ramones influenced scores of followers, including bands such as Green Day and Nirvana.

Even Bruce Springsteen was moved. After seeing the Ramones in Asbury Park, N.J., Springsteen wrote "Hungry Heart" for the band. His manager, however, swayed him to keep the song for himself and it became a hit single.

"The Ramones had it rough," said Vega, who's worked with the band for 30 years. "The band almost had to be protected from people who were taking advantage of them. There was never any money made."

Fans have remained loyal to the Ramones, and the Ramones over the years have been loyal to their fans. In 1979, while shooting scenes for the film "Rock 'n' Roll High School," the Ramones — ignoring the director's order — played a concert-length session for fans who had paid to be extras, Vega said.

"The Ramones never ever lost their image, their aura of being the ultimate underdog, the voice of the angry young man," Vega said.

One time, standing onstage at Madison Square Garden last summer, Eddie Vedder pulled out a cell phone to call Johnny Ramone at home. Before dialing, Vedder explained his motivation for the long-distance shout out.

"The Ramones ... they were maybe one of the greatest American rock bands ever," Vedder told a cheering crowd in the band's hometown. "They were a punk band."

I decided to give away my morbid design to something more pastoral. Got the basic things up and running. Also considering to move to my own domain. Shall keep you all posted.

Astro are currently replacing all the smartcards of about 1.3 million subscribers nationwide. In this exercise there was a clause added that you will need to use the services for a minimum period of 12 months or RM 500 fine will be imposed. This has caused an outrage. Who wouldn't? After the media uproar for few days, Astro issued a press statement saying people were confused and went on saying that the new agreement has been intact since 2001. The terms and condition only applies from the date of service activation not smart-card replacement.

One question though, if its that what Astro meant, why did Astro change their Q&A section from this





to this




and remove the FAQ which stated these




Astro is under pressure as Mitv and Telekom are trying to enter the segment. By tricking the consumers to be tied for another 12 months, that pretty much kills it for Mitv and Telekom as subsribers cannot switch as their are tied. Astro's diabolical project is foiled. Kudos to our consumers who are more awake nowadays.

2nd September seems to be a rummy date. Six years ago, Anwar Ibrahim was sacked, and triggered the biggest political upheaval in the nation's history. And so it is done. The court's acquittal of Anwar Ibrahim brings to a close a tragic chapter in the nation's bleak history.

What's next remains clouded. Digging the past would reveal some unturned stones. But are we ready for that? The fragility of the "res publica" will be scuppered from the facade that has been rendered. The nation was divided over the matter, but what would be interesting to see is if anyone decided to change camps. At the end of the day, it's who can steer you towards power & wealth that matters. Definitely there are people who are fervid about the reform; the rest is just going on the ride.

All that is behind us now. Not that the scars will vanish overnight. This is a time for the nation to reconcile themselves to the "Che Guevara" episode and to move beyond it. We need a reform, not a revolution.

Sentiments Around The Bend

Just Write
Nads
WooKooKoo
MGG Pillai
Najah
Dina Zaman
Jeff Ooi

In a 2-1 decision, the country's highest court today set former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim free after quashing his sodomy conviction. Also freed was his adopted brother Sukma Darmawan Sasmitaat Madja who had been convicted of the same offence.

From Bernama

The panel of judges answered the issue in the negative.

Among Justice Abdul Hamid's reasons was that the essential part of the offence had not been proven by the prosecution, as Azizan, being the only source for the date of the offence, showed inconsistency, contradiction and demeanour when giving evidence on the issue, therefore not making him a reliable source.

He said that Azizan's evidence on the date of the incident was doubtful as he had given three different dates in three different years, the first two covering a period of one month each and the last covering a period of three months.

From CNN

Prime Minister Ahmad Abdullah Badawi, who succeeded Anwar as Mahathir's hand-picked heir, had been expected to take a softer line toward Anwar and put the divisive issue behind Malaysia after he took office last year.

Judge Abdul Hamid Mohamad read out the verdict over 11/2 hours. As it became apparent that Anwar, 57, would be freed, the former deputy prime minister -- wearing a neck brace and confined to a wheelchair -- exchanged excited glances with family members and gave a thumbs-up sign.

"We are not prepared to uphold the conviction," Abdul Hamid said. "We therefore allow this appeal and set aside the conviction and the sentence."

Abdul Hamid said that conviction was flawed because the chief prosecution witness, Azizan Abubakar, had repeatedly changed the dates of that he claimed Anwar had committed homosexual acts with him.

From BBC

Thursday's appeal to Malaysia's Federal Court - the country's highest - was the last legal opening for the former minister.

The court was reviewing an earlier rejection of Anwar's appeal - but decided to quash the original conviction by a vote of 2-1.

"We allow the sentence and conviction to be set aside. We find the High Court misdirected itself. He should have been acquitted," said Judge Abdul Hamid Mohamad, head of a three-judge panel.

The conscience urges us to go to a place of safety from condemnation. Why have a conscience if we can never live above condemnation?

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Datin Paduka Rahmah Hussain
Datuk Abdul Hamid Mohamad