John Frusciante Departs Red Hot Chili Pepper

This is the note John had made in Myspace regarding his departure from Red Hot Chili Pepper:

Thursday, December 17, 2009
   
Clarification
When I quit the band, over a year ago, we were on an indefinite hiatus. There was no drama or anger involved, and the other guys were very understanding. They are supportive of my doing whatever makes me happy and that goes both ways.

To put it simply, my musical interests have led me in a different direction. Upon rejoining, and throughout my time in the band, I was very excited about exploring the musical possibilities inherent in a rock band, and doing so with those people in particular. A couple of years ago, I began to feel that same excitement again, but this time it was about making a different kind of music, alone, and being my own engineer.

I really love the band and what we did. I understand and value that my work with them means a lot to many people, but I have to follow my interests. For me, art has never been something done out of a sense of duty. It is something I do because it is really fun, exciting, and interesting. Over the last 12 years, I have changed, as a person and artist, to such a degree that to do further work along the lines I did with the band would be to go against my own nature.  There was no choice involved in this decision. I simply have to be what I am, and have to do what I must do.

Sending love and gratitude to you all.

:-)

Drama or no drama, this is a reason to be heartbroken for all of John's and RHCP's fans worldwide. I  have never been a fan for RHCP, but I do feel that "John Frusciante quits RHCP" is rather shocking and uncalled for--only seconded by Jason Newstead and Metallica episode I think. Especially regarding  how well John and his band mates (Flea, Anthony Kiedis and Chad whathisname) groove together all this time. John Frusciante is by far the best RHCP guitarist (no offense, Dave), and by this reason alone, I do pity whomever be chosen to replace him (I wish him the best, though).

Them Crooked Vultures

Them Crooked Vultures or TCV is a new band with not so new members. Those are Dave Grohl (best known as Nirvana's powerful drummer, Foo Fighters' front-man and Probot's collaborator), Josh Homme (better known as Queen Of Stone Age's frontman, standout member of Kyuss and Eagles of Death Metal and em... Brody Dale's hubby) and the great John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin. On the stage, they often backed-up by Alain Johannes (don't know who he is, sorry) on guitar.

What a name and what a lineup, huh? They played in Europe several times. Among those, are Pukkelpop, Lowlands Festival, Brixton Academy and Reading Festival.

For me, it's good to see Dave Grohl back on the drum set again (his strokes are as powerful as ever!). It felt greater than when he helped QOTSA in some of the latter's singles, because in Them Crooked Vultures he is in the band, and not just a featured artist/additional player (albeit a great one) in others' band. In my opinion, TCV by far is the mother of all rock stars' collaboration, not just some lame gathering of aging, due to bankruptcy, rock stars had-beens we all hate.

TCV is a legacy of rock n roll spirit itself, polished in whatever mood and style Dave, Josh and John happen to conspire. I do hope that this cool project continues on with the original lineup (unlike other collaborations, TCV won't be the same without one of the three, which is why make it so special).

There's one problem though. What do you think will happen if Foo Fighters, Queen Of The Stone Age and Them Crooked Vultures happen to be scheduled to play in the same festival at the same day? Hahah. I bet that would be a hard day for both Dave and Josh. And I want to see that!

Click here to hear Them Crooked Vultures's singles: Gunman. Enjoy (thanks to TCV and the original uploader).

Why Oprah Quits?

Why does Oprah quit? She said in her Friday's show that she will end that very show in September 2011. Some sources said that the reason behind the announcement is that because she'd planned to move from the present ABC to her own OWN, Oprah Winfrey Networks, a cable networks she shared with Discovery Communications Inc.

To me, that seems unlikely. Oprah Winfrey by any means is a smart lady. To quit the show just to start a new one with different network albeit her own, as lucrative as it may be, is not a smart move I'd expect from a person of her caliber. Especially when:
a) she doesn't need more money (she is reported to worth more than $2.3 Billion and is among the 400 Richest Americans by Forbes Magazine) and
b) that will be a static move in her career (a talk-show host is a talk-show host whatever the network is), especially for the one who've spent the last 25 years in that job. (And by any means, the tears she shed when she said she's quitting wouldn't mean anything if she's gonna host a talk-show again, would they?)
In other words, her motive, whatever that maybe, don't fit in the classical reasons why people quit their job (i.e  better salary or different positions that both pays better and more prestigious). 

So, I guess the reason why Oprah call it quits is that because she has a bigger aim. For a person of her caliber (both in wealth and influence) there are only two options left: become a full-time philanthropist or, most likely, politician.

But she is already a philanthropist isn't she? There are 865,000 search results for the keywords Oprah's Foundation in Google. The differences between a philanthropist she is now and the one she would be won't be much (the number of travels maybe? Yeah, like she doesn't travel often enough already).

So, that leave us to the last guess: politician.

And why shouldn't she? She has both the money and influence (she's among the 50 Most Powerful Women) to run a political campaign. Her political friends include, hm well, the top brasses of Democrat Party including Mr. Obama himself; the current President Of United States she helped rally a campaign for. Hillary Clinton once offered her to be her second in command back in 2006. She has hundreds of celebrity friends who will help her in the campaign and above all, she has full supports of millions who watch her show these last 25 years. If she quits in September 2011, she will have full 14 months to rally a political campaign before the United States Presidential, Senates and House Of Representatives elections scheduled to take place in Nov 6, 2012.

My words: Go for it, Oprah!

Spam Gallery: Herritage Lottery Fund

Hello folks, look what I've found on my spam folder this morning! A spam slash scam junk. Enjoy, and beware:

Heritage Lottery Fund
FREELOTTO.COM
P.O.BOX 2357
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Telefax: Fax:+31 847 375 060

www.freelotto.com conbien with the lotto.nl
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Your email have been officially selected as a winner and authorised for claim in the A draw 2nd category winning prize of Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Euros.

For payment of your winning prize outlined herein are the terms and conditions for claim/onward transfer:

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Spam Gallery: Leung Will

Another spam, folks, beware:

 Dear Friend,

It is understandable that you might be a little bit apprehensive because

you do not know me, Please forgive this unusual manner to contact you, but

this particular letter/email is of exceptional and very private nature,as by

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I am Mr.Will.Leung,the Executive Director and Head of Personal Banking of

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www.hangseng.com

Email: leungwilll@yahoo.com.hk

PS:--PLEASE SEND YOUR REPLY TO US STRICTLY THROUGH THIS EMAIL ADDRESS FOR

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A Poem To Remember: Naomi Intan Naomi

Destiny of a distant past, seen through clouded glass eyes
I saw you
But I didn't recognize
The greatest part has arrived
 A quiet carnival, such chaotic lights
blinding but comforting
wherever it gone by.
A type of loss. It's me who's losing
Heart-broken goodbyes
None are spoken
Even in this life


To Naomi Intan Naomi/NIN
a teacher i never met. 

Bali's Property Agent: Me

I am now officially a Bali's property's agent. My task is to find potential buyer, connect them to the land owner (or my affiliated agents), accompany them finishing all the legal requirements and then, hopefully, after all the papers had been signed, bag home a handsome commission.

The commission rate is 2.5%-5% of the total sale. But it would still be divided among the middlemen (the less, the better). It kinda cruel business, I think, in regards of the sum of money involved and the number of people who definitely want a share of that sum. Competition is high, and the price is always increasing. The word "chaos" comes to mind, but "hell" seems more appropriate. And it is the same hell that I now putting myself into.

Bali has long become tourists' destination, now it's realtors' haven. More and more foreigners decide to live in Bali after they spent their holidays there. The in-market Bali 's properties are relatively cheap compared to similar tourist's destinations like Hawaii or Pattaya. The low living cost attracts more of those who seek a place for their second home. With all those reasons, my choice of becoming a property agent is logical. So I build a website about Bali Property.  In my mind, it will serve as an information center of any available properties in Bali, as well as a promotion media of the same commodities. I really do hope it works.

So, either you want to buy or sell your property in Bali (land, villa, house, commercial building) you should visit dkproperty. com. I hope we can work together.

Tony The Interpretive Dancer

Tony The Interpretive Dancer is a nickname for the guy who dance onstage during Nirvana's Reading Festival performance. Some say that Nirvana (Kurt, suspiciously) invite him to do so, while other suggested that it was Tony's own idea (being intoxicated and all).

The fact that Kurt had done something like that in Nirvana's previous gig (he once invited two of his Olympian neighbors to dance using pom-poms) and that none of the show's bouncers shove Tony's ass off the stage tend to prove the former, in my opinion.

As if his luck to be the one who once DANCE onstage on Nirvana's greatest gig (in my opinion) wasn't enough, Tony The Interpretive Dancer and his intoxicated acts are now eternally etched in the official Nirvana's Reading Festival DVD, launched last Monday (November 2nd, 2009).