[Remind-Fans] use in Conky leaves a 0 byte file

[Sector_11]

Debian SID running OpenBox

I have been using this line for a couple of years in conky:

${exec rem -s | cut -c9-10,19- }

and for years it worked fine.

Now it is over writing my ~/.reminders file leaving it as 0 bytes.

The line in a terminal works fine:

  27 Aug 12 | 23:09:19 ~
         $ rem -s | cut -c9-10,19-
08 B Vanina
10 B Mercedes
13 B Mi Amour
13 B Erin P.
14 B Tristan G (96)
17 B Megan G (92)
19 A S11 | S12
19 A S11 & 12 Day
29 The Eagle Flies
31 > 09.21.X.26

  27 Aug 12 | 23:09:33 ~
         $ 

It does not overwrite the file at all, but in conky, a disaster!

Any idea why the line in conky producing nothing and leaving a 0 byte
~/.reminders file?

If, and I'm doing this now, I change permissions so there is no "write"
permissions to ~/.reminders it works fine.

Please help!