I’ll continue blogging in English at the fc2 blog here. The posts here may be backed up there as well.
Thanks for reading! 
Original article: http://thequietus.com/articles/05323-the-jesus-and-mary-chain-jim-reid-interview
Notable details:
He (Jim Reid) admits that they were only spurred into action some seven years after punk exploded in 1983 by the realisation that it was ‘now or never’: “Punk happened and that was when it seriously dawned on us that we could do it to. But we really are quite lazy people. [laughs] It was too comfortable just sitting around and listening to music. And the years start to pass. You take stock after a while and think, ‘Where is this going?’ And you realise that if you don’t do it soon then it isn’t going to happen for you… that someone else will come along and do all the things that you’ve talked about.
Giving up on the nearest big city (Glasgow) after a few weeks of failing to get gigs, they moved down to London where an early chance encounter with Bobby Gillespie (who would later join as drummer, alongside Douglas Hart on bass) proved invaluable. Jim says: “We gave one of our demo tapes to a guy to get a gig in a club and he didn’t like it. There was a Syd Barrett compilation on the other side of the tape. This guy said to Bobby, ‘Here, you like Syd Barrett… here’s a tape for you.’ And as luck would have it, he listened to our demo and loved it. He rang and said he had a mate called Alan McGee who would give us a gig.
They distanced themselves from the violence and McGee not long afterwards. Their original sound, which had been anchored by Bobby Gillespie’s double tom drumming and then a drum machine, was swapped for a more classicist direction. This included live drums and a gradual stripping away of the feedback to reveal a pair of very capable songwriters in Jim and William.
But if they produced music that was gradually becoming more harmonious, then their relationship was slowly heading in the other direction.
They would never be without trouble though. As soon as they’d dealt with rioting and the fraternal feuds, there were the drugs, the fighting, the radio and TV bans, the tabloid scandals, the alcoholism, the addiction. It was perhaps a miracle that The Jesus And Mary Chain still went on to become massive around the world. It was their more traditionally rock & roll sound that endeared them to the Americans but they also had a massive fan base in Europe and Japan. Most places bar Britain, to be honest. He sighs: “I’m not really sure why but we really seemed to piss a lot of people off in this country. We were excluded from what became the indie scene in this country because we were on a major label. But abroad it didn’t seem to matter, there was a lot more of a reverential attitude towards the Mary Chain.”
To be frank, apart from Psychocandy and Darklands, I’m not familiar with the albums of the Jesus and the Mary Chain. A friend of mine adored them and called the members “curlyheads”. Darklands is indeed a lovely record.
Source: The Big Picture
Yesterday, November 23rd, North Korea fired scores of artillery shells at the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong, killing at least four (two soldiers, two civilians), wounding 18 more, destroying several houses, and setting numerous fires in one of the most serious clashes between the two countries in decades. North Korea claimed it was a response to earlier shells fired by South Korea - which the South acknowledged had been fired, but as an exercise, and not into North Korean territory. 70,000 South Korean troops were beginning an annual nationwide military drill called “Safeguarding the Nation” in the area, near the spot where a South Korean naval vessel was sunk in March, killing 46 sailors - which Seoul also blamed on North Korea. This attack coupled with recent revelations about the North’s nuclear capabilities and escalating threats and counter-threats have raised tensions around the region - even as athletes from both Koreas continue to compete on a world stage, against each other and other nations, in the Asian Games in China.
This picture taken on November 23, 2010 by a South Korean tourist shows huge plumes of smoke rising from Yeonpyeong island in the disputed waters of the Yellow Sea on November 23, 2010. North Korea fired dozens of artillery shells onto a South Korean island on November 23, 2010, killing four people, setting homes ablaze and triggering an exchange of fire as the South’s military went on top alert. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)
I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked,
dragging themselves through the negro streets at dawn looking for an angry fix;
Angel-headed hipsters burning for the ancient heavenly connection
to the starry dynamo in the machinery of night.
原子映像 translated the first two lines of the poem as “我看見這世代的精英們，被狂想摧毀、渴望歇斯底里的卸下武裝，在黎明時分頽廢的經過?人街道，找尋一劑憤怒的毒”.
We saw the movie at 國賓長春, where the movie title was translated as “哀嚎”. xDDDD It isn’t a scary movie!
It’s been over a year since I posted anything here. I know, my posts here always start like this. Still, I need a place to practice my English writing, collect my thoughts, and track my daily activities.
Things changed dramatically for me last year, for the better, I think. I left Shinewave and joined Wistronits, still focusing on localization. My company had recently gone through workforce changes as well. Overall, my working condition has improved.
I’ve been “in a relationship” for a year, and it is a wonderful feeling. Things came naturally; nothing was planned, really.
I become sort of an amateur music critic, but there’s still much to learn. I need to delve into the field to be more convincing (both to myself and to the potential reader).
Angels with silver wings
Shouldn’t know suffering
I wish I could take the pain for you
–Depeche Mode “Precious”
S had a car accident during the Lunar New Year holidays and was severely injured. I was worried about him, but something held me back from constantly asking him about his condition. Possibly the past grudge was still fresh on my mind, and besides, it was impossible for me to visit him.
He said he would quit school, and that was not what I wanted to hear. Now I think a talented person like him probably needs a period of quietude to think things through; I know I do.
He sounded unusually serene when we chatted this morning, but something wrenched my heart.
I: I can take a few days off (from work), and I’d probably go south. I’d visit you then.
S: There’s no need, really. It’s too far away. I can type now. I can chat with you online.
I stopped myself from saying sentimental things, which I’m sure he didn’t need any. If he can be optimistic, I shouldn’t feel pessimistic about my future at all
I took out the lip balm to moisten my dry lips. Suddenly the sharp sound of something crashing disturbed the quietness in the staircase. I assumed that it was sound of my lip gloss or mascara falling down, but they were intact in my bag. Tiny pieces of broken glass shone on the dim ground, catching my attention, and I crouched down to find out what exactly was broken.
It was the small bottle of sand he gave me last October. I tried to gather the scattered sand in my palm, but my attempts were, out of question, futile.
I had a chat with him over MSN this afternoon when I was in the office. It was a nice surprise to see him logging in, for I was bored from taking a break from work, and I had not talked with him for quite a few days. He doesn’t even have an English name (and would probably consider it unnecessary to have one), so I would tentatively name him S.
I: Happy New Year!
S: Happy New Yeah!
S: Sorry “Year”
S: Congratulations!
I: There’s nothing to congratulate me on. ^^|||
I: How are you feeling? (i.e. I learned that he was sick from his blog)
S: I don’t know.
S: OK, I suppose.
S: Just those symptoms, which don’t really make me feel bad.
I: It’s better to see a doctor. I suffered from stomachache and diarrhea the week before last week, and I saw a doctor.
S: I don’t really feel uncomfortable.
S: It’s not harmful, I suppose.
I: If you say so. ^^|||
S: Thanks for your concern.
I: That sounds so distant.
S: Then I’ll add the emoticon ^^|||
I: Oh.
Perhaps we are truly distant now. The smiley didn’t change anything.
The traffic jam was dreadfully annoying. I was supposed to meet Allyson at the moment, yet I was still stuck on the highway, only a few kilometers away from Hsinchu. It was the National Day, and the TV was broadcasting the lame Double Ten Day celebration. Then my cell phone rang.
I: Hello?
S: I suffered from diarrhea. The doctor said it was enterogastritis. I had to tell my sister to cancel the trip. I guess I’m OK now. Since I’m still here, I can give you the gift.
S asked the reader of his blog to guess the name of a movie he saw in one blog post, providing a line from the movie. As a Wim Wenders fan and having written an introductory article about that particular film, I knew immediately that it was The State of Things. He had asked me to choose one of the two gifts he offered. One was some kind of jewelry and the other was a bottle of “seashell sand” from Penghu. I chose the latter as I hardly wear any jewelry.
“Nice choice,” he had remarked. “It’s more precious.”
I: How are you feeling now? Are you alright?
S: (ignored my question) When will you arrive today?
I: Um, soon. I’m still on the bus, but I have a lunch meeting with a friend at noon.
S: OK, give me a call when you are available so that I’ll give you the gift myself.
I: OK.
That afternoon, we agreed to meet at the motorcycle lane of NTHU. As I was walking towards the destination, I could see him approaching me. His shadowy figure crystalized in the afternoon sun. He was in a plain black T-shirt and blue jeans. His hair was longer than the way I had remembered it was, and longer hair, in my opinion, suited him better, with his impishness and caprice. He walked in large strides and did not shuffle even with his illness.
Finally we stood face to face. He had the bottle of sand between his fingers. The bottle was incredibly tiny, so when he handed it to me, my fingers brushed momentarily with his callous ones.
He rubbed his stomach before me. “I feel terrible now,” his lips twisted into a wry smile, “and I must go home and rest.”
“Thanks for the gift,” I said. “May you get well soon.”
“Thank you,” he said. We turned around simultaneously and walked away; I to the front gate and he back home. I did not look back, and I assumed that he didn’t, either.
Now the bottle of sand is broken.
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I’d like to write more about memories and past incidents. After putting them into words, I may eventually be able to let them go. Moreover, they might become potential elements of the novel I hope to write.
Dear Client,
Thank you for working with us during this past year. We will continue to be at your service in 2009. May this holiday season and the upcoming New Year be filled with joy, peace, and love.
Best wishes,
Debby
It was my last day being free from duties. I wanted to write “a free man” since it sounds more noble, but the gender case of the word “man” irritates me. English is such a sexually biased language!
Even NTU, the university of the supposedly highest profile in Taiwan is sexually biased. I visited its campus this morning after taking the MRT to measure how much time is needed to travel from my current residence to my company. One huge real doll in the shape of a newly graduated student in his robe stood at the main gate of NTU. Oddly, there was only a male doll but not a female one. I’m not a strong Feminist, but I couldn’t help frowning at the doll. Perhaps I’m a weirdo. A few students, who were in their robes, posed in front of the doll for a picture. I pulled out similar postures only a couple of days ago, but they seemed so far away.
Anyway, I liked the NTU campus, which is flat, not mountainous like that of my alma mater. There’s an easy-going air about it. Its library was quite friendly to outside readers although the feeling could’ve been my imagination; I’ve never entered the library of other universities before. Then again, the library is a balm to all my troubles. I know I will be a frequent visitor.
My apologies to my readers (that is, if there are readers) who have to tolerate another lame beginning of a blog entry. I haven’t written here for more than three months. It appears that I’ve almost dropped the habit of writing altogether although I’ve always wanted to write.
Things have been turbulent during the past three months. I became active in hosting the movies festivals in NTHU. I made my first overseas trip this March and went to a number of conferences here in Taiwan to present my thesis. I grew close to a former student, but the relationship ended almost too abruptly. With the near completion of my thesis last week, now it’s time for me to begin the course of job hunting.
To this day, I’ve had several job interviews. However, I don’t think I presented myself well. Perhaps I haven’t warmed myself enough to the idea of being an employer in a company. My desire to be a scholar has been so strong that it clouded my senses.
Oh, dear, the song “Mistaken by Strangers” by the National affects me deeply. Is working really this horrendous?
The thing is, I’ve seldom been prepared for anything in my life. I mostly go with my instincts and intellect. Gradually I’ve realized that instincts and intellect do not always take me to where I want to be. In addition, I tend to act like a silent observer rather than an outspoken presenter in life, but this tendency is unappreciated in the job market. I must learn to speak no matter how much I hate to do so.
Should I take part-time jobs such as teaching and translating documents so that I could still concentrate on studying and thereby fulfill my wish to study abroad? That is a question. I reckon I’d still try working in a company, albeit temporarily.
Despite my confusion over a clear future direction, life has been good. I used as much time as I could to read, listen to music, and watch movies. I’d like to write about them in my Chinese blog.
