Ethan Nichtern explains in wonderful simplicity and modern context the Buddhist truth of interdependence: the cause-and-effect relationship between everything and everyone (and each of us to herself) in the known universe. He gives examples of this in tiny structures, such as internal body processes, to social structures, such as forms of government and economy, to universal structures, such as existence and the laws of science.

He gives helpful insight into developing one’s own insight and how to use it to live compassionately for the benefit of all things. His own admitted shortcomings and anecdotes help ground him in his subject, while the distinguished knowledge of a near-lifelong Buddhist lends him authenticity. He explains his topics thoroughly and clearly, always offering up meditation as a way to incorporate interdependence into the here and now. I’m willing to bet you could read sections of this book out of order and still achieve a thorough understanding of it.

At just under 200 pages, this is a quick, easy read that may astound you with its multitude of implications. If nothing else, it can give you peace of mind.

Mi And L’au consist of, well, two people named Mi and L’au from Finland and France, respectively. They met and fell immediately and deeply in love. After bouncing about Paris from apartment to apartment, they decided to give it all up and move to the woods of Finland, where they would be completely isolated and alone, left to discover the depths of their love for each other and for the music they create. Haunting, beautiful, simplistic, and inspiring: this album is their result.

Biographical information taken from younggodrecords.com.

I live in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and the month of February here really is awful. So far it’s rarely been above single digits, and that is too cold for me.

A week or so ago I was walking home from the corner co-op cafe, it was night time, and it was snowing. There were no cars on the street. I was listening to Vetiver and not really paying attention. And then the drums for Been So Long kicked in, and the guitar and the voice.

I looked up from the sidewalk to see the snow falling all around me and glowing from the streetlights. Nothing moved. No cars. Just the music in my ears and the peace with which everything in that moment existed.

Suddenly the cold wasn’t so bad, and I slowed the pace of my steps.

I received this as a gift for the holidays. It came from Otsu. Nicole Georges made it.

It’s an anthology of the first eight issues of Nicole’s zine, Invincible Summer (a reference to Camus). More or less it chronicles her experiences, her animals, and her friends as they leave their marks on her daily life.

I spent the next two weeks carrying this with me wherever I thought I might find a spare few minutes to indulge myself. I had to make a conscious effort not to read it all in one sitting, because I think that could have easily been the case.

After finishing it and craving more, I discovered with great excitement that Invincible Summer had reached twelve issues, and with great dismay that two of them were unavailable for sale. So I paypaled Ms. Georges some money for all three, figuring hey, if nothing else I’m out $12.

The day was to be saved, though. It took a couple weeks, but eventually all three arrived. The two hardest to find were coffee-stained and wrinkled and came complete with a handwritten apology noting the fact. Like I even cared, though. I was happy to have gotten copies.

Long story short: get the anthology <3