I'm dreading this Christmas!  Last year, my "big" gift from my boyfriend (of 16 yrs.) was a Kitchenaid mixer.  Not once had I ever mentioned I wanted a mixer.  I never bake, and I'm beginning to hate cooking.  This is just an example of people trying to impress with price and not something their loved one really desires.

I'm a couchsurfer. :) The best way to start is to host a few times and get reviews from your guests then the door is opened for you to stay with others. :)

This Christmas and all the trappings is what finally pushed me over the edge. I am SO thankful that I saw the film just after Christmas, because it helped put things in perspective for me. I had been feeling so disillusioned with consumerism and this film helped articulate what I had been feeling. Wonderful stuff.

Relax

From the forthcoming 2CD compilation of remixes, rarities and unreleased tracks entitled "Memory and Matter", coming out on October 7 on Darla Records.

www.darla.com


"Memory and Matter comprises selected remixes and rarities from the past seven years, nine of them previously unreleased and many of them only issued only on hard to find EPs or as Japanese release bonus tracks. Far from being merely a collection of every single oddity, these tracks were carefully selected into a consistent whole that maintains the same high standard of proper Manual albums. This two-disc compilation is also a labor of love.

Like it's predecessor, Lost Days, Open Skies and Streaming Tides, released in 2007, disc one demonstrates Jonas Munk aka Manual's expertise in creating elegantly layered, shoegazey pop, while disc two focuses on minimalist, slow-moving pieces created mostly from processed guitars. The latter adds an excellent postscript to Confluence - an album that has gained near-classic status in ambient/drone circles since it's release in 2008.

Munk's way of remixing other artists usually involves a complete reconstruction of the original piece, rearranging heavily and adding loads of fresh layers of sound to it, which is obvious when listening to his haunting and atmospheric reworkings of Blue Foundation's ballad ”Dressed in Black” or Mice Parade singer Caroline's ”Sleep”, or the Robin Guthrie produced Annie Barker track ”Cruel”. For Manual fans it's a treat to hear Munk's lush signature sound paired up with (often female) vocals. Disc 1 closes with the 17 minute Manual original ”Camellia”, the most new age-indebted piece in the Manual oeuvre, originally created for a digital-only compilation on Attack9. The track's placid sense of drift and delicately weaved harmonies makes it a standout in Munk's entire body of work.

 Disc 2 is darker, more ambiguous in tone, with ”Three Parts” as the center piece – an enigmatic composition originally created for Ghostly International's ambient/drone compilation SMM: Context in 2011. Other notable selections includes  ”Fields”, a meditative collaboration with Jason Kolb from Auburn Lull, and ”Memento”, a somber piece that exhibits Munk's flair for intensive guitar manipulation."


Manual: "Miraparque"

Joshua & Ryan answer questions in front of a sold-out crowd in Miami, including: How do you resist relapses into compulsory consumption? Where do you purchase minimalist clothing? What's next for The Minimalists? How can you best express the benefits of minimalism to others? How can you reconcile your minimalists practices with the maximalist practices of family members? How do you stay inspired and focused through the process of integrating minimalist practices into your life? How can you encourage industries to integrate minimalist practices into their daily operations and future planning? Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast

Podcast 022 | Miami

Joshua & Ryan hand the microphone to Jessica Lynn Williams and Melissa Cain, of The Mind Palace Podcast, for a special guest episode. Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast

Podcast 024 | Mindpalace

Joshua & Ryan take a break from their podcasting break to discuss some of their favorite documentaries. Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast

Podcast 031 | Documentaries

Joshua & Ryan discuss giftgiving, the holiday shopping season, Black Friday, and the commodification of love, and they answer the following questions: What gifts are appropriate for minimalists to gift on special occasions where gifts are the expectation, such as weddings, baby showers, bachelorette parties, and the like? What gifts have you given on Christmas? How do you tactfully part with gifts from loved ones without offending the gift giver? How do I explain minimalism to family members with regard to giving gifts and receiving gifts? What is the difference between a thoughtful gift and asking someone what they want for Christmas? Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast

Podcast 038 | Giftgiving

Joshua & Ryan present two chapters about "Minimalism" and "Stuff" from Essential. Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast

Podcast 040 | Essential

Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus discuss living a meaningful life with less.

Podcast 038 | Giftgiving

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