A "YES-WE-CAN SALE"

There was a time when the words "liquidation sale" sounded not unlike birds singing or bells ringing. My inner bargain-hound always enjoys the smell of retail blood. But these days, as windows along whole retail strips in Midtown Manhattan are covered with pleas, it's hard not to note a distinct element of doom. (Anyone know of a good cobbling school?)

Lauren Weinstein's "Goddess of War" Still, there is good reason to paste together your credit card and buy a few things that are selling for "we need the rent" prices. And so I'm only a little sad to announce that PictureBox--a daring, Brooklyn-based publisher of edgy art books--seems to be clearing house. If you were eyeing that gorgeous two-volume Gary Panter monograph in the New Museum shop, but felt queasy about shelling out the $95, now it can be yours for $30. A personal favourite is Lauren Weinstein's "Goddess of War", a wonderfully bizarre and visually arresting comic (or "graphic novella", if you're fancy) about divine ennui, tactical aggression and some hot love. Instead of buying a latte and a bagel for yourself and your mother today, why not buy that for $7.95? ~ EMILY BOBROW