Recent pick ups:
Dirty Water 2: More Birth of Punk Attitude

Various Artists

precipitated by its being Chuck Eddy's #1 reissue pick for 2011 -- also, I downloaded Dirty Water 1 from eMusic - $5.99 for 2 discs.

Plus these things (brought on perhaps from stray comments by the Expert Witness continguum or somewhere else):
The Bristol Sessions: Historic Recordings from Bristol, Tennessee

Various Artists

Cellar Full of Motown 2

Various Artists

Freakbeat Scene

Various Artists

Vol. 3- Cellarful Of Motown! Rarest Detroit Grooves

Cellarful of Motown

Cellarful of Motown: Rarest Motown Grooves

Various Artists

Sacred Chrome Orb

Joe Fiedler Trio

Classic Blues Artwork from the 1920's: 2012 Calendar (+CD)

Various Artists

 

And these books:

• All the Devils Are Here: The Hidden History of the Financial Crisis
  Bethany McLean, Joe Nocera
• 23 Things They Don't Tell You About Capitalism
  Ha-Joon Chang
• Griftopia: A Story of Bankers, Politicians, and the Most Audacious Power Grab in American History
  Matt Taibbi

Hard to believe it's the end of the first week in January and I am able to ride my bicycle the 13-14 miles round trip to Ankeny, like I only expect to be able to do during Spring/Summer/Fall. Last year I tried it one time when the roads were clear of snow, but it turned out the bicycle trail (Hi-Trestle, check out out, although I still haven't ventured north to the actual High Trestle) was clearly not. There was a bit of a breeze on the return trip and automobilers do like to exercise their advantage (pea brain attached to massive horsepower = ? [you tell me, and yes I do mean you]) , but the excursion went very well considering the time of year. Especially considering the time of year, or did I already say that?