Diary Entries on Will Brady's website

PECO substation photo art | I don't know who took this picture | Someone who worked with my Dad took it | It has been in my Dad's garage for years, occupying a place of recognition over the garden hose and adjacent to the

tool cabinets ...well, actually the lubricant, motor oil, weed killer, Miracle-Gro™, hose clamps, old epoxy tubes, stacks of emory cloth, ancient paints, thinners, lacquer and nuts-n- bolts storage cabinets... to be more exact. But I digress

Click here for more photos from PECO Power plants

Point being, that those same solvents and chemicals he worked with at home, he worked with on the job | And while I know it was always some measure of pride for him ~ working at Philadelphia Electric Company, I've always had the nagging suspicion that tosome extent the chemicals he used all the time on the job, no doubt increased his susceptability and eventual succumbing to, cancer |
Don't get me wrong | I'm no fan of frivolous litigation | Besides, my Dad was from that generation who may have thought putting on safety goggles and gloves while in the middle of something was a pain in the butt and a monumental waste of time | But seems to me that something's wrong with this picture | And if this thread seems unfinished, well that's because it is |

trip ta philly ~ part two | On Saturday, after a full day's lugging out boxes, old venetian blind slats, paint so dried out it was sculptural, old straw wearths hosting some kind of mite, band-saws, hand saws, a drill press and still more Hummels [I'd though she'd gotten rid of all of them years ago], deciding what to keep and what to toss with Gareth's assistance | But we did it under Peggy's watchful eyes for she's hauled out a folding chair and a thermos of ice water to stand guard over the clean up efforts |
     Afterwards, we are treated to a torrential rainstorm and an atmosphere so charged that the hairs raise on my arms the same time a bolt of lightning hits an old television antenna down the block |
     For dinner ("...or is it supper?" Gareth asks Sienfeldesquely) we get cheese steak hoagies at Carmine's, the local deli, beer and soda store | Going there provides a fleeting glimpse into the neighborhood's changed demographics ...night-time rough trade boys with piercings and lots of attitude make our sandwiches | Outside, a potential crack-whore on Buselton Avenue tries to flag us down after we round the block twice trying to find a place to park | Stupid we are ... of course she thinks we are cruising the block for a trick | When we combe back on a fourth round, she is gone, only the memory of her billowy hawaiian print skirt in my memory |
     Once home, I partly listen to Gareth and Peggy good naturedly argue about small business operators, corporate crime and whether or not Abuela can take his son to church on Sundays | He is also adamant about clearing out years of clooective pact-rat detritus from the garage, all the while keenly aware that the two of us are inveterate collectors ourselves | And as for me, I'm still not certain what I'm going to do with two truckloads of Junk and Goodies |
     More to come next entry...

Gems from Grey Literature | There is a phenomenon out there known as "grey literature" ~ "published" unpublished documents that speak to issues of social import: health care, environment, public policy research, often items eventually detail from 'The Quiet Room

influential far beyond the common knowledge of the source(s) | Often dull reading, but not infrequently important information to know |
Here's one recent find among the postings:

pix o' the day | pen+ ink: a danger to one's self | ©
1992-2002 - wbrady -->

criminal justice / mental health consensus project | Perhaps the most comprehensive study I've seen on this topic and the various paths it goes along | As an indicator of "dry" though, one of the opening pages states:

the involvement of people with mental illness with the criminal justice system presents unique issues for different stakeholders

What are the Consensus Project's aims? Again, according to the website, the Consensus Project is described as

an unprecedented national, two-year effort to prepare specific recommendations that local, state, and federal policymakers and criminal justice and mental health professionals, can use to improve the criminal justice system's response to people with mental illness. Guided by a steering committee of six organizations, and advised by over 100 of the most respected criminal justice and mental health practitioners in the United States, the Consensus Project provides concrete, practical approaches that can be tailored to the unique needs of communities

And although the test may be dense, the layout and graphic design of the document is clean which makes it quite readable | For folks in this set of professions / vocations / situations, this is one that needs to be seen by people | The document [423 pages} is available at the Consensus Project site's ACROBAT file download page as Consensus Report | You'll need about a ream of paper to print out the thing, and make sure you had recently filled your ink or toner cartridges | Me, I'm still printing it out ta pass out to my non-web acquaintences ...well, to those whom it may interest |

Although I can't say this of every bit of Grey Lit, on this document at least it's kinda neat to see some particiants names with whose work I am familiar | Brian Coopper and Howard Zonana for instance.

Civil War query | In comes a letter asking what I know about Edwin Forbes and of the Army Sketchbook. With one exception, I wrote the next couple lines back | Readers can correct me on this |
Forbes' 'Beef for the Army'

The Army Sketch Book (by Edwin Forbes) has a copyright date of 1890. At some point (in 1894) the "Army Sketch Book" was published as a serial, in a magazine format. The first in the series was published in April 1894. Each volume had a separate cover, printed on slightly heavier, blue colored paper.
      The inside of each cover had essentially the same printed comments; an introductory note by Forbes on the inside front cover and a selection of "blurbs" (or complimentary promotional statements) on the inside back cover. Each back cover had a list of the different topics covered in that volume of the series. There were at least 19 separate publications in the series. There may have been more but I'm not certain of this.
      Many who purchased the series had them bound to better preserve them. It's possible ~ if you have a bound volume ~ that the person having the volume bound did not include the cover pages. Their omission would affect the value of what you have, but this doesn't mean it is worthless.
      Overall value would be influenced by other aspects as well. Are the pages in good condition? how much of the complete series is included in the version you possess? How much interests there is in the area where you live for Civil War memorabilia.
      Personally, without seeing a book I'd be reluctant to suggest a value.
      However, you might be able to make some general inquiries at the following websites:
      Some are book sellers websites (So they will offer less and sell higher) others are more scholarly sites, less interested in market value and more interested in what it seems to be worth for archival purposes. How rare a book is, can also affect the value. If only a few copies exist, even some in poor condition could be valuable. Finally, some sites may give you a range of prices, depending on who is selling your book. (And those prices can vary greatly)

Antiquarian Booksellers of America

Biblofind

Bookfinder.com

My regrets if his doesn't give you any clearer picture on the value of your original copy of the Army Sketch Book | I hope it is helpful |
The exception is that one can now get, quite cheaply, in fact, a copy of a Dover Publications book (which promotes the "copyright free art"), Edwin Forbes Etchings with reprints of 42 of Forbes' work, for only $6.95 + shipping and handling |

P.S. ~ Let's still pray for steady rain!

other stuff || internet access tools || ECONOMIC TREASON: Do travesties like ENRON make your blood boil? There's a new discussion group on the Yahoo Groups website. It's still new, so the discussion has just begun. Participants are welcome. Stop by, sign up, and add your POV.