Prof. Boerner's Explorations

by Gerald Boerner

We raise a joyful voice to you, our mothers, on this special day… Without you, our days would not be. Bathed in the light of your eyes and the cheerfulness of your voice, we walk the path through life with your guidance. An now you have gone ahead to prepare the way for us into eternity!

Think about you mother on this day and whenever you might be down. Post this poem by the computer, by the phone, or anywhere else you may receive news, good or bad. Let it be the elixir of life that keeps us going.  GLB

Ode to Mom
Poet Wayne F. Winters

My mom was always there for us through good times or bad.
Anything we needed she made sure that we had.
For Halloween she’d dress us up like a pirate or a ghoul
For Easter she would hide those eggs and chocolate bunnies too.

Our birthday cake always home baked and decorated too
The frosting spread with loving strokes as only she could do.
Each flower and each letter had to be put on just so
A masterpiece with candles lit, "Make a wish and blow."

Doctor Mom was ready for each cut and every sprain.
And somehow just a kiss from mom would get rid of the pain.
She didn’t need a white lab coat her housedress did just fine
And when you left her "office" you felt better every time.

For Christmas and Thanksgiving you could count on quite a treat.
Roast turkey or a baked ham and of course some homemade sweets.
She’d be in the kitchen for hours on those days
To show how much she loved us in every single way.

So here’s to mom on mother’s day,
I wrote this so you’d know
How much I love you every day, even if it doesn’t show.
I look back on my childhood and thank the stars above.
For everything you gave me, but mostly for your love.

References

Inspirational Words of Wisdom: “Ode to Mom”…
http://www.wow4u.com/ode-to-mom/index.html

by Gerald Boerner

Yesterday we considered the printing process utilized by most of the early photographers from the development of the first successful process by Daguerre (France) and Fox Talbot (England). These processes were based upon the use of Printing-Out Paper (POP) to create their images. This POP process did not require the use of developers to bring out the image; only a rinse to remove the excess silver ions from the media was required, although gold or platinum toning was traditionally used with this approach.

Today we move on to the examination of the Developing-Out Paper (DOP) process that does require the development of either the negative or positive or both. The exposed sensitized media is exposed to weak light and then the “latent image” is developed in special chemicals to allow the exposed areas to release the silver salts and the unexposed areas bind the silver salts. The result is a negative where the light areas are clear and the dark areas are opaque.

The second step in this sequence is to place the negative on top of a sensitized sheet of paper and expose it to a light source. The image on paper comes out as a positive where the light areas are light and the dark areas are dark. This sheet must then be processed through a developer, an acid bath (usually using citric acid), and the the excess, unbound silver salts are removed. The print is then washed to remove any fixer that might remain in the paper layer.

This finished print is then ready for display after matting and framing it. Most current photographic processes used in today’s wet darkrooms use this two-step, developing-out paper process.  GLB

“The photographic image… is a message without a code.”
— Roland Barthes

“I was extravagant in the matter of cameras – anything photographic – I had to have the best. But that was to further my work. In most things I have gone along with the plainest – or without.”
— Edward Weston

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by Gerald Boerner

We continue to examine one of our last potential nominees, Martha Minow, for the Supreme Court vacancy that will result from the retirement of Justice John Paul Stevens in June. She received her legal training at Yale Law School and became a faculty member at the Harvard Law School. She was recently elevated to the post of Dean of that law school.

Her faculty experience includes a wide range of classes. She teaches civil procedure, constitutional law, family law, international criminal justice, jurisprudence, law and education, nonprofit organizations, and the public law workshop. Her writing is focused on the rights of religious and racial minorities, families and those with disabilities.

She would provide a broad base of experience if appointed and confirmed to the Supreme Court. However, she is part of the the “Harvard group” of potential candidates that may be a disadvantage during the confirmation process, since so many current justices of the court reflect many of the same affiliations.  GLB

“Delay in justice is injustice.”
— Walter Savage Landor

“It is impossible to tell where the law stops and justice begins.”
— Bugs Baer

“Whoever is content with the world, and who profits from its lack of justice, does not want to change it.”
— Friedrich Durrenmatt

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by Gerald Boerner

Looking back on this day in the historical past, we realize that today is associated with the birth not only of our children — Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there — but was also associated with the introduction of the editorial cartoon. Benjamin Franklin, in his Pennsylvania Gazette, in 1754.

This first editorial cartoon was brought out during the French and Indian War (or, as the Europeans called it, the Seven Years War) calling for the colonies to unite against the threat by the French in Canada. These French forces had aligned themselves with a variety on Native American tribes against the British colonies. It was in this conflict that many of our military leaders during the Revolutionary War obtained their military training. These leaders included George Washington among others.

Newspapers continued to use these cartoons to convey their points of view to their readers. They have increased in their sophistication and caustic nature. But the more effective ones continue to use humor to get across their message. They also provide a relief from the sometimes gruesome and negative news in many newspaper of today.  GLB

“Necessity never made a good bargain.”
— Benjamin Franklin

“Never confuse motion with action.”
— Benjamin Franklin

“Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today.”
— Benjamin Franklin

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