Neanderpundit

They have patented the process of taking a photograph against a white background.

Oleg Volk better watch his back.

Seriously, the patent business has gotten so damned stupid it’s not funny. One of my customers tried to patent one of my ideas! I put an end to THAT. My company technically owns my work, but I was damned if I was just going to let some idiot steal it. And now patent trolls are a thing.

But seriously- white background patent? I have been doing that shit since the 70’s. You can buy the damned light tables anywhere- in fact if I had the room I would get one of these from Adorama and set it up here. Idiots.

I went to funeral services for the wife of a co-worker.

He’s one of my favorite people in the world- and now more so because I have some little understanding of the pain he has.

Today he asked me about this picture, which is on my desk.

I explained to him. He rather quickly excused himself, as he saw that I still have strong emotions about this. I think he feared he would break down as well.

Later, he emailed me. “Great picture. Good memories.”

I responded: “I love those men, and to think of them and others I lost still hurts. After a while, though, I realized that pain was a gift beyond price, that if they had been assholes I wouldn’t even miss them. Now I realize what a wonderful gift I had been given, to have had the opportunity to know and love someone that much”

A little later, his response:

“This helps me. ”

When my turn comes to stand in front of my creator, as he looks through the long, long, long listing of my transgressions, and he arrives at this day, I will point to those words on the page. Maybe Shakespeare himself will stand up and quote “The merchant of Venice:

Portia:
“That light we see is burning in my hall.
How far that little candle throws his beams!
So shines a good deed in a naughty world.”

I’m pretty self aware, I work hard at hammering myself constantly with my failings- to the point where nobody can criticize me worse than I criticize myself, ever, about anything. Sometimes I surprise myself and actually do something nice. I hope it helps.