code: public static boolean getBoolean(java.util.Properties properties,
                                       String prop,
                                       boolean defaultVal) {
          String propVal = properties.getProperty(prop);
          return  (propVal != null)
              ? Boolean.parseBoolean(propVal)
              : defaultVal;
      }
docs: Returns the {@code boolean} value associated with {@code prop} in {@code
  properties} or the provided default value if {@code prop} is unset.