This picture was taken with a Nikon D300 and an 18-200mm lens.  Zooming in on the subject probably helped with the possible reflections that could’ve taken place in the photo without zooming. 

Here are a few other links concerning taking photos through windows/glass:

1- Taking Photos Through Windows, Photocritic.org

2- Taking Photos Through Windows, PhotoHacker.blogspot.com

3- Photos Throug Glass, HomePhotog.com

So don’t worry too much about window/glass interferrance with your picture taking.   With a couple of easy tips from the links above such as, whether or not to use a flash due to the possible reflection, or manual verses auto focusing, you’ll find it’s not that difficult to take a good picture through glass… Besides, it’s better just to take the shot and see what happens, instead of missing the opportunity all together…

Each unit in the Army is required to have what is called an “Equal Opportunity Representative.”  This Soldier is sent to a two week course where he/she learns the basic ins and outs of the concept of equal opportunity as it applies to Soldiers in the Army.  At higher levels within the Army there is what’s called an Equal Opportunity Advisor.  This Soldier is sent to a 4-month long course in-order-to handle full blown equal opportunity complaints upon graduation.  This becomes their full-time job once they graduate. 

The equal opportunity ‘representative’ is required to train it’s unit on matters of equal opportunity throughout the year.  There are quarterly requirements and anual requirements.  There are lecture formats and /or discussion settings as well.

 This past week, our unit had a discussion about “disparaging terms.”  One of the most well known derogatory, or degrading, terms that comes to mind is the “N” word (I’m not even going to spell it.)  When it came to this particular word during the discussion, one of the African American Soldiers gave us a brief history lesson about the origin of that word, and the origin of “lynching” used for hanging someone.  He talked about the ‘Willie Lynch Letter’ and shared some of it’s contents with us.  This discussion suddenly got very interesting to say the least…  I had either forgotten, or never knew, about this man and his infamous (terrible) letter.  …

Willie Lynch had called himself the master of a ‘modest plantation.’  He was summoned from the British West Indies to speak to the local slave owners on the James River in Virginia in 1712 about the problems they were having managing their slaves.  The methods he discribed/advised were some of the most brutal physical, and psychological, methods imaginable.  Basically, he advised the slave owners to stop hanging, or ‘lynching’ their troublesome slaves, and instead, start the process of breaking them down.  Break them down to the point where all they know to do anymore is work themselves to death for you…

Part of the psychological degredation process was using the “N” word.  A word coined by Willie Lynch.  A word that, to this day, is still one of the most terrible words ever uttered…

The bottom-line of our discussion about disparaging terms was to be much more aware of what you are saying to others, because your words could have a larger impact than you realize…

More Reading:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Lynch_speech
• http://www.africanamericanimages.com/aai/willie%20lynch.htm
• http://www.openeyesprod.com/calendar_of_events

Image Usage: (about page) – from: dreamstime.com

The United States Army (as well as the other branches of military) has increased it’s motorcycle safety standards to the point of creating the ‘Motorcycle Mentorship Program.’  …

Its basically a program where all the riders in a unit get together for a decent length’s ride in-order-to spend the day observing/learning from each other different riding techniques.  This ride gives the senior ranking rider as well as the rider with the most experience (because they are not necessarily the same) a better assessment of each riders’ capabilities, which can reported back to the Commanding Officer (if he/she isn’t a rider himself) in-order-to identify any potential high risk riders…

Prior to this program, a Soldier still hand to attend (and still does today) a Basic Riders Course in-order-to ‘legally’ ride on, or even off, post.  When I say legally, I mean that if a Soldier wrecks on a motorcycle and has never attended the course, he could be held responsible for the medical care cost. 

Beides the Basic Riders’ Course, a Soldier must also wear the proper protection gear required by Army Regulation 385-10 which includes the following:

• DOT apporved helment
• Full-fingered gloves
• Long pants
• Long sleeve shirt
• Over-the-ankle boots
• During the daytime, a light/flourescent colored shirt or reflective vest/jacket
• At night, reflective vest or jacket

Here’s a video of my first bike, a 2009 Green Kawasaki Versys.  I kind of leaning more towards a regular sport bike now, but I guess I’ll wait a bit before I make the switch…   Not the best of vids but anywayzzzz:

Ride Safe!