Citations

Efroymson, Jon. (2013). Pay Stub Parking Plan. University Business. 6. p 20-21.

Troop, Don. (2011). Nobel? Sure, Parking Space? Maybe. Chronicle of Higher Education. 58. p A1-A10. 

VICTORY!

Ottone, Ryan M.
“Victory!”
2010; JPEG File
  
     At Macdill AFB, Tampa FL my Airmen Leadership School (ALS) class spells out our class motto; VICTORY!.  The Airmen Battle Uniform’s (ABU) blend together to create the cohesive letters that almost blend into the drill pad; except for our one brother in arms from the U.S. Coastguard seen in blue toping the ‘T’.  From this roof top view you can also see our nations flag proudly displayed over head as its shadow dances almost on top of us.  The palm trees and base Dining Facility (DFAC) loom in the back framing this proud moment in my military career.
***
    It was 90 degrees in Tampa the day this was shot but not one of my 24 brothers and sisters in arms complained.  Our class was one week away from graduating the mandatory school for new Non Commissioned Officers.  This 6 week journey was rough.  Long days and nights were spent completing tasks designated to give us the tools to lead. This often left us all with a lack of sleep and energy; but you would never know. 
    During this 6 week time frame we all developed an even closer bond than the one we shared as service members.  Our backgrounds within the military differed greatly; from medical to law enforcement (Security Forces), to mechanics and services;  and often created interesting views on how tasks should be completed.  Through team building exercises and simply helping each other with academic needs or needs within our daily lives, we pushed each other to do and become the best we could.  This common struggle is what created the everlasting bond between our class.
    For most of the 6 weeks our class did not have a motto.  We were often asked by our Military Training Leaders (MTL‘s) what we as a group thought would best represent us for a motto.  Nothing stuck out for us.  This all changed one day in week 4 when we all successfully completed leading drill movements (Leading a group, or flight as its called, in maneuvering as a unit in an orderly fashion through marches, turns and spacing).  When the last leader finished our MTL gave us some much needed praise and released us for the day.  At this moment I yelled out “VICTORY!”.  This simple word stuck.  Our class made this common phrase our own.  It was the answer to what our over all goal for the class was.  We all wanted to become victorious by completing ALS and becoming the best NCO’s we could be.  Our group did accomplish this task as well as made life long friendships.
    At our classes graduation; that was attended by all of our superiors from our individual career fields; we unveiled our photo.  We showed our ability to work together and our cohesion as airmen, not just a cop or mechanic etc, through this photo for all of the base to see.  We ended our graduation with the 24 of us standing on stage, certificates and medals in hand, in front of this photo and chanted for the whole of the armed forces to hear, “VICTORY! VICTORY! THAT’S OUR CRY!!!! V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!!!!”

Half's are My Whole

The oldest out of one and four;

Three are whole and I'm one no more.

Mom made three and Dad made two;

but we are four, there are no half's any more.

The three half's were never half to me,

they are whole and will always be.

My heart, my soul, my blood and bone,

with these three I'm never alone.

I love them with all my heart;

threw thick and thin we'll never part.

All though we only share a Mom or Dad,

I could never replace these whole half's.

     This is a short poem I wrote to express my feelings for my three siblings.  Although they are technically my half siblings I have never, will never, consider them as such and I know they don't look at me in that light. That is not just cause I am the oldest either.  I have watched them be born and grow up.  I have seen them through their ups and downs as they have helped me.  They are everything to me.  That is why " Half's are My Whole."

Sanctuary

 

 

 

Sanctuary

 

In my cozy cave, I wrap myself in things.

Not just blankets but my thoughts and dreams.

 

Here I can just be and do what I enjoy.

Create, learn and laugh or simply just relax.

 

My cave is just for me.

It may look welcome here.

Just know I rarely share.

So if you enter tred lightly and try not to poke the bear.

Perspectives of Me!

 

     The perspective of a photo can dramatically change how you "see" yourself.  As you can observe from the three photo's I have chose from class, perspective can be varied.  Look at the first photo taken through a fan.  The viewer's perspective is obstructed and the actual image of myself is barely noticeable.  I am only two feet behind the fan in full view to everyone in the room but from the picture the dirt on the fans cage is more noticeable than me. This is a very different prospective than the second photo.

     As you can see in the middle picture, this perspective is pretty straight forward.  I am in full view, smiling and relaxing kicked back enjoying the class.  Pictures like this are obvious but can also leave questions for the viewer.  Observers might wonder what I am thinking or about the details such as my tattoo's or even the shirt I am wearing. The questions for a straight forward picture pale in comparison to what can be desired in the last photo.
     The final perspective I have chosen is a limited and forced focal point of my face.  The photo shows only the right side of my face, part of my hat and very little background.  In the foreground the viewer only can see the hole I am looking through.   This shot draws the viewers eye to what the photographer wants you to see.  This trick is very useful and can be used in various ways.  It also changes how the viewer sees the subject.  Observers might question where I am, how the photo was taking (birds, worms eye or straight forward) and so much more; the questions for this perspective are endless.
     From these photos you can see that perspective can change how you or the viewer sees someone.  The perspective is your choice and it is an important one.  When your taking snapshots think about what you want the picture to express or what the photographer want the viewer to focus on.  Lastly remember perspective is a tool that can be used in many ways so have fun with it.    

Venis of Urbino

     The other day in class we observed two painting. One of which was Venus Of Urbino by  Titian.  The painting to me represented how power and self-indulgence can overwhelm or even consume a individual to the point of blinding them to the world around them.
     As I analyzed the piece I saw a woman's nude figure, nonchalantly draped over what I would assume is her bed.  She holds a bushel of grapes in one hand while the other covers her most private area.  A small dog lies sleeping in a ball at her delicately crossed feet.  Her face has a seductive expression that seems to be directed straight at the viewer.  I also observed a women and small child in the background.  The little girl seems to be searching for something with the aid or to the dismay of the women.  Our muse seems not to even notice them or have a care in the world.  Such as the powerful often are.
     Her careless persona led to my curiosity of what was going on with the others in the painting.  Was everything okay? Was something lost?  What exactly where they doing?  Furthermore how could this women not realize or even bat an eye to whatever was going on behind her.  She began to look to me as pompous or drunk with power, not even registering anything that did not pertain to her.
     The smug yet seductive glare on her face really grabbed my eye.  It covertly demands attention.  It almost completely overwhelms the mind to the point where the onlooker forgets about those individuals in the background.  The only thing we know is that they look like they could use help and the nude women is not gonna help.
     This only proved to me that my initial feeling.  That the powerful often are blinded.  They sometimes can lose sight of everything around them.  People of power often become so self-indulgent that the world out side of their just dissolves into the backdrop.

Original Art

Other Traditional Tattoos

Welcome to my Blogg!  

     My name is Ryan.  This Blogg will cover the course assignments for my FYS class at RIC.  You will see a varied compilation of photos with responses, summaries and creative writing by me.   I'm very excited for this class, so stay tuned!

     The above photo is a drawing I created.  I chose this for my first Blogg to show that I enjoy art.  From concept and design to the finally product; I love to create.  This attribute is what I wanted to show, the point I wanted to get across. I hope you like the piece I chose and I have attached a site I often use for inspiration.