Photo Assignment 1

Niko, a 5-year-old Labrador Retriever, retrieves a muddied tennis ball during a visit to a Silver Spring dog park Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. Dog parks have become increasingly popular destinations for dog owners.



A blood sugar meter shows a healthy reading of glucose. Diabetics must test their blood sugar before each meal.



The state flag of Maryland tosses wildly in the wind at the University of Maryland on Friday, Nov. 20, 2009. The flag's distinctive color and design have become interwoven with the fabric of the university's athletics program.