In Order to See the Future, We Must Look into the Past

I know the following article deviates from the typical topic here, but I was feeling inspired. Enjoy!


Today is Veteran's Day. It's a national holiday that honors the men and women that have served in the Armed Services of the United States of America. To some, it's a day off from work. To others, it's a day to let patriotism shine forth like a beacon. But for me, Veteran's Day holds a special meaning, because I am a third generation service member. As Veteran's Day draws to a close, my mind is drawn to the memories of the greatest servicemen I have ever had the privilege of knowing. My grandfathers, Brig. Gen. Charles Bartholomew, USAF, and PFC John Sauer, USA, and my father, Lt. Col. Bruce Bartholomew, USAF.

Brig. Gen. Charles Bartholomew was a fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force, entering it soon after it's creation as a separate service. He flew a large variety of aircraft to include the F-102, RF-4, and KC-135. He served in the Vietnam War as a reconnaissance pilot, and was the vice commander of Air Force Communications Command. He served 31 years and retired a successful and decorated officer.

PFC John Sauer was drafted into the U.S. Army early in his adult life. He was stationed at an anti-aircraft artillery unit in Texas directly following the end of the Korean War. During his 21 months of active duty, his common sense and the respect he earned from his fellow soldiers helped him achieve a promotion to Private First Class. He was honorably discharged and returned to North Dakota to become a happy and successful dairy farmer.

Lt. Col. Bruce Bartholomew is a logistics officer in the U.S. Air Force. His willingness to learn new things and to think outside of the box have help him become one of only a handful of logistics officers in the entire Air Force with his unique set of talents for managing fuel and energy distribution, the lifeblood of the Air Force. Additionally, his clear expectations and experience in journalism have made him one of the most eloquent and straight-forward leaders of his generation of officers. He served in Saudi Arabia directly following the attack on Khobar Towers, and is currently serving in the middle east in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and New Dawn.

There is a common element that has made these men great. They all love God, their country, and their families. They believe in the freedoms of the Constitution, and are willing to fight to keep those freedoms. They are hard working and dedicated to being the best at what they do. They are what makes the U.S. Armed Forces the most powerful military force in the world. And their legacy continues. While my grandfathers are no longer here, their wisdom coupled with the example of my father has influenced my life greatly. I am truly blessed and honored to be able to carry on their lineage as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces. Tonight, I end my day rendering a well-deserved salute to these 3 men.

Teacher's Pet

This semester, I'm taking a class titled Writing in the Sciences. It's a 300-level general education requirement designed to expose and prepare older college students in the theoretical sciences (i.e. zoology, my major) for preparing research documents and other science related materials. Currently we are studying popular science articles as a means of communication to the public. For one of the assignments, we were asked to read the article For Delphic Oracle, Fumes and Visions and write a short 400-word analysis of it. This morning we received an email from our professor detailing what he thought after reviewing each piece. He specifically mentioned me by name and requested that the class look at my submission as an example of how to write future assignments. What can I say? I guess I was lucky to be raised by parents with journalism degrees.


An Appeals Analysis of For Delphic Oracle, Fumes and Visions

For many people, science writings are cryptic and incomprehensible. However, thanks to popular science writings of the last few decades, scientific research has become increasingly available to the American public. And as the number of average Americans interested in scientific research increases, scientists must learn to respond to these individuals by producing content appealing to them. By looking at what makes popular science articles appealing to the public, we, the students of NDSU, can better determine how to apply this to our own writings, both for English 324 and for any future writings we are asked to do throughout our careers.

According to Ann Penrose and Steven Katz in their book Writing in the Sciences: Exploring Conventions of Scientific Discourse, there are two important appeals that must be made when addressing a public audience. The first they mention is the appeal to a person's sense of wonder (Penrose, 207). The second is to appeal to a person's need for the application of the scientific findings written about (Penrose, 208). We can find examples of both of these appeals being used by William Broad in his article entitled For Delphic Oracle, Fumes and Visions. “For at least 12 centuries, the oracle at Delphi spoke on behalf of the gods,” says Broad, immediately pulling his readers into a culture that is foreign and mystical (Penrose, 340). He later appeals again to the reader's wonder of how science can validate the ancient belief that Delphi had unique characteristic when he states that, “a geologist, an archaeologist, a chemist and a toxicologist have teamed up to produce a wealth of evidence suggesting the ancients had it exactly right.” (Penrose, 340) Having given his readers a taste of amazement, he continues his narrative to explain what these scientists stumbled upon.

But it is in his application appeal that Broad truly shines. In writing about an ancient culture, he links the affects of the gaseous form of ethylene to modern times, saying, “Modern teenagers know of such intoxicants, including ones that in overdoses can kill.” (Penrose, 343) Because of the number of prophecies recorded at Delphi, it is possible for modern scientist to better understand what the total affects of drugs like ethylene are on the human body and psyche. It is also possible for historians to get a better idea of how Grecian culture, and therefore western culture as a whole, was influenced by someone who was both highly influential and, so to speak, high as a kite.

Penrose, A., & Katz, S. (2010). Writing in the sciences: Exploring conventions of scientific discourse (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Longman.