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By Dan Carlson, on February 18th, 2007
Today I write this post on new technology. Literally, ON new technology. I just purchased a new computer and decided to venture into a foreign land. I bought a Mac Powerbook.
I’ve always worked on PC’s, for those of you who are IT (information technology I think it stands for) challenged there are two basic formats for computers, PC and Mac (or is it Apple?). Now people asked me as I did my research on what to buy, “are you a PC or Mac guy?†Well I’ve used PC’s and played a bit with Mac’s at the Apple Store, but in reality I’m a “hit whatever keys they tell me to†guy. I didn’t think it would be a big adjustment to switch from one format to another when I didn’t even know what a format was.
So here I sit, watching CBS Sunday morning before heading off to church, writing a post to see if I can get it on the website with this new technology. Let’s see if I can make it work!
I’ll comment in comments and let you know how it went (testing my comments skills in the process)
By Dan Carlson, on February 15th, 2007
Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association Board Meeting
February 15, 2007 Invocation
Dear God,
We thank you today for this opportunity to gather in the spirit of law enforcement leadership. We ask for guidance as we carry out our leadership roles in this association.
Specifically today we ask for blessings upon Minnesota military personnel deployed around the world. We ask that you bless them with the strength, the endurance and the spiritual peace that they need to safely carry out their missions. Also care for their families and the communities that they left behind. Help us, as an association, do what we can to compensate for their absence until they safely return.
Bless the food we receive today as nourishment for our bodies, the information presented as nourishment for our minds and the fellowship we share as nourishment for our souls.
Amen
By Dan Carlson, on February 14th, 2007
I got a copy of Norman Maclean’s “A River Runs Through It and other stories” from my wife for my birthday a few weeks ago. The movie was on cable and I’ve always enjoyed the the poetic way that the story was told, so I asked and I received.
What I didn’t realize was that when the book was published it also contained “and other stories“. I’ve always enjoyed the works of Jack London and Robert Service. I think it is the authentic style of writing and obviously the subject matter that attracts me to these writers. As I read the short story USFS 1919: The Ranger, the Cook and a Hole in the Sky I was inspired to mark the following passage on page 144 (I have a tendency to write a lot in my books):
About the same time, I began to have another feeling, although one related to the feeling that I wasn’t going to let Bill punish me by making me watch mountains. Somewhere along here I first became conscious of the feeling I talked about earlier – the feeling that comes when you first notice your life turning into a story. I began to sense the difference between what I would feel if I were just nearing the end of a summer’s work or were just beginning a story……
Stories. One of my most favorite words. Yes our lives are stories, but we often don’t realize it. I think that is because we often don’t pay attention. Am I just ending a job, or am I beginning a story? More importantly, what is your story? Take some quiet time today and reflect on your story. Is it beginning? Is it changing? Is it exciting or boring? And by who’s definition is it any of these things? I love stories, telling them, hearing them and sharing them.
Again, take some time today and listen to your own story……..
By Dan Carlson, on February 13th, 2007
Here is what Webster has to say:
- Main Entry: def·i·ni·tion
- Pronunciation: \,de-fi-’ni-shin\
- Function: noun
- Etymology: Middle English diffinicioun, from Anglo-French, from Latin definition-, definitio, from definire
- Date: 14th century
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2 a: a statement expressing the essential nature of something b: a statement of the meaning of a word or word group or a sign or symbol <dictionary definitions> c: a product of defining
When I write and share stories I often become concerned with how people interpret what I say. There are so many ways to define things, so many different perspectives, that is why I think it is helpful to share my perspective on how I use words. When I share “A Definition” I will usually reference a dictionary source, but follow with a personal view or perspective. For instance with “A Definition” I like to put emphasis on “A” rather than “The”. I feel there are very few true absolutes. Lots of ways to define things. I find my life filled with more questions than answers. So when I give you a definition, it is one of what I believe are many. But it will be the one with my perspective at the time it is presented.
By Dan Carlson, on February 12th, 2007
Yes, we all made it home. The priest, the captain the chief and the retired chief all made it home safely. As they often say on these trips “what happens at Vermilion stays at Vermilion”. In this case I have to admit that nothing happened that needs to stay there. In fact, I think it is worth sharing. For me, just finishing week two of retirement/new career, it was very therapeutic. We ate, walked, ate, napped, ate, talked, ate, worked a little, ate….can you tell this was a firefighters cabin? Anyway you get the picture. The one thing we did more than anything though was we laughed. Laughter is a good medicine and we were well stocked with it this weekend. Thanks for the great time George, Tim and Mike!
By the way, have you taken any time to laugh lately? Not only is it good medicine, it is a great exercise for the spirit!
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