Michigan Man Protests Losing His Son After Mistakenly Giving Him Alcoholic Lemonade
This is crazy. First, the headline made me think his son had died. Then as I read further, I saw that this man was not necessarily a bad father, maybe just an idiot. A $7 lemonade at a major league game might have seemed steep, but not altogether unheard of. He's an idiot, but not necessarily deserving to lose his son.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Thursday, April 10, 2008
American Idol: Shout To The Lord
So last night, on the "American Idol: Idol Gives Back" show, the grand finale was "Shout To The Lord". Did anyone else notice they changed the words. They sang "My shepherd, my savior" Rather than singing the name of Jesus. I’m not sure how I feel about that.
I mean, the song goes on to say how "mountains will bow and the seas will roar at the sound of Your name". Who’s name? You weren’t even bold enough to sing it.
I understand why they did that. You don’t want to focus on only one religion on a national show like that. And I’m sure they had to get Derlene ZCHECHCHech’s (I think thats how you really spell it.) permission to do the song. I guess if I were in her place I’m much rather have them change one word and do the song, then not do it at all.
Clearly the producers on AI know a good song when they hear one and they wanted a big ending that would draw some emotion and sound good backed by a gospel choir. I think they choise wisely. But I think were I one of the Idols. (stop laughing) I would have sung "Jesus" anyway.
Having said that it was a great performance of the song.
"Forever I’ll love you, Forever I’ll stand. Nothing compares to the promise I have in You." not even being on American Idol.Oh yeah, one more thing: Heart and Fergie doing "Barracuda" was awesome. Who knew Fergie could sing? I gues those years on Kids Incorporated really paid off.
I mean, the song goes on to say how "mountains will bow and the seas will roar at the sound of Your name". Who’s name? You weren’t even bold enough to sing it.
I understand why they did that. You don’t want to focus on only one religion on a national show like that. And I’m sure they had to get Derlene ZCHECHCHech’s (I think thats how you really spell it.) permission to do the song. I guess if I were in her place I’m much rather have them change one word and do the song, then not do it at all.
Clearly the producers on AI know a good song when they hear one and they wanted a big ending that would draw some emotion and sound good backed by a gospel choir. I think they choise wisely. But I think were I one of the Idols. (stop laughing) I would have sung "Jesus" anyway.
Having said that it was a great performance of the song.
"Forever I’ll love you, Forever I’ll stand. Nothing compares to the promise I have in You." not even being on American Idol.Oh yeah, one more thing: Heart and Fergie doing "Barracuda" was awesome. Who knew Fergie could sing? I gues those years on Kids Incorporated really paid off.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Ready! Aim! Fire!
At work today we got to talking about stupid things we did as kids. I shared this story. People were surprised I survived my childhood. Enjoy!
When I was 9 I found a shotgun shell in my parents bedroom. I had seen them before because my dad would take me hunting every once in a while (he was more of a fisherman than a hunter). As I looked at this shell I was amazed how such a little thing could inflict so much damage. So I, being the inquisitive child that I was (I was the kind of kid that took stuff apart to see how it worked) decided to figure out how a shotgun shell worked.
As my examination began I realized that the metal end had a little divot in the middle and that some sort of part in the gun must hit that spot and make the bullet come out the other side. I was too young and stupid to realize it was gunshot and gunpowder inside. I began to wonder how hard I would have to hit that spot to make it shoot. I knew I didn't want to shoot my foot off or shoot anything in the house, so I took my experiment outside. Also realizing that it might do damage to my hand if I hit it while holding it I tried to figure out a way to strike the metal divot without actually touching it.. Then I had a eureka moment. I could shoot it with my BB gun.
All I needed to do was lay the shell on a tree stump, lay down close to the stump and aim at the metal part of the shell. If I was a good enough shot, I would hit the small divot and make the bullet some out the other side... So it began. I did just that and was lining up my shot when all of a sudden, by 4 yr old sister, Leslie, walked out of the house behind me. Again, another eureka moment. How was I going to know where the bullet went if I wasn't watching it. (I was staring intently at my target.) I needed someone to be beside the shell on the stump to watch it shoot out. "Hey Leslie, come here I've got a good idea" ...
And so began my explanation of what I was up to. Without hesitation and trusting her big brother she got on the ground approximately 3 feet to the side of the shell. There I am laying behind it like a sniper ready to hit the metal end with a BB..." are you ready? One, two, three...."
!!!!!BANG!!!!!
The shell absolutely exploded. I had done it, I had hit the metal part. Leslie looked at me confused.. "where did the bullet part go?" Neither of us had any idea (again we didn't know it was full of gunshot. not a solid bullet). I was so amazed and excited that I had hit it I immediately ran inside and did, what I later realized, the dumbest thing in this whole story. I told my Mom. "Hey Mom guess what I just did?"
She looked at me in shock, not saying a word. After a minute she very calmly said "I heard something and thought you had wrecked your bike into the side of the van." Then she began to get angry and said "You could have killed your sister" then she started to cry. The end of that conversation was my least favorite phrase I ever heard as a kid "we'll have a talk with your dad when he gets home."
There's more to this story, but it involves a belt, a lot of crying and screaming, and one kid who learned a lesson. That lesson… If you're going to do something cool, don't invite your little sister.
THE END…totally true story
When I was 9 I found a shotgun shell in my parents bedroom. I had seen them before because my dad would take me hunting every once in a while (he was more of a fisherman than a hunter). As I looked at this shell I was amazed how such a little thing could inflict so much damage. So I, being the inquisitive child that I was (I was the kind of kid that took stuff apart to see how it worked) decided to figure out how a shotgun shell worked.
As my examination began I realized that the metal end had a little divot in the middle and that some sort of part in the gun must hit that spot and make the bullet come out the other side. I was too young and stupid to realize it was gunshot and gunpowder inside. I began to wonder how hard I would have to hit that spot to make it shoot. I knew I didn't want to shoot my foot off or shoot anything in the house, so I took my experiment outside. Also realizing that it might do damage to my hand if I hit it while holding it I tried to figure out a way to strike the metal divot without actually touching it.. Then I had a eureka moment. I could shoot it with my BB gun.
All I needed to do was lay the shell on a tree stump, lay down close to the stump and aim at the metal part of the shell. If I was a good enough shot, I would hit the small divot and make the bullet some out the other side... So it began. I did just that and was lining up my shot when all of a sudden, by 4 yr old sister, Leslie, walked out of the house behind me. Again, another eureka moment. How was I going to know where the bullet went if I wasn't watching it. (I was staring intently at my target.) I needed someone to be beside the shell on the stump to watch it shoot out. "Hey Leslie, come here I've got a good idea" ...
And so began my explanation of what I was up to. Without hesitation and trusting her big brother she got on the ground approximately 3 feet to the side of the shell. There I am laying behind it like a sniper ready to hit the metal end with a BB..." are you ready? One, two, three...."
!!!!!BANG!!!!!
The shell absolutely exploded. I had done it, I had hit the metal part. Leslie looked at me confused.. "where did the bullet part go?" Neither of us had any idea (again we didn't know it was full of gunshot. not a solid bullet). I was so amazed and excited that I had hit it I immediately ran inside and did, what I later realized, the dumbest thing in this whole story. I told my Mom. "Hey Mom guess what I just did?"
She looked at me in shock, not saying a word. After a minute she very calmly said "I heard something and thought you had wrecked your bike into the side of the van." Then she began to get angry and said "You could have killed your sister" then she started to cry. The end of that conversation was my least favorite phrase I ever heard as a kid "we'll have a talk with your dad when he gets home."
There's more to this story, but it involves a belt, a lot of crying and screaming, and one kid who learned a lesson. That lesson… If you're going to do something cool, don't invite your little sister.
THE END…totally true story
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Man! Oh Man!
I just overheard someone down the hall say the following about me to someone else...
"I don’t handle our flatbed trucks. All of that’s handled by another MAN here in the office. His name is Shawn Stinson."
Is it weird that being bescribed as a "man" is a little uncomfortable to me. Now I’m not talking about "man" meaning manly man, hetero sexual, macho. I have no doubt I’m that kind of man. I’m talking about man meaning "ADULT male". It sounds so responsible, so mature.
Yes, I’m 33 years old. Yes, I have two children. Yes, I have two jobs, a home and two cars. But that does really make me an adult? I don’t know why I’m weirded out by that. (Should a man say "weirded out"?) I’m not sure what word I’d be more comfortable with. Boy = no, Guy = okay, dude = yes, but not everyone can say dude. Can you imagine your grandmother saying something about that Dude that led worship at church Sunday. I don’t think so.
Having thought about it some more. I think I’m okay with being called a man. I can remember my Dad when he was 33. He was definately a man at this age. I guess I’m just waiting for the day when all my interests turn to the things that the men I watched growing up were interested in such as sports, working on cars, and fishing. For now I think I’ll stick with my video games and geeky movies. (Have I mentioned "G.I. Joe" is coming out in summer of 2009. I’m way more excited about this than a 33 year old MAN should be.)
"I don’t handle our flatbed trucks. All of that’s handled by another MAN here in the office. His name is Shawn Stinson."
Is it weird that being bescribed as a "man" is a little uncomfortable to me. Now I’m not talking about "man" meaning manly man, hetero sexual, macho. I have no doubt I’m that kind of man. I’m talking about man meaning "ADULT male". It sounds so responsible, so mature.
Yes, I’m 33 years old. Yes, I have two children. Yes, I have two jobs, a home and two cars. But that does really make me an adult? I don’t know why I’m weirded out by that. (Should a man say "weirded out"?) I’m not sure what word I’d be more comfortable with. Boy = no, Guy = okay, dude = yes, but not everyone can say dude. Can you imagine your grandmother saying something about that Dude that led worship at church Sunday. I don’t think so.
Having thought about it some more. I think I’m okay with being called a man. I can remember my Dad when he was 33. He was definately a man at this age. I guess I’m just waiting for the day when all my interests turn to the things that the men I watched growing up were interested in such as sports, working on cars, and fishing. For now I think I’ll stick with my video games and geeky movies. (Have I mentioned "G.I. Joe" is coming out in summer of 2009. I’m way more excited about this than a 33 year old MAN should be.)
Monday, March 24, 2008
I Feel Good
You know, it feels really good to work hard on something and have everything turn out like you planned it.
The choir and orchestra at Westwood presented a musical called "The Resurrection & The Life" at church Easter Sunday morning. Everything went great. Usually after a production, I find myself thinking "I wish I had done this or that differently." But not this time. Everything went great.
I am so thankful to be working with such a talented group of people at Westwood, not just in the choir & orchestra, but running lights, tech, cameras, and even writing narration. I’m not sure how I’ve suckered them all into thinking I should be the guy in charge, but for now, that’s the way it is.
A few months ago when I preseneted the music committee with my idea for the program (sets, drama, costumes, multiple performances, etc.) I wasn’t exactly enthused about their idea of doing this smaller production on Easter Sunday morning. But it was perfect. What an awesome crowd we had and I already know of one decision that was made and some visitors that have said they’ll return. I know that wasn’t all because of the musical. But it feels good to have played a small part.
There are some at Westwood that look back 10 years ago and wish we could do those type of large scale performances again. We may not have as many people now as we did then, but I have no doubt the quality of what we are currently doing is just as good if not better.
God has a lot in store for us. I can hardly wait to see what’s next.
The choir and orchestra at Westwood presented a musical called "The Resurrection & The Life" at church Easter Sunday morning. Everything went great. Usually after a production, I find myself thinking "I wish I had done this or that differently." But not this time. Everything went great.
I am so thankful to be working with such a talented group of people at Westwood, not just in the choir & orchestra, but running lights, tech, cameras, and even writing narration. I’m not sure how I’ve suckered them all into thinking I should be the guy in charge, but for now, that’s the way it is.
A few months ago when I preseneted the music committee with my idea for the program (sets, drama, costumes, multiple performances, etc.) I wasn’t exactly enthused about their idea of doing this smaller production on Easter Sunday morning. But it was perfect. What an awesome crowd we had and I already know of one decision that was made and some visitors that have said they’ll return. I know that wasn’t all because of the musical. But it feels good to have played a small part.
There are some at Westwood that look back 10 years ago and wish we could do those type of large scale performances again. We may not have as many people now as we did then, but I have no doubt the quality of what we are currently doing is just as good if not better.
God has a lot in store for us. I can hardly wait to see what’s next.
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