The ***OFFICIAL*** Weekend Singles' Thread -- Easter Weekend (April 14-16)

April 14, 2006 | Victoria Delsoul and Army Air Corps

[Victoria Delsoul]

The True Meaning of Easter

By: Paul Arinaga

There's a lot of controversy about the true meaning of Easter. Some claim that it's actually a pagan celebration in origin. Others lament that retailers, greeting card companies and television are changing Christianity's greatest feast into something with meaning "the size of a jelly bean."

In any case, the most common view about the real meaning of Easter is that it's a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and that through this act, sin and death are conquered. Easter also can be seen as a season of joy. The time of sorrow is over. Lent's penitential forty days have passed, and the fifty days of the Easter season have begun. Winter is over and spring is in the air. In times past, it's said that priests would regale their parishioners with funny stories. Easter was truly a time to rejoice. To rejoice that Our Lord has Risen and that one day we too shall pass through death (which has lost its sting) and rise to New Life!

While I am certainly not erudite enough to give you the definitive answer on what Easter means. I believe that it offers many valuable insights about life, no matter what your religious beliefs. In fact, the Easter story is so powerful that it probably offers something even to an open-minded atheist!

One of the biggest lessons from the Easter story, I believe, is the power of forgiveness. Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions about what forgiveness actually is. In my opinion, it doesn't mean condoning the wrong that has been committed or allowing it to happen again. Moreover, the act of forgiving is not necessarily something you do for the transgressor (although it can be), although its power can transform the transgressor, too. It is something you may do for yourself.

When you can forgive, you can finally be free of the burden of guilt, anger, hatred or resentment. The healing process can begin or finally conclude. You can also let go of the person who hurt you. This makes you stronger and removes the power that person has over you. It's somehow ironic that by not forgiving we allow the person who has harmed us to continue to harm us, even if they themselves are unaware of the long-term damage that is being inflicted. Of course, ultimately, we are responsible. By taking responsibility now for our own interpretation of what happened in the past, we become much stronger - I think that's what people mean when they talk about "self-empowerment".

I'm not sure whether forgiveness is the main lesson of the Easter story or even a primary message from it. But I am sure that it is a valuable one. And I'm also certain that if we can learn how to forgive, we will be more productive - and happier - human beings.

Hi everybody. The themes for today are sports and movies:

1- Strange sports stories where you either participated or were a spectator. (Anything that seemed out of the ordinary and made you laugh.)

2- Favorite romantic films. Tell us about your most memorable tv/movie romances, or romantic moments.

3- Tell us about your favorite romantic movie dance scene: actors, actress, songs, soundtrack... which particular scene you thought was the best, famous quotes, etc.

And as you all well know, “in this world nothing is certain but death and taxes” and since it is also a tax weekend, we'd like to add some tax trivia, too.

Make sure to read this great essay regarding the history of taxes in the U.S. written by Army Air Corps. Outstanding job, AAC. Thanks.

Tax Trivia:

1. In 1913, the Sixteenth Amendment to the U. S. Constitution was passed. What did it do?

2. About how much did the U. S. government collect in Income Taxes in the year 2001?

3. Which country does NOT have an income tax?

4. Why was the first U. S. Income Tax implemented?

5. Which U. S. President was responsible for the largest Federal Income Tax cut in the 20th century?

6. Which President implemented the very first Income Tax in the United States?

7. As a percent of income, which country has the highest tax rate?

8. As of the year 2000, the U. S. Internal Revenue Code (or tax code for short) is how many pages long?

9. Who writes the Income Tax laws in the United States?

10. What does the Internal Revenue Service call their electronic method of filing Income Taxes?

Please, join us for some fun.

Your hosts for the weekend are:

Victoria Delsoul                             Army Air Corps

This weekend's Music

Sergio Mendes & Black Eyed Peas - Mas Que Nada

Shakira - Whenever, Whatever

Los Lonely Boys - Heaven

Los Lonely Boys – Heaven (Spanish Version)

Etta James – At Last

Charlie Rich – The Most Beautiful Girl

The Cardigans – Lovefool

Maroon 5 - This Love

Frank Sinatra – I've Got You Under My Skin

Smokey Robinson – Just To See Her

Mariah Carey - Emotions

Barry Manilow – Copacabana

Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders - The Game Of Love

Andy Williams – Moon River

Louie Prima – Jump Jive And Wail

Shania Twain - You're Still The One

Smokey Robinson – Cruisin'

The Mamas & The Papas – California Dreamin'

Ricky Martin – Livin' The Vida Loca

Goo Goo Dolls – Give A Little Bit

Neil Diamond - America

Lou Bega – Mambo No. 5

Bobby Darin – Mack The Knife

Wayne Newton – Danke Schoen

Neil Diamond – I Am I Said

Bobby Darin – Beyond The Sea

The Marcels – Blue Moon

Sam Cooke – Another Saturday Night

Elvis Presley – My Way

Patti Labelle – Lady Marmalade

The Pretenders – Back On The Chain Gang

Bobby Darin - More

Joni Mitchell – Both Sides Now

Roy Orbison – Pretty Woman

Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody

Sheryl Crow – All I Want To Do

[Victoria Delsoul]

Thanks :-)

[Nowhere Man]

My pleasure. I lost my beloved Doogie...a 3/4 coyote 1/4 australian shepherd to liver failure...we still miss her 4 years later. :(

I'm sorry to hear that. How old was she? Liver failure is as bad as kidney failure if not worse. I know when we had Muffin, she did have some kidney failure but we managed to keep her in a good quality of life for 2 and a half years until she passed away

Lotsa prayers...the memories can carry you through...it'll be like your belove baby is still there sometimes.
Hugs
T

True. Also, since I work in accounting, I kept worrying about, "will he be alive when I get home?" especially on days mom is at work. I now know he is in a better place, considering that the kidney failure was almost complete and we had to give him IV's every night nad feed him by hand. However, if it took us ten years to do that and he can still lead a somewhat fairly good life, I would have gladly bear that cross for him.

[Rca2000]

Hello,good lookin!!

How's things goin' tonight??

Just got back from today's events... easter service, and unexpected lunch a Damons, and then an easter play (the living cross)tonight.!!

[peacebaby]

I ate tooooo much! The weather is beautiful - in the 80s, pleasant wind. Wonderful day.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Hey Rca. Good to see you. Looks like you had a full day today - good for you.

I'm doing well, waiting for you to post, hehe.

[Army Air Corps]

Sleep well. I trust that your visit to the doc went well.

[carlr]

The weather is beautiful - in the 80s, pleasant wind.

That will get up here eventually,probably a month away at least,some years it is into June before it really warms up.
Usually by mid May it is quite nice.

[HitmanLV]

If you don't get it, don't worry, the entire 'first' season will be available on DVD on Independence Day.

I hear that the actor who portrayed the Doctor in the new series is bowing out for the second season. Looks like regeneration time! :-)

[rzeznikj at stout]

Howdy!!

Sorry I'm late and IATP--been quite the day here...;)

[peacebaby]

you need to move south...we're already in shorts and working on our tans...pools are open...

[Nowhere Man]

I bought a 1970 Z28 Camaro from a guy in West View. He lived right across the street from the Country Club.

His name was Jim Hendrix.

My parents bought a 1961 Buick Special new and when they sold it in 1965 to trade up to a new car, the buyer of that Buick was that traffic cop on the old "Candid Camera" TV show, he was the one direct traffic in a very animated way.

[Victoria Delsoul]

No problem. Good to see you here tonight.

How was your day?

[Rca2000]

Can I count on you for a bit of aid this coming weekend if I have trouble hosting this thread(I have NEVER hosted one before!! not really sure what all is involved!!)

[Victoria Delsoul]

For sure, anytime.

[HitmanLV]

You root for any NHL teams in particular?

I like the NY Rangers! Great crowd in the blue seats - especially when the blue seats were actually blue seats!

[snugs]

Eye test went OK in fact sight had improved a bit but was told I needed varifocal glasses as eyes have got to that age where one set of glasses will not cover all things.

So expensive at least because glucoma in the family I get a free eye test but glasses have cost me about 500 dollars.

[carlr]

Someday perhaps,at least for part of the year.
Even though This winter was fairly warm,I think -15 was the coldest,they get harder to endure every year.

[snugs]

Now realy off to bed night all

[HitmanLV]

My local Indian does a wonderful honey naan bread, naan bread topped with honey and almonds I love that with Lamb Pasarda.

Naan rules it! I am sad to report my 2x a month Indian food takeout place in Las Vegas has closed! :( Anybody know a good place for Indian food in Sin City?

[Rca2000]

WHEN oh WHEN is the original Mission Impossible series going to be on DVD(I have most episodes, some recorder on tape from the late'80', some homemade DVD's I bought, and ALL of the columbia house releases. But there are still a number of them I need!!(from all 7 seasons, 66-73)