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

[rzeznikj at stout]

Yes.

They were first synthesized by NASA.

What happens is that they're small (less than 10 nm) hunks of created magnetite suspended in a carrier fluid such that the electrons are all oriented similarly--reacting to a magnetic field.

It's used in hard drives, loudspeakers, and in radar-absorbing paints on Air Force bombers.

[pcottraux]

ME!!!!!!

[rzeznikj at stout]

Yep. Here's some of the things I've done throughout the Chem classes I've taken (high school and this semester):

• Burned Mg ribbon--lots of it
• Reacted Na and K in water--both react extremely viol
• Titrated hard water and simulated water softening in the lab
• Made black powder and set it off
• Reacted Cu in AgNO₃, result is elemental silver
• Burned lycopodium powder
• Burned various metals and noticed the flame
• Calculated the various wavelengths produced by the H atom
• Used Silver Nitrate in Tollen's test and silver mirrored an Erlenmeyer Flask
• Synthesized Rum and Winterfresh esters.

[DollyCali]

What is an AK Fest? Like a swap shop? Flea market?

good luck in moving your things. Nothing worse than having to pack it back up. Much easier to pack away the cash/checks. No?

someone can post for Sat... if not Max, Victoria or me.

I am hoping we can strive for a ping at about 7PM EST with 9PM the positive latest on Sat & Sunday. ESP on Friday an early start. Sat/Sun not as critical, once the door is open people can join in, with or without a ping.

[DollyCali]

and you are still alive! amazing!

did you hear about the Ohio (western reserve academy) chemisty explosion/fire this school year? teacher, her child & many students hospitalized with severe burns. Teacher was doing a demo.

I will see if I can find a link for you

[pcottraux]

Goodnight, everyone. Sorry I couldn't chat more, but I'm beyond exhausted.

[DollyCali]

http://www.labsafety.org/news/Western%20Reserve%20Academy.doc

and

http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/14267112.htm

[DollyCali]

sleep well.. since you didn't last night & had a harrowing day today

[tuliptree76]

It's been a long time since I've had to deal with experiments involving chemicals. LOL!

I need to get some sleep. Good night.

[Rca2000]

Ciao, bella!!

[DollyCali]

night all.. me too.. yawn

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

Night Phil. Sorry I missed ya, talk to ya tomorrow.

[Rca2000]

Part of it is, but there will also be a kind of "show and tell" where some VERY expensive audio equipment will be in place for listening and such.

There will be a swap meet and I have reserved a table, to sell my gear. This is all stuff I have accumulated from various sources(I told you all I could probably put together a dozen nice stereo systems from just stuff "lying around" that I have, I was not kidding!!)And so I am going to try and "move" some of it.

It is in Southfield Michigan, about 4 hours from here. compared to some of the drives I have been on, that will be a hop, skip and a jump for me!!

[rzeznikj at stout]

My college chem professor refused to do the Sodium in water rxn because several years ago, a small amount of sodium reacted in a beaker full of water--and the beaker exploded.

I did it in high school with both sodium and potassium.

The rxn with K was very violent--blew the bucket holding water apart.

K + H₂O ---> KOH + H₂

Enough potassium will cause a spark which ignites the Hydrogen gas produced.

[rzeznikj at stout]

'Nite!!

I suppose, I should head off. Though no class till 10:35...;)

[DollyCali]

Okay that is clearer. Never made it to bed yet.. wandered over to the Duke LaCrosse Rape Indictment thread

[Rca2000]

I have a theory on that one. (probably wrong, though)

IF it turns out that tit is all a bunch of #hit, and not real crime happened??

I would be willing to BET, that if one digs deep enough, they could find support for this charade from move-on.org, Soros, or some other deep-pocket liberal cabal.

[tuliptree76]

I don't have class today. However, that means more time spent on the dissertation!

[Supernatural]

I'll be in D.C. on Sunday along with Rockin' and Hoodlum for the anti-illegal immigration FR rally put on by FReeper Kristinn.

I think the crowd will be small, but I think it is necessary for those who can make it to be there.

Wish us luck.

[DollyCali]

How great you are getting to go. I have a weekend commitment at church or I would try to get there also. (maybe hitch a ride w/rock..)

Would ONE OF YOU take a pix of the three of you together & post it when you get home? I think it is marvelous you are able & willing to be there!

Hoody.. give Peter Pace a hug for me if you run into him , okay?