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The ***OFFICIAL*** Weekend Singles' Thread -- Easter Weekend (April 14-16)
April 14, 2006
| Victoria Delsoul and Army Air Corps
Posted on 04/14/2006 4:28:37 PM PDT by 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.
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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
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TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: easter; goodtime; mingle; singles; socializing
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To: Victoria Delsoul
Tell us about your most memorable tv/movie romances.
As far as I know I wasn't being filmed!
121
posted on
04/14/2006 7:17:43 PM PDT
by
Blackirish
(Hillary is angry AND brittle.)
To: Victoria Delsoul; All
Just got home - after church & dinner decided to skip "clubbing" & nurture my aching back.. and Victoria.. I have two words for this thread:
Wow
&
Awesome!!!!!
Will be back shortly to answer the questions & play a bit.
victoria you did a wonderful job!!!! Thank you. Freepmail a bit later w/ ping list change
122
posted on
04/14/2006 7:18:10 PM PDT
by
DollyCali
(Don't tell GOD how big your storm is -- Tell the storm how B-I-G your God is!)
To: snugs
Iced tea is what I consumed in great quantities today - it is was toasty today.
123
posted on
04/14/2006 7:18:56 PM PDT
by
Army Air Corps
(The UN 1967 Outer Space Treaty is bad for America and bad for humanity - DUMP IT)
To: Victoria Delsoul
Sure--I remember talking about stuff like this last year in General Econ and again this year in Politics classes.
1. The XVI Amendment established the right of Congress to set up and administer the income tax via appropriate legislation.
2. $2 trillion
3.Bahamas, Brunei, Qatar, UAE.
4. The Civil War--the first impositions of income tax by the Congress was to help offset the Union's cost of the war. This was severely restricted by the case Pollock v. Farmers' Loan & Trust Co. (158 U.S. 601; 1895), which was overruled by the XVI Amendment.
5. Reagan
6. Lincoln
7. Sweden--60% tax rate
8. Roughly 15,000 pages
9. The Congress. The Internal Revenue Code is U.S. Federal law--specifically Title 26 of the United States Code. However, the IRS writes much of its own regulations related to taxation, and this is Title 26 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
10. e-file
124
posted on
04/14/2006 7:19:01 PM PDT
by
rzeznikj at stout
(This Space For Rent. Call 555-1212 for more info.)
To: nhoward14
OMG! Go rent it NOW! Maybe I should with all the responses I'm getting.... LOL!
To: Blackirish
To: DollyCali
There you are, Dolly! Great to see you.
OK, hope to see you later.
To: Army Air Corps
It was not toasty but I have a glass of orange ice tea.
128
posted on
04/14/2006 7:22:19 PM PDT
by
snugs
(An English Cheney Chick - BIG TIME)
To: tuliptree76
Tuliptree, calling tuliptree...
are you feeling better this weekend? those things can really knock you for a loop! Just wanted to make sure you noted the ACC contribution on taxes!!!!! (and trivia and hope you are back to your old self again.
NOW I AM GOING TO GET MY STUFF DONE .. back asap
129
posted on
04/14/2006 7:22:44 PM PDT
by
DollyCali
(Don't tell GOD how big your storm is -- Tell the storm how B-I-G your God is!)
To: snugs
130
posted on
04/14/2006 7:22:54 PM PDT
by
snugs
(An English Cheney Chick - BIG TIME)
To: rzeznikj at stout
OK, you got right #1, 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10
To: rzeznikj at stout
To: snugs
Well, the temperture in West Texas was rather warm and only increased as they day progressed.
133
posted on
04/14/2006 7:25:46 PM PDT
by
Army Air Corps
(The UN 1967 Outer Space Treaty is bad for America and bad for humanity - DUMP IT)
To: All
Hey everyone!!! Pcottraux wanted me to let everyone know that he is traveling this weekend for Easter, and will not able visit the singles thread. He will be back late Monday night in case anyone is looking for him.
Thank you!!!
To: Army Air Corps
I'm developing a prototype thermometer especially for Texans. Instead of degrees, it tells the temperature in Texan.
Cool = 32F
Plantin' weather = 70F
Fishin' weather = 75F
Grillin' weather = 80F
Nappin' weather = 85F
It'll roast a fly on a rock = 90F
It'll melt steel outside = 95F
Somebody start to prayin'... Hell's comin' = 100F
Even Satan will be in church today = 105F
Hot enough for ya? = 110F+
135
posted on
04/14/2006 7:31:52 PM PDT
by
nhoward14
(I am an engineer. If it ain't broke, it ain't got enough features yet.)
To: nhoward14
Working for an engineering company I love your tagline.
136
posted on
04/14/2006 7:33:12 PM PDT
by
snugs
(An English Cheney Chick - BIG TIME)
To: nhoward14
One Summer, I did have the opportunity to watch the asphalt liquify (it was 114F in the shade that day).
137
posted on
04/14/2006 7:33:40 PM PDT
by
Army Air Corps
(The UN 1967 Outer Space Treaty is bad for America and bad for humanity - DUMP IT)
To: Maximus_Ridiculousness
Oh...I wasn't waiting for him or anything...
138
posted on
04/14/2006 7:36:07 PM PDT
by
ilovew
(I'll miss Andy Card.)
To: snugs
Thanks. I'm working through a problem very much like this at work right now.
You know something is doomed for failure if the big boss says... "We're just putting it in there to test it, so we don't need to document it for the customer."
139
posted on
04/14/2006 7:37:04 PM PDT
by
nhoward14
(I am an engineer. If it ain't broke, it ain't got enough features yet.)
To: carlr
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