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

[HitmanLV]

That's a hard one, too. The edge probably has to go to Yvonne Craig, who played Batgirl! Talk about bringing the bust, the bootie, & the legs to the table - holy hotness, Batman! :-)

[Army Air Corps]

"Hey, there's nothing wrong with being addicted to Facebook! :)"

I do not use my account nearly as much as my colleagues. I know some who are on it for hours at a times.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Have a great weekend as well.

I think you are great, I'm serious. I love politics as well. I've been listening to my parents since I was a kid.

And don't be shy, please come back. I'll ping ya again tomorrow, hehe.

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

Okay. No problemo. Phil is in Ohio this weekend attending a big Easter event.

[Army Air Corps]

I agree completely. Yvonne Craig was a physical manifestation of hotness.

So, which do you prefer: Ginger or Mary Anne?

[Alberta's Child]

I once got to meet all the players on the New Jersey Devils back in the late 1980s. Their practices were open to the public, and maybe a dozen people showed up one day to watch them.

Someone called in a bomb scare at South Mountain Arena (the rink in suburban New Jersey where they held their practices), so they evacuated everyone. Most of the fans went out the main door, but I went out the back with a couple of people who were there with their young kids. Sure enough -- after a few minutes the players all came walking out in their socks (they left their skates in the locker room), and they hung around outside and goofed around with the young kids for about half an hour until the police dogs finished searching the building.

Some of them unlocked their cars and turned on their car stereos, and it was kind of neat hearing which kind of music each of them played. Three players -- Patrik Sundstrom, Bruce Driver, and John MacLean -- opened the rear hatch and all the windows in Sundstrom's Jeep Cherokee, and they all crammed into the back of the SUV (pads and all!) while the music blasted for everyone to hear.

One little kid was off to one side with a small hockey stick, hitting a ball against the back wall of the arena. He couldn't have been older than five or six.

"Hey, Sean!" he yelled out (to Sean Burke, the Devils' starting goaltender back then), "I know you live in Verona 'cause my mom and I see you at the Kings supermarket there all the time!"

Burke, who had just opened his white Corvette and was leaning against the side of it talking to defenseman Tommy Albelin while some heavy metal music echoed from inside the car, laughed and said to a group of us who had gathered around his Corvette:

"Wow, that's a pretty smart kid -- and he looks like he's gonna be a good hockey player, too!"

[ilovew]

I was at first. My school wasn't added until last October so we were all OBSESSED with it when it first came out. I don't usually spend much time on it anymore, I just check it. I spend way more time on FR than on Facebook.

[HitmanLV]

Never decided that one. I like them both - the problem with Ginger is that she can be insufferable, while Mary Ann was goodlooking, well built, and sweet.

Dawn Welles also aged a lot better, too.

[Army Air Corps]

Same here. I spend a total of about one hour per week on Facebook. FR, however, occupies much more time...

[ilovew]

Oh, I hadn't noticed he was missing. Really!

Okay, maybe I did.

[Army Air Corps]

"Dawn Welles also aged a lot better, too."

That is very true. She STILL looks good.

I lean towrads redheads, but Mary Anne had that irresistable "girl next door" quality that I have always found to be dead sexy.

[rzeznikj at stout]

Thanks for the compliment!

I'll be back. I guarantee it. ;)

[TheresaKett]

what's skeet-surfing?

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

Thanks Barb! You & Mr. max have any neat weekend plans?

Hey there, Dolly!

Mr. Max and I will be attending my niece's baptism on Easter Sunday. We will be partying with family all day.

What are you up to this weekend?

[Victoria Delsoul]

"Hey, Sean!" he yelled out (to Sean Burke, the Devils' starting goaltender back then), "I know you live in Verona 'cause my mom and I see you at the Kings supermarket there all the time!"

ROTFLOL!!! Man oh man, that's hilarious.

And, is the kid a good hockey player?

[Army Air Corps]

"what's skeet-surfing?"

Take Mossberg 12-guage and a surfboard...

[DollyCali]

All.. This is from a lovely (but shy) Single Freeper Lady.. Wanted me to share with you all…

@@@

Why it takes just 30 seconds for women to date, mate or drift off
By Fran Yeoman
The Times April 14, 2006


HEY baby, what’s your favorite pizza topping? Surprising though it may seem, that question could hold the key to dating success.

Forget carefully crafted compliments and witty jokes, because an inquiry about the merits of pepperoni versus anchovy is more likely to get you that coveted telephone number, according to a study of speed dating.

And men need to get their champion chat-up lines in quickly, because women are even quicker to judge than they are. Almost half (45 per cent) of the women in a mass speed-dating experiment gave prospective partners the mental thumbs down in less than 30 seconds. The men took a minute and a half.


http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2133772,00.html

[Victoria Delsoul]

That's wonderful. I'll ask Dolly to add your name on her ping list.

[DollyCali]

Had great church service tonight.. going to see if I can totally destroy my back tomorrow with yardwork.. going out in PM. sunday.. church, dog walk, more yard work.. My family is scattered all over US except my mom (an invalid whom I live with & take care of)

[Victoria Delsoul]

That's a very useful link. Thanks Dolly. :-)