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]

I find a wide range of looks to be sexy. Girl next door, across town, uptown, downtown, another town. Ginger is very goodlooking but I couldn't imagine humoring her for a long term thing. Mary Ann was more genuine and sweet, and probably would be a better companion.

I saw Dawn Welles a few years ago on tv and she looks fantastic. Tina Louise wasn't as lucky.

[DollyCali]

Welcome!!!!! glad to have you with us. All here with different interests, ages, backgrounds.. but we do have good exchanges for the most part.

[ilovew]

Yep. FR is extremely addictive. And it's really hard to try to do homework and be on FR at the same time...it doesn't stop me from trying though.

[Army Air Corps]

In fact, there is a Skeet Surfing song:

Skeet Surfin'...
Skeet Surfin'...
If everybody had a 12 gauge
With a sufboard too.
You see em shootin and surfin'
From here to Malibu.

Because he's totally bitchin'
Ridin waves and blastin' pigeons.
And its a' neat shootin' skeet when youre ridin' on the heavies all day.

First Wave (shoot shoot)
Don't get tired.
Second Wave (shoot shoot)
Aim higher.
Third Wave (shoot shoot)
Pull it and fire.

Skeet Surfin' (it's all right)

Waxin' down our surfboards
And loadin' up our traps.
Tell the teacher we're shootin'
And never comin' back.

I've got a gun rack in my Chevy
For when the surf and the flak get heavy.
And we'll have fun with our guns until the lifeguard takes our ammo away.

First wave (shoot shoot)
Don't get tired.
Second Wave (shoot shoot)
Aim higher.
Third Wave (shoot shoot)
Pull it and fire.

Skeet Surfin' (it's all right)

First Wave (shoot shoot)
Man what a 'natch.
Second Wave (shoot shoot)
Pullin' that trap.
Third Wave (shoot shoot)
How was that?

Sharing sunsets with my favorite girl,
When we shoot the curl we really shoot the curl.

First wave (shoot shoot)
Don't get tired.
Second Wave (shoot shoot)
Aim higher.
Third Wave (shoot shoot)
Pull it and fire.

Skeet Surfin'

First Wave (shoot shoot)
Man what a 'natch.
Second Wave (shoot shoot)
Pullin' that trap.
Third Wave Wave (shoot shoot)
How was that?

I wish they all could be double-barrel,
Wish they all could be double barrel guns.

Skeet surfin' can't you see?
Do you wanna come along with me?

[Alberta's Child]

I have no idea. LOL.

I've got another sports story coming up in about 15 minutes . . .

[DollyCali]

:-)

[HitmanLV]

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.

I don't doubt that at all. I think women size up a man very quickly as an appealing man, a dud, or 'friend' material. That's why I encourage many guys who pine over female 'friends' to just start fresh with another woman they don't know nearly as well. Friends to lovers doesn't happen very much in real life.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

It really is a great film, in spite, maybe because of, some of its more disturbing elements.

I know it doesn't really fit into the archetypal "romance" genre, but it's still a really beautiful-if tragic-motion picture.

I'm not much of a movie buff, but that was the one picture that sprung to mind when you asked that question.

But there are so many captivating romances in literature that I could talk about.

Some of my favorites:

The ongoing love affair between Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler.

I even enjoyed reading the sequel-Scarlett-written by Alexandria Ripley, which I think gets a bad rap by literary critics.

Also, the romance between Marius and Cosette, which happens to occur in one of my favorite novels, Les Miserables.

Finally, the love between Jane Eyre and Rochester, which I think is so memorable for some of the same reasons that Rhett and Scarlett's affair remains so powerful years after "Gone With The Wind" was published.

[Victoria Delsoul]

That's great. Looking forward to it.

[Army Air Corps]

Thanks to the Pinger, I can read books and write until I hear the ping. That way, I do not press "refresh" every 30 seconds...

[Victoria Delsoul]

Jane Eyre and Rochester absolutely!

I'm saving the link you posted so I can get more info and watch the movie eventually.

Good post, thanks.

[ilovew]

Ah, I'm a little too obsessive for that. I wanna see what everyone else says too.

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

That must be tough for you taking care of your mom. You are a great daughter!!

Watch your back!!! My back almost gave out on me at my new job this week, and I work as an administrative assistant!!! I had to empty, re-organize, re-pack, and move very large boxes in the supply room the other day. When I got home I took 800mg of Advil.

I'm a 37 year old, trapped in an 80 year old body with the spirit of a 12 year old.

I'm all messed up. :)

[Army Air Corps]

I know what you mean. I enjoy reading or skimming (for long threads) and responding.

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

Is that from Top Secret?

[Army Air Corps]

Dr. Who is on!

[Army Air Corps]

YES! One of my all-time favourite movies.

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

YEAH!!!!!! I've got it TiVo'ing--I'm going to watch it tomorrow morning. (Getting seriously sleepy already)

[Army Air Corps]

I am watching as I type...

[DollyCali]

yes, the old body yells at you when you abuse it, doesn't it?

Hope your new job will work out & not be too demanding like that all of the time.

My mom was given 6 months to live when I can to help her for a few months.. My job in Charleston would wait for 6 months.. that was in 1992!