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]

“You will be veddy disappointed if you tink I write like doze men!”

LOL!!! But he could play a heck of a game!

That's a great story, AC. I truly enjoyed it.

[DollyCali]

interesting.. so that is what we do ... a ping(o) list! Ha!

[Alberta's Child]

LOL. You're very welcome. I'll post another one over the weekend on this thread, too.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Another name for your ping list, Dolly.

Alberta's Child.

[DollyCali]

thanks will go hunt it out (Im blonde & ADDH.. wish me luck)

[Victoria Delsoul]

Ping is fine.... Ping(a) is something else.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Fantastic, AC. Thanks.

[Army Air Corps]

Buena suerte! :-)

[DollyCali]

Thanks - added.. On the weekend I normally just keep it open to add & delete along the way.

Welcome Alberta's Child! Let's see ... we are getting a nice group of out of USA participants. Snugs being the farthest (distance wise)since Paul_Denton is not with us any longer.

[Clemenza]

1. Sports Story: Attending the Mets' clinching of the 1986 NL East title, watching my neighbors ROLL DOWN THE NET BEHIND HOME PLATE and rushing the field. I'll never forget the answer a guy gave my father when the latter asked them what they were going to do with the sod they ripped off of the field: "I really don't know. LETS GO METS!"

2. John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara in "The Quiet Man."

3. John Travolta and Karen Lynn Gourney in "Saturday Night Fever."

BTW: I turn 30 on Thursday. I feel like I am no longer a "young man." Its depressing, but I can handle it.

[Victoria Delsoul]

AC is from NJ, but he likes that name because he's been in Canada and he likes Alberta. Lol

[Victoria Delsoul]

LOL!

Happy Birthday. I'll try to remember so I can post a birthday card if I see you around. I like your selection of movies.

I love Saturday Night Fever as well.

[DollyCali]

aha... misrepresentation? misinterpretation? time for some wine?

now I found the little speaker Icon.. I clicked it & it told me I needed plug ins. then it said it couldn't find any. then it asked if I wanted to manually install. I said yes. Then I got a window with the rare opportunity to get a program for only 30.00.

NOW.. also mentioned about pop up blockers.. which I have. so guess this means I wont be able to use it? (in addition to the fact I am not willing to part with 30 dollars)

[Victoria Delsoul]

Uh oh, now you got me. My computer knowledge is pretty limited, lol.

[DollyCali]

gracias senior AAC(cant do that with victoria.. I tried once & just couldn't keep it)

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

No problem.

Another romance that I thought was amazing was the one between Roland-the protagonist of The Dark Tower saga-and Susan Delgado in Wizard & Glass.

I know a lot of people deride Stephen King for producing schlock, pulp horror masquerading as quality literature, but if any work dispels that misconception it's the fourth book of the DT, which is one of the most entrancing novels I've ever read, and by far the best work by King, with the possible exception of The Stand.

Not just the romance between Susan and a young Roland, but the entire story-his relationship with the other two members of his ka-tet, the fight to save Gilead, the betrayal of Olive Thorin, etc.-is extremely riveting.

Well, I guess you can tell I'm a Tower junkie by now.

Not much a fan of Harold Bloom, either.

:0)

Anyway, I thought I should just add that.

[Victoria Delsoul]

I haven't seen Wizard & Glass.

The Stand was good. And the one I laughed my head off was Night of the living dead, I thought it was the funniest movie of all times.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

That's probably because they haven't adapted it into a screenplay/motion picture yet.

:-)

Although, I figure that Hollywood is going to have to make the Dark Tower into a multi-part series of feature films-a la LOTR-some time in the near future, now that the last of the 7 volumes has been released.

I hope it's as good as "The Stand," because I don't know if I could deal with the shabby treatment his works usually get-more often than not, through his involvement-on celluloid.

There's actually an online forum for DT fans, which I registered with last week.

[DollyCali]

I like S. King.. and also like the movies made on his books. Remember Christine? Pet Semetary? Shawshank Redemption? Green mile? he normally has a cameo in his movies . fun to tryfind him.

Well As the senior participant here tonight I am bailing out shortly

[Victoria Delsoul]

That's probably because they haven't adapted it into a screenplay/motion picture yet.

That makes sense. :-)

You know, about the shabby treatment his works usually get... I'm just thinking... The Night of the Living Dead was probably intended as a serious movie, I don't know, but watching it... it was like watching Benny Hill.

Have you seen it?