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]

I think so, too. Very funny.

[Victoria Delsoul]

LOL!!! Good job.

[Alberta's Child]

Thanks, Victoria.

It's nearly 2:00 AM here on the East Coast, so I'll be heading off to bed. I'll check in again tomorrow night, and I'll wish a Happy Easter now for anyone who isn't going to be here tomorrow.

So long, everybody. Great thread!

[Old_Mil]

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.

...resulting in marriages that last 30 seconds or less, it would seem.

[Rca2000]

I'm not too bad tonight. It is REALLY raining here, and we still have a tornado watch out.

Next Saturday, I will be going to an event called the AK fest. (NOT "those" kind of "AK's"), this one is for a site called Audiokarma, started out of Michigan, and that is where the fest is. I WILL do the ping next Friday night(If I can figure out how) and I should be back sometime Saturday night. I will NOT be up late Friday, I will most likely be going to bed soon after the ping, as i have to get up early Sat. morning.

I plan to sell some audio items I have here, donate a few others and perhaps pick up some more things.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Thank you kindly, AC. Thanks for stopping by.

See ya later today.

[Rca2000]

Yeah. I remember when it came out during the Summer of '86 or so.

It has that whiny girl in it, that plays the voice of Bart Simpson, as I have ben told.

Pretty dumb movie!!

[Victoria Delsoul]

LOL!

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

No, but I've heard it's good.

Although, most of the people who say that like Stephen King movies, which raises my suspicion immediately.

:)

The good films adapted from his work that I've seen:

Stand By Me (The Body)

Rita Hayworth and The Shawshenk Redemption

Cat's Eye

And as you mentioned earlier, The Stand.

The good ones are few and far between.

[Victoria Delsoul]

..resulting in marriages that last 30 seconds or less, it would seem.

The only way to know is to try it and find out. You could be wrong, you know. :-)

[Rca2000]

"just keeping you on your toes"!!!!

He....He.....He....

[ilovew]

That sounds really interesting. I hope you have fun :)

[HitmanLV]

Yeah! That's a classic horror film! One of the alltime greats! What did you find funny about it! I think it's scary, and i don't scare easily! ;-)

[Victoria Delsoul]

His books are better than his movies, why is that? I don't get the same effect watching his movies, well some of them, anyway.

[Rca2000]

I ain't really worried anymore. With all of the shit I hear nowadays, I am probably better off the way I am.

[Victoria Delsoul]

The Direction, the timing of the scenes, the acting, the way they talk, the whole enchilada.

[HitmanLV]

Wow, you must be the woman of steel! Did you see any of the sequels: Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead, or Land of the Dead?

[nunya bidness]

Saw was pretty good.

[Army Air Corps]

Army of Darkness is still one of my all time favourite horror-comedy films.

[Victoria Delsoul]

I think you look pretty good to me.