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

[Rca2000]

NOW it is!! I think I know why-- They play on "quick time" and I had an electronic tune from Steve hug on there from a few days ago. It took time to clear it off and replace it, I guess.

[Victoria Delsoul]

You're very welcome.

[nunya bidness]

Uh huh.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Well, I'm so glad it's working Rca. There are some very nice songs.

[Victoria Delsoul]

OK, well let me know if you find something or see something out of the ordinary, LOL!!! I'm counting on you, Nunya.

[nunya bidness]

I'll get right on that ma'am.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Looking forward to it, Bidness.

[Army Air Corps]

Man o man, I am going to hit the rack.

It has been fun tonight. I'll pop-in on the morrow.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Me too. Yes, I had fun as well.

Hope to see you all tomorrow. Thanks so much everybody.

Nighty night.

[Rca2000]

Ciao,Bella!!

[DollyCali]

I am using mozilla firefox. Recently I increased my security on IE to high due to some things I got from my brother who works IT for state of Oklahoma. but I am in mozilla 95% of time. I have AVG & also spy sweeper both of which might be affecting. Can I "set something" to get popups from JUST FR?

[DollyCali]

BTW.. you did an excellent job with the music!!!! I owe MoJo an apology because I was pretty sure I had sent out a note to all posters that for now she would NOT be able to help us with the music (Last weekend I lifted from Canteen... shhhhh).. but in looking through all, It seems I have overlooked doing so.

[DollyCali]

(yes, I KNOW some of you aren't single.. just pinging you here to see my pup pix)...and my pup is getting B-I-G!

These pix files are actually small but some threads are more sensitive to posting pix. We here are pretty open as long as they aren't "monsters"(the other day someone posted a pix that was 900+MB! It was pulled!.

all these pix total are about 125 KB!

Thursday afternoon before the Heritage Republican Club, Josy (and Toby) “did” Lake Erie…At Whiskey Island. When she departed the car, she followed Toby who charged to the beach - then she came to a screeching HALT when she went over the sand dune/ridge & saw it all.. not sure if it was the massive amount of water or the water fowl.. lots of geese.. but she stopped cold.

Eventually that changed & she was fetching stick & dead fish(yes really). She swam for the first time & I couldn't get her out of the water. So after about 30 minutes she came out for food & no one was throwing a stick any longer. But I had made her & Toby a chicken; Purina; vegetable dinner which they had on the beach (I did NOT share my wine). We were found another friend Bill & his pooch, a large black(older) lab (with bad arthritic hips ) to play with.Bill did the stick throwing & I the photography. Josy was the only one going into the water. Toby & Buckeye just watched and would take her stick when she got to shore.

she went after & got a very heavy, large stick ..(I mean LOG BIG) I have it on video but no stills. Of course she found some dead fish to roll in before we left.

[DollyCali]

Interesting Tax Thread
posted by my friend "The Raven" a single Tennessee Man

[dixie sass]

Neat pictures Dolly. Thanks for pinging me to this thread.

[DollyCali]

thanks for note dixie. I am about to go outside for day of yard maintenance/work .. will take my breaks here at computer now & then. I could keep a crew of 10 busy for a couple weeks, but alas it is just me to do it all.. so a LOT doesn't get done.

[snugs]

Lovely photos Dolly

[MEG33]

Thanks for the wonderful pictures! What a great day for your dogs!

[MEG33]

[rzeznikj at stout]

I'm not sure if FR has popups--I haven't seen any.

What version of Firefox are you running?