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

[Nowhere Man]

Sorry to hear about Greystone. I know you did everything you could for him, no expense spared and no effort spared.

Thanks, man, we did all we could but we still lost him. There is one consolation prize though, at least we now know that we did all we could, had we had him put down 3 weeks ago, we would have been "Monday Morning Quarterbacking" forever as we come up with "what-ifs" with Greystone in order to keep him alive.

At this time all I can say is that I am happy you have other cats to keep you company.

Yeah, I got 7 others to take care of, all the way from almost 19 year old Pansy to the two remaining kittens that turned 5 with Greystone, his sister and brother. I know he set us back $800+ and that is a hit, especially with my car costing me $800 and Mom's car costing her $200 for inspection but I still feel it was worth it. At least my little buddy knows he has a family that loves him instead of being out in the woods since I found them in my backyard back in 2001.

[Supernatural]

You found Greystone as a stray.

It is possible he didn't get the proper nutrition in the first weeks of his life and that could have caused him the problems he had later on.

[MadIvan]

1- Strange sports stories where you either participated or were a spectator. (Anything that seemed out of the ordinary and made you laugh.)

I managed to turn myself into a mud pie whilst playing in goal last September. The first aid for that was amusing: a can of warm Carlsberg and don't call anyone in the morning.

2- Favorite romantic films. Tell us about your most memorable tv/movie romances, or romantic moments.

Rick and Ilsa in Casablanca. "Here's looking at you, kid."

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.

Rick and Ilsa didn't do a dance routine. "Time Goes By" is still apropos, however.

Regards, Ivan

[rzeznikj at stout]

Wow.

I've yet to upgrade mine--it's a customized build for Linux ;)

Anyways, on most platforms, you're going to want to select the Edit menu and click on Preferences

If you run Windows, select the Tools menu and click on Options.

In the Preferences (Options) dialog, select Content

Under there, the first listing should be "Block Popup Windows" -- on the right hand side, there should be a button that says "Allowed Sites." Click on it.

When the dialog box appears, type in "www.freerepublic.com" in the space and click Close. This takes you back to the main Options box. Click Close.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Hi all, we got some James Bond trivia for you. Hope you come and play.

1. In "Thunderball", how did the world's governments indicate their acceptance of Blofeld's demands?

2. What rank does James Bond hold?

3. What children's book did James Bond author Ian Fleming write?

4. How does Bond kill Scaramanga in "Man With the Golden Gun"?

5. What kind of car was the submarine-car in "The Spy Who Loved Me"?

6. Who is M's favorite fictional character?

7. What Bond movie has 007 skiing of a cliff and a parachute opens?

8. In which movie does Bond give up his Beretta for the Walther PPK?

9 In which movie does James Bond get married?

10. What is the name of Bond's CIA counterpart?

11. In which James Bond film did the character Oddjob make his debut?

12. What is the name of Ian Fleming's private island?

13. What is the name of Ian Fleming's estate in Jamaica?

14. When and who was the first actor to portray James Bond?

[Victoria Delsoul]

Oh, so sorry to hear that.

My prayers are with you. Hope you feel better soon.

[ilovew]

Hiya! I don't watch James Bond movies though so I can't answer any of the questions.

[Victoria Delsoul]

I didn't know about it. Thanks for letting me know.

What are we going to do without her? :-(

[Victoria Delsoul]

Hi there, well, you can post about movies you know and you like.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Those pictures are lovely, Dolly. I love how you've arranged them so neat... and your dog is surely big, lol.

Nice dog, btw.

[HitmanLV]

9 In which movie does James Bond get married?

Hey! Great way to kick-start day two of the weekend! Hoorah!

James Bond gets married in 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service,' which would have been faraway the best Bond movie of all time if Connery stayed to do the film. Despute that, OHMSS remains one of the best Bond films to date!

[Victoria Delsoul]

It's kind of like Henry James, who was a great novelist but whose one attempt at being a successful playwright was an unmitigated disaster.

I definitely agree with you on that one.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

:(

Sorry to hear that.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Good selection, Ivan.

And glad you made it here.

Happy Easter.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Wow, yep, you're right.

Wanna try the other questions?

[ilovew]

Hmmm...my favorite movie is Pride and Prejudice...the original 6-hour A&E version, not the new one. And I like Finding Nemo and 13 Going on 30.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Hi Warsaw.

Thanks. Happy Easter to you as well.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Not bad. Thanks for posting.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

Some critics have said that novel written by Ethan Hawke was pretty good.

I can't imagine someone like him actually writing a compelling novel, but then again, I suppose stranger things have happened.

Steve Martin is a surprisingly good writer.

I gave my sister a copy of "Shopgirl" as a present a few years ago.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

400?