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

[DollyCali]

maybe snugs will give you a toaster?

NO, wrong thread...lol.

Eleanor, lets think of something?????

I KNOW you deserve something. If I were a rich man (or gal) I would give you a new car! but since I am NOT, will have to be creative in other ways!

If this thread goes on for years & there are hundreds of little markers on the map, YOU will be first forever.

The only place I can think of that is NOT good is first at mousetrap!

[rzeznikj at stout]

We need to talk, lol.

I didn't do it! It wasn't me!! ;)

[DollyCali]

It is so funny you said that about lottery tickets. I rarely get them. But just had an impulse today. Got just one. If God wants you to win, you will do it with one ticket.. don't need a dozen, right?

[rockabyebaby]

So sorry to hear about Greystone, being a pet owner myself I can understand your loss and your grief. Greystone has gone to the big scratching post in the sky, scratch on Greystone, enjoy that heavenly cat nip.

[DollyCali]

Frappr is another Google brainchild. I dont know a lot about its develppments etc. I am very impressed w/google. I now use their email exclusively. My DSL (adelphia) stinks.

go to the site & check it out.. you might learn things to tell all of us! It seems to have a lot to offer

[nhoward14]

I understand your point... but in Texas we have no income tax and the lottery is used for education.

I'd rather spend $12 to help the schools when I want to instead of having $1200 taken from me against my will.

[ilovew]

**If this thread goes on for years & there are hundreds of little markers on the map, YOU will be first forever**

Wow...I like the new car idea :)

[rightwingintelligentsia]

OK; I just added myself to Frappr. Will I have dozens of single men showing up at my doorstep tomorrow? ;-) Seriously, looks like a neat site.

[Supernatural]

Greatest sporting event which I attended.

I'll give you one I was in which was my own personal greatest sporting event.

I used to work at Clariton Works, U.S. Steel, the second largest coke-producing plant in the world.

Another guy named Coleman "Buzzy" Walker worked with me.

The Clariton Sportsman Club was having pistol shoots on Sundays. It was winter time and Buzzy was always talking trash on me because I didn't want to attend the shoots. I told him I didn't like to shoot outdoors in sub-freezing temps but when the weather warmed up I would come and compete.

Buzzy kept razzing me, saying I always claimed that I was a very good pistol shot and I wouldn't show up because I was afraid I would get beat.

After listening to Buzzy talk trash on me for about six weeks, I got tired of it and asked him when the next shoot would be.

It was in February. The day of the shoot there were six inches of snow on the ground and it was below freezing all day.

You and another person shot five rounds each in two minutes at gallon jugs full of water at 100 yards. You weren't allowed to lean on anything. You shot the jugs in order whether or not you missed them. Your first shot went at the first jug, the second shot at the second jug whether or not you missed the first jug, etc. That way if you were supposed to be shooting at the third jug and you hit the second or the fourth jug it counted as a miss.

You rotated with everyone else until you fired 25 shots. Winner got $2 per person from the pot and second place got $1 per person.

The first day I shot there were 33 shooters.

Going into the last five shots another shooter and myself were tied for the lead. He missed all five of his last shots and I needed one more jug to win.

I missed the first four and hit the last one to win the shoot. I won $33 and bought a round of drinks at the clubhouse for anyone who wanted one and donated the rest of the money to the club.

I nailed nine jugs that day against 32 other shooters who had been competing for months.

Buzzy not only didn't talk any more trash on me, he was telling everyone else at work what a fine shot I was.

[Supernatural]

Oops! I won $66 that day and donated $33 to the club. The other money went for drinks.

[DollyCali]

You are both "IN" ...

well, I don't know about a dozen men at your doorstep but we all need just ONE.. the right one!

[DollyCali]

what a neat story!!!!

:-)

[DollyCali]

me too.. if I win the lottery, we will have two new cars.. one for me & one for you!

I drive, shall I say, "vintage" vans...

[nhoward14]

Cough cough... I didn't realize I was gay. :P

[rightwingintelligentsia]

Sounds like you straightened "Buzzy" out. Good for you.

[DollyCali]

opps.. that was for "rightwingin".. sorry. we will put a gal on your doorstep!

[DollyCali]

Hey Ray.. you out & about or home? join us!

[Army Air Corps]

1. I think that that had to make some sort of public statement.

2. Commander

3. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

4. in a duel

5. Lotus Esprit turbo

6. I do not recall.

7. It was one of the Roger More films. I thinks that it was "For Your Eyes Only".

8. That was "From Russia with Love" (If I recall correctly)

9. On her Majesty's Secret Service

10. Felix Leiter

11. Goldfinger

12. I think that it was Bird of Paradise Island

13. Goldeneye

14. I know that it was in a 1950s TV version of "Casino Royale".

[Supernatural]

Shooting is one of the few things I am good at.

The other thing is pissing people off.

[rightwingintelligentsia]

I haven't tried shooting yet, but I can usually manage the second with no problem.