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

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

SOUP!!!

[rightwingintelligentsia]

The only problem with DC is the female/male ratio. NOT in our favor.

[DollyCali]

I have been back north for over a decade. When I left after college I SWORE (never swear) I would never return to a cold northern climate. I LOVE the warmth & the ocean. both of which are sadly absent in Ohio. So.. I guess each person determines what is the most important to them.

My brother & family are in Oklahoma.. love it there. It was his last duty station before he retired & he just stayed. Now, it doesn't have a LOT to offer me.. but for them it is low cost of living, good place to raise kids & good people..(well, I guess IT DOES offer me something, but NO beach NOT warm enough for me)

[Theresawithanh]

I was born in Idaho, and we moved to Oregon when I was 5, then to Washington State. Lots of relatives lived in Idaho, and I spent many happy vacations there with my family as a kid, it's a beautiful state, it is!

[DollyCali]

Is that why so many of the govt official have "honeys"?

bad dolly!

[ilovew]

If I get a picture with Karl or Rummy (or both), I'll let ya know. A picture with General Pace would be pretty cool too.

[rightwingintelligentsia]

LOL!

[Supernatural]

Sounds like you have some good food on the menu for tomorrow too.

Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas are the big ones for me.

I often overeat on those days because the good food is so tempting.

And leftovers are great too.

[ilovew]

That and the ideology of most of the people in DC. But if I get the internship with the Defense Department, I assume they're more conservative in that department.

[rightwingintelligentsia]

Possibly, but the Defense Dept. has been infiltrated, too. That's where some of these leaks have been coming from.

[ilovew]

Ah, that's true. Oh well. I'll be on the lookout for a cute young conservative if I'm there...or wherever I am. If I'm not in the DoD, it'll probably be a senator's office.

[DollyCali]

General Peter (Pant, Pant) Pace you mean?

[DollyCali]

Your "in" ..wecome to FR Weekend Singles FRAPPR!

[aft_lizard]

Well Tandoori is a an Indian style chicken cooked in a giant clay oven thingy(its whats called the Tandoori) lacking one I just used the grill and the same spices.

[DollyCali]

that is neat that we can go to the British Isles map & "see" you! at the FRAPPR site.

I need to run to Dose & then crash. Decided to pass on the friend's gig. will be too smokey & I already have a headache..

[ilovew]

Lol yes that one. Did you see that picture of him in his dress uniform on the Dose the other night? All I can say is WOW.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Actually, I was giving you a nic, based on your S/N.

Turkey tomorrow with Mom and my sister.

Listening to Mad Dogs And Englishmen, as I do every year, at this time.

Just to hear that classic line from Leon Russell leading into "Bathroom Window".

Fairly sacrilegious, but still a classic.

[DollyCali]

I like Indian food but have never really cooked it (well I do things with lentils). I love ethnic food in general. Because I am a "BORING" vegetarian I find most ethnic restaurants have a lot for me to chose from. Thai & Italian are prolly my favs.. chinese & Indian next

[DollyCali]

Can you say "screensaver"?

lol

[HitmanLV]

Yep - always fun seeing landmarks on tv!