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

[HitmanLV]

I agree and said earlier in this thread that if Connery was in IHMSS, it would be considered the best of the series. As it stands, it is very very good!

[Old_Mil]

Greatest sporting event which I attended.



October 1988
Notre Dame Fighting Irish 31, Miami Hurricanes 30

...I was in the student section in the north goal line yelling myself hoarse. This has to go down in history as the best college football game I have ever seen, before or since.

[Theresawithanh]

Whatchoo talkin' 'bout! (Said the medical transcriptionist...)

:o)

[Rca2000]

And I think the WORST bonds are the ones with Timothy Dalton in them!!

[Supernatural]

My favorite sports moments in history.

The "Immaculate Reception" by Franco Harris, Pittsburgh vs. Oakland.

Linebacker Jack Lambert throwing Dallas' Cliff Harris to the ground in a Super Bowl after Harris mocked Roy Gerrala for missing a field goal.

Bill Mazeroski's home run in the ninth inning with two out to win the 1960 World Series for the Pirates agains the NY Yankees.

"Mean" Joe Green getting ejected from a game in his rookie year in the last minutes of a game for grabbing the football from the opposing team's center and heaving the ball to the sidelines.

Alberto Tomba winning an Olympic gold medal in the Men's downhill while skiing hung over and on very little sleep after partying and carousing with the women all night long.

Franz Klammer winning an Olympic gold medal in the Men's downhill after almost falling three or four times during his run. He was really flying!

Watching Roberto Clemente throwing guys out at third base and home plate from right field.

Roberto Clemente beating out ground balls for a single because he was so fast.

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

That's exactly what I thought.

He zapped outta there, BUT he's contaminated now with *emotions*. Oooooooooo. Now he's off to unknowingly spread it to whatever remaining Daleks he can find...just like the Borg.

What did you think about the whole oh-look-Daleks-can-go-up-the-stairs-afterall part?

[HitmanLV]

The Living Daylights was very good, I thought. The best Bond movie in many years (the series slipped a lot in the late 1970s and through the 1980s). License to Kill was clearly very inspired by Miami Vice and is one of the worst of the series.

I thought Dalton was good.

[Army Air Corps]

Damn straight! :-)

I have been a Whovian since I was a wee lad. To this day, I wish that Sonic Screwdrivers were real and that I had one. Sonic Screwdrivers are up there with WD-40, duct tape, and bailing wire.

[Supernatural]

Going to shoot your new revolver?

[Victoria Delsoul]

Great moments all. You obviously like sports.

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

YESSSS!!!!!

Have you been watching the new who? Daleks can fly now. Sorta. They can disappear outta thin air too.

How are you this fine evening?

[Old_Mil]

I know of what I speak.. (Said the medical student who was engaged to a crazy CNA)

[Army Air Corps]

That was bit was done in the Tom Baker era (IIRC). Although, the effects weren't as good then. :-)

[Rca2000]

I have a (couple of ) sports questions for you(and anyone else who may know the answer)


There was a Football playoff game, I THINK '93 or so, and I think the Oilers were in it. It seems that I recall hearing that they had been something like 31 points AHEAD of the other team at halftime, and THEN-- ended up LOSING the game!!

Anyone know what I am referring to??

[rightwingintelligentsia]

I am well--and you?

I didn't know there was a new series, at least not in the U.S. What channel is it on?

[Supernatural]

One of the sexiest women I ever met was a nurse when I was in the hospital in the Air Force.

She was in her mid-30's, blond, well built and not thin with a great personality.

The lady just oozed sex appeal.

[HitmanLV]

Don't forget 'The Big Game' in 1982, Stanford vs Cal - one of the greatest plays in college history.

In what is now known simply as 'The Play,' Cal lateraled the ball five times on a kickoff return with four seconds left on the clock and ran for a touchdown through the Stanford Band, which had run onto the field to celebrate prematurely.

One of the members of the marching band was clobbered by the player in the end zone and I think still feels dizzy from that hit!

The Play is often recounted with KGO radio announcer Joe Starkey's dramatic call of The Play, which he hailed as "the most amazing, sensational, traumatic, heartrending, exciting, thrilling finish in the history of college football!"

[nhoward14]

That is Buffalo vs. the Oilers. A wild card game. Buffalo came back and beat Houston from 31 down.

Buffalo then lost to Dallas in the Super Bowl. It was the first of 3 Dallas Super Bowl wins in the 90s.

[rightwingintelligentsia]

Bedtime for me now--Happy Easter, everyone!

[Old_Mil]

That is Buffalo vs. the Oilers. A wild card game. Buffalo came back and beat Houston from 31 down.

That was an amazing game. That second half performance by Frank Reich has to be one of the finest examples of leadership and play by a quarterback that I've seen in my life.