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

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

Really? I don't remember. Did they 'fly' or 'disappear'? It's been 20 years or more for me.

Whatever happened to Davros. I completey forgot about him. Wasn't he the Dalek leader for forever?

Here's one more thing that the new doc keeps mentioning that I'm not getting...when did Gallifrey and the Daleks kill each other? Is the Doctor hinting at a new, up coming story, or did I miss this story from a long time ago?

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

September 22, 1968.

The season was over for the Twins. I was in the stands to watch Cesar Tovar play all nine positions in a meaningless win for the home team. In the rain.

With my Mom.

[Army Air Corps]

Sorry, it was in "Remembrance of the Daleks" with the 7th Doctor where we first see a Dalek ascend stairs. I thought it was in the Baker era at first, but I remembered that is was during the McCoy era.

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

Sorry Jack, I only know hockey (i.e. Edmonton Oilers).

[Old_Mil]

Yep. One of the best NFL games I've seen.

http://www.profootballhof.com/history/decades/1990s/greatest_comeback.jsp

[Rca2000]

HOW could something like that be allowed to happen??

Was there any "penalty" for any of the oilers players,or coach, for that charade?


Of course, I believe the Reds (here in cincy) are well-known for being several runs ahead, even 8 or more, in about the 7th inning, and then LOSING the game!! IIRC,last season, they were in the NINTH inning, ahead by 5 points or so, and LOST!!!

[Victoria Delsoul]

"the most amazing, sensational, traumatic, heartrending, exciting, thrilling finish in the history of college football!"

It sounds exciting. I was having goosebumps just by reading it.

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

The Sci Fi channel. Do you get it? They just aired the forth episode in the 'new' series.

If you don't get it, don't worry, the entire 'first' season will be available on DVD on Independence Day.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Going to shoot your new revolver?

You know me...;-)

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

Night! Happy Easter!!

[HitmanLV]

You can just download the episodes from online file sharing systems - I did that a year ago or so ago when they debuted in the UK and burned my own DVDs. ;-)

[Victoria Delsoul]

Good night. Sweet dreams.

[HitmanLV]

I was just a youngstrer in my early teens when it happened. I wasnt watching the game but it got press on tv all that weekend! I'll never forget it.

Can you imagine the fellas who left early to beat the traffic? That's why I never leave a game before its over - even 15 and 16 inning games! ;-)

[Supernatural]

I don't remember that particular game, but see if you remember this one.

It was about 1980, Dallas vs. Detroit. It was either a Monday night game or a Thanksgiving day game.

Eric Hipple (red hair and beard) was QB for Detroit. Billy Simms was the running back for Detroit.

Detroit was getting pounded the whole game. They were down about 17 points going into the fourth quarter.

The Lions put on a tremendous comeback with Billy Simms doing most of the work on offense and Hipple making a few great throws. (Simms only played about five years, would have been one of the all-time greats but wrecked his knee so badly that he never played again. He played college ball for Oklahoma).

Detroit lined up for a field-goal that would win the game with about 2 seconds left. When the ball was kicked there was no time left on the clock.

Detroit missed the field goal, but there was a penalty on the play and Detroit got to kick it over.

There was mass-confusion on the field because everyone thought Dallas had won the game. (Detroit was home that game).

On the second try Detroit made the field goal and won the game.

After the game was officially over, replay showed that Detroit had 12 men on the field, but it was too late to do anything about it.

It was fun seeing the hated Cowboys lose that game.

[Army Air Corps]

In the second episode of this series, Dr, Doctor has a discussion with an alien from far in the future. In that discussion, there is mention of "the last time war" and how "the time lords were destroyed". I'll wager that there will be future episodes that will flesh-out this plot element.

[nhoward14]

Don't know for sure. I am a Cowboys fan. Of course the Oilers moved from Houston in 1996, so I guess the town stopped supporting them in part because of that loss.

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

What?!?! How!?!! Are they good quality? Where do I go to do this?!!??!?!?!??

[Rca2000]

Slap-shot is on soon(on HBO-comedy, I think) at 12:00.

[Supernatural]

Good night. Talk to you soon.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Agree, so the moral of the story is... never leave a game before it's over. :-D