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]

Okay. Some of this is ringing a bell. However, if the Doctor can travel through time and space, why does he continue to go on about the destruction of Gallifrey as though he can never go back? Is there something about the TARDIS that won't allow him to go back in time to see Gallifrey again?

This show is so hard to follow sometimes.) The more questions I ask, the more questions I have. (ARGH!)

[HitmanLV]

I love going to sporting events, that's one of the things I miss from living in Las Vegas, though we have a AAA team, the Las Vegas Area 51s, with their alien mascot running around.

Once I think the alien got too firsky with a very buxom young woman in the stands and got punched out by her boyfriend! I wasn't there, just heard about it!

I used to go to many Yankee games a year, and I have fun in the bleachers! What does that cost now - $20? :-)

Also Ranger games at MSG were fun. I saw college basketball at MSG once, too! Never saw a Nick game tho!

I even used to attend WWF wrestling at MSG before it got bad. Those were the days! :-)

I love going to a good sporting event!

[Supernatural]

I remember "The Play".

See if you remember this one.

Notre Dame vs. USC about 1974. Anthony Davis was running back for USC.

Notre Dame was clobbering USC and the score was 24-0 at the half.

Opening kickoff for the second half went to Anthony Davis who returned it for a touchdown.

USC won the game, I think the final score was 48-24. One of the best college games I have ever seen.

[HitmanLV]

I don't know it - I was on my big college football kick while I was in high school (1982-1986) but lost interest after that.

I am mostly an MLB fan these days - never really left baseball, though the strikes and the posturing made it difficult!

That game sounds amazing! I love sports for all the stories and legends the players bring us!

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

Cool thank you!! (switching channels)

[Army Air Corps]

Well, the way it seems, this was a war in space-time and the results were quite devastating in that they appear to transcend time.

There were some things in this episode with the Dalek that makes me think that the Daleks will return. For one, the rich dude had been "working on cloning technology". Also, the Dalek "downloaded the whole internet". Those two things coupled with its supposed destruction make me think the following: The Dalek acquired sufficient knowledge to clone more Daleks and make robot shells for them and that the Dalek passed through a doorway so that it could escape the Doctor and plot revenge.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Once I think the alien got too firsky with a very buxom young woman in the stands and got punched out by her boyfriend! I wasn't there, just heard about it!

Hahaha, you sure the alien's name wasn't Vinnie? LOL.

I know what you mean about going to a good sporting event. I do too.

[HitmanLV]

Nah, the guy in the alien costume isn't named Vinnie! Hahaa!

[nhoward14]

Especially at today's prices!

[Victoria Delsoul]

Just checking.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Most definitely.

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

There were some things in this episode with the Dalek that makes me think that the Daleks will return.

Yeah. What you said, and this...

[Army Air Corps]

The Daleks remain one of my all-time favourite adversaries for The Doctor. I was almost giddy hearing "EX-TER-MI-NATE!"

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

Me too. I re-discovered the "Doctorin' The Tardis" single back from 1988. Remember that?!

[Army Air Corps]

I have heard KLF's version of the Dr. Who theme music.

[Army Air Corps]

That sounds vaguely familiar.

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

It's the same thing...I think. (Is it?)

[rzeznikj at stout]

I wasn't making fun of old people.

Honestly! It was him! He did it! No, wait! It was that guy over there! (points to hot dog vendor selling his wares next to the park pavillion--wearing sloppy clothes.) 8^)

It just seems that every time I walk through the park, I always see an old guy feeding pigeons..;) and a sloppily dressed hot-dog vendor pushing his cart next to the park pavillion.

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

It's probably the same. The KFL, The Timelords, and The Jam were all the same people. They released the single originally as "The Timelords", but nowadays it's just listed under KLF.

[Army Air Corps]

The KLF cover was done in the 1990s. There have been many pop covers of Dr. Who's theme.