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

[Alberta's Child]

I've always been a fan of the New Jersey Devils. I was born and raised here, and they were the team I watched when I fell in love with hockey during my college years.

Sean Burke and Scott Stevens were always among my favorite players.

[ilovew]

Thanks!

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

Yeah, he made a stink about the "USA" chanting during the winter Olympics in Utah. He thought there was too much of it and that it wasn't "fair" for other non-American teams to hear it constantly.

[Army Air Corps]

No, it is a different dude. However, he is a Dr. Who fan as well as a voice artist and he worked hard to mimic his predecessors.

[snugs]

I know what you mean

[snugs]

Is that what we would call roast?

[TheresaKett]

love fish and chips :-)

[Alberta's Child]

That's right . . . and when all is said and done in the next few years after those players have been retired for a few years, those Edmonton Oilers may very well have more than half a dozen players inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame . . . Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Jari Kurri (one of my favorite players of all time), Paul Coffey, Kevin Lowe, Glenn Anderson, Grant Fuhr, etc.

[Army Air Corps]

I have never had blood pudding. I just cannot get past the name. I do enjoy bubble and squeak as well as bangers and mash.

[Theresawithanh]

Might be. We get it from a store that sells honey baked ham, which is yummy, and you just have to warm it in the oven.

[Victoria Delsoul]

I know he was having some problems with his wife involved in some gambling thingy.

[snugs]

That was one thing I noticed when I visited the States in 1997 was the lack of vinegar in the restaurants.

I cannot eat chips (fries) without light sprinkling of salt and vinegar.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Is Mark Messier still playing?

[Army Air Corps]

Especially when you have wonderfully tender, flaky piece of fish. Also, malt vinegar, like nuoc mam, enhances most foods.

[snugs]

You mean black pudding. Some people like to fry and serve it for breakfast with bacon, egg, tomatoes, mushrooms and fried bread.

Or you can slice it and serve it cold.

I can take or leave it

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

I think it'll be nice for you to have the family around. Holidays are the hardest, I know. All you can do is take it one day at a time (and keep going to Disneyland!!)

How's the weather been down there? Did you get soaked yesterday? We're getting the Alaskan-Arctic rain tomorrow. (oh joy) Hope it doesn't reach you.

[Alberta's Child]

No, he just retired last summer. His skills had really declined in the last few years, and he hung around long after most other players would have retired. He was 40-something by that time.

[snugs]

What I mean by roast ham is ham that is first boiled then drained well to make sure salt is out.

The skin coated in honey, scored a clove put into each square and then baked/roasted in the oven for about hour plus so that the coating is crisp.

[TheresaKett]

We often deep sea fish in Hawaii or Mexico and fresh is definitely the best, especially Ono, Wahoo, Mahi Mahi, yellow tail tuna... yummy

[Army Air Corps]

Some of my favourite crisps are salt and vinegar flavour.

Yes, malt vinegar is not terribly common here, but that may change. Someone will have to start a fish and chips fad in the US and establish a chain of restaurants and thereby introduce vinegar as a condiment.