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

[rzeznikj at stout]

It's getting better. The local sub joints have vinegar packets...

[Army Air Corps]

Only if I am in the presence of my family. Public education caused my accent to be rather flat. However, a hint of Central Texas or East Texas speech will pop into my speech now and again.

[Victoria Delsoul]

But, since you are smart, you'll end up being a rich crook.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Ha! That's a funny pic.

[Victoria Delsoul]

I'm still looking for your song, AC.

[snugs]

I cook parsnips in 2 different ways.

1) Peel and slice a bit bigger than you would carrots, then boil for about 12 - 15 mins. They will be quite soft but they taste quite sweet. I love them. Serve them with any meal that you would serve carrots or cabbage.

2) Bring to the boil and turn heat off. Meanwhile prepare baking dish with either oil or fat from meat (especially goose fat). Pop tray into oven for 15 mins so that the fat is boiling.

Coat each parsnip piece about 1 inch dia with oil and roast for about 3/4 in a fairly hot oven until crisp. I cook roast potatoes the same way though I find they take a little longer.

Third way of using parsnips is in a stew or casserole like any root veg.

[snugs]

We have a sub in Ashford

[TheresaKett]

Yes. I like crab, prefer lobster (although some say they are the roaches of the sea...yucky!) Lots of garlic butter, yummy. My husband was a scuba instructor among other things and he often had lobster and abalone for us.

I also love seafood Alfredo (actually anything Alfredo). My 4 year old too. He won't touch red sauce, but loves the Alfredo sauce.

Breaded shrimp was what I would ask my Mom to make me for my birthdays when I was younger.

Ok, I agree with Maximus, this thread is making me hungry...don't have any seafood on hand (well except for some canned salmon), the bag of M & Ms that are supposed to fill my son's plastic eggs is about to be raided.

[rzeznikj at stout]

A rich crook holding elected office.

Of course, where I'm from, that's really nothing I should be joking about ;)

[Army Air Corps]

Thanks! However, if you do not find it, don't worry. Sometimes, songs pop into my noggin without rhyme nor reason.

[snugs]

I think it is boiled or steamed crab but ready prepared for you to eat.

They also include the dark meat either side of the shell with the white in the middle.

[Supernatural]

I met an attorney who might file a lawsuit for me. I talked to him for two hours and he is going to review my file, which is more than four inches thick.

He wouldn't take a penny from me. He said he makes his money from the cases he wins or settles out of court.

He told me that he has lost many cases that he should have won. He explained that the system has to protect itself. If he and other attorneys are always beating the crap out of the system then the system would look too bad to everyone and the system would collapse.

He almost quit being an attorney because of that. He said losing cases he should have won was making him physically ill. He couldn't stand seeing people get screwed over by the system and having no recourse even in court a lot of times.

But he prayed and the Lord calmed him down. And that is the only reason he is still an attorney.

[MHGinTN]

May I read these threads now that I'm 'officially' single?

[Army Air Corps]

You wanna be a lawyer? C'mon, try someting less shady such as a used car salesman. Just kidding. ;-)
That profession needs all the honest people that it can hold.

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

Ok, I agree with Maximus, this thread is making me hungry...don't have any seafood on hand (well except for some canned salmon), the bag of M & Ms that are supposed to fill my son's plastic eggs is about to be raided.

...already busy munching over here...

[snugs]

I had lobster yesterday well for me the day before now (Good Friday).

Do you have any Good Friday food traditions.

In Britain it was traditional to eat fish and also we served hot cross buns for breakfast or mid morning snack.

[TheresaKett]

Always throw a can of Pringles in my beach bag or in the stroller at Disneyland, a good snack that won't crumble.

[rzeznikj at stout]

Hmmm, not sure what you call 'em over on the other side of The Pond...;)

Of course, subs can either refer to the long boats or the sandwich (assorted meats, cheeses, etc. stuffed inside a six to nine inch lengtho of French or Italian bread, slit-open) .

AFAIK, sub shops sell the latter.

The closest subs to my place would be the U-505 in Chicago, or the USS Cobia in Manitowoc.

[Supernatural]

It really looks good.

Do you have crab cakes there? They pick out all the meat and blend it with some things and some spices and it is a circle about three inches in diameter and about a half inch thick which is then fried.

We also have deviled crab, which is crab meat with breading on it. Very good eaten with a dash of hot sauce on them.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Yeah, it's not easy.