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

[Army Air Corps]

LOL!

Don't fret. We can place you on a contract waiver for tonight. :-)

[snugs]

Thanks

[rzeznikj at stout]

Never knew that!

It's funny, considering I have relatives that live in Buffalo...;)

[Victoria Delsoul]

How does the Nov. elections look in your state? Is there any hope the Democrats in power would lose?

[snugs]

I had them just outside Buffalo actually LOL

[snugs]

Night

[TheresaKett]

Song played when I clicked the link.

[Supernatural]

Hey, you learn something every day.

I'm chock full of nearly useless information.

Or, as they said in one of the Clint Eastwood spaghetti westerns, "A mere scrap of information could save a man's life".

[Army Air Corps]

We have a Buffalo Wild Wings here and they have some spicy sauces; nothing that reaches the "thermonuclear" level of Thai food. I had eaten a bowl of instant Thai noodles (Ma Ma brand, I think) - the flesh on my skull melted and every crevice of my sinus cavity was opened; therefore, i loved them and plan to buy more.

[Army Air Corps]

I'll try again. It may be some blasted firewall on my side.

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

Hubby is home, and I am now off to bed.

Night everyone!

[Maximus_Ridiculousness]

I almost forgot...HAPPY EASTER!!!

[Supernatural]

The Thai's have some of the hottest peppers in the world.

Indian food is pretty spicy too, from what I hear.

[TheresaKett]

Happy Easter to you too!!!

[Army Air Corps]

I copied and pasted the URL into Realplayer and that did the trick.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Speaking of lawyers, I found this...

A defendant was on trial for murder. There was strong evidence indicating guilt, but there was no corpse. In the defense's closing statement the lawyer, knowing that his client would probably be convicted, resorted to a trick: "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I have a surprise for you all," the lawyer said as he looked at his watch. "Within one minute, the person presumed dead in this case will walk into this courtroom."

He looked toward the courtroom door. The jurors, somewhat stunned, all looked on eagerly. A minute passed. Nothing happened.

Finally the lawyer said, "Actually, I made up the previous statement. But you all looked on with anticipation. I therefore put it to you that there is reasonable doubt in this case as to whether anyone was killed and insist that you return a verdict of not guilty."

The jury, clearly confused, retired to deliberate. A few minutes later, the jury returned and pronounced a verdict of guilty. "But how?" inquired the lawyer. "You must have had some doubt; I saw all of you stare at the door." The jury foreman replied: "Oh, we did look, but your client didn't."

[rzeznikj at stout]

Here's how it's shaping up.

For governor, the Democrats are putting up incumbent Jim Doyle. Mark Green, a Congressman from Green Bay, is running solo on the Republican side after Milwaukee Co. Executive Scott Walker dropped out of the race.

The Attorney General has two Democrats and two Republicans vying for nominations. Peg Lautenschlager (the current AG, also referred to as "Keg" after her drunk-driving accident involving a state-owned car) is running against Dane Co. Executive Kathleen Falk.

On the Republican side is former US Attorney JB Van Hollen and Waukesha Co. District Attorney Paul Bucher.

And the RINOs in charge of the state party aren't running anyone against Senator Herb Kohl as of right now.

The state Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage will also be put to the voters--if it passes, it will effectively bar gay marriage and civil unions...

Of course, rumor has it that Tommy will announce his political decisions within the next few weeks.

Yep, it's a fun time to be watching Wisconsin politics ;)

[rzeznikj at stout]

Good point!!

[tuliptree76]

I have a long drive back tomorrow, so I better get some sleep. Good night.

[Army Air Corps]

I am telling you those were some friggin' hot noodles. They put habaneros to shame. Man, I now have an urge to go to the Asian market tomorrow...