The ***OFFICIAL*** Friday/Saturday Night Singles' Thread <BR>Feb. 10 and 11, 2006

2.10.06 | apackof2

[apackof2]

The ***OFFICIAL*** Friday/Saturday Night Singles' Thread

Feb. 10 and 11, 2006

Pitch hitting for Scott tonight and Ok, ok I know, it early but what the heck!

The History of Valentine's Day

Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday? The history of Valentine's Day -- and its patron saint -- is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite?

Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men -- his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured

According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl -- who may have been his jailor's daughter -- who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today.

Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.

Did You Know?

- 192 million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged annually, making Valentine’s Day the second-most popular greeting-card-giving occasion. (This total excludes packaged kids valentines for classroom exchanges.) (Source: Hallmark research)

- Nearly 60 percent of all Valentine’s Day cards are purchased in the six days prior to the observance, making Valentine’s Day a procrastinator’s delight. (Source: Hallmark research)

- There are 120 single men (i.e., never married, widowed or divorced) who are in their 20s for every 100 single women of the same ages.

- There are 33 single men (i.e., never married, widowed or divorced) age 65 or older for every 100 single women of the same ages.

2.2 million marriages take place in the United States annually.
That breaks down to more than 6,000 a day.

- 145,800 marriages are performed in Nevada during 2004.
So many couples “tie the knot” in the Silver State that it ranked fourth nationally in marriages, even though its total population that year among states was 35th.

U.S. Census Bureau

What Does Your Candy Heart Say?

But how ya gonna keep ‘em down on the farm after they’ve seen Paree?

FOR DISCUSSION ONLY

Remember:

This is a thread for singles, not a thread about the misery of singleness --
no moping allowed! :-)

Favorite romantic song, movie, poem, photo, story?

[Hoodlum91]

(psst...some of us gals aren't born romantic either).

[RockinRight]

We just might...

[al baby]

My bottom is the size of a couple of red delicious apples

[TheresaKett]

ok....I am TOTALLY lost....I don't think those words mean what you think they mean.

[RockinRight]

That was a bad visual.

[Theresawithanh]

Hi, checking in!

Great start to the thread, too!

My favorite romantic songs are "I'm Going to Love You Forever" by Lyle Lovett, Linda Ronstadt's and Aaron Neville's duet on "Don't Know Much", and Billy Joel's "For The Longest Time".

[al baby]

How about the movie Call Me ?

[apackof2]

writing essays to beg for scholarships and grants. *chuckle*

Good for you!!!

I know you will be successful

Of course you know that it means when all that free money comes rolling in?

You gotta go to school!

LOL

[carlr]

It`s in all of you,kind of like the shopping gene (just kidding).
Or ladies are just a lot faster learning it.

[RockinRight]

Haven't seen it.

[Hoodlum91]

INCONCEIVABLE

[RockinRight]

You have to work at it...do you think I was BORN this smooth?

[Hoodlum91]

Must...not...comment...

[apackof2]

Some of us just aren`t born romantic.

Well I wasn't born a conservative either but I got informed

;>)

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

More or less.

Alex Jones-moonbat extraordinaire-went on "On The Media" last year and tried to spin the devastating Popular Mechanics piece in such a way as to validate his own crackpot theories, while simultaneously disowning authorship of the wild conspiracy theories he spent so much time promoting.

He tried to convince the gullible liberal audience that PM was defaming him by setting up a straw man argument that he had never promulgated.

Of course, the liberal dimwit host, Bob Garfield, fell for it hook, line and sinker.

You'll notice that nutcases like Alex Jones have a different rap for "alternative" sources, e.g. Coast to Coast with Art Bell/George Noury, than they do for more mainstream media outlets, e.g. NPR.

[Hoodlum91]

crap. I don't have the shopping gene either.

[Hoodlum91]

Oh boy...

[RockinRight]

I don't know about most guys, but I can deal with a woman with no shopping gene...

[RockinRight]

And just what is THAT supposed to mean?

[Hoodlum91]

***musical interlude number 2***

every now and then I get a little bit helpless and I'm lying like a child in your arms....