I particularly recall one episode where some of Tony Soprano's gang made a big deal about Columbus Day, and it seemed to me incongruous and condescending for these gangsters to be worried about any American holiday, since the essence of their lives was going against the fabric of society and cheating the system to earn a living"

That was the point. Part of the appeal of the show was that it constantly pointed out the characters hypocrisy. There are literally hundreds of examples of this throughout the shows run. David Chase himself always said that 99% of what comes out these characters mouths are lies

Interesting thoughts, Victor. You're a braver man than me. My own feeling is Tony's son will inherit the "Throne", in some sort of allusion to the decline and eventual fall of the Roman empire. Whether Tony lives or dies is almost a moot point. His rule is over, and however it turns out, it will end on a grim note. The power will pass on to a successor, and we'll be left with the feeling that the decadence will live on.

I'm predicting Tony will survive, but Carmela will not ... Soprano Predictions: Tony's Family

Interesting idea, Paul. If that is the case, Tony will be is good as dead, and that may be the whole point. If something happens to his wife or one of the kids, Tony has nothing left.

I also like the idea about AJ. Remember, he is his father's son (Tony had those attacks as a kid too). Wouldn't it be weird if AJ surprises everyone just like Michael Corleone. Bang-zoom!

Tony is going to find out (maybe from Paulie) that Uncle Junior is his real father. (Junior and Tony's mother had had an affair which produced Tony.) Uncle Junior is not senile but has been acting as if he is to elude jail time. Uncle Junior is the rat who is working with the NY Mob to oust Tony and his crew so that Junior can reclaim the New Jersey Mob Throne denied to him earlier.

Uncle Junior will be the unexpected visitor who will off Tony and will gain control of New Jersey.

Maureen, I've thought about that over the years. I don't think Uncle Jun knows it because he wouldn't try to kill his own son, but Livia knew it and that would really make her like Lady Macbeth.

I was wondering if Junior would just fade away in the state facility, but this would be quite an interesting turn.

I'd also bet that Paulie knows lots more than just this. He is going to be key in the finale.

I like Maureen's comments. I think that Uncle Jun has been avoided this season for a reason. I think that he will be the pinnacle for the series finale. I am not sure how he plays into the the finale, but I know this..... He can not be left to rot in the Psychiatric Hospital. Remember, AJ came to avenge the attempted murder of his father. I wouldn't be surprised if Junior did turn to New York to get revenge for AJ's actions. Although, I also think that the whole set of Kevin Finnerty episodes may mean something in the finale as well. Maybe, Tony see's his death and this is what pulls Kevin Finnerty out of his coma and he wakes to Carmella's face with AJ and Meadow by his bedside. Just a few ideas..... What do you think?

I think you're onto something, Bradley. At first I dismissed the whole Kevin Finnerty thing, but it started really getting into my thoughts and the actions (and all the confusion about identity) got me. I wouldn't be surprised by Tony not being Tony. I know people would hate it, but he would have been in a coma and all the seasons were some kind of dream or whatever.

After watching the last episode of the "Sopranos", having listened to all of the hype surrounding the following show, "John From Cincinatti", and keeping in mind the arrogance and thoughtlessness displayed by HBO through its' actions in the past year I immediately went to my pc and cancelled HBO. Gone, for good. I wasn't about to pay for a channel whose programming has turned to showing movies which were past their prime long ago and sophomoric sex shows about cheesy cat houses while truly entertaining and adult shows such as ""Carnivale", "Deadwood" and "Rome" were cast aside.
At least they had the courtesy to inform us and give "Rome" an ending, although I can't grasp why they ended the show prematurely, maybe it was just too deep for them. Perhaps no one told them that there really was a Roman Empire, that it wasn't fiction at all. They didn't need to bust their balls trying to 'figure out' the next season, it was already written out for them in what's called "history books". In any event, for reasons known only to them, "Rome" ended. Not at all like Carnivale and Deadwood. Both shows again, somewhat historically significant, "Deadwood" offering us a glimpse at what the birth of an actual gold town in the midwest was like, "Carnivale" a dark sinister fictional show set in the Bible belt during the Great Depression was also one of the best productions HBO had to offer. We left both of these shows at the end of the season anxiously speculating what next year held in store. With disbelief I heard that the shows were dropped. I searched the internet and sure enough they were gone. How could this be? When you commit yourself to a series you become entwined, you find yourself identifying with characters and the next episode is on your "to do" list. For HBO to thoughtlessly drop these shows as though they owed their paying subscribers nothing was a slap in the face. I wasn't about to so much as spend one more cent in support of these type of tactics.
Oh, I know that this practice had long been established at HBO. Network station CBS had even come to pulling this ploy with a show called "Jericho", although I have a feeling that this action may have been politically motivated.
But I don't have to pay to watch CBS and I no longer have to pay to watch HBO. I have a feeling that I'm not going to miss it one bit.

Thanks for the comments, Peter J. I don't understand the rationale for networks and cable TV either. They put a new show on and then yank it off, sometimes after only one or two episodes. I do think shows get more of a chance on cable, but I can't explain what happens when they pull the plug.

I guess it's kind of like when someone wants to end a relationship, even if things are going very well. No matter what, that person has to pull the plug. So, you did the same thing with HBO. ZGood for you!