I bet it matters age when viewing for the early star wars movies. I feel like my late elementary/middle school era friends who saw all the movies as they were released all felt like Empire was the least interesting-- probably not as funny as the other two, heavier themes, etc. Maybe older gen liked it a lot better?
I think there was a sense of slight disappointment at the time (obviously it was still super popular) but over the years people have come to see ESB as the strongest film in the OT.
(Personally if I have to take one I still take the original 1977 film since it's a self-contained story, but I also recognize that ESB is probably the strongest in terms of filmmaking and depth.)
Sorry I forgot to post my Bangkok visit yesterday.
I had a week long event in Bangkok 2 weeks ago. We stayed at the Royal Orchid Sheraton right on the river. They had a free boat shuttle across the river to the upscale Icon Siam mall that had really cool food stalls in the basement. I had 2 free days at either end of the testing event (no one tested the last day so extra free day).
The first free day I did a walking food tour that was suggested by Golden Oso. It was awesome. We went to about 8 differnet places trying at least 15 foods for all sorts of asian foods. I highly recommend it.
The 2nd free day I went to the Grand Palace, the (sexy) reclining Buddha (I'm going to hell) across the street, and then the Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan temple. They were really cool. I bought a set of plain elephant pants because these temples were making everyone cover their shoulders (sorry Twist) and require pants that go below the knees.
We did go to the MBK mall that has a floor full of knockoffs. They (along with Siem Reap) had really good looking North Face, Patagonia, and $100 Rolex knockoffs. Lots of the stalls had "North Face" shirts with Kim Jong Un's face and "Supreme Leader" shirts with him giving the double bird.
The food was amazing and cheap. I didn't end up doing the food stalls because the people I was with didn't want to. Every day I did get a passion fruit smoothie for $2 at the food stalls.
Trump not concerned. I was going to cut through the Kennedy Center campus this morning but it’s closed all day because he’s going to see Chicago tonight.
MILIBRAE - The California women's golf team currently holds the team lead after the first day of the Silicon Valley Showcase at Green Hills Country Club. The Bears shot even par as a team and lead second place Eastern Michigan by four strokes entering the final day of the tournament.
BERKELEY - California rugby has earned the West Region's No. 1 seed in the 2026 D1A National Collegiate Championships, USA Rugby announced Monday. The Golden Bears are slated to host No. 8 San Diego in the first round of the postseason on April 11 in Berkeley.
Fresh off its first ACC win the California baseball team is back at Stu Gordon Stadium this week to play four games in five days. The Golden Bears will face Saint Mary's on Tuesday before hosting No. 3 Georgia Tech in a three-game series that begins Thursday night.
California women's gymnastics placed a pair of Golden Bears on the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) Regular Season All-America team, with freshman Tonya Paulsson earning first-team recognition for uneven bars and second-team honors in the all-around, while junior Annalise Newman-Achee notched an all-around second-team award. This is the first WCGA All-America recognition for both gymnasts.
Tiger Woods told authorities that he was looking down at his cell phone and changing the radio station in his SUV, which caused him not to see a truck slowing down before his rollover crash last week on Jupiter Island, Florida.
Martin County Sheriff's deputy Tatiana Levenar wrote in an arrest affidavit that Woods was "sweating profusely," and his movement was "lethargic and slow" while she interviewed him.
My dad used to always tell me that you only get one chance to make a good first impression. He’s right, though thankfully in baseball, the playoff teams aren’t chosen based on their first impressions.
For their first series of the season — a putrid, feckless, and deeply uncompetitive sweep at the hands of the New York Yankees — the San Francisco Giants made a very obvious impression.
Looking to keep their undefeated season alive, the Dodgers couldn’t get anything going until the ninth inning against the Cleveland Guardians as the offense fell mostly silent in a 4-2 defeat.
Temple
—-Grandin
thx for this. TIL who Grandin was.
The movie is pretty good.
I saw her give a talk at NASA Ames. Asked her a question about my son’s experience, and she answered in some detail.
_ of Doom
this was generally a horrible movie
Sort of the arc of the first Star Wars series. The middle movie is the darker one that isn't as good.
Empire Strikes Back is the best one, what are you talking about?
I guess I didn't think it was as good.
I bet it matters age when viewing for the early star wars movies. I feel like my late elementary/middle school era friends who saw all the movies as they were released all felt like Empire was the least interesting-- probably not as funny as the other two, heavier themes, etc. Maybe older gen liked it a lot better?
I think there was a sense of slight disappointment at the time (obviously it was still super popular) but over the years people have come to see ESB as the strongest film in the OT.
(Personally if I have to take one I still take the original 1977 film since it's a self-contained story, but I also recognize that ESB is probably the strongest in terms of filmmaking and depth.)
Hmm...I think it came out when I was in middle school. When was it released? 81? I guess that was 5th grade for me.
you mean Empire Strikes Back? i feel like that is the best of all of them and on the short list of best-movies-ever.
I had a roommate who told me the ending before I saw it. Totally ruined the experience.
Horrible is pretty harsh IMO. It does have some really good action sequences.
The casual racism/sexism (beyond what's in other Indy movies) is a lot to take though.
there was already a temple starter category .. but we'll go w/ this one
Sorry on a call and I didn't scroll all the way through.
Bangkok
Sorry I forgot to post my Bangkok visit yesterday.
I had a week long event in Bangkok 2 weeks ago. We stayed at the Royal Orchid Sheraton right on the river. They had a free boat shuttle across the river to the upscale Icon Siam mall that had really cool food stalls in the basement. I had 2 free days at either end of the testing event (no one tested the last day so extra free day).
The first free day I did a walking food tour that was suggested by Golden Oso. It was awesome. We went to about 8 differnet places trying at least 15 foods for all sorts of asian foods. I highly recommend it.
The 2nd free day I went to the Grand Palace, the (sexy) reclining Buddha (I'm going to hell) across the street, and then the Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan temple. They were really cool. I bought a set of plain elephant pants because these temples were making everyone cover their shoulders (sorry Twist) and require pants that go below the knees.
We did go to the MBK mall that has a floor full of knockoffs. They (along with Siem Reap) had really good looking North Face, Patagonia, and $100 Rolex knockoffs. Lots of the stalls had "North Face" shirts with Kim Jong Un's face and "Supreme Leader" shirts with him giving the double bird.
The food was amazing and cheap. I didn't end up doing the food stalls because the people I was with didn't want to. Every day I did get a passion fruit smoothie for $2 at the food stalls.
i bought a knock off Arcteryx jacket in Vietnam for $100. it is not clear how it is substandard but it is clear that is it something.
still, better than the $1000 price tag in the US for a backup rain/ski jacket
Political stuff goes here
After Month of War, Hegseth Says Iran Retains Ability to Strike
oddly, markets up over 1.5% today
Trump not concerned. I was going to cut through the Kennedy Center campus this morning but it’s closed all day because he’s going to see Chicago tonight.
Cal
[WGOLF] Bears Lead The Field At Silicon Valley Showcase
https://calbears.com/news/2026/3/30/bears-lead-the-field-at-slicon-valley-showcase.aspx
MILIBRAE - The California women's golf team currently holds the team lead after the first day of the Silicon Valley Showcase at Green Hills Country Club. The Bears shot even par as a team and lead second place Eastern Michigan by four strokes entering the final day of the tournament.
[RUGBY] Bears Earn No. 1 Seed In West Region
https://calbears.com/news/2026/3/30/rugby-bears-earn-no-1-seed-in-west-region.aspx
BERKELEY - California rugby has earned the West Region's No. 1 seed in the 2026 D1A National Collegiate Championships, USA Rugby announced Monday. The Golden Bears are slated to host No. 8 San Diego in the first round of the postseason on April 11 in Berkeley.
[BASE] Cal Hosts Saint Mary’s, No. 3 Georgia Tech
https://calbears.com/news/2026/3/30/baseball-cal-hosts-saint-marys-no-3-georgia-tech.aspx
Fresh off its first ACC win the California baseball team is back at Stu Gordon Stadium this week to play four games in five days. The Golden Bears will face Saint Mary's on Tuesday before hosting No. 3 Georgia Tech in a three-game series that begins Thursday night.
[WGYM] Cal Duo Earns WCGA All-America Distinction
https://calbears.com/news/2026/3/30/womens-gymnastics-cal-duo-earns-wcga-all-america-distinction.aspx
California women's gymnastics placed a pair of Golden Bears on the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) Regular Season All-America team, with freshman Tonya Paulsson earning first-team recognition for uneven bars and second-team honors in the all-around, while junior Annalise Newman-Achee notched an all-around second-team award. This is the first WCGA All-America recognition for both gymnasts.
PRO
Tiger Woods told authorities he was looking at phone before crash
https://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/48356214/tiger-woods-told-authorities-was-looking-phone-crash
Tiger Woods told authorities that he was looking down at his cell phone and changing the radio station in his SUV, which caused him not to see a truck slowing down before his rollover crash last week on Jupiter Island, Florida.
Martin County Sheriff's deputy Tatiana Levenar wrote in an arrest affidavit that Woods was "sweating profusely," and his movement was "lethargic and slow" while she interviewed him.
If you give a Tiger a phone...
Sharks beat the Blues, 5-4.
Giants turn the Padres into the Giants (3-2)
https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/san-francisco-giants-scores-standings/104474/giants-padres-scores-recap-landen-roupp-harrison-bader-tony-vitello
My dad used to always tell me that you only get one chance to make a good first impression. He’s right, though thankfully in baseball, the playoff teams aren’t chosen based on their first impressions.
For their first series of the season — a putrid, feckless, and deeply uncompetitive sweep at the hands of the New York Yankees — the San Francisco Giants made a very obvious impression.
Guardians hand Dodgers their first loss of 2026
Roki Sasaki solid in first big league start since May, Dodgers bats fall flat in 4-2 loss.
https://www.truebluela.com/dodgers-scores-standings/112370/dodgers-guardians-game-recap
Looking to keep their undefeated season alive, the Dodgers couldn’t get anything going until the ninth inning against the Cleveland Guardians as the offense fell mostly silent in a 4-2 defeat.
It was a softer tossing lefty with a good change and slider that shut them down. That is the type of pitcher that always got them last year.
Word(le) games
Wordle 1,746 3/6*
🟩⬛🟩⬛⬛
🟩🟨🟩⬛⬛
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Maybe Wordle bot's starting words are not so bad
Wordle 1,746 2/6*
🟩⬛🟩⬛⬛
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Seems like 3 of us used the same starting word. I had the worst second word.
Wordle 1,746 5/6
🟩⬜🟩⬜⬜
🟩⬜🟩⬜⬜
🟩⬜🟩⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩⬜🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Started so well, then it took me 4 more guesses to solve. Mistakes were made.
I've had guesses when I'm not careful that re-uses a letter that previously was used and not in the word.
Wordle 1,746 4/6
🟩⬜🟩⬜⬜
🟩⬜🟩⬜⬜
🟩🟨🟩⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Blah