They’re great.

Reagan delivered his “Evil Empire” phraseology for the first time in March 1983. A few weeks later, he proposed the SDI, which quickly acquired the “Star Wars” label.

Is it really a laughable mistake of a “generation of perpetual children” to think the speechwriters were influenced, on some level, by the Star Wars terminology when crafting that particular segment?

Well, I do get something of a kick out of the historical and cultural illiteracy of our allegedly educated class, especially the media…the people who appoint themselves with, you, informing people. And leave it to the baby boomers to conflate the Cold War with Star Wars. A generation of perpetual children.

– I am as down on the prequels as anyone, and remain so. But my daughters dragged me into the “Clone Wars” animated series (six seasons available on Netflix). They take place between prequels II and III — and do an amazing job of redeeming that whole universe. Actual characters. Actual storylines. Take it from a skeptic – the series is worth checking out.

– Every Star Wars parent should hear this:
http://theboardofeducation.bandcamp.com/track/why-is-dad-so-mad

And there’s another part here – you don’t spend a shitload of credits to hire a bunch of bountyhunters to find the Milenium Falcon and NOT hire Boba Fett because, 10 years from now, he’ll be a little less good at his job.

[4] I showed the original version of Star Wars specifically because of that scene, but we went with the updated version of The Empire Strikes Back. The problem with watching the original release is that it appears postage-stamp-sized on the television screen. Surprisingly, the kids didn’t complain about that, but it bothered me a bit. We’ll probably watch the updated version of Jedi because the changes aren’t as dramatic.

Funny this has come up here since I was just having a conversation with a close friend over the weekend regarding Star Wars; I want to know which version of the original trilogy are you showing your kids, Hank. Is it the original version where Han sneak-shoots Greedo under the table, or is it the remastered version where both Greedo and Han shoot at each other? Just my belief that in remastering that scene, they subtly changed his motives and therefore his personality.

Doesn’t the term “evil empire” come from a speech by Reagan referring to the then USSR?

I have not been successful in getting my daughter fully into Star Wars, yet. Of course, I have to compete with Miyazaki and the Studio Ghibli catalog.

It’s also embarrassing, because I start blubbering during key moments. Especially at the end of the first film when they get their medals (Why doesn’t Chewy get one?). And it’s difficult to explain that I am not crying about movie, but what it means to my life.

I finally got her to watch It’s A Wonderful Life with me this Christmas. At every key moment (that she didn’t know was key yet), on come the waterworks.

Unfortunately, even though we are seeing the last of Jeter and Ichiro in pinstripes, these Yankees are not worth the salt in my tears.