Latest news with #EmpireStrikesBack
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
How 1980's The Empire Strikes Back set Star Wars on the way to becoming phenom it is today
This is the latest instalment in our From the Vault feature series, in which we reflect on culturally significant movies celebrating notable anniversaries. Advertisement It is hard to imagine a world in which Star Wars is not the galaxy-conquering behemoth we know today. As of 2025, George Lucas's sci-fi franchise includes nine films and three movie spin-offs, with more streaming and animated series being added all the time. Of course, none of this would have happened without the 1977 original, a pitch-perfect popcorn odyssey buoyed by John Williams' triumphant music and Industrial Light & Magic (ILM)'s dazzling special effects. But it was the 1980 sequel, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, which is 45 this month, that turned this stand-alone success into an enduring pop-culture phenomenon. And it almost ended in disaster.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Stablecoins Will Expand Beyond Crypto Trading, Become Part of Mainstream Economy, Citi Predicts
The stablecoin market could soon eclipse the entire crypto trading ecosystem that gave birth to it as regulatory tailwinds allow for the integration of the fixed-value tokens into the mainstream economy, according to predictions from global bank Citi. Above and beyond their role as tokenized cash for the crypto trading community, stablecoins — digital tokens whose value is pegged primarily to the U.S. dollar — are already expanding into payments and remittances. The next five years will likely see them replacing some overseas and domestic U.S. currency holdings as well as forming part of the short-term liquidity held at banks, according to a recent report from Citi Institute's Future Finance think-tank. If yield-bearing stablecoins can be issued, those may find a role in term deposits and retail money market funds. 'We're looking at the integration of stablecoins into what you call the mainstream economy,' Ronit Ghose, the global head of Future of Finance, Citi Institute, said in an interview. 'For example, stablecoins could be the cash leg for tokenized financial assets, or for payments by SMEs and large corporates. The dollar, and to a lesser extent the euro, has this kind of international currency status. Stablecoins allow people all over the world to hold dollars or euros in an easy, low cost way.' The stablecoin market size is currently around $240 billion, led by Tether's $145 billion USDT and Circle's $60 billion USDC. In Citi's base-case prediction, stablecoins will grow to $1.6 trillion by 2030, provided regulatory support and institutional integration take hold. In the bank's more bullish scenario, the market could balloon to $3.7 trillion. (The global cryptocurrency market cap today stands around $3.45 trillion.) Large crypto firms like Fireblocks, a platform for managing and moving crypto assets, said it's also noted a swing in stablecoin use away from a settlement and on/off ramp trading tool toward payments. 'Payment companies are leveraging stablecoins for a variety of pure-play payment flows, including cross-border transfer, remittance, merchant settlements and others,' CEO Michael Shaulov said in an email. 'Payment companies represent 11% of all of our clients, but 16% of the overall stablecoin transactions with over 30% growth of Q/Q in volumes. It is likely that this growth will continue, and they will represent 50% of the stablecoin volume within 12 months.' Over the past 90 days, the combined USDT and USDC volume on Fireblocks was $517 billion, some 44% of the total volume, a figure that has doubled over the past several years. Of that, payment companies generated $82 billion, up 38.2% quarter over quarter, Fireblocks said. The Empire Strikes Back In the past, Citi's Future Finance team has weighed the potential of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), often seen as the antithesis of freewheeling libertarian innovation by the crypto community, a view also held by President Donald Trump. For Citi's Ghose, the growth of stablecoins raises many questions: If the U.S. supports stablecoins, will Europe too? Or will Europe prefer CBDCs? Will CBDCs grow in the rest of the world? How will deposit tokens and tokenized deposits play out? Whatever the landscape looks like, banks will likely avail themselves of all of the above, Ghose said. All banks, by definition, conduct inter-bank payments, which make sense with a wholesale CBDC, as well as retail CBDCs, he said. 'Depending on the country, there may be a stablecoin option or there may be a CBDC option,' Ghose said. 'From a crypto perspective, it's like Starwars, where the CBDCs are the evil Empire, as opposed to the crypto guys, who see themselves as Luke Skywalker.'Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Forbes
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Here Are 6 Personal Finance Lessons From ‘Star Wars'
American actors Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford on the set of Star Wars: Episode IV - A ... More New Hope written, directed and produced by Georges Lucas. (Photo by Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images) Fans have just celebrated Star Wars Day, commemorating the franchise with social media posts, cosplays, parties, and binge-watching the original films and various spinoffs. While I'm not as big a fan as others, it's clear that Star Wars is a big part of pop culture and it got me thinking about what the movies can potentially teach us about personal finance. This article discusses six key finance lessons from the characters and stories from a galaxy far, far away. In Empire Strikes Back, while training Luke in the ways of the Jedi in the planet Dagobah, Yoda delivered perhaps his most famous line: 'Do or do not. There is no try.' You should also apply this to your finances. For example, while it's quite easy to create a budget (there are a number of methods you can use), the hardest part is sticking to it. Be disciplined. Avoid unnecessary expenses and impulse buying, which can only derail your financial plans. Practice tracking your expenses and build your habits. You can also apply this to savings. Always save before you spend. Sock away a percentage of your monthly income toward your emergency fund, retirement accounts, or other savings. Only spend after you are sure these elements are taken care of. Consider this a payment to your future self so that you can feel good about not spending the money now. And don't forget allocating money for debt repayment. If you payoff your debts as soon as you can, you will free more funds for your other goals. To simplify things, consider setting up automatic transfers from your checking account to your savings. Consistent, you must be. Do or do not. There is no try. Don't wait for a bounty to be set on your head and become a decoration in Jabba the Hutt's palace, as happened with Han Solo frozen in carbonite in Return of the Jedi. While in the end, Han was able to escape Jabba with the help of Luke, Leia, Chewbacca, Lando, and the droids, it is best to settle your debts to avoid any inconvenience. Pay your debts in full before the deadline to prevent interest accumulation. If you have recurring obligations, prioritize paying those with the highest interest rates first so you can save on interest payments in the long run. This is called the avalanche method. Another strategy is to pay the smallest amount first, then moving on to the next biggest and so on. While it cannot save you much on interest payments, the snowball method is a structured approach that can give you a sense fulfillment and progress. You may also consider debt consolidation, where you take out a new loan or line of credit to payoff multiple existing debts. You essentially combine your old debts into a single, larger one to simplify payments while potentially getting better terms. If you still can't get a grip of your debt obligations, consult a financial advisor or counselor to explore other options like forbearance or bankruptcy. The expression 'I have a bad feeling about this' is an iconic line from Star Wars. According to ScreenRant, characters have used it at least 36 times across the films and TV series to signal a concern or worry. It's unclear if there are insurance policies in the galaxy far, far away, but on Earth, you can lessen your worries and allay your 'bad feelings' in any situation if you have insurance coverage. Insurance provides crucial financial protection against unexpected costs, like medical bills, car repairs, home damage, or even death. It gives you and your loved ones peace of mind knowing that whatever happens, you are covered. Depending on the type and terms, various insurance policies can help safeguard your assets, provide liability coverage, and even facilitate savings and investments. You may not find yourself trapped in a garbage compactor or attacking the Death Star anytime soon, but life on Earth is unpredictable enough as to make insurance a must. In The Phantom Menace, Qui-Gon Jinn bets Watto on Anakin's freedom during the Boonta Eve pod race. When Anakin won and was subsequently freed, Watto rues the bet, saying he was swindled. Qui-Gon makes a very important remark here: 'Whenever you gamble, my friend, eventually you lose.' This can be instructive whenever you make investment decisions. It can be said that investing is inherently a gamble. It involves risks and no investment is 100% guaranteed to make a return. But you should always consider your time horizon, financial goals and situation, and risk tolerance. There are ways to reduce your risk when investing. Diversification is one. Never put all your eggs in one basket. Invest in different asset classes so you are able to withstand market volatility. You can also use dollar-cost averaging, where you invest a fixed amount regularly, allowing you buy more shares when prices are low and fewer when they are high. And while there are investors who successfully time the market, evidence suggests that it's best to have a long-term time horizon. Instead of gambling with your investments, remember this: 'Time in the market is better than timing the market.' Don't repeat the Empire's mistake on the first Death Star. They trusted too much that it was such a formidable weapon, capable of destroying planets in one go, that they overlooked it's vulnerability through the thermal exhaust port. This is a very important lesson in personal finance: Read and understand the fine print whenever you enter into any financial agreement, be it investments, loans, partnership agreements, subscription services, or insurance policies. Look for hidden fees, variable interest rates, exit penalties, minimum balance requirements, deductibles, or cancellation fees. If you have questions, don't hesitate to ask. If the agreement has a lot of jargon, work with a trusted financial advisor or professionals. Do your due diligence because there might be a Galen Erso who deliberately inserted a vulnerability into your financial agreements. Luke had Yoda. Anakin had Obi Wan. Darth Vader had Palpatine. Rey had Luke (sort of). If these characters had masters they can consult on how to use the Force, so can you with your finances. You don't have to do everything on your own. For example, if you need help with investing, you can consult a registered investment advisor. If you want assistance with your taxes, you can work with a CPA or a tax attorney. If you want to create a financial plan, seek a CFP. Depending on your needs and skills, there is a financial advisor for you. These professionals can help you with your finances based on your specific situation and goals. Remember, if you think it's time to consult a financial advisor, check their backgrounds first. You can use SEC's Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website or FINRA's BrokerCheck to verify their credentials, qualifications, and past disciplinary actions. You may also contact your state's securities regulator. Apart from its entertaining plot and memorable characters, Star Wars offers valuable lessons in personal finance. From paying your debts to seeking expert advice, these insights can help you achieve financial security. May the right financial habits (and the Force) be with you.
CTV News
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
George Lucas says there's a valid reason why Yoda speaks so strangely
'The greatest teacher, failure is,' 'Much to learn, you still have,' and 'When 900 years old you reach, look as good you will not' all demonstrate the Jedi master's unique way of formulating thoughts, as voiced by the legendary Frank Oz – charmingly disjointed and out of sequence. 'Star Wars' mastermind George Lucas commented on this particular aspect of Yoda's character at an anniversary screening of 1980's 'Empire Strikes Back' this week, where he explained that it came about in order to ensure that the little alien's usually profound messages really landed with audiences. 'Because if you speak regular English, people won't listen that much,' Lucas said at the 2025 TCM Classic Film Festival, per Variety. 'But if he had an accent, or it's really hard to understand what he's saying, they focus on what he's saying.' 'He was basically the philosopher of the movie,' the filmmaker added. 'I had to figure out a way to get people to actually listen — especially 12-year-olds.' Also this week, the verified Instagram accounts for Disney+, Star Wars and LucasFilm – Lucas' film and television production company – posted clips of Yoda doing bloopers on the set of 'Star Wars' films, with Oz continuing to do the voice and manipulate the heavy Yoda puppet even on takes that were unusable. Suffice it to say: One for the ages, Yoda is. Article by Dan Heching.
CNN
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
George Lucas says there's a valid reason why Yoda speaks so strangely
Yoda is one of the most cherished extraterrestrial characters in movie history, and part of that has to do with the peculiar way in which he speaks. 'The greatest teacher, failure is,' 'Much to learn, you still have,' and 'When 900 years old you reach, look as good you will not' all demonstrate the Jedi master's unique way of formulating thoughts, as voiced by the legendary Frank Oz – charmingly disjointed and out of sequence. 'Star Wars' mastermind George Lucas commented on this particular aspect of Yoda's character at an anniversary screening of 1980's 'Empire Strikes Back' this week, where he explained that it came about in order to ensure that the little alien's usually profound messages really landed with audiences. 'Because if you speak regular English, people won't listen that much,' Lucas said at the 2025 TCM Classic Film Festival, per Variety. 'But if he had an accent, or it's really hard to understand what he's saying, they focus on what he's saying.' 'He was basically the philosopher of the movie,' the filmmaker added. 'I had to figure out a way to get people to actually listen — especially 12-year-olds.' Also this week, the verified Instagram accounts for Disney+, Star Wars and LucasFilm – Lucas' film and television production company – posted clips of Yoda doing bloopers on the set of 'Star Wars' films, with Oz continuing to do the voice and manipulate the heavy Yoda puppet even on takes that were unusable. Suffice it to say: One for the ages, Yoda is.
