The Social Network

The 25 Best Movies of the Century: No. 1, ‘The Social Network’

Sean and Amanda return to continue their yearlong project of listing the 25 best movies of the 21st century so far. Today, they discuss David Fincher’s The Social Network, the era-defining study of the internet. They make the claim that this is their generation’s Citizen Kane, explain why it is a comfort movie about everything that is horrible, and crown Jesse Eisenberg for delivering one of the defining performances of the century.

After talking about it over the last several months, Sharon and I finally watched The Social Network on Saturday night. Jack, Sharon and I watched the movie at Sea Ranch in 2011. The movie is the number one movie on the Big Picture Podcast's list of the Top 25 Movies of the 21st Century. It is also on The New York Times list of the 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century.

The Social Network is a 2010 biographical drama film directed by David Fincher and written by Aaron Sorkin. Based on the 2009 book The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich, the film portrays the founding of the social networking website Facebook. Neither Mark Zuckerberg nor any other Facebook staff were involved with the project,

It stars Jesse Eisenberg as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. The supporting cast includes: Andrew Garfield as Eduardo Saverin; Justin Timberlake as Sean Parker; Armie Hammer as Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss; Max Minghella as Divya Narendra; Rashida Jones as Marylin Delpy; and Rooney Mara as Erica Albright.

At the 2011 Academy Awards, The Social Network won Oscars for Best Adapted Screenplay (Aaron Sorkin), Best Original Score and Best Film Editing. It was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Director (David Fincher), Best Actor (Jesse Eisenberg), Best Cinematography and Best Sound Mixing. Sharon hosted an all girls Academy Awards party that year.

I enjoyed rewatching the movie more than I expected I would. The dialogue is rapid fire; I read the script is long enough for a three hour movie, while the movie is just under two hours. You have to work to keep up.

The Facebook was first launched on February 4, 2004. I first heard about Facebook in June of 2005. Talking to me about how he was connected to people he knew at other schools, Drew showed it to me in his dorm room. Facebook had been expanded across major U.S. and Canadian universities, including the University of California system in early 2005. It eventually opened to the general public on September 26, 2006.

Lunch with Tomasin and Snipes

Snipes and I drove to Vallejo and met Tomasin for lunch at the Sardine Can.

At Ancil Hoffman Golf Course

Debbie, Jim, Sharon and I played golf at Ancil Hoffman Golf Course on Thursday afternoon. We teed off at 2:25 pm. Jim and I walkex, while Sharon and Debbie rode.

During the last two rounds at the Silverado South Course and Empire Ranch, I feel very solid. Hitting a small bucket of balls at the range, I felt very consistent.

Unfortunately, I didn't play well. I got off to rough start on the 1st hole. I settled down and played the next two holes very well. Starting at the fourth hole, I got more and more inconsistent.

The only bright spots were my chipping is improving and I didn't card a 9 or 10. I ended up with an honestly scored 60. I used one gallery loss on the 4th hole.

We have played a lot of golf over the last two months. With our upcoming trip, it will probably be May before I pick up a club again.

The Brunch Corner

Ever since we moved here, there has been a Mexican restaurant--Rey Azteca--at the corner of Kenneth Avenue and Fair Oaks Boulevard. It closed in the last six months and reopened as the Brunch Corner.

Exiting the back gate, walking the trail in Ancil Hoffman Park and then heading up Kenneth, Sharon and I went to breakfast there. We both had Huavos Rancheros.

We ran into our neighbors Brad and Clark. Brad recommended the waffles... We will probably make this a regular monthly routine.

The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel by Douglas Brunt

My book for March was The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel by Douglas Brunt. Somewhat surprisingly, this is the third physical book I have read in the last six months. Pam and Mike gave me Circle of Days by Ken Follett to read while I was recovering from surgery in October. Holly and Van gave me The Match: The Day the Game of Golf Changed Forever for my birthday when we were in Palm Desert. Sharon's brother Tom gave me this book for my birthday. All of my reading over the last five plus years has been in the Kindle app on the iPad and iPhone.

The book explores the life of Rudolf Diesel. Rudolf Diesel was a brilliant German engineer whose invention changed the world of transportation and industry. In 1892, he patented an engine design that used compression ignition. While Diesel is best known for the engine that bears his name, his life was a complex mix of visionary ambition, financial struggle, and a mysterious end.

As also highlighted in the Mark Twain biography, the last twenty years of the 19th century are an amazing era of innovation. I enjoyed the book. I spent my youth around diesel engines.

It was surprising to me that the first widespread use of diesel engines were for German U-Boats. There was an arms race by the world's major power to build submarines in the build up to World War I. The key was the diesel engine.

Diesel’s disappearance on the eve of the war happened exactly when the "submarine engine race" was at its peak. Although the theory is controversial, the author posits that Rudolf Diesel didn't commit suucide, but was taken to Canada by the British to help with their submarine building effort.

One footnote. Jack and I spent the night on a World War II submarine. It reeked of diesel... When we got home from the trip, all of clothes smelled like diesel.

Project Hail Mary (Film)

Monday afternoon, Sharon and I watched Project Hail Mary at the Country Club Cinemawest. I read Andy Weir's book in 2021.

Project Hail Mary is a science fiction film produced and directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. It was written by Drew Goddard.

The flim stars Ryan Gosling (who also produced the film alongside Weir). The cast included Sandra Hüller [Anatomy of a Fall, Zone of Interest], James Ortiz and Lionel Boyce.

Project Hail Mary follows Ryland Grace [Gosling], a lone astronaut who wakes up on a spacecraft with no memory of his mission or his identity. As his memories slowly return, he realizes he must use his scientific ingenuity to save Earth from a solar-dimming catastrophe. Along the way, he encounters an unexpected alien ally. The two form a unique bond as they work together to solve complex interstellar physics problems.

Both Sharon and I enjoyed the movie. It does away with much of the navigating from one technical crisis to another that is the core of the book. Instead, the film focuses on the relationship side of the story. Weir’s first book was the Martian. The movie version of The Martian was nominated for Best Picture and Matt Damon’s performance was nominated for Best Actor. I think that this picture is better and Gosling’s performance is better…

Sutter Health, Allina Health to form 39-hospital system

I worked for Sutter Health from 1998 to 2014. The last seven years I was the Vice President of Technical Services. I am fascinated by noncontiguous mergers in both health care and financial services. It will be interesting to see how this merger shakes out over the next five years.

Sutter Health, Allina Health to form 39-hospital system

Sacramento, Calif.-based Sutter Health and Minneapolis-based Allina Health have signed a letter of intent for Allina to join the health system, creating a combined nonprofit organization spanning California, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

The proposed transaction would create a system with 39 hospitals and more than 400 care sites, serving more than 5 million patients, according to a joint news release.

Upon closing, the combined system would include 18,000 physicians and 88,000 employees across Northern and Central California and Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Based on 2025 revenues, the combined organization would generate about $26 billion.

Sutter Health provides care to more than 3.5 million Californians through an integrated network of clinicians, hospitals and care sites. Allina Health operates more than 90 clinics, 12 hospital campuses and additional care services across Minnesota and western Wisconsin.

The organizations said the transaction aims to expand access and affordability, including plans to invest more than $2 billion in Minnesota and western Wisconsin to grow ambulatory care, expand specialty services and support digital and AI-enabled tools.

Under the proposed transaction, Allina Health would become Sutter Health’s Upper Midwest Division while retaining its board of directors, brand and regional headquarters in Minneapolis, the organizations said. The agreement is akin to a member substitution, though the final structure will be defined in a definitive agreement and reviewed by regulators. Sutter Health would maintain its headquarters in Northern California. Warner Thomas would continue to lead the combined system as president and CEO of Sutter Health, with Lisa Shannon remaining president and CEO of Allina Health as it becomes Sutter Health’s Upper Midwest Division.

Mr. Thomas and Ms. Shannon told Becker’s the transaction reflects alignment in strategy and long-term goals.

“At Allina Health, we have been thinking about partners that would enable us to better serve our community — partners that would value our strengths and share our aligned mission, our view of the future and our values,” Ms. Shannon said.

“This has been almost a yearlong journey discussing how we could better serve our communities together.”

Mr. Thomas said he believes “like-minded organizations with a common culture and a common view of the future are better together than apart.”

He said the transaction would bring together Allina’s clinical capabilities with Sutter’s investments in ambulatory care and digital infrastructure.

Mr. Thomas added that Allina is undergoing a multiyear effort to replace and expand its flagship Abbott Northwestern campus, creating an opportunity to pair those investments with Sutter Health’s experience scaling ambulatory care and digital capabilities. Mr. Thomas said leaders across systems see care continuing to shift into outpatient settings, making ambulatory expansion and clinician recruitment central to improving access.

Through the partnership, the organizations plan to expand ambulatory care, recruit additional clinicians and invest in technologies aimed at reducing administrative burden and improving patient access, including digital scheduling tools.

Leaders also pointed to complementary regional strengths, including Northern California’s role in AI and Minnesota’s position as a medtech hub, as factors in the proposed transaction.

Over the coming months, the organizations will complete due diligence and finalize terms before entering a definitive agreement. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2026, pending regulatory approval.

All the President's Men

Saturday night, Sharon and I watched All The President's Men. We have talked about watching the movie ever since we toured the Nixon Presidental Library in February of 2004. We talked about the movie again when we watched The Sting.

All the President's Men is a 1976 American biographical political thriller film directed by Alan J. Pakula. The screenplay is by William Goldman. The film is based on the 1974 non-fiction book by journalists Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward.

All the President's Men follows Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward (Robert Redford) and Carl Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman) as they investigate a seemingly minor break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters. With the help of a mysterious informant known as "Deep Throat," the duo uncovers a vast web of political corruption and hush money linked directly to the White House. Their relentless pursuit of the truth eventually exposes the Watergate scandal, leading to a historic constitutional crisis and the resignation of President Richard Nixon.

At the 49th Academy Awards in 1977, All the President's Men received eight nominations and won four Oscars. The wins included: Best Supporting Actor - Jason Robards (for his portrayal of Washington Post executive editor Ben Bradlee); Best Adapted Screenplay - William Goldman; Best Art Direction - George Jenkins and George Gaines, and; Best Sound - Arthur Piantadosi, Les Fresholtz, Dick Alexander, and Jim Webb. It was also nominated for Best Picture (Lost to Rocky), Best Director - Alan J. Pakula, Best Supporting Actress - Jane Alexander abd Best Film Editing - Robert L. Wolfe.

I enjoyed the movie. Although it is almost fifty years old, it holds up very well. The movie covers the first half of the book. The plot and the dialogue are very dense.

My Life 2024

This picture was taken at Drew's 40th birthday party. I used it on the 2024 Christmas Card.

All of the My Life Photos can be found here.

Lake Natoma Hike

Parking at the Nimbus Flat State Park, Sharon and Jeana hiked east along the south side of Lake Natoma on the Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail. They covered just over five miles.

At Empire Ranch Golf Club

Two of my pars when we played Empire Ranch on Monday.

Basketball Adventure with Lee

Lee got this shirt at the Kings game on Sunday celebrating Slamson's birthday.

At Empire Ranch Golf Club

After I took Lee back to Pollack Pines, Sharon and I headed to the Empire Ranch Golf Club. We met Holly and Larkin for a 11:50 am tee time. I rode with Larkin, while Sharon rode with Holly.

We started on the 10th hole. Feeling good on the range, I parred the first hole. I went on to par four holes and bogey seven holes. I made a mess of the 1st and 7th holes, but was able to settle back down on the next hole each time. My chipping and putting were both very solid. I had a number of drives that were 200 to 205 yards.

With a couple of mulligans off the tee over the first nine and one gallery loss, I shot a 98. I was very happy with how I played. This is the best round of golf that I have played since I retired.

After the round, we headed to the Larkin's house for a quick shower and a change of clothes. We went to dinner at Land Ocean. The group included Larkin and Cindy, Holly and Van, Marlene and Sharon and I. Sharon and I split a Grilled Artichoke for a starter. We both had Ahi Tuna Poke Bowls [Wasabi rice, avocado, mango, edamame, cucumber, masago, Sriracha aioli and soy ginger drizzle] for our entrees.

2026 Sacramento Kings versus Brooklyn Nets

Basketball Adventure with Lee

Lee, Sharon, Larkin and I went to the Sacramento Kings versus Brooklyn Nets NBA game. I bought four tickets in Section 103 [Seats 8, 9, 10 and 11].

It was a close game; the Nets led 62 to 57 at halftime. Thanks to Malik Monk's late scoring flurry, the Kings held off Nets by the score of 126 to 122. Monk scored 10 of his 32 points in the final five minutes.

Coming off the bench, Monk was the high scorer for the Kings. He had 32 points on 8 for 17 from the field, 7 for 13 from three and 9 for 9 from the free throw line. Maxime Raynaud added 22 points and 10 rebounds for his 16th double-double.

Ben Saraf was the high scorer for the high scorer for the Nets. He had 22 points on 10 for 20 from the field, 0 for 5 from three and 2 for 2 from the free throw line. Other than Terrance Mann, I have never heard of any of the Nets players!?!

Lee did really well. He made it through the whole game. We watched them Light the Beam at the end. The Kings were celebrating Slamson's birthday.

The Kings have 4 wins and 3 losses in games that I have seen in the 2025-2026 season..

Lee, Sharon and I finished the day getting burgers and a hotdog from Gami Burger.

Before Sunrise

Saturday night, Sharon and I watched Before Sunrise. We watched Before Sunset in February.

Before Sunrise is a 1995 romantic drama film directed by Richard Linklater. It was co-written by Linklater and Kim Krizan. It is the first installment in the Before trilogy.

While traveling through Europe by train, an American student named Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and a French woman named Celine (Julie Delpy) decide to disembark in Vienna to spend a single night together before his flight home. As they wander the city's moonlit streets, their conversation evolves from lighthearted banter into a deep, vulnerable exploration of their philosophies on life and love. The film captures a fleeting, transient connection that concludes with a bittersweet promise to meet again, leaving the future of their relationship open to the viewer's imagination.

When it ended, Sharon said "that was better." She liked this film more than the second film in the trilogy. Sharon also thought that we should have seen them in order. I liked the second film in the triolgy--Before Sunset--more. Before Sunset is one of the Big Picture Podcast's best films of the last twenty-five years.

2026 Silverado Resort - Day #3

Setting an alarm for 6:30 am, we were up and moving early. We packed up and loaded the car.

Driving to the mansion, we had breakfast again at the Bakery & Market. Everybody had a bacon breakfast burrito.

We walked over and got our carts. When you stay and play, they keep your clubs. They had our carts loaded and ready to go. I rode with Sharon and Jack rode alone.

I had a very weird experience at the driving range. Although I have been more confident in my swing over the last month, I couldn't get loose. I felt like I couldn't hit the ball. I think that some of the struggle was due to the fact that I had never played golf three days in the row before. I think that my muscles were sore and tired in a way that I had never experienced.

Driving to the first tee, I had a lot of trepidation. We decided to play skins again. After playing straight up on Thursday, Jack spotted Sharon and I each nine strokes; one each on the nine hardest handicap holes.

To my surprise, I started strong. I went bogey, par, double bogey on the first three holes. After not winning a skin the day before, I took the first two skins. On the long par three 7th hole, I hit my driver 185 yards to within eight feet of the pin; I two putted for a par.

I ended up taking five skins on the front nine and five skins on the back nine. Jack took six and Sharon took two.

Using a couple of mulligans off the tee, I ended up with an honestly scored 106. This is a little deceiving; the 10th hole was playing as a par three with a temporary green rather than a par four.

We picked up a fourth, Geo, on the 10th hole. His wife joined us at the 18th. Sharon struggled all day (119). Jack didn't play as well as he did on Wednesday and Thursday (105).

Loading our clubs in the car, we headed back to the city. We dropped Jack at his apartment just before 3 pm.

It was a three hour and twenty minute slog through the traffic getting home. I don't think that it has ever taken us more than three hours before...

We stopped and got take out at Cantina Azteca.

I really enjoyed the trip. I was wonderful to spend the time with Jack.

2026 Silverado Resort - Day #2

Moving slow, we eventually got organized and drove over to the main lodge. We had breakfast at Market & Bakery. We all had bacon breakfast burritos.

After hitting the driving range, we teed off at 9:50 am. I felt like I was making good contact, but pushing everything left on driving range.

I rode with Jack. Although Jack's handicap is at leat 10 strokes better than mine, we decided to play straight up skins.

I had a solid start, but fell apart on the third hole. After a great drive and a nice second shot, I chipped back and forth over the green four times and ended up taking a 12. I struggled with my chipping for much of the day. I had a number of nice chips, but also butchered a number of other attempts.

Looking back at my tracked shots on Goftshot Pro, there is a lot to feel good about. My chipping and putting killed me. I had four or five opportunities where I could have taken the hole, but couldn't make the put. The final score was Jack with 13 skins and Sharon with 5. I halfed a four holes but didn't take a skin.

It was a fairly fast round. We finished in under four hours and 15 minutes.

We grabbed sandwiches and wraps at the Market and Bakery and then headed back to the Condo. Over the course of a lazy afternoon, we watched episode four of Survivor 50 on the AppleTv. Sharon went to the pool, while Jack and I watched NCCA basketball.

Catching an Uber, we went to dinner at Ad Hoc in Yountville. The entree was flank steak with green beans. I was surprised the meal included a cheese course.

Catching an Uber back to the condo, we crashed before 10 pm.

2026 Silverado Resort - Day #1

A long Day.

Rolling from Carmichael about 9:15 am, we dropped Tiber at Best Friends. After a stop for sandwiches, we got to Drew and Carmen's at 11:30 am. We had a great visit. I loved the chance to see Dawson. I enjoyed the opportunity to tour the studio.

From there, we headed into San Francisco. We picked up Jack as he left work. Stopping at his apartment to get his golf clubs, we headed towards Napa. It turned out to be a little bit of a slog. We hit a lot of traffic on 37 and 12.

We pulled up to the Silverado Resort about 3:15 pm. Like we did with the Wongs in 2022 and the Gainsleys in 2025, we are spending two nights at the resort and playing the North and South Courses. Getting checked in, Sharon had a reserved a two bedroom condo. It is nice, but a lot further from the new lodge than our previous trips.

After getting settled in the condo, we headed back to the golf course. The package allows you to play on the day that you get there. Although the Wongs did this, we didn't do this before.

On the course just after 4 pm, we played nine holes on the North Course. I was very happy with how I played. In the past, the Silverado courses have beat me up and taken my lunch money. Although I had problems on the par five 9th hole, I was striking the ball well. My chipping was slightly improved. The greens are tough; I three putted four of the greens.

With a couple of mulligans off the tee and one gallery loss, I ended up with the liberally scored 57. I played both of the par three very well.

Back at the room, we got cleaned up for dinner. We drove into downtown Napa for dinner at Compline Restaurant. We split Crispy Chicken Wings, Berkeley Burrata and a Winter Salad. For entrees, Sharon Chicken-Fried Devil’s Gulch, Quail, Jack had Chicken Trufe Tortellini and I had Uni Carbonara. Sharon was a little disappointed in the meal.

Although Jack crashed, Sharon and I finished the night watching the first thirty minutes of Survivor 50 on the AppleTV.

Looken 'Em Over • Dick Heringer at UC Davis

California Aggie, Volume 51, Number 7, 26 March 1953

Looken 'Em Over

By Rich Ortega
Sports Editor

   Having been firmly indoctrinated by our many profs here at Davis, that an expert is the man to turn to when a job has to be done, we dropped by the Student Health Center and saw amigo, Lincoln, the other day. It seems that Linc has been down with the bug for the last few days. So in order to cheer him up the topic of our conversation centered around his first love . . . baseball.
   After making his customary remarks concerning baseball in general and "setting ’em” up for all hands, he asked if we had just come to be friendly or did we have something specific in mind. Told him that we were interested in his opinion concerning future Aggie games and asked if he would give forth.
   The little man, who is quite familiar with Aggie sports in general, thinks that this might be the sport that the Aggies will take the crown in . . . provided they are not plagued with injuries—a characteristic quite familiar to our football and basketball teams.
   However, Linc feels that if co-captain Bill Lovelace can shake off his sore arm, and can once again take his regular turn with Bob Bushnell on the hill, the Aggies will have a one-two combination that will give FWC teams much to worry about. Then too there is a possibility that Coach Loiter might develop another winning hurler??
   With the pitching problem thus solved, Linc moved on to the infield where he was quite optimistic. He listed a flashy infield that is lacking in only one thing—experience.
   Starting at first Linc summed it up like this "John Smith and basketballer John Wilson are fighting it out for the initial sack.
   On the keystone sack Lotter can call on Bill Bizzini. Short stop, without a doubt, belongs to the classy fielding Stan Cebull and third base will go to the heavy hitting Dwight Barker. However, Linc hastened to add that Barker will be lost to the team for at least three weeks due to illness. In that case either "vet” Chuck Wilson or Ron Rutherford will handle the "hot corner.”
   The catching department is really loaded with Co-Captain Chuck Wilson, Dan Purciful, and Dick Behrendt all being able receivers.
   The outer pasture seems to be the problem of most concern. Here, Lotter has been shifting El Veerkanip, Carl Oehlman, Howard Harrison, Dick Heringer and Rich Shepherd back and forth in an attempt to find the right combination of flyhawks.
   A big factor in Lincoln optimism is the fact that the whole team displays a lot of spirit and hustle ... a factor which was quite noticeably absent from last year’s squad.
   That’s it! Line might be wrong, but he knows more about the situation than yours truly so we gave you his opinion . . Hope he’s right!!

Dick Heringer and Joyce Abbott at UC Davis

The Sting

Friday night March 6 after golf, Jack, Sharon and I watched The Sting.

The Sting is a 1973 American caper film. It was directed by George Roy Hill, who had directed Paul Newman and Robert Redford in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969). The screenplay by David S. Ward was inspired by real-life cons perpetrated by brothers Fred and Charley Gondorff. The story is documented by David Maurer in his 1940 book The Big Con: The Story of the Confidence Man.

Set in 1936, it involves a complicated plot by two professional grifters (Newman and Redford) to con a mob boss (Robert Shaw).

At the 46th Academy Awards, The Sting won seven Oscars, includig: Best Picture; Best Director; Best Original Screenplay; Best Art Direction; Best Costume Design; Best Film Editing, and; Best Music (Scoring: Original Song Score and Adaptation). It was also nominated for Best Actor – Robert Redford, Best Cinematography and Best Sound.

When it was over, Sharon said "Well, that hasn't aged well." I liked the movie more than she did and thought that it has aged pretty well. We need to go back and watch more of Robert Redford's movies. We watched Out of Africa last fall; it also won the Best Picture Oscar. When we toured the Nixon Presidential Library, we talked about seeing All The President's Men.

98th Academy Awards

Over the last ten plus years, Sharon and I have enjoyed working our way through the Oscar nominated films. Sunday night, we watched the 98th Academy Awards.

I texted my predictions to Clan Heringa earlier in the day. I was 6 out of 7. I couldn’t pick Michael B Jordan for best actor unless I wanted to sleep in the garage… Sharon really disliked Sinners. She threatened to never watch another movie again if it won Best Picture. Thankfully, One Battle After Another won Best Picture.

One footnote. The first Acaedemy Awards show that Sharon and I watched together was 1995.

My 2026 Oscar Picks

My 2026 Oscar Picks:

• Best Picture - One Battle After Another
• Best Directer - Paul Thomas Anderson - One Battle After Another
• Best Actor - Timothée Chalamet, Marty Supreme
• best Actress - Jessie Buckley, Hamnet
• Best Supporting Actor - Sean Penn, One Battle After Another
• Best Supporting Actress - Amy Madigan, Weapons
• Best Adapted Screenplay - One Battle After Another
• Best Original Screenplay - Sinner

There is a lot of swirl around the Best Actor category. Timothée has been the favorite for the last couple of months. Michael B. Jordan has emerged as the favorite recently. Supporting Sharon's dislike of Sinners, I am still picking Timothée...