Questions

Always happens after I watch one of the original trilogy films again. In this case it was ROTJ.

1) The Emperor and (particularly) Vader keep assuming it was Obi-Wan who taught Luke the ways of the Force. Clearly, neither of them knew of Yoda's continued existence. Yet, they both _knew_ Yoda as the head of the Jedi Council at one point. So how did they account for (or not account for) Yoda's demise/existence? Perhaps this will be explained in Episode III, as well as Obi-Wan's escape to Tatooine.

2) Who was Palpatine/Sidious' Sith master? Clearly, he apprenticed under someone before ascending to the Sith Master position he holds in Episode I. Also, if Palpatine was so strong in the Force (as he must have been to accomplish what he did with the Dark Side), how does he go undetected as Anakin did (referenced by Qui-Gon in Episode I in conversation with Shmi)? If he was a Senator from Naboo, he probably was a citizen of Naboo from birth. Surely, Naboo was within the Republic's main cognizance and the within the ability of the Jedi Council (or whomever detects the presence of the Force in little kids) to find and identify. Is the Dark Side genetic and Palpatine just knew he was bad from the start so he blinded the Jedi Council?

3) At the end of ROTJE, it looks as if Mos Eisley is shown partying at the demise of the Empire. Yet in TPM, we learned the Republic had little presence out there. Did that change with the onset of the Empire? It seems to me even the Empire wasn't that involved in Tatooine, even if the stormtroopers were there in ANH under Vader's orders looking for the stolen data tapes/droids. Also, since the Empire/Emperor/Vader never seemed to be able to realize Luke was living there ... I just don't think Mos Eisley (or Mos Espa, for that matter) would have been partying like it was 1999 at the demise of the Empire.

Just food for thought.

Yeah, I keep thinking that maybe it's thought Yoda died in a battle with Dooku on Dagobah and that's why he's stayed there, because they can't sense him in the Force because of the Dark Side energies leftover there.

Maybe he found a way to infuse himself with midichlorians or something...

I think the Empire's presence is felt throughout the whole galaxy.

Okay, I'll buy that. But when does this battle with Dooku happen? Episode

I assumed that Anakin would kill Dooku and take his place in AATA.

It's just speculation. It's just one way Lucas can address open plot holes. There are are probably a multitude of possibilities to address these things in Ep III.

In the novelisation of ROTJ, Palpatine figures out that Yoda taught Luke and pulls the info that Yoda is dead from Luke's mind. Luke wasn't too happy about it.

things in Ep III.

...and Lucas will pick the least popular and most obscure possibility, no doubt. If history is any indicator, Ep3 will be a huge let-down for fanboys.

Okay, I read that, but I was in the sixth grade, and I don't remember now.

yoda is supposed to be dead. they belive him dead.

Well according to non-canon EU the Sith masters often left Holocrons (holographic teaching devices) with sith lore on them If he found one, it would be like studying under a sith master but not actually having one.

Mos Eisley was crawling with stormtroopers in episode 4 so I would presume that meant the Empire had stepped up their involvement there, cutting into illegal profits...

I had always felt they had blamed Obi Wan due to Anakin/Vader's hatred for Kenobi. I think Palpatine had just filled Vaders head about Obi Wan that he ended up being the focus of Vaders hate

Well Obi-Wan had actually shown his face to Vader. There was actual physical evidence staring Vader in the face to support Obi-Wan's existence, as well as sensing him. He didn't have that luxury with Yoda. And I think that Yoda was well hidden on Dagobaugh with the presence of that Dark Side cave and all.

Good questions. I have no clue how to respond since that much of the storyline is still left out in the dark. It will be interesting if Lucas covers this in Ep 3, but he probably wont. I imagine it will be left open for the authors who wish to explore this uncharted territory of the Star Wars Universe.

Why not? The Empire had established their presence there. Tattooine had always liked their independence from the society as a whole. Here, the Empire had a military ocupation there of sorts. Although it was still clear that Jabba still ran things on that planet. We see the citizens of Mos Eisley and/or Mos Espa partying because the two major thorns in their sides are now gone: Jabba and the Empire.