Blocks with no transactions and orphaned blocks

[Rothgar]

Hello, 

I was wondering if the infamous blank blocks interfere with minors actually processing transactions.  In noticed on blockchain.info that sometimes there are orphaned blocks after these blank blocks.

It happened at block 173931 and 173929

Why is this,

Rothgar

[jevon]

Might be a sign of some miners trying to shun the blank blocks.

[Rothgar]

I do believe you are right.  There have been a few forks in the blockchain, where the solo blocks are ignored.

[Rothgar]

Just for reference, and to help me and others remember, here is an example where the chain has forked and at the moment I don't believe that this has resolved yet.

http://blockchain.info/block-index/202730