1. My cold returned with a vengeance this week. I ended up having to go get prescribed antibiotics and taking two days off from work right in the middle of the week. But I’m recovering (again) and at least I was able to go in to work today.

2. Part of my class schedule is to put up quotations for students to copy down and (usually) work some grammar exercise on. Today’s was from George Washington: “I have heard the bullets whistle and, believe me, there is something charming in the sound.”

Just to remind them that the first President was quite a specimen.

3. I suspect that the live-action Snow White remake is cursed. I’m not necessarily joking, either; I can imagine the spirit of Uncle Walt being raised to wrath at the very idea as the crowning insult to his legacy. It would certainly explain a lot about that particular train-wreck in motion, and I can only wish all success to his unholy wrath.

4. By the way, one thing people are pointing out about the film is the very obvious fact that no mirror worth its Windex is going to claim that Gal Gadot (who plays the evil queen) has any cause to fear being upstaged by star Rachel Zegler in the looks department. This seems to be something of a tradition in live action Snow Whites, as I remember the exact same thing being said regarding Charlize Theron vs. Kristin Stewart in Snow White and the Huntsman. I don’t recall anyone saying that about Julia Roberts vs. Lilly Collins in Mirror Mirror at least.

There have been more Snow Whites than you’d think.

5. In more somber film news, the great James Earl Jones has passed away at the ripe age of 93. I don’t think anyone needs a career retrospective; the man was a legend in his own time, practically a by-word. Though it must also be said that, in addition to his enormous geek-culture cred, he was legitimately one of the top-notch actors of his generation: a true master of his craft. At the same time, he seems to have had a pretty good attitude towards himself and very little ego, to judge by behind the scenes clips and how often he took part in self-parody. His presence on screen will be sorely missed. Requiescat in Pace.

6. One of my own favorite anecdotes about him was how he and Arnold Schwarzenegger became friends on the set of Conan the Barbarian. Jones would help coach Arnold on his acting, while Arnold coached him on body-building and martial arts. I love the idea that this amazing, Shakespearean actor is perfectly happy to give the Austrian beefcake pointers in the craft while filming a cheesy sword-and-sorcery flick.

7. Of the many, many great roles he played, I’ll go with this clip as tribute. It’s really a wonderfully written, as well as acted, scene (with a lot going on that doesn’t get stated explicitly, but which you can read in his performance):