Quickies: Remembering Chadwick Boseman, a new march on Washington, and counting pandemic deaths…

It’s been another fairly difficult week here in the Unites States. I’m pretty sure I don’t even have the spoons to cover it and do it justice. So really, here are just a few things that currently have my attention.

• Many people are sharing some of the most heartwarming videos of the luminous Chadwick Boseman in the wake of the announcement of his death due to colon cancer. See him surprise Black Panther fans, speak at a Howard University graduation, or just laugh.
• Thousands of people attended the Commitment March on Washington, demanding racial equality and criminal justice reform on the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous “I have a dream” speech.
• This one isn’t very new, but it just came to my attention this week: The New York Times reports on “deaths above normal” across that US that track with the pandemic pattern, indicating that the true death toll of the pandemic is already well above 200,000.
• This week, many of us would be finishing our cosplay, compiling talking points for our panels, and generally being really excited about going to DragonCon. However, we are not. Nevertheless, we’re planning to celebrate as best we can with Virtual DragonCon. They will be streaming three channels of content live for free. I’ve been watching some of the Science Track panels come together, and they are going to bring the same nerdery and whimsy that you’ve come to expect! I hope to see you on the Discord server! I’ll probably be in the virtual Hilton at the virtual Science Track, though possibly also the virtual bar…

For some cute animal self-care, including three contributions from Muscadine:

• If you’re not already following Corina Newsome, aka Hood Naturalist, do it! Her enthusiastic squees over ALL the wildlife are so fun. This week, she found herself working along next to a rehabilitating hummingbird.
• Watch a human help a lovely iridescent python shed its skin.
• Check out the amazing, adorable, and nutritionally appropriate birthday cakes that zoos make for their animals.
• Want to ward off predators? Paint eyes on your butt!

Featured image is, of course, of a black panther.

If you can, please consider sending a few dollars to the GoFundMe campaign for Jacob Blake or take action using one of the many resources listed at Justice for Jacob Blake. H/t to Black Lives Matter Nashua.