As this most arduous annual trip around the sun draws to a close, I've been reflecting upon the underlying causes for the pandemic and its pervasive effects on the world, now that we've had a full year to observe a world in crisis mode. This short mini-sode began as an unused section from a previous episode, but the story came back to mind during a recent 14-day travel quarantine. The destruction of Pompeii highlights an important lesson: that 2020 may soon be over, but we're not nearly out of the woods yet - not by a longshot. In this short window of time before the new year begins, it's a chance to prepare ourselves for the long haul and a new world and refrain from bemoaning the loss of the old one. The new greeting standard is here: Have a Safe & Happy Holiday Season & a Healthy New Year!--- Further reading on topics referenced in this episode, sources, and transcripts are available on our Patreon at http://patreon.com/scifisense, where you can become a member to unlock exclusive content, access our livestream events, and many other member-only perks. Every little bit counts towards helping us put out more high quality content on a regular basis. We’re a fledgling operation and appreciate all the support we can get to help grow our community.