10 December 2020: Summary of the Year & Podcast Announcement

We did it! After the longest and most insane year in my memory, we have finally made it to the final month of 2020.

It's hard to remember everything that's happened this year and it doesn't quite feel real, so here's a small summary of the craziness of this year, in no particular order:

• The Australian bush fires

• Kobe Bryant's death

• 45's impeachment (yes, that was this year and he still was somehow eligible for re-election, I don't understand why this is allowed)

• West coast wildfires

• Chadwick Boseman's death

• Harvey Weinstein's verdict

• Kim Jong Un death rumors

• Beirut explosion

• Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death

• "Murder hornets" arrived in the US

• The UK left the EU

• 2020 stock market crash

• Astronomers discovered the first black hole in a star system visible to the naked eye

• Black Lives Matter protests broke out after the wrongful death of George Floyd

• Costa Rica legalized same-sex marriage

• Africa declared free of wild polio

• Jeff Bezos became the first person to have a net worth exceeding US$200 billion

• NASA found molecular water on the moon

• Grimes and Elon Musk named their baby X Æ A-12

Obviously, there's much more that I've left out, but this feels like more than enough to see just how wild this year was. What even was this year?

As for the holidays, either in-progress or right around the corner, depending on what/if you celebrate, I just want to remind everyone to be safe. Wear your mask, keep your distance from those not in your household, wash your hands, send your gifts in the mail if necessary, and opt for virtual gatherings rather than in-person gatherings. If we follow the health and safety guidelines put out by the WHO, CDC, and other health organizations, the sooner we can get back to some form of "normalcy".

Finally, small podcast update: while Anchor still has yet to find a solution for my tech issues, I did find a work-around that allowed me to continue editing, which means three new episodes of Write Reckless are coming soon!

• AK Faulkner Part 1: 20 Questions - SG1, Pratchett, & Time Travel

• AK Faulkner Part 2: 20 Questions - Hot Fuzz, Lipodema, & Singapore

• AK Faulkner Part 3: Topic of Choice - The Inherent Politics of Writing

Yes, these are all the same person. We talked a lot and I don't want to cut out good conversation, hence the very first multi-episode interview. Editing is almost done so expect them soon!

Happy holidays and stay safe!