From the spectacle that is the U.S. presidential election to the London Olympics to the Secret-Service sex scandal to rising tensions between China and Japan and to Superstorm Sandy, The iPINIONS Journal takes a look at it all. In this eighth volume of political commentaries, author Anthony Livingston Hall examines an eclectic mix of worldwide topics that became a part of 2012. Insightful and often humorous, Hall discusses the topics of the day, including the political ménage a trois involving the French president, his ex-wife, and current consort, the Miami Heat's dream team come true, the fall from grace of CIA director General David Petraeus, the costly comeuppance of Lance Armstrong, the fiscal cliff, Twitter no better than Twinkies, deaths of famous people, the mysterious vigil for Venezuelan leader Hugo Chávez, and more. Through this collection of lively and thought-provoking commentaries, Hall, an unsparing, equal-opportunity critic, provides a refreshing worldview of the global events of 2012.