2012 in review

When it comes to looking back at this year's highlights, the results are decidedly a mixed bag.

In entertainment, fans enjoyed being fed small but satisfying bites of book-based movies, including the Hunger Games, the Hobbit and the Twilight Saga.

Korean sensation Psy's wacky Gangnam Style galloped its way to well over 1 million YouTube hits, while Carly Rae Jepsen's vapid summertime ditty, Call Me Maybe, caused bleeding ears and decreased IQ scores.

Zombies once again ruled T.V. ratings, following the release of the Walking Dead's new season.

In technology, so-called possessed toys from the late 1990s, hated by parents everywhere, reincarnated in classic schizophrenic Furby fashion.

With much fanfare and as equally much criticism, the newest iToys were launched, including the iPad Mini and iPhone 5.

Connected to our increasing obsession with tablets, smartphones and must-have-access-to-Internet-everywhere mentality, visual-based online use grew rapidly, thanks to Pinterest and Instagram, and Tardar Sauce, aka Grumpy Cat, delighted the meme-seeking masses with his disapproving scowl.

In politics, female voters learned about anatomical superpowers they never knew they had, and Amazon's office supply section received a smattering of humorous reviews for its binder selection, including headers such as "a legitimate binder" or "too small for women."

Northwest Iowa had a front-row seat to the most expensive (and perhaps entertaining) Congressional race in the state's history---King vs. Vilsack.

Due to overwhelming feedback from citizens, lawmakers chose to shelve the Stop Online Piracy Act, which critics claimed could lead to widespread online censorship, and, even though politicians claimed it was safe, a few grocery stores halted sales of ground "pink slime" beef.

Perhaps before the next doomsday prophecy surfaces in 2013, we will figure out where we fall between the 47 percent and the 99 percent.

* Ashley Miller is a member of the Pilot news staff. Reach the columnist at amiller@stormlakepilottribune.com