December -- and 2012 -- are just about in the books and that means only one thing: We're one month closer to discovering the secret to the universe is Cocoa Puffs and that we've discovered them on Venus and Mars as the basis to potential life on those planets. So, that's a good thing.

Other than that, it's time to recap 10 of the bigger and better stories that graced this fine Internet real estate over the last 31 days. Let's get it.

Christmastime is Here
The spirit of the season is contagious, not unlike a terrible disease that will wipe out an entire slice of existence (but doing so while carolling in an ugly disease sweater). College lacrosse is not immune to that feeling, filling itself with wassail until things went horribly awry.

• Hartford Has Been Naughty This Year
• Bill Tierney is Full of the Holiday Spirit, as is His Sweater
• "I Want A Harrier Jet!" "You're Getting Cold Sore Cream"

Realignment is Pageviews Protein
At the end of this year the story of 2012 -- outside of Loyola winning its first national championship -- is how the face of college lacrosse will be significantly changed due to the impact of conference realignment across the country. This stuff doesn't seem to want to end, which is great news for my site traffic but terrible news for anything that has tangible value to the human experience.

• Duke President: "[Maryland is] Dead to Me"
• Conference Realignment: Quinnipiac's Move to the MAAC Barely Moves the Meter
• "That's Where We're Going Next, Quint"
• Conference Realignment: Will Big East Lacrosse Die in 2014?

Ecetera
Stuff that was stuff that you can't stuff any place else.

• Lack of Specificity Still an Issue for New Points of Emphasis
• Kevin Warne is Teddy Roosevelt
• Rob Pannell International Contracting, Ltd.