Let the slackers have their 12 countries in 12 months contest.
We should have another challenge for the serious flyers. I had thought about 12 countries in 12 days, but there is little fun in that as some of us well know. How about 12 countries in a month? That is easily doable and you can enjoy yourself while doing it.
I've flown 4 countries in a day before (breakfast in Belgium, lunch in France, tea in Italy & dinner in the U.K.). And I've done 3 continents in 3 days a few times. But I'm always too burnt to string 12 together so quickly. That would be a challenge.