Sure, we've had to cut our edit staff down a bit. But that doesn't mean we're left without resources. As we enter the new year, when predictions are the go-to option for media everywhere, we turn to a professional in the field: "psychic intuitive" Sherry Lord. A recent transplant to the Sarasota area, she travels worldwide performing readings and teaching seminars on psychic intuition. Tim Sukits, a staff writer with Sarasota's Creative Loafing, asked Ms. Lord to forecast the year ahead in national and pop culture news.
And when it came to prognosticating the future of Tampa Bay, Political Editor Wayne Garcia turned to a world-renowned source of gnomic wisdom: the Magic 8 Ball (now available as a handy iPhone app).
The Psychic
Sherry Lord sees progress. She sees hope. And she sees CL surviving, nay, thriving. We like Sherry Lord.
Tim Sukits: Will the big three automakers in Detroit survive 2009?
Sherry Lord: "What you're going to see is mergers. The car industry will survive, but you're going to see it being totally different than it is today. And also the prices are going to come down on these vehicles."
Will the Obama administration be able to create or save 3 million jobs as promised?
"His intent is very pure in that, and there will be some resistance with that. … But it will be OK. I'm seeing him making a big chunk of that happen, is what I'm feeling.
Will Gov. Rod Blagojevich go to prison?
"He's been prosecuted before in the past, is what I'm hearing. What I'm also getting is that he will spend time in jail. There will also be books coming out on that, too. I'm just seeing lots of books being written already."
Will we capture Osama bin Laden in 2009?
"I'm not feeling that you will, not in the way you're expecting it, no. I have a feeling that he'll be dead. I don't believe he will be captured, I think that he will die before that, understand. That's what I'm hearing.
Will Iran obtain nuclear weapons?
"I don't feel it to be a threat in the way that it's been hyped up to be, understand that. Because there is peace already taking place behind the scenes, there are other people doing things to bring peace around that. In about six years you will start to see more shifts and changes, consciously, in that area."
Will Britney Spears continue her good behavior through 2009?
"She's a very beautiful person ,but she needed medication to balance whatever was happening within her. And I got that it will calm down a bit, but there are going to be some things flair up but not like it has been. She's going to rise again, just so you understand."
Will Jen forgive Angelina in 2009?
"There is anger built up there with her and forgiveness needed to be done. I'm seeing more towards 2010 before she actually lets go."
Will Oprah move to Washington, D.C.?
"She has many places, and she lives throughout the world. She visits there often but I'm not quite seeing a home yet. I'm not seeing (the show) in Washington, D.C."
Will any movie come out in 2009 that will top The Dark Knight?
"There's going to be three. I'm getting three movies that come out that are going to be just as powerful as that one. This looks good."
Will Kanye West lose popularity for lip-synching?
"No, I'm not seeing it's going to affect him in any way, but I also see him doing things differently a little bit more, and more conscious of what he's doing and how the producer does it. So, I'm not seeing he's going to lose any type of popularity with that at all."
Will Creative Loafing blog traffic pick up in 2009?
"I'm seeing it increase tremendously. I'm seeing a huge, lots and lots of thousands, increase tremendously. It's going to enhance everything. You will need to have to hire more people is what I'm hearing. It's going to be almost like an overload, but not. You'll just make other arrangements to be able to hold."
Will Creative Loafing CEO Ben Eason retain the paper after next year's bankruptcy hearing?
"I'm seeing that he's getting help and support. He's being supported throughout for this paper. But he needs to do things and handle things differently than he did before. So what he needs to do is implement new things. He's very much a businessperson, and I'm seeing him at a desk. I'm also seeing he's making calls and he is being supported in here, and it feels to me that he will be able to hold on to it. But I also see the blog being a big part of it. Do you understand? I have a feeling he can hold onto it, but he's got to make those changes."
The Magic 8 Ball
In all instances, the 8 Ball's projections seem sound — except, perhaps, in the case of Buddy Johnson (though it does seem likely that he'll have less chance of royally screwing up once he's out of office).
Wayne Garcia: Will the Hillsborough County Commission approve the 2010 referendum for light rail being sought by Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio?
Magic 8 Ball: "Reply hazy, try again"
Will Ronda Storms announce her retirement from the Florida Senate?
"Yes"
Will former Hillsborough County Commissioner Brian Blair run for the Florida House?
"Cannot predict now"
Will the Tampa Bay Rays find a site for a new ballpark?
"Without a doubt"
Will Jamie Bennett win the mayoral race in St. Petersburg?
"Most likely"
Will Jon Gruden get another year as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?
"Better not tell you now"
Will a Tampa Bay public official get caught in a sex scandal?
"My reply is no"
Will Buddy Johnson continue to screw up royally, even once he is out of public office?
"My sources say no"
This article appears in Dec 31, 2008 – Jan 6, 2009.