Sharon Astyk has graced these pages. She is the anti-Kunstler. Whereas JHK can get people gritting their teeth and swearing by quoting "Reader’s Digest," Sharon has a way of making everyone feel warm and friendly … even when she is writing or saying things every bit as grim as anything from JHK.

I saw her speak at a Community Solutions conference in Yellow Springs, OH, watched her work her magic on a crowd, and she is impressive. Here’s a look back at her 2008 predictions and another round of guesses re: 2009.