Kicking off the Flyer‘s 20th year is the 10th edition of Annual Manual, a resource for all things Bluff City, from arts and education to health and government and loads more in between.
Last year, we began the Annual Manual with several vigorous shakes of the Magic 8-Ball. Thirty-nine questions were asked about 2008. Will John Daly say or do something embarrassing? “It Is Decidedly So,” said the 8-Ball, and indeed Daly decidedly did. (One word for just one of those occasions: Hooters.) Will Fred Thompson win the Republican presidential nomination? 8-Ball weighed in with a “Very Doubtful,” and, sure enough, Thompson was an also-ran. Among other on-the-money predictions from the great 8: The Democrats did not retake control of the state Senate; there was no major Memphis earthquake; COGIC returned; and the Tigers did not win the NCAA tournament. The Magic 8-Ball is not perfect, alas: There was no new trial for the “West Memphis Three”; there were no more Tennessee Waltz-esque indictments of local politicians; and Scripps Howard did not sell The Commercial Appeal (yet).
You can check out all of last year’s predictions by going to memphisflyer.com and searching for “Magic 2008-Ball.”
Now, it’s back to the future and the Annual Manual 2009. This year, we put down the toy and, in honor of our anniversary, have taken up a game of 20 questions, all concerning the coming year. Among those questions: Will the Memphis Flyer Have a Good Year? Read on to find out …
— Susan Ellis, managing editor
