A history-making and often tumultuous 2008 is nearly in the books and the prospectus for 2009 looks just as interesting.

Among 2009’s installment of Educated Guesses, an annual list of predictions for the coming year from University of Alabama professors, is full of carry-over headlines from 2008.

Among the predictions are: Increases in Alabama job losses; Consumers to trip spending to only necessities; 100 more banks will fail; Prisoners will be released because of overcrowding and lack of money; Many Americans deal with depression due to a slow economy; Unhealthy eating habits to rise; Stem cell research to expand; Federal money for research will be hard to obtain; Medicare, Medicaid and prescription prices to develop serious problems; Oil prices will remain low; More troops will be placed in Afghanistan and less in Iraq; Interactive, multi-platform books will stay popular; Styles will shift with the first lady leading fashion and recent docile weather patterns are not likely to change.

2009 could be a year for big things but according to the prognosis set forth by Crimson Tide professors, it could be a year filled with obstacles.

It will be interesting to see how the next 12 months play themselves out.