What didn't happen !

Great article on BNET .COM regarding some predictions, mostly financials, that were supposed to happen as we headed into 2009. I have listed those at the bottom of this posting . I guess the take away lesson is that many predictions seem to be , in hindsight , almost a fear mongering tactic and we must surely wonder who is predicting these things, and, most importantly, why!!
Stan

• Prediction: “Steve Jobs relinquishes the CEO title and remains as Chairman.” (via TheStreet.com) Reality check: Not only does Jobs remain as Apple’s CEO, he is the planet’s best, according to Harvard Business Review
• Prediction: “Chaos ensues in February [of 2009] when U.S. broadcasters cease analog TV signals.” (via BusinessWeek) Reality check:The switch to digital TV was delayed a few months but the transition caused no chaos for the entertainment industry or consumers
• Prediction: “Malls, as we know it, will be dead and most will turn into outlet mall like structures.” (via The Budget Fashionista blog) Reality check: 166 malls went into bankruptcy when General Growth Properties went down last year but the mall still reigns supreme
• Prediction: “[M]illions of newly (and not so newly) unemployed will be scrambling to start their own businesses.” (via the Wall Street Journal) Reality check: There were plenty of prognosticators picking entrepreneurship as 2009’s hot trend but it’s too soon to tell whether more Americans decided to start their own companies last year; I’m going to predict that the well-publicized lack of small business loans, combined with extended unemployment benefits, probably dissuaded quite a few from taking the plunge
• Prediction: Problems stemming from the economic crisis “will lead to increased crime and civil unrest with protests in the streets, bank runs and an increased police and military presence trying to bring stability to cities” (via Seeking Alpha) Reality check: Violent crimes, burglaries and property crimes all dropped in the first half of 2009, according to FBI figures released on December 21