How could there be anyone for whom 2008 was a banner year?

In six days, the eyes of the world will be focused on Washington, D.C.

Attentive readers — that would be those who are not at this point staring into space, wondering why they were reading this eight seconds ago — may recall last week’s column, Scott’s Super Powerful Year in Preview 2009, Part I.

Henry Blodget, in an article in The Atlantic magazine, wrote that bubbles will always happen, and gave reasons why Wall Street “always blows it.”

Augusta County Pastures Supervisor Tracy Pyles in October presented reasons why the county should delay mailing recent reassessments.

Once again, as media outlets take a “special look back” at events that shaped the previous year — really an opportunity for journalists to write a bucket-load of year-in-review stories in advance and spend a week or two polishing their resumes and looking for a more inviting career path, like bomb-disposal technician — I instead choose to use my super powers to predict what lies ahead in 2009.

A new year is coming, and it is hard to be optimistic when “everyone” is saying that the economy will get worse before it gets better.

I wish I had a nickel for every time someone said, “Scott, what were the top monkey-related stories of the year?”

Where on earth will we find even a little peace and hope?

Fifty-seven percent of us are sexy, or so we American men believe.

The call came at 2:30 a.m. on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

President-elect Barack Obama didn’t get to unwind following his historic election. Because the U.S. is in a recession, officially declared Dec. 1, many of his supporters and detractors are expecting way too much of him.

I was where I did not want to be: standing in a big discount store late on a Sunday afternoon smack dab in the middle of shopping season waiting on customer assistance that would never come.

There is such a world of difference between reading about difficulties and having them yourself.

Last Saturday, I was able to get football tickets to the annual Commonwealth Bowl held in Blacksburg.

It’s heartening to know during the holiday season, when I need to knock out a column as quickly as possible to spend at least a little time with my dysfunctional family, that monkeys are still doing their part to make this world a better place.

NASA has released a photo of the earth made from space by Lunar I in 1966.

In light of America’s economic turmoil this year, this Thanksgiving is special.

As much as I admire President-elect Barack Obama, I’m reconsidering my offer to serve in his administration.

I have a friend who suffers from seasonal affective disorder, a fancy name for feeling depressed on dark days; gloomy days produce gloomy thoughts in his mind.

Considering what’s going on elsewhere in America, it is just a matter of time before the Valley is affected.

As an objective journalist, I could not ethically lobby publicly for a high-level Cabinet position in the Obama administration.

This morning before I even left for work I was watching the latest installment in the English television project “7 Up.” I had to drag myself away from it.

It’s intriguing how some, black and white, conservatives’ view changes.

By the measures that count, Barack Obama won a clear victory Tuesday — taking 52 percent of the popular vote to John McCain’s 46 percent.

On Election Day I kept imagining my mother as she came squalling into the world on January 26, 1917.

Growing up in Chicago – not the suburbs but the actual city – provided me with a frontline view of race relations.

I sat anxiously before the television that was tuned to CNN and waited for Virginia’s polls to close.

Beneath a canopy of clear blue sky on a cool day in Pensacola, Fla., Chuck Baldwin gazed into the unseen penumbra at clouds lined with dusky silver.

Even as he sits at a computer in his Bridgewater dorm room, Jacob Hutchinson wants just one more shot. One more taste.