Dear Madame Zoltar - Special Edition

From the Associated Press:

"CHITILA, Romania (AP — Everyone curses the tax man, but Romanian witches angry about having to pay up for the first time hurled poisonous mandrake into the Danube River on Thursday to cast spells on the president and government.

"Romania's newest taxpayers also included fortune tellers — but they probably should have seen it coming.

"Superstitions are no laughing matter in Romania — the land of the medieval ruler who inspired the 'Dracula' tale — and have been part of its culture for centuries. President Traian Basescu and his aides have been known to wear purple on certain days, supposedly to ward off evil.

"A witch at the Danube named Alisia called the new tax law 'foolish.'

"'What is there to tax, when we hardly earn anything?' she said, identifying herself with only one name as many Romanian witches do.

"Yet on the Chitila River in southern Romania, other witches gathered around a fire Thursday and threw corn into an icy river to celebrate Epiphany. They praised the new government measure, saying it gives them official recognition."

More: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jBtOF_pwiNU8mbn3tsG5ju6JbSNg?docId=6a383c2ae5bd49a6a40f6aeb6c26835f

Oh my, oh my, as if the Old Country doesn't already have enough problems. Some of the witches are threatening to cast evil spells:

"Queen witch Bratara Buzea, 63, who was imprisoned in 1977 for witchcraft under Ceausescu's repressive regime, is furious about the new law.

"Sitting cross-legged in her villa in the lake resort of Mogosoaia, just north of Bucharest, she said Wednesday she planned to cast a spell using a particularly effective concoction of cat excrement and a dead dog.

"'We do harm to those who harm us,' she said. 'They want to take the country out of this crisis using us? They should get us out of the crisis because they brought us into it.'

"'My curses always work!' she cackled in a smoky voice, sitting next to a wood-burning stove, surrounded by potions, charms, holy water and ceramic pots."

Oh dear, oh dear, I do hope that they can work things out. We've always been able to court special favor with our government no matter who was in power. I don't see why this should be any different. Peace, my dear Romania! Peace!