Mike Moser "I Say" Published Nov. 1, 2002

Should have seen this one coming

One can't say the state attorney general doesn't have a sense of humor.

On the week leading up to Halloween Sharon Curtis-Flair issued a press release announcing a settlement between Tennessee and Miss Cleo, the psychic network chick.

Trick or treat!

Who woulda ever thunk it? It seems the state sniffed out some deception by the see all, know all clairvoyant wannabe with the fake Caribbean accent.

Two observations that come to mind immediately. It escapes me as to why anyone would call a psychic hotline number, especially after all the bad publicity Miss Cleo received on the national level concerning her business practices.

And if Miss Cleo is who she claims to be, why in the world did she not see this coming? Any television psychic in training worth his or her tarot cards should have known offering free readings for a fee will get ya in trouble every time.

Folks kinda get upset when they get charged for something they did not order, and then get threatened with legal action to collect for the services they never requested. That was the trick.

If Miss Cleo couldn't predict this kind of business practice would place her in a cauldron of boiling legal water, then I wouldn't want her messing around with my future.

Here's the treat. The Tennessee judgment was a joint effort with the states of Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin to cancel unpaid service charges. The release goes on to say those who called and did pay up front might be eligible for a refund.

Miss Cleo should have also seen the $20,000 civil forfeiture and related fees and costs to Tennessee.

In the spirit of Halloween and upon reading of Miss Cleo's woes, instead of being cynical about Miss Cleo's skills, maybe I should join her. Here are my predictions for the future:

·Tennessee will have a new governor soon.

·Ed Greif will win a major golf tournament.

·Roger Thackston will think twice before cooking over a thousand chicken halves.

·Hiz Honor, the mayor, will become a fan of NASCAR racer Dale Waltrip.

·Raymond Walker will learn that sometimes the picture is just black and white.

OK, you may be right. Maybe I should leave the Psychic Readers Network stuff to Miss Cleo. I never was good at Caribbean accents.

Trick or treat.

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Mike Moser is the editor of the Crossville Chronicle. His column is published periodically on Fridays.