I have a few loose ends that didn’t make it into yesterday’s “(Pagan) News of Note” that I’d like to share with you. The first is a response from UK dating columnist Ed Saunt concerning my criticisms of his ditching a “sweet and funny” girl because she was Wiccan.

“The final thing I learnt this week is not to mess with witches … following my unfortunate experience with witch Julia two weeks ago, I have been condemned by the Pagan community as ‘a moron,’ ‘a dork’ and ‘a prat’ in a well-written – if slightly crazy – blog”

Saunt makes an “impassioned plea” to any Witch with a good sense of humor and a “well-oiled broomstick” to give him a second chance. As for my blog being “slightly crazy” (albeit well-written), I’ll take it as a compliment.

While I’m on the subject of Witches, Mark Morford sings their praises, and discusses the flap over Sarah Palin’s witch-protectin’ prayer by Thomas Muthee.

“Is it worth setting the record straight? Pointing out how true ‘n’ deep witchcraftery has nothing to do with evil or Satan or excessive black eyeliner or sacrificing newborn babies while listening to Ministry and smoking cloves? That those who’ve taken up this most ancient and potent of callings actually study their enchanted craft for years and know more about, say, the cycles of the moon and the body and the rhythms of the planet than Sarah Palin’s most secretest pagan fever dream could ever conjure?”

For the record, I can confirm that while I have smoked cloves (though I can no longer tolerate them) and listened to Ministry (it was all downhill after “Psalm 69″) at the same time, I have never (to my knowledge) sacrificed a newborn baby while doing so. As for Morford, something tells me he would have no problem finding a Witch to go on a date with (well-oiled broom optional), maybe he could give Ed Saunt some tips?

With all this talk of getting protection from, and dating, Witches, one wonders what the general public thinks about them? Well, if Halloween costume sales are anything to go by, they are incredibly popular among adults and children.

“The top adult costumes will be a witch (14.9 percent of respondents), pirate (4.4 percent), vampire (3.3 percent), cat (2.5 percent) and fairy (1.7 percent). About 1.5 percent say they’ll dress up as a political figure. The top children’s costumes include a princess, witch, Hannah Montana, Spider-Man, pirate and “Star Wars” characters.”

No doubt many of those “witches” will be heading to Salem as it gears up for a month-long Halloween extravaganza (complete with real Witches). A topic you’ll most likely be hearing more about as we approach Samhain.

Staines News columnist Ed Saunt is trying to find a “model” to take out on a date (as part of some sort of bizarre themed dating column).

“Vicki really laid down the gauntlet this week. “I’m dating a model on Wednesday so we won’t be doing any speed dating nonsense,” she said. “You’ll have to find yourself a model too.” Now I apparently don’t have Vicki’s touch for picking up models who feature on the cover of glossy magazines but ‘the bulldog’ (as she likes to call herself) is not one to be denied so I went back to the drawing board to come up with a plan.”

His plan? Hit the clubs. Which doesn’t seem to be working, until….

“…imagine my all-round delight when I sparked up a conversation outside with a gorgeous – yet quirky – girl by the name of Julia. Sweet and funny with a quick wit, Julia seemed fantastic – if maybe sailing too close to the quirky wind.”

Success! A gorgeous and quirky girl who is “sweet and funny” to boot! What could be better? But it appears there is trouble in dating paradise for Mr. Saunt.

“‘I’m a witch,’ she said. ‘Don’t be so harsh on yourself,’ I thought, before realising she actually believed she had powers she could summon from bringing the earth’s spirituality together as one or some other rubbish. I felt scared because she was a witch, I felt relieved I hadn’t gone home with a witch but most of all I felt embarrassed that I had fallen for a witch. Needless to say I made my excuses and magic-ed my way off into the night, eager not to let the search for a model turn into another witch-hunt (sorry).”

Apparently being a Witch is a dating deal-breaker, no matter how “gorgeous”, “sweet”, and “witty” you are. I suppose I could talk about how narrow-minded and ignorant Mr. Saunt is, but the real question here is how this prat is getting dates at all? Julia, despite the likely embarrassment of suddenly being ditched by the guy you’re chatting up, is the truly lucky one here. Imagine the horror of actually bedding this soulless wonder. It seems that finding a nice understanding person outside the Pagan community is harder than it looks.