They Can't Hide It Forever

"The emphasis on the worship of nature in virtually all variations of Pagan faith, and the embrace of a female divinity in many, situated the religion to mesh with the environmental and feminist movements that swept through the United States in the 1970s.

Of course, the popular culture of the Harry Potter books, the television series 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' and the current zombie vogue have defanged Pagan religion for a mass teenage audience."

-- Samuel G. Freedman, trying not to remind us that when "crazy Christians" were originally saying these connections existed (most prominently between, say, Harry Potter and Witchcraft) the suggestions were shouted down as outlandish - while, now, it was all admittedly a lead-in to "Pagan religion for a mass teenage audience" - which is exactly the lying-ass reason why I can't advocate putting trust in the lying-ass words of Hollywood, stupid nature-worshiping Pagans, or The New York Times.

Andrew Sullivan Is Too Weird For Words

"A reader plumbs the weirdness:

'Willow' was Buffy the Vampire Slayer's best friend and 'Piper' was the eldest sister on the series Charmed played by Shannen Doherty. The governor obviously has a penchant for television shows of paranormal female empowerment. (I know, it's too gay that I know this). 'Trig?' Don't have clue."

Bristol! A town in near Wales! And another correction:

Piper was the second sister, she was played by Holly Marie Combs. Shannon Doherty played Prue (Prudence) Halliwell. Willow and Piper are both witches. Good witches."

-- Andrew Sullivan and two readers, bizarrely pondering the possible origin of names given to Sarah Palin's children, on Sullivan's Daily Dish.