News Briefs and Altar-Cations August 6, 2023
What does mustard, Melania, and Homer Simpson have in common? They’re all a part of this week’s News Briefs.
Over the past few weeks we’ve mentioned Skittles – the taste the rainbow candy treat – several times. First there was their special Pride Month packaging
And then there was
Tristan Setina who was charged with attacking people in a Minnesota restaurant by throwing Skittles at them.
But this next Skittles related story is really leaving a bad taste in my mouth. Whether you knew it or not, August 5th was National Mustard Day.
To commemorate the occasion, the folks at French’s Mustard teamed up with the Mars candy company and… yep, created
Mustard flavored Skittles.
French’s employees traveled along the East Coast in a bright yellow “Mustard Mobile” with giant mustard Skittles on top so fans of the candy and mustard can taste test the new flavor.
This idea just doesn’t cut it with me.
No one was surprised to hear that donations to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign was going to pay for his legal bills. I mean, come on, even a supposed billionaire would have trouble paying for all of those lawyers.
But guess who’s been getting $18,000 a month?
Meet
Herve Pierre Brailard – who, on the payroll is listed as “strategy consulting” is actually Melania’s personal stylist.
“My role is to dress the First Lady and advise her – I’m not a stylist; I am an advisor, and she is adamant about that,’ Herve told Vogue in 2017.
You can put a kitten in the oven, but that don’t make it a biscuit. He’s a stylist.
The guy knows his way about the White House, previous clients have included first ladies Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush and Michelle Obama.
I really don’t care, do you?
It was a special Taco Tuesday in Arkansas this week when
A truck carrying multiple packs of nacho cheese spilled over Interstate 30, according to the Arkansas Department of Transportation.
And not just any cheese, but
Rico’s Gourmet Nacho Cheese Sauce.
The spill closed part of the highway as crews cleared the cans and cheese.
I can only imagine how Homer Simpson would react.
And that’s this week’s News Briefs.
For the past year, state and local governments have attacked and passed laws targeting drag queens, accusing us of grooming and molesting children. Altarcations is where we turn the tables and point to the real aggressors – members of the religious community.
One such person is California youth pastor
Bradley Earl Reger.
Federal prosecuters say Reger “used his position of authority… to groom children and continually grope their naked genitals for his own sexual pleasure.”
Local police first received reports in 2003 of abuse by Reger, who, and I quote, “never seemed to run out of teenage boys whose genitals he could fondle under the guise of medical ‘exams.”
That was 20 years ago, and he’s just now being arrested?
Many of the alleged assaults took place in multiple foreign countries during mission trips.
Meanwhile in Florida, another youth pastor,
Rashad Williams was reported to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office after it was discovered that he was in a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old victim, according to a warrant for his arrest. He was arrested and booked into the Duval County Jail in June.
The victim told police that he went to Williams’ home several times for “bible study.” When he was approached by police, Williams “spontaneously” told the officer that he is “working with a ‘student’ through his church,” and that the student is “struggling with same-sex attraction.”
The struggle is real.
And for our third assailant of the week, there’s Ohio youth pastor
Matthew Reif. This Licking County – yes I said Licking County – man was sentenced to 25 years in prison for victimizing at least 52 boys. He was able to gain access to some of his victims through his role with a church youth group.
Court documents say Reif offered gifts and money to victims and would ask them to participate in sexual acts.
Who would you trust your child with… a youth pastor or a drag queen?