You might remember drizzling your waffles and pancakes with this syrup as a child, but did you ever wonder if it’s named after a real person?
Mashed – Fast Food, Celebrity Chefs, Grocery, Reviews
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If you’re a fan of the 1994 film classic Pulp Fiction, then you’ll likely remember the scene in which Samuel L. Jackson recites Ezekiel 25:17 before emptying his clip into the dudes who wound up with his boss’ briefcase.
And apparently, the ultimate high-powered hitman Pete Hegseth found the chapter and verse so inspirational that he recited them at a recent Pentagon prayer event.
The only problem is, the words from Quentin Tarantino’s beloved film don’t appear anywhere in the Bible.
“This prayer was recited by Sandy 1, which is one of the Sandies, to all Sandies, all those A-10 crews, prior to all CSAR missions, but especially this CSAR mission, which happened in real time,” Hegseth said.
“They call it CSAR 25:17, which I think is meant to reflect Ezekiel 25:17.
“So the prayer is CSAR 25:17 and it reads, and pray with me please, ‘The path of the downed aviator is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men,” the defense secretary continued (as seen in the video below).
“Blessed is he who in the name of camaraderie and duty shepherds the lost through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother’s keeper and the finder of lost children.
“And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to capture and destroy my brother, and you will know my call sign is Sandy 1 when I lay my vengeance upon thee. Amen.”
It might not be as unexpected as Donald Trump’s numerous AI Jesus posts, but the situation has a lot of peopple scratching their heads.
In the King James translation of the Bible, Ezekiel 25:17 reads simply:
“And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them.”
However, the version that Jules Winfield hisses before he unloads on Big Brain Brad goes like this:
“The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men.
“Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and goodwill, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother’s keeper and the finder of lost children.
“And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord, when I lay my vengeance upon thee.”
In typical Tarantino fashion, the quote is cribbed from a 1970s Japanese martial arts movie titled Bodyguard Kiba.
So Hegseth was working with a copy of a copy that had apparently been repurposed by members of the Air Force.
They might not believe in climate change, but this administration sure likes recycling.
Pete Hegseth Quotes Fake Bible Verse From ‘Pulp Fiction’ at Pentagon Prayer … was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip
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Over the weekend, Donald Trump’s portrayal of himself as Jesus earned a lot of reprisal from his own fans.
Trump officials offered various explanations and excuses. The man himself called it a mistake, claiming that he’d believed that the AI slop was depicting him as a “doctor” of the “Red Cross.”
But he has now posted a second image of a very similar nature.
Will this deepen the divide? Or will he keep slopping until his remaining supporters stop complaining?
On Wednesday, April 15, Donald Trump shared another image — this time a screenshot of a tweet — to his Orwellian “Truth Social” social media page.
“The Radical Left Lunatics might not like this, but I think it is quite nice!!!” he captioned the screenshot.
(One has to wonder if this means that he has decided to brand conservative evangelicals who condemned the previous image as “radical left lunatics,” as well.)
The AI generated slop depicts the man himself in front of a microphone, with Jesus draping over him.
Some have suggested that this image is even worse, as the pose seems very … intimate.
Though the genAI slop is the focus of the post, we cannot discount the deeply unwell text of the original tweet.
“I was never a very religious man,” the unidentified original poster wrote.
The poster continued: “But doesn’t it seem with all these satanic, demonic, child sacrificing monster being exposed … that God might be playing his Trump card!”
This message appears to be leaning into QAnon conspiracy theories, which pretend that famous actors and TV news anchors and musicians are part of a demonic cult that sacrifices children.
Reality is full of twisted, evil individuals — but it is also banal. When the wealthy and powerful prey upon children, it doesn’t involve demons — just power, money, and the evil in the hearts of men like Jeffrey Epstein and his buddies.
Trump’s post comes just days after his last one, a similarly brazen piece of genAI slop.
That image depicted the man as Jesus, performing a miraculous act of healing upon a sick man.
(Some suggested that the sick man resembled Trump’s longtime friend, Epstein. Others compared the man’s looks to comedian Jon Stewart.)
Likening oneself to one’s own religion’s holiest figure is considered blasphemous in many faiths — including Christianity.
Trump’s core supporters include many who dislike his behavior and policies, but who support him in the name of things like white nationalism and Christian nationalism. Folks believing that the rest is somehow worth it if their beliefs become law were really struggling with such a sacrilegious display.
As you can see, Trump — as always — cannot abide any criticism, even from fellow conservatives, even from his most ardent supporters.
He lashed out at transphobic grifter Riley Gaines, at former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, and at disgraced conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.
Speaking with CBS News on Monday, April 13, Trump claimed that he’d believed that the slop image depicted him, not as Christianity’s messiah figure, but as “a doctor.”
Absurdly, he insisted: “I viewed that as a picture of me being a doctor in fixing — you had the Red Cross right there, you had, you know, medical people surrounding me.”
There is speculation that Trump, given his obvious cognitive decline, misunderstood a plan to claim that the image had been “doctored,” after his press secretary used that word.
Trump seemed shocked by the outcry that his initial post elicited from conservative Christians who previously supported him.
Meanwhile, other members of his regime have conjured up various excuses — such as Vance claiming that it was a “joke” that people misinterpreted.
Meanwhile, Speaker Mike Johnson admitted that he did ask Trump to delete the post.
Even conservative commentators have marveled at how Trump deleted that image, but left the racist depiction of the Obamas up. We probably all understand why Trump cares more about white evangelicals than he does about Black constituents, right?
Only, he’s doubling down on the AI Jesus stuff. Is he testing the waters? Or is this kneejerk defiance against any request for decency, which is the same attitude that defines his political movement?
Donald Trump Posts ANOTHER AI Jesus Image Despite Conservative Christian Backlash was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip
Seafood skews expensive, particularly when you’re paying for the freshest fish, and these restaurant chains are among the most expensive in the biz.
Food Republic – Restaurants, Reviews, Recipes, Cooking Tips
It’s rare for a country artist to have a No. 1 hit with a debut single, but Blake Shelton pulled it off. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
NOTN- The Juneau Assembly held a special budget listening session last night as the city faces a steep drop in revenue following last fall’s municipal election.
Assembly and staff said voter-approved changes, including a property tax mill rate cap and new sales tax exemptions on essential food and residential utilities. have created a larger-than-expected budget gap.
“As I’m sure most of or all of you know, we’re in a difficult position of having to come up with a balanced budget after significant revenue loss.” Finance Chair Christine Woll said, “People are paying less in taxes, which is a good thing. The flip side is we have less resources available to fund city services.”
Finance staff now project roughly a $14 million reduction in sales tax revenue heading into fiscal year 2027.
The Assembly is searching for $2-4 million in service cuts and potential new revenue.
“No question, there’s reduced revenue, but we’re really trying to be measured in how they approach it, which means you will be hearing from us and having this conversation over the course of two years, and you’ll get very tired of it, but expect us to be in this conversation of, ‘how do we live within our means for a couple of years?’ Because he certainly wants to make sure that it’s done thoughtfully and with lots of engagement.” Said City Manager Katie Koester.
Public testimony at the listening session focused largely on protecting Parks and Recreation services, including the Treadwell Arena, Diamond Park Field House, pools, and the Jensen-Olson Arboretum.
Testifiers told heartwarming stories about their experiences, memories and use of these city facilities emphasizing to the assembly their importance to Juneau life year round but especially during long winters like this one.
“I understand that the city has some tough decisions to make regarding funding, and while fields, playgrounds and a field house may not seem vital parts to our community, I’m here to tell you they are.” Said one testifier, Lexi, “Parks and Rec is vital to the Juneau community because it organizes sports for youth to participate in, without the high price tag of club teams. It also provides facilities that youth can play organized or pick up games. Any large cuts to Parks and Rec will substantially hurt the youth of Juneau, the parents that support them and the adults that still feel like they’re youths on the field.”
Residents argued those facilities are critical to Juneau’s physical and mental health, youth opportunities and community retention, especially through long winters.
“I made the possibly questionable decision to start playing hockey at 59 years of age.” Said testifier Kieth, “Since I started I have found a community that is incredible. What’s important to our community is what’s going to keep young people and families here in Juneau, and I’m afraid that recreation opportunities are underestimated in their value there. It’s hard to quantify. People make decisions about whether they’re going to stay here or not based upon what kind of opportunities there are. There’s a wide range of people that I’ve met there, from all across the community that I would never have met before, spans all generations. And during the dark, wet winter months, it’s always light and dry, well lit. And so, I just think it’s a very important place to maintain and I hope we can keep the full funding for the for the rink.”
Some speakers urged the city to raise or revisit certain tax exemptions, while others called for expanded use of user fees, volunteers, and public‑private partnerships rather than deeper cuts to specific city entities.
“Maintain existing services within your existing revenue stream. I don’t think that you ought to adjust taxes, particularly sales tax.
I do think that reasonable adjustments to fees are acceptable to users, if they enjoy the service that you’re providing, or the community is providing, then they ought to pay for those and they should understand that we’re in tough times.” Said testifier Don.
Assembly members repeatedly warned, that even with strong public support, some services are still likely to be reduced as they work to balance the budget over the next two years.
Budget discussions will continue, with more public input opportunities expected before the city passes next year’s budget.
Morgan Wallen’s never straightforwardly said that he’s sober, but we’re not too surprised to hear his dad use the word ‘sobriety’ to describe his situation. Continue reading…The Boot – Country Music News, Music Videos and Songs
Morgan Wallen’s never straightforwardly said that he’s sober, but we’re not too surprised to hear his dad use the word ‘sobriety’ to describe his situation. Continue reading…Country Music News – Taste of Country
Your favorite soccer player’s favorite soccer player? There’s a good chance that he might be one of the greatest midfielders to ever step on the pitch, Clarence Seedorf. The iconic Netherlands playmaker — who had a storied club career at Ajax, Real Madrid and AC Milan — joins FOX Sports as an analyst for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Oranje legend previously served as an analyst for FOX Sports at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. “I’m excited to be back with FOX,” said Seedorf. “I look forward to sharing my perspective on the game — bringing football fans closer to what happens beyond the surface, combining tactical aspects and personal insights to connect with what they will see during this amazing tournament.” Seedorf won more than 20 club titles, and his storied playing career spanned more than 1,000 matches across 23 years. He is the only player in history to have won four UEFA Champions League titles with three different teams — Ajax (1995), Real Madrid (1998) and AC Milan (2003 and 2007). He made 87 appearances for the Netherlands national team and represented the Dutch at the UEFA European Championships in 1996. He also played at the 2000 and 2004 editions of the Euros and at the 1998 World Cup in France, reaching the semifinals in all three tournaments. After his playing career, Seedorf had a distinguished coaching career — including at AC Milan, Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña in Spain and the Cameroon national team. He has been included in the FIFA 100, the list of the greatest living footballers selected by Pelé. Seedorf is one of the six people ever named Legacy Champion by Nelson Mandela to carry his legacy worldwide. Seedorf is the latest international legend to join FOX Sports’ broadcast team for the summer. Earlier this month, Mexico’s all-time leading scorer Javier Hernández announced he will join FOX Sports for the World Cup. In March, global icon Zlatan Ibrahimović announced he will also be an analyst for the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer. France legend and World Cup winner Thierry Henry, who made his FOX Sports debut at the FIFA World Cup draw in December, will also be part of the network’s broadcast crew this summer. Award-winning presenter and celebrated broadcaster Rebecca Lowe will make her FOX Sports debut this summer as one of the network’s hosts for the FIFA World Cup. 2026 FIFA World Cup: How To Watch From June 11 through July 19, 2026, FOX Sports presents its largest World Cup production and broadcast slate to date featuring all 104 matches live across FOX (69) and FS1 (35) with every match live-streaming on FOX One and the FOX Sports App. All 104 tournament matches will air live across FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every match streaming live and on-demand within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports apps. A record 40 matches, more than one-third of the tournament, will air in prime time across FOX (21) and FS1 (19).Latest Sports News from FOX Sports
We all know Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza will be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and Alabama’s Ty Simpson might join him in the first round. But the national draft discussion has focused almost exclusively on those two quarterbacks, leading many to instantly write off the other QBs in this year’s class. That overlooks an intriguing and largely unproven prospect in North Dakota State’s Cole Payton, a dual-threat quarterback with more touchdowns rushing than passing. The 6-foot-3, 232-pound left-hander had only one year as a college starter, but his plus size and athleticism might mean he gets picked sooner than you think. “We’re thinking Day 2,” Payton told me by phone last week, referencing the second or third round of the draft. “Obviously, there are some teams that have higher grades on you, some teams that have lower grades on you, so you really never know at the end of the day. But that’s what we’re planning on. … This has been a blast. It’s what you dream about as a kid.” North Dakota State is a small-school powerhouse, with two FBS national titles in the past five years, and it’s been a surprising pipeline for quarterbacks in the draft. Over the past decade, only three colleges have had four or more quarterbacks drafted, and when Simpson and Payton are selected, Alabama and NDSU will join Ohio State with five since 2016, the most of any college. Payton wants to follow the path that Carson Wentz (2016), Easton Stick (2019), Trey Lance (2021) and Cam Miller (2025) paved, as all are still on NFL rosters. “It’s a big reason I came to NDSU and stuck it out,” Payton said. “To be a part of that pipeline here at NDSU, it’s been really cool.” Payton was a backup to Miller for four seasons with the Bison, played in special packages in 2023, rushing 84 times and scoring 13 touchdowns. At a time when few college quarterbacks stay long as a backup, Payton said he never had serious thoughts of transferring. “It’s not like schools were knocking at the door,” he admitted. But Payton was patient. He didn’t get to be a starter until 2025, when he led NDSU to a 12-1 record and completed 72% of his passes, throwing for 2,719 yards and 16 touchdowns against four interceptions. He finished third in voting for the Walter Payton Award, given to the top offensive player in FBS. “It’s always been what I’ve been working for and preparing for, even as a backup quarterback,” Payton said. “I knew I had one shot, and I don’t know if it’s hit me yet, but I expected to be here, to be honest. It’s pretty cool.” While Payton’s stats might not jump off the page, some in the NFL rate him highly. “He’s the best dual-threat quarterback in the draft,” a scout recently told our Ralph Vacchiano and Eric D. Williams. “He might need three years to develop. But have you seen some of the backups in this league? This kid might be worth the time.” Still, Payton’s limited time as a starter will be a concern for many NFL teams. Of the eight quarterbacks ranked in FOX Sports draft analyst Rob Rang’s top 150 prospects list, six of them threw at least 1,000 passes in college. The lone exceptions are Simpson, who had 523 as a one-year starter at Alabama, and Payton, who had just 282 in his five years at NDSU. “You can kind of flip the script on them, because there’s guys who have started 50 games in college that don’t have success in the league,” Payton said. “I don’t think that’s the one thing you should be able to point out. Every case is different, every story’s different. It’s a knock because you want to have more starts, but I can’t do anything about that. I’ll be as prepared as possible and continue to make the most of the opportunities I’m given, even with the lack of starts.” NDSU head coach Tim Polasek said scouts hadn’t looked at Payton as an NFL quarterback until midway through last season. Prior to that, teams were looking at him to potentially play another position on offense or even become a special-teams player at the next level, according to Polasek. Payton’s ability to run a complex pro-style offense as well as he did last season had scouts seeing his potential as a pro passer, even with limited starting experience. Polasek can remember when Wentz was questioned because he had only 23 college starts, but he’s now in his 10th NFL season with 100 career pro starts. “Cole is a big, explosive guy. That’s just the bottom line,” Polasek said. “He’s not afraid of physicality. There’s a foundation laid down in special teams from skills and drills, from a fundamentals and technique standpoint that he’s really comfortable with if that ever does come up for him in his career.” Former NDSU quarterbacks coach Randy Hedberg said Payton grew throughout his time in college, learning even when he wasn’t getting on the field, and his physical abilities are matched by his knowledge and awareness as a passer. “He’s got tremendous power in his lower half,” Hedberg said. “He has great arm strength and he’s able to layer the ball in the second and third levels, which he’s worked on. He just kept getting better and better. He’s been a winner since high school, won a state championship his senior year in Nebraska at Omaha West High School.” Payton helped himself with a solid week at the Senior Bowl, throwing for 72 yards and rushing for another 22 as one of the better quarterbacks in the showcase game. “I get that stigma of being the smaller-school kid, but at the Senior Bowl, I’m against guys wearing Alabama helmets, Georgia helmets, Ohio State helmets, and succeeding, kind of proving that stigma wrong,” Payton said. “It’s been cool to get to know some of those guys and build relationships with other prospects around the country. It’s given me a lot of confidence in my abilities.” At the combine, Payton’s measurables were impressive, running the 40 in 4.56 seconds and recording a 40-inch vertical leap. He’d never run track, so working with speed coaches this spring to improve his form as a sprinter helped him hit a great time for his size. He’s also made it a priority to develop as a passer, to show he can make it in the NFL with his arm and not just his legs. “To continue to prove that I’m a quarterback,” Payton said. “I’m able to throw from the pocket, I’m able to make all the throws. That’s been the focus.” A longtime NFL scout told Vacchiano and Williams that although Payton’s experience is limited, his potential will make him a compelling draft pick. “I think he has an upside to him,” the scout said. “He can drive the ball down the field. [He’s got] poise and calmness in the pocket and in his play. He’s good rolling out left with accuracy. He can extend plays, a good scrambler. He’s a strong, up-field runner with contact power. And he’s nifty and shifty as a runner.” An assistant general manager, meanwhile, made an even bolder claim about Payton. “If he played at almost any [FBS] school, we’d all have him rated higher than Ty Simpson,” the assistant GM told Vacchiano and Williams. Payton will be back home in Omaha, Nebraska, for the draft, and he’s had official visits with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts and other private workouts. His unique skill set as a passer and runner — as an athlete — means he could play on special teams as a backup quarterback, as he did at NDSU. Some have compared him to the New Orleans Saints’ versatile Taysom Hill, who has played quarterback, receiver, tight end and special teams during his nine NFL seasons. Asked if there’s an NFL quarterback he models himself after as a passer who can also run, Payton chooses one of the league’s best at doing both. “I love watching Josh Allen, the way he plays the game,” Payton said. “He’s able to make every single throw with a heck of an arm, but he’s able to create and extend plays with his legs. He’s big and strong, he’s going over people and through people, so I like to model my game after Josh Allen.”Latest Sports News from FOX Sports
