Pheaturing Kaia Kater

 

Hello, kids, welcome to the Phile for a Monday... it's Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Martin Luther King Jr. dedicated his life to breaking racial barriers and creating a peaceful society for all. His story is one of passion, bravery and love for his community. Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! Prosecutors in Wisconsin have asked a judge to order an Illinois teenager charged with killing two people and wounding a third during a protest following a police shooting, to stay out of bars and away from white supremacist groups. Prosecutors stated that Kyle Rittenhouse made a hand gesture adopted by white supremacist groups while he was out drinking. The request comes a week after 18-year-old Rittenhouse was drinking at a Wisconsin bar in the southwestern city of Mount Pleasant, 25 miles south of Milwaukee. He had previously pleaded not guilty to homicide and other charges that resulted from the August 25th, 2020 shooting in Kenosha. The city saw several nights of chaotic protest after a white police officer shot Jacob Blake, who is African-American, in the back seven times partially paralyzing him. Kyle Rittenhouse’s bond was set at $2 million. After his arrangement that took place on January 5th, Rittenhouse, his mother, and several other adults went to Pudgy’s Pub where he was seen drinking beer. Although the drinking age is 21, Rittenhouse can legally drink alcohol in Wisconsin due to his mother being with him. The prosecutor’s motion states that the teenager posed outside the bar for a photo with two white men as they all gestured an ‘okay sign’ with their hands. The sign has been known to be a symbol and white power sign used by white supremacists. The Kenosha County prosecutors noted that there are also five men at the tavern who serenaded Rittenhouse with the song "Proud of Your Boy," which has become the Proud Boys anthem. Proud Boys is a white supremacist group whose members have identified as being involved in the attack by President Donald Trump supporters and rioters on the U.S. Capitol that took place on January 6th, 2021. The motion reads, “The defendant’s continued association with members of a group that prides itself on violence, and the use of their symbols, raises the significant possibility of future harm. Further, this association may serve to intimidate potential witnesses.” A hearing on the prosecutor’s request has not yet been scheduled. Rittenhouse defense lawyer Mark Richards stated that the teenager, of Antioch, Illinois, was acting in self-defense when he killed Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz, with an assault-style rifle. Rittenhouse then told police that he was guarding a private business during the night of the protest. The chaos in Kenosha County happened after officer Rusten Sheskey shot Blake on August 23rd, 2020, while he was responding to a domestic disturbance. Hundreds of people were arrested and multiple businesses were destroyed. The Wisconsin prosecutor on January 5th declined to file any charges against Sheskey, concluding that he didn’t disprove the officer’s contention that he had acted in self-defense.

"Saved by the Bell" star Dustin Diamond revealed he is now battling stage 4 cancer. Diamond is currently undergoing treatment at an undisclosed Florida Hospital. A representative for the 44-year-old will release a statement when a formal diagnosis has been made, but is calling the cancer diagnosis serious and confirmed it was stage 4. As testing continues, the actor is said to remain in the hospital. His representative stated, “He’s undergoing chemo so he will be there at least another week and then we will figure out when he gets to come home. By next week, we’ll have a much better understanding of the severity of his condition and what treatments he will need so that he’s comfortable.” He went on to further explain that Diamond is feeling fine, though he was not doing great when he was first admitted to the hospital. The actor was apparently fading in and out, was tired, and was feeling sleepy. He also reportedly had shingles and was in a lot of pain at that time. Another representative for the actor told "EW" that Diamond’s medical problems began with “a huge lump on his throat.” Diamond is best known for playing the nerdy sidekick Samuel “Screech” Powers in the sitcom "Saved by the Bell." He wasn’t a part of Peacock’s recent NBC reboot series which starred part of the original cast members, including former co-stars Mario Lopez, Dexter Darden, Josie Totah, and John Michael Higgins. The spinoff made up for the character’s absence by saying that he was living on the “International Space Station” with his robot Kevin. Although the revival series has yet to be picked up for a second season, Diamond’s team had previously told "EW" that the actor had been in talks to revise his role. In 2015 he was found guilty of two misdemeanors, carrying a concealed weapon and disorderly conduct with a concealed weapon, in connection with the stabbing during a nasty brawl. He was cleared of the steady charge of second-degree recklessly endangering safety. He was sentenced to 120 days in jail and 15 months of probation and was released from jail in April 2016 a month early for helping with jail cleanup work. By late May 2016, he was in jail for what correctional officers described as a probation violation after a urine test was positive for oxycodone. 

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy baby oil. Apparently, a nude model is now hoping for Pope Francis to light a candle for her, let’s say, raunchy pictures. Brazilians OnlyFans model Lunna Leblanc asked the pontiff to give a former blessing to a racy photoshoot she is doing for Playboy. In an upcoming cover of the Denmark edition of the top shelf men magazine, Leblanc stated, “I would like the Pope to say a prayer for the success of my Playboy.” Because well, maybe a blessing means that she will get more followers, good luck for the rest of the year, and money. Leblanc stated that she follows the 84-year-old on Twitter and feels at peace with all of his messages. But she stated that news of her request upset many people who feel that she was too sensual to even follow the Pope himself, to which she hilariously replied, “only God must judge.” While it hasn’t been very clear how Leblanc made the hilarious request, she may have been inspired by the several reports saying that the head of the Catholic Church has been going pretty crazy on social media, specifically Instagram. Pope Francis’ Instagram account was accused of liking a racy photo of Natalia Garibotto, who is a Brazilian model. The picture show Garibotta in lingerie sitting with her rear end facing the camera. The Catholic news agency responded to the incidents stating, “The exact time of the 'like' is unclear, but it was visible and reported by news outlets on November 13rd. The photograph was unliked on November 14th, after CNA asked the Holy See Press Office for comment.” But, it wasn’t unliked before Garibotto’s management company captured a screenshot and posted it to its own Instagram account along with the comment, “POPE’S OFFICIAL BLESSING.” The news agency did state that Pope Francis’ social media accounts are managed by a team and not necessarily Francis himself. Still, the Vatican launched an investigation into the matter. Do I think Pope Francis likes the pictures? Of course not, this man doesn’t probably even know how to log on to Instagram. He’s too busy blessing other people. I do think that maybe an intern accidentally thought they were logged into their own account and liked it. Still, it’s pretty funny to see, and it’s funny that now Playboy models are asking for his Blessing. Hey, we are all children of God. Everyone deserves a blessing now and then, even bunnies.

As we anticipate the 2021 presidential inauguration, the details on who will be a part of the special day have surfaced, and they have been selected to celebrate the diversity of the United States. For President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris’ swearing-in ceremony, the Presidential Inaugural Committee has announced that Lady Gaga will be singing the national anthem and Jennifer Lopez will also be headlining. According to CNN, Gaga has actively campaigned for Biden, and Lopez has used her platform during the coronavirus pandemic to speak out on how COVID has disproportionately affected minority communities. Other participants will showcase the diversity that the Presidential Inaugural Committee is determined to present in this swearing-in ceremony. The first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate, Amanda Gorman, who will deliver the poetry reading, and the president of the International Association of Firefighters Local 3920 in Fulton, Georgia, Andrea Hall, will lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Hall is the first black woman in that department’s history to get promoted to the Fire Captain rank, and the IAFF was the first union to back Biden during primaries when he first launched his campaign. Father Leo J. O’Donovan will deliver the invocation, and the former Georgetown University president is a long-time friend of the Bidens. And Reverend Dr. Silvester Beaman, the pastor of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, which resides in Biden’s hometown of Wilmington, Delaware, will give the benediction. The inaugural committee CEO Tony Allen explained why the participants were picked in a statement, saying, “They represent one clear picture of the grand diversity of our great nation and will help honor and celebrate the time-honored traditions of the presidential inauguration as President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris take the oath of office on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol. They are also committed to the President-elect and the Vice-President-elect’s steadfast vision of a new chapter in our American story in which we are an America united in overcoming the deep divisions and challenges facing our people, unifying the country, and restoring the soul of our nation.” Following the craziness surrounding pro-Trump supporters storming the U.S. Capitol and Republican President Donald Trump’s impeachment, celebrating Democrat President-Elect Joe Biden’s inauguration will be a celebration. A Presidential Inaugural Committee official also told CNN that a prime-time special for the virtual inauguration will also be held in a place of normal celebrations. Tom Hanks is set to host and performances by Jon Bon Jovi and more will be featured. 

Alisa Andrews, a mother and home school teacher from Rogers, Arkansas, finally pleaded guilty in a Bentonville court to first-degree sexual assault charges, after she admitted to sexually abusing one of her students. She will spend four months in jail, serve 10 years of probation, register as a sex offender, and has been banned from contacting any minors outside of her own kids. The 54-year-old was in a sexual relationship with her 17-year-old student from her biology class at Rogers Christian Church, and the details are haunting. According to the probable cause affidavit, Andrews was the teenage girl’s biology teacher the semester before the inappropriate relationship and sex acts began, and Andrews had been sexually abusing the girl for over nine months. The police caught on to Andrews when a concerned pastor reported his suspicions. When Rogers police had begun investigating two years ago, they found text messages and a handwritten note that was evident of the sex assault. Andrews had also worked as the community theater director, where she helped put together an annual production with many actors who were children. In response to her actions, Andrews had said on social media, “My story is filled with broken pieces, terrible choices, and ugly truths. It is also filled with a major comeback, peace in my soul, and a grace that saved my life.” However, her victim told police that she knew the relationship was inappropriate. Deputy prosecutor Sara Rhinehart read the victim’s impact statement, which said, “I know now that none of this is my fault, and I want you to know that you have no power over me anymore. I’m no longer the broken girl I was. You don’t know anything about the person I am today, and you never will. I hope you know I don’t forgive you, and I hope I never do.” The victim also explained to police that when she tried ending the relationship with her former teacher, on several occasions, she was not successful because Andrews threatened to commit suicide each time. What an absolute nightmare. For everyone involved. There’s that haunting feeling of discovering a crime like this one, only to realize that this woman has been around children for a significant amount of time. What truly goes on in the minds of pedophiles? And to make matters worse, this young girl still tried to pull away, but most likely felt trapped with no way out whatsoever. In my opinion, this woman definitely deserves more jail time.

Instead of doing this blog thing I should be listening to this album...

You should too. If I had a TARDIS I would go back to the 60s and play pool with Dr. King...

He would win with that backwards trick shot though. Hahaha. So, word is Trump already moved out of the White House... and I have proof.

Hahahahahahahaha. So, one thing I like is when people reenact photos from their past, like this one...

Well done! Well, It looks like this year is shaping up to be about as dumb as the last one. 

We're all directly related to him. Valentine's Day is a month away and if you're looking for a card to get someone how about this one?

Hey, did you see the new LEGO set that just came out? I'll show it here...

Fantastic, right? Didn't take then long to come up with that, did it? Now from the home town office in Port Jefferson, New York here is...

Top Phive Things Said About "My Pillow Guy" Meeting With Trump To Pitch Imposing Martial Law

5. Republicans: The President has committed to a peaceful transfer of power. He just touched a hot stove and got burned. My Pillow Guy: Not so fast there, fellas. I've got a few ideas. 

4. Make America sleep again. 

3. My Pillow Guy giving advice to Trump about another coup? That's a sham. 

2. Trump and the My Pillow Guy get along because they share a common love of white sheets. 

And the number one thing said about "My Pillow Guy" meeting with Trump was...

1. I know everyone is joking about the My Pillow Guy. But he was there to convince Trump that China was behind rigging he election. And his printed notes mentioned Trump declaring martial law. Sorry to be a buzzkill, but this is serious shit. 

If you spot the Mindphuck let me know. Okay, let's take a live look at Port Jefferson, shall we?

Look at the shadow of the flag pole... the flag is at half mast. By thew way, I was asked to see what is on the other side of that view. That's not a tent with that other shadow, that's a building. I will show you...

There you go. Okay, here's a story about this crazy state I live in now...

When it comes to judging whether a situation is abusive or not, it never hurts to go with your gut. And for Flavaine Carvalho, a waitress in Orlando, Florida, following her gut saved a little boy. Carvalho is a waitress at Mrs. Potato restaurant, and on New Year’s Day, she noticed something strange when a family entered the place. When the family ordered food, everyone else got something to eat except for the 11-year-old boy. He was given nothing. Carvalho asked first if something was wrong with the food, to which the boy’s stepfather, Timothy Wilson II, replied in stating that the boy was going to eat dinner later at home. But then, Carvalho noticed bruises running up the boy’s face and arms and how skinny he was. She told FOX 35, “I could see he had a big scratch between his eyebrows. A couple of minutes later, I saw a bruise on the side of his eye. So I felt there was something really wrong. I could not see the boy going away without any help.” Thinking quickly, Carvalho wrote a massive note that read, “Do you need help?” and in front of the boy, but behind the parents so that they could not see it. When the boy finally saw her, he nodded, leading Carvalho to call the police. She told the dispatcher, “I’m super concerned and I don’t know what to do, can you give me some advice? The boy is with bruises and he’s not eating.” When police from the Orlando Police Department arrived, the boy was able to tell them that his stepfather has been abusing him. According to the Orlando Sentinel, the boy initially said that the bruises on his face were from falling out of bed and that the ones on his arms were from wrestling with his stepfather. But Detective Erin Lawler said that after Orlando police took him to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, the extent of his injuries became clear: bruises covered the side of his face, his eyelid and earlobes were swollen, and the bruises on his arm were so sensitive, it hurt to roll up his sleeves. He was also found 20 pounds underweight. According to Lawler, the boy had said that he would be tied from his ankles and neck and held upside down from a door in his home and that Wilson would beat him with a wooden broom, a back scratcher, and closed fists. The boy also had been tied to a large moving dolly. Along with Kristen Swann, the child’s mother, the parents would withhold food and make him excessively exercise as punishment. Although the boy claims the abuse began around Christmas, his injuries say that it had been longer. Wilson was arrested on charges of child abuse and neglect, and Swann was arrested and charged on counts of child neglect since she knew about the abuse but never sought out medical help. Thankfully, the young boy’s 4-year-old sister showed no signs of being abused, and they were removed by the Florida Department of Children and Families. Thankfully, Carvalho followed her instincts to help the young boy. If you suspect or know anyone that is suffering from any type of abuse, it’s important that you contact your local authorities immediately.

Phil Spector 

December 26th, 1939 — January 16th, 2021 

Truly an incredible resume of musical accomplishments. It's just that pesky murder that always seems to steal the spotlight.

At some point, everyone on Earth has been the youngest person alive. 

The 144th book to be pheatured in the Phile's Book Club is...

President Obama will be on the Phile next week. If that's not fucking cool I don't know what is. 

Today's guest is a Canadian singer-songwriter, guitar, piano and banjo player. Her latest album "Grenades" is available on iTunes, Amazon and Spotify. Please welcome to the Phile... Kaia Kater.

Me: Hello, Kaia, welcome to the Phile. How are you? 

Kaia: Thanks, Jason Peverett, it's good to be here. I'm great. 

Me: You started off as teen playing music. Do you look back at those days when you started out? 

Kaia: I do. Looking back it was such an odd thing for a 15 or 16-year-old to do. I was having a lot of fun and it felt like a different world for me. I actually felt really awkward in middle school and high school, much like every other single person I met. 

Me: What do you mean? 

Kaia: I mean I had this big afro I didn't know how to manage and I was kinda a nerd. I was really smart in school and I felt like it set me apart. And musically I wasn't really into the music of the time like in '07 or '08. It was just like a lot of rock that I wasn't in to. 

Me: What were you listening to instead? 

Kaia: Nineties hip hop and going to folk conferences and stuff. Dock Boggs and Tommy Jarrell and Run DMC. That was the trio combo. LOL. 

Me: Did you hide from people that you played the banjo? 

Kaia: I did, yeah. I did for many years. 

Me: Why? 

Kaia: For probably the same reason. I already felt I was odd enough. I'm bi-racial so that was a troubling thing I was going through and something I was having trouble reconciling myself which is having these two identities. So adding on there's this bi-racial girl who is kind of a nerd and she plays the banjo. At that time it wasn't cool because Mumford & Sons haven't come out with their record yet and so it was really seen as like kinda this country instrument. I decided to keep my lives separate I think. That's why I was raging at these folk conferences because I was leading a double life I guess. 

Me: So, playing folk music and stuff do you think then you were able to be yourself? 

Kaia: Yeah, absolutely. In a lot of ways I climatised to it very naturally. It was a home of sorts for me that I don't feel that I had anywhere else sociality. 

Me: When you trace back the banjo it is not the southern, American, "hillbilly," instrument at all, is it? 

Kaia: No, not at all. It actually has its roots at west Africa. It really is historically an African instrument. The proof is in the pudding. If you look at the kora or the akoting, like if you Google both of those instruments you'll find they have a striking resemblance to what we know now as the American banjo. 

Me: Did you know this when you were in school struggling with your identity? 

Kaia: I had no idea. 

Me: Was it meaningful when you found that out? 

Kaia: It was extremely meaningful. 

Me: Why is that? 

Kaia: Because I think it's because the way I talk about folk music as being "at home" I was always puzzled as to why it was so natural for me. I was also puzzled why I was attracted to the sound of the banjo because it has been conceived of as such a "white" instrument. And so I had a little guilt for liking folk music. After the 60s revival was largely known as a white form of music. And so I was like why do I like all these "white" things that make me less "black"? When I found out through the Carolina Chocolate Drops and Bela Fleck that it actually was an African instrument I felt vindicated in some way. Maybe I was dean to it somehow because of that reason. 

Me: Did you want to write about race when you first started songwriting, Kaia? 

Kaia: No, I would have arguments with myself about that often. 

Me: Why is that? 

Kaia: So we're talking about my evolution as this awkward teen and figuring out the banjo had African roots, I was grappling with that first of all. In the midst of this I think I had a lot of resentment towards white people as a whole. This was very difficult for me because half my family is white and I love them so much. But it's difficult to think to have those two identities warring within me. And so I have been privy I think to some white people saying things that I disagreed with and I didn't want to out myself in a position of invulnerability to talk about these issues on stage and write about them in a way that would be open to attack and criticizism. 

Me: Do you think that's changing for you? 

Kaia: Yeah, I think I'm getting there for sure but it's still scary times to talk about it on stage for sure. Especially in a room full of white faces. 

Me: I have to ask you about the song "Rising Down" from your album "Nine Pin." Don't you talk about this? 

Kaia: Yeah, "Rising Down" was a long process. I actually wrote it while I was in college in West Virginia in the states. I went down there because I thought if I'm playing clawhammer music and old time banjo music then I need to spend time in the region that it comes from. And in my third year at the college I took a west African dance and music class and the professor encouraged us to write about what we were gong through and what we were thinking. Around that time, this was November of 2014, and Tamir Rice had just been killed in Cleveland, Ohio, he was 12. He was playing with a toy gun and two offices drove up on him and shot him dead and the whole thing takes about 5 seconds if you have the stomach to watch it. This was a very public symptom of a larger disease in the United States and in Canada. I had a lot of fear of addressing that disease. 

Me: Why is that? 

Kaia: I think to a certain extent we go about our days pathologically trying to avoid the fact that it's a reality. Unless you're a minority and can't avoid the fact that it is a reality... So, "Rising Down" I think came from a separate place of courage of speaking out for people. And so to a certain extent it's not about me anymore. It's about this larger cause. So through that I was able to speak a little bit more truthfully about those emotions and what it feels like to be black in the world. 

Me: Nicely done. Thanks, Kaia, for being on the Phile. Please come back again soon. You rock. 

Kaia: Thank you, Jason. Let's do it.

That about does to for this entry of the Phile. Thanks to Kaia for the interview. The Phile will be back on Wednesday with Samantha Bee from "Full Frontal With Samantha Bee." Spread the word, not the turd. Don't let snakes and alligators bite you. Bye, love you, bye. Kiss your brain. 

Give me some rope, tie me to dream, give me the hope to run out of steam, somebody said it could be here. We could be roped up, tied up, dead in a year. I can't count the reasons I should stay. One by one they all just fade away...