Pheaturing Swamp Dogg

 

Hey kids, welcome to the Phile for a Monday. How are you doing? A University of Mississippi student is now facing aggravated assault for allegedly spraying cleaning liquid down the throat of a fraternity pledge during a hazing ritual. The Pledge suffered serious injuries to his esophagus, may need surgery, and can barely eat because of the October 11th, 2020 hazing incident at the Pi Kappa Alpha House. According to his attorney, Adam Peavy, the boy was blindfolded and poisoned during the incident. University Police charged James Bowes Higgins with aggravated assault on November 17th. A witness told the Ole Miss police department that the pledge members had their eyes covered with their neckties and they were made to sit in the hallway. Several active Ole Miss fraternity members then yelled and threw the liquid and things on the pledges. That’s when Higgins allegedly asked him if he wanted water, but then instead sprayed cleaner or bleach inside his the student’s mouth. The boy was able to swallow two or three gulps and then immediately started to throw up. He went to the hospital the next day when vomiting continued. The police report states, “During this time, one of the pledges threw up from inhaling some of the substances in his mouth, and another one had to go to the hospital because the bleach got into his eyes.” The 20-year-old victim, who is still enrolled at Ole Miss, is still an active member of the frat and has been getting progressively worse. His attorney stated that the boy lost more than 50lb since he can’t eat regularly and when he is only able to chow down on macaroni and cheese or protein shakes. Peavey stated, “He hasn’t had a normal meal since it happened.” According to the Associated Press, doctors stated they may have to remove a part of his esophagus or relocate his stomach overall. The Ole Miss student is now at higher risk for cancer and other medical problems. Ole Miss officials say that they suspended the student, but didn’t specifically name Higgins himself. Charlotte Fant Pegues, Ole Miss’ interim vice chancellor for student affairs stated, “I am outraged by this incident, and we extend our heartfelt support and deepest sympathy to the victim.” The international office of the accused salient says Higgins was expelled from Pi Kappa Alpha. A spokesperson, Aranda Gehringer, noted, “The Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity does not tolerate any activities that do not treat individuals with dignity and respect.” The Ole Miss chapter has now been sanctioned, including several restrictions on social activities, frat, and the school. The Lafayette County grand jury is expected to decide whether to indict Higgins. Peavy said at the injured pledge’s family intends to sue the Frat and others involved.  

Oh man, I have to admit I’m a sucker for these types of stories. I love children celebrating happy moments. a cafeteria manager received the surprise of her life after students and staff at Deer Creek Prairie Vale Elementary School in Edmond, Oklahoma celebrated Mrs. Yanet Lopez. Lopez passed her U.S. Citizenship test this week and was excited to share it with the world. The children all decided to come together to celebrate her accomplishment chanting, “USA, USA.” As expected, the heartwarming video quickly went viral on social media winning people’s hearts for the sweet sweet gesture. The clip shows a decorated school hallway and the student standing on the sides with their face masks, maintaining proper distance. A few minutes later, Lopez walked down the hallway holding an American flag as staff and students cheered her on. Not going to lie, this video made my heart very happy. Through the school’s Facebook page, they also celebrated Lopez, saying, “Every morning, Ms. Yanet walks into the office and proclaims ‘Good Morning, Pretty Ladies’ and with a smile and a laugh, she always starts the day with a positive message! I am so excited for Ms. Yanet and the realization of one of her dreams in passing her citizenship test! We laughed that she would know more than those of us born in the U.S. I am honored to work with one of the best U.S. citizens I know.” Lopez is an immigrant from Cuba and moved from Oklahoma City to Houston, Texas, a few years ago with her family in order to get more job opportunities. Lopez dated, “ When I was a child, I have a dream like, say, Martin Luther King, right? My dream was (to) come here to this great country.” Lopez wasn’t the only one to pass the test. Her whole family including her three children, ages 17 to 28, and her husband all passed as well. She encourages everyone to go after their dream no matter how hard that dream may be.

The 2021 Mrs. Sri Lanka pageant was a hot mess. As Pushpika De Silva was crowned the new Mrs. Sri Lanka last week, the current Mrs. World Caroline Jurie ripped the bedazzled crown right off her head... insisting that De Silva was a divorcee and thus not eligible. What came next was chaos: crying, hugging, catty fighting, fist-pumping, and apparent “skull injuries.” The 2021 Mrs. Sri Lanka pageant took place on April 4th in the capitol city of Colombo. During the grand finale, contestant Pushpika De Silva was crowned the official winner. Caroline Jurie, the reigning Mrs. World 2020 and former Mrs. Sri Lanka 2020, did the honors, as is customary, and placed the large glittering crown on De Silva’s head. But just moments later, Jurie rushed back to the center of the stage... mic in hand... announcing that since Mrs. Sri Lanka must be married and not divorced, she was taking it upon herself to bestow the title on the first runner-up. Jurie then forcibly removed the crown from De Silva’s head, with eager help from another contestant, Chula Padmendra. Check it out...

The runner-up accepted the crown excitedly, weeping tears of joy, as De Silva awkwardly stormed offstage, crown-less. Jurie and Padmendra then triumphantly pumped their arms in the air, signaling victory while the newly crowned contestant basked in the glory. The organizers of the event, however, have rightfully re-named De Silva as the pageant winner. Single or not, she is the official winner of Mrs. Sri Lanka. The national director of Mrs. Sri Lanka World Chandimal Jayasinghe told BBC: “We are disappointed. It was a disgrace how Caroline Jurie behaved on the stage and the Mrs. World organization has already begun an investigation on the matter.” The Sri Lankan beauty queen debacle quickly became trending content. I can see why. So winner Pushpika De Silva took to social media to defend herself. She explained that although she is separated from her husband, “I’m not a divorce woman. I say with great responsibility that I am not a divorce woman even at this moment of writing. If I was a divorce, I would dare them to submit my divorce scripts. I haven’t hidden from the world that I’m with my child. I also have personal reasons to be that way. But, being apart is one. Divorce is something else. I’m still an un divorced woman.” De Silva’s husband Thilanka Dabarera, on the other hand, claimed in his own Facebook post that he has been split from Pushpika for four years and that the divorce will be finalized soon. The Daily Mirror reported that the former couple’s case is set to be reviewed in court for this summer. Should the divorce be completed, De Silva will no longer be a married woman and will not be eligible to compete in the upcoming Mrs. World competition, scheduled for December 2021. Mrs. World Caroline Jurie and her helper, contestant Chula Padmendra were arrested on Thursday, four days after the disastrous Mrs. Sri Lanka contest. According to police spokesperson Ajith Rohana, they are being held on “charges of simple hurt and criminal cause.” So far, it seems clear that Pushpika De Silva will be pursuing legal action against the tacky pair, citing head injuries. In her lengthy Facebook post, De Silva expounded on the physical pain of the inflected “injuries to [her] skull” writing, “The pain of my skull when my crown was snatched from my head by the world married beauty queen, the pain I felt when I lost the crown is more than both “.. Mother’s head is injured right..? Does it hurt mom?” I can’t bear the pain I feel when my son listens.” 

George Clooney is as passionate about humanitarian work as he is acting. The philanthropist has actively organized issues like gun control, LGBTQ rights, the Syria conflict, the Darfur conflict, and more. So when Clooney spoke out following the death of George Floyd last summer, fans expected his strong stance against the violence of law enforcement. But it turns out Clooney has done more than just penning an op-ed: he’s reached out to George Floyd’s lawyer directly, through email, with some blunt advice for the trial.  George Clooney‘s wife Amal Clooney is an internationally known human rights lawyer. But her husband also takes action whenever he can. Last June, in the wake of George Floyd’s death, Clooney published an op-ed in The Daily Beast entitled “America’s Greatest Pandemic Is Anti-Black Racism.” In the piece, written as coronavirus ravaged the country, he said, “There is little doubt that George Floyd was murdered. This is our pandemic. It infects all of us, and in 400 years we’ve yet to find a vaccine.” The column called for systemic change. Appearing while mass demonstrations and protests against racism were a daily occurrence, Clooney wrote, “The anger and the frustration we see playing out once again in our streets is just a reminder of how little we’ve grown as a country from our original sin of slavery. The fact that we aren’t actually buying and selling other human beings anymore is not a badge of honor. We need systemic change in our law enforcement and in our criminal justice system. We need policymakers and politicians that reflect basic fairness to all of their citizens equally. Not leaders that stoke hatred and violence as if the idea of shooting looters could ever be anything less than a racial dog whistle. Bull Connor was more subtle.” The former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is currently on trial for second-degree and third-degree murder for deadly use of force when arresting George Floyd. Last summer, when footage of Derek Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck in Minnesota went viral, the country erupted into a sad cultural reckoning. Floyd’s final pleas...  “I can’t breathe”... were heard around the world. And ever since, the Black Lives Matter movement, police brutality, and racism have dominated our national discourse. Now, as Chauvin’s trial continues, we’ll find out which attitude will prevail in court. Most often, police officers evade punishment in the criminal justice system. But George Clooney does not want that to happen. As Chauvin’s defense lawyers put forth the narrative that Floyd perished due to drugs in his system, the lawyer for George Floyd’s family must prove... beyond a reasonable doubt... that Floyd indeed died due to Chauvin’s aggressive tactic. Medical professionals have already confirmed, under oath, that Floyd died from a lack of oxygen. But Clooney has another, bolder idea to make the jury understand that. Last week attorney Benjamin Crump, who represents George Floyd, appeared on "The View" to discuss the emotional trial. Speaking to Joy Behar, Crump revealed that Clooney — who remains passionate about the cause... reached out directly through email, writing, “Attorney Crump, you should tell them if Derek Chauvin feels so confident in that, he should volunteer during his case, to get down on the floor in that courtroom, and let somebody come and put their knee on his neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds and be able to see if he can survive.” It seems highly unlikely that Crump would take his advice. Additionally, it’s state Attorney General Keith Ellison who is leading the prosecution. But it’s a chilling request to imagine. Clooney’s point puts into perspective just how dangerously reckless Chauvin was. There is no way in hell that the disgraced officer would ever agree to be kneeled on for over nine minutes.

There is little doubt that the latest episode of "The Falcon and The Winter Soldier" has been truly jaw-dropping. However, it looks like the next one is going to be even better. Episode 5 is set to be the show's longest one so far and it will also introduce a surprising Marvel comic book character. It's no secret that the last three episodes of "The Falcon and The Winter Soldier" have been hyped up by the cast and crew of the Marvel Cinematic Universe series. Sebastian Stan had stated that the cliffhanger in Episode 4 was going to be a memorable one and he wasn't wrong. So what can we expect in the fifth episode? "The Falcon and The Winter Soldier" Episode 5 runtime is 61 minutes. That means it's set to be the longest episode of the MCU series so far. Interestingly, the episode is also set to bring in a new character. Showrunner Malcolm Spellman had previously teased about a character who will be introduced in the fifth episode who he claims would be great with Thor. Now, new intel from SlashFilm confirms that this mysterious character is actually someone who exists in the comics. In addition to that, they will be portrayed by "a well-known performer" but they are not yet expected to show up in an MCU film. However, this could change depending on how well their appearance in "The Falcon and The Winter Soldier" Episode 5 will be received by fans.

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

Hahahaha. It's actually a good album, and I'm not saying that because Swamp Dogg is on the Phile today. You know what makes me laugh? When people reenact photos from their past. Like this one...

Awe. If I had a TARDIS I would go back in time to New York City to the Empire State Building when it first opened, but knowing my luck I'll get there when they're still building the bloody thing. 

If you're looking for a graphic design job, you may want to contact whoever employed the people responsible for this following design fails. They are most likely hiring.

Doesn't sound very exciting. I was told if I go to Walmart I would see some strange sites. I didn't believe it until I saw this...

Now from the home office in Port Jefferson, New York here is...

Top Phive Adult Problems No One Warned You About

5. Vegetables die too soon in the fridge. 

4. How much time you spend just doing stuff. "Oh need to replace my tire and that's over by the store, so while I replace the tire I can do some errands and I'll save time and be home in no time." Three hours later "Okay just one more errand before I head home."

3. Careers. As a kid you hear "what do you want to be when you grow up?" and it's always nurse, doctor, fireman, game designer, etc. Which is all so simple. But then when you do start training/working in that career and you realize you don't like it... it just feels like such a terrifying thing to now have to think of a new career identity.

2. How hard it is to make/keep friends. Don't even get me started on relationships.

And the number one

1. The incessant flow of bills: phone, water, electricity, insurance, rent/mortgage Also, college debt. Oh, and dental care. Kurt Vonnegut had it right when he said the trouble with getting older is you outlive your teeth. 

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

Looks like a cold and wet day there. Okay, here's a story from...

Florida, Florida, Florida, you have outdone yourself again. Honestly, I’m starting to get a little concerned here. What does your water have and why do people keep drinking it? Seriously. It turns out a 73-year-old Barbara Ray was worried about what she was smoking, stated she was “scared” of what it was doing to her, which is why she asked her doctor to check the methamphetamine supply. According to authorities, the woman went to the Complete Care Family Medicine Associate in Fort Meade and pulled three items from her bag: a small clear plastic bag containing a white crystal like substance, a small plastic container also containing a white crystal-like substance, and an empty perception bottle with her name on it via the prescription label. Ray told doctors that she has been smoking the meth for about a month, but didn’t give a reason as to why or how she obtained the drugs. Concerned for the woman, the doctor called the police (because no 73-year-old should be smoking, let alone smoking meth), which resulted in her arrest. She was booked into the Polk County Jail on charges of methamphetamine possession and possession of drug paraphernalia. The two bags that contained crystal-like substances were taken to a lab for testing, in which turned up positive for meth. According to authorities, the day of the incident, the woman appeared to be under the influence of drugs when taken into custody. And by the look at her mug shot, yup, I’ll nod my head to that. 

Well, I guess it was one of those “do it now or later” types of things, right? Grandma gone wild, indeed. I wonder what the dealer thought when he sold her the drugs. Definitely a conversation I would love to take part of. 

The 149th book to be pheatured in the Phile's Book Club is...

Tori will be on the Phile in a few weeks. 

Phact 1. Standing at 7”6’, 15-year-old teen basketball giant Robert Bobroczky is already taller than any current NBA player. 

Phact 2. WD-40 is not patent protected, thereby avoiding completely disclosing its ingredients, making it harder for any other companies to mimic. 

Phact 3. Nicholas Cage was the only non-family member of Presley family to see the forbidden second floor of Graceland Mansion. 

Phact 4. Ninety to 95% of mobile phones sold in Japan are waterproof because young girls are so fond of their mobile phones they even use them in the shower. 

Phact 5. Illegal prime numbers exist. An illegal prime is a prime number that represents information which is forbidden to possess or distribute. For example, when interpreted in a particular way, a certain prime describes a computer program that bypasses the digital rights management scheme used on DVDs.

Today's guest is an American soul and R&B singer, musician, songwriter and record producer. Williams has been described as "one of the great cult figures of 20th century American music." His latest album Sorry You Couldn't Make It" is avaiable on iTunes, Amazon and Spotify. Please welcome to the Phile... Swamp Dogg.  

Me: Hey, sir, welcome to the Phile. How are you? 

Swamp: Hey, man, thank you. Happy to be here.

Me: So, what's the deal with the song "HTD Blues" by Little Jerry Williams which came out in 1954? That's you, right? 

Swamp: Yeah, I cut that when I was 12-years-old. 

Me: Huh? What? When you were twelve?! 

Swamp: Yeah, I was 12-years-old then. My mother and my step-father had a little combo and they had brought in some people to cut a record. And they told me I could record, then come time when they finished their stuff they said they didn't have any time left and so I just went into a race like little kids do at the mall. 

Me: Like a tantrum? 

Swamp: Yeah. So they said, "Okay, let him do something." So they let me. I just sat right down at the piano and start playing. That's why it starts of with the piano and everything. 

Me: Sir, I listened to the song and it doesn't sound like you are 12-years-old. You sound like an old man. 

Swamp: No, I sound like I'm ten. 

Me: No it doesn't, it sounds like you're 30 or 40-years-old. 

Swamp: Baby, that's because I never grew up. That's what my wife said. "Baby, you're never growing up. You're NEVER growing up." 

Me: Hahaha. So, when you did "grow" up you had a cool career, right? 

Swamp: Yeah. I went on to be a really successful soul singer, doing it under the name Little Jerry Williams. I wrote songs for others and I became the first African-American A&R person for Atlantic Records, which was cool. Then in the 70s I started recording under the name "Swamp Dogg." 

Me: Why did you make the move to be Swamp Dogg? What could Swamp Dogg do that Little Jerry Williams couldn't? 

Swamp: First of all just the mere mention of the name brought attention. People wanted to know, especially women, "why would you name yourself "Dogg"? I don't know anybody who would name their self Dogg. Why would you do that? Blah blah bleh." Now everybody in the world is "Dogg." 

Me: The music changed as well around the time you started calling yourself "Swamp Dogg," am I right? 

Swamp: Yeah. Let me tell you, everyone was singing love ballads. We had Jackie Wilson and everybody out there singing them slow pretty songs. There was Freddie Scott singing "Are You Lonely For Me." Baby, I knew that wasn't me. Plus these were good looking guys, too. First time I looked in the mirror I knew I wasn't good looking. I knew I had a shot but had to get a gun that shoots further than most. 

Me: Can I ask you a personal question? 

Swamp: Yes. 

Me: I love the song "Synthetic World" but a line in it says "strange initials to keep me blind, psychedelic music to blow my mind." Has that something to do with LSD? 

Swamp: Yeah, it transformed me to Swamp Dogg and can transform you to anywhere you want to go. Yeah, I had gone to what was supposed to be my birthday party and some friends spiked the punch with tons of LSD and ESPECIALLY if you weren't looking to expand your mind it'll carry you on all kinds of trips. I've got a coupe of songs that are LSD laced all the way through. Spirit dust your head color red, sparkle your insides pink with pleasure. Hey, come on. 

Me: Hard to tell. Haha. I did LSD one time, sir, and that was in the early 90s, late 80s. I was at someones apartment and I out this thing on the roof of my mouth and laid down on the floor and I swear the room was spinning around me, like I was floating in some kind of tube which was spinning. Never again. I thought the couch and furniture were gonna fall on top of me if the room stopped spinning and the floor was above me. How did people like your lyrics and songs? 

Swamp: People liked it and said I was different. I didn't know what "different" meant, I was going to be be broke for the rest of my life. 

Me: I'm surprised you wrote "She's All I've Got" by Johnny Paycheck. What was it like being a black artist in Nashville at that time? 

Swamp: Well, let me tell you. When I went to places with a number one record I was going to get treated differently. It's just like walking into a nightclub and there;s money hanging out the pockets. All the attention went to me, until I went broke. Then they push my ass away. 

Me: What was Johnny Paycheck like, sir? 

Swamp: Let me think of a good Johnny Paycheck story. Well, one of the things that surprised me was when we got on his bus after the show all he did was drink and play the Manhattans' "Kiss and Say Goodbye.'" We were on the bus for three hours just riding around drinking and carrying on and he played that record for the whole time that we were on the bus. He loved it. 

Me: Ha. So, were you into country music? 

Swamp: What I love about country music is once they embrace me they never turned me loose. 

Me: You recorded a song called "Sam Stone" which is pretty cool, sir. That's a cover of a John Prine song. What did you like about that song that made you want to cover it? 

Swamp: Well, it's weird, I was the first black A&R producer who was staffed at Atlantic Records. I used to get all of the records and I'd listen to them, I would take them home and listen to them and see if their was anything there. With John Prine, his record came in and I played it and didn't like it. I loved what he was saying but I didn't like it. I didn't like his voice, I didn't like nothing. But to me it was one of the greatest songs that I have ever heard. I said this is a real song. And I took the record and put it among things to do in the future. 

Me: On your latest album you and John Prine do a duet on a song called "Memories," right? 

Swamp: Yeah, and this is the first time I allowed anybody to produce Swamp Dogg. Not that Swamp Dogg is all that special to anyone except me. But I'm the one that matters as for anybody is concerned. 

Me: I disagree. People love you, sir. A lot of people have discovered you because of your recent records and you've been making music since the 50s. What's the biggest lesson you learned since you recorded that song when you were 12? 

Swamp: Don't give up. Don't take "no" for an answer. If I try to get somewhere I just keep on bugging them until they get ready to kick my brains out. Just don;t give up and have something that I truly believe in. 

Me: When people listen to your records is there something you want people to take away from them? 

Swamp: Yeah. The fact that I'm really not a joke. I come in telling jokes to get everybody's attention. And then once I have their attention I want them to listen to my songs. 

Me: You just want to be taken seriously? 

Swamp: That's it. 

Me: Sir, thanks so much for being on the Phile. This was so much fun. 

Swamp: Thank you, man. I appreciate it.

That about does it for this entry of the Phile. Thanks to my guest Swamp Dogg. The Phile will be back on Wednesday with musician Molly Tuttle. Spread the word, not the turd. Don't let snakes and alligators bite you. Bye, love you, bye.

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...