Is your hate more important to you than your fellow man?

Acting Secretary Gaynor Tours the U.S. Capitol Washington, D.C. (January 17, 2021) Acting Homeland Security Secretary Pete Gaynor and Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller tour the U.S. Capitol building and interact with National Guard Soldiers assigned to ensure security ahead of the Presidential Inauguration. Original public domain image from Flickr

Got a question for the MAGAts.

The other day, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives voted to approve a budget that, when you strip away all the horseshit, amounts to this:

It takes money away from people who don’t have very much money, and it gives that money to people who have dump trucks full of money.

And I’d like the MAGAts to explain something to me:

How the hell did they convince you to support something that is contrary to your interests?

How the hell did they do that?

You don’t have to answer that question, because I already know the answer.

Somehow, they managed to convince you that they hate the same people you hate, and your hate was more important to you than your fellow Americans, your hate was more important to you than the Constitution, and your hate was more important to you than the country itself.

You guys are so fond of throwing the Bible in our faces so let me ask you this: Doesn’t the Bible say something about loving thy fellow man?

You guys need to do a serious soul check, because when your hate is more important than love, I’m not sure you’re even human anymore.

About the author:

Del Stone Jr. is a professional fiction writer. He is known primarily for his work in the contemporary dark fiction field, but has also published science fiction and contemporary fantasy. Stone’s stories, poetry and scripts have appeared in publications such as Amazing Stories, Eldritch Tales, and Bantam-Spectra’s Full Spectrum. His short fiction has been published in The Year’s Best Horror Stories XXII; Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine; the Pocket Books anthology More Phobias; the Barnes & Noble anthologies 100 Wicked Little Witch Stories, Horrors! 365 Scary Stories, and 100 Astounding Little Alien Stories; the HWA anthology Psychos; and other short fiction venues, like Blood Muse, Live Without a Net, Zombiesque and Sex Macabre. Stone’s comic book debut was in the Clive Barker series of books, Hellraiser, published by Marvel/Epic and reprinted in The Best of Hellraiser anthology. He has also published stories in Penthouse Comix, and worked with artist Dave Dorman on many projects, including the illustrated novella “Roadkill,” a short story for the Andrew Vachss anthology Underground from Dark Horse, an ashcan titled “December” for Hero Illustrated, and several of Dorman’s Wasted Lands novellas and comics, such as Rail from Image and “The Uninvited.” Stone’s novel, Dead Heat, won the 1996 International Horror Guild’s award for best first novel and was a runner-up for the Bram Stoker Award. Stone has also been a finalist for the IHG award for short fiction, the British Fantasy Award for best novella, and a semifinalist for the Nebula and Writers of the Future awards. His stories have appeared in anthologies that have won the Bram Stoker Award and the World Fantasy Award. Two of his works were optioned for film, the novella “Black Tide” and short story “Crisis Line.”

Stone recently retired after a 41-year career in journalism. He won numerous awards for his work, and in 1986 was named Florida’s best columnist in his circulation division by the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors. In 2001 he received an honorable mention from the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association for his essay “When Freedom of Speech Ends” and in 2003 he was voted Best of the Best in the category of columnists by Emerald Coast Magazine. He participated in book signings and awareness campaigns, and was a guest on local television and radio programs.

As an addendum, Stone is single, kills tomatoes and morning glories with ruthless efficiency, once tied the stem of a cocktail cherry in a knot with his tongue, and carries a permanent scar on his chest after having been shot with a paintball gun. He’s in his 60s as of this writing but doesn’t look a day over 94.

Contact Del at [email protected]. He is also on Facebook, twitter, Pinterest, tumblr, TikTok, and Instagram. Visit his website at delstonejr.com .

As you can imagine, the MAGAts don’t like me very much. That’s OK. I don’t like them very much either.

They can’t really attack me for the content of my posts, so they attack me for my appearance – the fact that I’m of a certain age, that my hair is gray, and here lately because I have these spots on my forehead … age spots, liver spots, sunspots, whatever you want to call them.

It’s like being back in middle school – “FLINCH! No contact, no rebounds, no nothing!”

Very adult.

The fact is I live in Florida, where the weather is nice almost every day of the year. That means I’m outdoors most of the time. Also, the sun burns a little hotter down here because we’re closer to the equator than the rest of the continental United States. I’ve lived in Florida since 1964 so what’s that – 61 years?

You can’t live in an environment where you’re exposed to intense sunlight for 61 years without picking up a few sunspots along the way. It is an inescapable consequence of living in such a nice place.

Meanwhile, the people who are attacking me for my appearance often don’t have photos on their profiles. Nor do they have any videos that they’ve posted to their accounts. So you have no idea what they look like. They use a photo of a dog or a pickup truck, or they go with the default avatar provided by the social media platform. It’s almost as if they’re ashamed of who they are, which is perfectly understandable because I am ashamed of who they are too.

Just because they have the complexion of a pirogue doesn’t mean they’re genetically superior to me. What it means is they live in a hellhole where summers are only six weeks long and they spend the rest of the year cooped up inside their houses developing a world-class case of cabin fever which results in them doing stupid things like voting for a fascist and making fun of a guy because he has sunspots on his forehead.

The ones who do post their photos essentially look like me – they’re older, they’re male, they’re white, they have gray hair, they have the spots on their foreheads, but the difference is, they’re always scowling, because they’re always angry. And I can’t figure out what they’re angry about. They’ve always had the best of everything – the best jobs, the best money, the best opportunities. Why are they so pissed off? Is it because after centuries of dominance, they are finally having to share the stage with women, minorities, and gay people? Goodness! That is such a tragedy!

The MAGAts are welcome to argue the merits or demerits of my posts, but they’re not welcome to make fun of my appearance. That’s just immature and childish.

They need to either grow up, or shut up.

About the author:

Del Stone Jr. is a professional fiction writer. He is known primarily for his work in the contemporary dark fiction field, but has also published science fiction and contemporary fantasy. Stone’s stories, poetry and scripts have appeared in publications such as Amazing Stories, Eldritch Tales, and Bantam-Spectra’s Full Spectrum. His short fiction has been published in The Year’s Best Horror Stories XXII; Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine; the Pocket Books anthology More Phobias; the Barnes & Noble anthologies 100 Wicked Little Witch Stories, Horrors! 365 Scary Stories, and 100 Astounding Little Alien Stories; the HWA anthology Psychos; and other short fiction venues, like Blood Muse, Live Without a Net, Zombiesque and Sex Macabre. Stone’s comic book debut was in the Clive Barker series of books, Hellraiser, published by Marvel/Epic and reprinted in The Best of Hellraiser anthology. He has also published stories in Penthouse Comix, and worked with artist Dave Dorman on many projects, including the illustrated novella “Roadkill,” a short story for the Andrew Vachss anthology Underground from Dark Horse, an ashcan titled “December” for Hero Illustrated, and several of Dorman’s Wasted Lands novellas and comics, such as Rail from Image and “The Uninvited.” Stone’s novel, Dead Heat, won the 1996 International Horror Guild’s award for best first novel and was a runner-up for the Bram Stoker Award. Stone has also been a finalist for the IHG award for short fiction, the British Fantasy Award for best novella, and a semifinalist for the Nebula and Writers of the Future awards. His stories have appeared in anthologies that have won the Bram Stoker Award and the World Fantasy Award. Two of his works were optioned for film, the novella “Black Tide” and short story “Crisis Line.”

Stone recently retired after a 41-year career in journalism. He won numerous awards for his work, and in 1986 was named Florida’s best columnist in his circulation division by the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors. In 2001 he received an honorable mention from the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association for his essay “When Freedom of Speech Ends” and in 2003 he was voted Best of the Best in the category of columnists by Emerald Coast Magazine. He participated in book signings and awareness campaigns, and was a guest on local television and radio programs.

As an addendum, Stone is single, kills tomatoes and morning glories with ruthless efficiency, once tied the stem of a cocktail cherry in a knot with his tongue, and carries a permanent scar on his chest after having been shot with a paintball gun. He’s in his 60s as of this writing but doesn’t look a day over 94.

Contact Del at [email protected]. He is also on Facebook, twitter, Pinterest, tumblr, TikTok, and Instagram. Visit his website at delstonejr.com .

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristie Noem. Image by Matt Johnson. CC license.

Ah, Kristie Noem. President Scarface’s secretary of Homeland Security.

I don’t know whether to call her Minister of Ignorance or Minister of Cruelty. She seems to embody both qualities.

I’m sure you remember the story about Kristie Noem and her mean dog. If not, let me give you a brief recap:

Kristie Noem had this dog she didn’t like. She said it was a mean dog, and it was unteachable.

Unlike most people, who would have taken the dog to an animal shelter so that somebody else could adopt and try to rehabilitate it, Kristie Noem chose a different path. She took the dog out to the back 40 and unalived it with a pew-pew.

That would seem to tilt the scales in favor of Minister of Cruelty.

But then of course there was the other day at a Senate hearing where she was asked to define the term “habeas corpus” and she couldn’t. In fact, the definition she gave was the exact opposite of the meaning of the term. You would think the head of a significant law enforcement agency like Homeleand Security would know what the term “habeas corpus” means, but she did not.

That would seem to tilt the scales in favor of Minster of Ignorance.

In fact, cruelty and ignorance are defining characteristics of the entire President Scarface Cabinet.

You remember when Scarface was running for office and said he would hire only the very best people? Well, believe it or not, that was a lie. I know. It boggles the mind. But that’s the truth. He was lying to you.

He has only three requirements of his Cabinet officers:

1. They must be excruciatingly ignorant and cruel, and I’m combining those two characteristics because they seem to go hand-in-hand. Ignorance and cruelty are the defining characteristics for the entire MAGA movement. There are exceptions, of course, but for the most part, the MAGAs are ignorant and cruel.

2. They must be willing to lie. Some of them are very good liars. Kar-Kar Leavitt and that Stepford Wife attorney general, Pam Bondi – excellent liars. Unsurpassed in lying. But then you have others, like Secretary of State Marco Rubio. I’ve actually met Marco Rubio in person. The man hasn’t had an original thought in his life, and there’s not one humorous bone in his body, but he’s not a very good liar. You can see it in his eyes. When he lies, he lacks conviction. He looks like a man trying to endure the unendurable.

3. They must be unswervingly loyal to the Master. They have to be willing to take one for the gipper, to fall on their swords, to do anything and everything to protect the Master, because this is not about serving the nation or its people. This is about keeping President Scarface out of jail while simultaneously fattening his wallet.

So there you have it, folks. The Unholy Trinity of President Scarface’s Cabinet: Ignorance and cruelty, a willingness to lie, and unswerving loyalty to the Master.

When this is over, if it ever ends, there may likely be some kind of Nuremburg. These people will testify that they were only following orders.

No they weren’t.

They were not simply following orders.

They were willing, even gleeful participants in the crimes that are taking place in Washington, D.C., even as we speak.

And they deserve every ounce of justice that comes their way.

About the author:

Del Stone Jr. is a professional fiction writer. He is known primarily for his work in the contemporary dark fiction field, but has also published science fiction and contemporary fantasy. Stone’s stories, poetry and scripts have appeared in publications such as Amazing Stories, Eldritch Tales, and Bantam-Spectra’s Full Spectrum. His short fiction has been published in The Year’s Best Horror Stories XXII; Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine; the Pocket Books anthology More Phobias; the Barnes & Noble anthologies 100 Wicked Little Witch Stories, Horrors! 365 Scary Stories, and 100 Astounding Little Alien Stories; the HWA anthology Psychos; and other short fiction venues, like Blood Muse, Live Without a Net, Zombiesque and Sex Macabre. Stone’s comic book debut was in the Clive Barker series of books, Hellraiser, published by Marvel/Epic and reprinted in The Best of Hellraiser anthology. He has also published stories in Penthouse Comix, and worked with artist Dave Dorman on many projects, including the illustrated novella “Roadkill,” a short story for the Andrew Vachss anthology Underground from Dark Horse, an ashcan titled “December” for Hero Illustrated, and several of Dorman’s Wasted Lands novellas and comics, such as Rail from Image and “The Uninvited.” Stone’s novel, Dead Heat, won the 1996 International Horror Guild’s award for best first novel and was a runner-up for the Bram Stoker Award. Stone has also been a finalist for the IHG award for short fiction, the British Fantasy Award for best novella, and a semifinalist for the Nebula and Writers of the Future awards. His stories have appeared in anthologies that have won the Bram Stoker Award and the World Fantasy Award. Two of his works were optioned for film, the novella “Black Tide” and short story “Crisis Line.”

Stone recently retired after a 41-year career in journalism. He won numerous awards for his work, and in 1986 was named Florida’s best columnist in his circulation division by the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors. In 2001 he received an honorable mention from the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association for his essay “When Freedom of Speech Ends” and in 2003 he was voted Best of the Best in the category of columnists by Emerald Coast Magazine. He participated in book signings and awareness campaigns, and was a guest on local television and radio programs.

As an addendum, Stone is single, kills tomatoes and morning glories with ruthless efficiency, once tied the stem of a cocktail cherry in a knot with his tongue, and carries a permanent scar on his chest after having been shot with a paintball gun. He’s in his 60s as of this writing but doesn’t look a day over 94.

Contact Del at [email protected]. He is also on Facebook, twitter, Pinterest, tumblr, TikTok, and Instagram. Visit his website at delstonejr.com .

The Blue Diamond Gallery. Creative Commons license.

As you know, I am no friend to President Cankersore.

In fact, I believe his administration is the most corrupt, the most criminal, the most despicable administration in the history of the United States. These people make Richard Nixon look like Mother Theresa.

Sometimes people will ask me: Aren’t you afraid of them coming after you?

Well, to answer that question I would say I guess the possibility exists although I don’t lose sleep over it. I think they’ve got bigger fish to fry than some gassy old white-haired guy who can’t stay awake later than 9 o’clock at night.

Besides, I think it’s my duty as an American to speak up and speak out, because if I’m not willing to do that, how can I expect anyone else to?

If we all take the attitude of standing back, remaining silent and being safe, and letting the other guy stick his neck out, within a year or so we could be goosestepping down Main Street giving the one-armed salute to Dear Leader.

I don’t want to live like that, and I bet you don’t either.

Ask yourself this question: If not you, then who?

Speak up and speak out, because if you don’t, in the near future, you may not have a choice.

About the author:

Del Stone Jr. is a professional fiction writer. He is known primarily for his work in the contemporary dark fiction field, but has also published science fiction and contemporary fantasy. Stone’s stories, poetry and scripts have appeared in publications such as Amazing Stories, Eldritch Tales, and Bantam-Spectra’s Full Spectrum. His short fiction has been published in The Year’s Best Horror Stories XXII; Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine; the Pocket Books anthology More Phobias; the Barnes & Noble anthologies 100 Wicked Little Witch Stories, Horrors! 365 Scary Stories, and 100 Astounding Little Alien Stories; the HWA anthology Psychos; and other short fiction venues, like Blood Muse, Live Without a Net, Zombiesque and Sex Macabre. Stone’s comic book debut was in the Clive Barker series of books, Hellraiser, published by Marvel/Epic and reprinted in The Best of Hellraiser anthology. He has also published stories in Penthouse Comix, and worked with artist Dave Dorman on many projects, including the illustrated novella “Roadkill,” a short story for the Andrew Vachss anthology Underground from Dark Horse, an ashcan titled “December” for Hero Illustrated, and several of Dorman’s Wasted Lands novellas and comics, such as Rail from Image and “The Uninvited.” Stone’s novel, Dead Heat, won the 1996 International Horror Guild’s award for best first novel and was a runner-up for the Bram Stoker Award. Stone has also been a finalist for the IHG award for short fiction, the British Fantasy Award for best novella, and a semifinalist for the Nebula and Writers of the Future awards. His stories have appeared in anthologies that have won the Bram Stoker Award and the World Fantasy Award. Two of his works were optioned for film, the novella “Black Tide” and short story “Crisis Line.”

Stone recently retired after a 41-year career in journalism. He won numerous awards for his work, and in 1986 was named Florida’s best columnist in his circulation division by the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors. In 2001 he received an honorable mention from the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association for his essay “When Freedom of Speech Ends” and in 2003 he was voted Best of the Best in the category of columnists by Emerald Coast Magazine. He participated in book signings and awareness campaigns, and was a guest on local television and radio programs.

As an addendum, Stone is single, kills tomatoes and morning glories with ruthless efficiency, once tied the stem of a cocktail cherry in a knot with his tongue, and carries a permanent scar on his chest after having been shot with a paintball gun. He’s in his 60s as of this writing but doesn’t look a day over 94.

Contact Del at [email protected]. He is also on Facebook, twitter, Pinterest, tumblr, TikTok, and Instagram. Visit his website at delstonejr.com .

Donald J. Trump, aka Mr. Compassion. Image by Gage Skidmore. CC license.

That was a really nice statement posted by President Liver Fluke when it became known Joe Biden has prostate cancer. For a moment – for a brief, shining moment – I had to ask myself: Have I misjudged that creature? Because beneath that withered, atrophied, Sunny D-stained exterior I thought I detected the beating heart of a human being, a whiff of compassion.

Well, THAT didn’t last long.

Within hours President Liver Fluke had confirmed yet again that he’s the human equivalent of a butt plug. He and the MAGAts began speculating about a cover-up. How could Joe Biden’s cancer diagnosis go so long without anybody knowing about – especially since he’s married to a doctor!

I think the next time President Liver Fluke, or any of the MAGAt males for that matter, need to have their prostates checked, they should make an appointment with Dr. Seuss. He’s a doctor, isn’t he?

While we’re talking about medical cover-ups, when are the MAGAts going to address the issue of President Liver Fluke’s obvious dementia? When is somebody going to talk about that? Clearly he’s suffering from cognitive confusion. No human being says the things he says without having a brain that looks like Swiss cheese.

I expect any moment he’ll start raving about other crazy things like alien abductions and being anally probed. Maybe that’s why he hates immigrants so much – because they’re illegal aliens who might keelhaul him off to their spaceship and stick a probe up his butt.

If that happened, at least he’d know how the rest of us feel.

About the author:

Del Stone Jr. is a professional fiction writer. He is known primarily for his work in the contemporary dark fiction field, but has also published science fiction and contemporary fantasy. Stone’s stories, poetry and scripts have appeared in publications such as Amazing Stories, Eldritch Tales, and Bantam-Spectra’s Full Spectrum. His short fiction has been published in The Year’s Best Horror Stories XXII; Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine; the Pocket Books anthology More Phobias; the Barnes & Noble anthologies 100 Wicked Little Witch Stories, Horrors! 365 Scary Stories, and 100 Astounding Little Alien Stories; the HWA anthology Psychos; and other short fiction venues, like Blood Muse, Live Without a Net, Zombiesque and Sex Macabre. Stone’s comic book debut was in the Clive Barker series of books, Hellraiser, published by Marvel/Epic and reprinted in The Best of Hellraiser anthology. He has also published stories in Penthouse Comix, and worked with artist Dave Dorman on many projects, including the illustrated novella “Roadkill,” a short story for the Andrew Vachss anthology Underground from Dark Horse, an ashcan titled “December” for Hero Illustrated, and several of Dorman’s Wasted Lands novellas and comics, such as Rail from Image and “The Uninvited.” Stone’s novel, Dead Heat, won the 1996 International Horror Guild’s award for best first novel and was a runner-up for the Bram Stoker Award. Stone has also been a finalist for the IHG award for short fiction, the British Fantasy Award for best novella, and a semifinalist for the Nebula and Writers of the Future awards. His stories have appeared in anthologies that have won the Bram Stoker Award and the World Fantasy Award. Two of his works were optioned for film, the novella “Black Tide” and short story “Crisis Line.”

Stone recently retired after a 41-year career in journalism. He won numerous awards for his work, and in 1986 was named Florida’s best columnist in his circulation division by the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors. In 2001 he received an honorable mention from the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association for his essay “When Freedom of Speech Ends” and in 2003 he was voted Best of the Best in the category of columnists by Emerald Coast Magazine. He participated in book signings and awareness campaigns, and was a guest on local television and radio programs.

As an addendum, Stone is single, kills tomatoes and morning glories with ruthless efficiency, once tied the stem of a cocktail cherry in a knot with his tongue, and carries a permanent scar on his chest after having been shot with a paintball gun. He’s in his 60s as of this writing but doesn’t look a day over 94.

Contact Del at [email protected]. He is also on Facebook, twitter, Pinterest, tumblr, TikTok, and Instagram. Visit his website at delstonejr.com .

This is a stock image from Josué Rodríguez as it appears on the stock photography site Pexels. Sorry, I couldn't take photos of the boys for the same reason I couldn't engage with them. https://www.pexels.com/@roodzn/

Every morning I drive to a local park for a 3-mile walk.

I take the same route every morning. It takes me to a stop sign, where there is a bus stop for middle school-aged kids. This stop is unusual in that all the kids are boys.

You know what happens when boys get together. They become performative to impress their peers. Sometimes their performances become aggressive.

That was the case the other day. As I pulled up to the stop sign, one of the boys said, “Hey, daddy.”

When I turned to look, he said, “Hey, fucker.”

I could have handled this a number of different ways. I could have gotten out and confronted them, but then they might have accused me of assaulting them or worse, soliciting them.

I could have called the school and complained, but I didn’t think the school would do anything. Schools are afraid of parents – and lawsuits – these days.

I could have found out who their parents are and complained to them, but what good would that have done? Parents almost always take their kids’ side. And then I would have awakened the next morning to find all four of my tires slashed and the house spray-painted with slurs.

So in the end I decided to drive away, and the next day I took a different route to the park.

I hated doing that. It felt like I was running away from a problem.

But in this country, and in these days of witch hunts and hysteria, a gay man is presumed guilty before innocent. So I believe I made the wisest, most prudent choice I could make under the circumstances.

But it still pisses me off.

Oh, and by the way … I had the foresight to buy a dash cam. A recording of the incident is in the dash cam.

About the author:

Del Stone Jr. is a professional fiction writer. He is known primarily for his work in the contemporary dark fiction field, but has also published science fiction and contemporary fantasy. Stone’s stories, poetry and scripts have appeared in publications such as Amazing Stories, Eldritch Tales, and Bantam-Spectra’s Full Spectrum. His short fiction has been published in The Year’s Best Horror Stories XXII; Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine; the Pocket Books anthology More Phobias; the Barnes & Noble anthologies 100 Wicked Little Witch Stories, Horrors! 365 Scary Stories, and 100 Astounding Little Alien Stories; the HWA anthology Psychos; and other short fiction venues, like Blood Muse, Live Without a Net, Zombiesque and Sex Macabre. Stone’s comic book debut was in the Clive Barker series of books, Hellraiser, published by Marvel/Epic and reprinted in The Best of Hellraiser anthology. He has also published stories in Penthouse Comix, and worked with artist Dave Dorman on many projects, including the illustrated novella “Roadkill,” a short story for the Andrew Vachss anthology Underground from Dark Horse, an ashcan titled “December” for Hero Illustrated, and several of Dorman’s Wasted Lands novellas and comics, such as Rail from Image and “The Uninvited.” Stone’s novel, Dead Heat, won the 1996 International Horror Guild’s award for best first novel and was a runner-up for the Bram Stoker Award. Stone has also been a finalist for the IHG award for short fiction, the British Fantasy Award for best novella, and a semifinalist for the Nebula and Writers of the Future awards. His stories have appeared in anthologies that have won the Bram Stoker Award and the World Fantasy Award. Two of his works were optioned for film, the novella “Black Tide” and short story “Crisis Line.”

Stone recently retired after a 41-year career in journalism. He won numerous awards for his work, and in 1986 was named Florida’s best columnist in his circulation division by the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors. In 2001 he received an honorable mention from the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association for his essay “When Freedom of Speech Ends” and in 2003 he was voted Best of the Best in the category of columnists by Emerald Coast Magazine. He participated in book signings and awareness campaigns, and was a guest on local television and radio programs.

As an addendum, Stone is single, kills tomatoes and morning glories with ruthless efficiency, once tied the stem of a cocktail cherry in a knot with his tongue, and carries a permanent scar on his chest after having been shot with a paintball gun. He’s in his 60s as of this writing but doesn’t look a day over 94.

Contact Del at [email protected]. He is also on Facebook, twitter, Pinterest, tumblr, TikTok, and Instagram. Visit his website at delstonejr.com .

Are these the end times?

Scripture says the end times would be marked by the arrival of a false prophet who would seduce millions of the faithful to abandon the way of Christ and follow him.

That certainly seems to be happening. In fact, if you took President Lucifer, sat him down, parted that demonic comb-over and checked, you’d probably find the Mark of the Beast, a 666, inscribed in his scalp – although in his case it would be a 333 seeing as how he’s such a halfwit.

What I want to know is, how are the MAGAts going to explain it when the Rapture occurs and they’re all still here? It would almost be worth remaining on Earth to see the expression on their faces when they look around and realize the Jesus Train has left the station and THEY are not aboard.

MAGAts … you got some ’splainin’ to do.

About the author:

Del Stone Jr. is a professional fiction writer. He is known primarily for his work in the contemporary dark fiction field, but has also published science fiction and contemporary fantasy. Stone’s stories, poetry and scripts have appeared in publications such as Amazing Stories, Eldritch Tales, and Bantam-Spectra’s Full Spectrum. His short fiction has been published in The Year’s Best Horror Stories XXII; Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine; the Pocket Books anthology More Phobias; the Barnes & Noble anthologies 100 Wicked Little Witch Stories, Horrors! 365 Scary Stories, and 100 Astounding Little Alien Stories; the HWA anthology Psychos; and other short fiction venues, like Blood Muse, Live Without a Net, Zombiesque and Sex Macabre. Stone’s comic book debut was in the Clive Barker series of books, Hellraiser, published by Marvel/Epic and reprinted in The Best of Hellraiser anthology. He has also published stories in Penthouse Comix, and worked with artist Dave Dorman on many projects, including the illustrated novella “Roadkill,” a short story for the Andrew Vachss anthology Underground from Dark Horse, an ashcan titled “December” for Hero Illustrated, and several of Dorman’s Wasted Lands novellas and comics, such as Rail from Image and “The Uninvited.” Stone’s novel, Dead Heat, won the 1996 International Horror Guild’s award for best first novel and was a runner-up for the Bram Stoker Award. Stone has also been a finalist for the IHG award for short fiction, the British Fantasy Award for best novella, and a semifinalist for the Nebula and Writers of the Future awards. His stories have appeared in anthologies that have won the Bram Stoker Award and the World Fantasy Award. Two of his works were optioned for film, the novella “Black Tide” and short story “Crisis Line.”

Stone recently retired after a 41-year career in journalism. He won numerous awards for his work, and in 1986 was named Florida’s best columnist in his circulation division by the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors. In 2001 he received an honorable mention from the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association for his essay “When Freedom of Speech Ends” and in 2003 he was voted Best of the Best in the category of columnists by Emerald Coast Magazine. He participated in book signings and awareness campaigns, and was a guest on local television and radio programs.

As an addendum, Stone is single, kills tomatoes and morning glories with ruthless efficiency, once tied the stem of a cocktail cherry in a knot with his tongue, and carries a permanent scar on his chest after having been shot with a paintball gun. He’s in his 60s as of this writing but doesn’t look a day over 94.

Contact Del at [email protected]. He is also on Facebook, twitter, Pinterest, tumblr, TikTok, and Instagram. Visit his website at delstonejr.com .

Gilda Radner as Emily Litella on "Saturday Night Live." This is a screen capture from a YouTube video.

Kristi Noem and the leadership at the Department of Homeland Security should see a veterinarian about having their anal glands expressed, because they’re oozing some foul-smelling ideas, like the one that was revealed yesterday.

DHS is actually considering signing off on a reality TV show where immigrants would compete to have their naturalization papers fast-tracked.

It kind of reminds me of a movie I saw back in the ’80s called “The Running Man” with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Richard Dawson. It’s the exact same premise. In fact, we could call this show “The Running Man 2: Make a Run for the Border.”

I’m a little curious though. What kind of competitions would the contestants be participating in?

Would it be something practical, like wall-climbing or tunneling?

Maybe contestants could go around the country, turning in illegal immigrants to ICE and earning points for each person they rat out.

Or perhaps it could be a test to see how well they integrate into American society – let’s see how many fistfights they can get into at a NASCAR event.

It could be a competition to see how many of our benefits they can sign up for illegally – you know, food stamps, welfare, medical.

Or it could be a guestion-and-answer format. Here are some sample questions:

1. Who really won the 2020 election ? (Hint: It wasn’t Joe Biden.)

2. Can you name the four food groups? Sure. McDonald’s, KFC, Panda Express and Taco Bell.

3. Where was Donald J. Trump born? Was it (A) New York City, (B) Washington, D.C., or (c) a little manger in Bethlehem?

I wonder who would sponsor such a show? Maybe a company that makes laxatives.

“Fiber Bran! Add Fiber Bran to your daily intake of Ozempic and Zocor and you’ll be running – not to the border … to the shitter!

“Fiber Bran! It’ll make you feel legal!”

One qualifying factor: You cannot compete on this TV show if the first numeral of your IQ is higher than 7 – oh, wait! That’s to watch the show, not to compete. My bad.

Who knows? Maybe such a show could work.

But I still think Kristi and the leadership at DHS should get those glands expressed.

Like Emily Litella on “Saturday Night Live” used to say:

Bitch.

About the author:

Del Stone Jr. is a professional fiction writer. He is known primarily for his work in the contemporary dark fiction field, but has also published science fiction and contemporary fantasy. Stone’s stories, poetry and scripts have appeared in publications such as Amazing Stories, Eldritch Tales, and Bantam-Spectra’s Full Spectrum. His short fiction has been published in The Year’s Best Horror Stories XXII; Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine; the Pocket Books anthology More Phobias; the Barnes & Noble anthologies 100 Wicked Little Witch Stories, Horrors! 365 Scary Stories, and 100 Astounding Little Alien Stories; the HWA anthology Psychos; and other short fiction venues, like Blood Muse, Live Without a Net, Zombiesque and Sex Macabre. Stone’s comic book debut was in the Clive Barker series of books, Hellraiser, published by Marvel/Epic and reprinted in The Best of Hellraiser anthology. He has also published stories in Penthouse Comix, and worked with artist Dave Dorman on many projects, including the illustrated novella “Roadkill,” a short story for the Andrew Vachss anthology Underground from Dark Horse, an ashcan titled “December” for Hero Illustrated, and several of Dorman’s Wasted Lands novellas and comics, such as Rail from Image and “The Uninvited.” Stone’s novel, Dead Heat, won the 1996 International Horror Guild’s award for best first novel and was a runner-up for the Bram Stoker Award. Stone has also been a finalist for the IHG award for short fiction, the British Fantasy Award for best novella, and a semifinalist for the Nebula and Writers of the Future awards. His stories have appeared in anthologies that have won the Bram Stoker Award and the World Fantasy Award. Two of his works were optioned for film, the novella “Black Tide” and short story “Crisis Line.”

Stone recently retired after a 41-year career in journalism. He won numerous awards for his work, and in 1986 was named Florida’s best columnist in his circulation division by the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors. In 2001 he received an honorable mention from the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association for his essay “When Freedom of Speech Ends” and in 2003 he was voted Best of the Best in the category of columnists by Emerald Coast Magazine. He participated in book signings and awareness campaigns, and was a guest on local television and radio programs.

As an addendum, Stone is single, kills tomatoes and morning glories with ruthless efficiency, once tied the stem of a cocktail cherry in a knot with his tongue, and carries a permanent scar on his chest after having been shot with a paintball gun. He’s in his 60s as of this writing but doesn’t look a day over 94.

Contact Del at [email protected]. He is also on Facebook, twitter, Pinterest, tumblr, TikTok, and Instagram. Visit his website at delstonejr.com .

Image courtesy of NPR.

I’ve been watching with some amusement the debate going on about the “free airplane” Qatar is giving Donald J. Trump.

I don’t know why there’s a debate. The Constitution is unambiguous on the subject.

No, Donald J. Trump cannot accept this “gift,” not unless Congress says it’s OK, or if Trump is putting a match to the Constitution. End of debate.

Some MAGAs, in their typically uninformed cynicism, are saying, “What about the Statue of Liberty? That was a gift from another country.”

I honestly don’t know how some of those people keep from drowning in their own spit.

The Statue of Liberty was a gift to the American people, not the American president. It was vetted and approved by Congress. Comparing the Statue of Liberty to this flying bribe is a false equivalency and the MAGAs need to just shut their damn mouths – they don’t know what they’re talking about.

But let’s say by some complete mangling of law and logic, Trump could accept this “gift.” Would it make sense to do so?

The current Air Force One is 35 years old. It’s a special model 747, not many of which were built. As it nears the end of its service life, parts are becoming scarce and maintenance costs are rising. It makes sense to replace it.

And that’s exactly what’s happening. Boeing is building two Air Force One replacement aircraft at a cost of just over $5 billion. They’re scheduled to enter service in 2027.

Meanwhile, the aircraft being “gifted” to Trump by Qatar is a 13-year-old Boeing 747. To refit it as Air Force One would cost $1 billion or more and take it at least two years, meaning it too would enter service in 2027.

Trump is saying he would use it as Air Force One for a while then park it in front of his presidential library.

If I understand this pretzel logic correctly, we would cancel the new Air Force Ones Boeing is working on and refit the “gifted” 747s, at a cost of $1+ billion but saving some of the $5+ Boeing wants for the new planes … but risking a breach-of-contract lawsuit by Boeing over the canceled order that could cost taxpayers unknown billions of dollars. Then, when his term of office ends Trump would park the “gifted” 747 at his presidential library, leaving the new president with no Air Force One.

Or do we refit the “gifted” 747 at a cost of $1+ billion AND buy the two Air Force Ones Boeing is building at a cost of $5+ billion?

Neither one of those scenarios makes any sense.

None of it matters anyway because by 2027 Trump will be so addled by dementia they’ll have to pour him into a Jell-O mold.

No, what happened is Trump toured the “gifted” plane and caught a look at those gold-plated toilet seats and said, “I gotta have me some of that,” which makes no sense. Does he even use toilets? I thought he just crapped in his pants.

There is no so-called debate. The answer is no. Deal with it. And remember:

Swallow your spit. Don’t try to breathe it.

About the author:

Del Stone Jr. is a professional fiction writer. He is known primarily for his work in the contemporary dark fiction field, but has also published science fiction and contemporary fantasy. Stone’s stories, poetry and scripts have appeared in publications such as Amazing Stories, Eldritch Tales, and Bantam-Spectra’s Full Spectrum. His short fiction has been published in The Year’s Best Horror Stories XXII; Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine; the Pocket Books anthology More Phobias; the Barnes & Noble anthologies 100 Wicked Little Witch Stories, Horrors! 365 Scary Stories, and 100 Astounding Little Alien Stories; the HWA anthology Psychos; and other short fiction venues, like Blood Muse, Live Without a Net, Zombiesque and Sex Macabre. Stone’s comic book debut was in the Clive Barker series of books, Hellraiser, published by Marvel/Epic and reprinted in The Best of Hellraiser anthology. He has also published stories in Penthouse Comix, and worked with artist Dave Dorman on many projects, including the illustrated novella “Roadkill,” a short story for the Andrew Vachss anthology Underground from Dark Horse, an ashcan titled “December” for Hero Illustrated, and several of Dorman’s Wasted Lands novellas and comics, such as Rail from Image and “The Uninvited.” Stone’s novel, Dead Heat, won the 1996 International Horror Guild’s award for best first novel and was a runner-up for the Bram Stoker Award. Stone has also been a finalist for the IHG award for short fiction, the British Fantasy Award for best novella, and a semifinalist for the Nebula and Writers of the Future awards. His stories have appeared in anthologies that have won the Bram Stoker Award and the World Fantasy Award. Two of his works were optioned for film, the novella “Black Tide” and short story “Crisis Line.”

Stone recently retired after a 41-year career in journalism. He won numerous awards for his work, and in 1986 was named Florida’s best columnist in his circulation division by the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors. In 2001 he received an honorable mention from the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association for his essay “When Freedom of Speech Ends” and in 2003 he was voted Best of the Best in the category of columnists by Emerald Coast Magazine. He participated in book signings and awareness campaigns, and was a guest on local television and radio programs.

As an addendum, Stone is single, kills tomatoes and morning glories with ruthless efficiency, once tied the stem of a cocktail cherry in a knot with his tongue, and carries a permanent scar on his chest after having been shot with a paintball gun. He’s in his 60s as of this writing but doesn’t look a day over 94.

Contact Del at [email protected]. He is also on Facebook, twitter, Pinterest, tumblr, TikTok, and Instagram. Visit his website at delstonejr.com .

Image by NOAA.

May 15 marks the beginning of hurricane season in North America, and my concern is that this year will serve to illustrate the disservice provided to the residents of the Gulf of Mexico coastline and the Eastern Seaboard by the Trump regime.

Hurricane season typically runs from June 1 to November 30, but due to the unusual number of storms forming in May, the National Hurricane Center has begun to post its daily tropical weather updates starting on May 15.

This is a direct result of climate change, something Donald Trump has dismissed as a hoax.

Today, storms are forming in May. I expect the day will come when hurricanes form every month of the year.

Additionally, the number of storms forming is increasing. The ferocity of storms is increasing. Episodes of rapid intensification are increasing. Hurricanes are moving more slowly and producing more intense rainfall.

These changes are a result of climate change.

I know as sure as I’m sitting here that some people will, as Trump has, deny the reality of climate change. I encourage you not to listen to them. Climate change is real, it’s happening, and human beings are causing it.

This year is expected to be a more active hurricane season, a condition that has existed since 1995, when virtually every season became hyperactive. What isn’t known is the quality of forecasting this year.

The Trump regime, and Elon Musk, cut 1,300 jobs from the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, parent agency of the National Hurricane Center. We don’t know if those cuts will affect the accuracy of hurricane forecasts, but officials say the number of recon flights into storms will most likely be reduced, and that’s how we get the best data.

We also don’t know how the government will respond to a hurricane disaster. That’s because the Trump regime and Musk have cut hundreds of jobs from FEMA. Will the agency be able to handle a disaster like Hurricane Ivan? We don’t know.

Additionally, if you live in Florida and use the state-provided pool for windstorm insurance, you should be aware the state is one strong hurricane away from insolvency. There may not be any money for you to repair your house.

My advice to anybody living along the Gulf of Mexico coastline and the Eastern Seaboard is to be prepared. Have your evacuation plans in place, and your supplies on hand – water, food, medications and batteries sufficient to last you several days should you be without electricity or transportation.

Climate change is real, and the storms are coming.

About the author:

Del Stone Jr. is a professional fiction writer. He is known primarily for his work in the contemporary dark fiction field, but has also published science fiction and contemporary fantasy. Stone’s stories, poetry and scripts have appeared in publications such as Amazing Stories, Eldritch Tales, and Bantam-Spectra’s Full Spectrum. His short fiction has been published in The Year’s Best Horror Stories XXII; Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine; the Pocket Books anthology More Phobias; the Barnes & Noble anthologies 100 Wicked Little Witch Stories, Horrors! 365 Scary Stories, and 100 Astounding Little Alien Stories; the HWA anthology Psychos; and other short fiction venues, like Blood Muse, Live Without a Net, Zombiesque and Sex Macabre. Stone’s comic book debut was in the Clive Barker series of books, Hellraiser, published by Marvel/Epic and reprinted in The Best of Hellraiser anthology. He has also published stories in Penthouse Comix, and worked with artist Dave Dorman on many projects, including the illustrated novella “Roadkill,” a short story for the Andrew Vachss anthology Underground from Dark Horse, an ashcan titled “December” for Hero Illustrated, and several of Dorman’s Wasted Lands novellas and comics, such as Rail from Image and “The Uninvited.” Stone’s novel, Dead Heat, won the 1996 International Horror Guild’s award for best first novel and was a runner-up for the Bram Stoker Award. Stone has also been a finalist for the IHG award for short fiction, the British Fantasy Award for best novella, and a semifinalist for the Nebula and Writers of the Future awards. His stories have appeared in anthologies that have won the Bram Stoker Award and the World Fantasy Award. Two of his works were optioned for film, the novella “Black Tide” and short story “Crisis Line.”

Stone recently retired after a 41-year career in journalism. He won numerous awards for his work, and in 1986 was named Florida’s best columnist in his circulation division by the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors. In 2001 he received an honorable mention from the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association for his essay “When Freedom of Speech Ends” and in 2003 he was voted Best of the Best in the category of columnists by Emerald Coast Magazine. He participated in book signings and awareness campaigns, and was a guest on local television and radio programs.

As an addendum, Stone is single, kills tomatoes and morning glories with ruthless efficiency, once tied the stem of a cocktail cherry in a knot with his tongue, and carries a permanent scar on his chest after having been shot with a paintball gun. He’s in his 60s as of this writing but doesn’t look a day over 94.

Contact Del at [email protected]. He is also on Facebook, twitter, Pinterest, tumblr, TikTok, and Instagram. Visit his website at delstonejr.com .