FROM TUDOR POISON PLOTS TO BIG PHARMA LIES! One family. Five centuries. The deadliest secret. History remembers the poison. But not the testers. GENE SCOTT 1521: A Tudor poison tester risks everything to protect the crown. 2025: An Appalachian researcher
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility…” Eighth grade, 1970s Illinois. Six weeks to memorize the preamble, the Gettysburg Address, and pass the Constitution test—or spend another
—MAGA Civil War Erupts Over Epstein Files July 16, 2025 In an extraordinary rebuke of his own base, President Donald Trump lashed out at supporters demanding transparency about the Jeffrey Epstein investigation files, calling them “weaklings” and declaring he
Barbie, Superman, and the Snowflake Apocalypse When grown men with law degrees are lighting dolls on fire for YouTube views, something’s broken in America. The Man of Steel vs. The Outrage Machine James Gunn committed an unforgivable sin. He called
The Man Who Trusts No One: Inside Trump’s Hall of Mirrors Mar-a-Lago after dark. AC humming. Fox News on mute. He’s sitting there scrolling through his phone, watching his old buddies rat him out one by one. “Meadows testified to
Another Bait. Another Switch. The list exists. They buried it. And now they’re acting like we imagined the whole thing. No names, no files, no blackmail. Just another late-night memo with no signature and a pile of silence behind it.
In an age where private jets leave longer contrails than government accountability, and bunkers are booked out faster than therapy sessions, a singular fear unites the ultra-wealthy: the guillotine. Once a symbol of justice for the oppressed, the blade has
In a world where water is memory and hope is rationed by the drop, a mysterious transmission leads three scavengers across the wasteland toward an impossible tower floating in the sky. Above them, immortal aristocrats dine endlessly at an eternal
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Trump’s Budget 2025 & The Chainsaw Cuts to Medicare and Medicaid: What’s Really Happening? Excerpt: Trump’s 2025 budget talks a big game about protecting Medicare and Medicaid—but the numbers tell another story. From GOP-driven block grants to Musk-inspired privatization pushes,
Some kids never really grow out of who they are—they just grow into it. My son was one of those kids. From the time he could walk, he was outside, chasing trails, building things, and throwing himself into whatever captured
Modern Patriotism in Crisis: National Identity, Nostalgia, and the American Myth Let’s talk about modern patriotism in America. Not the sticker-on-a-truck kind. Not the TikTok “1776 vibes” kind. Not the brand with bald eagles screaming over trap beats. I’m talking
by Gene Scott Ruby Freeman and the Fragility of American Democracy In 2020, Georgia election worker Ruby Freeman dedicated her efforts to helping her community vote. She never expected to become a symbol of democracy’s fragility. After being falsely
Elon Musk built his empire by betting on the future. So why is he selling a dead-end, self-defeating argument on foreign aid? His attacks on USAID—America’s food and development assistance program—aren’t just misinformed. They’re a sales pitch wrapped in a
Tennessee, we have a problem. And it’s not some distant tragedy, not some “big city” violence we can ignore. It’s here. It’s in our schools. Our grocery stores. Our homes. We whisper Second Amendment prayers while we bury our babies.
Elon Musk’s Power, Politics, and the Cracks Beneath Leonardo DiCaprio stands at the bow of the Titanic, arms spread wide, wind in his face, shouting, “I’m king of the world!” It’s an iconic moment—one of triumph, confidence, and limitless ambition.
I wrote this song two months ago — but as soon as it was recorded — a female graduate student at ETSU was stuck by a car on a quiet street near my church. Now, I’d like to dedicate this tune
by Herman Garcia In the Tri-Cities area, we face a significant issue with racial profiling by law enforcement. This problem became painfully clear during the trial of the eight immigrant farm workers arrested in Washington County. The outcome of this
(Note: We’re following up our recent blog “The Story of Howard Atkins” with Howard’s advice to anyone headed to one of the worst prisons in the United States. Managed by CoreCivic, this facility may be a glimpse into the near-future
By Phil Gray In the early hours of September 16, 1814, as smoke from the British bombardment choked the sky over Baltimore Harbor, Francis Scott Key stood on the deck of a ship, his heart pounding with uncertainty. The night
I met Howard Atkins in 2016 during a Kairos (Christian ministry) weekend at Northeast Correctional Complex near Mountain City, Tennessee. Later, when I began teaching creative writing at the same facility, Howard quickly became one of the most entertaining writers
As a bicyclist / songwriter who’s undergone three (3) knee replacements, this popped into my head today as I rode to the post office dodging pizza delivery men. Don’t Hit Me [Verse 1] (D) I’m just a biker in this
We’ve been fooled before, but we don’t have to be fooled again. The power is in our hands, if only we’re brave enough to use it.
Here is the latest video. (Copyright MSNBC). I apologize for laughing. Seriously: We need to pray for this poor guy. I’m not being ironic. I’m not putting my tongue in my cheek. I’m serious. When you are this deep in
ALERT! Let’s play The Republican Game and foment chaos instead of working for the American people: John Wayne Gacy and JD Vance appear to be brothers! JD is eating your aunts! JD is eating your uncles! JD is eating your
Kerpow! He now lives in a battle zone of his own making. Where truth and lies collide: the air thick with dread, fear, old Fox Ladies Shaking. The storm he unleashed, with words sharp and raking: Vermin! The ground beneath
Nobody’s ever seen anything like this, folks. Nobody. No president, no leader—nobody’s had to deal with what I’ve dealt with. But look at what’s coming, folks. It’s worse than ever. It’s going to be bad—really bad. You know who’s going
In their early twenties, Robb and Gene were thrust into a world where technology had become an inescapable presence. AI assistants were no longer just tools; they had become integral parts of daily life—helpers, companions, even confidants. This shift fascinated
I used to think that word-lovers like me had to awaken those with honest minds to rethink their loyalty to a television “personality” with no redeeming qualities, no real love for anything on this lovely planet — especially a spiritual
Was pleasantly surprised last night by Josh Shapiro’s and Tim Walz’s speeches. There is hope! They both see the lunacy in the opposition’s policy of continuously fomenting hate and division. They both clearly exude joy, happiness, optimism, and delight in
Governor Bill Lee of Tennessee, an ultra-conservative state in the heart of the Bible Belt, has banned the Bible in Tennessee prisons along with all other literature. How do I know this? I regularly send books to inmates via Amazon
This video honors our classmates we’ll miss at our Western High School (Buda, Illinois) 50th High School Reunion this summer. You are not forgotten. And we’re all on the freight train.
Happy Mother’s Day! This is celebration of the special life of Lana Ferguson Scott, born in the mountains of East Tennessee in 1948. She was the first female sales rep in the field selling plastic for Eastman Chemical back in
Dear Editor, The Saturday paper listed The Wager as the current #1 non-fiction bestseller, and I’m enjoying the true story, a frightening account of life at sea in the 1700s. Ironically, it mirrors current U.S. politics. Each sailor crewing an
The Big Guy is always available. Reminders are everywhere we look. But we must first let Him in. He believes in our freedom to choose for ourselves. And He won’t step on our freedom, like others will. Beware of fake
If you are too weak to handle a large-caliber, bolt-action rifle or join the military, there is always Viagra.
This cover of the BB King classic is dedicated to Facebook, Fox News, and the Republican Party, which I used to admire when truth and democracy reigned.
Wrote this song on 6-5-23, the twenty-first anniversary of my brother’s death. Miss him. ~ James Mitchell Scott 10/8/59 – 6/5/2002 ~
Verse 1 Woke up this morning With coffee on my mind, But a bad boy in the pipeline Put my plans in a bind. When the toilet roll spun empty, A thought crossed my mind: How many more rolls Before
I’ve never shared an entry from my personal diary before, but today I got up and read the newspaper and discovered: On November 8, 1923, Adolf Hitler launched his first attempt at seizing power in Germany with a failed coup
My wife and I bought an old house – built in 1940 and composed of drill-proof Portland cement, two-by-sixes that are actually 2” by 6”, and hand-mixed plaster applied by master craftsmen – but outside it’s noisy with a busy
In high school, I worked two summers on the Hennepin Canal, a relic of the 19th Century connecting the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers allowing mules to pull barges from Rock Island to Chicago. Although it was a “failure” — due
Looked like the GOP would gather new seats in the mid-terms. They had it nearly sewn up. But then they stripped constitutional rights and freedoms from 1/2 of all voters. Uh. Followed that up by castrating the EPA and ensuring
You should read it! It’s a gruesome yet beautiful, redeeming love story about this crazy homeless liberal dude with long hair, one set of clothes, and dirty sandals who possesses an open heart, and an open mind, and then
Growing up on a hog farm, I saw hogs eat each other. Especially when the “lunch” hog was sick, injured, or different in any way. Every now and then you saw a hog born with both set of genitals. Hermaphrodites
Review of Jellybeaners by Fine Brand » 14 Apr 2022 Children are crying and in shock. Vane Sarge Walker arrives at the scene along with the Mount Vernon Volunteer Fire Department. Ashley, a three-year-old, seems to be the current victim of the pill
[zoomsounds_player artistname=”Gene Scott” songname=”A True Story” config=”default” type=”audio” dzsap_meta_source_attachment_id=”4339″ source=”https://genescottbooksdotcom.wpcomstaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/A-true-story.-41722-2.55-PM.mp3″ post_content=’none’ cover=”https://genescottbooksdotcom.wpcomstaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/IMG_7619-scaled.jpeg” autoplay=”off” loop=”off” play_in_footer_player=”default” enable_download_button=”off” enable_downloads_counter=”off” download_custom_link_enable=”off” open_in_ultibox=”off”] A child desperately ill with stomach cancer was at the end of his life. Doctors had tried everything to no avail.
Dear Readers, I teach creative writing two days a month at a local state prison: Northeast Correctional Complex, Mountain City, Tennessee. I wrote a column here about The Lifer’s Club, and how they serve the community. A letter recently arrived from
Fifteen years ago, a close friend of ours in Southern Illinois, Dana Simpson – a dedicated nurse who devoted thirty years to caring for others – came down with COPD. This disease chewed her up one inch at a time
Motorcycling is a genetic thread running through my family’s history. Grandfather Lawrence “Goofy” Scott delivered moonshine during Prohibition on a 1920 Harley Model J, bragging he could ride standing on the seat with both arms extended horizontally for balance —
One of our church pastors – we’re blessed with a tag-team, a hard-working couple with big hearts, and vivacious children – decided to make a video on biblical justice for a sermon series, and asked me to contribute due to
Dear Readers, Here’s the latest cut, inspired by a motorcycle ride through lovely Western North Carolina. Thanks for listening, praying, and washing your hands! Jesus and Germs My buddy and I Took a long motorcycle ride Through North Carolina one
We complain, blame God for Pain. Forget to give thanks for Pleasure. We suffer floods, curse His name, Forget to praise the sprouting Grain. Our world seethes in Yin, While gushing gracious Yang, Equal parts solace, Equal parts stain. His
Giorgia – a graduate school girlfriend – elevated her quiet nature into an imminent road hazard whenever we strolled down the sidewalk. Male drivers – necks straining, eyeballs bulging—often smashed into telephone poles or clipped fire hydrants as we sauntered
Travel may be the one expense that makes us richer. Although it is often fraught with short-term displeasure, the long-term effect – if you survive – is brain enhancing, life-rewarding. Thirty-five years ago, my bride-of-one-day and I climbed aboard a
A letter and booklet arrived in the mail this morning from the little Midwestern town where I grew up, the village mortician reminding me that a year has passed since my mother’s death. I did not need reminding. This mailing
When Jellybeaners appeared in 2017 the overall death toll linked to opioids was 40,000 Americans per year. Now? It’s topping 50,000. Here are the current statistics about the opioid epidemic from the National Drug Helpline: OPIOID ABUSE AND ADDICTION STATISTICS
The UK music site Tinnitist added The Tongues, and Potato Heads to its Top 100 Playlist. Click the logos for the entire album.
My first album will be released Friday 12 March. Available at the outlets below. Had no intention of doing this, but two factors led to its creation: 1) the closing of libraries that thwarted the novel I was working on;
Have you ever noticed how everything is political now? Even Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head. So let’s focus on what’s important! Plastic! Tater heads! Mr. Tater Head. He’s in the news. Mr. Tater Head. Mrs. Tater Head She’s political. Mrs.
Pearl was my first recording, issued seven years ago (4-2014). Verse 1 Justin was tired of it all, though he was only seventeen. Little Queenie – his sister – drove him crazy and his brother was a drunk Marine. His
Where are truth and love? Where are we now? Where has America gone? Where are we now? Is this the swan song? Where have the morals gone? Taught from above? Where are the morals now? Where are truth and love?
We are a beacon. Once again. Verse 1 People sat on their hands in ’16.Didn’t care much for the Democratic Queen.But now their eyes are open once again. (Turn Around)And they turned out in droves to defend.What makes America the
Lynyrd Skynyrd When I was twenty-three, I found myself unemployed and living in my girlfriend’s room in her parents’ beautiful brick home on the South Side of Chicago in an affluent white neighborhood slipping into descent after the M.L.K. riots
Whether we buy into the idea that humans are a virus or not doesn’t matter. What matters is how we react to the situation.
The church I attend is extremely generous with its time, talent, and resources, but it wasn’t always this way. When my wife and I joined in 1990, many of the congregants were “intellectuals” from the university (myself included) who thought
A certified rock star, whose stage apparel and song lists hang in Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame, graced Johnson City’s Down Home Saturday night on February 8th to promote Stand Tall, an homage to Jason and the Scorcher’s 1996
My son and his fiancé asked us over for a tasty mid-morning outdoor breakfast –– her parents were visiting on their way to Texas –– so we enjoyed smoked bacon, mixed fresh fruit, and recently-gathered eggs next to a large
Our church family now publishes amateur photographs — scenes inspired by the Holy Spirit — on its social media site. The response has been heartwarming, and immediate. The visual world — shared through photographs since its invention in the mid-1820’s
Lots of bluster and fear mongering from the White House these days over immigration while the nation passes the potato chips and gazes mindlessly at videos of kids in cages, a few possibly sold to white slavers after their paperwork
I’m now teaching a creative writing class to an interesting group of folk who spend large portions of their day reading and scribbling, so they’re better writers than I am. No surprise there. After thirty years in the classroom, I
My energetic wife and I retired years ago, and we’re good at being together. A big house helps, and we both like holing up in our own space for long periods. We genuinely like being together, debating current events, comparing
Grape-land never made our bucket list. We assumed it was hot, humid, dirty, overrun with tourists, smelly, and rife with Gypsies rifling pockets. All that’s true … Then a life-long friend retired, snagged a timeshare in Cortona, Tuscany, and invited
When I was twenty-three, I found myself unemployed, and living in my girlfriend’s room in her parents’ beautiful brick house on the South Side of Chicago in an affluent white neighborhood slipping into descent after the M.L.K. riots of 1968.
Whenever my life begins to feel too “cushy” – which is often since I’m a spoiled American Baby Booming corpulent white male with a loving/doting wife, a squared-away son, a reasonably functional family, early retirement, and a supportive church family
You can’t make up this sort of thing. People would laugh and throw disgusting objects at you for inserting blatant — although natural — irony into fiction. Trash talkers blocked every good thing President Obama tried to do for eight
Following a two-month visit to Western Illinois this fall – helping my active mother recuperate from hip surgery – my wife Lana and I were free to drive back to Tennessee any way we chose. Pumped up on Jim Harrison’s
Review by Aimee Jodoin (November 8, 2017)
