Category: Products

Support My Right-Wing Culture

The Portly PoliticoLeave a comment

Yesterday I encouraged readers to “Support Right-Wing Culture“; the thesis of my argument was that there are conservatives who create amazing art, but who languish in obscurity.  Meanwhile, we’ll complain that don’t have any cultural products compared to the Left while also paying for a DailyWire+ subscription so Ben Shapiro can buy another ivory kippah. (but, by all means, have a DW+ subscription, just also be willing to spend five or ten bucks a month on smaller creators).

Ben Shapiro doesn’t need your money or your emotional support (although his plummeting viewership may suggest otherwise).  His wife (like mine) is a doctor, after all.  Quite frankly, he doesn’t deserve it, either:  it’s pretty clear he hates the very people he purports to support.  However, conservatives are willing to give him $9 a month, but will balk at the idea of spending $9 a month to support a small creator, for whom that $9 could be extremely impactful.

But I digress.  Plenty of other people can (and have, and should) poke fun at Ben Shapiro.  My point here is to discuss ways we can build each other up—and build a lasting cultural legacy.

To that end, I highlighted a few creators yesterday (note that a lot of the links to come are Amazon Affiliate links; I receive a portion of the purchases made through these links, at no additional cost to you):

There are several other creators I failed to mention yesterday; to wit:

And that’s just a start!  There are people who are really trying to create new, original, cool stuff.

I’d like to think I am one of them.  All of the folks mentioned above are far more talented and driven than yours portly, but I’d like to think I have created some unique culture in my doughy life.  So, here are some of the ways you can support my contributions to right-wing culture:

  • Buy my stuff in the Based Book Sale short stories sale, starting tomorrow, Wednesday, 18 March 2026 (they’ll be $0.99 each from 18-25 March 2026)
  • Buy my music on Bandcamp using promo code moving to take 90% off your purchase
  • Download my instrumental piece “π” for free (just type in “$0” when “purchasing” and put in your e-mail address)
  • Check out my YouTube channel (and like, subscribe, and comment—all of which are free ways to support the channel)
  • Buy my books (and write a review—it takes only a few minutes and helps a lot)
  • Subscribe to/follow me on Substack (for free or with a paid subscription)
  • Subscribe to my SubscribeStar page (for as little as $1 a month, which is probably too cheap)
  • Share blog posts (including this one) to your friends, family, etc.
  • Stream my music (on Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, and more)

Almost all of those items can be replicated for the other creators mentioned herein.  None of them take very long.  Many of them are free!

It doesn’t take much.  I know money is tight and we’re probably staring down the start of the Third World War (or everything fine will be in another week—no need to panic), but everyone can afford five bucks a month to support a creator.  Sacrifice one meal out and you’ve saved enough buy a couple of books or Substack subscriptions.

We conservatives need to step up and actually support—financially, morally, and culturally—our own people.  The Left has built entire institutions to propagate their worldview, such as it is.

We don’t have to let them have a stranglehold on creating cool stuff.  There is more to life than grilling and Kid Rock concerts and Ben Shapiro’s nasally commentary.

So dig deep and do the bare minimum to support the creators in your life (and, if you see fit, me, even though I just lectured you).

God Bless!

—TPP

Flashback Friday^16: Brack Friday Bunduru: Workers Need a Break

The Portly PoliticoLeave a comment

When I first wrote about workers needed Thanksgiving Day off, I was experiencing pretty severe burnout myself.  I do still believe that the Black Friday creeping into Thanksgiving is reprehensible, but I also realize my own stress was playing a role in my analysis.

Of course, this Black Friday I’m bunduru’d with Dr. Wife on the high seas, so I’m absolutely getting a break.  Indeed, I might be eating pizza covered in gravy and leftover turkey from last night’s onboard Thanksgiving feast (I assume we had one; I’m writing this post way beforehand).  While I’m enjoying the Thanksgiving Lover’s Pizza, though, millions are schlepping into retail stores at 4 AM to help grannies save pennies on toaster ovens.

Well, who doesn’t love a good deal?  But a better deal would be shuttering retailers all day on Thanksgiving so employees can rest up and spend time with family before being berated by penny-pinching Karens.

With that, here is 25 November 2022’s “Flashback Friday^4: Brack Friday Bunduru: Workers Need a Break“:

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TBT^4: Zelda Game & Watch

The Portly PoliticoLeave a comment

On 2 May 2022 I purchased the legendary Zelda Game & Watch by Nintendo (that link is an Amazon Affiliate link, which means I receive a portion of any purchases made through that link, at no additional cost to you).  It’s a small, handheld device that has the first Zelda games, as well as the Gameboy’s classic Link’s Awakening.  It also functions as a clock, which is kind of cool, too.

I wrote a very long post about the unit back on 31 May 2022, lovingly detailing the wild nostalgia trip the unit sparked.  Honestly, 2022 seems like the distant past, and it was only three years ago!  Regardless, I still have the unit, and while I am clearing out a lot of my old technology, I don’t have any immediate plans to sell this bad boy.

If you’re a gamer and you appreciate the classic Zelda games, I highly recommend you grab the unit.  It’s currently $53.93 on Amazon (again, that’s an affiliate link), but it’s worth every penny.  Considering most video games now are at least $60 brand new, that’s a steal.

Or you can live vicariously through this massive reblog for free.

With that, here is 23 May 2024’s “TBT^2: Zelda Game & Watch“:

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May 2025 Bandcamp Friday!

The Portly PoliticoLeave a comment

Pickup my newest release, Leftovers IV!  Get 80% off with promo code ham.  That’s 80% off ANYTHING and EVERYTHING on my Bandcamp page, including the album, full discography purchases, merch, etc.!

Want to play the sax?  Read my ultimate guide to getting started for under $350.

Wanna be utterly perplexed while laughing uproariously?  Grab a copy of my first book, The One-Minute Mysteries of Inspector Gerard: The Ultimate Flatfoot (that’s an Amazon Affiliate link, so I’ll receive a portion of any purchase made through that link, at no additional cost to you—plus I’ll get the book royalties).

My latest EP, Leftovers IV, released a couple of weeks ago.  It’s $5, but with promo code ham it’s only $1.  My full discography typically goes for $72.14, but with promo code ham it’s $14.23, or roughly $0.55 per release.  Twenty-six albums, constituting over eight hours of music, for $0.55 per release is ludicrous.

But it’s even better—if you purchase anything from Bandcamp today (Friday, 2 May 2025), Bandcamp does not take their 15% cut.  I get more money, and you get insane amounts of music for pennies on the dollar.  That’s the beauty of Bandcamp Friday!

As I detailed a few weeks ago, yours portly needs your financial support.  Purchasing my music is one way you can help—and enjoy some enigmatic tunes in the process!

Happy Friday!

—TPP

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Short Sax Starter Pack Recommendation

The Portly PoliticoLeave a comment

My students and I will head to the annual SCISA Music Festival tomorrow, and I’ve been trying lately to book more gigs playing the saxophone, and it’s gotten me thinking about the Slade alto saxophone I purchased last year (that link—and most of the others in this post—is an Amazon Affiliate link; I receive a portion of any purchases made through that and other links, at no additional cost to you).  It’s been a very good saxophone, and I’m prepared to recommend it to potential budget sax shoppers, with one major caveat.

This post is intended as a guide for parents looking to buy an affordable alto saxophone for their child, or for a later-in-life beginner who wants to get into the instrument without too much cost.  If you follow my advice, you should be able to kit yourself or your child out with a decent, budget load-out for under $350.

For those of you stumbling upon this post, I’ll briefly introduce myself:  I’ve been playing saxophone for nearly thirty years, and have been teaching music nearly full-time for fifteen years.  I also teach a ton of private music lessons, and have helped a number of families find affordable, quality instruments over the years.  I’m not a pro saxophonist, but I know a lot about them, and I love the instrument.

A quick note:  many school music programs will have a rental program set up with a local music shop.  These rental programs are not worth it.  You’ll end up spending way more money over time, even if you’re doing a rent-to-own situation.  If money is an issue, set aside $50 a month for six months, and you’ll be able to afford everything I’m recommending here.  Save another $25, and you’ll be able to afford the reeds I’m recommending (the Slade comes with reeds; more on that below).  If you child is starting band in the fall, start saving now, and you’ll be fine by September.

I detail the pros and cons of the sax and various accessories.  For my list of recommended items to purchase (the sax and accessories), scroll to the bottom of the post.

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TBT^4: Getting Medieval… with LEGO

The Portly Politico4 Comments

Yours portly is forty-years old, but still suffers from a crippling LEGO habit.  Perhaps my saving grace is that I am so busy, I don’t have much time to sit down and assemble these massive LEGO sets.  I have some awesome ones from Christmas that I still need to dig into and build.

My first really big set meant for “adults” was the one featured in this old piece.  It’s a pretty cool “medieval” blacksmith’s shop.  It was an absolute blast to build, and took me several hours across a couple of days.

Note that the posts below may contain Amazon Affiliate links; I honestly can’t remember.  If they are there, and you make a purchase through those links, I get a portion of the proceeds, at no additional cost to you.  Amazon requires me to write that, so I’m covering my butt to appease a corporate megalodon.

With that, here is 8 February 2024’s “TBT^2: Getting Medieval… with LEGO“:

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PRISM Out Today!

The Portly PoliticoLeave a comment

My new album, PRISM, is out today, Friday, 7 February 2025. Use promo code “photon” to get 20% off this release, my biggest and longest to date!

PRISM follows the journey of a single photon through the spectrum of light, flashing from darkness through the dazzling light and color of the rainbow.

The entire album clocks in at fifty minutes, and features my longest composition to date, the title track, “PRISM.” It also comes packed with bonus material, including the following:

  • Full PDF scores of each piece!
  • Unique artwork!
  • Original, handwritten manuscript scores!
  • Original music videos for nine of the eleven tracks!

PRISM is a conceptual musical journey that encourages deep, meditative listening. It also makes for good background music if that’s more your speed.

PRISM is available on the following platforms:

Remember, use promo code “photon” for 20% off!

Happy Listening!

TBT: Stone Cold Sunday

The Portly PoliticoLeave a comment

With the dawn of the Second Trumpian Golden Age, I’ve been reflecting a bit about the First.  Trump’s first administration, in retrospect, was less-focused and more carnival-esque than what his second appears to be.  Trump is a wiser man, and knows who he can—and cannot—trust.

But part of the fun of the first Trump presidency was the cavalcade of grifters, courtiers, and hangers-on who hitched their wagon to Trump’s star.

One of those was Roger Stone, who actually was an important figure while also embodying the kind of naughty, playful, mirthful, bawdy side of the Trump phenomenon.  I wrote a review of his book Stone’s Rules: How to Win at Politics, Business, and Style back in 2019, and it seemed like an appropriate time to revisit it.

Note that the link above is an Amazon Affiliate link; if you purchase anything through that link, I receive a portion of the proceeds, at no additional cost to you.  I’m required to point that out.

With that, here is 10 February 2019’s “Stone Cold Sunday“:

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December 2024 Bandcamp Friday

The Portly PoliticoLeave a comment

Pickup my newest release: Leftovers III!  Use promo code ziggurat to take an additional 20% off all purchases on Bandcamp!  Code expires at 11:59 PM UTC on Tuesday, 31 December 2024.

Ah, yes, Bandcamp Friday has returned, which means I hope you will consider pitching in a few bucks to buy my music—or my second book!  It’s the most magical Friday of the month!

The first Friday of a bunch of months in 2024 will feature this pro-indie music observance, a day on which Bandcamp waives its usual 15% commission on sales.  Today (Friday, 6 December 2024) is the last Bandcamp Friday of the year.

In other words, when you buy my music, almost 100% of it goes to me, instead of almost 85%.

My full discography is 50% off (and the 20% promo code ziggurat can be used for that, too), so it’s only $59.64 to purchase twenty-three releases.  That’s just $2.59 per release—and dozens of hours of music, not to mention hundreds of megabytes of musical scores, artwork, liner notes, videos, and other goodies that are packed onto nearly every release.

With the 20% promo code ziggurat the total comes down to $47.71, or $2.07 per release.

Thank you for your support, and rock on!

—TPP

Leftovers III Out Today!

The Portly PoliticoLeave a comment

Pickup my newest release: Leftovers III!  Use promo code ziggurat to take an additional 20% off all purchases on Bandcamp!  Code expires at 11:59 PM UTC on Tuesday, 31 December 2024.

My tenth album of the year is out today, Leftovers III.  Technically, it’s just an EP, but whatever—I’m proud of it, and I think you’ll enjoy it.

It’s just five bucks on Bandcamp, and with promo code ziggurat it’s an additional 20% off (indeed, that 20% off applies to everything on Bandcamp).  My entire discography is $59.64; with 20% off, that’s just $47.71 for twenty-two albums, or about $2.17 per release.  Dang!

Barring some sudden boost of inspirado, Leftovers III will be my last release for 2024.  I set a goal for myself to release ten albums and/or EPs this year, and I’ve achieved it.  I don’t know if 2025 will feature ten albums (probably not), but I’ll definitely be releasing more music at some point next year.

If you’re the streaming type, you can find LIII at the following services:

And pretty much anywhere else where music is streamed.

Here’s hoping everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving!  Enjoy these leftovers.

Happy Listening!

—TPP