New Books

by Travis Prinzi on January 3, 2009

radicalsforcapitalismI love new books, and I love Christmas, because I always get new books, or gift cards for new books.  This year, I’m planning to read as though my entire sustenance were pages and ink. I’ve just finished spending my gift card money at Borders and Barnes & Noble, and here’s my official Christmas book haul:

Share/Save/Bookmark

{ 4 comments }

2008 Books Read

by Travis Prinzi on December 31, 2008

Share/Save/Bookmark

{ 2 comments }

Merry Christmas!

by Travis Prinzi on December 25, 2008

A Christmas poem from George MacDonald:

“Mary’s Lullaby”

Babe Jesus lay in Mary’s lap;
The sun shone on his hair;
And this was how she saw, mayhap,
The crown already there.

For she sang, “Sleep on my little king;
Bad Herod does not come;
Before thee, sleeping, holy thing,
The wild winds would be dumb.

“For thou art king of men, my son.
Thy crown I see it plain;
And men shall worship thee, every one,
And cry, Glory! Amen.

Babe Jesus opened his eyes so wide!
And Mary looked her Lord.
And Mary ended her song and sighed,
Babe Jesus never said a word.

Share/Save/Bookmark

{ 0 comments }

My book, Harry Potter & Imagination: The Way Between Two Worlds, is now available for purchase at Amazon.com!

Endorsements:

“Harry Potter & Imagination offers a challenging and rewarding tour of the inspirations for and meanings behind J.K. Rowling’s lauded series. Travis Prinzi ably explores how the Harry Potter books satisfy fundamental human yearnings, utilize mythological archetypes, and embody their author’s social vision. From Arthurian romance and Lovecraftian horror to postmodernism and political theory, Prinzi provides new insights into the Harry Potter phenomenon. Harry Potter & Imagination will not only fascinate and entertain readers, but will also convince them that fairy tales matter.”

~ Dr. Amy H. Sturgis, editor of Past Watchful Dragons

“There is no more insightful commenter on the Harry Potter novels than Travis Prinzi - and Harry Potter & Imagination is an ideal showcase for his original thinking and lucid writing. This trail-blazing guidebook into the world of Harry Potter - showing the imaginative way between two worlds - is a must read.”

~ John Granger, author of The Deathly Hallows Lectures

Order your copy of Harry Potter & Imagination today!

Share/Save/Bookmark

{ 0 comments }

Meet Moses

by Travis Prinzi on December 16, 2008

We’ll be picking him up on December 23.

Share/Save/Bookmark

{ 2 comments }

Outer “Space”

by Travis Prinzi on December 14, 2008

Hubble images confirm what C.S. Lewis suspected years ago - “space” is an awful name for the universe outside of our own little planet.

Check out the Hubble Space Telescope Advent calendar.

HT to iMonk.

Share/Save/Bookmark

{ 1 comment }

Win a Free Copy of My Book

by Travis Prinzi on November 28, 2008

Follow this link to find out how!

Share/Save/Bookmark

{ 0 comments }

Happy T

by Travis Prinzi on November 27, 2008

Horpy Tor!   (Anyone?  Anyone?  Jon, keep quiet)

We’re closing in on December, the early portion of which I named as the time in which I’d start blogging here more regularly.  A few more weeks of schoolwork, and I’ll be back here.

I just wanted to say I’m thankful for the folks who keep checking back here and stay subscribed despite the low frequency of posts.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Share/Save/Bookmark

{ 0 comments }

Pat Buchanan has a helpful post at The American Conservative summarizing the last century of international relations on the economy, including Bretton Woods (1944) and the dropping of the gold standard (1971) and makes some predictions about how the U.S. might respond to European plans to renew a globalized economy (”screw you”).

Also, I’ve been meaning to link this - I’m trying (unsuccessfully so far) to work my way through The Bailout Reader at the Mises Institute.  The Mises folks are Austrian school, free market economists.  (And by “free,” I don’t mean, “sorta kinda free but not really, especially when the economy’s in the crapper”).

Share/Save/Bookmark

{ 0 comments }

Banner Width

by Travis Prinzi on November 9, 2008

Question:

The banner - does it spill over onto the gray border on the right side of the page?  If so, what browser are you using?

Share/Save/Bookmark

{ 9 comments }

Happy Guy Fawkes Day!

by Travis Prinzi on November 5, 2008

Happy Guy Fawkes Day to all who protest against the bloating, oppressive power of government.

Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I can think of no reason
Why the Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.

Share/Save/Bookmark

{ 0 comments }

The video is something put together by a high school student, but it’s actually pretty funny.  Here’s your history lesson of the 1844 election by They Might Be Giants:

Share/Save/Bookmark

{ 1 comment }

Because I haven’t directly plugged it here yet:

You can pre-order my book, Harry Potter & Imagination: The Way Between Two Worlds!

Click here for description and table of contents.

Click here for a short podcast on the book.

I spoke at another Harry Potter conference this past weekend, and here are some photos.

Share/Save/Bookmark

{ 0 comments }

Update: Read iMonk’s Whine and Sheesh Party.  Excellent stuff, from someone unenthusiastically voting McCain.

Bob Barr is not a candidate to get excited about.  At least, I’m not excited.  I’m kinda lethargic about the whole thing.  I haven’t listened to his speeches, read his press releases, watched him on YouTube, or read the blog.  If something unexpected happens, preventing me from getting to the voting booth, I won’t cry about it.  But I’m certain I’ll get there, and I’m fairly certain I’ll be voting Bob Barr.

What I’m absolutely certain about is that I won’t be voting for John McCain.  Ready for something shocking?  Gun to my head, forced to vote for one of the two major parties, I’d vote Obama.  No, I don’t like his policies. I don’t think Obama with a hugely Democratic Congress is a good thing.  But there’s no way in hell I’m rewarding the party that’s supposed to be representing conservatism with my vote.  

And least of all for John McCain.

I can’t understand the reasons conservatives are contriving for supporting McCain.  I can’t.  I don’t get it. He is manifestly not a conservative, and the fact that some people have figured out ways to convince themselves that he is just shows how far the definition of “conservatism” has shifted.  

I mean, come on.  He complains about Obama’s economic policies.  Are you kidding me?  The man whines about socialism, redistribution, and earmarks, but he supports bailouts and the government buying up bad mortgages.  One blogger complained recently about Obama’s Kenyesianism, citing it as one of the reasons he’s voting for, you guessed it, John McCain.  I can respond with just three letters:   W.T.F.

Complaints from McCain supporters about Obama’s tax policies are equally shocking.  I mean, after all:

The Republican argument of the moment seems to be that the difference between capitalism and socialism corresponds to the difference between a top marginal income-tax rate of 35 per cent and a top marginal income-tax rate of 39.6 per cent.

Beyond his obvious silliness in trying to make some actual distinction between himself and Obama on domestic policy, his foreign policy is beyond frightening.  Should he win, I think we’ll see a Lieberman Secretary of State.  And then that dynamic duo, along with Palin who seems to think we’re already at war with Iran, we’ll be changing our national anthem to “Bomb Iran” and taking over the whole Middle East.

And speaking of Palin.  Come on, folks.  She’s … nevermind.  I’m not even going to start.  If you don’t get why this woman can’t ever be our president (including, but not limited to, her complete misunderstanding of the simplest part of the First Amendment), and why her selection by McCain was reckless and demonstrated terrible judgment, I’m not going to convince you with anything I write here.  Yes, the media has been biased and vicious toward her.  But still.  

John McCain is a man who served his country honorably, but who dove head-first into Rove-style politics as soon as he got the nomination.  He is bad for conservatism, even if I do believe his desire is to honorably serve his country.

So I’m voting for Bob Barr.  He isn’t a great candidate, but he’s the only one who’s close to what small-government conservatism actually looks like.  

And because the Republicans deserve an embarrassing defeat on Tuesday.  And I hope they get it.

Share/Save/Bookmark

{ 6 comments }

A few quick notes by way of review, then the book promo info below the break:

  • A decent, fairly level-headed defense of the standard political Christian right position.
  • It has its strengths, especially in not being too over-the-top, not trying to replace U.S. with a theocracy, etc.
  • It has its weaknesses which remind me of why I don’t identify with evangelicals on politics anymore.  For example, in the “pro-life” chapter, there’s not a single word on the death of innocents in war.  When Christians can develop some consistency here, we might be able to get people to take us seriously on stem-cell research.
  • Nevertheless, I recommend it as a reference and a standard representation of the Christian right wing.

Book info: [click to continue…]

Share/Save/Bookmark

{ 0 comments }