Brad Bonham http://www.bradbonham.com Designer. Writer. Friend Thu, 05 Mar 2009 01:31:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 en How Far We’ve Come http://www.bradbonham.com/how-far-weve-come/ http://www.bradbonham.com/how-far-weve-come/#comments Thu, 05 Mar 2009 01:31:41 +0000 admin http://www.bradbonham.com/?p=145 Odd blast from the past. CNBC’s fateful interview with Bear Stearns’ CEO before the collapse. Did people really talk like this? Do they still?:

Perhaps a more prescient video from Matchbox 20:

]]> http://www.bradbonham.com/how-far-weve-come/feed/ Bail Out Our Food Supply! http://www.bradbonham.com/bail-out-our-food-supply/ http://www.bradbonham.com/bail-out-our-food-supply/#comments Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:04:21 +0000 admin http://www.bradbonham.com/?p=143 As the global economy flounders spectacularly and the powers that be try to solve the world’s problems (too much debt) with more problems (more debt!), we might wonder what rational investments would look like in a perfect world. Radical investments in all of us becoming a bit more self-sufficient would seem reasonable as vast, global, centralized systems become more unreliable. I could think of few things as easy to invest in as our local food supply. It would give people jobs. It would reduce transportation needs. It would shelter us from supply disruptions. It would get us all closer to that which sustains us. It would be tasty!

Even the desert can yield food. Don’t believe me? Watch this video.

Greening the Desert

Designing a Food Forest

]]> http://www.bradbonham.com/bail-out-our-food-supply/feed/ Dog Eat Dog World? http://www.bradbonham.com/dog-eat-dog-world/ http://www.bradbonham.com/dog-eat-dog-world/#comments Mon, 02 Feb 2009 23:45:21 +0000 admin http://www.bradbonham.com/?p=141 Actually, no. Not all the time.

]]> http://www.bradbonham.com/dog-eat-dog-world/feed/ Homeless But Purposeful! http://www.bradbonham.com/homeless-but-purposeful/ http://www.bradbonham.com/homeless-but-purposeful/#comments Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:17:14 +0000 admin http://www.bradbonham.com/?p=139 I came across this amusing list of homeless characters who managed to gain notoriety for various deeds.

Cracked: 5 Homeless Guys Who Accomplished Amazing Things

Excerpt:

Formerly a businessman who lost every penny he had and apparently went over the edge as a result, Norton proclaimed himself “His Imperial Majesty Emperor Norton I.” He declared that he was the Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico back in 1859. He reigned for over 20 years, walking the streets of San Francisco in full military uniform on a daily basis.

He was known for making proclamations and giving orders on how the country was to be run, such as issuing an order that Congress be dissolved by force, demanding that a League of Nations be formed and that a bridge be built connecting Oakland to San Francisco. Is it a coincidence that two of those things have since happened? Well, yeah probably.

I even found a book about this guy… there are probably others.

]]> http://www.bradbonham.com/homeless-but-purposeful/feed/ Tackling 2009 with Purpose http://www.bradbonham.com/tackling-2009-with-purpose/ http://www.bradbonham.com/tackling-2009-with-purpose/#comments Mon, 29 Dec 2008 23:37:23 +0000 admin http://www.bradbonham.com/?p=135 2009 is poised to be a challenging year for humanity. You are probably aware of this. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t attack the challenges ahead with purpose. This is an inspirational video from Tim Ferris who, at the age of 31, has mastered several languages and skills as well as authored a best-selling book. He talks about how to deconstruct new skills and question assumptions to successfully pursue your life goals.

And maybe we can use some of these ideas about learning to become superheroes in 2009.

]]> http://www.bradbonham.com/tackling-2009-with-purpose/feed/ Inspiration Amidst Failure http://www.bradbonham.com/inspiration-amidst-failure/ http://www.bradbonham.com/inspiration-amidst-failure/#comments Tue, 23 Dec 2008 23:02:53 +0000 admin http://www.bradbonham.com/?p=133 I came across one of the most inspired presentations I’ve seen in a long time (courtesy of Presentation Zen). During a challenging time it’s sometimes good to step back and watch an artist and teacher (Benjamin Zander) in peak form instruct us on how to tap into forgotten potentials. This is about 25 minutes long, but watch the first few minutes and see if you’re not delighted and enthralled:

]]> http://www.bradbonham.com/inspiration-amidst-failure/feed/ How to Tell a Scary Story http://www.bradbonham.com/how-to-tell-a-scary-story/ http://www.bradbonham.com/how-to-tell-a-scary-story/#comments Mon, 22 Dec 2008 03:16:41 +0000 admin http://www.bradbonham.com/?p=129 I have never heard of David Morgan, but he weaves a heck of a good yarn regarding a possible currency collapse. Please note his storytelling abilities and use of empathy to communicate a potentially dire situation in a positive and even comedic light. And his advice to have some gold or silver on hand is probably reasonable:

Also, I updated a previous economic post with some new material I’ve scrounged over the past few weeks.

]]> http://www.bradbonham.com/how-to-tell-a-scary-story/feed/ Rock the Pug Head Tilt http://www.bradbonham.com/rock-the-pug-head-tilt/ http://www.bradbonham.com/rock-the-pug-head-tilt/#comments Sat, 06 Dec 2008 17:01:49 +0000 admin http://www.bradbonham.com/?p=124 I’ve always had a fondness in my heart for these strange looking creatures, and here their heads tilt endearingly:

]]> http://www.bradbonham.com/rock-the-pug-head-tilt/feed/ Fred Thompson on the Economy / Jon Stewart on Media Bias / Ebert on Celebrity Worship http://www.bradbonham.com/fred-thompson-on-the-economy-jon-stewart-on-media-bias/ http://www.bradbonham.com/fred-thompson-on-the-economy-jon-stewart-on-media-bias/#comments Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:50:59 +0000 admin http://www.bradbonham.com/?p=113 I enjoyed Fred Thompson on Law and Order and feared him when he was on the campaign trail: “Hey, y’all, I’m Ronald Reagan, but meaner and more stoic!”. Now he’s back with a brilliant, droll commentary on the economy:

This is the sort’ve common sense Ross Perot brought to the state of the union in 92 (as well as Ron Paul in 2007 before anyone was talking about the economy). It makes you wonder how someone can be so different (some would say insane) while campaigning but become so reasonable when outside of the political sphere.

Also, now that there’s (about to be) a Democrat in office, Jon Stewart asks, “Who will be the administration’s mouthpiece, and what will Fox News do?”:


And, finally (via Kottke), Roger Ebert rails against the media’s celebrity worship.

The AP, long considered obligatory to the task of running a North American newspaper, has been hit with some cancellations lately, and no doubt has been informed what its customers want: Affairs, divorces, addiction, disease, success, failure, death watches, tirades, arrests, hissy fits, scandals, who has been “seen with” somebody, who has been “spotted with” somebody, and “top ten” lists of the above. (Celebs “seen with” desire to be seen, celebs “spotted with” do not desire to be seen.)

The CelebCult virus is eating our culture alive, and newspapers voluntarily expose themselves to it. It teaches shabby values to young people, festers unwholesome curiosity, violates privacy, and is indifferent to meaningful achievement. One of the TV celeb shows has announced it will cover the Obama family as “a Hollywood story.” I want to smash something against a wall.

]]> http://www.bradbonham.com/fred-thompson-on-the-economy-jon-stewart-on-media-bias/feed/ You Can Have Whatever You Like http://www.bradbonham.com/you-can-have-whatever-you-like/ http://www.bradbonham.com/you-can-have-whatever-you-like/#comments Mon, 24 Nov 2008 23:52:34 +0000 admin http://www.bradbonham.com/?p=109 We all know times are tough. Weird Al Yankovic assures us, though, that even in the worst of times, there’s room for love:

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