Just Crushing

How Dare You

Runnerbear shares his experience and intent behind his new book “How Dare You”.

Published

3 years ago

February 15, 2021

Fear. Anxiety. Depression. Much of the world is in the throes of despair… but not me! I’m fired up and ready to crush, how about you? For many of us, Big Bear’s influence has been what’s made the difference. Looking back, Owen’s livestream has been a blessing. Ferocious rhetoric, turbulent humor, and restorative insights? Best stream on the internet. And it’s been the best for a while. Years ago, when I first felt compelled to start writing down quotes from the great bard of a bear, it certainly wasn’t rooted in anything so ambitious as publishing a book. Something just resonated with me, so I wrote it down. Though meager in its origin, the quote document that I started didn’t stay small for long; like Owen, I’m a man of amplitude. Once upon a time I went to a track and field practice. I liked it, so obviously I dropped everything else I was doing and spent the next ten years obsessively trying to get to the Olympics. I didn’t want to party, I didn’t want to make money, and I didn’t want to study. I just wanted to run fast. Like most things, it didn’t work out exactly the way I had planned, but somewhere along this obsessive, goal-oriented path, I begrudgingly learned to appreciate the process for its own sake. Man makes plans and God laughs; the trick is learning to laugh along, letting the good path, rather than the ego, dictate where to go. Several months after I first began mining quotes, still a blood-hound, clattering away on my keyboard, I noticed that the unassuming little indicator of my quote document was suddenly boasting 10,000 words. I finally felt the abrupt weight of it. An idea that had been steadily concentrating in my mind became cemented: I should write a book about Big Bear.

So goes the origin story of How Dare You. It took about a year of diligent work to go from raw quotes and a rough concept to a refined physical paperback. Today, with the delay in data from my publishing company, I’m not sure what the sales look like exactly. I don’t know who’s buying, how many are buying, or any of that. Interestingly enough, the obligation of patience has proved insightful; I’ve realized that sales aren’t my top priority. If cash was my main concern, I would have quit running, and I definitely would have quit writing, a long time ago. Ultimately, whether this metric of money leads to rags or riches doesn’t change a different, more blissful kind of dividend that I’ve had the honor of receiving since publishing How Dare You: the bright, lively response from the bears who have read it. To hear that I’ve provided a good service brings me joy. With living legends like Rachel Fulton Brown, Jean Troy-Smith, and Owen Benjamin offering such staggering high praise as calling How Dare You a “brilliant … handbook in virtue”, comparing it to the great work of Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, or an enthusiastic affirmation of “excellent, excellent writing”, I can’t help but be a little bewildered. I mean, I’ve never been great at accepting compliments to begin with, so to put such self-congratulatory things down in written words makes me a tad fidgety.

Whether brilliant or not, How Dare You owes much of its layout to the combination of my upbringing and Owen’s streams. Growing up, honor culture was foreign to me. Since I started from a place of ignorance, only learning about the values of honor culture as an adult (through the Big Bear), I was able to turn around and explain it with clarity and logic. It’s like the old saying goes, “those who can’t do, teach”. It’s the most brilliant savants that make the worst teachers, because they operate on instinct, not explicit understanding. Ask the very best artist, mathematician, or soccer player how they manage such brilliant feats, and there’s a good chance they’ll give you advice that’s about as unhelpful as three cheap words under one overpriced swoosh. Stepping away from the half-truths of forced corporate resonance, the act of effective teaching, requires real understanding. The act of doing, however, requires only doing. For me, upholding the paradigm of honor culture did not begin as an obvious instinct, it had to be learned. Looking back, what a valuable lesson it has been.

Of course, there are always savants that take the time to excel at both doing and understanding. These are the people that you want on your team. When Owen got booted out of Hollywood and his whole world was turned upside down, suddenly, the doing part wasn’t enough by itself. He needed to take the time to get an explicit understanding of his instincts. He needed to revisit why choosing truth over money was the right decision despite popular Hollywood opinion. Thus, the Why Didn’t They Laugh (WDTL) podcast pivoted, and the course of its new insightful direction was set. Instead of focusing on the niche of differentiating between a joke that roars and a joke that flops, WDTL began focusing on values. As much for himself as it was for the audience, Big Bear needed to explain the importance of maintaining his core mantra: “I might be wrong but I’m not lying”. What followed was a long, drawn out articulation of honor culture fundamentals, paired with the dramatization of what happens when such a brash ethic is forthrightly upheld in the modern dainty public square.

This turn of events took place in the days of double-digit streams. I was lucky enough to get on-board early, when I began listening around number 95. Today, we’re well past 1000 and I haven’t missed one since. Between then and now, much has been unlearned, many have been banned, and more has been built. Infrastructure like Unauthorized.tv, Unbearables Media, and The Beartaria Times, did not exist back when I first wrote down a quick jab of rhetoric from a roaring comedian named Owen Benjamin. And that’s the beauty of this whole story. The Beartarian ethic is about pursuing honor culture: we build, rather than complain, we’re defined by our light, rather than our shadows, and we aim for the good, the true, and the beautiful, rather than the wicked, the false, and the ugly. We make every effort to do our best, in pursuit of God’s moral law.

One of Big Bear’s great assets has been his dismissal of prioritizing a secular authority, the primary driver behind the mainstream ethic: civility culture. This opened up the authentic freedom to travel down any conceptual road, regardless of any ruffled feathers in the secular space. As a consequence, a whole world of insights has been brought forward. Encountering an enormous conceptual mass, I made the choice to break up my writing project about Owen into three sensible parts. With that decision, one book became a trilogy, with a narrative that follows the same logical arc that Owen worked through live. How Dare You is focused on the first phase of the journey: upholding the values of honor culture.

Altogether, writing How Dare You has been a wonderful project to put together. I was able to take the scattered lessons in my mind about Honor culture and distill them down into one cohesive bundle. Every part of this process has been a joy. My hope is to build a career as a professional author, spending my mornings writing from a little office in a homestead, but I’ve realized that if I had to, I’d do this for free. For the bears yet to read How Dare You, I hope it resonates with you just as much as it did with me, and just as much as it did with those who have already closed the back cover and offered such generous and rewarding feedback. It’s been my honor to make something that good people enjoy. First and foremost, this novel was always meant to be a cathartic revisit to where this whole process started. It was written by a bear, for the bears. In terms of tone, How Dare You is stern and masculine. Like Owen, I was tough with some of my words, because I know you can handle it. Bears aren’t snowflakes; we’re comfortable with the thermal kinetics that often comes when wrestling with ideas. Think of it like a coach at half-time, whose crassness and intensity are rooted in love, knowing that we can do better. But How Dare You isn’t an exercise in brow-beating either. In addition to a deliberately stern take on the hedonic side of modernity, How Dare You also bounces around between high ground abstractions and low ground goofiness, just like Owen is apt to do. Stylistically, How Dare You is for the bears.

Finally, I just want to take a step back and offer a sincere thank you to everyone here. Since the start, this has been a wonderful grass roots movement to be a part of. Seeds have been sown and much has been grown. We will all be known by our fruits. With what has already developed, I’m convinced that the bears are the best people on earth. Looking forward to whatever comes next.

Much love everybody,

Jacob

Runnerbear

Website: JacobTelling.com

Beartaria Times handle: @Runnerbear

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Christopher Gardner Completes First Dome Framing Project in Missouri: Exclusive Interview

Published

2 weeks ago

July 11, 2024

The Beartaria Times

Christopher Gardner, known affectionately as Topher, has successfully completed his inaugural dome framing project in Missouri, a significant achievement in his promise to sustainable living and innovative building techniques.

Topher has been hard at work navigating U.S. labor rates and perfecting his techniques. His dedication to sustainability is evident in every aspect of the project, from material selection to construction methods aimed at minimizing environmental impact.

Topher now sets his sights on the Beartaria Ozark Campground, where discussions are underway to host multiple workshops. These workshops aim to educate attendees on his unique building style, recruit laborers for future projects, and create distinctive living spaces for campground guests.

Topher’s successful completion of the dome framing project highlights his expertise and signifies a growing interest in sustainable living and alternative building methods. His initiatives are poised to inspire others to embrace self-reliance and environmentally conscious practices.

As Topher expands his projects and workshops, the community eagerly anticipates the positive impact of his efforts. His commitment to spreading knowledge and fostering community engagement through sustainable building practices sets a precedent for future endeavors in eco-friendly construction and self-sufficient living.

Christopher Gardner’s achievement in completing the first dome framing project in Missouri is a testament to his vision and dedication. His ongoing efforts to educate, recruit, and innovate is sure to leave a lasting legacy in the realm of sustainable living and construction techniques.

We had the opportunity to congratulate Topher and ask a few questions.

Q. What is the most common question about your dome builds?

A. I often get asked how much they cost. The answer varies massively depending on how you finish and furnish your dome.

The foundation and framing is generally half the cost of a conventional building per square foot.

The purpose of the dome, how it is finished and furnished are preferential and could only be quoted on a per-project basis.
While circular or rounded furniture isn’t easy to find, you may want to build your own or have it custom-built.

Q. Is there anything you would like people to know about your Domes?

A. You get a lot fewer bugs, and domes take much less energy to cool and heat, on average 1/10th the energy to heat and cool compared to conventional buildings.

My domes are an Asymmetric Faraday cage.
This is a Japanese star dome design, or Mandala dome, invented by a Japanese mathematician who open sourced his invention.
The type of framing is not my invention, but the methodology and application are proprietary.

My systems and some of the things I’m working on can make these domes highly customizable, not just in style but in practicality. They can be made EMF resistant if you dont mind no internet service and are senstive to EMF. The design can be reinforced to be resilient to windstorms and earthquakes.

Q. What are your dreams & aspirations?

A. My dream and aspiration is for people to learn the virtues of these domes and to adopt them as a practical solution.
People used to have storm shelters below ground, which is a problem with high water tables.
I would like to see all homesteads becoming Domesteads.
I’m working on developing additional methods that make these domes resistant to Wind, earthquake, and fire.
With the correct exposure and the work we are doing here in Missouri, I really see us being able to bring domes to rural areas across America, opening a new market for people looking to add affordable and smart square footage to their properties, increasing value and security.

Q. What are your plans for Beartaria Ozark Campground?

A. Due to recent accomplishments, we have been able to source the needed resources and begin basic training for a dozen guys in this construction style. This has assisted us in working through detailed logistics, figures, and plans for domes on The Beartaria Ozark Campground.

I’m happy to share that, after a year of discussions, The Campground management team and I have established a plan to offer exclusive dome-building workshops and begin construction on the campground.

These workshops will be small groups of twelve people, all hands-on, and they will get to work with me directly throughout the process.

We plan to begin gathering the names and emails of anyone who wishes to participate in these workshops in the coming weeks.

I’m excited to work with Beartaria Ozark Campground and all the legends who are inspired to bring these amazing structures to the U.S.

Q. Is there anything else you would like to share?

A. I would like to thank everyone that has been supporting me, from the followers of my work, my podcast and now all the bears that are getting involved in Missouri to help me get these builds happening!

Thank you, Topher, for all of your work, and we look forward to following you through your mission!

Connect with Christopher Gardner

TopherHQ.com

@Tophur on The Beartaria Times Community App

Christopher Gardner Social Media

Just Crushing

Beartaria Ozark Campground Kicks Off This Year’s Campaign!

By supporting the project, you’re not just getting a cool item, but also directly supporting Beartaria Ozark Campground and getting exclusive discounts.

Published

2 months ago

May 31, 2024

The Beartaria Times

As our esteemed readers are well aware, the 2022 Beartaria Times National Festival was a resounding success, a testament to the vibrant spirit and active participation of our community. This triumph led to a unique opportunity for our community leaders to purchase the 183-acre parcel of land that hosted the event.

The local community, our gracious hosts, were not only delighted to witness a surge in economic activity but also to experience the festival’s positive cultural influence. Their warm reception and support were instrumental in making the event a grand success.

Who could blame them? A dry, family-friendly festival focused on self-awareness, self-reliance, and great times?!?! Even local churches were happy to see new guests in the area who took a break from the festival on Sunday to support the local congregations.
The festival even employed some locals who helped greet our community coming to Missouri!
The campaign to build a campground is about 30% complete, with the purchase of 53 acres, the hunting cabin, and a red barn. The land is being used to keep hay production going and raise cattle!

Dozens of festival-goers packed in the bed of trucks to be bussed to the fields where they were whipped by the Missouri Sun as they loaded hay!
As we step into 2024, the campaign for the Beartaria Ozark Campground project gains momentum. We look to our community, our pillars of strength, to continue their invaluable support as we strive to help acquire 40 additional acres, renew the lease on the remaining land, and potentially help build much-needed facilities for the festival.

Beartaria Ozark Campground has launched a new avenue to donate with new rewards for anyone that seeks to support the project and gain the perks of being a supporter!
Exclusive Made in The USA, Beartaria Ozark Campground Merch is now offered to new donors of the project, with an exclusive $400 Off for existing donors!

The Merch will be a signifier of support to Bears realm wide, and will also be a way for the festival to offer discounts to founding members.

Beartaria doesn’t want anything for nothing, and this can help incentivize new donors who may not be able to attend the festival or encourage existing donors to continue supporting the project with new rewards.

Here at The Beartaria Times we are obviously huge supporters of this project and look to do our part. We have about 750 Magazines left of the 12,000+ that we printed and sent world wide, so we have decided to contribute them as rewards for anyone that jumps in to do their part!

Beartaria Ozark Campground hopes to acquire a couple hundred new donors each year to meet the yearly requirements or rally existing donors to continue their support.

We’re excited about the new merchandise! Not only does it look great, but it also has the potential to significantly boost the fundraising efforts for 2024. By supporting the project, you’re not just getting a cool item, but also directly supporting Beartaria Ozark Campground and getting exclusive discounts.

Let’s do our part and get this done!

Sincerely,

The Beartaria Times

Support Beartaria Ozark Campground at,

https://beartariacampgrounds.com/

Beartaria Ozark Campground

Just Crushing

Map it! – Discover Beartarians Living, Working, and Crushing Near You!

We were embarking on a 3,000-mile journey from North Carolina to California, then another 1,000 miles north to settle in Idaho

Published

2 months ago

May 24, 2024

Guest Writer

When the map first launched, I found it incredibly captivating to zoom in and out, observing the myriad numbers representing real people, living real lives, just like mine! It added a tangible dimension to the sense of community I already felt within the app. By displaying the number of like-minded individuals on a map, it quantified the reassuring knowledge that I’m not alone in my values or on this journey. Boom! There are more of us, more of ME! It just felt so great!

Initially, I created a listing, filling out only minimal information, and then I got caught up in the everyday bustle of life. It was more than a year before the map crossed my mind again. I didn’t even take the time to update my location when I moved cities a couple of times.

However, circumstances eventually led me back to the map, with a greater purpose than simply marveling at the numerical proof of Beartarians nearby. I found myself facing a long drive with my Mom, Sister, and our cat Leo. We were embarking on a 3,000-mile journey from North Carolina to California, then another 1,000 miles north to settle in Idaho. We wanted to make the trip more than just a monotonous trek from hotel to rest stop to Airbnb; we wanted to meet fellow bears along the way.

Armed with our trip plans, we compared our route to the listings on the map, estimated our travel windows, and began reaching out to connect. Unlike my initial listing effort, Joe Gagan (telecaster bear) provided his name as it appears in the app and also shared his Instagram profile. We were able to share our plans and received a invite to stop in, for not just a hello or a meal, but to spend the night and use the guest bedrooms.

Joe and his beautiful partner Kalena (elusive bear) was the purest experience I have ever had of ‘meeting old friends for the first time’. The connection was amazing, the experience precious, the quickly formed bonds were strong, and I treasured it all still today.

Meeting Joe and his wonderful partner Kalena (elusive bear) was akin to reuniting with old friends for the first time. The connection was immediate and profound, resulting in an experience that remains cherished to this day. Did I mention yet that the food was AMAZING!!

Thank you, Beartaria Map, for for enabling this moment to come to fruition.

-Guest Writer

Map.BeartariaTimes.com