Bradley Harrington

I fell in love with books and learning at an early age, and was fostered in the quest for knowledge by my Dad, who let me read anything I cared to out of his library, and – even better – answered endless questions about what I had read. My favorite subjects as a youth were astronomy, physics and mathematics. Over time, I added history, economics, philosophy, political philosophy, computers, photography, self-reliance, and many other topics, fields and ideas to the list.

By 1975, as a junior at Southfield High School, I decided that I had had enough of the public “educational” system and dropped out as a result, preferring to gain my knowledge on my own instead – an intellectual adventure that has never failed me and that I continue to this day.

By 1983, having assimilated enough knowledge on my own to be able to adequately differentiate truth from falsity, I decided to return to classes, taking courses at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, California. My original intent was to major in physics and philosophy, but I got “sidetracked” instead by journalism classes and writing for the Saddleback College Lariat, the college’s weekly student newspaper. I had already began, by that time, writing political and economy commentary for the Orange County Register, and between the two, I established a solid foundation in writing and journalism.

In 1986, I left restaurants and began working with mini computers. Fascinated by operating systems and programming, I taught myself Basic, C and Assembler. I switched to personal computers in 1988, specializing in hardware, operating systems and networking, a trade that I continue in to this day.

In 1993, at 33 years old, I decided to join the United States Marine Corps via an age waiver and a 99-percentile on the ASVAB. I was extremely interested in acquiring combat and survival-training skills. A year later, however, as an E-3 Lance Corporal, MOS 9900, I opted for an honorable discharge by reason of hardship to take emergency custody of my (then) 14-year-old daughter.

In 2001, I moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming, where I met my wife-to-be, Barbie. In 2002 we both moved to Portland, Oregon, where we opened up Liberty Computer Service in Milwaukie in 2003. We started from scratch and, within a year, had developed a flourishing business. We were married at Multnomah Falls on June 21st, the Summer Solstice, 2003.

By 2008, the pressures of the business and the desire to be closer to family in Wyoming caused us to shut the doors of Liberty Computer and relocate back to Cheyenne. Later on that year, I decided to start writing again, and I have been writing ever since. I now run a weekly Sunday column with the Philadelphia Bulletin on national and international topics, and a weekly Saturday column with the Cheyenne newspaper, the Wyoming Tribune Eagle, on local issues, and other papers around the country often run my commentaries as well.

Written from a decidedly pro-capitalist, pro-freedom perspective, my commentaries promote the virtues of self-reliance, independence, self-responsibility and taking our lives back from the bureaucrats who would steal them away if allowed to do so. A collection of my essays and commentaries can be found at Time for Every Man to Stir.

In addition to writing, I love to read and play chess, and I am an avid nature photographer. My favorite pictures to take are of lighthouses, waterfalls, mountains, sunrises, flowers, sunsets, and anything else that strikes me as beautiful and noteworthy.

I believe that all of us have to gain from self-reliance and independence, and that the purpose of our lives is happiness and self-actualization. I am currently at work “getting off the grid” and seeking ever-more self-sufficiency in my life, and everything you will find here from me will be geared towards that end.