Three Things We Love Are Made By Crazy Persons

We go through a lot of different products at home, most of which are pretty boring. Generic graphics, bland packaging, unremarkable copy on the front, nothing to draw a second look. Though on occasion, something will catch my attention. It may be an unusual design or a label covered with type worthy of an Ayn Rand novel (tiny), or even a news article about the founder of that product's parent company. It seems that being compulsive liar, a manic street preacher, or even demolition derby-style driver doesn't preclude one from making a solid product. Here's a few of our favorite products by people with whom we wouldn't want to be caught in an elevator.

3. Bragg's Liquid Aminos

My wife is pretty fond of this stuff. She uses it a lot in Asian recipes as a substitute for soy sauce, especially when we're expecting some of our glutarded friends over for dinner. It claims to be lower in salt than soy sauce, though it actually falls somewhere between regular and low sodium soy options. So what makes this product unusual?

Paul Bragg, founder of the company. Bragg's Wikipedia page is a lengthy list of contradictions between personal claims and public record. He claimed that following his regimen should allow people to live to the age of 120 though Bragg himself died at the stated age of 95, and later geneological research indicates that he was more likely 81 years old. He advocated deep breathing, water fasts, organic foods, distilled water, juicing, and exercise. He was also fond of adding N.D. and PhD. after his name in published articles though census records indicate that he finished one year of high school. Bragg is not exactly the first self-promoter to deal lavishly with his past, even if some of the claims were easily disputed. He was neither the son of a farmer nor the eldest of 16 children. He did not actually participate in the 1908 and 1912 Olympics as a member of the U.S. Wrestling Team. He was a high school PE teacher and life insurance agent before starting a new career in raw food promotion and publications on health. If you want more information on how to live forever, the label of the Liquid Aminos bottle is covered with amazing offers on various mail-ins for health publications.

2. Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps

I like this soap. I haven't tried all the liquid soap available, but I do have a strong distaste for liquid soap that either a) leaves a film all over my skin after desperately trying to scrub it off; b) comes along with that shower puff thing; or c) both.   Dr. Bronner's removes oil from my face without leaving anything behind other than an intense but short-lived peppermint aroma. It's also pretty concentrated so I don't usually use more than a few drops. The soap comes in other varieties, but I've only ever used the Peppermint. If the other variations are as intense as the peppermint, I would love to try them as well. This company believes in Fair Trade. They believe in Ethical Sourcing. But...

Dr Emanuel Bronner was more than a little idiosyncratic. While promoting his Moral A-B-Cs in Illinois in 1947, he was arrested and admitted to a mental hospital. He received a few rounds of electro-convulsive therapy before eventually escaping. Some of his moral teachings and belief system have been immortalized on his soap products. The labels are intense. They feature tiny repetitions of "Listen Children Eternal Father Eternally One!" and a lot of borrowing and blending from various religious and political works. PDFs of the labels are available on Dr. Bronner's website. He even ascribes some of his nonsense to famous historical features, viz. "We can no longer live half-slave, half free. We unite the Human race in All-One-God-Faith or perish by half-true hate! For we're All-One or None!" - Abraham Lincoln. (quotation marks from the actual bottle)

1. Dave's Killer Bread

This is awesome bread. It's hearty, it's just the right combination of soft and chewy, it comes in a bunch of great varieties, even dessert (the Sin Dawg). It's made locally in deep SE Portland, has all the right adjectives and none of the wrong additives. The company is in the habit of hiring rehabilitated felons. Cool right? But...

Dave Dahl, the company's co-founder, has had some trouble with the law. Wikipedia says he was in and out of prison for 15 years for methamphetamine-related offenses before starting Dave's Killer Bread. More recently, he was arrested after a friend called the police to intervene in a mental health crisis Dave was having. Dave fled the scene, hit a police car and after a chase, rammed another vehicle after being cornered. He was found guilty except for insanity.

Update: Dave's Killer Bread was recently sold to Georgia-based food company Flower Foods for $275 million dollars. They publicly state they will maintain the same business practices as before the buyout.