Old School: Wisdom From Grandma & Grandpa

Common sense, hard-won lessons and the way our grandparents did it, from the people who lived it. Still works.

The BRO Code. What to do, what not to do, and a few laughs on the way.

The rotten-egg smell is your alarm, and it can fail

Propane has no odor of its own. The smell is added on purpose, and a few situations can mute it. Learn them before you need them.

GuideGearWes DunbarNov 8, 20265 min

Waders don't rot in the water. They rot in your garage.

Chest waders fail from storage, seams and bad fit long before the water wins. What to buy, what to skip, and when the cheap pair is the right call.

Ask BRO

Build me a revision plan that I will actually stick to

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GuideCan You Fix ItWes DunbarNov 8, 20266 min

The Drip Under Your Sink Isn't Where the Leak Is

A leaking sprayer hose can ruin a cabinet floor in months. Find the real source with a paper towel, fix it for under thirty bucks, and know when to call a plumber.

Names.com — The name is the first thing you sell

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Food6 min read

Why your rice is gummy, and the ten minutes that fix it

Most bad rice is decided before the pot hits the stove and ruined by a lifted lid. Rinse, measure, simmer, then leave it alone.

Poll

How many days a week are you actually training?

GuideWoodworkingWes DunbarNov 8, 20265 min

Four chisels and a handle that fits your hand

Skip the twelve-piece roll. Four bevel-edge chisels and a handle you can hold at nine at night will do almost everything a home shop asks.

GuideHomeWes DunbarNov 8, 20265 min

Seal the rim joist and your basement stops fighting you

It's an afternoon's work with foam board and a few cans of fire-block foam. It also fixes the cold floors and the damp smell.

CancerDefying.com — The research, protocols and reading in one place

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GuideTools & OrganizingDean ShawNov 8, 20266 min

Build a bench around your clamps, not the other way around

A flat 6-foot bench, two sawhorses and a dozen clamps will outwork a $1,000 shop. Here's the plan, the costs and what to skip.

Quiz

Does your wardrobe actually fit you?

Five questions, honestly answered, and a plan for the next two weeks.

GuideMovies & TVMarcus ValeNov 8, 20265 min

Turn the sound down on an old nature show and just watch

Wild Kingdom, Cousteau and the early BBC naturalists made you look first. Here's how to use them to train your eyes and your kids'.

GuideGarden & YardWes DunbarNov 8, 20265 min

Build a Rain Barrel That Actually Lasts Through July

One barrel, one downspout, about a hundred dollars and a Saturday. Here's the sizing math and the mistakes that leave most barrels empty by midsummer.

Ask BRO

What should I wear to this?

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GuideBusinessRay OkonkwoNov 8, 20265 min

The sticker price is just the down payment

A $6,500 machine can cost you more than a $10,500 one by year four. Here's the math to run before you sign anything.

Shirts.com — Design it with AI. Wear it this week.

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NewsSportsBRO DeskNov 8, 20261 min

Notre Dame Knocks Off No. 1 Miami 31-24 in Playoff Push

The Irish answered last season's loss to the Hurricanes with a Saturday night win in South Bend.

Poll

What was your first ever job?

GuideScience & SpaceDean ShawNov 8, 20266 min

What a Chainsaw Chain Is Really Doing, and What Dulls It

Wood is softer than you'd think on steel. Dirt is the real enemy, and the sawdust tells you whether your chain is sharp.

GuideReal EstateRay OkonkwoNov 8, 20266 min

Inspect a rental for the bills, not the paint

You'd forgive a dated kitchen in your own house. In a rental, the things you can't see are the ones that set your return.

Delicious.com — Nine thousand recipes and a plan for tonight

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GuideCryptoRay OkonkwoNov 8, 20265 min

Your parents aren't wrong to worry about your crypto

Stop defending Bitcoin and start answering the questions they're actually asking. The conversation gets easier when you do.

Quiz

Is your money actually in order?

Six questions. No email required, no sales pitch at the end.

Travel5 min

Check the passport before you book anything you can't refund

Media Literacy6 min

The verb in the headline is telling you what the writer thinks

Ask BRO

Pressure-test my business idea

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GuideSide HustlesRay OkonkwoNov 8, 20265 min

Sell your handwriting by the envelope, not the design

Addressing wedding envelopes and lettering shop signs can pay well per hour, if you stay out of design work. Here's the math, the costs, and when to skip it.