Play

Sport, gaming, the outdoors and whatever you do with a free Saturday.

A child who reads "horse" for "pony" was taught to guess

Decades of reading research point one direction. Here's what it says, where whole language got it right, and how to check what your child's school is doing.

BRO TakeDadsCal BrennanNov 6, 20265 min

"Look at me when I'm talking to you" has never worked

When your son stares at the floor, he isn't being defiant. Here's what he's usually doing instead, and how to get the conversation anyway.

Ask BRO

What should I wear to this?

Ask it

GuideStyleDean ShawNov 6, 20265 min

Fix the collar that curls and the cuff that slides

Most collar and cuff trouble comes down to a quarter inch of fit or one missing piece of plastic. Here's how to find yours and fix it.

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

PartnerNames.com

$Do the watt-hour math before you buy any backup power$

Preparedness6 min read

Do the watt-hour math before you buy any backup power

A generator is the wrong first purchase for a medical device. Two phone calls and one multiplication problem come before it.

Poll

What was your first ever job?

$Do the walk-out math at the trailhead, not at mile six$

GuideSurvival & Self-DefenseWes DunbarNov 6, 20266 min

Do the walk-out math at the trailhead, not at mile six

Most people guess wrong about how far and how long the walk back is, and they all guess in the same direction. Here's how to get it right before you need it.

GuideGearWes DunbarNov 6, 20265 min

A cooler that holds ice till Sunday, and when a cheap one wins

A good cooler is mostly a lid, a seal and a few parts you can replace. Here's what to look for, what to skip, and when the cheap one is right.

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

PartnerShirts.com

GuideCan You Fix ItWes DunbarNov 6, 20266 min

Your window's stuck. Find out why before you reach for a hammer

Paint, swollen wood, dirty tracks or dead hardware: four causes, one right order, and about thirty dollars in tools.

Quiz

Is your money actually in order?

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

GuideFoodWes DunbarNov 6, 20265 min

Thursday night's fridge is a dinner if you cook it in order

Half an onion, Sunday's chicken and a bag of tired spinach is enough. You just have to cook it in the right order, in the right pan.

GuideWoodworkingWes DunbarNov 6, 20265 min

Strop often, stone rarely, and know which one you need

A strop keeps a good edge alive for weeks. It can't rescue a dull one. Learn the difference before you ruin a chisel's bevel.

Ask BRO

Rewrite my CV so it actually gets read

Ask it

GuideTools & OrganizingDean ShawNov 6, 20265 min

Four pliers do the work. The rest are drawer clutter.

Most of what's in your junk drawer was bought for one job and never touched again. Here are the four that earn their space, and what to pay.

Coconut.com — Tell us when. We find where the sun is.

PartnerCoconut.com

GuideGarden & YardWes DunbarNov 6, 20265 min

Plant Asparagus Now and Eat Well for Twenty Years

It asks for three years of patience and almost nothing else. After that, a well-sited bed feeds your family every spring for two decades.

Poll

Where does your best time with your kids happen?

GuideBoys & GirlsSam OrtizNov 6, 20265 min

Don't Replace the Ten Dollars He Lost

Your kid will lose money. What you do in the first five minutes decides whether it costs him ten dollars or teaches him something worth far more.

StoryOld SchoolNina CastellanNov 6, 20265 min

The nail by the door and other rules from Grandpa's shop

Painted outlines, a sweep before supper and one firm rule about lending. What a one-car garage taught me about order, safety and other people's property.