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

Opting Out Without Starting a War

You have more say over what your child sits through at school than most parents realize. Use it with a short letter and a steady tone.

GuideDadsMarcus ValeOct 12, 20265 min

Three minutes at the microphone won't change anything by itself

The speech is the last step, not the first. Here's the order that gets a school board to act, and what to do the morning after.

Ask BRO

Rewrite my CV so it actually gets read

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StoryHistoryJosh HalloranOct 12, 20266 min

The Lie About a Dead Boy in Norwich That Wouldn't Die

A rumor born in England in 1144 spread across Europe for eight centuries. The people who stood against it deserve to be remembered by name.

GermProof.com — An invisible germ barrier on your skin for hours

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Civics6 min read

Who actually runs your public library, and how you get a say

Your library answers to a board, a budget and a written policy. Find out which of the three you can reach, and how to be heard.

Poll

Where does your phone charge overnight?

StoryNewsJosh HalloranOct 12, 20265 min

Parents and library boards are fighting in court, not just at meetings

The argument over children's books and programs has moved to federal courts and statehouses. Here's what's been decided, what hasn't, and where parents still have leverage.

BRO TakeSchool & LearningMarcus ValeOct 12, 20265 min

Pull your second grader's book list before anyone else decides

A seven-year-old's school day is built by adults. You're one of them, and you should be the one with the final say.

PartnerWhackAWoke.com

GuideSkillsCal BrennanOct 12, 20266 min

Splint a broken arm or ankle with what's in your truck

A rolled magazine, two belts and a sweatshirt can hold a broken limb still. Here's the order to do it in, and when to skip the splint entirely.

Quiz

Does your wardrobe actually fit you?

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

GuidePreparednessRay OkonkwoOct 11, 20264 min

Build the 72-hour kit or buy one? It's closer than you think

A family of four, a $25 hour, and a trip to the store you'll make twice. The driveway math on a 72-hour kit, with every number yours to swap.

StorySurvival & Self-DefenseSam OrtizOct 11, 20265 min

Dad, Would You Know What To Do If We Got Lost?

My kids think I can survive anything with a pocketknife and a stern look. I can't. Here's what I've learned since, and what's actually worth knowing.

Ask BRO

Give me something to do with my kids this weekend

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GuideSkillsWes DunbarOct 12, 20266 min

Rope, poles and a camp table that doesn't wobble

Three lashings, a few straight sticks, and an afternoon get you a tripod and a table with no hardware, no nails and no excuses.

Dude.com — 16 AI advisers who listen, talk and are here with you

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StoryPreparednessWes DunbarOct 11, 20266 min

Nobody has improved the hand-crank can opener

It has two moving parts, needs no power, and still beats every gadget that tried to replace it. Here's how to buy one that lasts.

Poll

When did you last ask for a raise?

ReviewSurvival & Self-DefenseDean ShawOct 11, 20266 min

Grandpa's New Truck Gadget Has a Crank, a Hammer and Opinions

His grandson put an emergency radio, flashlight and window hammer in the truck. Grandpa has questions. Some of them are right.

StoryGearTobias ReedOct 10, 20265 min

The canvas work jacket has outlasted every upgrade

A stiff cotton jacket that stops thorns, sparks and weather has been doing the job for generations. Here's how to buy one that lasts and keep it going.

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

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GuidePreparednessCal BrennanOct 11, 20265 min

Buy one kind of first aid kit, then buy it twice

The house and the car need the same bag with a few different things inside. Here's the spec profile, the upsells to skip, and what to add yourself.

Quiz

Is your money actually in order?

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

Survival & Self-Defense6 min

Your survival kit doesn't fit on a wrist

Can You Fix It6 min

Nobody has improved on the plunger, and plenty have tried

Ask BRO

Plan a cook for eight people

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GuidePreparednessWes DunbarOct 11, 20265 min

You can't smell carbon monoxide, so put an alarm on every floor

Carbon monoxide gives no smell and no warning, and the worst nights are the ones when the power's out. Buy the alarm that still works then.

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

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Survival & Self-Defense6 min read

The water filter that outlasts the trip, and the parts that decide it

A filter can fail without a single visible sign. Here's what wears out, what to read in the warranty, and how to tell a keeper from a one-season gadget.

Poll

What was your first ever job?

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