Preparedness

Storms, outages, emergencies. Calm, practical readiness for the household, without the paranoia.

The BRO Survival & Preparedness GuideThe printable family manual: a kit and go-bag builder, water and food calculators, the core skills and a family emergency plan.Get ready, calmly

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

A passport that looks fine can still strand your family at the counter. Check these dates first, then book.

GuideMedia LiteracyMarcus ValeNov 8, 20266 min

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

Writers rarely announce their position. They leave it in the verbs, the labels and the adjectives. Here's how to find it in five minutes with a pencil.

Ask BRO

Pressure-test my business idea

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StoryHistoryMarcus ValeNov 7, 20265 min

Boone and Crockett Never Met, and Both Hunted Past Any Help

The two men the famous hunting club is named after lived 52 years apart. Their wilderness had no rescue in it, and they paid for that.

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

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Survival & Self-Defense7 min read

Your buddy is hurt and you're four miles from the truck

A tourniquet runs about $30 and a satellite messenger about $300. Here's what to do in the first hour after a serious injury, and who walks out.

Poll

Where does your phone charge overnight?

GuideCan You Fix ItWes DunbarNov 7, 20266 min

A sagging cabinet door is usually a two-dollar fix

Before you buy new hinges, find out which of three things is wrong. Most sagging doors need a toothpick, a screwdriver, or a piece of cereal box.

GuideFoodWes DunbarNov 7, 20266 min

Your spice rack is a museum. Cook from twelve jars.

Most of what's on your rack lost its punch years ago. Here's the short list worth keeping, where to store it, and how to tell when a jar is done.

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

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GuideGarden & YardWes DunbarNov 7, 20265 min

Mulch Goes Down After the Soil Warms, Not When You Get Excited

Three inches of the right stuff, laid at the right time, cuts your weeding and watering all summer. Laid too early, it does the opposite.

Quiz

Does your wardrobe actually fit you?

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

GuideHomeWes DunbarNov 7, 20265 min

Stand outside in the rain and watch where your gutters send it

A clean gutter that drops water at the base of your wall is still a bad gutter. Here's how to check yours in one storm and fix it for the price of a few extensions.

GuideRecipesWes DunbarNov 7, 20265 min

Ground Turkey Tacos With a Spice Mix That Beats the Packet

Twenty-five minutes, one skillet, and a jar of spice mix that makes lean turkey taste like it was worth showing up for.

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Rehearse the raise conversation with me

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GuideMeal PlansCal BrennanNov 7, 20265 min

A Week of Winter Dinners From the Bottom of the Vegetable Bin

Seven days for a family of four built on potatoes, carrots, squash, cabbage and a few pantry staples. Full grocery list, Sunday prep plan and rough cost.

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

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GuideLifeCal BrennanNov 7, 20265 min

Say what you did, say what it cost, then go fix it

Most apologies fail in the first ten seconds. A good one is short, specific and expensive, and the repair does most of the work.

Poll

How often do you see your closest friends?

GuideScience & SpaceDean ShawNov 7, 20265 min

A magnet never wears out. It just gets scrambled

Holding weight doesn't drain a magnet. Heat, knocks and bad company do, and sometimes you can get the strength back.

GuideTravelDean ShawNov 7, 20265 min

Book the sitter before you book the hotel

Anniversary trips rarely fall apart over the room. They fall apart over who has the kids. Plan it in the right order and the weekend actually happens.