The famous mountain.
The supervised playdate. The most popular dog breed.
The obvious choice isn't wrong, it's usually just less interesting.
What's one way you can surprise yourself before January ends?
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And don't forget, your chance to win $100 is below π
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Congrats to Sally, our latest 3x3 winner!
"My current favorite place in the world is the Loire Valley, France. The history, the castles, the beauty, the outdoor activities, and of course, the food make it a wonder place. We love biking and hiking when we're there." |
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- Guardian readers shared 50 travel ideas for 2026, proving crowdsourced tips beat algorithm-fed listicles.
- Kilimanjaro gets 50,000 climbers yearly, but five other African peaks offer epic summits with a fraction of the crowds (and cost).
- Someone plotted dog breeds by popularity vs. "quality", and the results prove we're all sleeping on the Welsh Springer Spaniel.
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In 1936, after Soviet soldiers killed his brother for their religious beliefs, Karp Lykov grabbed his family and vanished into the Siberian taiga. For over four decades, they lived completely alone β hunting, foraging, praying.
When geologists found them in 1978, the Lykovs had no idea World War II had happened. They'd never heard of the moon landing. Their sense of "recent history" stopped around Peter the Great.
Today, only one daughter remains: Agafia, now in her 80s, still alone in the family's remote cabin. She's been offered relocation countless times. She always refuses. |
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Pet-friendly travel isn't niche anymore β more people are treating pets as family members, which means ol' Llewellyn the Welsh Springer Spaniel is coming on holiday, whether airlines like it or not.
The industry is reacting: pet-only airlines are launching intercontinental routes, hotels are adding "pet concierge" services, and compliance paperwork is going digital.
The payoff for the extra hassle and cost? Research shows travelling with pets reduces anxiety and strengthens bonds. Your dog explores new places. You skip the guilt. Everybody wins (except, perhaps, the traveler in the seat next door?). |
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A Vancouver dad let his kids (aged 6-10) ride the bus to school alone. They knew the routes, travelled in a pack, carried phones. Child services investigated and banned him from letting his children out of his sight.
The case took three years and $70,000 to overturn. But it highlights something more important: we're raising kids in a culture of fear, despite stranger abductions being vanishingly rare (one in 14 million).
Meanwhile, research shows children who engage in risky play develop better executive function and lower anxiety. Helicopter parenting restricts development, not just freedom. |
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Your family will thank you if you win $100 store credit.
Enter here π
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As always: let us know what you liked, what you'd like to see more of, your favourite dog, that sorta thing.
J, D, & the Minaal team
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Made with β€οΈ all over the π by the Minaal crew.
2026 MINAAL / PRIVACY
You had me at opt-in.
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Minaal | 14525 SW Millikan Way Beaverton, OR 97005-2343
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