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The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.
With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.
So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on MashableHere are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, March 27, 2025:
AcrossSomething from pumpingThe answer is Gas.
The answer is Dont.
The answer is Jenga.
The answer is Ecoli.
The answer is Tower.
The answer is GoNow.
The answer is Angle.
The answer is Stair.
The answer is Deco.
The answer is Stair.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of GamesAre you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Mini Crossword.
There's rarely a moment in The White Lotus that isn't filled with music. Beyond composer Cristobal Tapia de Veer's iconic theme song and its seasonal variations (he worked with Brisbane-based Thai composer Peranya Visitchantaragoon for Season 3), Mike White's HBO series is never really silent, moving between its signature "something is afoot" percussive score and a treasure trove of needle drops.
Music supervisor Gabe Hilfer returns for Season 3, pivoting from the Italian finesse he brought to Season 2 to a bounty of Thai pop, disco, and rock songs ranging from the '60s to the present, music you may have grown up with or perhaps have never heard before.
SEE ALSO: 'The White Lotus' Season 3 review: Juicy drama, great performances, still underwhelming"There's a ton of music in this show," Hilfer tells Mashable, describing music as "fundamentally built into the DNA of the show."
"I was looking at episode 4 which has 12 songs and then probably another 20 minutes of score," he says. "It is just so much music, wall-to-wall, and to have that work seamlessly and cohesively in a way where it all feels like you're in Thailand. You're also definitely in The White Lotus and you're hitting the emotional beats of each of the characters and the different story arcs that we're going through."
Iconic Thai singer Lek Patravadi in "The White Lotus." Credit: Fabio Lovino / HBO Crate-digging for the sound of The White Lotus: Thailand editionAs soon as The White Lotus Season 3 was confirmed for Thailand, Hilfer says he immediately began the search for the show's catalogue of music.
"I went through my Rolodex and was looking for anybody who I have ever licensed Thai music from or who has pitched me Thai music, and I reverse engineered it to see who would be a good resource to utilize in that regard," he says. "I also did some digging into some popular songs in Thailand, historically and currently. I had the very fortunate experience of working on a film about two years ago called The Creator, which took place in an amorphous, non-specific part of Southeast Asia. We did a little bit of the same crate-digging [Editor's note: the art of tracking down or discovering rare and obscure records through mostly secondhand sources] at that time for vintage, cool, interesting Thai music. So I had a couple resources from there and then I expanded the search outward."
The very first song we hear in Season 3 after the theme song is Thai rock group Carabao's iconic 1985 single "เมดอินไทยแลนด์ (Made in Thailand)" — which is now sitting at almost 30 million views on YouTube. According to Hilfer, The White Lotus editor John M. Valerio pitched the song for inclusion in the series after hearing it absolutely everywhere while filming the series in Thailand.
"He had the pleasure and privilege of being in Thailand for shooting, and he was like, 'There's this one song. I hear it everywhere. I feel like it's big. Can we look into this one song 'Made in Thailand?'" says Hilfer. "After doing some digging and researching, 'Made in Thailand' was a huge hit song and is a cultural touchpoint for many people from Thailand. And so it all worked out well."
Everyone's Shazamming The White Lotus soundtrackIf you watch The White Lotus like I do (and many do), you spend half the episode holding your phone out and hitting "listen" on Shazam. "A lot of Shazamming going on," Hilfer agrees. "I would love to know what some of these Shazams are getting on these songs, because I feel like it's having a cultural impact." Such is the fame and popularity of The White Lotus that needle drops like Season 2, episode 6's "Ciao Ciao" moment saw subreddits ablaze around for the 2022 La Rappresentante di Lista song.
The soundtrack brims with Thai artists (and artists who draw from Thai influences) including Paradise Bangkok Molam International Band, Sroeng Santi, Viparat Piengsuwan, Hongthong Dao-udon, Rewat "Ter" Buddhinan, Carabao, Charan Manophet, Nantida Kaewbuasai, Khruangbin, and more, with each song tailored to specific scenes.
If you haven't already found it, Hilfer has been working with HBO to update The White Lotus' official Spotify playlist, which you'll notice isn't exactly complete for a reason — the songs are often owned and distributed by independent local labels. "Unfortunately, a lot of the songs are not on Spotify because they're under the radar and with smaller Thai labels that haven't uploaded them. For the ones that are, we've been putting as many on Spotify as we can to help shine a light on this awesome music."
This zoom. Credit: Fabio Lovino / HBOOne song I madly Shazammed as the show played arrives in episode 4. Before the guests board Greg's yacht, there's an outrageous zoom shot on the Ratliffe family (Jason Isaacs, Parker Posey, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Sarah Catherine Hook, and Sam Nivola) strutting in slow motion down the dock, paired with the outstanding use of The Impossibles founder Rewat "Ter" Buddhinan's 1985 track "มันแปลกดีนะ".
"They had that shot and edited, and that was one that John Valerio and I really went back and forth a lot on," says Hilfer. We talked about and tried a bunch of different things here, until we landed on this. And this was clearly the winner."
Achieving authenticity with Thai music in The White LotusNotably, Hilfer recognised the challenge of achieving authenticity and the right vibe within The White Lotus' soundtrack as someone who didn't specialise in Thai music.
"Similarly with Italian music, I would not consider myself an expert in those things before the project, but then the nature of the job is you immerse yourself in the culture and the music and figure out what resources you need. There's some phrase that's like, 'knowing what you don't know is half the battle,' so figuring out where I could plug the gaps in my knowledge of that region's music was important from the beginning."
During the course of Season 3, many Thai users of social media have praised the music choices, something deeply important to Hilfer.
"We want to make it cool, for sure, and the resources that we've used, we've found really great stuff. But, I mean, I do not speak Thai and so I'm not always 100 percent sure what these songs are about. I just know that creatively they work, and they fit, and they embody the mood and the vibes that we're going for. So that's my priority within the framework of making them authentic and real. So when I hear that people from Thailand are also agreeing with me, that's like the biggest compliment I could get."
If you're not an expert in Thai music yourself (hello), some of the songs you might have recognised immediately are the covers in the show. In episode 1, Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood) makes her first appearance at the pool to a gawking Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger) to Sroeng Santi's "Kuen Kuen Lueng Lueng," an absolutely killer cover of Black Sabbath's 1970 classic "Iron Man."
Ignore the man in the pool, Chelsea. Credit: Fabio Lovino / HBO"At the very beginning when we were putting together a big pool of music to choose from, we were thinking, should we do some covers?" says Hilfer. "John [M. Valerio] and I had a conversation and that one came up. There's another one in episode 1, it's a little less obvious, there's a Thai cover of 'Black Magic Woman.' We were like, let's lean into that, because to the Western audience the Thai songs are not particularly familiar so if we can do a couple very strategic touchpoints that the musicality and the songs are big enough where a Western, English-speaking or non-Thai speaking audience is familiar with the songs and the melodies but not necessarily with the covers it would be cool. It would be cool to bring it home and make people feel a connection to the music with a little bit more familiarity."
There's another cover in episode 4; as Greg's (Jon Gries) $18,800,000 Spacecat yacht cruises around the islands in the same episode, Molam and Luk Thung singer Hongthong Dao-udon's "ฮ่วยอะบานิบี" plays — it's a cover of Izhar Cohen and the Alphabeta's "A-Ba-Ni-Bi," which was Israel's winning entry to Eurovision in 1978.
"That song was in one of the big batches of music that we had culled early on and we loved it," says Hilfer. "They edited to it and as we were getting into the clearances of it, the people who own it were like, 'Great news, we're happy to approve. But just so you know, this is a cover.' We were like, it is? Because I wasn't familiar with the source material."
The real music icons in The White Lotus Season 3Not contained to the soundtrack, however, The White Lotus Season 3 is also brimming with real music stars including Blackpink's Lisa (credited on the show as Lalisa Manoban), who performs a gorgeous Ram Thai dance as Mook in episode 5.
Lek Patravadi's 1987 song gets two renditions in "The White Lotus." Credit: Courtesy of HBOAnd one of the musical highlights of the season, iconic Thai singer Lek Patravadi (who also goes by Patravadi "Lek" Mejudhon) plays glamourous hotel owner Sritala. Through conversations with Patravadi in pre-production, Hilfer and The White Lotus team managed a pretty special plan with the artist, a performance of a song Patravadi performed on her own TV show in 1987, which appears in episode 2.
"She re-recorded that song for us in episode 2," says Hilfer. "We had her do a couple other songs, and she recorded them for us, but we didn't end up using them…They were great, her versions were incredible, but the way that that whole sequence got edited down, it lent itself to only having that one song in there."
But it's not the last time you'll hear the song this season. "I'm not really spoiling much, but later on that same song, we hear it at another point in the show from the original performance that she did on TV," Hilfer says.
The White Lotus score includes samples and repeated instrumentalsThroughout the series, Hilfer and his team also repeat small segments of songs they've found in their music sourcing as emotional markers. A sample of Imade Saputra's "A Thai Wedding" is used a few times in Season 3: in episode 2, when Rick (Walton Goggins) finally finds weed, and in episode 4, when Laurie (Carrie Coon), Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan) and Kate (Leslie Bibb) pile into the car for an adventure with Valentin (Arnas Fedaravičius).
"We would never want to repeat ourselves with a lyrical song, but an instrumental song is different, because it's almost intentionally supposed to remind you of the emotion you felt when you last heard it in the show," says Hilfer.
Texas band Khruangbin, who draw significant influence from Thai pop, see their 2018 banger "Maria También" used twice in the show in episodes 1 and 2, almost functioning as an unofficial theme for the show's early chapters. It underlies the first moments we get a tour through the White Lotus and the Ratliff family's sprawling villa, and as we join the guests for breakfast in episode 2.
"Those are two different versions of that song too," says Hilfer. "In episode 1, it's from their Tiny Desk show on NPR, and on episode 2, it's the album version. Khruangbin obviously brings a lot of their influences from Thai music, although they are not a Thai band. We had messed with it, tried with it, and it felt great."
Hilfer describes The White Lotus as a show that treats music "like a character in the show, not a secondary afterthought." Notably, he praises The White Lotus creator White, explaining how involved the writer-director is with music selection for the series during the edit.
"The genius of Mike White is just unparalleled in the way that he is able to, every season, replicate the same level of tension and the same level of intrigue without repeating himself, and without it feeling like well treaded territory," he says.
"I've been doing this long enough to know how much of a privilege it is to work with somebody who knows what they want, has great taste, and has overseen something from its inception to its completion, and to just be a small part of that musically is honestly a real gift."
On Wednesday, April 2, Nintendo is going to blow the doors off the Nintendo Switch 2 console. But what does that mean, exactly?
Back in January, Nintendo already gave us a brief glimpse at the device and an even more brief glimpse at a new Mario Kart game running on it, but that was all we got. Well, that and a promise that we'd hear more on April 2 at 9 a.m. ET. After three agonizing months, that date is almost upon us. Let's talk about what to expect from the upcoming Nintendo Direct livestream.
SEE ALSO: 'Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition' review: A forgotten classic is back with a vengeance What to expect from the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct livestreamYou can watch the Nintendo Direct stream on Nintendo's YouTube channel when the time comes. Here's what we think will be included.
Switch 2 price and release dateThe only thing that's a virtual certainty to be in this stream, aside from one game we'll get to a minute, is information about the Switch 2's launch. Nintendo will most definitely tell us when the console is coming out and how much it will cost.
It's hard to be more specific than that until we hear it from the horse's mouth, but we do have some information to work with right now. Insider Gaming reported this week that Nintendo is planning to launch the console in June with a smattering of first-party games right away, with more third-party titles to come in the months to follow.
As for price, a recent Bloomberg report indicated that the console will cost at least $400. This is one of the harder aspects of the Switch 2 to nail down prior to the Direct because of the shifting economic realities of the Trump administration's tariff policies. My bet, personally, is that the console is exactly $399.99, that's just an educated guess.
Switch 2 controllers, new console featuresRight now, the main things we know about the Switch 2 hardware that distinguish it from the original Switch are that it's bigger and has more horsepower inside. The widespread expectation is that it will be roughly as powerful as a PlayStation 4 Pro or maybe even a Steam Deck, possibly with the ability to upscale games to 4K using DLSS technology.
Of course, there will probably be more to it than that. The January teaser video teased the ability to use a Joy-Con controller like you'd use a computer mouse, and recently filed patents from Nintendo back this up. It's not really clear what this will be used for yet, but that's what the Direct is for. I would also expect to see a look at the console-level operating system and maybe some glimpses of additional online features, if there are any. There's also a still-unexplained "C" button on the new Joy-Con controller, and it's anyone's guess what the heck that is used for.
Switch 2 launch gamesIf you've never seen a Nintendo Direct before, they tend to be ruthlessly efficient. When there isn't new hardware to show, they're usually just a series of game trailers with the occasional interstitial bit where a stately looking man in a suit talks to you for a minute or two. Given that this one is dedicated to new hardware, there will almost certainly be a little more "men in suits talking" than the average Direct, but I would still expect this stream to heavily focus on new games for the Switch 2.
Unfortunately, there's only one game we know for certain will be at this event, and that's an unnamed new Mario Kart title. This game was briefly shown during the Switch 2 teaser video in January, and the only thing you can really get from the few seconds of footage in that video is that there are now 24 racers in a race instead of 12. Anything beyond that is speculation. I would expect this to be a launch title for the system.
That's about all we have to work with right now, sadly. All I can do is guess as to what else will be shown during this Direct. There probably won't be a new The Legend of Zelda game because Tears of the Kingdom and Echoes of Wisdom just came out over the past two years, though I wouldn't rule out an enhanced port of an older Zelda title. Metroid Prime 4 is a distinct possibility, perhaps even as a launch title, given its long development history and the fact that we haven't seen it since Nintendo re-revealed it last summer.
Xenoblade series developer Monolith Soft could potentially give us a brief glimpse of its next project for Switch 2, as well. I would also expect to see the next proper 3D Mario game at some point in this Direct, and it wouldn't surprise me if that were a launch title, too. If not, it could still be out in time for this holiday season.
Other than those things, it's really hard to guess what Nintendo will show. There's always the possibility (however slight) that a dormant series like Star Fox or F-Zero gets revived, and it's possible we may hear about the next Fire Emblem and Animal Crossing games, but none of those are guaranteed to be in this Direct.
I wish I could just sleep until Wednesday morning.
U.S. security officials' private contact information and passwords have been found online within days of the Signal scandal. If I had a nickel for every time a breach of tech security involving the Trump administration was revealed this week, I'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice.
SEE ALSO: The Trump administration accidentally texted military plans to a journalist. The White House says it's fine.German publication DER SPIEGEL reports that it has uncovered U.S. officials' private contact details exposed on the internet, specifically information belonging to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and national security advisor Michael Waltz.
All three officials were also reportedly part of the now infamous Yemen bombing Signal group chat revealed earlier this week, the latter two being central figures in the security incident. On Monday, Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffery Goldberg reported that he had mistakenly been added to a Signal group chat in which U.S. officials planned to bomb Yemen, becoming convinced of its authenticity when the described attack actually transpired.
DER SPIEGEL notes that it's unclear whether the Signal accounts used in the U.S. officials' group chat were linked to private phone numbers. However, its reporters did confirm that the private phone numbers it uncovered belonging to Gabbard and Waltz were linked to Signal accounts.
"It is thus conceivable that foreign agents were privy to the Signal chat group in which Gabbard, Waltz and Hegseth discussed a military strike," wrote DER SPIEGEL.
How did reporters find U.S. officials' passwords?DER SPIEGEL's reporters found the information on Waltz and Hegseth by first submitting a request to a contact information service, receiving email addresses and phone numbers for both officials. They then used Hegseth's phone number to locate a linked WhatsApp account that had been recently deleted, and used Waltz's email address to find associated passwords from previous leaks. They further used this information to find Waltz's apparent Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp, and Signal accounts.
While Gabbard's information was blocked in the contact information services DER SPIEGEL tries, its reporters were still able to find her email address on both Reddit and WikiLeaks. They were also able to locate a partial phone number from a previous leak, using it to find linked WhatsApp and Signal accounts.
"Most of these numbers and email addresses are apparently still in use, with some of them linked to profiles on social media platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn," DER SPIEGEL reported. "They were used to create Dropbox accounts and profiles in apps that track running data."
DER SPIEGEL stated that Waltz, Hegseth, and Gabbard did not respond to its request for comment. The National Security Council reportedly since stated that Waltz's relevant accounts and passwords were changed in 2019.
Considering the massive number, size, and frequency of cybersecurity breaches in general — as well as people's habitually terrible password habits — it isn't entirely surprising that U.S. officials' private accounts have been among those impacted in the past. Even so, it isn't entirely reassuring, particularly as these individuals are responsible for U.S. national defence.
The fallout from the Signal chat scandal is still ongoing, with the Trump administration now claiming that no classified information was actually shared in the group. This is despite Goldberg's report that messages included the name of an active CIA official, operational details about planned military attacks, and other information he claimed "could conceivably have been used to harm American military and intelligence personnel."
In response to U.S. officials' statements that none of these messages were classified, The Atlantic has since released further messages from the Signal group chat.
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Opens in a new window Credit: Skoove Premium Skoove Premium Piano Lessons: Lifetime Subscription £116.41Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.
Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections Sports Edition?The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Thrown by a pitcher
Green: Where baseball teams play
Blue: Most championships in baseball
Purple: Share a first word
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Baseball pitches
Green: MLB stadium names
Blue: Teams with the most World Series titles
Purple: Batting _________
Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to today's Connections Sports Edition #185 is...
What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition todayBaseball pitches - CHANGEUP, EEPHUS, SLIDER, SPLITTER
MLB stadium names - ANGEL, CHASE, TARGET, WRIGLEY
Teams with the most World Series titles - ATHLETICS, CARDINAS, RED SOX, YANKEES
Batting _________ - AVERAGE, CAGE, ORDER, PRACTICE
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.
If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.
Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on MashableBy providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.
If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 27 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 27 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Playing the fieldThe words are baseball-related.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explainedThese words are singular versions of MLB team names in the same league.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.
NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is NationalLeague.
Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for March 27Brewer
Pirate
Giant
Brave
Dodger
Marlin
NationalLeague
Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!
Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.
Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for March 27 Here's a hint for today's Connections categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Ingested
Green: And
Blue: Seen during a bank transaction
Purple: Suffix is the same
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Consumed
Green: Also
Blue: ATM options
Purple: ___play
Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to today's Connections #648 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayConsumed: ATE, HAD, PUT AWAY, TOOK IN
Also: AS WELL, BESIDES, TO BOOT, TOO
ATM options: BALANCE, DEPOSIT, TRANSFER, WITHDRAWAL
___play: FORE, HORSE, SCREEN, WORD
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for March 27Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.
Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.
If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for March 27 Where did Wordle come from?Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What's the best Wordle starting word?The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.
SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for March 27, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:A cover for a mattress.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?The letter E appears twice.
Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.
SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today's Wordle is...
SHEET.
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for March 27Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.
Traveling to a new place takes us out of our comfort zone and helps us get a new perspective on our life back home.
But nothing is quite as transformative as your very first trip to a new country. The highs of new sights, smells, people, foods, and experiences leave you changed in a way that’s hard to describe.
Inner Portrait, a new documentary from Turkish Airlines and media artist Refik Anadol, helps us visualize and articulate the change we feel when traveling, backed by data and technology. It first premiered at Istanbul’s Atatürk Cultural Center (AKM) several months ago, and is currently available to stream on Hulu. Here are just a few reasons to catch it.
Get inspired by four first-time travelersInner Portrait features four diverse first-time travelers: Tuikuru, a Brazilian native of the Amazon, who explores the vibrant streets of Tokyo; Esther from Kenya, who uncovers the rich history of Istanbul; Sahar, an Australian, who delves into the ancient wonders of Göbeklitepe and Cappadocia in Turkey; and Sigurbjörn from Iceland, who discovers the breathtaking beauty of Jordan.
See how travel changes the brainThis documentary does more than capture these first-time travelers' experiences. It uses advanced tech like EEG sensors, and Empatica Watches to capture every feeling and reaction as data points.
Refik Anadol and his creative team transformed all this data into a beautiful art piece. The result is a stunning visual display that evokes a sense of awe, similar to what you feel when you travel.
Feel connected to the globeEach first-time traveler featured in the documentary has a different life experience, and they embark on different trips. However, the data captured shows how their brains react to new experiences similarly as a timely reminder that we’re not so different.
Ahmet Bolat, the Chairman of the Board and Executive Committee at Turkish Airlines, said, “[This documentary] highlights that traveling is not only a physical journey but [...] also a profound experience that transforms a person’s inner world. As the airline flying to more countries than any other, we are committed to connecting the world through the universal language of art and culture.”
Watching Tuikuru, Esther, Sahar, and Sigurbjörn's experiences will remind you not to take travel for granted, inviting viewers to prioritize their next adventure.
Catch Inner Portrait on Hulu and visit Turkish Airlines to plan your next trip.
Between inflation and the near constant influx of new product releases, it is way too easy to spend a ton on beauty products.
While the best solution to this is not over-consuming, grabbing things on sale is a great way to restock products or finally check out ones you've been meaning to try. Amazon's Big Spring Sale, running from March 25 to 31, gives the perfect opportunity for you to do just that, bringing discounts on classic brands like Urban Decay and Clinique to K-beauty favorites like Round Lab and Beauty of Joseon.
SEE ALSO: 350+ of the best live deals in the Amazon Big Spring Sale, selected by Mashable's team of expertsAs a beauty tech reporter, I'm usually trying out the latest skincare devices and Dyson dupes, but I couldn't miss this opportunity to round up the best beauty deals under $25 I spotted during Amazon's Big Spring sale.
Best beauty deal Opens in a new window Credit: I DEW CARE I DEW CARE Tap Secret dry shampoo $12.59 at AmazonAs someone whose hair gets greasy after one single day, I've tried my fair share of dry shampoos — this unique poof situation from I DEW CARE is by far my favorite. I use the original despite having dark brown hair, and have zero issues with any white cast. Instead, what I get is a controlled application process, noticeably mattified (but not dry-looking) hair, and zero scent. For me, it's the perfect formula, and at $12.59, is way cheaper than other options on the market.
Best hair dealsBeautifyBeauties Spray Bottle For Hair — $6.79 $9.99 (save $3.20)
Briogeo Farewell Frizz Blow Dry Perfection & Heat Protectant Crème — $18.20 $26 (save $7.80)
OUIDAD Advanced Climate Control Styling Cream — $19.19 $26 (save $6.81)
Briogeo Scalp Revival Rosemary Pre-Wash Oil — $22.40 $32 (save $9.60)
amika Perk Up Plus dry shampoo — $22.50 $30 (save $7.50)
Urban Decay All Nighter Waterproof Makeup Setting Spray (travel size) — $14.45 $17 (save $2.55)
IT Cosmetics Je Ne Sais Quoi Lip Treatment — $20 $25 (save $5)
Clinique High Impact Mascara — $22.10 $26 (save $3.90)
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion — $22.40 $28 (save $5.60)
IT Cosmetics Superhero Mascara — $23.80 $28 (save $4.20)
Neutrogena Clear Face Sunscreen (SPF 50) — $9.18 $17.19 (save $8.01)
Abib Airy Sunstick (SPF 50) — $9.60 $24 (save $14.40)
Beauty of Joseon Ground Rice and Honey Glow Mask — $12.60 $20 (save $8.40)
Aquaphor Healing Ointment — $14.40 $20.07 (save $5.67)
Medicube Zero Pore Pads 2.0 — $14.90 $31 (save $16.10)
Bioderma H20 Micellar Water — $14.99 $18.99 (save $4)
LANEIGE Lip Glowy Balm — $15.20 $19 (save $3.80)
COSRX Snail Mucin 96% Power Repairing Essence — $15.99 $25 (save $9.01)
COSRX Snail Mucin 92% Face Moisturizer — $15.99 $26 (save $10.01)
Beauty of Joseon Dynasty Cream — $16.59 $24 (save $7.41)
ROUND LAB Birch Juice Moisturizing sunscreen (SPF 45) — $18.89 $28 (save $9.11)
mixsoon Bean Essence hyaluronic acid serum — $19.99 $35 (save $15.01)
Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Face Toner — $20.80 $26 (save $5.20)
Anastasia Beverly Hills Duo Brush #12 — $12.60 $18 (save $5.40)
Sigma E28 Detail Buffer Brush — $15.12 $24 (save $8.88)
SAVE 33%: The FlexiSpot H7 adjustable standing desk is on sale during the Amazon Big Spring Sale for just $99.98, down from the normal price of $149.99. That's a savings of $50.01.
Opens in a new window Credit: FlexiSpot FlexiSpot H7 adjustable standing desk (large) $99.98 at AmazonBy now, we've all heard that sitting for too long is bad for us. But that contradicts the recommendation that standing for too long can cause circulation problems. That leaves us questioning if we should be making those Excel spreadsheets while sitting or standing? Question no more because this deal at Amazon is the answer.
As of March 26, the FlexiSpot H7 adjustable standing desk is on sale during the Amazon Big Spring Sale for just $99.98, marked down from the usual price of $149.99. That means you'll be saving $50.01 with the 33% discount.
The FlexiSpot H7 is all about versatility, and it's a bit different from the standard standing desk. While many standing desks get bragging rights of being adjustable, this model of FlexiSpot only has one leg which means you're able to neatly tuck it over your bed or the couch. Sure, we know we're not supposed to work from bed but just having that as an option is awesome — not that we would ever do it.
Of course, it's also adjustable in height so you can use it as a sit-down desk or raise it to a comfortable standing height. The height range of the FlexiSpot H7 measures 26 to 41.7 inches. The discrete rolling casters sit below the desk's stand so you won't have to deal with unsightly wheels that stick out and tend to get in the way.
The large model of the FlexiSpot H7 that's on sale for $99.98 has desktop measurements of 31.5 inches wide and 17.7 inches deep, which makes this a great size for portability.
If you're lucky enough to still be working from home even a few days per month, the FlexiSpot H7 is a great mobile workstation. Use it standing or sitting from anywhere in your house or apartment. Now that it's under $100 at Amazon, it makes for an awesome spring refresh upgrade.
TL;DR: Through 27 April, grab a lifetime of cloud storage from Koofr on sale for A$190 at the Mashable Shop with coupon code KOOFR.
Opens in a new window Credit: Koofr Koofr Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription (1TB) AU$190So many cloud storage services come with a monthly fee. It may feel cheap at first, but how many of those files are only there temporarily? With every month you pay for cloud storage, the value starts to fade. The cheaper overall alternative is to get cloud storage that lasts for life without needing to pay more than a one-time fee. Take a look at Koofr's offer for a 1TB lifetime cloud storage subscription for A$190 with code KOOFR.
Koofr takes your privacy seriously with top-notch encryption for your files, both when they're being transferred and while they're stored. They also don’t track your activity, so you can rest easy knowing your data is secure and private.
What really stands out about Koofr is how flexible and user-friendly Koofr is. Whether you're on your smartphone, desktop, or using WebDAV, you can easily access and manage your files from anywhere. The interface is straightforward, so even if you're new to cloud storage, you’ll find it easy to use.
Plus, if you’re already using other cloud services like Dropbox, Google Drive, Amazon, or OneDrive, Koofr integrates smoothly, letting you handle everything from one place.
To keep your digital life in order, Koofr has some neat organizational features. The Duplicate Finder helps you eliminate unnecessary files, while advanced renaming options let you customize file links. This way, you can keep your digital space clutter-free.
Keep your files safe and sound with a Koofr 1TB Cloud Storage lifetime subscription for A$190 with promo code KOOFR through 27 April.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
SAVE $40: As of March 26, you can get a four-person Coleman Skydome Tent for $74.99 at Amazon. That's a 35% discount and a $40 price cut.
Opens in a new window Credit: Coleman Coleman Skydome Tent $74.99 at AmazonUsually, we tout REI for having the best camping gear and sales, but Amazon’s Big Spring Sale has been sneaking in some pretty solid deals, too.
Right now, you can get a four-person Coleman Skydome Tent for just $74.99. That’s a 35% discount and $40 off the list price. That’s an almost unbeatable price for a waterproof tent that can sleep four adults and has nearly 3,000 five-star ratings.
SEE ALSO: The best outdoor deals to shop in the Amazon Big Spring SaleIt’s available in other sizes (two-person, six-person, and eight-person) if you need more space or want something smaller. You can also choose whether you want a tent with PFAS or without — the tent listed in this deal post is the PFAS-free version.
This tent is great for a weekend camping trip or even a backyard campout, and it’s beginner-friendly, so you won’t have too much trouble setting it up. (Setup takes five minutes, according to the manufacturer’s description.) It can also withstand 35 mph winds and features WeatherTec system’s welded corners and inverted seams, just in case you get caught in a storm.
I've spent a lot of time with Amazon's e-reader line-up, testing my way through each model. My preferred device is the Kindle Paperwhite, which never leaves my side. Unfortunately Amazon is being conservative with Kindle pricing during their Big Spring Sale. While the Paperwhite isn't on sale right now, the Kindle Scribe is.
The Amazon Kindle Scribe is a much larger e-reader in the line-up that offers something no other Kindle has: the ability to take notes. With the inclusion of the premium pen, users can jot down thoughts in a notebook or even annotate in the margins of books and PDFs. But it's honesty hour here — is the Scribe worth it?
At its standard retail price of $419.99, the Kindle isn't a great value. Sure the extra ability to take notes is a big draw (literally), but with that comes some downsides. Even in this redesigned model released in December 2024, the Scribe's performance drags. It often lags between pages, and the screen suffers a significant ghosting problem. Combined with the fact that it's the most expensive Kindle, I wouldn't encourage anyone to run out to buy it.
However, my opinion of the Scribe changes when it goes on sale. During Amazon's Big Spring Sale, the e-reader and note taker starts at $339.99, saving you an abundant $80. At that price, I think the Kindle Scribe is a much better purchase. If you're an annotator at heart or a student looking to mark up readings for class, the Scribe offers the feel of pen on paper with the convenience of a digital device. A price tag of $339.99 is the Kindle Scribe's lowest price ever, and therefore its best savings yet. So as an e-reader expert, I say if you're looking to buy one, let it be now.
Elon Musk's government project, DOGE, has been extremely controversial, to say the least. While not an official government agency, DOGE has been empowered by the Trump administration to go after so-called government fraud and waste. So far, DOGE has come up empty-handed.
However, that doesn't mean that Musk and his team haven't been busy gutting the federal government. DOGE's cuts to USAID have ended important life-saving programs for some of the world's most vulnerable communities. Essential federal employees, such as park rangers, have been fired. And DOGE continues to rifle through sensitive government data in order to put more items on the chopping block, such as Social Security.
But, DOGE's issues lie not just with what it's doing, but who is doing it.
SEE ALSO: DOGE damage is just getting started, IT experts warnWIRED reported on many of the names involved with DOGE last month and many of them were young, inexperienced tech workers in their teens and early 20s who idolize Musk. While concerning, this is not disqualifying on its own. However, as more is known about the Musk fanboys that Musk hired for DOGE, the more concerning and disqualifying it gets.
A new report from Reuters has uncovered that one of the young DOGE employees, 19-year-old Edward Coristine, previously was involved with a cybercrime group known as "EGodly."
Coristine, also known by his online nickname "Big Balls," provided support for cybercriminals through his company DiamondCDN. In fact, EGodly has explicitly thanked Corisinte's company for helping them operate online.
"We extend our gratitude to our valued partners DiamondCDN for generously providing us with their amazing DDoS protection and caching systems, which allow us to securely host and safeguard our website," read a message from EGodly's Telegram channel which was shared with Reuters.
The cybercriminal group had previously claimed responsibility for hijacking phone numbers, hacking into law enforcement email accounts, and stealing cryptocurrency. In one specific incident, the group shared private details allegedly belonging to an FBI agent, including his phone number and photos of his house.
This is just the latest in a string of infractions against DOGE's young team.
In a previous report from Bloomberg, Coristine had been ID'd as a former employee of cybersecurity firm Path Network. Coristine was eventually fired for leaking internal company information to competitors.
But "Big Balls" isn't the only problem at DOGE. For example, another DOGE employee, 25-year-old Marko Elez, resigned from his position after his numerous racist social media posts were discovered. Elez had urged his followers to "normalize Indian hate."
"Just for the record, I was racist before it was cool," Elez said in another post. "You could not pay me to marry outside of my ethnicity."
While Elez did resign, Musk rehired him just a day later to continue his work at DOGE.
It appears unlikely that Edward "Big Balls" Coristine will face any repercussions for his past actions either.
You might not know what Instagram's Content Notes feature is, but your opportunity to familiarize yourself with it is gone.
A few months ago, Instagram introduced Content Notes. Apparently, not many people used it, so today, they're removing the feature.
"We're going to turn off Content Notes. If you don't know, Content Notes are the ability to add a note to a photo, a Reel, or a carousel on Instagram that your friends can see, but not everybody can see. And we launched it a few months ago in an effort to try to make Instagram more social and more fun," Instagram head Adam Mosseri said in a post on the social media platform. "But in practice, it just wasn't adopted by that many people."
View this post on InstagramOften, the removal of a feature is met with disbelief and disappointment by those who use it. But not that many people used the feature anyway, so the responses are pretty supportive. Most of the comments under Mosseri's posts are the hand clap emoji or people saying things like, "I don’t think I even knew I had content notes." Of course, Mosseri has comments limited on the post, so this is likely swayed a bit.
SEE ALSO: Facebook, Instagram beta testing Community Notes in the U.S.But that messaging does seem to align with how people reacted when the feature was launched. On Reddit, one user said, "It’s really annoying. Is there a way to turn it off? There’s some much shit clogging up my home feed already, the last thing I want is to see is MORE posts from accounts I don’t even follow." Multiple people responded in agreement.
And "clogging up" the home feed seems to be behind at least part of the reasoning behind Mosseri's decision to remove the feature.
"And we know Instagram has become too complicated over the years, and one of the ways we want to address that is being willing to turn off features that aren't used by enough or that many people, and Content Notes is one of those features," Mosseri said in his Instagram Reel. "We're going to continue to explore more ways of making Instagram fun and social and bring friends out in the experience, but Content Notes isn't it. So more things to come in terms of new features, but also in terms of things that we turn off."
SAVE 30%: As of March 26, you can get Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism for $23.09 at Amazon.
Opens in a new window Credit: Flatiron Books Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism (Hardcover) $23.09 at AmazonThe book Facebook doesn't want you to read? It's on sale.
Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism, Sarah Wynn-Williams' explosive tell-all, is sparking controversy and climbing bestseller lists. “Amazing: of all the books in all the world Mr. Free Speech Zuckerberg wants to ban, it’s the one about him,” says Guardian columnist Marina Hyde.
SEE ALSO: The book Facebook doesn't want you to read: What you need to knowRight now, you can get Careless People in hardcover for just $23.09 (list price $32.99) at Amazon. That’s a 30% discount and a seriously good price for a book critics call “unbelievable and necessary.” You can also get the Kindle edition for $16.99 or the audiobook for $0.99 with an Audible membership.
Almost immediately after its publication, an arbitrator (requested by Meta) issued Wynn-Williams a gag order, preventing her from publicly promoting or discussing the book. Despite this attempt to silence her, Careless People reached the top of the New York Times Best-Seller list and is now No. 3 on Amazon’s best-seller list.
If you missed the lunar eclipse earlier this month, the sky has another treat in store for certain parts of the U.S. this Saturday morning.
Starting around 6:30 to 7 a.m. ET on Saturday, March 29, the Northeast region of the country will be treated to a partial solar eclipse. Weather and cloud cover pending, the solar eclipse means parts of Maryland, Massachusetts, Washington D.C., New York, Maine, and Pennsylvania will be privy to watching the moon pass by the sun.
According to NASA charts, you'll need to travel outside the country to get the largest eclipse coverage. Halifax, Canada, will get 83 percent coverage and Nuuk, Greenland, is posed to get 87 percent. In the U.S., Portland, Maine, is in for the highest totality, reaching 64 percent at 6:30 a.m. ET on Saturday.
Before you look up when the moon passes directly over the sun, consider protecting your eyes. Your everyday sunglasses won't cut it, so it's important to prepare in advance by snagging specialized solar eclipse glasses. Unfortunately, like much of the internet, illegitimate options exist, and since we're talking about the same two eyes you'll have for your whole life, it's worth doing the research to be sure you're wearing certified and legitimate solar eclipse glasses.
Buying certified solar eclipse glasses is both super easy and also frustratingly hard. The American Astronomical Society has a comprehensive list of solar eclipse glasses that meet ISO 12312-2 international standard. The problem is the list is impressively long. But if you don't feel like sorting through the list to find options that are both certified and will arrive before Saturday, we did the leg work for you.
Below is a list of solar eclipse glasses available at Amazon that should show up before the solar eclipse on Saturday morning. All options here come from legitimate manufacturers listed on the American Astronomical Society's roundup.
Soluna Solar Eclipse Glasses (2 pack) — $6.96 at Amazon
Eclipse Glasses USA Eclipse Glasses (5 pack) — $9.99 $15 (save $1.78) at Amazon
Kesseph Solar Eclipse Glasses (6 pack) — $9.99 $19.99 (save $8) at Amazon
Celestron EclipSmart Solar Shades Observing Kit (4 pack) — $12.95 at Amazon
Kesseph Solar Eclipse Imaging Enhancing Lens Filter (5 pack) — $12.95 at Amazon
Helioclipse Solar Eclipse Glasses (50 pack) — $32.97 $49.95 (save $16.98) at Amazon