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If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

By 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.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for August 2 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for August 2

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.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Here, there, and everywhere

The hint for the theme is that it's all about the where of things.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The answers are about locations.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Location.

NYT Strands word list for August 2

• Above

• Among

• Location

• Through

• Beside

• Underneath

• Between

Looking for other daily online games? Find one you might like – or hints for another game you're already playing – on Mashable's Games page.

After an emotional speech at Wimbledon confirming he'd shortly be retiring from professional tennis, Andy Murray entered the Olympic doubles with his partner Dan Evans — and was ultimately knocked out on Thursday in the quarter finals.

The game was his final match before retiring, so obviously it was only fitting that Murray mark the occasion in some way on social media.

SEE ALSO: Simone Biles shades former Olympic teammate MyKayla Skinner in Instagram caption

Cue what may be one of the greatest retirement posts of all time.

Tweet may have been deleted

At the time of writing that's been shared 73,000 times.

Murray even updated his bio to really drum the message home.

Tweet may have been deleted

A truly glorious way to mark the end.

The online world can be a dangerous place, with hackers, viruses, and surveillance software lurking in every corner of the web. We're not trying to scare you, but have you ever considered just how much of your personal data is exposed to this sort of thing whilst you're browsing? If not, you probably should. You might be surprised by the results.

Your data is seriously valuable stuff these days, and everyone is looking to get their hands on it. Once you come to understand that the internet is insecure, it's perfectly normal to feel a little concerned about how much of your data is up for grabs. There's no need to panic though, because there is a simple and effective way that you can stay protected.

To stay safe online and keep all of your data and personal information secure, you really should consider investing in a VPN.

What is a VPN?

VPNs provide protection for your data and identity by creating a private network that hides your real IP address (digital location). All of your activity is untraceable and secure because everything passes through an encrypted tunnel. Nobody can see into the tunnel, and everything inside is protected against online threats. This means that hackers, governments, and your internet service provider will be unable to access any of your information.

Do you need a VPN?

Investing in a VPN is one of the best ways to ensure your safety and anonymity online. VPNs are vital tools in the fight against scammers and cybercriminals, but there's another reason you might consider these security services. And it has nothing to do with security.

SEE ALSO: The best VPNs for remaining anonymous online

VPNs can be used to unlock streaming services from around the world, including the likes of Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+. How do they do this? It's actually a really simple process, and it can significantly boost your content options. All you need to do is open up your preferred VPN, connect to a server from another country in order to spoof your IP to another address, and then head to your preferred streaming site. This process tricks the site into thinking you are based in another country, meaning you can watch all that great content that is normally blocked.

VPNs are really useful for cybersecurity and streaming, which means they should be a worthwhile investment for just about everyone.

What should you know before subscribing to a VPN?

Selecting a VPN that is right for you is not easy, because there are a lot of options all offering similar packages. To make the decision a little simpler, we have highlighted a selection of the most important things to consider before making any sort of purchase:

• Connection speed — This is absolutely vital whether you're looking to use a VPN for online security or streaming. It's normal for a VPN to result in a drop in your connection speed, but you shouldn't accept anything significant.

• Encryption — We know that a lot of people will be using VPNs for streaming, but these services are primarily designed to provide cybersecurity, so encryption is important. The best VPNs will offer powerful protection for your data, meaning that everything is unreadable and untraceable.

• Number of connections — You should seek out a VPN that offers multiple simultaneous connections, so you can stay protected on all your devices at the same time. This is also beneficial for large families or households with multiple people likely to be online at the same time.

• Privacy policy — The best VPNs should be very clear about how they handle, store, and use your data. These practices should be laid out in a privacy policy, and if they aren't super clear, you should look elsewhere.

• Server network — The best VPNs provide access to thousands of servers located all around the world. This is useful as you should always be able to find a stable and speedy connection for streaming, shopping, or browsing.

There are plenty of other things that are worth considering, like bandwidth, apps for certain operating systems, and customer support, but these are probably the most important features to keep in mind.

Should you use free VPNs?

With free versions of popular VPNs and free trials of VPNs with full access to everything you get with a premium plan, why would you ever pay? As with most things in life, you get what you pay for with VPNs.

There tends to always be a catch with free versions, and it's normally in the form of limited data usage. If you're just an occasional user, these plans will work fine. But if you're going to be streaming or downloading, this isn't going to work. Free trials are a little bit different: they come with everything you get in a paid plan, but obviously they don't tend to last very long. Trials are great for testing out a service before committing, but this isn't a long-term solution.

To gain access to advanced security features without limitations on usage, you need to pay up. The best VPNs are generally the most expensive, but there are plenty of cheap plans out there, especially if you're willing to commit to a lengthy contract.

What is the best VPN?

There are a lot of VPNs out there, and we recommend taking some time to carefully access all your options. Once you have established exactly what you need, you can turn your attention to finding the best deals on all the top VPNs.

We have reached out to partners in order to line up a list of the best deals on the most popular providers, to help you save big. You can find all the best deals on the likes of ExpressVPN, NordVPN, PureVPN, and more.

These are the best VPN deals in 2024.

TL;DR: As of July 29, you can get the Complete 2024 CompTIA Certification Training Super Bundle for just £39.24 — a £12 price drop since the last time it went on sale.

Opens in a new window Credit: CommerceNova LTD Complete 2024 CompTIA Certification Training Super Bundle £39.24
£459.37 Save £420.13 Get Deal

There are so many incredible online learning resources, but some fields are constantly changing. For fast-growing industries like IT and cybersecurity, why not go straight to a credible source that has the most recent information? That's especially true if you're preparing for a competitive IT certification.

That's why aspiring IT workers and students could benefit greatly from the Complete 2024 CompTIA Certification Training Super Bundle. You can even get it for a reduced price, just £39.24. Though this course previously went on sale for £51.02, its full retail price is £459.37, and this new reduced pricing won't be around too long.

Save on a comprehensive IT intro

While these courses do start with some fundamental material, learners should have some basic understanding of computers and CompTIA objectives. Be sure to give the course topics a once-over before purchasing. 

When you're ready to get started, it's up to you which class you start with. There are introductory IT fundamentals courses, lectures on network security, guides for using Linux, an introduction to cloud computing, and a whole lot more. It's everything you'll need to get prepared for competitive CompTIA certifications, including CompTIA ITF+, A+ Core 1 and 2, and Linux+.

This bundle itself won't certify you as an expert, but you could use it as a study guide for your CompTIA certifications. Just keep in mind that those are organised by CompTIA, so all the awesome prep material may be here, but you'd still need to register for the exams through them. 

Learn the basics of IT and cybersecurity

Get a lifetime of CompTIA study materials at a drastically reduced price.

You have until Aug. 4 at 11:59 p.m. PT to get the Complete 2024 CompTIA Certification Training Super Bundle on sale for only £39.24, with no coupon needed. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Live stream the 2024 US Open for free on 9Now and TVNZ+. Access these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Everything eventually comes to an end, and it feels like the golden era of tennis is at that point. Novak Djokovic is the only remaining name from the famous group of players that have dominated the game for decades, but don't let that fool you into thinking the Serbian star is going to go out quietly.

He hasn't managed to win a Grand Slam this year, but he will be desperate to defend his US Open crown. Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are leading the way for the next generation, hoping to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Serena Williams by taking top spot in the sport.

If you want to watch the 2024 US Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the US Open?

The US Open Tennis Championships (or US Open) is a hardcourt tennis tournament held annually in Queens, New York. The US Open is the fourth and final Grand Slam tournament of the year, after the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon.

The current singles champions are Novak Djokovic and Coco Gauff.

When is the 2024 US Open?

The 2024 US Open takes place from Aug. 26 to Sept. 8. The tournament takes place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center within Flushing Meadows–Corona Park.

How to watch the 2024 US Open for free

Fans can live stream the 2024 US Open for free on these platforms:

• Australia — 9Now

• New Zealand — TVNZ+

These streaming services are geo-blocked, but anyone from around the world can access these sites with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other countries, meaning you can unblock 9Now and TVNZ+ in just a few clicks.

Access free live streams of the 2024 US Open by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia or New Zealand

4. Visit 9Now or TVNZ+

5. Watch the 2024 US Open for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch every US Open match before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the US Open?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia and New Zealand

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream the 2024 US Open for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream France vs. Argentina at Paris 2024 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

France and Argentina faced off in the last World Cup final, and although the sides meeting at Paris 2024 are lacking the biggest stars, this is still an exceptional quarter-final matchup. A place in the semi finals is up for grabs, so we're expecting a tense battle.

If you want to watch France vs. Argentina at Paris 2024 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is France vs. Argentina at Paris 2024?

France vs. Argentina at Paris 2024 takes place at 3 p.m. ET on Aug. 2.

How to watch France vs. Argentina at Paris 2024 for free

France vs. Argentina at Paris 2024 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. These are tools that hide your real IP address and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock free streaming sites like BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Unblock BBC iPlayer for free by following this simple process:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Live stream France vs. Argentina at Paris 2024 from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it gives you time to stream France vs. Argentina (plus the rest of Paris 2024) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream France vs. Argentina at Paris 2024 for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Egypt vs. Paraguay at Paris 2024 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

We've reached the knockout rounds of the football at Paris 2024, which means it's all or nothing for the remaining teams. Egypt meet Paraguay in the third quarter-final matchup, with fans expecting a close battle between two even sides.

If you want to watch Egypt vs. Paraguay at Paris 2024 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Egypt vs. Paraguay at Paris 2024?

Egypt vs. Paraguay at Paris 2024 takes place at 1 p.m. ET on Aug. 2.

How to watch Egypt vs. Paraguay at Paris 2024 for free

Egypt vs. Paraguay at Paris 2024 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. These are tools that hide your real IP address and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock free streaming sites like BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Unblock BBC iPlayer for free by following this simple process:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Live stream Egypt vs. Paraguay at Paris 2024 from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it gives you time to stream Egypt vs. Paraguay (plus the rest of Paris 2024) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Egypt vs. Paraguay at Paris 2024 for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Japan vs. Spain at Paris 2024 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The football at Paris 2024 has been really entertaining, and that's not going to change as we enter the knockout stage. The second semi final will see Japan take on Spain, as both teams dream of a gold medal.

If you want to watch Japan vs. Spain at Paris 2024 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Japan vs. Spain at Paris 2024?

Japan vs. Spain at Paris 2024 takes place at 11 a.m. ET on Aug. 2.

How to watch Japan vs. Spain at Paris 2024 for free

Japan vs. Spain at Paris 2024 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. These are tools that hide your real IP address and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock free streaming sites like BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Unblock BBC iPlayer for free by following this simple process:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Live stream Japan vs. Spain at Paris 2024 from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it gives you time to stream Japan vs. Spain (plus the rest of Paris 2024) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Japan vs. Spain at Paris 2024 for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Morocco vs. USA at Paris 2024 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Everyone wants a chance at winning gold at Paris 2024, but only a few athletes get close. We've reached the quarter-final stage of the football competition, meaning every remaining side will start to believe they can win.

USA and Morocco are meeting in the first knockout fixture. If you want to watch Morocco vs. USA at Paris 2024 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Morocco vs. USA at Paris 2024?

Morocco vs. USA at Paris 2024 takes place at 9 a.m. ET on Aug. 2.

How to watch Morocco vs. USA at Paris 2024 for free

Morocco vs. USA at Paris 2024 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. These are tools that hide your real IP address and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock free streaming sites like BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Unblock BBC iPlayer for free by following this simple process:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Live stream Morocco vs. USA at Paris 2024 from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it gives you time to stream Morocco vs. USA (plus the rest of Paris 2024) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Morocco vs. USA at Paris 2024 for free with ExpressVPN.

How does your garden grow? Or so goes the popular English children's rhyme. But a more pertinent question might actually be this: Just how bloomin’ big is it? Because gardens aren't only about relaxing in the sunshine. It takes hard work to maintain them. In other words, it you have a lawn it will need to be cut. And the size and cutting requirements will dictate the lawn mower you use.

If you're wondering whether you actually need a decent lawn mower, the answer is almost certainly yes. Gardens can be hard work, but a lawn mower does most of the work for you. And you can find suitable lawn mowers for just about every type of garden. Nowadays, gardeners can purchase manual, electric, cordless, robot, and petrol lawn mowers from recognisable brands like Bosch, Hyundai, and Flymo.

We can't pick the best lawn mower for you, because it ultimately depends on your garden and gardening habits. But we've dug through the weeds to help steer you in the right direction. In other words, we've shortlisted a selection of impressive lawn mowers that will offer a solution for every type of garden and gardener. But to get you started, here’s some helpful information.

Are there different types of lawn mower?

It’s not quite as straightforward as just strolling into B&Q and picking up the first mower you see. There are regular corded lawn mowers that plug into the mains, cordless battery-powered mowers, manual push-mowers, robot lawn mowers, and even tractor-like lawn mowers that you can ride on.

Are cordless lawn mowers better than electric?

Electric lawn mowers might seem slightly behind the times with the increasing availability of battery-powered and robot mowers, but there are benefits to electric lawn mowers. They’re generally cheaper and totally reliable. The main drawback is that you need an accessible power outlet. And if you have an especially big garden, you’ll need to make sure the cord can stretch far enough to cover the whole lawn. Indeed, they can have limited range or get tangled as you mow. Cordless lawn mowers give you a much bigger range and easier handling, but they can be a little pricier — and there’s the added issue of needing to keep it charged.

What are the benefits of a robot lawn mower?

Like their indoor counterpart — the robot vacuum cleaner — robot mowers take all the work out of cutting the grass. Put your feet up and let them do the hard work. It’s really that simple. But they’re also smarter that that. You can map out routes, helped by smart apps and guidance wires, and the mower will get to work every day. They can even make adjustments to the schedule based on the weather, get into tricky spots that regular mowers can’t reach, and will return to their charging station automatically. The ultimate in luxury, effort-free gardening.

What is the best lawn mower for large gardens?

While there are electric, cordless, and robot mowers made for big lawns, the best mower for the job is probably a petrol lawn mower. Petrol lawn mowers give you serious power to cover more ground and mow through tough grass and even tougher terrain. The downside is that petrol lawn mowers can be absolute beasts — heavy, noisy, and hard to handle. For a pro-level job, however, they’re seriously tough to beat.

What is the best lawn mower?

It all depends on the kind of garden you have and what best suits your needs, but we have tracked down examples of every type of mower so you can get a taste of what's on offer. We've checked out reviews, customer feedback, and everything you need to know about the best lawn mowers, so you don't need to spend hours doing the research. The result is this selection of impressive devices for you to check out.

These are the best lawn mowers in 2024.

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 August 2's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

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.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

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 used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

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 August 1 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

What snow and cereal can both be.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no reoccurring letters.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter F.

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...

FLAKE.

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.

Reporting by Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

Connections is the latest New York Times word game 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 August 2's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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 August 2 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Getting on your nerves

• Green: DJ antics

• Blue: English lesson

• Purple: Green but not the color

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Stretch, As One's Patience

• Green: Things a DJ Does

• Blue: Adjectives Used in Grammar

• Purple: What "Green" Might Mean

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 #418 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Stretch, As One's Patience: STRAIN, TAX, TEST, TRY

• Things A DJ Does: MIX, SAMPLE, SCRATCH, SPIN

• Adjectives Used in Grammar: DIRECT, IRREGULAR, POSSESSIVE, PRESENT

• What "Green" Might Mean: ECOLOGICAL, JEALOUS, LUSH, NAUSEOUS

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.

Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections.

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What do you know about Cellino and Barnes? If you've spent time anywhere near Buffalo, New York, you might know of them as the law firm behind the insidiously catchy jingle that played for over 25 years across TV and radio: "Cellino and Barnes! Injury attorneys! 800-888-8888!"

But you don't need to be a local to have heard this dastardly ditty; it's spawned a celebrity-studded viral challenge, as well as a Saturday Night Live skit. Of course, their accidentally amusing billboards are a meme unto themselves. But even if you know nothing else about their sordid history, that's more than enough to revel in every moment of the new off-Broadway comedy Cellino V. Barnes. 

In the vein of contemporary off-Broadway hits like campy Celine Dion jukebox musical Titanique and Cole Escola's Mary Todd Lincoln spoof Oh, Mary! (which has since made the leap to Broadway), Cellino V. Barnes is far less concerned with the truth behind their story, and far more focused on unleashing madcap humor upon its giddy audience. In fact, reading up on the real-life Ross Cellino and Steve A. Barnes only makes this show more remarkable. Played by Eric William Morris and Noah Weisberg, these regionally recognizable "ambulance chasers" are not the mercurial family man and the hard-nosed military vet depicted in the 2020 New York magazine exposé, which thoroughly detailed their break-up after decades together. Instead, playwrights Mike B. Breen and David Rafailedes reimagine them as an arrogant buffoon and his slyly sophisticated sidekick, determined to make big bucks through marketing... and ambulance chasing. 

Over the course of just 74 minutes — with no intermission — Cellino V. Barnes spins a story that is outrageous, entertaining, and even a bit poignant. 

Cellino V. Barnes reimagines its heroes in a buddy-cop comedy.  Credit: Marc Franklin

Swaggering on stage in a sharp plaid suit, suspenders, and clip-on tie, Eric William Morris instantly depicts Ross Cellino as Gordon Gecko wannabe, a "greed is good" businessman who refuses to play by the rules. By contrast, Noah Weisberg's Steve Barnes — wearing a bright blue suit and a bald cap slicked with an unflattering ring of brown hair — is comically conciliatory, showering the hot-shot nepo baby with praise to get a job at Cellino's dad's firm. Where others see this slick slip-and-fall lawyer as a huckster, Barnes sees in Cellino's shameless litigiousness — he'd even sue a dog! — a huge potential for fame and fortune.

Minutes into their meeting, they've not only bonded but are plotting their own law firm. And naturally, that means they need what every self-respecting attorney has: a jingle.

A pitch-perfect spoof of every bad musician biopic, Cellino V. Barnes presents the creation of the teeny tune as a moment of divine inspiration. A spotlight shines on Barnes, who has a bizarre affinity for the number eight. Then, like an angel — or "Cellino Dion" — he lets loose the unforgettable jingle, earning applause and giggles from the knowing audience. And that's just the first half. 

Eric William Morris and Noah Weisberg make a crackling comedy duo.  Credit: Marc Franklin

From the moment their characters connect over a ludicrous lawsuit, Morris and Weisberg click. With his chest out and his chin in the air, eyes wild, Morris has the gusto of a coked-up Foghorn Leghorn, whether he's venting about his daddy issues or ranting about his deranged dedication to girls hockey. Weisberg balances this manic energy with a bouncy guilelessness, even as the pair talks loan-sharking or a particular case filing so juicy it's basically orgasmic. 

Together, the two create a fast-paced and fluid banter that ranges from bonkers bromance to brutal break-up. Playwrights Breen and Rafailedes give them the fuel with a screenplay that is relentlessly stuffed with jokes. Meanwhile, directors Wesley Taylor and Alex Wyse have created a simple staging of a few filing cabinets, a desk, and a handful of office supplies, with a near-breathless pacing. Whenever a bit runs the risk of growing stale, the play swiftly shifts, anticipating the audience's flagging interest by presenting a new plot development or a fresh gag. And Morris and Weisberg make it all look easy as they leap across decades, from 1997 to 2007 to the 2010s, creating a compelling arc even amid the extreme silliness. 

I didn't expect Cellino V. Barnes to make my heart flutter.  Credit: Marc Franklin

Before seeing this play, I didn't spend much time pondering the emotional weight of the break-up of Cellino & Barnes. I'd wager to say that I'm like a lot of New Yorkers, where I was mostly shocked and a bit bemused when their billboards took sides, either becoming Cellino Law or the Barnes Firm. But sitting in the Asylum theater, I found myself gasping in alarm when the two started throwing down "passive-aggressive memos" (which, yes, are based on real — and really petty — missives between the former law partners).

While Cellino V. Barnes is an unabashedly silly spoof of the injury attorneys' story, it's also empathetic. Amid the manic mugging of Morris and the comedic clucking of Weisberg, the two establish such a rich chemistry that it stings when their characters turn their fire on each other. Perhaps this is why the play ends more sweetly than the actual Cellino and Barnes story, in which they became estranged before the latter died in a plane crash in 2020. Like Furious 7, the Fast and Furious movie to which all plays dream to be compared, Cellino V. Barnes offers its audiences a sweeter resolution that invites us to celebrate the long-running partnership over its messy ending (or at least alongside it). Perhaps the fat payday is not the millions earned from personal injury lawsuits, but the friends we made along the way? 

In the end, Cellino V. Barnes is sublimely stupid and a bit brilliant. Relishing in the tabloid elements of the true story, its playwrights spin a yarn that doesn't lean so hard into the real attorneys that an unfamiliar audience might be left in the cold. Committed and kooky, Morris and Weisberg create characters whole cloth that are as hilarious as they are compelling. Combined with a snappy direction, this play's humor hits so fast and hard, it's not just thrilling. It might be exactly the kind of the shock to the system its crooked counselors would drool to litigate over. 

Cellino V. Barnes is playing for 12 weeks at the Asylum in New York City. 

If Microsoft wants to include Reddit posts in Bing's search results – and the company's AI training – it looks like it'll have to pay up.

According to a new interview in The Verge with Reddit CEO Steve Huffman, Reddit expects Microsoft to pay, like Google does, if it wants to crawl its website again.

"Without these agreements, we don’t have any say or knowledge of how our data is displayed and what it’s used for, which has put us in a position now of blocking folks who haven’t been willing to come to terms with how we’d like our data to be used or not used," Huffman explained, referencing how companies like Google and Microsoft have been training their AI models using Reddit's data.

SEE ALSO: Microsoft outage affects Bing, Copilot, DuckDuckGo, and ChatGPT Reddit wants search engines to pay due to AI training

Last week, tech outlet 404 Media reported that Reddit was blocking search engine's like Microsoft Bing and DuckDuckGo from crawling the platform and indexing its pages. As a result, recent Reddit posts would no longer show up in Bing or DuckDuckGo search results.

One search engine that is still providing Reddit posts in its search results is Google. That's thanks to a $60 million deal Google and Reddit agreed to that allows the search giant to train its AI models on Reddit's data.

Along with Google, Reddit has also signed a deal with OpenAI, which will now be able to include Reddit posts in the search results for its new SearchGPT search product.

Huffman specifically cited Microsoft and AI companies Anthropic and Perplexity as examples of those that they are currently blocking for not negotiating on how they can use Reddit's data. 

The Reddit CEO also noted that it was "a real pain in the ass to block these companies," but claimed that it was necessary especially in light of comments from Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman about publicly accessible data on the open web being equivalent to "freeware," and, thus, fair game for AI models to train on.

Reddit certainly has legitimate concerns regarding AI companies training their models on data without providing compensation to the platforms they're scraping and crawling. However, the side effect of Reddit content disappearing from search engines is also unfortunate and doesn't bode well for the future of the internet.

It seems, however, that these are the consequences of search engine companies now becoming AI companies too.

Mashable has reached out to Reddit for confirmation and comment, and will update if we hear back.

My cat cannot be quiet for a single second. If we were in A Quiet Place, we'd be dead immediately — and that's the conclusion much of TikTok has come to as we all try the Quiet Place Challenge.

The biggest star in The Quiet Place: Day One is Frodo, a feline played by real cats Nico and Schnitzel. Sam, the main character of the film, is Frodo's owner (good name combo). If you're unfamiliar with the plot of the Quiet Place franchise, it's easy to grasp: If Death Angels hear you, they'll kill you, so you have to stay silent.

SEE ALSO: Stephen King shares his 2 line review of 'A Quiet Place: Day One'

A Quiet Place: Day One follows Sam, played by Lupita Nyong'o, on the day the Death Angels arrive on Earth. Frodo runs off toward the subway and connects Sam with Eric, who escapes the flooded subway. The course of the movie follows Sam, Eric, and Frodo as they silently run, jump, and swim to escape the Death Angels. The cat is remarkably quiet the entire time.

So the internet asked, in the form of a challenge on TikTok: Could my cat be quiet enough not to get us totally killed in A Quiet Place? The answer is mostly no.

Would you like AI with your meal? Because the next time you go to a Taco Bell drive-thru you might be ordering your Crunchwrap Supreme through a voice-activated chatbot.

On Wednesday, Yum Brands, which owns Taco Bell announced that it is expanding its Voice AI technology to hundreds of drive-thru locations in the U.S., with the intention of an eventual global rollout. Previously, the Mexican-inspired fast food chain piloted the AI ordering system in 13 states, and now Taco Bell has deemed it ready for primetime. "With over two years of fine tuning and testing the drive-thru Voice AI technology, we’re confident in its effectiveness in optimizing operations and enhancing customer satisfaction," said Lawrence Kim, Chief Innovation Officer at Yum! Brands in Taco Bell's announcement.

SEE ALSO: The 10 best Taco Bell menu items, ranked

In the generative AI era, businesses are clambering to AI-ify their products. But how customers feel about automated systems is still very much up for debate. Generative AI has proven to be lucrative for some things, but not everything. Just this week, Meta axed its celebrity AI personas after low engagement, and Google's AI search summaries got the wrong kind of attention for recommending users do things like put glue on their pizza. Customer service and sales have used automated systems for years, but talking to AI at the drive-thru is fairly new territory.

The Taco Bell chatbot builds on the restaurant's existing digital ordering kiosk. Now instead of giving your order to a Taco Bell employee, you'll talk to a bot which relays the information on the screen. Taco Bell said it designed Voice AI to take some of the back-of-house work off of staffers' plates. "Benefits include easing task load for team members, improving order accuracy, providing a consistent, friendly experience, and reducing wait times, while driving profitable growth for Taco Bell, Yum! Brands and their franchisees," said the announcement. Taco Bell did not respond to Mashable about whether implementation of Voice AI is mandatory for all franchises at the time of publication.

The company also said it would "elevate the order experience for consumers." But interacting with chatbots doesn't always go smoothly. McDonald's learned that the hard way when it attempted a similar AI-ordering experience. The Golden Arches scrapped its plan in June after numerous failures that quickly went viral on TikTok. In one instance, the McDonald's chatbot mistakenly added 28 orders of Chicken McNuggets.

Wendy's has also jumped on the AI-ordering bandwagon. Although it's been possible to order your Frosty from a chatbot for over a year, many customers are begging Wendy's to make it stop.

Reddit

Despite failures from its fast food rivals, Taco Bell is charging ahead. KFC, which is also owned by Yum! Brands is also testing Voice AI at five locations in Australia. So, like it or not, AI bots are very much on the menu.

The Silicon Valley chip maker also reported a net loss and declining revenue in the latest quarter.

While iPhone sales dropped 1 percent, consumer interest in Apple’s flagship product is expected to pick up later this year.

The e-commerce giant’s stock dipped about 5 percent in after-hours trading after lower-than-expected guidance.

Over the next year, parents whose children have Android phones and tablets will notice a new setting called "school time," Google announced Thursday.

The parental control allows caregivers to set limits on their child's device functionality while at school, or during other periods when they want to minimize distraction.

The setting is already available on Fitbit's recently introduced Ace LTE smartwatch for kids, and will be rolled out to Samsung Galaxy watches as well.

Mindy Brooks, general manager for kids and families at Google, said in the blog post announcement that the company heard from parents who wanted to minimize digital distractions for their child at school, but still wanted the ability to contact them in an emergency. Parents will have the option to allow calls or texts from specific contacts.

SEE ALSO: Google announces new tactics to curb explicit deepfakes

School time sets a child's device to a dedicated home screen, limiting its functionality. Parents can restrict access to specific apps during this time period by selecting them in Google's Family Link.

Educators, who've long complained that phone and device use disrupts their ability to teach and contributes to burnout, may also be interested in the setting.