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NYT's The Mini crossword answers for September 30

Mashable - Mon, 09/30/2024 - 05:07

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 Mashable

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Monday, September 30, 2024:

AcrossWhat Jacuzzis, airports and the N.F.L. all have in common
  • The answer is Jets.

Film franchise featuring Facehuggers
  • The answer is Alien.

Use a loom
  • The answer is Weave.

Threaded fastener
  • The answer is Screw.

Gets kissed by the sun
  • The answer is Tans.

DownFilm that was the highest-grossing of all time before "Star Wars" was released
  • The answer is Jaws.

Vote into office
  • The answer is Elect.

Headwear at a pageant
  • The answer is Tiara.

Number used to spell "L" on a calculator
  • The answer is Seven.

"I want the ___, not the weather"
  • The answer is News.

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 Games

Are 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.

Take 5 Unity game development courses for just $5 each

Mashable - Mon, 09/30/2024 - 05:00

TL;DR: Learn to make games in the Ultimate Unity Game Development Bundle for $24.99 (reg. $1,000) in this 5-course online learning bundle. 

Game development has grown into a dynamic and accessible field, making it easier than ever to create your own projects, whether for personal satisfaction or to build a career. One of the best tools to learn if you're diving into this space is Unity, a popular game development engine known for its wide range of capabilities.

Whether you’re creating simple 2D games or more complex 3D environments, Unity has the flexibility to support both, making it a go-to platform for developers at all levels, and you can learn to use it when you study the Ultimate Unity Game Development Bundle. The game development courses in this bundle are designed to take you through each step of the process, and it's only $24.99 to get all 48 hours of course materials for life.

What will you learn?

In the Ultimate Guide to 2D Mobile Game Development, you’ll learn how to set up your first project, navigate Unity’s interface, and work with the various tools you’ll need to build your game’s environment. Once you’re comfortable with the basics, you can explore mechanics like coding movement, designing levels, and integrating assets into your game world. The lessons are hands-on, so you'll be working on actual game projects instead of just studying theory.

The bundle also includes The Unity C# Survival Guide, where you dive into C#, the key programming language behind Unity. This course breaks down how to script character movements, manage physics, and create dynamic interactions within your game. You’ll also cover essential techniques for optimizing performance, ensuring that your games run smoothly across various platforms.

It’s not all about the technical side either. This bundle also shows you how to craft engaging gameplay, balance difficulty levels, and create experiences that keep players hooked. Plus, it even walks you through the entire process of getting your game ready for platforms like the App Store or Google Play, giving you insight into everything from prototyping to publishing.

Study game design for fun

Learning game design can be as fun as playing the games you're building. 

Get the 5-course Ultimate Unity Game Development Course Bundle while it's on sale for $24.99 (reg. $1,000). 

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Opens in a new window Credit: Jonathan Weinberger The Ultimate Unity Game Development Bundle $24.99 at the Mashable Shop
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How to get an iPad Pro for $400 off

Mashable - Mon, 09/30/2024 - 05:00

TL;DR: Get a near-mint refurbished iPad Pro on sale for $399.99 (reg. $799). 

Traveling as a family can be filled with great memories, but keeping everyone entertained and organized during long trips is key to a smooth journey. Whether you're managing your kids' screen time, capturing family moments, or keeping important travel details at your fingertips, having a reliable device that does it all is a must.

This 12.9-inch iPad Pro is great for families on the move, offering a balance of power, convenience, and entertainment at a super affordable price: just $399.99 (instead of the usual $799).

What can this iPad do?

Powered by Apple’s A12X Bionic chip, this iPad can handle multiple demanding tasks at once, making it great for switching between different apps without any slowdowns. For instance, parents can stream movies or TV shows for the kids while using a travel itinerary app, ensuring you’re never out of the loop with your plans. Its ability to handle high-performance apps like Netflix, educational games, or interactive storybooks means you can keep children entertained, too.

The iPad’s 12.9-inch Liquid Retina display is large enough to enjoy a full family movie or play engaging multiplayer games, all in stunning clarity. With its P3 wide color gamut and True Tone technology, the display adjusts to lighting conditions around you, ensuring that whether you're indoors, outdoors, or on the move, the visuals remain sharp and vivid. Kids can enjoy watching their favorite shows, while parents might use the same iPad to check on flight details, browse the web, or read an e-book without compromising performance.

What’s more, the iPad Pro’s 4K video recording allows families to document their entire trip. Whether you're visiting a national park, theme park, or exploring a new city, you can capture videos in ultra-high definition, giving you a portable tool for making and editing family videos on the fly. 

Battery life is always a concern on long trips, but with the iPad Pro's long-lasting battery, you can rely on it to keep running throughout the day, powering everything from games and media to maps and travel guides. And despite this model being from 2018, it's been refurbished to Grade A standards in near-mint condition. 

Save 49% on a 12.9-inch Apple tablet and get a refurbished iPad Pro for $399.99 (reg. $799). 

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Travel is cheaper with this $35 data plan

Mashable - Mon, 09/30/2024 - 05:00

TL;DR: Avoid roaming charges while travelling with an aloSIM lifetime mobile data plan on sale for $34.99. 

When traveling internationally, avoiding expensive roaming fees can be tricky, and traditional SIM cards often become inconvenient, especially when moving between different countries. That's why you use an eSIM like aloSIM as a digital alternative, eliminating the need for physical SIM swaps while allowing you to connect to data networks seamlessly across regions. Plus, it's only $34.99 to get aloSIM for life, and it even comes with a $50 credit for mobile data plans. 

So, how does aloSIM's eSIM work? Once you’ve purchased a data package from aloSIM, the eSIM is activated digitally on your phone. There’s no need to wait for a physical SIM card to arrive. Through a simple setup, you download the eSIM profile directly to your device via a QR code or by manually entering the necessary details.

This eSIM profile acts like a local SIM, letting you access mobile data in over 175 countries without paying for international roaming. Unlike standard SIM cards that need to be physically inserted and removed for each country, an eSIM allows you to switch between regions effortlessly. You can even have multiple eSIM profiles stored on your phone, though only one can be active at a time.

One key feature of aloSIM’s service is its flexibility in adding data whenever needed. Let’s say you’re visiting a country and your initial data allocation runs out—there’s no need to worry. You can log into your aloSIM account via the app or website and top up your data package instantly. You don’t need to visit a local store or insert a new card; everything happens digitally. Data packages are prepaid, meaning there are no surprise charges at the end of your trip. You only pay for the data you need, which is calculated based on the country you're in, and prices start at $4.50 for a 7-day package. That's what the $50 credit is for, and it can take you pretty far. 

No more travel charges

You can roam, but make sure your phone feels right at home. 

Get an aloSIM Traveler's Mobiele Data Plan for $34.99 (reg. $50). 

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Get three months of Adobe's full creative suite for just $75: Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, and more

Mashable - Mon, 09/30/2024 - 05:00

TL;DR: Get the full Adobe Creative Cloud Suite for three months for just $75 (reg. $179.97). 

Opens in a new window Credit: SoftwareDiscount Adobe Creative Cloud — 3-Month Subscription $75.00
$179.97 Save $104.97 Get Deal

Creativity isn't bound by tools, but the right software can make all the difference in bringing your ideas to life. Whether you’re designing graphics, editing photos, or creating professional-grade videos, having a versatile set of digital tools is crucial for turning concepts into polished projects.

The Adobe Creative Cloud Suite is a comprehensive set of tools that allows users to work across various creative fields — from graphic design and photography to video editing and web development — and it's only $75 to get the whole bundle for three months. Here's what's included. 

What comes in the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite

Once you subscribe to Adobe Creative Cloud, you gain immediate access to more than 20 applications through your Adobe account. That includes popular apps like Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premiere Pro, and each one can be accessed directly from your desktop, while cloud-based features help keep your software up to date.

All the apps are part of the same ecosystem, meaning files can easily be shared or transitioned from one app to another. For example, you might design an illustration in Illustrator and then import that vector graphic directly into After Effects for animation.

What makes Adobe Creative Cloud particularly versatile is its ability to sync across multiple devices. For instance, you could start editing a project on your desktop and then continue working on it on your tablet, picking up right where you left off.

The Creative Cloud platform provides 100GB of storage, enabling you to store large files like high-resolution images or video projects in the cloud rather than taking up space on your hard drive. This storage solution also helps with collaboration, allowing team members to access and edit files in real time from different locations.

Not a design pro? No problem. Adobe's apps are designed with both beginners and professionals in mind. Each application includes detailed tutorials within the software, so you can learn how to use specific tools, features, or even entire workflows as you go. Whether you’re an amateur looking to edit your first video or a seasoned designer working on complex layouts, the apps offer flexibility to scale your skill level. 

Get an Adobe Creative Cloud 3-Month Subscription for $75. 

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YouTube blocks Nirvana, Green Day, Adele and more amidst U.S. licensing dispute

Mashable - Mon, 09/30/2024 - 03:17

Music lovers are having a turbulent time online right now. Not only did Spotify suffer an outage on Sunday (though it was quickly fixed), YouTube has also suddenly stopped serving many popular tunes. Unfortunately, it seems as though this issue won't be rectified as easily.

YouTube users in the U.S. received an unwelcome surprise this weekend, with the video streaming platform suddenly blocking a significant swathe of music. Numerous videos are now unavailable, replaced by a black screen and dour notification where they had previously been readily accessible.

"This video contains content from SESAC," reads YouTube's notice. "It is not available in your country."

SEE ALSO: TikTok Music is finally shutting down

SESAC is a music licensing organisation which handles the performance rights and royalties of thousands of artists. Though initially founded as the Society of European Stage Authors and Composers, SESAC has since branched out to represent many non-European artists. 

Unfortunately, the licensing agreement between YouTube and SESAC is nearing its end, and the two have struggled to agree on a new deal. Without an agreement in place, YouTube will no longer be able to host songs covered by SESAC. 

"Over the last few months, our teams have been working hard to renew our agreement with SESAC," wrote the official TeamYouTube account. "Unfortunately, despite best efforts, we haven't been able to reach an agreement on terms for a new deal yet. For this reason, we need to block certain music content on YouTube in the US."

A wide variety of music has been impacted by the block, from Adele's "Rolling in the Deep,"  "Problem" by Ariana Grande ft. Iggy Azalea, and Green Day's "American Idiot", to iconic tunes such as R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religion," and "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana, and "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" by Bob Dylan

Official videos aren't the only ones affected either. All videos which use SESAC-licensed audio are no longer accessible, taking out fan-edited music videos alongside ones from the artists themselves. Covers are being blocked as well, so you won't even be able to enjoy KIDZ BOP's rendition of "Wake Me Up When September Ends." 

It isn't clear when this issue might be resolved. TeamYouTube has stated that while discussions with SESAC are ongoing, they "don't have any exact dates for future updates yet," However, a source speaking to Variety has claimed that YouTube's deal with SESAC doesn't actually expire until next week, speculating that the early takedown may be a negotiating tactic. 

If so, it's one that won't earn them any goodwill. Many YouTube users have expressed anger at being suddenly cut off from their music videos, with some threatening to cancel their YouTube Premium subscriptions.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

Mashable has reached out to YouTube and SESAC for comment.

TikTok ran into a similar music licensing issue with Universal Music Group (UMG) earlier this year. UMG pulled its catalogue from the platform after their partnership expired, bringing TikTok's trending sound economy to a standstill as countless videos were muted. The two finally reached an agreement in May, returning music from UMG's clients to TikTok, but it was certainly a weird few months on the video sharing app.

Until YouTube and SESAC can also reach an agreement, the former's musical landscape is going to sound very different.

This 15-course learn-to-code bundle is only £29.89

Mashable - Mon, 09/30/2024 - 00:00

TL;DR: Through Oct. 27, you can get the 15-course 2024 Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle for only £29.89 (reg. £1,121.83).

Whether you’re looking to start a career in coding or just want to learn for fun, the 2024 Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle is great for beginners and experienced users alike. With 15 online coding courses and 213 hours of content, this collection of lessons teaches you the basics of coding, game development, ChatGPT, and more while allowing you to learn at your own pace. And for a limited time, it's on sale for £29.89.

Lessons are taught by leading industry experts like Jose Salvatierra (founder of Teclado and a software engineer) and give you essential tools to get started in web development. Learn to create your own software, design a video game, or utilise OpenAI technologies — the creative opportunities are plentiful. 

This bundle includes the following comprehensive online coding courses:

  • Learn to Code with Python 3

  • C++ for Absolute Beginners 2024

  • ChatGPT Series: OpenAI Fundamentals 2024

  • MySQL & SQL for Beginners

  • The Complete Python Course: Learn Python by Doing in 2024

  • Google Assistant Automation IoT Development

  • Computer Vision & Deep Learning with OpenCV and Python: Build 15 Projects

  • JavaScript Complete Guide with Practical JavaScript Projects

  • Web Development with Vuex (2024)

  • Flutter & Dart: Complete Flutter Dart Programming Course

  • Java Programming for Complete Beginners

  • Salesforce Platform App Builder Certification Training

  • ChatGPT for Salesforce Development

  • 2024 Complete Ruby on Rails 6 Bootcamp

  • Game Development and Coding for Kids

Through Oct. 27 at 11:59 p.m. PT, get the 2024 Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle on sale for just £29.89 (reg. £1,121.83), with no coupon needed.

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Opens in a new window Credit: Joseph Delgadillo The 2024 Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle £29.89 at the Mashable Shop
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NYT Strands hints, answers for September 30

Mashable - Sun, 09/29/2024 - 23:00

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 Mashable

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.

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: Here's the answer hints for September 30 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for September 30 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Words with weight

These words are pugilistic divisions.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The answers are weight classes in boxing

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 Boxing.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for September 30
  • Feather 

  • Heavy

  • Light

  • Boxing

  • Cruiser

  • Bantam 

  • Middle 

  • Welter

SEE ALSO: Hurdle hints and answers for September 30

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.

How the 'Industry' Season 3 finale pulled off that heartbreaking Robert and Yasmin moment

Mashable - Sun, 09/29/2024 - 22:15

Industry's Season 3 finale is both a blessing and a curse for viewers who ship Robert Spearing (Harry Lawtey) and Yasmin Kara-Hanani (Marisa Abela).

After three seasons of buildup, the pair finally admit their love for each other and have sex for the first time. Then, just hours later, Sir Henry Muck (Kit Harington) announces that he and Yasmin are engaged. Talk about whiplash.

SEE ALSO: 'Industry' stars Myha'la and Marisa Abela break down Harper and Yasmin's big fight: 'This is the end for them'

The announcement comes at a lavish birthday dinner for Henry's uncle, Otto Mostyn (Roger Barclay). Dozens of guests gather around a long table, chattering loudly and enjoying the rich feast before them. But in the moments following the news of the engagement, the revelers disappear, leaving only Yasmin and Robert staring at each other from across the table.

"I'm sorry," Yasmin tells Robert.

"I understand," he replies. And so do we: For Yasmin, the entire season has been built around trying to find security in the wake of her father's disappearance and various legal troubles. Marriage to Henry would mitigate these woes, especially since Otto all but told her that if she stayed with Henry, he'd ensure none of his tabloids would run stories about her involvement in her father's death. Matchmaking by blackmail, if you will.

The exchange between Yasmin and Robert is only two lines long, but the decision to clear everyone else from the room for it speaks volumes. For almost all of its run, Industry has rooted itself in realism. With Season 3, it's begun taking more stylistic swings, like Robert's surreal ayahuasca trip and now this near-fantasy moment with Robert and Yasmin. As the world narrows to just the two of them, we feel like we're watching something out of a period drama — think the dance scene between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy in the 2005 Pride & Prejudice, when all the other dancers fall away. Yasmin and Robert's entire stay in Henry's manor plays out like a period drama overall, so the choice to depart briefly from reality here is further proof of the show's playing with genre.

SEE ALSO: How the Pet Shop Boys became the soundtrack to 'Industry' Season 3

However, as Lawtey revealed in an interview with Mashable, the sequence wasn't originally scripted that way. Instead, the disappearance of the rest of the crowd came about as a request from Lawtey and Abela.

"[Marisa and I] were both talking about that scene a lot days in advance. We knew it was a really significant moment, perhaps the climactic moment of their relationship thus far, and we really wanted to get that right," Lawtey said. "Even though it was only two lines, it was all in the atmosphere and connection of that instant."

In order to nail the scene, Abela and Lawtey asked co-showrunners and finale directors Mickey Down and Konrad Kay whether they could be the only two actors in the room for their close-up coverage, since the supporting cast wouldn't be in frame.

"We thought it might be easier to have some stillness in the room and really find that moment organically," Lawtey said.

Down and Kay agreed, and once they'd shot the close-ups, they ended up liking the visual of the almost-empty room so much they realized they wanted to incorporate it into the show.

"It was a very instantaneous, almost impulsive decision that came from what was ultimately a practical request from Marisa and I. I think that really speaks to [Down and Kay's] freedom as showrunners, and this 'best idea wins' kind of culture and ability to just go with the flow of shooting, which can be very unpredictable and hard to restrain," Lawtey said. "If what is often a very technical process can generate something that feels creatively interesting, then we all have license to pursue that and follow it."

Industry Season 3 is now streaming on Max.

Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for September 30

Mashable - Sun, 09/29/2024 - 22:00

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 September 30'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 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 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 September 30 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Floating condensed water vapor.

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 C.

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...

CLOUD.

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 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.

NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for September 30

Mashable - Sun, 09/29/2024 - 21:00

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 September 30'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 SEE ALSO: Hurdle hints and answers for September 30 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 September 30 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: Cooking with water

  • Green: Used to make nice-smelling dupes

  • Blue: Has a cool pet

  • Purple: Sounds like a city

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: Cook with Heat and Water

  • Green: Common Perfume Ingredients

  • Blue: Characters with Pet Dogs

  • Purple: Capital City Homophones

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 #477 is...

What is the answer to Connections today
  • Cook with Heat and Water: BLANCH, BOIL, POACH, STEAM

  • Common Perfume Ingredients: AMBERGRIS, MUSK, ROSE, VANILLA

  • Characters with Pet Dogs: CHARLIE, DOROTHY, SHAGGY, WALLACE

  • Capital City Homophones: KETO, ROAM, SOPHIA, SOUL

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.

California Governor Vetoes Sweeping A.I. Legislation

NYT Technology - Sun, 09/29/2024 - 16:36
The bill would have been the first in the nation to place strict guardrails on the new technology, but Gov. Gavin Newsom said the bill was flawed.

'SNL' Weekend Update: Bowen Yang as Moo Deng as Chappell Roan on the pitfalls of sudden fame

Mashable - Sun, 09/29/2024 - 13:47
On 'SNL's Weekend Update, the internet's favorite baby hippo Moo Deng stopped by to establish some boundaries.

'SNL' brings back Maya Rudolph, Andy Samberg, and Dana Carvey for its 2024 presidential election cast

Mashable - Sun, 09/29/2024 - 12:12
See who was cast for the 2024 U.S. presidential election on this season of 'Saturday Night Live.'

Leaked JD Vance dossier has been blocked on Threads, Instagram, and Facebook

Mashable - Sun, 09/29/2024 - 10:59

Meta has blocked the leaked JD Vance dossier on Threads, Instagram, and Facebook.

According to a statement given to The Verge, posting or sharing links to the hacked documents violates its content policies. Meta’s policies “not allow content from hacked sources or content leaked as part of a foreign government operation to influence US elections,” said the spokesperson. 

Threads users noticed that posts containing links to Ken Klippenstein’s Substack newsletter, which published the dossier, were removed. Links hosted on third party sites like Scribd or as a PDF in Google Drive are also reportedly blocked. 

Post by @esqueer_ View on Threads

Instead, Threads users have successfully been able to post links to the dossier by adding spaces to the url or instructions on how to access it via Google search.

Post by @tomwellborn3 View on Threads

Klippenstein, an independent journalist, received the documents from hackers who are reportedly part of an Iranian effort to influence the U.S. presidential election. The dossier contains information from former President Donald Trump’s campaign vetting Sen. JD Vance and his potential as a running mate. 

The document appears to reveal information about Vance’s political stances on numerous issues, such as higher taxes for people without children. The dossier also discusses Vance's since-deleted tweet about accusations of sexual assault against Trump. It also contains Vance’s personal information, including his phone number, email address, and home address. 

Klippenstein’s account on X has been suspended in violation of its policies for sharing a link to his Substack post, which contained this sensitive information.

Tweet may have been deleted

X has also blocked posts sharing the dossier. 

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California Passes Law Protecting Consumer Brain Data

NYT Technology - Sun, 09/29/2024 - 09:22
The state extended its current personal privacy law to include the neural data increasingly coveted by technology companies.

NYT's The Mini crossword answers for September 29

Mashable - Sun, 09/29/2024 - 09:11

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 Mashable SEE ALSO: Hurdle hints and answers for September 29

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Sunday, September 29, 2024:

AcrossPolitician whose last name sounds like 1-Down (and not like a dance!)
  • The answer is Walz.

___ Hawkins dance
  • The answer is Sadie.

The person I used to be, self-descriptively
  • The answer is Old me.

Botches
  • The answer is Flubs.

Egyptian snakes
  • The answer is Asp's.

DownSee 1-Across
  • The answer is Walls.

Make sense, so to speak
  • The answer is Add up.

Arms or legs … or branches
  • The answer is Limbs.

Features of puzzles, blizzards and jazz
  • The answer is Zees.

Spot to sleep when you're in the doghouse
  • The answer is Sofa.

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 Games

Are 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.

Why Stellantis, Owner of Chrysler, Jeep and Ram, Is Struggling

NYT Technology - Sun, 09/29/2024 - 05:02
The automaker, created by a 2021 merger, is dealing with labor unrest, slumping sales and a revolt from its dealers.

'Girl Internet Show: A Kati Kelli Mixtape' review: A loving homage to an internet oddity

Mashable - Sun, 09/29/2024 - 05:00

Underground web personality Kati Kelli died in 2019, leaving behind six years of her bizarre, avant-garde YouTube series Girl Internet Show. Lovingly curated by filmmakers Jane Schoenbrun (I Saw the TV Glow) and Jordan Wippell (Kelli's widower), the loosely connected program is refashioned in cinematic form, albeit with minimum interference, in Girl Internet Show: A Kati Kelli Mixtape.

The film is, as the title suggests, a playlist of various sketch videos run back to back, followed by Kelli's first short film, which was completed just days before her death from asthma. This effectively makes it the most raw and unfiltered possible big-screen adaptation of her absurd work and eccentric persona, making for a surreal, fun, and disorienting 79 minutes.

What is Girl Internet Show: A Kati Kelli Mixtape about?

With minimal interference, Wippell and Schoenbrun let Kelli's comically disturbing work speak for itself, only providing brief text cards at the beginning and near the end for a smidge of additional context. All we really know about Kelli when the compilation begins is that she was homeschooled in Los Angeles.

This detail also proves subtly revelatory, but before it ever comes into play, the audience is whipped back and forth between ostensible video shitposts with cheap effects and narcissistic characters in a litany of wigs and outfits. The whole thing has a frenetic, DIY vlogger feel from the years before cheap but effective cameras and equipment were readily available, à la ring lights for Zoom meetings. However, Kelli's rudimentary equipment seems like no hurdle to her gonzo creativity; in fact, her constraints enhance her aesthetic as something emanating from a lonely bedroom, made with no additional help.

That we never see anyone else is mildly curious — sometimes it appears as though her camera is being manually operated, but she also adds camera shakes in post production to create a handheld feel. Mostly, her work feels singular and strange, from her echoing sound effects and her casually macabre tone, to her mommy-blogger sketches in which she enacts hilariously twisted violence on dolls, all while maintaining a sunny disposition befitting of a mainstream personal brand. It's cute and concerning all at once, a disconnect that runs through most of her sketches.

Finally, her short film Total Body Removal Surgery plays as a coda to the mixtape, allowing us to see Kelli with on-screen collaborators for the first time, albeit with the exact same esoteric vibe and no-budget approach. However, what's mostly clear by this point is that, despite how playful and unserious her work might seem, there's a prescience to it too.

Girl Internet Show: A Kati Kelli Mixtape predicts the internet's future.

Kelli may not have been a literal soothsayer, but she tapped into where online entertainment was headed, and how it was slowly reshaping culture, and she regurgitated it in wonderfully weird ways. Shades of future vlogging norms can be glimpsed in her parodies as well, especially the highly personality-driven content that now rules the YouTube algorithm.

But no matter her subject, Kelli always seemed to deliver her most acerbic jokes with sincerity. Spoofs and satires can be so easily laced with venom, but Kelli's asides about her "mansion" and her numerous sped-up catwalks don't so much make fun of lifestyle, fashion, and makeup vlogging — forms still in their infancy at the time — as they simply reflect and refract the online world as it existed at the time, and as it would continue to grow.

One character in particular, a dissatisfied, upper-class wife named Marva, is particularly fun to watch, in a Brian Jordan Alvarez kind of way, wherein her affirmations hide a deep malaise. This dissonance between presentation and reality underscores pretty much all of Kelli's videos. It's a great running gag no matter in which direction her humor darts off — but at the same time, it proves self-reflexive too.

While simply pressing play on a video mixtape may not fit the traditional confines of filmmaking, crediting Kelli as the writer, director, and editor allows Wippell and Schoenbrun to present her as she may have wanted to present herself. However, watching all these works in quick succession also threads an important thematic needle.

Girl Internet Show: A Kati Kelli Mixtape is a film about loneliness.

Between Kelli's homeschooling, the fact that her work seems made with little to no help, and that she often deals in broad caricatures of pop culture (some of it Kardashian-esque), it's hard not see her as alone in some way. Schoenbrun's involvement is key here, as both their films — I Saw The TV Glow, but especially We're all Going to the World's Fair — deal with haunting forms of millennial ennui. The latter even revolves around online creepypasta and video challenges as a window to emotional connection, with a protagonist who peers out into the void through her webcam.

It's hard not to see echoes of Schoenbrun's work in this film, or rather, reasons Schoenbrun might have been drawn to Kelli, who seems to similarly peer out into the world from an isolated vantage. Her characters and scenarios all have hints of the real world, but seem to process reality through layers and filters of entertainment, like reality TV. Kelli more than likely had friends — Wippell may have even been holding the camera at times, though that's left unclear — but the version of her that ends up in her videos, and her droll authorial voice, seem desperately lonely.

From its cheap compositing and repetitive cuts to its eerie silences and harsh noise, Girl Internet Show: A Kati Kelli Mixtape joins the ranks of recent web-saturated films (alongside The People's Joker) that speaks the language of the burgeoning internet, as a tool to express oneself and find connections. It's no doubt hyper-specific in its conception — few outside of underground genre festivals will even find themselves interested — but the film is also freeing in a way, as a montage of found footage that helps carve out a cinematic space for off-beat outsider art from a place of disguised, disfigured honesty.  

Girl Internet Show: A Kati Kelli Mixtape was reviewed out of its screening at Fantastic Fest.

Ethically hack your way to cybersecurity expertise with this massive $40 bundle

Mashable - Sun, 09/29/2024 - 05:00

TL;DR: Last chance to pay just $39.97 to get lifetime access to this ethical hacking online learning bundle and become an ethical hacking connoisseur with 11 in-depth courses. Sale ends at 11:59 p.m. PT on September 29.

Opens in a new window Credit: StackCommerce The All-in-One Super-Sized Ethical Hacking Bundle $39.97
$1,098.00 Save $1,058.03 Get Deal

If you're ready to learn everything you need to know about web security and strengthening wifi networks, this is your chance.

Pay just $39.97 to get lifetime access to an ethical hacking online learning bundle and become an ethical hacking connoisseur with 18 in-depth courses. Sale ends at 11:59 p.m. PT on September 29.

What’s included in this 18-course ethical hacking bundle?

This bundle offers a comprehensive range of 18 courses that cover everything from Python 3 ethical hacking and wireless network attacks to advanced social engineering and website security. You'll have 24/7 access to over 130 hours of in-depth content and hands-on labs.

Is this bundle suitable for beginner ethical hackers?

Yes — whether you're just starting in cybersecurity or already have some experience, the bundle is designed for all skill levels. You can begin with the basics of ethical hacking, then gradually move into more advanced topics like penetration testing and exploiting vulnerabilities.

What kind of practical cybersecurity experience will learners gain?

You’ll work with real-life examples and hands-on labs. For instance, you’ll learn to hack wireless networks, use tools like Burp Suite for web security, and even develop your own penetration testing tools with Python. And, these aren’t just theoretical — you'll be able to apply what you learn in real-world hacking scenarios.

How does this bundle help in protecting systems from hacking attacks?

A key focus of these courses is not just learning how to hack, but also understanding how to defend against those same attacks. You'll explore security policies, encryption techniques, and methods to design secure networks that prevent unauthorized access and vulnerabilities.

What makes this ethical hacking bundle valuable?

The sheer variety. You'll get access to courses on everything from social engineering and server security with BitNinja to learning wireless hacking techniques. Plus, you’ll receive tools and source code to help you in your ethical hacking journey.

How can these courses help in career advancement?

Several courses, like the Certified Ethical Hacking Mega Course, prepare you for professional certifications. You’ll even get a free voucher to take the ISA CISS exam after completing the course.

Start your cybersecurity journey and take advantage of a $39.97 price tag (only through the end of the day) on this comprehensive ethical hacking course bundle.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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