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Netflix has released the official trailer for Offline Love, a new Japanese reality series that attempts to recreate romance before the internet. We're talking love letters, meet cutes, and promises to wait for each other at a planned time and place.
Filmed in Nice, France, Offline Love takes 10 men and women and sets them loose in the city without their phones, hoping for chance encounters that might spark connections. Of course, Nice is a large place, and the group could very easily spend their 10 days in the city without running into each other at all. As such, they're still allowed to communicate via letters, getting to know each other and arranging to meet up.
This means there are no late night phone calls or flirtatious text messages — or any way to get in touch when plans change. Judging from the trailer, it seems as though Offline Love may help address the dire lack of yearning in the modern dating scene.
The 10-episode series will feature commentary by singer and actor Kyoko Koizumi, as well as comedy duo Reiwa Roman.
TL;DR: Upgrade your workflow with a one-time purchase of Microsoft Office Pro 2021 and Windows 11 Pro for £44.51 (reg. £354.67). Mashable readers can enjoy this price through 2 February.
Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft The Ultimate Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License + Windows 11 Pro Bundle £44.51 at Mashable ShopFor professionals and entrepreneurs alike, the right software is key to streamlining your work and boosting productivity. This bundle combines Microsoft Office Professional 2021 and Windows 11 Pro into one cost-effective package for just £44.51 (reg. £354.67). Say goodbye to subscriptions and hello to lifetime access—this is the ultimate upgrade to your workflow and security.
This bundle is designed for seamless performance and peace of mind. With a one-time purchase, you’ll get lifetime device licenses to two essential tools: Microsoft Office Pro 2021, the gold standard for productivity, and Windows 11 Pro, Microsoft’s latest operating system packed with advanced AI features, multitasking tools, and security upgrades.
While it isn't the latest version, Office Pro 2021 includes almost everything you need to confidently tackle your tasks. From polished documents in Word to detailed spreadsheets in Excel, dynamic presentations in PowerPoint, and professional emails with Outlook, this suite offers a ton.
Whether you’re working from home, managing a team, or growing your side hustle, the tools in Office Pro 2021 are built to handle the demands of modern work.
Windows 11 Pro isn’t just about a sleek interface — it’s a complete rethinking of how you work. Features like Snap Layouts and Virtual Desktops make multitasking effortless, while the Start Menu puts everything you need right at your fingertips. On the security front, BitLocker Encryption and Windows Hello biometric login keep your data safe, giving you peace of mind.
You can also expect game-changing AI integration with Windows 11 Pro's Copilot, which gives you built-in access to ChatGPT.
Skip the subscription fees and get yourself predictable, reliable software that works when you need it.
Get this Microsoft Office Pro 2021 and Windows 11 Pro bundle for £44.51 (reg. £354.67) and say goodbye to annoying monthly software subscription costs.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
TL;DR: Put all your AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini Pro, and Leonardo.AI in one place with a lifetime subscription to 1minAI, an all-in-one AI for business app, on sale now for just £80.97 (reg. £437.26).
Opens in a new window Credit: 1minAI 1minAI Advanced Business Plan: Lifetime Subscription £80.97 at the Mashable ShopThe free version of some AI models like ChatGPT can get the job done, but if you want the good stuff, you should consider opting for a paid subscription.
1minAI consolidates many of the most popular AI models — like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Meta AI — into one platform where you can use them all seamlessly, whether you need to generate text, images, or even full videos. A lifetime subscription to the 1minAI Advanced Business plan usually costs £437.26, but you can get a lifetime pass on sale now for just £80.97 — an 81% discount for Mashable readers.
What can you do with 1minAI?1minAI gives you a single platform where you can access AI models like ChatGPT, Gemini, Meta AI, Mistral AI, and more. You don't just get the baseline version, either — 1minAI users can chat with GPT-4, GPT-4 Turbo, Gemini Pro 1.5, and Llama 2 or Llama 3.
Like a ton of other AI platforms, 1minAI has a limit to how much you can generate every month. Unlike other platforms, the limit is incredibly high, especially if you opt for the 1minAI Advanced Business Plan for entrepreneurs.
Here's what your lifetime subscription gets you every month:
First, you get a baseline of 1,000,000 credits per month. Then, every day you log in, you get an additional 15,000 free credits. Even better, these credits roll over if you don't use them all.
In practice, those huge numbers mean you could generate up to 362,500 words, research nearly 2,000 SEO keywords, generate 386 images, upscale 241 images, remove 24 backgrounds, convert text to speech for over 120,000 characters, and generate up to 12 videos.
Your AI Swiss Army KnifePut all your go-to AI tools in one place. Get a lifetime subscription to 1minAI for £80.97 (reg. £437.26) at the Mashable Shop.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
TL;DR: A wide range of cryptocurrency courses are available to take for free on Udemy.
The world of cryptocurrencies can be confusing, but it doesn't need to be this way. You can dive deep into the Blockchain, crypto trading, crypto investing, and much more on Udemy.
A wide range of online cryptocurrency courses can be found on Udemy. And better yet, some of the best examples can be taken for free. We've checked out everything on offer and lined up a selection of standout courses to get you started.
These are the best online crypto trading courses you can take for free this month:
These free online courses don't include certificates of completion or direct instructor messaging, but you still get unrestricted access to all the video content. You can learn at a pace that suits you, so what's stopping you from enrolling.
Find the best free cryptocurrency courses on Udemy.
Opens in a new window Credit: Udemy Crypto Courses Free at Udemy Learn MoreTL;DR: Live stream Celtic vs. Young Boys in the Champions League for free on RTÉ Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The Champions League has been tough going for Young Boys. The Swiss team sit at the bottom of the standings with zero points from six games. Celtic have fared much better, and still have a strong chance of making the knockout rounds of the competition.
If you want to watch Celtic vs. Young Boys in the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Celtic vs. Young Boys?Celtic vs. Young Boys in the Champions League kicks off at 8 p.m. GMT on Jan. 22. This fixture takes place at Celtic Park.
How to watch Celtic vs. Young Boys for freeCeltic vs. Young Boys is available to live stream for free on RTÉ Player in Ireland.
If you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to unblock RTÉ Player. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Champions League from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Celtic vs. Young Boys on RTÉ Player by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Ireland
Sign in to RTÉ Player
Watch Celtic vs. Young Boys for free from anywhere in the world
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 access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Celtic vs. Young Boys (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for RTÉ Player?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on RTÉ Player, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including Ireland
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 includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream Celtic vs. Young Boys in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Live stream PSG vs. Man City in the Champions League for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The next round of Champions League fixtures showcases some big games between the biggest teams in Europe, but PSG vs. Man City might be the biggest of the lot. Both sides are struggling to secure a place in the knockout rounds, but everything is still to play for.
If you want to watch PSG vs. Man City in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is PSG vs. Man City?PSG vs. Man City in the Champions League kicks off at 8 p.m. GMT on Jan. 22. This fixture takes place at the Parc des Princes.
How to watch PSG vs. Man City for freePSG vs. Man City is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player in Ireland.
If you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to access Virgin Media Player. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock Virgin Media Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.
Live stream PSG vs. Man City for free by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Ireland
Visit Virgin Media Player
Watch PSG vs. Man City for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream PSG vs. Man City (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Virgin Media Player, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including Ireland
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 includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream PSG vs. Man City in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Live stream Shakhtar vs. Brest in the Champions League for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The next round of Champions League fixtures includes some really interesting matchups, like Shakhtar vs. Brest. The French side have been the surprise package this season, and will be confident of securing another three points against the struggling Shakhtar.
If you want to watch Shakhtar vs. Brest in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Shakhtar vs. Brest?Shakhtar vs. Brest in the Champions League kicks off at 5:45 p.m. GMT on Jan. 22. This fixture takes place at the Veltins-Arena.
How to watch Shakhtar vs. Brest for freeShakhtar vs. Brest is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player in Ireland.
If you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to access Virgin Media Player. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock Virgin Media Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Shakhtar vs. Brest for free by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Ireland
Visit Virgin Media Player
Watch Shakhtar vs. Brest for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Shakhtar vs. Brest (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Virgin Media Player, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including Ireland
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 includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream Shakhtar vs. Brest in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Live stream the 2025 Club World Cup for free on DAZN. Access this free streaming service from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
A quick look at the calendar suggests that there's an absence of a major football tournament this summer. There's no World Cup, European Championship, or Copa America. What are fans supposed to do with all this free time?
Do not fear, because FIFA has identified this glaring lack of tournament football and come up with something special. How does 32 top teams from all over the world competiting in a traditional World Cup format sound? Pretty epic, right?
If you want to watch the 2025 Club World Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
What is the Club World Cup?The FIFA Club World Cup is an international club soccer competition organized by FIFA. The FIFA Club World Cup has historically been held annually in December, with only the winners of continental club competitions competing for the trophy.
In 2025, the expanded tournament sees 32 teams divided into eight groups of four, with the top two teams in each group qualifying to the knockout stage. This new version of the competition will take place every four years.
When is the 2025 Club World Cup?The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is the 21st edition of the FIFA Club World Cup. This year's competition will take place in the United States from June 14 to July 13.
How to watch the 2025 Club World Cup for freeAll 63 matches of the 2025 Club World Cup are available to live stream for free on DAZN.
These free live streams should be available all around the world, but if you're having problems accessing this popular streaming platform, you can consider using a VPN. These tools can hide your digital location and connect you to a secure server in another location. This simple process bypasses geo-restrictions so that you can secure access to free live streams from anywhere in the world.
Unblock free live streams of the 2025 Club World Cup by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with access to DAZN
Visit DAZN
Stream the 2025 Club World Cup for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams of the 2025 Club World without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does mean you can bypass content restrictions to stream live sport before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for DAZN?ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream sport for free, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries
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 2025 Club World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.
This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.
Most fitness trackers are designed to get wet. It just makes sense that fitness trackers and fitness-focused smartwatches should be able to handle sweaty workouts, rainy weather, and in most cases, swimming.
Indeed, if your workout routine involves the deep end of the pool, you'll need a waterproof fitness tracker. While most trackers on the market can hold up to a few splashes or be worn in the shower, you'll want to look for certain features — like a good water resistance rating and open water and pool tracking — before you take the plunge.
But where to begin when choosing one? Here's some helpful information before you dive in and make a purchase — plus a round-up of the best waterproof devices.
What makes a good waterproof fitness tracker?If you're planning on using your tracker in the water regularly, there are a few things to look out for. First, you'll want a water resistance rating of at least 30 metres (read more on water resistance below). Second, look for watches that can track open water swimming, pool swimming, and can give you lap times. Bonus points if the watch supports underwater heart rate tracking. Lastly, check to see if the watch has a specific water lock feature. Water locks prevent accidental screen touches while submerged, so you'll never send a text or open apps while you're swimming.
How is water resistance measured in fitness trackers?The terms water-resistant and waterproof are used pretty much interchangeably with fitness trackers these days. But, if you're looking to go for a dip with your smartwatch on, you'll want to make sure it's safe to be fully submerged at least 30 metres. Most fitness trackers on this list (and in general) have a water resistance rating of WR50, 5 Bar, or 50 ATM. All of these measurements mean exactly the same thing: That these trackers are waterproof up to 50 metres.
A water resistance rating of 50 metres means that open water and pool swimming is totally fine. However, if you're interested in an activity that's more intense than swimming or one that requires long-term submersion — like water skiing, snorkelling, or surfing — you'd probably do best with a watch that's more durable and has a higher water resistance rating. You'll need an outdoor sport-focused fitness watch like one from Garmin or Polar for the more extreme water sports if that's your thing. All of the trackers on this list are waterproof at least up to 50 metres.
What is the most accurate waterproof fitness tracker?The Garmin Vivoactive 5, Polar Grit X2 Pro, and Garmin Swim 2 are the only fitness trackers on this list that truly support underwater heart rate monitoring, so these are the most accurate for swimming purposes. The Apple Watch Series 10 can also track heart rate during swimming workouts. Fitbits, on the other hand, don't support underwater heart rate tracking at all. Both Apple Watches and Fitbits rely mainly on their accelerometers to measure calories burned while swimming.
What is the best waterproof fitness tracker?Whether you're a casual swimmer looking to track laps or a water sports athlete in need of a durable smartwatch, you'll find something in these top picks.
These are the best waterproof fitness trackers in 2025.
Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
Tweet may have been deletedEach 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 deletedPlayers 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 January 22 Here's a hint for today's Connections categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: College classes
Green: Dig this
Blue: Jobs that require loose, flowy garments
Purple: Things that involve the word "up"
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Types of Academic Courses
Green: Results of Some Digging
Blue: Ones Wearing Robes
Purple: ___Up
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 #591 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayTypes of Academic Courses: DISCUSSION, LAB, LECTURE, SEMINAR
Results of Some Digging: DITCH, HOLE, PIT, TRENCH
Ones Wearing Robes: BOXER, JUDGE, MONK, WIZARD
___Up: BATTER, BOTTOMS, CHIN, LAWYER
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 22Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.
Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.
If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for January 22 Where did Wordle come from?Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What's the best Wordle starting word?The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.
SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for January 22, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:Extend or attain.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?There no recurring letters.
Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter R.
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...
REACH.
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 22Reporting 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.
Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.
Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections Sports Edition?The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
Tweet may have been deletedEach 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 deletedPlayers can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Baseball stat for pitchers
Green: Ways you might try to score in basketball
Blue: Sites for winter medaling
Purple: Teams that share a mascot
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: "WHIP" in baseball
Green: Basketball offenses
Blue: North American Winter Olympic hosts
Purple: Tigers
Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to today's Connections Sports Edition #121 is...
What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today"WHIP" in baseball - HITS, INNINGS, PITCHED, WALKS
Basketball offenses - MOTION, PICK AND ROLL, PRINCETON, TRIANGLE
North American Winter Olympic hosts - LAKE PLACID, SALT LAKE CITY, SQUAW VALLEY, VANCOUVER
Tigers - AUBURN, DETROIT, MEMPHIS, MISSOURI
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.
If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.
Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on MashableBy providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.
If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 22 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 22 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Pixar thisThese words are cartoon films.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explainedWords are all made by the production company Pixar.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.
NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is Animation.
Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for January 22Brave
Ratatouille
Elemental
Cars
Onward
Soul
Animation
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.
At Donald Trump's post-inauguration rally on Monday, presidential adviser, DOGE head and world’s richest human Elon Musk twice made a gesture that many identify with a "seig heil," the infamous Nazi salute.
The X, Tesla and SpaceX CEO thanked the assembled crowd saying, “I just want to say thank you for making it happen,” before biting his lip, dramatically slapping his chest with his right hand and sending his right arm skyward, palm out. Musk turned around and made the gesture again, adding, “My heart goes out to you. It is thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured.”
Tweet may have been deletedAs Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) laid out during Tuesday's confirmation hearings for Trump’s future UN ambassador, it wasn’t just left-wing activists and anti-Musk figures who considered the gesture an ode to the genocidal German leader: “Evan Kilgore, a right-wing political commentator, wrote on X, Holy crap, did Elon Musk just heil Hitler at the Trump inauguration rally? This is incredible. We are so back'…the Proud Boys chapter in Ohio posted the clip on a Telegram channel with the text, ‘Heil Trump.’ A chapter of the white nationalist group White Lives Matter posted it on Telegram, ‘Thanks for hearing us, Elon. The white flame will rise again.”
SEE ALSO: Elon Musk's weirdest weekend, explainedFor his part, Musk — who recently voiced support for far-right political parties in both the U.K. and Germany — wrote on X that "The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is sooo tired." He followed that up by reposting right-wing images of Democrats like Barack Obama, Kamala Harris, and Hillary Clinton making out-of-context motions with their hands that could scarcely be described as similar to his.
Tweet may have been deletedAndrea Stroppa, a right-wing Italian friend and supporter of Musk, took the discussion in a whole different direction on Monday when she posted on X that Musk’s salute had Italian origins: "Roman Empire is back starting from Roman salute.”
Tweet may have been deletedSome of Musk’s fans and followers on X hopped on the Roman bandwagon, claiming it absolved the titan of hate-mongering since it was less Hitler and more Nero.
The Roman salute's originsThe problem with claiming Musk was simply showing an appreciation for chariots and gladiators is there is no proof of the gesture being used in ancient Rome, according to historian Martin M. Winkler, who wrote a book about the salute. There is no Roman art, writing, or coins that display the gesture, according to Winkler. "The gesture of the raised right arm or hand in Roman and other ancient cultures that is attested in surviving art and literature had a significantly different function and is never identical with the modern straight-arm salute," Winkler wrote in his book, The Roman Salute.
Instead, the hand motion like that used by Musk was popularized in 19th-century books, toga plays and, later, early 20th-century films as a fictional fixture of ancient Rome, the Guardian reports. Through those media depictions, the so-called Roman salute then became a favorite of 20th-century Hitler ally/Italian fascist Benito Mussolini and his political party. "...the salute as a unifier — and as a path to punish those who don't conform by immediately raising their arms — was present before Hitler came to power," according to Forward.
Upon gaining power in the late 1920s, Hitler and his cronies adopted the Italian gesture for themselves, according to to the BBC, and it symbolized fealty to the leader and his racist, anti-Semitic, xenophobic principles. Once World War II began in 1939 following Germany's invasion of Poland, pro-Hitler gestures and pronouncements had penetrated daily life. "In public, ordinary Germans were expected to praise Hitler and give the so-called German greeting ("Heil Hitler!")," according to the Holocaust Encyclopedia, which is hosted by the U.S. Holocaust Museum.
The Roman salute is conditionally allowed in Italy and outright banned in Germany. German chancellor Olaf Scholz responded to Musk's gesture by saying, "We have the freedom of speech in Europe and in Germany," he said, "what we do not accept is if this is supporting extreme right positions."
I come to you bearing bad news: Instagram is showing your friends which Reels you've liked.
It might encourage more engagement on Instagram Reels, but at what personal cost to us all?
At the top right of the Reels, you might see some of your friends' profile photos with little hearts in the corner of their images. Click that, and you'll be taken to the "With friends" tab. Each video will show you which of your friends liked the video, with your friend's image and a heart overlaid on the image in the bottom right.
SEE ALSO: Instagram unveils Edits, a video editing app to rival CapCutThis new feature is intended to get you to stay on the app longer and encourage you to comment, like, and share Reels with your friends like you might with TikTok. And it's not the only effort Instagram is making to keep TikTok users on the app while TikTok is off the app stores (but still working on desktop and your phone if you have it downloaded already). The platform is reportedly paying influencers thousands of dollars to post on Reels before posting on TikTok. It replaced its classic square grids with rectangles to prioritize Reels; released a new video editing tool called Edits, much like TikTok's CapCup; and extended the maximum length of Reels to three minutes.
You can find out which Reels you've been inadvertently sharing with your friends by following a few steps.
Navigate to your profile and click the menu icon in the top right. Select "Your Activity," then select "Likes." This will show all of the posts and Reels you've liked. To only see the Reels you've liked, click the "All content types" dropdown and filter by Reels,
Wanna say something absurd on Facebook without anyone to tell your audience it's wrong? Make it a paid ad, I guess.
In early January, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that his platform would be getting rid of its fact-checkers in favor of Community Notes. It turns out, those Community Notes meant to keep posts factual and accurate won't apply to paid ads, Reuters reports, citing an anonymous source. The only content that community notes will apply to is "organic content," and fact-checking will still not apply to any content at all. As The Wall Street Journal first reported, aspects of the program might still change.
Meta's decision to move towards Community Notes, a decision that copies Elon Musk's move at X, was met with its fair share of criticism. Free Press Senior Counsel and Director of Digital Justice and Civil Rights Nora Benavidez said in a press release posted after Zuckerberg's announcement that content moderation isn't a "tool to repress free speech," but is, rather, "a principle that the platforms themselves developed to promote dialogue and protect truth for users."
"While Zuckerberg characterized the platform giant’s new approach as a defence of free speech, its real intentions are twofold: Ditch the technology company’s responsibility to protect its many users and align the company more closely with an incoming president who’s a known enemy of accountability," Benavidez said in the press release.
SEE ALSO: Mark Zuckerberg wants more 'masculine energy' in corporate AmericaMaking paid ads exempt from the scrutiny of Community Notes nods towards something Zuckerberg has been pretty clear about since the beginning of Facebook: profit over people, every time.
When X decided to move towards community notes, it lost a significant amount of money in ad revenue, because community members could leave notes on paid ads that pointed issues such as dropshipping, mobile game ads that don't match the game play, and AI-related copyright issues. Meta, it seems, is working to avoid that type of ad loss by not allowing Community Notes on paid ads at all. It's not yet known if they'll be allowed on paid endorsements from celebrities and influencers.
It seems these decisions — removing fact-checkers in favor of Community Notes, lifting prohibitions on certain forms of hate speech, scrapping DEI initiatives, removing trans-inclusive features, and more — were made in haste to appease President Trump's administration. So it might take time to see how each of the changes roll out onto each platform.
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