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The holiday shopping rush has kicked off ahead of schedule now that the Sam’s Club Black Friday 2026 ads are online. The warehouse club is rolling out its discounts across three distinct waves throughout November: the Weekend Doorbusters ad running Nov. 6–8, the Pre-Black Friday ad for Nov. 15-25, and the main Black Friday preview ad launching online Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 26) through Nov. 29.
But you don't have to wait until November to get rolling, because Sam’s Club already has member markdowns live. If you need a big-screen productivity machine, the HP 17.3-inch FHD laptop is down to $599, shaving $250 off its $849 list price, bundled with an Intel Core Ultra 5 chip and two years of accidental damage protection. You can also pair that with home theater markdowns like Samsung 4K smart TVs, or an LG top-load washer slashed by $330 down to $615.
SEE ALSO: Early Black Friday 2026 deals: See holiday gift guides from Amazon, The Home Depot, Nordstrom, Ulta, and moreTo get in on what's live today and unlock the upcoming November waves, you will need an active Sam's Club membership, which costs $50 per year for standard Club access or $110 for Plus (which gives you early online access to doorbusters). Physical warehouse clubs stay closed on Thanksgiving Day, but the discounts launch online that morning before doors open at 8 a.m. for members on Black Friday.
Best grooming deal Opens in a new window Credit: Philips Philips Norelco OneBlade Face and Body Electric Shaver and Trimmer $39.98 at Sam's ClubIf you hate juggling different trimmers just to tidy your beard and groom your body, the Philips Norelco OneBlade Face and Body makes daily upkeep dead simple. It uses a fast-moving cutter that fires 12,000 times per minute, with a rounded glide coating, slicing through thick scruff or fine stubble without nicking your skin or causing razor burn. This bundle includes two dedicated face blades, a 5-in-1 adjustable stubble comb, and a separate body blade with a click-on skin guard and a 3mm comb for sensitive areas below the neck.
Best home deal Opens in a new window Credit: Member's Mark Member's Mark 8-Inch Medium Firm Memory Foam Mattress $249 at Sam's ClubThe Member's Mark 8-inch Medium Firm Memory Foam Mattress hits an easy sweet spot of balanced support for back, side, and stomach sleepers without feeling like a rock. Its pressure-relieving layers cradle your hips and shoulders, while copper graphite-infused foam actively pulls away excess body heat so hot sleepers do not wake up sweating. It drops right onto platform beds, box springs, or adjustable frames without any fussy setup and comes backed by a five-year warranty that makes outfitting a guest room or first apartment worry-free.
More home dealsMember's Mark 11-Piece Modern Ceramic Cookware Set — $179.98 $199 (save $19.02)
Cuisinart 14-in-1 Space-Saving Digital Air Fryer Oven with 2-in-1 9"x13" Pan — $119 $139.77 (save $20.77)
The Samsung Mini LED 4K smart TV is a standout pick for anyone wanting high-end picture clarity without paying premium OLED prices. It pairs Mini LED precision with a billion shades of color to punch out bright highlights and deep, inky blacks, while Motion Xcelerator keeps fast-paced sports and gaming silky smooth. You also get hundreds of free streaming channels out of the box with Samsung TV Plus, plus a three-year manufacturer's warranty for extra peace of mind.
More TV dealsLG 55-inch Class Nano NU850 Series 4K Smart TV — $279.91 $379.99 (save $100.08)
Samsung 65-inch Class QN70H Series Neo Mini LED 4K TV — $797.99 $1,097.99 (save $300)
TCL 98-inch Class Q6 Series QLED Smart TV — $1,297.99 $1,598 (save $300.01)
The HP 17.3-inch FHD laptop is built for anyone who wants desktop-sized screen space without having to stay parked at a desk. That generous 17.3-inch display lets you juggle side-by-side tabs, stream video, or plow through spreadsheets without squinting or nonstop scrolling. Its Intel chip handles daily browsing and work tasks smoothly, while the full numeric keypad, built-in ports, and crisp auto-adjusting HDR webcam make working from home or hopping on family calls hassle-free.
More laptop dealsHP OmniBook 3 14-inch 2K OLED Next Gen AI Laptop (16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $479 $699 (save $220)
HP 15.6-inch FHD Touch Laptop (8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $499 $549 (save $50)
The LG 4.1 cu. ft. Top Load Washer with Agitator tackles laundry day without a fuss, offering a spacious drum built for bulky bedding and oversized family loads. Its smart four-way wash action and 6Motion technology work together to shift clothes up, down, and side to side, blasting away stubborn dirt while keeping fabrics from getting beat up. Because the direct-drive motor spins independently of the tub mechanism, you get a thorough, powerful cycle that stays remarkably quiet, making it an easy pick for reliable everyday cleaning.
More home appliance dealsSamsung 4.4 cu. ft. Top Load Washer with ActiveWave Agitator — $625 $760 (save $135)
LG 6.9 cu. ft. Smart Gas Double Oven Slide-in Range — $2,595 $3,795 (save $1,200)
The COVID-conscious lesbian bar in Western Massachusetts is closing. Last Ditch Bar and Arts Venue went viral after the Boston Globe reported on conflict sparked by the relaxation of its KN-95 mask policy.
SEE ALSO: How this lesbian watering hole became the most (in)famous bar in the worldLast Ditch announced the closure in an Instagram post on Monday, effective immediately (though excluding events that had already been booked). This doesn't necessarily mean that the COVID-conscious lesbian bar is gone for good. Last Ditch stated that it was a "soft" closure, and put out a call for anyone interested in joining the business as owners — or taking over completely.
However, without such a saviour, it seems likely that this will be the end for Last Ditch.
"We have put our lives on hold to foster networks of care, resources, and a home base for organizing. It's time we pass it on," Last Ditch wrote in its Instagram post. "We've been fighting since the beginning to fill out the team, and we still don't have a board/leadership to manage workers owned Co-op transfer."
View this post on InstagramLast Ditch gained internet fame last month following a Boston Globe article detailing uproar surrounding changes to its masking policy. Online commenters had harshly criticised the decision, accusing Last Ditch of ableism and even calling for violence in some cases. The situation quickly spiralled out of control, involving apologies, retractions, public meetings, and furiously dissatisfied commenters, with the venue's leadership team falling apart.
This outsized reaction may have been enough to spark Boston Globe readers' interest, however it was the strange details and anecdotes within the article that really captured the internet's attention. Though deputy editor Annalisa Quinn was reporting on the facts, the facts seemed to border on parody, with people reposting quotes such as "one [Last Ditch owner] had enrolled in clown school."
While Last Ditch has been overshadowed by the furore surrounding it, the venue aimed to provide an inclusive and welcoming space for lesbians. With this week's announcement, the LGBTQ community is now left mourning the loss of one of the scant few lesbian bars in the U.S.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Instagram is introducing longform video. Called Features, the new format will allow users to upload videos up to 90 minutes long.
SEE ALSO: Instagram will now edit the first draft of your Reel for you"So many creators are producing longer videos, and they're using clips of those videos to drive discovery on Reels and help build their audience," said Instagram VP of Product Tessa Lyons, announcing Features in a video alongside Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri on Monday.
"Reels is still going to be a core part of Instagram. But when you want to go deeper with creators you love and the content they're creating, you should be able to do that on Instagram."
Longform video creators have typically favoured YouTube, which allows verified accounts to upload videos up to 12 hours long. In contrast, Instagram Reels are restricted to a maximum length of 20 minutes. Features aims to allow these creators to share their longer videos on Instagram as well, keeping their audience on the platform.
View this post on InstagramFeatures appears to focus on content shot in landscape, and will be available on desktop, the mobile app, and Instagram for TV. Lyons stated that part of the new format's purpose is to help populate Instagram's television app, which allows users to watch Reels and video content on their TV.
"We've been working on a TV version of Reels, and we know that to do that well, we need more than just short-form video," said Lyons.
"People might discover a long form video that they love by seeing a Reel that's a clip of the video when they're watching Reels on mobile, and then when they go at the end of the day and open their TV and open Instagram on TV, we'll know that they watched that Reel and we'll be able to say, 'Hey, do you want to finish watching…?'"
Though Instagram is introducing longform functionality, it doesn't yet offer creators the same financial incentives as YouTube. While Instagram creators are primarily paid through third-party brand partnerships and collaborations, the YouTube Partner Program gives YouTubers a cut of revenue from ads placed on their videos (55 percent for longform and 45 percent for Shorts).
At time of writing, the most liked comment on Mosseri and Lyons' post was from mental health content creator Divija Bhasin (@awkwardgoat3), who asked, "Why would anyone post an unpaid long video on Instagram if we can just post it on YouTube and actually get paid for the effort?"
In a statement to TechCrunch, an Instagram spokesperson said that it is exploring potential monetisation models, "including performance-based incentives." However, it isn't ready to announce any such plans, the spokesperson instead focusing on users potentially being able to find more brand partnerships by expanding their audience through Features.
"Over time, we think there will be compounding benefits for creators to tell new stories, reach new audiences, and find new partners, which should lead to many monetization opportunities," the Instagram spokesperson told TechCrunch.
Judging from Lyons and Mosseri's announcement video, Instagram Features is currently missing a lot of the functionality available on YouTube. While viewers can adjust the playback speed, features such as captions and chapters appear absent during this early testing stage. Of course, such functionality may be added later, with Instagram currently conducting small tests of Features in the U.S. and Brazil.
Ethan Klein has spent years dissecting other people's internet scandals on the H3 Podcast, the comedy and commentary show he built with his wife, Hila. Now, their own relationship is at the center of the conversation.
Hila has accused Ethan of having an affair lasting more than six months, leaving the couple's marriage and the future of their show in question. Fans are trying to make sense of the news, while people across social media are digging through old episodes and swapping what they believe are clues.
If you've seen the posts but don't know the people behind them, here's what happened — and how a marriage, a podcast, and years of internet history became tangled together.
First, who are Ethan and Hila Klein?Before the podcast, there was h3h3Productions. Ethan and Hila launched the YouTube channel in 2011, posting sketches and reaction videos that poked fun at viral clips, internet trends, and other creators. Ethan was often the louder, more confrontational presence, with Hila appearing alongside him.
One of their breakout videos was 2016's "Vape Nation," (30 million views) which followed Ethan around New York City playing an exaggerated vaping enthusiast. The outfits, enormous vape clouds, and interactions with strangers helped make him a recognizable figure in YouTube comedy.
The couple met in Israel in 2007, while Ethan was visiting on a Birthright trip, and married in 2012. As their audience grew, viewers got to know them as both creative partners and a couple.
Their H3 Podcast expanded that world into longer conversations, mixing internet commentary with interviews featuring guests such as Post Malone and Joji. The production crew became part of the show, too, joining discussions and developing their own followings.
That dynamic also powered Frenemies, the show Ethan began co-hosting with YouTuber Trisha Paytas in 2020. Sitting in front of a pink-and-black backdrop, the two traded personal stories, discussed other creators, dressed in costumes, and, most commonly, argued.
SEE ALSO: Trisha Paytas steps down from 'Frenemies' podcast after tense dispute on the showThe partnership ended in June 2021 amid disputes over money, production, and creative input. But Paytas remained connected to the family: She married Hila's brother, Moses Hacmon, later that year.
Through these different versions of H3, the Kleins' relationship remained a familiar presence. Viewers followed them as they built businesses and raised their three children. Hila also founded the clothing brand Teddy Fresh in 2017 and later launched the makeup brand Teddy Glow.
Their lives and work became closely intertwined. But now, their separation means figuring out how to untangle them.
What did Hila say happened? This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.On Oct. 22, Ethan announced on Instagram Stories that the H3 Podcast was going on "indefinite hiatus." Hila’s subsequent Instagram statement revealed the personal crisis unfolding behind the scenes.
"I am living in a nightmare I can’t wake up from," she wrote. "My husband has been having an affair. I have been fed lie after lie after lie for months. I am tired of lies. Here is the truth."
Hila said she had sensed something was wrong and tried to discuss her concerns with Ethan. According to her account, he dismissed her questions, but the behavior that worried her continued.
"So I trusted him. Because I loved him," she wrote. "I stopped questioning him and began to question myself, my own instincts. My sanity."
When she eventually caught him in a lie, she said, his explanation kept changing. "'It was just a kiss’ became ‘it was emotional cheating,'" she wrote. "After I dragged these lies from him, he finally admitted he’d been in an affair for over 6 months, the extent of which I’m sure I still don’t know."
"He was my safe place, my partner in marriage, parenting, and business," she continued. "My only family on this side of the world. How do I even begin to make sense of this?" Hila said she was navigating separation and co-parenting while focusing on herself and their children. She did not identify the other person allegedly involved.
What does this mean for Ethan and the podcast?The crew's response quickly made clear that the fallout would extend into the workplace.
"We are all shocked, angry, and heartbroken to learn about Ethan’s ongoing affair," the team wrote in its own Instagram statement. "We stand with Hila and will support her every step of the way."
"As soon as we found out, we all agreed: we would not continue working with Ethan involved or profiting in any way,” they added. "We don’t yet know what that means for the future. There’s a lot to work through, and we wish we had more answers for you."
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Ethan subsequently said he was working to remove his financial interests from the businesses he shares with Hila.
"I am working with Hila to urgently remove my ownership and financial stakes in any podcasts, Teddy Fresh, Teddy Glow or any joint venture that I would profit from," he wrote on Instagram Stories.
"All of your support will go directly to Hila and the crew. I do this in the hope that people can still support Hila and the crew without the concern of enriching me." He also praised the team and said its members could make an "awesome show."
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.In a separate statement, Ethan asked people not to contact his family seeking him or their comments. "They have nothing to do with this and share in your outrage and disappointment,”"he wrote.
Why is Ned Fulmer involved? SEE ALSO: From BuzzFeed to streaming: A decade retrospective of the Try GuysEthan had plenty to say when another creator’s "wife guy" image fell apart.
In September 2022, Try Guys member Ned Fulmer admitted to a "consensual workplace relationship" with an employee. The revelation was particularly jarring because Fulmer had made his devotion to his wife, Ariel, a recurring part of the group's videos. The Try Guys announced his removal that month.
"The really sad part is they have two kids," he said. "Cheating is so despicable, man, especially when there’s kids involved."
Ethan, who shares three children with Hila, also criticized men who betray their partners after watching them go through childbirth. "It’s got to be humiliating for his wife," he said. "And she’s got to do this in the public eye."
Fulmer wasn’t about to let that pass. On Oct. 25, he posted two blunt responses on X: "ethan klein can fuck all the way off," followed by "karma’s a bitch, huh?"
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Why are Trisha Paytas and Hasan Piker coming up, too?Once people started looking backward, the conversation expanded beyond Ethan's comments about Fulmer to his history with former collaborators. For Paytas, that meant renewed attention to old clips in which she criticized Ethan and discussed his marriage. (Because she is married to Hila's brother, Moses, the allegations involve her family as well as her former co-host.)
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.On Oct. 25, Paytas reshared a message on Instagram Stories that read, "Please be with someone who thinks everything about you is a big deal," listing birthdays, favorite foods, and favorite flowers as examples. It ended with "You in general? A big deal."
As for Hasan Piker, Ethan launched political podcast Leftovers with Piker, the left-wing Twitch streamer also known as HasanAbi, in September 2021. The two discussed the news, mocked conservative figures, and debated their own political differences.
Their partnership broke down in 2023, following Hamas' Oct. 7 attacks and Israel's subsequent war in Gaza. Disagreements over Israel became increasingly contentious, and their final Leftovers episode aired on Oct. 12, 2023. The arguments continued long after the show ended. Ethan eventually released a lengthy takedown titled Content Nuke — Hasan Piker, and Piker responded to his accusations through livestreams.
That history gave Piker’s Oct. 23 post on X an apparent target. "JUDGE ME BY MY ENEMIES," he wrote. He also made a 90-minute video called, "THE ETHAN KLEIN AFFAIR CLUES ARE INSANE," which has amassed over 1 million views in 24 hours. The video accumulates what he calls "diabolical clues."
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Between Frenemies, Leftovers, and years of internet feuds, Ethan has given plenty of people a reason to follow the fallout — and they can’t stop watching it unfold on social media (at least, I can’t).
Much of that attention has turned into amateur detective work, with viewers combing through old episodes and comparing notes on TikTok and Reddit. The speculation has centered on Tamara Joseph, an animator and podcaster on H3, as users point to supposed social media unfollows and past interactions with Ethan. (Neither Ethan nor Hila publicly identified her as the person involved in the statements discussed here.)
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.On Reddit, some viewers are revisiting moments they once laughed off. In a thread titled "The foreshadowing here was crazy," commenters are trying to work out whether the crew suspected anything, whether Hila was suspicious, debating whether H3 could survive without Ethan, or simply mourning a show they spent years watching.
Users on X, Reels, and TikTok have done the same.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Ultimately, you can comb through the threads yourself, but be prepared to lose an afternoon. Years of publicly documented relationships have become material for a sprawling crowdsourced investigation. Happy sleuthing.
Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier for people who live in Chicago.
As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a 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. The sports Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise 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 before the game ends.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. 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: Video games
Green: Chicago stars
Blue: Monuments of European soccer
Purple: Could be a ballpark
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Classic Sports Video Games
Green: Famous Chicago Athletes
Blue: European Soccer Venues
Purple: Starts with an MLB Stadium Name
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 #764 is...
What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?Classic Sports Video Games: NBA JAM, NFL BLITZ, PUNCH-OUT, TECMO BOWL
Famous Chicago Athletes: CALEB WILLIAMS, CALEB WILSON, CONNOR BEDARD, PETE CROW-ARMSTRONG
European Soccer Venues: BERNABEU, ELLAND ROAD, PARC DES PRINCES, ST. JAMES' PARK
Starts with an MLB Stadium Name: ANGEL REESE, CHASE UTLEY, DODGER DOG, FENWAY FRANK
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports 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.
Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalog.
Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.
Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.
How to play PipsIf you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 27, 2026The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.
Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:
Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.
If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.
SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for October 27, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for October 27 PipsNumber (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically.
Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically.
Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically; 1-5, placed vertically.
Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 1-5, placed vertically.
Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically; 3-2, placed vertically.
Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically.
Medium difficulty hints, answers for October 27 PipsGreater Than (7): Everything in this space must be greater than 7. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically.
Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically; 0-6, placed vertically.
Less Than (1): Everything in this space must be less than 1. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically.
Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically.
Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically.
Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically.
Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically.
Hard difficulty hints, answers for October 27 PipsNumber (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically.
Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally; 6-1, placed vertically; 1-4, placed horizontally.
Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 1-4, placed horizontally.
Number (15): Everything in this space must add up to 15. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically; 2-4, placed horizontally; 5-5, placed vertically.
Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed horizontally; 4-0, placed horizontally.
Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 3-0, placed horizontally.
Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically.
Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-0, placed horizontally; 1-3, placed vertically.
Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally; 1-2, placed vertically.
Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically.
Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically.
Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.
Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.
While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 27, 2026 Fiddle meaningA kind of violin.
Meddle meaningInsert oneself into someone else's business.
Tinker meaningRepair or adjust something in an unskilled way.
Trifle meaningSomething of little value.
Anvil meaningTiny bone in the middle of the ear.
Canal meaningPathway from the outer ear to the middle ear.
Drum meaningA cone-shaped membrane in the ear.
Stirrup meaningThe bone in the ear is responsible for sound conduction.
Diving meaningDiver transport.
Jingle meaningA Christmassong.
Liberty meaningIconic symbol of American independence.
Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.
Taco meaningA Mexican-inspired fast food restaurant.
Bottoms meaningWestern-style flared pants.
Jar meaningA Sylvia Plath novel.
Pepper meaningA sweet pepper.
Tower meaningA large building that contains bells.
Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.
Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today
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.
The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you know about bells.
Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for October 27, 2026 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: Joshing around
Green: Anatomy of an ear
Blue: Things and places with bells
Purple: Things shaped like a bell
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Here are today's Connections categoriesNeed a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Mess (With)
Green: Parts of the Ear
Blue: ___Bell
Purple: Bell___
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 #1234 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayMess (With): FIDDLE, MEDDLE, TINKER, TRIFLE
Parts of the Ear: ANVIL, CANAL, DRUM, STIRRUP
___Bell: DIVING, JINGLE, LIBERTY, TACO
Bell___: BOTTOMS, JAR, PEPPER, TOWER
Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.
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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.
Today's NYT Strands hints will be easy if you have a bug problem.
Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, 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 October 27, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Who ya gonna call?The words describe pests.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explainedThese words describe rodents and bugs that you'd find in your home.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.
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NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is Exterminator.
NYT Strands word list for October 26Cockroaches
Ants
Rats
Mice
Ticks
Termites
Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today
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.
Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a like games of chance.
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 hints today: Clues, answers for October 27, 2026 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.
Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:A game of matching numbers.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?There are no recurring letters.
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Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter B.
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...
BINGO
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.
Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today
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.
TL;DR: New users can get iScanner lifetime access for $24.97 (reg. $199.90) through Nov. 1.
Opens in a new window Credit: iScanner iScanner App: Lifetime Subscription (iPhone, iPad & Android) $24.97A photo of a contract is a start. A clean scan you can edit, sign, and export is a lot more useful. The iScanner App Lifetime Subscription is on sale for just $24.97 (reg. $199.90) through Nov. 1, giving you scanning and document tools on iPhone, iPad, and Android devices.
Start with receipts, contracts, tax forms, handwritten notes, or assignments. Scan multiple pages, then export your files as PDF, JPG, DOC, XLS, PPT, or TXT. It’s a practical setup for working remotely, studying, or handling business documents away from your desk.
The cleanup features help turn a quick scan into a more usable file. Document borders are detected and adjusted automatically, while page straightening corrects curves and skews. Color correction and noise removal offer additional ways to refine the result. Text recognition supports more than 20 languages.
Once scanned, documents don’t have to stay untouched. Add text, mark up pages, fill forms with custom templates, or sign manually or with a signature image. You can also merge several documents or split a file into separate pages.
Organization matters just as much as capture. Folders and drag-and-drop controls help keep files manageable, while PIN locks restrict access to confidential scans. Page numbers, footers, and watermarks provide finishing touches when needed.
There are specialized modes beyond paperwork, too. Scan ID cards and passports, read QR codes, count similar objects, measure areas, or solve math problems.
The app is ad-free, keeping the workspace focused on the task. For anyone regularly turning physical documents into usable digital files, it brings several useful steps together.
Get lifetime iScanner access for $24.97 through Nov. 1. This offer is for new users only.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
TL;DR: Get 1TB of Koofr cloud storage for one $159.99 payment (reg. $810) for a limited time, with code KOOFR.
Opens in a new window Credit: Koofr Koofr Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription (1TB) $159.99While cloud storage is now a necessity, keeping track of another recurring payment is most certainly not. Koofr’s 1TB lifetime subscription is a one-time $159.99 (reg. $810) for a limited time, giving you ongoing storage access with one upfront purchase.
That 1TB provides room for documents, photos, videos, and other digital files. You can reach them from your smartphone, computer, or through WebDAV, so your storage isn’t tied to a device.
Koofr also connects to existing cloud accounts, including Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive. That’s practical when work documents live in one service and personal files live in another. Centralized access gives you a more convenient starting point without requiring you to remember where every file ended up.
Then there’s the organization side. Koofr Duplicate Finder helps identify unnecessary copies — the digital equivalent of discovering you’ve kept the same receipt three times. Advanced renaming options help bring consistency to file names, while link appearance customization gives you control over how shared links look.
For privacy, Koofr states that it does not track users. Files are encrypted both at rest and during transfer, adding protection while they’re stored and moving between locations.
The interface is designed to be straightforward, whether you’re new to cloud storage or already managing a substantial collection.
For someone who needs ongoing file space and regularly works across devices, that combination makes a clear case for buying once.
Get Koofr’s 1TB lifetime cloud storage subscription for $159.99, with no recurring storage fees with code KOOFR.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Sick of web browsers tracking your every move and forcing intrusive, unnecessary AI features on you?
Apparently, you’re not alone. Some of your favorite internet personalities — and real-life memes from the late 2000s and early 2010s — are joining forces to promote Firefox, a browser that's pushing back against online tracking and unwanted AI features.
Mozilla, the non-profit organization behind the Firefox web browser, has just launched a new ad campaign to draw internet users away from AI-filled Google Chrome and back to Firefox's heyday in the late 2000s and early 2010s, when Firefox commanded up to 32 percent of the global browser market share.
To do that, Mozilla has brought together some of the biggest internet personalities of that era for a new ad campaign called "Come Back to Firefox."
"What happened to the internet?" asks the Numa Numa Guy in the opening of the new campaign video. "It used to be fun."
Overly Attached Girlfriend, Annoying Orange, Tay Zondaday of "Chocolate Rain" fame, and a slew of other internet memes appear in the ad longing for the internet days of old, before modern web browsers tracked your every move, sold user data for advertising purposes, and pushed AI features on its users.
Firefox offers an alternative to many other browsers that seem to be obsessed with AI and monitor users' online habits. Firefox includes a built-in free VPN to help keep users' browsing activity private, AI controls so users can decide just how much AI-related features they want accessible in their browser, and an ad blocker in the mobile version of the browser.
The full list of internet personality cameos includes:
Numa Numa Guy
Bad Luck Brian
Overly Attached Girlfriend
Where the Hell is Matt?
Kelly's Shoes
Annoying Orange
Apparently Kid
Tay Zonday
Chuck Testa
Success Kid
The video isn't AI-generated. It actually features the real-life online personalities as they are today. For example, if you've been wondering what the Success Kid looks like all-grown up, you'll find out here.
“I kept going back to Firefox’s heyday, when the internet was really fun, weird, and interesting…That's the feeling we wanted to bring back with this campaign," Mozilla's Chief Marketing Officer John Solomon said in a statement provided to Mashable.
"We wanted to remind people of what made the internet so wonderful in the first place," Solomon explained. "These are people who helped make it strange, creative, surprising, and fun. None of them were trying to go viral. They were normal, everyday people who were using the internet. That’s the way the internet should be and why we feel it’s a great moment for Firefox. Always independent and unlike big tech, not trying to extract more from everyday people.”
Firefox currently has an estimated 2.8 percent share of the global web browser market.
SAVE $60: As of Oct. 26, the Soundcore by Anker Space One Pro wireless headphones are on sale for $139.99 on Amazon, down from their regular $199.99 list price. That cuts 30% off and saves you $60 on a pair that folds down to half its size.
Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Soundcore Space One Pro $139.99 at AmazonYou can score the Soundcore by Anker Space One Pro headphones on Amazon for $139.99, down from their typical $199.99 list price. In our review of the Space One and Space One Pro, we found both pairs look sleek — resembling a mashup of Beats and Bose — with intuitive physical buttons instead of finicky touch controls.
The biggest difference comes down to fit and sound isolation. The Space One Pro has a more snug, clamping fit on your head. That tighter seal creates better passive noise isolation, which, combined with Anker's adaptive active noise cancellation, helped block out distracting coffee shop chatter better than the base model during our testing.
SEE ALSO: Anker Black Friday deals are live: Save on earbuds, headphones, power banks, and moreFor travelers and commuters, packability is another major win. Anker designed the headband to curl and fold down to half its size, making it much easier to toss into a backpack pocket or carry-on than bulky, rigid competitors.
Internally, the drivers deliver clear, punchy sound, and you can switch on high-res streaming or tweak the equalizer in the free companion app to get the exact bass and treble balance you prefer. It also includes dual-device Bluetooth pairing, so you can keep streaming music from your laptop while staying ready to take calls on your phone.
Battery life is built for long stretches away from an outlet. You get up to 40 hours of listening time with ANC on, and up to 60 hours with ANC off. Even if you forget to charge them before heading out the door, plugging in for a quick five-minute top-up gives you eight hours of juice.
Grab the foldable Soundcore Space One Pro on Amazon and save $60 today.
SAVE $50: As of Oct. 26, the Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet is on sale for $79.99 at Amazon. That's a 38% discount on the list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 8 $79.99 at AmazonWhether you're catching up on your favorite shows, reading a book in bed, or getting work done on your commute, a tablet can be a handy bit of kit to have around. If you've been wanting to add a tablet to your tech but don't feel the need to spend a small fortune, meet the Amazon Fire HD 8.
This is an affordable tablet for everyday use, and as of Oct. 26, it's dropped to $79.99 on Amazon.
The Fire HD 8 has an 8-inch HD display for watching movies, scrolling social media, and gaming. It also features a 5MP rear camera for taking photos, making it a useful everyday tablet.
It even has Alexa built in, so you can play music, check the weather, manage your shopping list, and control compatible smart home devices, including robot vacuums and light bulbs.
Amazon claims it can last up to 13 hours on a single charge, so it should be a pretty reliable device for use throughout the day without constantly reaching for the charger. There are also three smart tools to help with tasks such as polishing emails, summarizing webpages, and creating custom wallpapers.
This tablet deal is available at Amazon right now.
Apparently, getting better at something now requires adding "maxxing" to its name. There's sleepmaxxing, proteinmaxxing, looksmaxxing, and even cozymaxxing, because a night on the couch can apparently be optimized, too.
As of Oct 26, "maxxing" is Dictionary.com’s 2026 Word of the Year. The publisher describes it as:
“the practice of pursuing an activity to the fullest or optimizing a certain aspect of your life.”
The shorthand for "maximizing" can describe a serious self-improvement effort or a joke about doing very little. Its versatility has helped it spread across beauty, wellness, work, and everyday internet conversation.
Dictionary.com traces the term’s roots through "min-maxing," a gaming strategy that involves developing a character’s strengths until their weaknesses matter less. Online communities eventually gave "maxxing" another "x" and an expanding list of things to work on.
One of its most recognizable forms is "looksmaxxing," which focuses on improving physical appearance. But the template has spread into workplace conversations about "tokenmaxxing," or using as much AI as possible, and lifestyle trends like "frictionmaxxing," which implores you to "rethink your relationship to your device — and your humanity." Increasingly, Dictionary.com says, people also use "maxxing" as a word on its own.
The dictionary recognition has been building, too. In September, Merriam-Webster added "looksmaxxing" among 1,400 new words and definitions, alongside "vibe-coding" and "cuffing season."
The word's history also goes beyond jokes about optimizing your bedtime. Looksmaxxing grew out of incel forums and sits within the broader manosphere, a network of online communities often associated with misogyny and rigid ideas about masculinity. Mashable has explored the subculture through its looksmaxxing glossary and coverage of its racist beauty standards and dehumanizing language about women.
SEE ALSO: The Looksmaxxing Glossary: Every term you need to understand the internet's most unhinged subcultureOne of looksmaxxing's most recognizable figures is Braden Peters, better known as Clavicular, who shares appearance-focused (and often misogynistic) advice with millions of followers. While looksmaxxing can involve everyday grooming and skincare, its more extreme forms include crash dieting and "bone smashing" — striking facial bones in the unfounded belief that doing so will create a more defined face. There's also "pheromone-maxxing," which involves skipping showers, avoiding deodorant, or wearing unwashed clothes in the hope that a stronger natural scent will attract potential partners.
The concerns extend beyond physical injury. New Zealand's Classification Office, for example, warns that some looksmaxxing content can encourage disordered eating, obsessive scrutiny of appearance, and feelings of hopelessness, while exposing viewers to misogynistic or extremist messaging. That history matters as the language becomes mainstream, even as people adopt "maxxing" for pursuits far removed from those communities.
What else made the shortlist?Dictionary.com’s other finalists were "affordability" "data center," "odyssey," and "unc." Its explanations, respectively, pointed to the cost of living, debates over AI infrastructure, Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, and slang for someone considered older or out of touch.
Together, the choices offer a recognizable portrait of 2026: money worries, AI everywhere, a major movie event, and, yes, slang with roots in incel forums.
If that all sounds exhausting, there's always touching-grass-maxxing.
The Elon Musk-owned X has a new main character — or, this time, two entire countries.
While the platform is no stranger to users from different countries trading barbs with their neighbors (see: the FIFA World Cup), what's happening between France and Japan has gotten a little ugly. As protests in France continue over the rising cost of living and demands for better learning conditions in schools, X users in the country began to fight back against Japanese users who blamed the unrest on Black and Arab people.
At the end of the day, it's ugly internet beef. But to understand why it's these two countries in particular, here's some context.
France's "Act 3" protestsFrance is in the middle of a major protest movement. It started in mid-September at a high school in Créteil, southeast of Paris, where students and staff were frustrated by a shortage of teachers and resources. Since then, parents and union members have joined high school students, and some demonstrations have ended in clashes with police using tear gas. On Oct. 6 alone, about 56,000 people marched through Paris.
Frustration over rising living costs and struggling public services has fueled the unrest, too. Given that mass movements like these create unruly environments, there has also been rioting and looting in the streets of Paris.
Because the protests are about the state of education in France, the turnout skews toward students — and Gen Z loves anime. As Bloomberg reports, a Sony Group study of anime watchers across 10 countries found that "79 [percent] of anime fans between the ages of 13 and 17" had watched more anime than the year prior, with 68 percent of Gen Z respondents saying the same. At Oct. 17 demonstrations in Paris, Lyon, and Montpellier, students carried the Straw Hat Pirates' flag from One Piece, along with references to Naruto, Dragon Ball, and Jujutsu Kaisen. One slogan going around declared, "The world will be saved by Otakus."
The Straw Hat Jolly Roger is not an uncommon sight at protests these days. In the show itself, the main character, Monkey D. Luffy, and his pirate crew spend much of their adventures fighting corrupt governments and freeing oppressed peoples. The flag, as a symbol of rebellion, has appeared at demonstrations in Indonesia and Nepal.
Ironically, though, some Japanese users on X did not like this. On Oct. 19, the X account Anime Spotlight shared a roundup of Japanese users who were angry that the flag had become associated with violent unrest. It’s unclear how widely that view is shared.
Some Japanese X users then blamed France's unrest on Black and Arab immigrants, often with slurs and images of monkeys or the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Those posts echoed anti-immigration talking points that circulate among right-wing influencers and politicians in Europe and the U.S., even though the protests are about underfunded schools.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.French users hit back, and they weren’t any gentler. Their posts, translated from French, have gone viral — primarily going after Japanese men, playing on stereotypes about brutal work culture, loneliness, and the sexualization of young girls in some anime and manga.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.While the beef started with Japanese users attacking Black people, plenty of the French jokes are racist, too.
Why France and Japan?What makes the feud strange is that these two countries usually get along famously. Japan has long held a romantic view of France, and France has been one of manga's biggest markets in Europe. Their leaders have even gotten in on the anime fandom: In April, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and French President Emmanuel Macron struck the Dragon Ball Kamehameha pose together at a joint news conference.
In fact, Japan has its own fantasy version of France, so well known that there’s a name for the shock some tourists feel when the real city doesn't match it, called Paris syndrome.
The fantasy of what Paris and France are is part of the reason this feud kicked off. Many Japanese fans love an idealized "Western" version of Paris, not one with tear gas in the streets. Plenty of Westerners hold an equally idealized picture of Japan, largely shaped by anime, in which the country is viewed as polite, safe, quirky, and seemingly problem-free.
The lens through which many in the Western world view Japan is now being shattered, as the feud sheds light on some very real issues in the country.
It's been an open topic for a while now that foreigners can face less-than-stellar treatment in Japan. Nationalist party Sanseito won 14 seats on a "Japanese First" platform. In February, Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party won a landslide while taking a tougher line on immigration. A Stanford survey found that opposition to bringing in foreign workers rose to about 53 percent in February, roughly 17 percentage points higher than in 2022.
Takaichi became Japan’s first female prime minister last October and is a staunch conservative. Before taking office, she regularly visited Yasukuni Shrine. The shrine honors Japan’s war dead, including 14 convicted World War II war criminals. Takaichi also considers the late nationalist Prime Minister Shinzo Abe a mentor. Japan’s neighbors, especially China and South Korea, see the shrine as a symbol of the country’s wartime aggression.
Another well-documented part of Japanese culture that's being poked at is its work culture. The problem of overwork is serious enough that the government is required by law to report on it to parliament every year, and its 2025 white paper was the 10th such report. The first report, published in 2016, found that 22.7 percent of surveyed companies had employees logging more than 80 hours of overtime a month, the official threshold at which the risk of death from overwork becomes serious.
Relatedly, there is great concern over mental health. Japan recorded 19,097 suicides in 2025, the first time the yearly total fell below 20,000 since records began in 1978. That brought the suicide rate down to 15.4 per 100,000 people. Men accounted for 13,117 of those deaths, compared with 5,980 women. The picture is more complicated than overwork alone, though. Health problems were the most commonly cited factor, followed by economic struggles and family issues. And while overall numbers fell, suicides among children hit a record high in 2025 for the second year in a row, reaching 532.
The bigger pictureAs stated, online beef between citizens of two countries is not new. This particular moment in digital culture is a bit different, as it targets the West's mythical image of Japan, shaped by anime, games, and the Japanese government’s own "Cool Japan" soft-power push.
Japan may be propped up as safe, polite, and a bit quirky, but its image, like every country's, has blind spots too. The same Western audiences that idealize Japan can overlook its immigration fights, its overwork crisis, its abusive justice system, or the way its wartime history is still contested at home and across Asia.
Race plays a part in which stories stick, too. Asian American immigrants, particularly from East Asian countries, are often held up in the West as model minorities, a "flattering" stereotype often used to justify continued oppression of Black American and Asian communities.
None of that excuses the racism flying both ways. Many of the posts from French users attacking the Japanese are no better than the posts they’re answering, and stereotypes about either country don’t add up to a fair critique of it. But the feud illustrates why a country’s pop culture exports rarely tell its whole story.
That’s true of Japan seen through anime, and of Paris seen through postcards.
Los Angeles turned on approximately 20 cameras at dangerous intersections around the city on Monday (Oct. 26), intended to catch speeding drivers and, hopefully, save lives.
For the next 60 days, drivers exceeding the speed limit by at least 11 miles per hour will receive written warnings by mail. Following that, tickets will be issued to offenders, with fines ranging from $50 to $500, depending on the driver's speed. By the end of the year, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) plans to activate 125 cameras across the city.
SEE ALSO: This Flock Camera map shows more than 300,000 devicesLA is currently trying to get a handle on vehicular violence, with car crashes in the city claiming about 300 lives annually, a toll that exceeds the annual number of homicides in the city of 4 million, according to the Los Angeles Times. The city has placed cameras near high-injury/high-death intersections, near schools, and at spots known for street racing.
LA is years behind other large cities like New York, Oakland, and San Francisco, which have already installed speed cameras. In the latter city, the cameras brought about a dramatic 80 percent drop in speeding.
LADOT expects its cameras to reduce fatal crashes at their locations by 53 to 71 percent. Malibu, a nearby city in Los Angeles County, recently launched a speed camera pilot program on 21 miles of the Pacific Coast Highway. Over the course of nine days last month, the cameras recorded approximately 100,000 speeding violations.
Apple has a fresh new iOS update for everyone to check out.
Monday marked the official launch of iOS 27.2, which is now available as a software update on all compatible iPhones. To install it, simply open the Settings app, tap General, and then tap Software Update. No need to fiddle with beta software this time — this is the real deal.
As for what's new, iOS 27.2 isn't the most monumental update in the world, but there's plenty to mess around with. For starters, Siri AI is now available in several new languages: French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish. It's also been updated for English-language users so it will now be able to recall past conversations you've had with Apple's chatbot. Additionally, the Messages app will offer context-sensitive suggestions to take quick actions in Calendar or Reminders based on what's being said in the text conversation.
SEE ALSO: Apple breaks silence on iPhone Duo cracking reportsDual Capture now works on FaceTime group calls, meaning you can have both your front and rear cameras active at the same time while talking to more than one other person. For new iPhone Duo owners, iOS 27.2 also adds Apple Pencil support. Meanwhile, the Edge Light feature uses the iPhone Duo's display to light up your face during video calls in low light.
There are plenty of other small changes to check out, too, such as individual profiles in the Apple TV app and a reimagined Up Next view in the Podcasts app. Multiview will also let sports fans watch up to four events simultaneously, though the feature appears to be limited to sporting events on Apple TV.
In total, iOS 27.2 might not be the most seismic update in the world, but there's still a good amount to play with.
Last year, KPop Demon Hunters had us fixated on every HUNTR/X song. By the time Halloween came around, there was a flood of costumed fans dressed as Rumi, Mira, and Zoey.
Now, Netflix has treated fans to the gift that keeps on giving. Need a casual cosplay that requires only a wig and some workout gear? Need a new reason to revisit the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack? Need a new TikTok dance to level up your viewership? Need another reason to look forward to the eventual KPop Demon Hunters 2?
Netflix has released a HUNTR/X dance rehearsal set to "How It’s Done." The new clip shows the K-pop icons working out a new dance routine.
But that's not all. Netflix will be releasing complete official choreography for HUNTR/X's "Golden" and "Takedown" as well as the Saja Boys' "Soda Pop," and "Your Idol."
The race is on to see which fan can nail the choreo first. Be like HUNTR/X and show them how it's done, done, done.
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