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TL;DR: Get a refurbished MacBook Air for just $249.97 through September 3 and enjoy all the essentials in a thin, lightweight package.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple 13.3-inch Apple MacBook Air (8GB RAM, 128GB SSD) $249.97 at The Mashable ShopBeen feeling like your laptop just isn’t cutting it anymore? Maybe it’s slowing down, getting bulky, or just doesn’t fit your on-the-go lifestyle. If you’re juggling work, personal projects, or just streaming the latest shows, you need a computer that’s reliable, lightweight, and won’t make your wallet cry.
Enter the refurbished 13.3-inch Apple MacBook Air (8GB RAM, 128GB SSD), on sale until September 3 for $249.97 (reg. $999). With an "A" refurbished rating (meaning minimal to no scuffing or damage), it's basically as good as new for 74% off.
This mid-2017 model packs 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage into a super-slim body, making it perfect for everything from handling your work projects to streaming your favorite shows. The 1.8GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor gives you plenty of power to get things done, whether you’re editing documents, browsing the web, or hopping on video calls. And with a 13.3-inch display, you’ll enjoy crisp visuals without lugging around a heavy screen.
Light enough to carry wherever you go, you can take it from your morning coffee run to late-night study sessions. Plus, with up to 12 hours of battery life, you’re free to work or play without constantly hunting for an outlet. And since it’s refurbished, you’re getting a solid deal on a reliable piece of tech that's been certified to work like new.
Priced at $249.97 through September 3, this refurbished 13.3-inch MacBook Air could be a great investment in your productivity and peace of mind — without the hefty price tag.
Want to keep looking? Shop more laptops and tablets here.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
TL;DR: Get wireless CarPlay and Android Auto in your car for just $89.97 until September 3 and enjoy safer, smarter drives.
Long drives or quick commutes, your car is your mobile command center. But fumbling with cords or outdated tech can make even a short drive a hassle. What if you could ditch the cables and make your ride smoother and smarter?
The Apple CarPlay and Android Auto wireless adapter is here to simplify your drive, turning your car into a tech-savvy hub without the headache — on sale for $89.97 (reg. $140) through September 3.
This compact adapter lets you connect wirelessly to CarPlay and Android Auto, making it easier than ever to access your favorite apps, maps, and music. No more plugging in your phone every time you get in the car — just start the engine, and you’re connected. It also supports streaming services and has built-in apps, giving you more entertainment options on the road.
Safety is another big plus. By cutting out the clutter of cords and offering seamless smartphone integration, this adapter helps you keep your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. It's compatible with a wide range of car models and smartphones, making it a versatile upgrade for almost any vehicle. Plus, with added storage, you can save your favorite playlists or navigation routes right on the device.
This wireless adapter is designed to make your driving experience smarter, safer, and more enjoyable. Whether you’re a daily commuter or weekend road tripper, it can help you make the most out of your car.
Until September 3 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can get this Apple CarPlay and Android Auto wireless adapter on sale for $89.97 (reg. $140).
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: RochasDivineMart Apple CarPlay & Android Auto Wireless Adapter with Streaming Service Support (2024 Edition) $89.97 at The Mashable ShopTL;DR: Learn how to use AI tools like ChatGPT, DALL-E, Midjourney, and more with this £22.70 online course bundle (reg. £115.06).
Opens in a new window Credit: Skill Success The 2024 AI Super Skills Bundle £22.70 at the Mashable ShopWe have a theory: Everyone who hates AI is secretly experiencing FOMO. If that’s you, droning on about how much you hate ChatGPT even though you’ve never used it, we’re gonna try to change your mind. Because AI is part of the future, whether you like it or not.
Plus, we have good news. ChatGPT isn’t the only AI tool out there these days, and this online learning bundle can help you master all the best AI tools for only £22.70 (reg. £115.06).
Our first point of persuasion is that AI could save you time at work, period. If you write a lot of, well, anything — emails, reports, blogs, ad copy, etc. — tools like Quillbot AI and ChatGPT can help take some of the stress off of your shoulders.
A huge part of using AI is understanding its limitations, and your instructor (Skill Success) helps you understand that these tools won’t do your job for you but rather help you work faster and write more confidently by brainstorming ideas, revising your writing, or summarising a large amount of information into a shorter format. They can even write computer code for you.
The same goes for generating AI images, which can sometimes create whack results (like people with twenty fingers). These courses cover DALL-E 3, Midjourney, and Leonardo AI and how to get the most out of them, hopefully inspiring accurate images and graphics that don’t have too many digits.
If you want to keep up without missing out, you should probably learn AI. This 8-course online learning bundle is a great place to start at £22.70, an 80% discount from the usual price £115.06.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
TL;DR: Watch Liverpool vs. Brentford in the Premier League with a free trial of Fubo. Sign up for a free trial of Fubo from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The Premier League is a seriously difficult competition. Liverpool might have beaten Ipswitch in their first match, but they took their time. And Brentford won a tricky tie against Crystal Palace, but that game could have gone either way. Sure, three points is great, but all that matters is the next fixture, and both teams will be confident of securing a win this weekend.
If you want to watch Liverpool vs. Brentford in the Premier League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Liverpool vs. Brentford?Liverpool vs. Brentford in the Premier League kicks off at 11:30 a.m. ET on Aug. 25. This fixture takes place at Anfield.
How to watch Liverpool vs. Brentford for freeLiverpool vs. Brentford is available to live stream for free with a seven-day trial of Fubo.
Fubo is offering coverage of all 380 matches of the 2024-25 Premier League season, but this package is geo-restricted to Canada. Fortunately, anyone can bypass these restrictions with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Canada, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Premier League from anywhere in the world.
Access free live streams of the 2024-25 Premier League 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 Canada
Sign up for a seven-day free trial of Fubo
Watch Premier League fixtures 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 watch Liverpool vs. Brentford in the Premier League without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream this weekend's Premier League fixtures before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for the Premier League?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including Canada
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream Liverpool vs. Brentford in the Premier League for free with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Watch Wolves vs. Chelsea in the Premier League with a free trial of Fubo. Sign up for a free trial of Fubo from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The second round of Premier League fixtures has thrown together some really interesting matchups, and although both Wolves and Chelsea lost their first games of the season, this is still an intriguing prospect.
Wolves put up a good fight against Arsenal in their first game, and Chelsea lost to the defending champions Manchester City. Chelsea have made a number of signings this summer, including ex-Wolves star Pedro Neto. Will he come back to haunt his old side?
If you want to watch Wolves vs. Chelsea in the Premier League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Wolves vs. Chelsea?Wolves vs. Chelsea in the Premier League kicks off at 9 a.m. ET on Aug. 25. This fixture takes place at the Molineux Stadium.
How to watch Wolves vs. Chelsea for freeWolves vs. Chelsea is available to live stream for free with a seven-day trial of Fubo.
Fubo is offering coverage of all 380 matches of the 2024-25 Premier League season, but this package is geo-restricted to Canada. Fortunately, anyone can bypass these restrictions with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Canada, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Premier League from anywhere in the world.
Access free live streams of the 2024-25 Premier League 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 Canada
Sign up for a seven-day free trial of Fubo
Watch Premier League fixtures 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 watch Wolves vs. Chelsea in the Premier League without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream this weekend's Premier League fixtures before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for the Premier League?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including Canada
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream Wolves vs. Chelsea in the Premier League for free with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Live stream New England Patriots vs. Washington Commanders for free on DAZN. Watch NFL preseason games for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The Patriots are hosting not only the Commanders, but also the final game of the NFL preseason — the last taste of football action before the season begins on Sep. 6.
New England may have lost their last game against the Philadelphia Eagles 14-13 but the positive news is that rookie quarterback Drake Maye had a good showing, linking up well with rookie receiver Javon Baker, and scoring his first touchdown. Washington are 0-2 in preseason action, but Commanders fans are excited for their own rookie quarterback — Jayden Daniels. Can Daniels help the Commanders pull back a win in the last preseason game?
We're happy to report that you can watch all the NFL preseason without spending anything. If you want to watch these preseason fixtures for free, no matter where you are around the globe, here's some useful information.
When is Patriots vs. Commanders?New England Patriots vs. Washington Commanders takes place at 8 p.m. ET on Aug. 25. This fixture will be played at Commanders Field in Landover, Maryland.
How to watch Patriots vs. Commanders for freeTo watch the NFL preseason for free, simply register with DAZN.
Based in the UK, DAZN is showing all the NFL preseason games for free — live and on-demand — but the games are geo-restricted for viewers outside the U.S., Canada, and China only. However, anyone can access these free NFL preseason streams with a VPN. A VPN can help by obscuring your real IP address (digital location) and connecting you to a secure server in another country, which will allow you to sidestep geo-restrictions and stream content from platforms around the world.
Access free live streams of the NFL preseason 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 free coverage of the NFL preseason
Register with DAZN
Watch the NFL preseason for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, though top-rated VPN providers offer deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. You can use these deals to access the free streams of the NFL preseason without parting with any cash. It's a short-term solution, but the trial period will give you enough time to watch all the NFL preseason action before you recover any upfront investment.
What is the best VPN for the NFL?ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the NFL, 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 currently available for $99.95. Within this limited time deal you'll get an extra three months at no additional cost, a whole year of unlimited cloud backup for free, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream the NFL preseason for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Live stream Arizona Cardinals vs. Denver Broncos for free on DAZN. Watch NFL preseason games for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The NFL preseason is a great chance to see the latest rookies in action for the first time, as drafted players look to impress coaches and fans and stake their claim as a season starter.
With the Cardinals playing at the Broncos this weekend, the big talking point is the Broncos' rookie quarterback Bo Nix. A first round draft pick, Nix has impressed in preseason wins over the Colts and Packers — he was instrumental in defeating the Packers 27-2. The Cardinals' top pick, meanwhile — wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr — hasn't quite made the same impact, having sat out the last game, but experts are predicting big things for the second generation player.
The great news is that you can watch the NFL preseason without spending anything. To watch all the preseason fixtures for free, no matter where you are in the world, here's all the information you need.
When is Cardinals vs. Broncos?Arizona Cardinals vs. Denver Broncos takes place at 4.30 p.m. ET on Aug. 25. This fixture will be played at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado.
How to watch Cardinals vs. Broncos for freeTo watch the NFL preseason for free, simply register with DAZN.
The sports platform is showing all the NFL preseason games for free — live and on-demand — but the games are geo-restricted for viewers outside the U.S., Canada, and China only. However, anyone can access these free streams with a VPN. VPNs are helpful tools that can mask your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another country, allowing you to bypass geo-restrictions and watch streaming platforms from anywhere around the globe.
Access free live streams of the NFL preseason 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 free coverage of the NFL preseason
Register with DAZN
Watch the NFL preseason for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free to use, but the top VPN providers have incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. You can leverage these deals to access the NFL preseason free streams without spending any cash in the long run. It's a quick fix solution, but the trial period will give you enough time to watch all the NFL preseason games before you recover any upfront investment.
What is the best VPN for the NFL?ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the NFL, 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
For a limited time only, a one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is available for $99.95. As part of this plan you'll get an extra three months at no additional cost, a year of free unlimited cloud backup, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream the NFL preseason for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Live stream Tennessee Titans vs. New Orleans Saints for free on DAZN. Watch NFL preseason games for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The New Orleans Saints host the Tennessee Titans this weekend as part of the final batch of the NFL preseason games. The Saints are 1-1 in preseason, while the Titans are on a 2-0 winning streak. OK, so it's only preseason — the results don't impact the real season's standings — but every team wants to hit the 2024 season with momentum.
The Saints took a loss to the 49ers last week. The Titans, however, actually defeated the 49ers in the opening week of preseason, which was followed by a win over the Seahawks. Preseason is about shaping up the rosters and getting some minutes on the field, but the Titans have a chance to make it 3-0 on the Saints' home turf.
You can watch the NFL preseason without spending a dime. To watch the preseason fixtures for free from anywhere in the world, here's all the information you need.
When is Titans vs. Saints?Tennessee Titans vs. New Orleans Saints takes place at 2 p.m. ET on Aug. 25. This fixture will be played at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.
How to watch Browns vs. Seahawks for freeTo watch the NFL preseason for free, simply register with DAZN.
The sports platform is showing all the NFL preseason games for free — live and on-demand — to viewers based outside the U.S., Canada, and China. Fortunately, anyone can access these free streams with a VPN. VPNs are helpful tools that can mask your real IP address (digital location) and connect you with secure servers based in other countries, helping you bypass geo-restrictions and watch streams from anywhere around the world.
Access free live streams of the NFL preseason 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 free coverage of the NFL preseason
Register with DAZN
Watch the NFL preseason for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free to use, but the top VPN providers tend to offer deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. You can take advantage of these deals to access free streams of the NFL preseason without losing any cash in the long-term. It's a quick-fix solution, but the trial period will give you enough time to watch all the NFL preseason action before you recover any upfront investment.
What is the best VPN for the NFL?ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the NFL, 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
For a limited time only, a one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale at $99.95. Within this plan you get an extra three months at no additional cost, a year of free unlimited cloud backup, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream the NFL preseason for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Watch Los Angeles Sparks vs. Dallas Wings in the WNBA with WNBA League Pass. Avoid blackouts and watch the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The WNBA season continues and next up it's Los Angeles Sparks vs. Dallas Wings. Both teams have had a strong season so far, so it's set to be an exciting match.
If you want to watch Los Angeles Sparks vs. Dallas Wings in the WNBA from anywhere in the world, keep reading to find out all the information you need.
When is Los Angeles Sparks vs. Dallas Wings?Los Angeles Sparks vs. Dallas Wings in the WNBA starts at 4 p.m. ET on Aug. 25. This fixture takes place at the College Park Center in Arlington, Texas.
How to watch Los Angeles Sparks vs. Dallas WingsBasketball fans can watch Los Angeles Sparks vs. Dallas Wings plus the remainder of the WNBA 2024 season from anywhere in the world with a WNBA League Pass.
It is worth noting that the WNBA League Pass may not show locally televised games live in the participating teams' local areas, so you may need a VPN to stream select matches. VPNs are tools that work by hiding your real IP address (i.e. digital location). With this, you'll be able to connect to secure servers in other locations and watch every WNBA League Pass game live, not including games hosted by Amazon Prime Video.
To access every WNBA League Pass game, follow these 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 no broadcast deals for the WNBA
Log in to WNBA League Pass
Stream Los Angeles Sparks vs. Dallas Wings
ExpressVPN is the best choice for hiding your real IP address and streaming more sport, 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 secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Stream Los Angeles Sparks vs. Dallas Wings in the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.
If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for August 25's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable Where did Wordle come from?Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What's the best Wordle starting word?The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.
Is Wordle getting harder?It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.
SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for August 23 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:Tool to move across the ice.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?There are no reoccurring letters.
Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.
SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today's Wordle is...
SKATE.
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.
If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.
By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on MashableIf you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.
NYT Strands hint for today’s theme:These words will leave you lost in the woods.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explainedThe answers are types of tree.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.
NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is Forest.
NYT Strands word list for August 25Chestnut
Sycamore
Beech
Forest
Ginkgo
Maple
Willow
Pine
Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!
Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.
Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for August 25'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 August 24 Here's a hint for today's Connections categoriesWant a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Angry
Green: Reputation
Blue: Home temperature tech
Purple: Items that require folding
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Hopping Mad
Green: Status
Blue: Words That Make Up The Acronym "HVAC"
Purple: Activities That Involve Folding
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 #441 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayHopping Mad: BOILING, FUMING, LIVID, STEAMING
Status: POSITION, RANKING, STANDING, STATION
Words That Make Up The Acronym "HVAC": AIR, CONDITIONING, HEATING, VENTILATION
Activities That Involve Folding: BAKING, LAUNDRY, ORIGAMI, POKER
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.
There is Clairo shade for those with the eyes to see and more and more people have the eyes.
If you have no idea what I'm talking about, on X / Twitter users twist headlines and pop culture moments to be disparaging to the singer-songwriter, Clairo. They write, "Anyone else feel like this is Clairo shade?" followed by truly incomprehensible reasons why it relates back to the "Bags" singer.
SEE ALSO: Why we persist in calling modern photos 'Renaissance paintings' onlineFor example, after popstar Chappell Roan uploaded a video to TikTok voicing the mistreatment fame brought her, someone posted, "Now this is DEFINITELY Clairo shade- like she’s basically saying “oh I’m annoyed of fans I wish I could be Clairo so I wouldnt have as many fans.”
In response to Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez's second divorce one user wrote, "Does anyone feel like this is clairo shade? They’re like oh we hated charm it couldn’t save our marriage," in reference to Clairo's most recent album, Charm.
Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deletedThe phrase parodies the kind of stan behavior that runs rampant on X where fans make any trending topic about their fave. Infamous Timothée Chalamet stan account Club Chalamet is a perfect example. However, Clairo lacks her own aggressive fanbase like the Swifties or BeyHive — which further adds to the humor of the trend.
But some Clairo fans are trying to turn the meme into streaming numbers. One wrote, "clairo shade this clairo shade that how about you stream clairo." Another said, "the concept of “clairo shade” being more popular than her new album IS clairo shade like…"
Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deletedKnow Your Meme tracks this iteration of the meme back to a nonsensical July 10 tweet about Katy Perry's album covers reading, "This might be Clairo shade bc 1, 4, and 3 respectively correspond the letters to “A” “D” “C” in the Latin alphabet, which could stand for “And Die, Clairo”…….." But the concept of Clairo shade dates back to the beginning of her career where she faced "industry plant" allegations due to her nepo baby status.
Tweet may have been deletedSoon the meme will be walking out the door with its bags, but for now, get out of the sun and relax in all the Clairo shade.
The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.
With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.
So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on MashableHere are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Saturday, August 24, 2024:
AcrossEight: PrefixThe answer is Octo.
The answer is Froze.
The answer is Forest.
The answer is Swimcap.
The answer is Nepali.
The answer is Siphon.
The answer is Cent.
The answer is Offs.
The answer is Crown.
The answer is Tories.
The answer is Ozempic.
The answer is Escape.
The answer is Talon.
The answer is Pint.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of GamesAre you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Mini Crossword.
Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for August 24'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 August 24 Here's a hint for today's Connections categoriesWant a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Gossip
Green: Sneak around
Blue: Need to borrow a car?
Purple: Chemically-spelled words
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Hearsay
Green: Move Stealthily
Blue: Car Rental Companies
Purple: Ending with Chemical Elements
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 #440 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayHearsay: RUMBLING, SPECULATION, TALK, WHISPERS
Move Stealthily: CREEP, SLIP, STEAL, TIPTOE
Car Rental Companies: BUDGET, ENTERPRISE, NATIONAL, THRIFTY
Ending with Chemical Elements: ENVIRON, JARGON, LATIN, PLEAD
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.
Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.
If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for August 24's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable Where did Wordle come from?Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What's the best Wordle starting word?The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.
Is Wordle getting harder?It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.
SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for August 23 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:A cut of meat.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?There are no reoccurring letters.
Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter F.
SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today's Wordle is...
FILET.
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.
Sinéad O'Connor's life was marred with controversy over her steadfast, clear-eyed rejection of the status quo. She shaved her head in response to her beauty becoming a marketing tool, ripped apart a photograph of Pope John Paul II on Saturday Night Live to protest child abuse in the Catholic church, and sang illuminating protest songs ranging in topics from Black liberation to Ireland's history of oppression.
SEE ALSO: 'Kneecap' takes the Irish language revolution to the big screenNow, a TikTok trend once again proves that the Irish singer-songwriter, who passed away last year, was on the right side of history.
"I want to talk about Ireland. Specifically, I want to talk about the famine, about how there wasn't actually a famine," O'Connor raps over a rhythmic beat on her 1994 song "Famine." On the social media platform, it's become the soundtrack for Irish people sharing experiences reckoning with British colonialism, from mockery of their Irish names to misinformation about Ireland's independence.
One video caption reads, "me to an English in-law when he thought it was okay to laugh when telling us his uncle was a black and tan." Another says, "me when people ask why irish isn't spoken widely in Ireland or why we should care about it."
Ciara Ellen, an Irish creator based in Dubai, decided to participate in the trend after facing yet another mispronunciation of her name. "I had a conversation with someone where they said my name wrong, and I corrected them politely. Then they just were very, 'Oh, why would you spell it like that doesn't make any sense?'" she told Mashable.
In the video, Ellen writes, "Me when someone tells me my name should be pronounced differently than it's spelled." It garnered over 2.4 million views and over 250,000 likes.
SEE ALSO: Why the internet stans IrelandThe TikTok trend is part of a larger cultural interest in Ireland and its history. The internet is obsessed with actors like Paul Mescal and Cillian Murphy, and the Irish-language rap group Kneecap recently released a semi-autobiographical film that was met with critical acclaim.
Ahead of the release of Universal Mother, the album featuring "Famine," O'Connor told The New York Times, "I am Ireland. Everything that has happened to Ireland has happened to me." The famine was a defining moment in Irish history, with over one million people dying and nearly two million people emigrating out of the country. The track — relaying O'Connor's belief that the individual and their country are connected — weaves together her experiences of child abuse with Irish oppression. She urges, “And if there ever is gonna be healing / Then there has to be remembering and grieving / So that then there can be forgiving / There has to be knowledge and understanding.” When posting videos to the song, Irish creators embody this ethos.
"Famine" was met with mixed reception at the time of its release. It was a tense political climate, as the Irish Republican Army was in its first ceasefire and the teaching of a "nonpartisan" history of the Irish potato famine — known more accurately as the Great Famine in Ireland — was in a state of transition. Additionally, there wasn't much scholarly work on the political underpinnings of the famine before the late 20th century.
A Los Angeles Times article published a year after the song's release reports that the track "created a controversy that raged through the Irish press… many said [it] irresponsibly dredged up an anti-English attitude that had dissipated." The article also notes that an Irish government minister said peace in the North would "enable all Irish people to explore more freely the truth about the famine."
Despite the song being released several years before her birth, Ellen remembers "Famine" playing at Christmas and her uncles rehashing its controversy. Later, in fourth year, the Irish equivalent of sophomore year of high school, it was used as a teaching tool in her history class.
But as with most TikTok trends, the sound left its bubble of Irish creators, like Ellen, and reached Americans, morphing its meaning. Some, like Indigenous American creator @ndnreginageorge, match the song's tone. Their video reads, "The Choctaw Nation sent money to feed their people 16 years after the Trail of Tears because they knew what it was to starve and wanted to help." Others, mainly posted by Irish Americans, missed the mark.
"Some sounds and trends with a clear message behind them should probably be used in a different sense. And there was a mass amount of videos about Irish toes," said Ellen, referring to TikToks from Irish Americans talking about inheriting "Irish toes" and "Irish knees," things the 24-year-old and her friends and family in Ireland have never heard of.
The flood of comments and DMs she received asking for an explanation of O'Connor's provocative words led her to make a 7-minute video about Irish history she thinks every Irish American needs to know — her audience is 90 percent American.
"I'm happy that me, as an Irish person, could be someone people could learn from rather than someone who might be spreading misinformation," said Ellen. "On TikTok, it's hard to know the truth sometimes, and there's so much misinformation about the famine out there because a lot of history was erased. Not everyone had the privilege of learning and having their family tell them stories because [Irish Americans] had to lie to fit in."
One thing remains clear: O'Connor's message endures, more relevant than ever.
Our Milky Way galaxy is a cannibal.
It has grown by consuming other galaxies. Yet, it too, may be destined to collide and merge with an even bigger galaxy: Andromeda. Though galaxy collisions are normal events and NASA suspects this collision is inevitable (in billions of years), new research argues that with our current knowledge about Andromeda, such a future impact is still not certain — and has about 50-50 odds.
You might wonder what would happen if our disk-shaped spiral galaxy were to one day collide with Andromeda, which is over twice the size of the Milky Way. Astronomers anticipate such a cosmic crash would ultimately create a giant, egg-shaped galaxy.
SEE ALSO: NASA scientist viewed first Voyager images. What he saw gave him chills.But what would happen to the stars and planets of the Milky Way? And what would be the destiny of Earth?
In a hypothetical view from Earth, the warped Milky Way and Andromeda (on right) after their initial collision. Credit: NASA The Milky Way and Andromeda collisionSuch a galactic collision doesn't sound pretty.
After all, these objects pack at least hundreds of millions of stars, millions of black holes, and likely trillions of planets. If you were, hypothetically, standing on a rocky world like Earth, would catastrophe be imminent?
Thankfully, no.
Galaxies collide because they harbor unimaginable amounts of gravity, and are attracted to each other. "It's very likely that a galaxy will encounter a galaxy comparable or smaller over the course of its lifetime," Diego Muñoz, an astrophysicist at Northern Arizona University, told Mashable.
Yet these encounters don't spell doom for a solar system like ours. "The solar system will in all likelihood be almost unaffected," Muñoz said.
"The solar system will in all likelihood be almost unaffected."A prominent reason why is because space is immensely vast; there are huge distances between the stars, and stars are comparatively tiny. "In fact, if you were to shrink the sun to the size of a sand grain, the distance to the nearest star would be measured in miles. That makes close encounters with other stars extremely unlikely, even during a galaxy merger," Sally Dodson-Robinson, a planetary scientist at the University of Delaware, told Mashable.
What's more, stars and their solar systems can't match the gravitational power of the greater galaxy. Solar systems will orbit around the galaxy's core — just like our system completes an orbit around the Milky Way every 240 million years —and aren't pulled into one another as galaxies merge.
A graphic of the Milky Way galaxy, with the sun show below the galactic center. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / R. Hurt (SSC / Caltech) The star-filled center of the Andromeda galaxy, also known as "M31." Credit: NASA / ESA / B. Williams and J. Dalcanton (University of Washington, Seattle)The impact between the older galaxies, however, may spawn some stellar activity as the galaxies' gasses collide and condense. The resulting weighty clouds of gas can collapse, driving the formation of new stars.
"It will create some fireworks," Nelson Caldwell, an observational astronomer at the Center for Astrophysics Harvard & Smithsonian, told Mashable.
What will change after a galactic collisionA galactic collision won't violently throw planets and stars around like billiard balls. But it will change things — some visibly.
When hundreds of millions of stars merge, objects are reorganized. Stars and their planetary systems may move to a new place. The sun, for example, could end up much farther away from the center of its new egg-shaped galaxy, called an "elliptical galaxy," Muñoz said.
And our literal view of the cosmos — if we were around to see it — would likely change considerably. "Planets will keep on orbiting as usual, though the constellation patterns visible from each planet will change," Dodson-Robinson said. Andromeda would also gradually become a dominant, imposing feature in our night sky, as NASA has depicted in visualizations. The giant galaxy, just a faint (but poignant) presence in the sky today, would grow larger and larger, eventually colliding with the Milky Way and stoking vivid star formation.
Eventually, after billions of years, a view from Earth, or a planet like Earth, may look like the view depicted below: the bright center of an enormous elliptical galaxy.
A giant elliptical galaxy formed after the merger of the Milky Way and Andromeda, as hypothetically seen from Earth. Credit: NASAThese changes in the sky, of course, wouldn't be rapid. They'd happen over billions of years. An immensely long-lived civilization may observe these incredible cosmic changes, but not the relatively short-lived lifespan of a person. "Any individual person would not be able to see things moving," Jackson Taylor, a PhD student at West Virginia University researching pulsars, exoplanets, and gravitational waves, told Mashable.
It's not certain, however, this space event will occur, according to some popular new research, mentioned above. That's because both the Milky Way and Andromeda inhabit a "local group" of galaxies, and two in particular (M33 and the Large Magellanic Cloud) may exert gravitational influences that deter such a collision. There are still too many unknowns to say, with certainty, what will happen in billions of years, the researchers argue. After all, similar to weather forecasting today, a small error or inaccurate assumption will amplify over time, dramatically deviating from the initial prediction.
"In the full system, we find that uncertainties in the present positions, motions, and masses of all galaxies leave room for drastically different outcomes, and a probability of close to 50 percent that there is no Milky Way - Andromeda merger during the next 10 billion years," the researchers, whose paper is under peer review (a process of healthy scientific scrutiny), wrote.
Yet Earthlings, if we manage to avoid self-annihilation and persist for billions of years upon our shape-shifting continents, might still never witness such a merger — from Earth, anyhow. In some 5 billion years' time, the aging sun will have vastly expanded into a red giant star, either boiling away our oceans or consuming us entirely.
"The sun will be much older," Muñoz noted, "but that's a different problem."
On Thursday, at the Democratic National Convention, a rumor took hold. Someone tweeted that Beyoncé would perform, and an anticipatory buzz commenced. TMZ confirmed it. Viewers waited with bated breath for the arrival of Queen Bey. And then, nothing. No Beyoncé. On Friday morning, in the cold light of day, the jokes began. "They’re saying Beyoncé might come to the Lunch and Learn seminar at work today," someone wrote on X.
In a 2011 interview with Collider, actor Christopher Heyerdahl said, "Fandom can keep something alive, and fandom can take it down." He was talking about fans' passion for his work in the Twilight movies because — 13 years ago, as the internet stretched its young legs — fandom was a powerful vehicle driving the success of YA fantasy novels and franchises.
In 2024, fandom is helping to decide the outcomes of elections. And fandom may finally put a woman in the White House.
Once the purview of nerds and wonks, fandom has been mainstreamed in monoculture. In its annual trends report from this year, YouTube found that 80 percent of respondents between the ages of 14 and 44 consumed content about something they’re a fan of at least weekly on YouTube. Research conducted by Amazon's advertising arm in 2023 found that 70 percent of respondents consider their fandom and fan community part of their everyday lives, and almost 90 percent share their passions and fandoms with other people in their lives.
Fandom has also become intertwined with identity. For example, 47 percent of Gen Z respondents (ages 14-24) in the YouTube survey said they belong to a fandom that no one they know personally is a part of.
Over the past decade, as politics has become more personal, fandom and the fight for freedom of expression have merged. Pop stars are increasingly outspoken about political issues and have become powerful mouthpieces for the causes that matter most to them and their fans. It's no coincidence that a large faction of pop star fandom comprises women and LGBTQ people, two groups with bodily autonomy at risk in a second Trump presidency.
Megan Thee Stallion performs at a campaign event for Democratic presidential candidate, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris at a campaign rally at the Georgia State Convocation Center on July 30, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. Credit: Megan Varner/Getty ImagesOlivia Rodrigo, for example, has been particularly outspoken about abortion. When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, she dedicated the song "Fuck You" to the court of record. This year, Rodrigo partnered with the National Network of Abortion Funds to provide free contraception, lubricant, and Plan B to attendees of her Guts World Tour until her team swiftly reversed course after widespread media attention. Concert handouts read "Funding abortion? It's a good idea. Right?" in reference to Rodrigo's song "bad idea, right?"
Pop star endorsements of Harris range from overt to implicit. Megan Thee Stallion, for example, performed at a Harris rally in Atlanta, wearing a cropped pantsuit. She introduced her song "Body" by addressing the audience: "I know my ladies in the crowd love they body, and if you want to keep loving your body, you know who to vote for." And, after fans of Charli XCX transformed memes about her brat album into a cultural commentary about Harris's social capital, the Brit tweeted, "Kamala IS brat" in a show of support.
Perhaps rumors of Beyoncé's appearance at Thursday night's DNC caught on quickly because she has only offered a tacit endorsement of Harris, allowing the campaign to use her song "Freedom" while threatening legal action against the Trump campaign for its recent use of the same track.
The Harris campaign has cleverly leveraged this perceived alignment with the pop star constituency. It sponsored a "This is Charli XCX" playlist on Spotify. References to Chappell Roan, a pop artist with a recent meteoric rise, are woven into the literal fabric of the campaign: it raised more than $1 million through sales of a hat that resembled the pop star's merch. The singer's "Good Luck, Babe" played during the DNC roll call for Roan's home state of Missouri.
Tweet may have been deletedWinking at fans in these ways is not just smart; it's critical. Fandoms are excellent grassroots organizers. They unite across religion, race, sexuality, and geography to help their idol win awards and gain media coverage through methodical, consistent action. K-pop fans organizing against Trump became one of the biggest stories from the 2020 presidential election. In 2024, fandoms have learned from past attempts to effect change and are faster and fiercer than ever.
That may be why no pop star endorsement is more anticipated than that of Taylor Swift. When Harris replaced President Biden as the de facto Democratic nominee in July, Swifties created a flurry of organizing activity under the moniker Swifties4Kamala. In a widely shared screenshot, one overseas Swiftie earnestly asked where they could cast a vote for Harris online. It was a delightful example of the modern fan's instinct to effect change through purely digital channels.
In a statement to Mashable, Laura Brounstein, Spokesperson for Harris for President, said, "Trusted and authentic messengers can be some of the most effective in today's media environment, so when the Swifties talk to their friends and family about why they’re voting for VP Harris, they’ll be listened to!" The campaign expressed gratitude for other fandoms, too. "There is nothing like organic, heartfelt support!" said Brounstein. "We are so grateful to have such diverse, passionate, and creative supporters using their platforms to talk about the stakes of this election."
Though she has been silent thus far, it would make sense for Swift to endorse Harris. She endorsed Biden and Harris in the 2020 presidential election. Before that, in 2018, she made her first-ever political statement in an Instagram post rebuking the views of Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn, who was seeking election in Tennessee. "[Blackburn's] voting record in Congress appalls and terrifies me," Swift wrote in a caption. "She voted against equal pay for women. She voted against the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which attempts to protect women from domestic violence, stalking, and date rape. She believes businesses have a right to refuse service to gay couples. She also believes they should not have the right to marry. These are not MY Tennessee values."
A delegate wears a "Swiftie" hat during the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, US, on Monday, Aug. 19, 2024. Credit: Hannah Beier/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesIn this election, those values remain most closely aligned with the Harris/Walz campaign, which would seek to codify reproductive rights for women and protect the LGBTQ community from gender and sexuality-based hate and violence. And Swift — who is unmarried, does not have children, and is a loud and proud owner of three cats — could take issue with past comments from Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance that called Democratic leaders "a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they've made and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable, too." Swift's fans have already pounced on the prospect of her reclaiming the label in a show of support for Harris. As one X user put it, "hell hath no fury like a certain childless cat lady who has yet to endorse a presidential candidate."
Over the past week, two developments have strengthened the argument for a Swift endorsement. On Aug. 20, the singer concluded the European leg of her billion-dollar Eras Tour and won't tour again until October. That means she could shift her focus to an endorsement in the interim. And on Aug. 18, Trump published AI-generated photos of women in "Swifties for Trump" shirts on his Truth Social account. Some suggested that his accompanying caption, "I accept," implied that the artist had endorsed his campaign. (The Trump campaign did not respond to Mashable's request for comment.) Swift, who is notoriously litigious and fiercely protective of her likeness, could see the move as a final straw.
Of course, Trump himself is a lesson in the power of fandom. Despite having no political experience, a shady business background, and a damning, decades-long record of racism and misogyny, he radicalized a riotous base to become president. Now, even with a few felonies under his belt, his campaign is still alive and kicking. But can Trump's cult of personality outlast the pulsating tides of pop fandom? As one pop star puts it, "Good luck, babe!"
A new study on boredom prompts a question you should consider: When was the last time you watched a video from start to finish?
If it feels like forever, and all you can remember is a flurry of skipping or clicking away in order to find a more entertaining video, you might be interested to learn that "digital switching" can actually lead to more boredom, not less.
The research, published this week in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, included a series of studies testing whether people thought they'd prevent feeling bored while watching YouTube videos by clicking away from them to view something else, and what happened in different scenarios when they either had or didn't have a choice to switch.
Though the study participants predicted they'd be more bored if they didn't click away, the study's co-author, Dr. Michael Inzlicht, said the researchers found the exact opposite situation occurred. Instead, the participants' boredom increased. They also experienced reduced satisfaction and attention, and found the videos less meaningful.
SEE ALSO: I used an AI journal for a week. What I learned about myself surprised me.Inzlicht added that the findings might help explain our modern boredom paradox. While we have far more entertainment options than ever before, surveys suggest that young people are experiencing more boredom than in the past.
"I think we have a deeply held belief that if I'm free to choose…that, in fact, I will enjoy it more," said Inzlicht, professor of psychology at the University of Toronto. "But sometimes too much choice can not only paralyze us in terms of what to choose at any given moment, but it can actually lead to outcomes that are less desirable than if we had fewer choices altogether."
For someone watching videos online, convinced that hopping from clip to clip will ultimately bring more satisfaction, that less desirable outcome could be feeling more bored, and having wasted their time.
What to do instead of impulsively video switchingSo what should you do if you suspect this is happening? Inzlicht has an idea: Immerse yourself in the content.
Inzlicht and his co-authors found that, in most cases, people who had no choice but to watch the video presented to them had more positive experiences than their freely choosing counterparts.
Inzlicht said that people inclined to video-switch to avoid boredom might try a range of other tactics instead. Whatever you choose, the goal is to increase your ability to experience discomfort or even mild distress, and to practice greater acceptance of the current moment.
"Can you cultivate a tolerance for boredom?" Inzlicht said. "Can you sit with those feelings and maybe push through and realize, 'Oh, this video was actually OK.'"
In terms of practical strategies, Inzlicht recommends reducing stimuli that grab your attention outside of the video, so it's harder for you to video-switch.
If you're streaming Netflix on a laptop, for example, expand the screen to full-size and leave your phone in another room, so you're not tempted to switch to TikTok or YouTube or use a second screen while viewing.
When watching short-form videos on platforms like TikTok or YouTube, try to remain mindful of any desire to change what you're viewing and remain curious about why it comes up. If you do skip to another video, reflect on how that made you feel.
Inzlicht said that an app or device or platform feature that lets you restrict access to your internet browser or one of your go-to apps during certain time periods can also foil any attempts to start watching something else.
However, Inzlicht doesn't recommend watching genuinely terrible or boring videos for the sake of it.
He also cautions that his study's findings should be replicated by others in order to fully understand the effect of digital switching on boredom. As Inzlicht and his co-authors found, this behavior may not affect everyone in the same way or apply equally to all forms of content, like written articles.
Tips from a meditation teacher who video-switchesAlexis Santos, a meditation teacher on the app Ten Percent Happier, said that he's found himself switching from one video to the next to avoid boredom.
In order to respond to this dynamic thoughtfully, Santos recommends both being aware of what you're viewing and also understanding something about yourself in that moment.
Asking yourself things like whether you're on autopilot, laughing or feeling at ease, getting tired, or becoming hooked on scrolling or skipping can help you understand why you feel the urge to change what you're viewing.
"It's natural not to want to feel bored — when we’re bored, we've lost connection with the present moment." - Alexis Santos, meditation teacher, Ten Percent HappierWhen that urge hits, Santos suggests slowing down, then trying to lift your gaze, look away from the screen, and notice what happens.
"Sometimes this can pause the endless grasping-for-more cycle," Santos wrote in an email. "It's natural not to want to feel bored — when we’re bored, we've lost connection with the present moment."
To ground yourself in the moment, Santos said to check in with your body and its sensations, such as the feeling of a phone in your hand and the temperature of your skin. Consider your mood, too, which may be driving your behavior.
There's no need to judge yourself for getting lost in video-watching, either, Santos said.
Instead, use the experience as a learning opportunity and reflect on what you really want to be doing.
"There’s so much to learn. None of it is wrong," Santos wrote. "But some decisions will make us feel better and return us home."
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