- Help
- Google+
If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.
There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.
An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.
If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.
SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hintThe sound a chicken makes.
SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answerCLUCK
Hurdle Word 2 hintFortunate.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for February 12, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 AnswerLUCKY
Hurdle Word 3 hintSharp edge.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for February 12 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for February 12, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answerBLADE
Hurdle Word 4 hintA primary color.
Hurdle Word 4 answerGREEN
Final Hurdle hintTo stroll.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answerAMBLE
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
TL;DR: Live stream the 2026 winter sports skeleton for free on streaming platforms like 9Now, CBC Gem, and BBC iPlayer. Access these free streaming services from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get DealWe've been truly blessed by all the winter sports on offer right now. We've been making time to watch the ice hockey, snowboarding, freestyle skiing, and everything else on the schedule, but there's more to come.
Looking for something exhilarating? We can't think of any other sports that really come close to skeleton. Athletes throw themselves down narrow ice tracks at high speeds. Luge is feet first. Skeleton is hardcore in comparison, with athletes assuming a head-first position. We know it sounds wild, but they really do seem to have no sense of self preservation.
If you want to watch the 2026 winter sports skeleton for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is the 2026 winter sports skeleton?The international skeleton schedule takes place from Feb. 12-15.
How to watch 2026 winter sports skeleton for freeThe 2026 winter sports skeleton is available to live stream for free on a number of services:
Australia — 9Now
Austria — ORF
Canada — CBC Gem
France — France TV
Germany — ARD
Ireland — RTÉ Player
Italy — RAI
Spain — RTVE
UK — BBC iPlayer
These free live streams are geo-restricted, but anyone can bypass these restrictions with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location, meaning you can access free live streams of the 2026 winter sports skeleton from anywhere in the world.
Live stream the 2026 winter sports skeleton 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 access
Watch the 2026 winter sports skeleton for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the skeleton before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for live sport?ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live 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 always secure
Fast connection speeds
Up to 10 simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).
Live stream the 2026 winter sports skeleton for free with ExpressVPN.
The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you're a baseball fan.
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 February 12, 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: To build
Green: Secure
Blue: Baseballers
Purple: Royalty
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Construct
Green: Fixed in place
Blue: MLB player, for short
Purple: ___ Queen
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 #977 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayConstruct: FORM, MAKE, MOLD, PRODUCE
Fixed in place: FAST, FIRM, FROZEN, TIGHT
MLB player, for short: A, CARD, JAY, YANK
___ Queen: DAIRY, DANCING, DRAG, MAY
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for February 12, 2026Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.
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 are easy if you work well under pressure.
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 February 12, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for February 12, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Sink or swimThe words are related to intensity.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explainedThese words describe tricky situations.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.
NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is High Stakes.
NYT Strands word list for February 12Imperative
Risky
Pivotal
High Stakes
Decisive
Critical
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 support growth.
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 February 12, 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.
SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for February 12, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:A spike.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?There are no recurring 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...
SURGE
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.
TL;DR: Upgrade your AI workflow with a lifetime subscription to ChatPlayground AI Unlimited Plan, on sale for just $74.97 with code SAVE5 through Feb. 22.
Opens in a new window Credit: ChatPlayground AI ChatPlayground AI: Lifetime Subscription (Unlimited Plan) $74.97If you’re working with AI every day, you know some models have their limitations. You also know how frustrating it can be to hop between different models to get the best results for your prompt. That’s where ChatPlayground AI comes in, offering a convenient one-stop shop to see results from more than 25 different AI models.
Right now, a lifetime subscription to the ChatPlayground AI Unlimited Plan is yours for only $74.97 with code SAVE5, but you’ve got to act fast. This deal only runs through Feb. 22.
Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!ChatPlayground AI is ready to streamline your AI workflow, giving you one spot to enter prompts and see the results from more than 25 models. See answers from ChatGPT, Gemini, Llama, Deepseek, Perplexity, and more models side-by-side so you can easily determine the best results.
Whether you’re using AI to generate images, code, or just field questions, ChatPlayground AI is a Chrome extension you can access easily. It doesn’t just give you multiple answers; it also helps you work more efficiently with AI through features like prompt engineering, image and PDF chat, and the ability to save past conversations for future reference.
This tool lets you bypass individual monthly subscription fees by bringing all the models together in one place at a one-time, low price. You’ll get unlimited monthly messaging, priority access to new features and future models, and priority customer support when you need it.
Get a lifetime subscription to ChatPlayground AI Unlimited Plan for just $74.97 with code SAVE5 now through Feb. 22.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
TL;DR: The CareerSprinter Pro Plan lifetime subscription is available for $49.99 (reg. $499), providing job seekers access to AI tools for résumés, cover letters, interviews, and salary research.
Opens in a new window Credit: CareerSprinter CareerSprinter Pro Plan: Lifetime Subscription $49.99Job searching often means revamping your résumé, cover letter, and other interview prep across multiple job boards. All the steps that take up a lot of brain power and time. However, CareerSprinter Pro is designed to bring those steps into one platform, helping users organize and refine their approach without having to use multiple different tools. For a limited time, the lifetime subscription is priced at $49.99 (reg. $499).
CareerSprinter Pro focuses on the foundations of the application and interviewing process. The software offers unlimited applicant tracking system (ATS) checks and résumé enhancements, using AI to spotlight strengths and fine-tune formatting so documents mesh well with today’s screening algorithms. Cover letter generation is built in as well, so users can spin up tailored drafts in less time.
Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!Aside from application materials, this software leans into preparation and research. Salary research tools provide data-backed ranges to help users understand market expectations before negotiations. Mock interview sessions simulate common interview scenarios and deliver feedback that users can review and polish up over time. CareerSprinter also includes industry and company research features, providing context on trends, growth areas, and workplace culture before you submit your application.
The Pro Plan removes all limits. Subscribers enjoy unlimited résumé enhancements, salary research, mock interviews, and priority support. This appeals to active job seekers, career switchers, recent graduates, or professionals returning to the workforce who expect to run several applications at once.
CareerSprinter is a guided platform and not a replacement for human judgment, so the results depend on how users put its feedback to work. It’s also best suited for those comfortable with AI tools and digital recommendations.
Get CareerSprinter Pro’s lifetime plan today while it’s on sale for $49.99 (reg. $499).
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entrepreneur Matt Shumer's essay, "Something Big Is Happening," is going mega-viral on X, where it's been viewed 42 million times and counting.
The piece warns that rapid advancements in the AI industry over the past few weeks threaten to change the world as we know it. Shumer specifically likens the present moment to the weeks and months preceding the COVID-19 pandemic, and says most people won't hear the warning "until it's too late."
We've heard warnings like this before from AI doomers, but Shumer wants us to believe that this time the ground really is shifting beneath our feet.
"But it's time now," he writes. "Not in an 'eventually we should talk about this' way. In a 'this is happening right now and I need you to understand it' way."
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Unfortunately for Shumer, we've heard warnings like this before. We've heard it over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over. In the long run, some of these predictions will surely come true — a lot of people who are a lot smarter than me certainly believe they will — but I'm not changing my weekend plans to build a bunker.
The AI industry now has a massive Chicken Little problem, which is making it hard to take dire warnings like this too seriously. Because, as I've written before, when an AI entrepreneur tells you that AI is a world-changing technology on the order of COVID-19 or the agricultural revolution, you have to take this message for what it really is — a sales pitch.
Why people are so worried about AI right nowShumer's essay claims that the latest generative AI models from OpenAI and Anthropic are already capable of doing much of his job.
"Here's the thing nobody outside of tech quite understands yet: the reason so many people in the industry are sounding the alarm right now is because this already happened to us. We're not making predictions. We're telling you what already occurred in our own jobs, and warning you that you're next."
The post clearly struck a nerve on X. Across the political spectrum, high-profile accounts with millions of followers are sharing the post as an urgent warning.
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.To understand Shumer's post, you need to understand big concepts like AGI and the Singularity. AGI, or artificial general intelligence, is a hypothetical AI program that "possesses human-like intelligence and can perform any intellectual task that a human can." The Singularity refers to a threshold at which technology becomes self-improving, allowing it to progress exponentially.
Shumer is correct that there are good reasons to think that progress has been made toward both AGI and the Singularity.
OpenAI's latest coding model, GPT-5.3-Codex, helped create itself. Anthropic has made similar claims about recent product launches. And there's no denying that generative AI is now so good at writing code that it's decimated the job market for entry-level coders.
It is absolutely true that generative AI is progressing rapidly and that it will surely have big impacts on everyday life, the labor market, and the future.
Even so, it's hard to believe a weather report from Chicken Little. And it's harder still to believe everything a car salesman tells you about the amazing new convertible that just rolled onto the sales lot.
Indeed, as Shumer's post went viral, AI skeptics joined the fray.
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. It's not time to panic yetThere are a lot of reasons to be skeptical of Shumer's claims. In the essay, he provides two specific examples of generative AI's capabilities — its ability to conduct legal reasoning on par with top lawyers, and its ability to create, test, and debug apps.
Let's look at the app argument first:
I'll tell the AI: "I want to build this app. Here's what it should do, here's roughly what it should look like. Figure out the user flow, the design, all of it." And it does. It writes tens of thousands of lines of code. Then, and this is the part that would have been unthinkable a year ago, it opens the app itself. It clicks through the buttons. It tests the features. It uses the app the way a person would. If it doesn't like how something looks or feels, it goes back and changes it, on its own. It iterates, like a developer would, fixing and refining until it's satisfied. Only once it has decided the app meets its own standards does it come back to me and say: "It's ready for you to test." And when I test it, it's usually perfect.
I'm not exaggerating. That is what my Monday looked like this week.
Is this impressive? Absolutely!
At the same time, it's a running joke in the tech world that you can already find an app for everything. ("There's an app for that.") That means coding models can model their work off tens of thousands of existing applications. Is the world really going to be irrevocably changed because we now have the ability to create new apps more quickly?
Let's look at the legal claim, where Shumer says that AI is "like having a team of [lawyers] available instantly." There's just one problem: Lawyers all over the country are getting censured for actually using AI. A lawyer tracking AI hallucinations in the legal profession found 912 documented cases so far.
It's hard to swallow warnings about AGI when even the most advanced LLMs are still completely incapable of fact-checking. According to OpenAI's own documentation, its latest model, GPT-5.2, has a hallucination rate of 10.9 percent. Even when given access to the internet to check its work, it still hallucinates 5.8 percent of the time. Would you trust a person that only hallucinates six percent of the time?
Yes, it's possible that a rapid leap forward is imminent. But it's also possible that the AI industry will rapidly reach a point of diminishing returns. And there are good reasons to believe the latter is likely. This week, OpenAI introduced ads into ChatGPT, a tactic it previously called a "last resort." OpenAI is also rolling out a new "ChatGPT adult" mode to let people engage in erotic roleplay with Chat. That's hardly the behavior of a company that's about to unleash AI super-intelligence onto an unsuspecting world.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.This article reflects the opinion of the author.
Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.
TL;DR: We found the best deals on Valentine's Day candy at Amazon and Target, including budget-friendly classroom exchange packs and premium gifts from Lindt and Ferrero Rocher.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon's Valentine's Day Shop Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Target Target's Valentine's Day Shop Get DealValentine's Day is this Saturday, but you haven't missed the window for the good stuff just yet. If you're still hunting for sweets, the strategy is simple: go to Target for the kids and Amazon for the adults.
Target has completely cornered the market on "classroom exchange" packs. You can grab 25-count boxes of Haribo Goldbears, Fun Dip, and Nerds Gummy Clusters that come pre-labeled with "To/From" tags. With prices ranging from $3.99 to $5.99, it's the most cost-effective way to host a school party. Plus, you can order online and grab your haul via Order Pickup in as little as two hours.
If you're looking for something a little more "grown up," Amazon has a ton of premium options with overnight shipping. I found markdowns on Ferrero Rocher gift boxes and Lindt Lindor truffles, plus harder-to-find treats like Whitman's S'mores chocolates and Leonessa Dubai Chocolate Cones.
There's nothing quite like a morning cup of coffee. It's even better when you make it yourself. If you've been considering picking up a machine to do just that, you may want to turn your attention to the Amazon Presidents' Day sale, where several Breville machines have been discounted for your coffee-brewing pleasure.
From luxurious espresso machines with built-in steamers to more budget-priced models that can still whip up something delicious each morning, these deals are well worth perusing while you're enjoying your time away from work, heading out on a trip, or even going to the office this Monday (bummer).
Check out out favorite picks from the sale below:
Best splurge Breville espresso machine deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Breville Barista Touch $799.95 at AmazonFor at-home espresso that's just like it is at the coffee shop, this machine is your best bet.
You get a delightful cup with a single touch and extremely limited input as the machine does all the work for you. Using the four keys formula, it uses a conical burr grinder with dose control to deliver the optimal amount of coffee to get you the most flavor possible. It also controls its own water pressure, temperature, and infusion time without needing you to tweak any settings for a truly autonomous brew. If you prefer coffee drinks with milk, it has automatic microfoam milk texturing as well, which lets you adjust the tempeature of the milk and texture if you prefer, but it can handle all that on its own as well.
From straight espresso to latte art, this machine can get you what you want in just minutes, so you don't have to leave home to get the taste you're craving.
Best mid-range Breville espresso machine deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Breville Barista Express Impress $649.95 at AmazonIf you're looking for a reliable way to whip up a great espresso every day, this machine is a fantastic investment. It uses a dosing system that calculates and adjusts the amount of coffee it needs to deploy every shot. Combined with assisted tamping for consistent pressure for each cup as well as 25 grind settings to customize your brew, it's a powerhouse that will get you exactly what you're looking for a personalized brew.
It also includes a steam wand that's attached to the machine to steam milk for other types of coffee drinks. And you'll get all of this at the perfect temperature thanks to the Thermocoil heating system, which can keep the temperature, flow rate, and contact time consistent enough for barista-quality coffee right from your kitchen every morning.
Best budget Breville espresso machine deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Breville Bambino Plus $399.95 at AmazonIf you want at-home espresso without breaking the bank, this smaller Breville machine will be your go-to pick. It still offers many of the same features you'll get with a larger machine, but you don't have the huge footprint in the kitchen. It's fast, compact, and simple to use, though it doesn't offer an included wand for milk-infused drinks nor the capacity of its larger brethren.
More Breville Amazon President's Day dealsBreville Juice Fountain Compact — $79.95 $149.95 (save $70)
Breville Juice Fountain Plus — $119.95 $149.95 (save $30)
The internet mourned Dawnson's Creek star James Van Der Beek, who died on Wednesday (Feb. 11).
"Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace," the actor's wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, wrote on Instagram. "There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity, and the sacredness of time. Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend."
Van Der Beek announced in late 2024 that he had been diagnosed with Stage 3 colorectal cancer. He was 48 when he died.
View this post on InstagramThe internet reacted to the untimely passing of the beloved actor, who epitomized late '90s teen angst in his role on the WB drama. Van Der Beek also starred in the football film Varsity Blues, the film adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis' The Rules of Attraction, and the cult sitcom favorite Don't Trust the B---- In Apartment 23.
both quarterbacks from the 1999 west canaan coyotes gone too soon. damn.
[image or embed]
In the last few years we lost Luke Perry, Shannen Doherty, Michelle Trachtenberg, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, now James Van Der Beek. I’m sure I forgot someone but it hurts seeing so many names I grew up with leave us at such a young age.
— Wikipedia Brown (@theycallhimbfg.bsky.social) February 11, 2026 at 2:51 PMYes, Dawson was iconic, but James Van Der Beek was so so so so funny on Don't Trust the B
— Esther Zuckerman (@ezwrites.bsky.social) February 11, 2026 at 2:50 PMThe first film James Van Der Beek ever appeared in was the criminally underrated ANGUS (1995). Time for a rewatch.
[image or embed]
RIP James Van Der Beek, whose greatest role was, of course, himself. Not for him the cheeky cameo: on Don't Trust The B---- In Apartment 23" the man turned self-ridicule into a full-time occupation, and did so magnificently.
[image or embed]
The fact that James Van Der Beek had to auction off memorabilia from his movies just broke me. It shouldn't be like this, not for beloved stars, not for anyone.
— gwen howerton (@kissphoria.bsky.social) February 11, 2026 at 4:06 PMJames Van Der Beek was one of the last young adult star actors whose prominence came about primarily because...he was a good actor. Being from Toledo-ish Dawson's Creek was a Very Big Deal & he carried what was a unique role for the time & probably still is today, flawlessly. A terrible loss.
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog.xyz) February 11, 2026 at 3:20 PMVan Der Beek is survived by his wife and six children.
Amazon may be the next tech giant trying to help AI companies get their hands on publisher content.
According to TechCrunch, citing original reporting from The Information, Amazon is considering launching a marketplace that would allow media companies to license their content directly to AI firms. The company has reportedly been meeting with publishing executives and circulating slides ahead of an AWS conference that reference a "content marketplace," per The Information.
SEE ALSO: Why so many people hate Ring's 'Search Party' Super Bowl adWhen reached by TechCrunch, Amazon didn’t deny the plans but stopped short of confirming them, saying only that it works with publishers across AWS, retail, advertising, AGI, and Alexa and has "nothing specific to share." The move also comes amid mounting lawsuits and scrutiny over how AI models are trained on copyrighted material.
The proposal is notable given the increasingly tense relationship between publishers and AI companies. As Mashable has previously reported, investigations have accused Common Crawl — a nonprofit web archive used by major AI developers — of enabling access to paywalled journalism, claims the organization denies. At the same time, AI web browsers like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Atlas, and Perplexity’s Comet have reportedly been able to bypass some publisher paywalls by blending in with regular user traffic. If publishers don't want Google to use their content for AI training, they have to opt out of appearing in Google search results altogether.
Publishers have described the situation as a traffic apocalypse, with AI summaries siphoning clicks and revenue. A centralized marketplace could offer what some executives see as a more scalable, structured way to monetize content as AI usage grows.
Whether Amazon actually launches the marketplace remains to be seen. However, after years of scraping, lawsuits, and uneasy partnerships, Big Tech increasingly appears ready to put a price tag on the internet.
Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.
The 'Burbs is back! Inspired by the 1989 Tom Hanks cult classic, this Peacock TV series stars Keke Palmer, Jack Whitehall, Paula Pell, Mark Proksch, Julia Duffy, and Kapil Talwalkar as a batch of surbanites who have suspicions about the rotting Victorian house on their block.
New to the neighborhood, Samira (Palmer) is eager to make friends with her nosy neighbors. But when she learns of the cold case of a missing girl — that her husband was friends with — she begins to get her snoop on. Wild turns will be had, along with sardines and lots of laughs.
Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko spoke with Palmer, Duffy, Talwalkar, and The 'Burbs creator Celeste Hughey. For Puchko, the dark comedy of the movie was all the more exciting because she snuck watching it past her parents. So, she asked this 'Burbs cast what they remembered covertly watching without parental guidance.
Then of course, they talked tinned fish! This savory snack is having a moment on TikTok, where creators are rolling out serving suggestions for sardines and other tinned seafood. Of course, sardines were a pivotal element in The 'Burbs then, and they're in the new series too! Lucky for Palmer, she's a fan. And she knows where to go to get tinned fish for cheap.
Having trouble following the latest Epstein Files revelations?
Every few weeks now it seems like there's a new release of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein and his ties to the powerful, rich, and famous. Each new document dump sends shockwaves across the tech, political, and entertainment world. For example, OpenAI lost a member of its board, Larry Summers, after he resigned following November's email release, which revealed he was in close contact with Epstein. And, of course, Saturday Night Live, The Daily Show, and others can't help but cover the more interesting revelations.
Most recently in the Epstein Files saga, the Department of Justice released a new batch of 3.5 million pages of documents on Jan. 30, which includes 180,000 new images and 2,000 video files.
As before, the new Epstein emails and documents are basically just millions of individual text files, scanned PDFs, and images containing the contents of those emails. It's hard to sift through.
That is, it was hard to sift through until Jmail came along.
What is Jmail?In November 2025, right after that month's Epstein Files dump from the House Oversight Committee, Riley Walz, who Wired describes as a "prankster," and developer Luke Igel released Jmail, a recreation of Epstein's email inbox. Jmail is essentially a Gmail clone interface that looks and acts as if you're viewing Epstein's emails via his jeevacation@gmail account through his actual email inbox.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.But Jmail isn't just visually stunning in its presentation of these Epstein emails. It actually makes the emails incredibly easy to search through as well. The search box at the top of the page can actually be used to find names, keywords, and other information in specific emails. The Inbox and Sent pages separate the emails that Epstein both sent and received. The Starred page acts as a crowdsourced compilation of what visitors found to be the most interesting missives. A People section in the sidebar presents itself as a contact list of all the most notable individuals who interacted with Epstein in the emails included in this dump.
Jmail is really an ingenious project that combines art and web development to create a journalistic research tool.
And since its release, Jmail has only expanded.
See the latest Epstein Files in JmailJmail's creators have added every new Epstein Files Release to the Jmail archive, so even the latest released Epstein emails can be viewed as if you have unauthorized access to Epstein's personal Gmail account.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Besides adding the latest releases in the Epstein Files, Jmail's creators have been busy creating new Google-inspired features.
Jmail now offers the whole "suite" of Google products, too. JPhotos is a Google Photos clone filled with all the photos that have been released with the documents. JDrive showcases PDFs and other Epstein-related files that have been released in a Google Drive format. JFlights maps out Epstein's travels. Jamazon provides an Amazon-like design for Epstein's Amazon order history. Jotify clones Spotify in order to deliver streams of all the audio files released with the documents. JMessage gives visitors an easy way to follow the text messages Epstein was sending to his contacts.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.There's even Jemini, a Gemini clone, which provides an AI chatbot for users to ask Epstein document-related questions.
According to Jmail's founder, the site has become so popular that it crossed 450 million pageviews as of Feb. 9.
UPDATE: Feb. 11, 2026, 1:55 p.m. EST This piece has been updated since it was originally published on November 21, 2025. We've added additional context about
AI-generated content, which some call slop, is everywhere. And the 2026 Winter Olympics are no exception, now that Czech ice dancers have come under fire for using AI-generated music in their routine.
In the run-up to the Olympics, Czech pair Katerina Mrazkova and Daniel Mrazek caught flak for using an AI song that appeared to rip off the 1998 New Radicals hit "You Get What You Give". (Journalist Shana Bartels has covered that saga in depth.)
Here is the Czech pair dancing to their AI rip-off of You Get What You Give, replaced for the Olympics by an AI song with “original” lyrics that sounds pretty much the same
[image or embed]
Mrazkova and Mrazek didn't use that tune again in Milan — but they did use another AI generated piece. One with lyrics that appear to, uh, closely mirror the Bon Jovi track "Raise Your Hands."
The back half of their routine used music created by actual humans, specifically the rock classic "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC. But that didn't stop online criticism from viewers, who found it particularly galling in a sport known for its human artistry.
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.In the end, the AI music wasn't a successful ploy. The Czech pair scored a middling 72.09, which put them out of the medal race.
When a 5 p.m. PT ransom deadline passed this week in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, investigators were still grappling with a crucial uncertainty: Was the Bitcoin demand real — and if so, who sent it?
In two unverified notes sent to media outlets, the sender claimed to have abducted the 84-year-old mother of Today Show host Savannah Guthrie and set a deadline for her family to pay a ransom in Bitcoin. Law enforcement officials have said they are taking the messages seriously but have not confirmed their authenticity or received proof of life. There is no evidence that the Guthrie family was targeted for holding cryptocurrency.
SEE ALSO: Elon Musk's X bans 'InfoFi' crypto projects for posting AI slop and reply spamAuthorities have said they do not know why she was taken or whether her daughter’s fame played a role. But the demand for Bitcoin — regardless of motive — reflects a broader global shift in how criminals seek ransom payments.
While high-profile kidnappings are extremely rare in the United States, organized crime syndicates in Latin America, Asia, and West Africa are known to engage in kidnapping. This has led to a growing kidnapping insurance industry. And for kidnappers, cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin is an attractive vehicle for ransom payments, for a variety of reasons. There is no evidence that the Guthrie family was targeted for holding cryptocurrency.
"Bitcoin is much easier to launder than cash," YouTuber and crypto investigator Stephen Findeisen, known online as Coffeezilla, wrote in an email to Mashable. "A Bitcoin wallet you can create brand new, receive your demand money without it being traced to you personally, and then launder via mixers, privacy coins, or decentralized exchanges that don’t implement KYC (know your customer) restrictions."
Another appeal, experts say, is the irreversibility of crypto exchanges.
Paul Sibenik, CEO of Cryptoforensic Investigators, explained that from a kidnapper’s perspective, Bitcoin eliminates many of the friction points associated with traditional ransom payments. "No need for an in-person meeting or cash drop… entirely digital," he wrote to Mashable over email. Unlike bank wires, which can sometimes be reversed or flagged, "the Bitcoin transaction, once posted to the blockchain, cannot be reversed and it's immutable."
He added that there is "no custodian or entity that could freeze the Bitcoin in the kidnappers' wallet," meaning once the funds move, they move for good.
That finality is central to the appeal. According to Chainalysis data cited by the BBC, more than $3.4 billion in cryptocurrency was stolen in 2025, with an estimated $713 million tied to hacks, scams, or coercion of individuals. Attacks targeting individuals have doubled in recent years.
Physical extortion has followed the money. A 2025 security assessment warned that "crypto kidnappings are happening weekly," as criminals turn to violence to extract digital wealth that cannot be clawed back once transferred.
Sibenik noted that while Bitcoin is traceable on the public ledger, that doesn’t necessarily deter criminals. "Just because Bitcoin is much more traceable doesn't mean that it would be much harder to launder Bitcoin than cash," he wrote, pointing to loosely regulated exchanges and services that can obscure trails.
In Nancy Guthrie’s case, investigators are still trying to determine whether the person demanding Bitcoin is even connected to her disappearance. Retired FBI agents told ABC News that negotiators would typically seek proof of life before any payment is considered.
For now, the motive behind her abduction remains unclear. What is clear is that Bitcoin has become a default ransom currency — not necessarily because victims are crypto holders, but because criminals increasingly view it as the most efficient way to get paid.
Age verification is spreading on the internet. Following Roblox's implementation of the age verification process, Discord is the next platform in line to do it.
So, what is Discord's age verification process and what happens if users don't go through with it?
We'll break it down.
How to verify your age on DiscordDiscord, the online chat platform that's extremely popular with gamers, has announced that it will be rolling out a mandatory age verification process for all of its users starting in March.
Discord age verification prompt Credit: DiscordUsers will be met with a prompt asking them to verify their age when the age verification system goes live worldwide next month. To begin the process, users simply need to click the Get Started button on the pop-up.
Next, users will be prompted to upload a selfie or a photo of a government ID. In some instances, if the age verification system has trouble estimating the age of a user simply from their selfie, the user will be required to submit both a selfie and ID.
Discord age verification upload Credit: DiscordAccording to Discord, uploaded selfie and ID photos are deleted after the verification process is complete.
Once a user submits this information, they will receive a DM on Discord informing them that they've been placed in either the teen or adult age group.
What happens if you don't verify your age on Discord?According to Discord, all user accounts going forward will be teen-by-default. This sounds exactly like what it is. All users will, by default, be placed in the teen age group. Teenagers will not have to take part in the age verification process as their accounts will already be placed in the appropriate age group.
However, in order to see certain content and take part in certain platform experiences, adults will need to verify their age to be placed in the adult age group. If an adult does not verify their age, their account will be placed in the teen group.
SEE ALSO: Discord defaults to teen experience for all usersTeen accounts will be unable to see certain content. Sensitive content will be blurred by Discord. The only way to unblur content or change that content setting platform-wide will be to verify your age in order to be placed in the adult age group. Discord users in the teen age group will also be unable to access age-restricted channels, servers, and app commands.
When it comes to direct messages, teen age group accounts will have a separate inbox for messages from users that they don't already know on the platform. Teen age group users will also receive warning prompts when they receive friend requests from users they may not know.
Additionally, teen age group users will be unable to speak on stage in Discord servers.
Users who go through the age verification process and are deemed to be younger than the minimum age required as mandated by their country (age 13 in the U.S.) will be banned from Discord entirely.
If the age verification process incorrectly marks a user as underage, Discord has an appeal process that users can follow as well.
Discord has already rolled out the age verification process in the UK and Australia in order to comply with local laws. The company says it will further roll the process out globally in "early March."
For years, Elon Musk has talked about colonizing Mars. Now, he's talking about building Looney Tunes contraptions on the moon instead.
The New York Times reported that Musk told employees at xAI on Tuesday evening that he wants to build a factory on the moon to construct AI data center satellites. Not only that, but Musk wants the factory to include some type of gigantic space catapult, called a mass driver, that would then launch the satellites into space, purportedly for the sake of powering xAI's artificial intelligence network.
"You have to go to the moon," Musk reportedly told employees, per the Times.
In case you're wondering why this plan involves xAI and not just SpaceX, it's because the two just recently merged at the corporate level. Musk said that the merger was necessary to help xAI build AI data centers in orbit around the Earth.
While these plans sound like something straight out of science fiction, Musk does have an impressive track record with SpaceX, which has accomplished many engineering firsts.
SEE ALSO: Sam Altman unloads on Elon Musk in latest X postsOf course, Musk did not elaborate on how, exactly, this facility would be built, or on what sort of timeline it would come together. Musk has spent decades talking up the notion of using SpaceX to colonize Mars, but he recently pivoted to the moon instead. Musk often talks about the importance of making the human race interplanetary.
As Mashable has reported previously, Musk has a history of making bold announcements that don't come to fruition.
FREE $30 CREDIT: Reservations for a new Samsung Galaxy device come with a free $30 Samsung credit.
Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Reserve a new Samsung Galaxy device Get a free $30 credit Get DealSet a calendar event because the next Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event is set for Feb. 25 online at both samsung.com and the brand's YouTube channel. If you'll be first in line for one of the new Galaxy S26 devices, there's a special deal in store if you reserve in advance.
Reservations for a new Samsung Galaxy device will earn you a free $30 Samsung credit. In addition, you'll be eligible for a savings of up to $900 on your order, and get entered to win $5,000 to spend at Samsung.
SEE ALSO: The giant 57-inch Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 curved gaming monitor is $800 off at AmazonWe have some idea of what the new Samsung Galaxy S26 lineup will include, but we'll all have to wait until Feb. 25 to get solid specs. But if you have intentions of upgrading, there's no harm in securing a reservation and saving $30. All you'll need to do is fill out Samsung's simple form with your name, e-mail address, and your phone number, if you feel like it. Then Samsung will keep you updated about future steps. The discount gets cancelled if you don't end up ordering a qualifying Galaxy device.
Mashable Tech Reporter Alex Perry said he wouldn't be surprised if the new S26 lineup comes with camera upgrades, in addition to more standard improvements like better battery life.
For those who've been patiently waiting for Galaxy Unpacked, now's your chance to place a reservation on a new Galaxy device with a free $30 credit. It's a win-win for those who are ready for an upgrade.
Presidents' Day is less than a week away, but Best Buy isn't waiting for the long weekend. The official sale is already live and runs through Feb. 16, meaning you can grab discounts on Apple, Sony, and Samsung right now.
A quick heads-up: Amazon is matching most of these prices, so your decision really comes down to shipping speed. I combed through the listings to find the best deals on TVs, laptops, and headphones you can shop now.
Best TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Insignia 55-inch Insignia Class F50 Series LED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV $179.99 at Best BuyInsignia is Best Buy’s house brand, and while people love to hate on generic labels, the 55-inch Insignia Class F50 Series has a pretty good track record. It's known for being budget-friendly, but it doesn't lack in performance. I'm considering buying this for my living room because the price is right and it hits all the specs I want, like DTS Virtual-X audio and Fire TV integration. It currently holds a 4.7-star rating across thousands of reviews on Best Buy and Amazon, proving that you don't need a premium nameplate to get a reliable, wall-mountable smart TV.
More TV deals24-inch Insignia Class F20 Series LED HD Smart Fire TV — $59.99 $79.99 (save $20)
32-inch Insignia Class F20 Series LED HD Smart Fire TV — $79.99 $129.99 (save $50)
43-inch TCL Class F35 Series 4K UHD HDR LED Smart Fire TV (2025) — $139.99 $249.99 (save $110)
55-inch LG Class UA7050 Series LED AI 4K UHD Smart webOS TV (2025) — $249.99 $389.99 (save $140)
65-inch Samsung Class U7900 Series UHD 4K Smart Tizen TV (2025) — $329.99 $469.99 (save $140)
75-inch Samsung Class U7900 Series UHD 4K SMart Tizen TV (2025) — $449.99 $649.99 (save $200)
Shop more Presidents' Day TV deals at Best Buy.
Best laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo 16-inch Yoga 7i 2-in-1 (Intel Core Ultra 7 155U, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $649.99 at Best BuyThe Yoga 7i gives you enough screen real estate for multitasking while also being portable enough to throw in your bag, and the 360-degree hinge lets you prop it up for movies without the keyboard getting in the way. At $400 off, the specs are hard to beat: you get the snappy Intel Core Ultra 7 and a 1TB SSD, which is double the storage you typically see in this price bracket. It's a little heavy to use as a handheld tablet for long, but as a flexible workstation, it’s solid.
More laptop dealsHP 14-inch Chromebook (Intel Celeron N4500, 4GB RAM, 64GB eMMC) — $139 $329 (save $190)
HP 15.6-inch Full HD Touch-Screen Laptop (AMD Ryzen 5 752OU, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $319.99 $599.99 (save $280)
Samsung 15.6-inch Galaxy Book4 (Intel Core 7, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $499.99 $899.99 (save $400)
Apple 13-inch MacBook Air (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $899 $999 (save $100)
Shop more Presidents' Day laptop deals at Best Buy.
Best headphone deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 3 $209.99 at Best BuyRead our full review of the Apple AirPods Pro 3.
There's a reason we named these the "Best AirPods" in our 2026 headphone roundup. Apple claims the noise cancellation is twice as powerful as the previous generation, and our testing backs that up — reviewer Adam Doud found they could silence a crowded room instantly. They also feature a new built-in heart rate monitor and live translation, making them a major functional upgrade over the Pro 2. At $40 off, they're an easy buy.
More headphone dealsJBL Tune 245NC — $59.95 $179.99 (save $50)
Apple AirPods 4 (without ANC) — $99.99 $129.99 (save $30)
Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 — $129.99 $179.99 (save $50)
Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC) — $139.99 $179.99 (save $40)
Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro — $199.99 $249.99 (save $50)
Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) — $449.99 $549.99 (save $100)
Take a New York Minute to Review Your Recovery Plan Don Henley is right: everything can change in a New York...
I Lost all of my Photos In every disaster I have ever responded to from here to...
Boston's most important responders: Bostonians The people of Boston are to be congratulated for being...
3 Values Your Business Continuity Plan Should Have Your business lives with risk every day from competitors...
Take a New York Minute to Review Your Recovery Plan Don Henley is right: everything can change in a New York...
Digital Privacy: A Catch 22 Mobility, convenience, accessibility and real-...
3 Values Your Business Continuity Plan Should Have Your business lives with risk every day from competitors...
I Lost all of my Photos In every disaster I have ever responded to from here to...