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Like any other dating app, Feeld isn't perfect. Feeld users have complained about bugs, fake profiles, and bad behavior. What the "dating app for the curious" has going for it that others don't, however, is the plethora of kinky and non-monogamous users. This makes it perfect to partner with Dr. Justin Lehmiller, fellow at Indiana University's sex research center the Kinsey Institute, for insights about sex, gender, and kink.

In a new survey of 3,310 Feeld users aged 18 to 77 from 71 different countries (including the U.S., UK, Canada, and the Netherlands), Feeld and Kinsey research fellow Lehmiller found that Gen Z in particular has both traditional and kinky desires.

SEE ALSO: Predictions for sex in the future that some will love — and some will hate Gen Z fantasizes about monogamy...

In another broad sample of people — 4,175 Americans aged 18 to 88 — Lehmiller found that 81 percent of Gen Z reported fantasizing about monogamy, while 44 percent said they fantasized about it often. Gen Z was also least likely to fantasize about being in an open relationship; 62 percent said they'd have that fantasy, and only 18 percent have it often.

For older generations (there wasn't much difference across boomers, Gen X, and millennials), 71 percent fantasize about monogamy and 23 to 27 percent fantasize about it often. Meanwhile, 75 to 80 percent of these generations have fantasized about an open relationship, with 31 to 32 percent fantasizing about it often.

Among Feeld users (the app calls them "Members"), monogamy was the single most preferred relationship type among Gen Z. For millennials and Gen X, non-monogamy was most preferred, and for boomers, it was friends with benefits.

Feeld and Lehmiller theorized this could be because older adults have more experience with monogamy — and since humans are drawn to novelty, they want something new and fresh. For Gen Z, though, that could very well be a relationship with one person. Many came of age during lockdown, meaning they have less IRL dating experience and are less confident daters. At the same time, Hinge found earlier this year that Gen Z is more "romantically idealistic" than millennials. In the survey of over 4,000 Americans, however, nearly half of Gen Z reported that they were single.

Young people are having less sex, too. In the same survey Lehmiller conducted, the median number of times millennials and Gen X reported having sex in the last month was five. For both Gen Z and boomers, the median was lower: three times. Over a third (37 percent) of Gen Z reported having no sex in the last month, considerably less than 19 percent of millennials and 17 percent of Gen X who reported the same.

...but is also pretty kinky

While they're fantasizing about more traditional relationship styles (and not having much sex), Gen Z is apparently getting kinkier as well. In Feeld's survey, Gen Z members were most likely (55 percent) to say they've discovered a new kink since getting on the app. That number dropped to 49 percent of millennials, 39 percent of Gen X, and 33 percent of boomer users.

SEE ALSO: KinkTok is rife with misinformation. Here's why that's dangerous.

Gen Z was also most likely to report having BDSM fantasies (56 percent) according to data by both Feeld and Lehmiller, compared to 52 percent of millennials, 31 percent of Gen X, and 12 percent of boomers. Feeld contributed this to the proliferation of porn as well as the lack of sex education as a possible reason for this, along with the mainstreaming of kink (like the Fifty Shades series) and less societal kink shaming overall.

More research is needed as to why Gen Z is seemingly kinkier than older generations in some ways, while not actually having much sex. Perhaps it's not only due to porn but also the wealth of information online about different types of sex, such as on KinkTok. At the same time, it can be difficult to find someone IRL who shares the same desires as you — and also difficult to push through the awkwardness of IRL encounters. Fantasy, however, is easy.

No matter the reason, Feeld will surely keep us abreast with the latest sex and kink research.

Stephen Colbert mocked Trump's rambling style of public speaking during "The Late Show" on Tuesday.

Spotify is expanding its listening data-generated "daylist" to even more users, so I won't be the only one playing something as niche as a "demure power ballad Wednesday morning," "scream writer Monday evening," or "laurel canyon classic folk Friday afternoon" playlist around here.

The audio streaming company launched its personalised, ever-changing playlist in January in select markets, then rolled it out to 65 more markets in March. Now, Spotify is making "daylists" available to all free and paying Premium users — that's 180 markets in total at this point.

But most interestingly, the feature will be supported in 14 new languages (it was previously only available in English).

SEE ALSO: Here are the 5 songs of the summer, according to Spotify

According to Spotify's blog post, the "daylist" now comes in Arabic, Catalan, French (Canada), French (France), German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish (Spain), Spanish (Mexico), and Turkish. The company gave examples of daylists such as "pazartesi sabah etiyopya caz enstrümantal funk" (Ethiopian jazz instrumental funk Monday morning) and "afrofuturisme funk moderne du mercredi après-midi" (modern funk afrofuturism Wednesday afternoon), two playlists I would personally love someone to send me.

"Our product team worked closely with our local music and culture experts to infuse the spirit of daylist into each language, ensuring that the feature resonates with new users worldwide," reads Spotify's blog post.

You can find your "daylist" on Spotify in the "Made for You" section in the app or on Spotify's web browser. The feature changes for morning, afternoon, and night, and is AI-generated using your listening data, much like Spotify's Niche Mixes and AI DJ — which just launched in Spanish.

A guy — we'll call him David but that's not his real name — just sent me a picture of his cat with a couple of small kittens by its side over Instagram DMs. "My cat gave birth a couple of weeks ago and had kittens," he tells me in a reply to one of my stories, a picture of my dog. It would be fair for you to think I know this person, but I don't. It's just some guy who replies to absolutely everything I post, both publicly and privately, even though he never gets a response. Above his cat, who is admittedly very cute, I can see the trail of unanswered messages spanning months, maybe even a year, behind this one. 

I wonder if I should reply to him. He's sent me so many messages, some of them detailed, and I've never replied beyond a sympathetic double-tap like here and an awkward "cheers mate!" there. Perhaps I should give him an actual response. 

But then I wonder if I should block him instead, because replying to everything a stranger does when you're not getting anything back is honestly a bit weird. 

Having a reply guy is pretty stressful. If you're unfamiliar with the phrase, it's like it sounds. A guy who replies. A guy who replies all the time. The reply guy is usually a man, and a woman seems to be the usual target, and they're a confusing phenomenon. 

What do the reply guys want? Are they flirting, trying to make friends, or do they have ill intentions? What led them to think incessant replying was a good way to do any of those things? What should we do about them — date them, tell them to piss off, or leave them to keep adding to your engagement rate? 

SEE ALSO: Why some people on dating apps just want to be 'pen pals'

To better understand reply guys, Mashable enlisted the help of relationship therapists who detailed why reply guys do so much replying in the first place, and what we should do when faced with one. 

Why are reply guys like this? 

Ayo Adesioye, a therapist at the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy describes a reply guy as someone who identifies a person of interest — often a woman — and consistently responds to their posts on social media. 

While not all interactions are problematic, the reply guy's behaviour is often intrusive, inappropriate, or irrelevant. 

"This is a pattern of behaviour that is persistent, intrusive, unwanted, and often, as we're about to see, masks a number of unmet needs."

"This is a pattern of behaviour that is persistent, intrusive, unwanted, and often, as we're about to see, masks a number of unmet needs," she explains. These needs, Adesioye believes, stem from a lack of emotional literacy, particularly among men. Many men struggle to identify and express their emotions or needs, leading them to seek validation and attention in ways that aren't always socially appropriate. Replying to every single post is, for them, a way to fulfil these unmet needs, even if they're not entirely aware of it.

The motivations behind a reply guy's behaviour can vary. Some are genuinely attempting to initiate a romantic connection, viewing their replies as a form of online dating. However, this strategy often falls short. 

Eloise Skinner, psychotherapist and author of But Are You Alive? tells Mashable, "When we decide who to date, it's normally based on a mix of characteristics: personality, background, appearance, sense of humour, general compatibility, etc." The problem with reply guys, she points out, is that they don't provide a context where these characteristics can be explored. Their interactions are reactive and one-sided, making it difficult to build a meaningful connection.

It's hard to understand exactly what your reply guy is looking to gain. Skinner explains there are lots of potential motivations behind the reply guy, but a consistent one might be a desire for attention. "The act of replying puts their voice into the conversation, and makes them more visible in the comments sections or DMs," she says. 

She adds that more specific reasons might include a desire for involvement, community or connection, a sense of expertise in the subject matter or a desire to contribute to a conversation, or a desire for closeness or intimacy with someone, or a group of people.

But there's also a darker side to the reply guy phenomenon. Adesioye suggests that some reply guys might be motivated by a desire for power and control. The mansplaining, condescension, and unsolicited advice that often accompany their comments can be indicative of this. "On the less benign end of the spectrum, some may be motivated by a desire for power and control," she warns. This behaviour is not just about getting attention; it's about asserting dominance in a space where they feel they have some authority.

H2: So, should you date your reply guy? 

Both Adesioye and Skinner advise caution. There are some success stories out there. For instance, 42-year-old estate agent Ellen tells Mashable she met her partner because he was her reply guy. “The constant replying made me realise he was trying to get my attention and I asked him out. We have a great relationship that’s been going seven years now. No regrets,” she says. And the same can be said for 28-year-old copywriter Katherine, who tells Mashable she hooked up with her reply guy and it was the “best sex of my entire life”. 

Adesioye says that even though some have used it as a method of online dating, her suggestion is not to entertain reply guys because the persistence and one-sided nature of a reply guy's behaviour can carry over into a relationship, potentially leading to issues down the line.

Should you block them, ghost them, or confront them? 

If you're not interested in dating your reply guy, the question then becomes how to handle them. Should you block them, ghost them, or confront them? 

Skinner believes it depends on the individual and the situation. "For women who feel like it doesn't bother them, and if they feel safe or comfortable with the dynamic... it might be okay to leave it without acknowledgement," she says. However, for those who find the behaviour intrusive or uncomfortable, blocking is a perfectly acceptable strategy. Instagram, for example, now offers a "block all accounts" option, allowing you to block someone without them even knowing across all of their accounts as well as new accounts they may make in the future.

Adesioye, however, suggests a more hands-off approach: "Muting/ignoring/not communicating about the obsessive reply is the best strategy as what they're seeking is a response or some form of engagement from you that, once offered, may be difficult to extract yourself from." Reply guys may lack self-awareness, so even a gentle confrontation might not have the desired effect. The best approach might be to simply ignore them and hope they lose interest over time.

What if the replying gets weird?

Being a woman online is scary and sometimes this behaviour can escalate to online sexual harassment, something 38 percent of women across 51 countries have experienced according to a study by the UN. Both experts agree that your safety and well-being should always come first. 

SEE ALSO: The best dating apps and sites in September 2024

Skinner advises that if you feel targeted or harassed, you should block or mute the person, report their behaviour if necessary, and seek support from friends or platform administrators. Unfortunately, only 1 in 4 women are found to report their sexual harassment to the platform moderators or to the authorities.  "It's important that you remember you're not responsible for taking care of them or the situation" she emphasises. "Your comfort and safety are key, and it's okay to prioritise your own well-being over someone else's feelings."

While reply guys might seem harmless at first, their behaviour can quickly become intrusive or even problematic. Whether you choose to engage, deter, or ignore them, it's essential to be mindful of your boundaries and prioritise your own comfort and safety. Make your next move based on what you want, not what you think you might owe someone. Many of us learn the hard way that not every online interaction is worth your time.

Stephen King clearly has the Dark Tower on his mind in a big way.

The author has been posting on X (formerly Twitter) about his eight-book series for the past few weeks, seemingly hinting that another story could be on the horizon.

The problem? His posts were about as vague as it's possible to get. Or at least they were up until yesterday.

SEE ALSO: The best Stephen King books to read depending on your mood

On Tuesday, the horror legend finally dropped a hint about what a return to Mid-World might look like.

"I think maybe Mejis, beside the Clean Sea. And America-side," posted King, in response to a fan sharing his previous posts and asking "Where are you taking us?". "I can't stop thinking about Mid-World."

Tweet may have been deleted

Mejis, to recap, is a key location in the fourth Dark Tower novel, Wizard and Glass. It's the place main character Roland Deschain travels to in his youth in what is essentially an undercover mission, to find out about the movements of political enemy John Farson. "America-side" refers to "our" world, which in King's novels overlaps and intersects with Roland Deschain's world.

The indication from King's latest post is that he hasn't started writing anything yet — he's still in the idea phase. So if we do get to return to the Dark Tower universe, it likely won't be for a while (unless Mike Flanagan's TV adaptation gets there first, of course).

One of the best reasons to buy a Tesla over another EV is Tesla's vast Supercharging network. And while most U.S. car manufacturers have adopted the standard via a dongle, Hyundai's new Ioniq 5 is one of the first that does it natively.

On the outside, the latest Ioniq 5 isn't that different from its predecessor; the biggest visual changes come in the form of the new, rugged, Ioniq 5 XRT version, which comes with a number of details that scream "off-road."

Need something a bit more rugged? You can opt for the new Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT. Credit: Hyundai

But inside, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 has improvements in all the right places. The Standard Range models now have a 64kWh battery (up from 58 on the previous model), while the Long Range models have an 84kWh battery (up from 77.4 on the previous model). This translates into 240+ miles of range for the RWD, SE Standard Range variant, 310+ miles of range for the RWD SE/SEL/Limited models, and 250+ to 280+ miles of range for the AWD models, depending on trim, wheel, and tire size.

No more dongles. Credit: Hyundai

Another nice touch is the native Supercharging. Instead of having to use a dongle, you can just plug the new Ioniq 5 into a Tesla Supercharger, which is great because dongles are annoying. If you want to go the other way and connect the new Ioniq 5 to a CCS plug, you'll have to use the (included) dongle.

Interior changes include physical, heated front seat controls. Credit: Hyundai

Other details include new, more aerodynamic wheels, new steering wheel design, heated rear seats on some trims, and a bunch of safety improvements; check out the full list on Hyundai's website.

The new Ioniq 5 will be manufactured at Hyundai's new facility in Georgia, with deliveries starting in the fourth quarter of 2024. It should be eligible for a $3,750 U.S. tax credit, with leases continuing to quality for the $7,500 credit, but exact pricing for the new version hasn't yet been revealed.

In 2022, journalist Alexi Mostrous investigated the story of Kirat Assi, a 29-year-old London radio broadcaster who was romantically catfished for eight years in one of the most complex cases of false identity you'll ever hear. Tortoise Media's resulting true crime podcast Sweet Bobby saw millions tuning in. And now, Assi's story will be re-examined on Netflix.

Announced by the streaming service on Wednesday, the case at the heart of Sweet Bobby will be explored in a new documentary. It's being directed by Lyttanya Shannon (who directed BBC's exceptional, Steve McQueen-produced documentary Subnormal: A British Scandal), and produced by Raw and Kiran Sira (Murder, Mystery and My Family), and executive produced by Rebecca North (Netflix's American Nightmare).

SEE ALSO: 10 best true crime podcasts about scammers

Like the podcast, the documentary will trace how Assi met a man called "Bobby" on Facebook and formed a deep friendship and romantic relationship with him that would become controlling and manipulative. The whole time, Assi was being catfished — as Mashable's Chance Townsend defines it, "the act of creating a fake profile on social media or dating platforms to deceive others, often using someone else's pictures and information to create a false identity."

But who Bobby actually was would be a mind-boggling truth involving over 60 invented characters — and a deeply devastating revelation for Assi.

"It was a slow destruction of everything I had. Bobby targeted every part of my life – my career, my dreams, my hopes, my relationship with family, with friends, my studies," Assi told the Guardian in 2022. "I could have met someone real, had a baby during that time. But the other impact has been on my mental and physical health."

As CNN reported this year, "In the UK, while catfishing itself is not classified as a criminal offense, if the person using a fake profile engages in illegal activities, like financial gain or harassment, they can be punished by law."

Netflix hasn't announced a date for Sweet Bobby yet. Until then, here's our picks of the best true crime documentaries on Netflix.

Another Stephen King story adaptation is on its way, and it sounds like the author himself is a big fan of this one.

On Tuesday we got some first look images and more information about The Life of Chuck, Mike Flanagan's adaptation of the horror author's novella of the same name, courtesy of Vanity Fair.

SEE ALSO: Every single Stephen King movie adaptation, ranked

King's description of the finished result? "A happiness machine."

It's not often you'd think of King adaptations and "happiness" in the same sentence, but The Life of Chuck isn't really a horror story — the novella is more of an offbeat surreal mystery in the vein of Being John Malkovich, in which a man called Marty suddenly begins seeing the same image appearing everywhere of a stranger called Chuck.

To say more would be to spoil the story, which is available in King's "If It Bleeds" collection. Tom Hiddleston, Karen Gillan, and Mark Hamill star in the adaptation. Flanagan, who wrote and directed it, has plenty of prior King form: He's previously adapted Gerald's Game and Doctor Sleep, and is currently working on bringing The Dark Tower to the screen.

The Life of Chuck's release date is TBC.

TL;DR: Live stream the Scotland vs. Australia T20 international series for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

We know that cricket isn't for everyone, but can we all agree that T20 cricket is a lot of fun? Test cricket obviously has a place in the world of sport, and a lot of dedicated fans will always appreciate this traditional form of the game. But T20 cricket is for absolutely everyone. It's fast, fun, and available to watch for free.

If you want to watch the Scotland vs. Australia T20 international series for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Scotland vs. Australia?

The Scotland vs. Australia T20 international series takes place on the following dates:

• Scotland vs. Australia (T20 1 of 3) — 2 p.m. BST on Sept. 4

• Scotland vs. Australia (T20 2 of 3) — 2 p.m. BST on Sept. 6

• Scotland vs. Australia (T20 3 of 3) — 2 p.m. BST on Sept. 7

The good news is that every match is available to live stream for free.

How to watch Scotland vs. Australia for free

The Scotland vs. Australia T20 international series is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can access free live streams on BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the Scotland vs. Australia T20 international series by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Stream Scotland vs. Australia for free from anywhere in the world

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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 Scotland vs. Australia without committing with your cash. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream the T20 international series before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• 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 the Scotland vs. Australia T20 international series for free with ExpressVPN.

Haliey Welch, the internet star behind that viral "Hawk Tuah" video, is launching her own podcast.

On Monday Welch took to social media to announce the (undeniably brilliantly named) Talk Tuah.

SEE ALSO: Watch Hawk Tuah Girl's first video interview on Brianna Chickenfry's podcast

"I'm Haliey Welch," she says in the announcement video. "A little while ago my life took a complete left turn and it changed forever, and along the way I realised that everybody's entitled to their own opinion. Well now, it's my time to talk. Check out my podcast every week, Talk Tuah, where I'm sitting down with the coolest guests and having actual conversations with them."

Tweet may have been deleted

The podcast is launching with Jake Paul's sports betting company Betr. At the time of writing Talk Tuah's official YouTube channel has a little over 5,000 subscribers. There's no word yet on who the guests will be, but we'll find out soon enough.

Now that its technology is showing it can work on city streets, Alphabet, which owns Waymo, plans to invest billions more.

TL;DR: For $69, you can get a lifetime subscription to SiteGuru and start optimizing your website for better search engine rankings.

Getting your website noticed online can feel like a full-time job, especially if you’re not an SEO expert. But what if you had a tool that could simplify the whole process? That’s where SiteGuru comes in. With a lifetime subscription on sale for $69, this SEO specialist tool is designed to help you optimize your site, improve your search engine rankings, and ultimately drive more traffic — all without the headaches.

SiteGuru breaks down the complex world of SEO into actionable steps, making it easier for you to understand what your site needs to rank higher on search engines like Google. It provides detailed audits that highlight areas for improvement, from broken links to slow page speeds. Plus, it offers tailored advice on how to fix these issues, so you can make the changes that matter most.

With this subscription, you'll have the ability to track your site’s progress over time. You can monitor how your improvements are impacting your rankings and traffic, allowing you to see the direct benefits of your SEO efforts. And because it’s a lifetime subscription, you’ll have access to these insights whenever you need them, without worrying about recurring fees.

Whether you’re a small business owner, a blogger, or just someone looking to grow their online presence, this tool could be your key to unlocking more traffic and better rankings.

For $69, SiteGuru offers this lifetime deal as a cost-effective way to take control of your website’s SEO and start seeing real results.

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TL;DR: For $29.99, you can secure 1TB of cloud storage with FolderFort’s Pro Plan and keep your digital life safe for a whole year.

We all know that feeling — scrolling through your phone, and suddenly you realize your storage is full, just when you were about to save that perfect cat meme. But what if you had 1TB of space to stash all those precious digital treasures? With FolderFort’s 1TB Pro Plan, you can keep every meme, photo, and important file safe in the cloud for just $19.99.

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TL;DR: For $379.99, score a refurbished MacBook Pro with a 3.1GHz i5 processor, 512GB SSD, and the surprisingly useful Touch Bar.

Let’s stir the pot a little — the Touch Bar on the MacBook Pro is one of those features that’s easy to overlook but genuinely useful once you give it a shot. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just someone who appreciates a little extra convenience, this 2017 MacBook Pro could quickly become your favorite piece of tech — on sale for $379.99 (reg. $1,499) for a limited time.

With a 3.1GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage, it’s built to handle your daily grind with ease.

The Touch Bar adds a layer of customization to your workflow that you might not have known you needed. From volume sliders to quick access tools in Photoshop, the possibilities are endless — and customizable to boot. Plus, Touch ID makes logging in or making purchases a breeze, without the hassle of passwords.

This MacBook Pro doesn’t skimp on the essentials either. The Retina display is as stunning as ever, making everything from photo editing to Netflix binging look crisp and vibrant. And since it’s refurbished with an "A" grade (meaning it's near-mint), you get all this power and functionality for a smaller price tag than buying one brand-new.

So, why not give the Touch Bar a chance? This MacBook Pro might just surprise you in all the right ways. 

Get a refurbished 2017 13-inch Apple MacBook Pro with a Touch Bar on sale for $379.99 for a limited time.

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1minAI leverages advanced AI models to assist with creative tasks, making it easier to overcome writer’s block and improve content quality. Whether you’re drafting a blog post, rewriting existing content, or fine-tuning your SEO strategy, 1minAI provides tools that help you get the job done faster and more efficiently. However, like any AI tool, it’s important to remember that while 1minAI can handle a lot, human oversight and editing are still essential to ensure your content hits the mark.

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With a lifetime subscription to a 1minAI Pro Plan for just $39.99, you’ve basically got nothing to lose — except maybe that writer’s block.

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The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Wednesday, September 4, 2024:

AcrossUnwanted emails

• The answer is spam.

Glam rock?

• The answer is geode.

Symbol on an "I'm With Stupid" shirt

• The answer is arrow.

What a fitness tracker counts

• The answer is steps.

Future's opposite

• The answer is past.

DownBig name in mattresses

• The answer is Serta.

Distinctive features of a sponge

• The answer is pores.

Take into one's family

• The answer is adopt.

Cries from a kitten

• The answer is mews.

[I'm shocked ... shocked!]

• The answer is gasp.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Mini Crossword.

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for September 4 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for September 4 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: American beauty

These words are quite the sites.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The answers all relate to national parks.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram starts vertically and finishes horizontally.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is NationalParks.

NYT Strands word list for September 4

• Redwood

• Arches

• NationalParks

• Glacier

• Saguaro

• Badlands

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.

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As common as PDFs are, they can be a hassle to work with. Part of their appeal is that they keep their style and formatting, even when transferring between devices or viewed with different programs. But that compatibility also means you need specialised software to adjust PDFs, and a reliable PDF editing app can be hard to find.

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Image-based PDFs are also a walk in the park for this app. UPDF Pro utilises optical character recognition (OCR) to transform images into PDFs with editable text. Finally, you can organise multi-page files by adding, deleting, or rotating pages, rearranging their order, splitting them into separate files, or pasting additional images. 

Make PDFs your favourite file type 

With UPDF Pro, working with PDFs doesn't have to be complicated. For a limited time, you can purchase a lifetime subscription to UPDF Pro for £38.15 (reg. £114.45).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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TL;DR: Live stream Haddad Maia vs. Muchova in the 2024 US Open for free on 9Now or TVNZ+. Access these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Reaching the quarter-final stage of the US Open is a real achievement, but once you're there, the focus must be on winning the whole thing. Haddad Maia and Muchova are meeting in an interesting quarter-final battle, with both players surely dreaming of going all the way.

If you want to watch Haddad Maia vs. Muchova in the 2024 US Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Haddad Maia vs. Muchova in the 2024 US Open for free

Fans can live stream the 2024 US Open for free on these platforms:

• Australia — 9Now

• New Zealand — TVNZ+

These streaming services are geo-blocked, but anyone from around the world can access these sites with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other countries, meaning you can unblock 9Now and TVNZ+ from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2024 US Open by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia or New Zealand

4. Visit 9Now or TVNZ+

5. Watch Haddad Maia vs. Muchova in the 2024 US Open for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of Haddad Maia vs. Muchova without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch every US Open match before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the US Open?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the US Open for free, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia and New Zealand

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Haddad Maia vs. Muchova in the 2024 US Open for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Swiatek vs. Pegula in the 2024 US Open for free on 9Now or TVNZ+. Access these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The US Open is reaching its conclusion, with only a handful of players left competing for the prize. The defending champion Coco Gauff is out of the women's draw, leaving the door open for the likes of Swiatek. The Polish star is looking to win the US Open for the second time, but home favorite Jessica Pegula stands in her way.

If you want to watch Swiatek vs. Pegula in the 2024 US Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Swiatek vs. Pegula in the 2024 US Open for free

Fans can live stream the 2024 US Open for free on these platforms:

• Australia — 9Now

• New Zealand — TVNZ+

These streaming services are geo-blocked, but anyone from around the world can access these sites with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other countries, meaning you can unblock 9Now and TVNZ+ from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2024 US Open by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia or New Zealand

4. Visit 9Now or TVNZ+

5. Watch Swiatek vs. Pegula in the 2024 US Open for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of Swiatek vs. Pegula without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch every US Open match before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the US Open?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the US Open for free, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia and New Zealand

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Swiatek vs. Pegula in the 2024 US Open for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.