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Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for July 26's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
What is Connections?The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
Tweet may have been deletedEach puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
Tweet may have been deletedPlayers can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for July 26 Here's a hint for today's Connections categoriesWant a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Konami Code members
Green: Providing a boost
Blue: Not a plus
Purple: Sounds like sounders
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Basic directions
Green: Advocate for
Blue: Drawback
Purple: Instrument homophones
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 #410 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayBasic directions: DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, UP
Advocate for: BACK, CHAMPION, ENDORSE, SUPPORT
Drawback: CON, DING, MINUS, STRIKE
Instrument homphones: BASE, LIAR, LOOT, SYMBOL
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.
Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections.
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Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.
By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for July 26 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for July 26If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.
NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Go for the goldThe words cover a variety of events.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explainedThe hint describes Olympic sports.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.
NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is Olympics.
NYT Strands word list for July 26Karate
Track
Golf
Olympics
Swimming
Archery
Equestrian
Looking for other daily online games? Find one you might like – or hints for another game you're already playing – on Mashable's Games page.
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: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for July 26 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for July 26Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Friday, July 26, 2024:
AcrossHighly praisesThe answer is lauds.
The answer is ownup.
The answer is Padma.
The answer is ekeby.
The answer is zeros.
The answer is Lopez.
The answer is awake.
The answer is Under.
The answer is Dumbo.
The answer is spays.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
TL;DR: Watch the Olympics 2024 opening ceremony on NBC, Peacock, and NBC platforms, including NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com, the NBC app, and the NBC Olympics app.
The Olympics is the biggest sports event in the world, an elite showcase that unites nations from all around the globe. Winning an Olympics medal — gold, silver, or bronze — truly is the pinnacle of athletic competition.
This Olympics 2024 are hosted by Paris, France, with opening ceremony set to take place along the River Seine — right in the heart of the city. The opening ceremony is a must-watch spectacle that kicks off the very best in track, field, and indoors sports.
This marks the first time in Olympics history that the opening ceremony will be held outside of a stadium. It will include 10,500 athletes, who are joined by around 3,000 actors, dancers, and musicians. It promises to have something for everyone. You don't even need to be a sports fan to enjoy it.
Don't miss the celebrations — the entire world will be watching
When is the Olympics 2024 opening ceremony?The Olympics 2024 opening ceremony takes place from 1:30 p.m. ET on July 26. The ceremony will last for more than three hours.
Athletes will begin the parade at the Austerlitz Bridge, then travel east to west along the River Seine in boats, before finishing at the Trocadéro.
How to watch the Olympics 2024 opening ceremonyThe Olympics 2024 opening ceremony is available to watch on NBC and live stream on Peacock, NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com, the NBC app, and the NBC Olympics app.
A preview will begin on NBC at 12.00 p.m. ET, with an enhanced prime time encore shown at 7:30 p.m. ET.
TL;DR: Through July 28 only, you can get a lifetime subscription to the iScanner app for iOS on sale for £23.31 (£155.80), saving you 85% on list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: BP Mobile iScanner (Lifetime Subscription) £23.31 at the Mashable ShopWhether you need a digital copy of a book or to send in some late homework for uni, a scanner can be a great tool. But with your laptop, smartphone, earbuds, and other gadgets, not everyone has the budget for a dedicated scanner. iScanner is an iOS app that turns your iPhone into a scanner, letting you create high-quality scans and PDFs in seconds.
This is your chance to get a lifetime subscription to iScanner while it’s 85% off. As of July 22, this app has been marked down to just £23.31. And in addition to the app itself, you'll also get 200 MB of cloud storage included with your purchase.
It can't do your homework for you, but this app can at least make it easier to submit, make digital copies of readings from class, and quickly share files with your mates and teachers. iScanner is an OCR scanner, meaning it can recognise text from almost any scannable object. The benefit here is that you can basically take a picture of a page and turn it into a searchable document.
Once a document is scanned, users can edit, e-sign it, or even add stamps. iScanner’s editing features are great for refreshing an old document into a new print. Colour correct, remove curves and warps, and minimise noise with a few clicks. Store scans as multipage PDFs or JPEG files that are easy to share, or add a password and protect confidential scans behind a PIN.
Documents aren’t the only thing iScanner can read. Point it at a passport or ID and get a digital copy in moments. iScanner even counts similar objects and can solve typed or handwritten math equations. Use the area measurement feature to find out just how much room there actually is in a dorm or flat.
Scan a paper or a room with this versatile iOS app. Get a lifetime subscription to iScanner for your iPhone or iPad for just £23.31 (reg. £155.80) — no coupon needed.
Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) is no stranger to the art of the end-credit scene. Take his Ferris Bueller cosplay in Deadpool, or his time-travel rampage in Deadpool 2. Yeah, he's already a pro at this.
For the Merc with a Mouth's first end-credit scene as an official part of the MCU, Deadpool & Wolverine doesn't tease any upcoming Marvel movies or unveil wild new cameos. Instead, it pays off a gag from earlier in the movie — complete with some next-level foul-mouthed language.
SEE ALSO: All Marvel Cinematic Universe movies ranked worst to best What happens in the Deadpool & Wolverine post-credits scene? Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman in "Deadpool & Wolverine." Credit: Jay Maidment 20th Century Studios / MARVELAfter the credits roll on Deadpool & Wolverine — accompanied by behind-the-scenes footage from prior Fox Marvel projects — we rejoin Deadpool at the Time Variance Authority's headquarters. He tells us he's had it with the accusations that he got Johnny Storm (Chris Evans) killed in an encounter with Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin).
Remember, in that first meeting, Deadpool told Cassandra that Johnny went off on a nasty tirade about her. The insults sound like something straight out of the Deadpool playbook, so of course it seems like Deadpool is throwing Johnny under the bus.
Turns out, Deadpool did not utter a single lie.
SEE ALSO: There's a new Deadpool Xbox controller — and it has butt cheeksIn the post-credit scene, Deadpool uses TVA technology to revisit his journey to Cassandra's lair with Johnny and Wolverine. We see Johnny deliver the anti-Cassandra rant word for word, including a bit at the end about how she could rip his skin off and reduce him to a pile of organs. Looks like he got his wish!
Even though Evans is playing Johnny Storm in this moment, Deadpool & Wolverine is banking on audiences primarily associating him with the role of Captain America to get the biggest laugh here. Remember the guy who called out Tony Stark's (Robert Downey Jr.) language? Now he's saying someone can "lick [his] cinnamon ring." What a difference several years and a billion-dollar acquisition makes.
But wait, what happened to Thor in Deadpool & Wolverine?This is a fairly straightforward end-credit scene, but it is somewhat confusing that Deadpool & Wolverine chooses to revisit this moment instead of paying off a gag from the first half-hour of the movie.
When Mr. Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen) first shows Deadpool scenes from the MCU at the TVA, we get a glimpse of a crying Thor (Chris Hemsworth) holding a fallen Deadpool in his arms. Deadpool asks about it, but Paradox orders him not to get ahead of himself. Surely that means we'll get a Thor scene later, right? Right?
Wrong! Thor is nowhere else to be found in the rest of Deadpool & Wolverine, not even in the end-credits scene. Is there a deleted scene out there? Is this 4D chess, teasing what's to come in a future Avengers movie? Or did Deadpool & Wolverine just forget to give one of its many jokes a punchline? For now, we're going to guess the latter.
If you thought Spider-Man: No Way Home or Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness were the most cameo-filled an MCU movie could get, think again. Deadpool & Wolverine has gone all out to claim the cameo crown.
The cameos here are only possible thanks to Disney's $71.3 billion acquisition of 21st Century Fox, which granted the MCU access to everything from Deadpool to the X-Men to the Fantastic Four. We've seen some of these characters pop up in other MCU projects before — shout-out to WandaVision for really getting the ball rolling — but not to this extent. In Deadpool & Wolverine, we're not just seeing the return of beloved X-Men. We're also seeing MCU actors reprise characters from other franchises, or even offer viewers a glimpse of how some of our favorite fancasts could have gone down.
Deadpool & Wolverine's cameo fest can be a lot to take in, just because of how much is going on, but we've got you covered.
Here's your guide to the biggest cameos in Deadpool & Wolverine, in chronological order.
Jon Favreau returns as Happy Hogan. Jon Favreau in "Iron Man 3." Credit: Marvel / Paramount / Kobal / ShutterstockThe honor of First Cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine goes to Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau), head of security at Stark Industries (and former chauffeur) who's appeared in the Iron Man movies, the Spider-Man movies, and Avengers: Endgame.
In a 2018-set scene, he rejects Wade Wilson's (Ryan Reynolds) application to become an Avenger. Sure, Deadpool wanted to meet Happy's boss. But Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) doesn't do cameos — sorry, meetings — anymore. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter
The returning Deadpool crew includes Vanessa, Peter, and Shatterstar. Rob Delaney in "Deadpool & Wolverine." Credit: Jay MaidmentSeveral supporting characters from the first Deadpool movies are back, but in such a small capacity they're basically glorified cameos. Coming together to celebrate Wade's birthday are his beloved Vanessa (Morena Baccarin), former X-Force wild card Peter (Rob Delaney), recurring roommate Blind Al (Leslie Uggams), X-Men recruit Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand), her girlfriend Yukio (Shioli Kutsuna), X-Men member Colossus (Stefan Kapičić), cab driver turned aspiring killer Dopinder (Karan Soni), and Buck (Randal Reeder), a regular at Deadpool's old haunt, Sister Margaret's School for Wayward Children.
SEE ALSO: All Marvel Cinematic Universe movies ranked worst to bestAlso back is Shatterstar (Lewis Tan), who died in the X Force debacle of Deadpool 2. Presumably, Wade revived the arrogant alien with Cable's (Josh Brolin) time machine (not that we saw that in the post-credits!) Where's the rest of the team, Wade? Did you pick and choose who lived and died? And where is Domino (Zazie Beetz), who survived the whole thing with luck on her side? — B.E.
Chris Hemsworth makes a brief and perplexing appearance as Thor. Chris Hemsworth in "Thor: Love and Thunder." Credit: Jasin BolandOur first real Avenger in Deadpool & Wolverine is none other than Thor (Chris Hemsworth), the god of thunder himself. Deadpool sees him on one of the screens at the TVA, holding a wounded Deadpool in a scene that looks remarkably similar to Loki's (Tom Hiddleston) death in Thor: The Dark World.
The TVA's Mr. Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen) shuts the screen off before we can see more of the scene, telling Deadpool not to get ahead of himself. But the movie never revisits that moment — not even in the end-credits scene! — leaving us without closure on Thor and Deadpool. — B.E.
Blink and you'll miss The Incredible Hulk.On Deadpool's quest across the multiverse to find a new Wolverine, he runs across a Logan who is mid-fight with The Incredible Hulk. Since we see so little of this version of the Hulk, it's unlikely to be any iteration we've seen in Marvel's films. Instead, this moment pays tribute to the classic match-up between Wolverine and the Hulk, which we've seen in comics like the Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk miniseries, and even the 2009 animated film Hulk Vs. — B.E.
Henry Cavill is Wolverine (aka Cavillerine).The DCEU's former Superman crosses over into the MCU in Deadpool & Wolverine, with Henry Cavill briefly showing up as a Wolverine variant. (This is the only one Jackman doesn't play in the film.) He shows up during Deadpool's hunt for a new Wolverine, and while nothing comes of this particular partnership, his presence is a bit of a mic drop for the rivalry between DC and Marvel. (The real question: Is his Wolverine more of a Man of Adamantium or a Man of Steel?) — B.E.
Chris Evans is back as Johnny Storm, The Human Torch. Chris Evans in "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer." Credit: 20th Century Fox / Marvel / Kobal / ShutterstockWhile at TVA headquarters, Deadpool sees Captain America in action on their screens, where snippets of past Avengers movies play out. But Chris Evans makes his first MCU appearance post-Endgame as his very first Marvel superhero outing.
With one "Flame on!" Evans' take on Johnny Storm (first seen in 2005's Fantastic Four) roars back to life. Sure, he's not around for long, but from the second he appears in the Void, it's clear Fox's Marvel characters are all back in play. Turns out that visiting the TVA's cosmic trash heap has some billion-dollar perks. — B.E.
Cassandra Nova's crew includes Sabertooth, Pyro, Azazel, and more. Emma Corrin in "Deadpool & Wolverine." Credit: Jay Maidment / 20th Century Studios / MARVELThe Void is where the TVA pitches variants it doesn't want mussing up its sacred timeline. In Deadpool & Wolverine, that means a motley crew of past X-Men foes, all united under the skull-probing fist of Charles Xavier's evil twin Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin). Riding up on the dumped Deadpool and Wolverine all Fury Road-style are X-Men's snarling Sabretooth (Tyler Mane) and tongue-slinging Toad (Ray Park), X2's fire-flinging Pyro (Aaron Stanford) and razor-fingered Lady Deathstrike (Kelly Hu), and X-Men: First Class' demonic Azazel (Jason Flemyng). Plus, they've got a version of the Juggernaut (not the one who got anally electrocuted in Deadpool 2). — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor
Giant Man is there too! Or he was... The Giant Man suit in "Deadpool & Wolverine." Credit: Screenshot: MarvelOccasionally Ant Man uses his Pym Particles to grow massive, like Scott (Paul Rudd) did in Captain America: Civil War. And apparently sometimes Giant Man gets pitched into the Void, where he dies and his husk of a supersuit becomes the fort of the nefarious Cassandra Nova. — K.P.
What is Alioth?Oh, hey, Alioth's here! You know, the Guardian of the Void first introduced in Loki Season 1, episode 5? No worries if you're not already an Alioth-head — all you need to know is that it's a big, smoky beast that eats whatever it comes across in the Void. Think of it as a very spooky trash disposal system. — B.E.
Jennifer Garner returns as Elektra. Jennifer Garner in "Elektra." Credit: Moviestore / ShutterstockThough this casting news was announced back in 2023, it was no less thrilling to see Garner dual-fisting twin sai in Deadpool & Wolverine. Long before Black Widow flirted with Tony Stark in the ugh that was Iron Man 2, Garner was a sexy superheroine who kicked butt with style. Back in the 2000s, Garner teamed up with Ben Affleck for Daredevil, where she co-starred as his tough-as-nails love interest, before headlining her own spin-off movie Elektra a few years later. While Affleck eventually joined the DCEU as Batman, Garner gets to throw down with a way less grim group of super friends. — K.P.
Wesley Snipes is back as Blade. Wesley Snipes in "Blade." Credit: Bruce Talamon / New Line / Kobal / ShutterstockThe Void isn't only for bad guys. When Deadpool and Wolverine battle to a breaking point in the wilderness, they're taken in by a kindly crew of four. And among them is the baddest vampire slayer the MCU has even known.
Beginning in 1998, Wesley Snipes played the eponymous dhampir across three movies: Blade, Blade II, and Blade: Trinity (in which Ryan Reynolds co-starred as Hannibal King!). Fans have been hoping for Blade to rise again for years. In 2019, the MCU promised a reboot that would recast the title role to Mahershala Ali. While Snipes publicly supported the move, affirming Ali would "do great" in the part, there's no denying the thrill of seeing Snipes himself back in the sunglasses and leather cloak. And while the reboot is still ostensibly set for 2025, it's been hitting snags along the way. — K.P.
Dafne Keen is all grown up but still our Laura/X-23. Dafne Keen in "Logan." Credit: 20th Century Fox / Everett / ShutterstockAs the teeny but ferocious clone/daughter of Wolverine in Logan, Laura awed audiences. Child actress Dafne Keen matched Jackman's intensity on-screen, whether she was pummeling goons or spitting out the names of her long-lost mutant friends. The actress went on to star in His Dark Materials and Star Wars series The Acolyte. But it's good for the soul to see her back with Jackman, growling and sharing hard truths over a campfire. — K.P.
Channing Tatum is Gambit at long last.The sheer chaos of this! The card-slinging hottie with a heavy Cajun accent has been a fan favorite in the X-Men animated series, but he kept being excluded from the movies. While Tatum has been rumored to be attached to the part since the 2000s, it just never worked out. In 2009's loathed X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Gambit finally made the cut — but the role went to Taylor Kitsch.
For years, a Gambit solo movie was talked about but never came together. Perhaps it's fitting that Deadpool & Wolverine is where Tatum finally stepped into the X-Men's cowl. After all, Origins was also where Reynolds debuted as Deadpool, albeit a version fans loathed who'd get killed off in the post-credits shenanigans of Deadpool 2. So, why not use this Deadpool sequel to right the wrong of missing out on Tatum's take on that accent, thicker than a granny's gumbo? — K.P.
Blake Lively stars as Ladypool. (And Kidpool, Dogpool, and more are along for the ride.) Blake Lively in "Deadpool & Wolverine." Credit: Screenshot: MarvelBeing Deadpool is a family business: Look no further than the casting for Deadpool variants Ladypool and Kidpool. Blake Lively, who is married to Reynolds, takes on the role of Ladypool, while their daughter Inez Reynolds plays the foul-mouthed Kidpool.
These are far from the only Deadpool variants on display in the film. We also meet Nicepool (Reynolds), Dogpool, Headpool (aka Zombie Deadpool), Babypool, and so, so, so many more. Perhaps this movie should have been called Deadpool(s) & Wolverine, the way the third act throws every Deadpool variant and their mother at us. — B.E.
Wunmi Mosaku returns as Hunter B-15. Tom Hiddleston and Wunmi Mosaku in "Loki." Credit: Gareth GatrellAlioth isn't the only Loki star spotted in Deadpool & Wolverine, as TVA agent Hunter B-15 (Wunmi Mosaku) shows up during the movie's climax to investigate Mr. Paradox's illicit activities. While she's not around for long, she does inform Deadpool that his universe is no longer doomed. We love a cameo who also doubles as the bearer of good news! — B.E.
Taylor Swift, Emma Stone, and Zazie Beetz are not in Deadpool & Wolverine.After charming as Domino in Deadpool 2, Zazie Beetz dipped to the DC side of superhero movies to play Arthur Fleck's caring neighbor in Joker. She's also set to appear in the sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux. But sadly, Beetz didn't make the birthday party in Deadpool & Wolverine.
When images of Ladypool hit the web, fans were quick to speculate on who could be behind that mask and high ponytail. Lively was a popular pick, as was the couple's noted bestie, Taylor Swift, who's been known to walk with a slo-mo swagger in her music videos. Some speculated that Reynolds himself could be Ladypool, given Deadpool's dexterity in high heels as seen in the Deadpool 2 music video "Ashes."
The last actress at the center of fans' Ladypool speculation was Emma Stone, who played Gwen Stacy in The Amazing Spider-Man movies. Some pondered if Marvel might look to their Spider-verse for inspiration and bring Stone in as a nod to the comic book character Gwenpool. Sure, the colors for that merc are pink and white, but don't let things like simple facts stand in the way of your fancast dreams. — K.P.
Over the past few years, Reddit has experienced surges of traffic from search engines. Why? Many internet users have adopted the practice of adding "Reddit" to the end of whatever they are searching for so they can find conversations and opinions from real people. Whether it be product reviews or travel recommendations, many people are looking to search within Reddit's archives of discussions to find what they want.
Now, however, there seems to be only one search engine where users can actually do this.
As first discovered by the tech outlet 404 Media, Reddit has started blocking the vast majority of the internet's search engines from crawling and indexing their website. This means that Reddit posts are no longer coming up in search results for users on these platforms.
There is one exception though where users can still search Reddit – and that's Google.
SEE ALSO: Reddit is cracking down on AI bots Which search engines are affected and why?Searching Reddit now on popular search engines like Microsoft's Bing and DuckDuckGo turn up scant recent results from Reddit.com. As 404 Media reports, more recent Reddit links aren't turning up because they weren't crawled and indexed before Reddit made the change.
A Mashable attempt to search Bing for any result from Reddit.com using "site:reddit.com" over the past week turns up zero results.
Reddit announced it was making a change to its Robots Exclusion Protocol (robots.txt) on its website on June 25. At the time, the company noted that it was making the change due to a surge of bots scraping its website. It did not seem from the statement at the time that this meant that organizations and platforms that legitimately help the broader internet and its users would be affected.
"Reddit believes in an open Internet, but not the misuse of public content," Reddit's protocol reads.
Blocking search engines entirely from Reddit would certainly be a controversial move on its own. However, there is one search engine that is pulling up recent search results from Reddit: Google, the search engine that has a financial relationship with the Reddit.
Google and Reddit's relationshipEarlier this year, Reddit and Google entered into a $60 million deal that allows the search giant to use Reddit's content to train its AI models.
In statements provided to multiple outlets, Reddit states that its recent changes aren't related to its partnership with Google
"We block all crawlers that are unwilling to commit to not using crawl data for AI training, which is in line with enforcing our Public Content Policy and updated robots.txt file," Reddit said in a statement provided to Engadget.
Engadget also claimed a source indicated that Reddit was excluded from search because Microsoft would not agree to the platform's terms regarding AI.
Reddit's move — if the speculation is true — seems fairly unprecedented, and highlights the hazards of a potential future where search engines become pay-to-play for even organic search results. Mashable has asked Reddit for comment, and will update this story if we find out more.
Kamala Harris is brat. She is the horticulturist of the communal coconut tree that we did not just fall out of. Or just as much the harvester of the apple tree that we did spawn from, if you live by the philosophy of British icon Charli XCX. It's a Kamalaminomenon, in the words of skyrocketing pop star Chappell Roan.
When President Biden announced he'd be stepping off the campaign trail, he threw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris, pegged as the best choice to replace him in the 2024 presidential election. It was clear that Harris' team was poised and ready for the shake-up. Almost immediately, the Biden/Harris HQ social media branding was transformed into the newly "chartreuse" green Kamala HQ, and a spot blasting the inspiring notes of Beyoncé's "Freedom" hit screens days later. She broke fundraising records in the first 24 hours after Biden's announcement.
It seemed the presidential hopeful was making a new claim in direct response to what the Biden administration represented: An aging ticket, against a similarly aged opponent, that simply wasn't up to speed with what the under-34 vote demanded. Brats and femininomenons and coconut trees were Kamala's — sorry, Harris' — weapons. They were Harris' — no, Kamala's — new PR strategy.
Therein lies the problem (or one of them, anyway). Past the memes and pop music, how were supporters supposed to refer to the Vice President now? "Vice President" surely wasn't pulling in the viral likes. Is it "Kamala HQ"? Or the "Harris campaign"? Is "Momala," as Drew Barrymore tried to make happen, ever appropriate?
SEE ALSO: CNN's embarrassing 'Kamala is brat' segment shows why we should take Gen Z and millennial voters seriously"Now is a good time to pay attention to the way people are referring to her. Are they referring to her as Kamala? If so, this is a common practice which de-legitimizes a woman in politics. Making a more casual and informal reference to the politician, makes them appear softer and less of a contender. We see this very commonly throughout politics in the United States," said Maggie Perkins in the caption of a viral TikTok video from July 22. Posting "Kamala 2024" is very different from "Harris 2024," said Perkins, drawing parallels to the use of acronyms like "AOC" and "RBG" and the marketing of the Stacey Abrams campaign. "If you think I am overreacting, I would encourage you to pay attention to the way that the media refers to her and the way that other politicians refer to her."
Non-Black creators flocked to the note, fearing that they were playing a part in the denigration of a potentially history-making campaign and forcing another woman of color into the trappings of respectability politics. As writer Charles M. Blow wrote in a New York Times opinion piece from May, following backlash to Barrymore's use of the term "Momala," "Black women and girls spend their entire lives in flight from a society insistent on de-individualizing and dehumanizing them, insistent on forcing them to fit broad generalizations... In this case, the stereotype at play is that of the mammy — the caretaker, the bosom in which all can rest, the apron on which we have a right to hang."
Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deletedBut others online, predominantly Black women and women of color, felt differently. Several pointed to a 2020 YouTube video of actor Mindy Kaling and Harris making dosas together, in which Harris asked to be referred to as "Kamala." Her own campaign branding uses "Kamala," they pointed out, and, in many ways, it is a reclamation of her heritage to use her first name — especially as her own peers refuse to learn its proper pronunciation, decades into her political career. This was the least of our worries, they noted, and unhelpful virtue signaling.
Popular creators, like childhood educator @mrs.frazzled, began referring their followers to a series of videos posted by Erika Harrison, also known as @blackgirlswhobrunch. "We call [politicians] by their most distinct name. With Kamala, her last name Harris is not very distinctive, but her first name is," Harrison said in one video. "Y'all are trying to defend her in this way that she never asked for, and it is ironic because she has always campaigned around her first name. I get what y'all are trying to do here, but I'm gonna be very direct here: White women, this is a waste of your time."
Harrison was one of nearly 44,000 Black women who attended a post-announcement virtual call with Win With Black Women earlier this week — a record-breaking meeting that saw nearly Black women organizers convening to game-plan the Harris campaign and discuss the path forward.
In the span of just three days, online sentiments shifted: What started as a call to action that using the name "Kamala" was a form of systemic misogyny or even misogynoir, became the idea that using her first name is a sign of cultural and political respect. As it turns out, both ideas can be true.
Sexism on the campaign trail, and within elected government bodies, is still a pressing issue. A recent study of 60 women in politics conducted by Cosmopolitan and Melinda Gates' Pivotal Ventures showed that sexist biases pervaded things like committee assignments and even salary figures, as well outright harassment in the workplace. Ghida Dagher, CEO and president of New American Leaders, told Cosmopolitan, "Elected positions were created in the image of white landowning men. And these jobs continue to be arranged in a way that supports and reinforces that structure of power."
Republican Vice Presidential nominee JD Vance is currently under fire for saying "childless women," including Harris, should not be in politics.
View this post on InstagramIn 2015, the Atlantic referred to the trend of "mononymy" (or single name usage) as a trap created by an "informal age of unearned familiarity" in society at large, but especially among voters. For the author, political candidates, who were ever more inclined to use their first names (Take "Jeb" for Jeb Bush, "Bernie" for Bernie Sanders, even "Beto" for Beto O'Rourke), were worryingly shifting into marketing themselves like celebrities. But voters have long clamored for the personalization of their elected leaders (as well as their families), and politicians, both men and women alike, seem to view the "first" versus "last" decision as a question of marketing. Long before the aughts trend and the Harris campaign's "meme army," there was a lineage of acronyms (JFK, RFK) and nicknames ("Ike" and "Teddy") that feel, in many ways, just as informal and just as famous.
All politicians are making carefully crafted branding choices, handpicked for the electorate that will put or keep them in power. When made by women leaders, and especially women of color, those decisions may just have father reaching implications.
When former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ran in 2016, her "I'm With Her" and "Hillary for President" branding leaned into the familiarity, and femininity, of her first name; neither of these were the official slogan, "Stronger Together." There was debate even then: Was "Hillary" an important differentiator from her husband's presidential term, or yet another way to minimize her bid for leader of the free world?
Days after the announcement, Harris' and Clinton's campaigns were already under comparison. Parallels to other notable female historical figures trickled through headlines, including Shirley Chisholm, the first Black candidate for a major party nomination and first Black woman to run for the Democratic nomination. In 1972, Chisholm campaigned on just her last name and the slogan "Unbought and Unbossed." While much is the same, Harris is operating in a different world than Chisholm was, or even Clinton, one in which she is dividing her time between appealing to the honor-driven American masses and the fickle online contingent, not to mention her current duties as VP.
And many worry that institutionalized sexism and the rise of white supremacy in mainstream politics still create insurmountable odds for a progressive female President.
Harris is a seasoned politician, backed by a galvanized supporter bloc, and she has clearly drawn her own boundaries: According to her campaign's brand, Kamala is fine; in fact it might help her chances at the polls, and Harris is the professional title she'll don on stage and in session. "Brat," according to her cheeky Charli XCX-themed posting, is also fair game, as her campaign kicks off and pundits scramble to understand the "youth vote." But personal monikers, like "Momala" and even "Auntie," in her words, are a step too far.
The internet has received a pass on the discourse for now. The history of racism, sexism, and misogynoir in our country's politics, and the inequitable ways many of our nation's leaders have come into positions of power, aren't fodder for TikTok. And the name debate says more about our political landscape, now at the whim of online sentiments than ever before, than it does anything about the Harris campaign.
SearchGPT is here. OpenAI's quest to integrate its artificial intelligence tools into even more people's lives got a boost on Thursday.
The company behind ChatGPT announced on its website that it would start taking signups to test out an early version of SearchGPT, an AI-fueled search engine. OpenAI stressed that this is a prototype — and the "best features" from the test period will eventually be integrated directly into ChatGPT.
How to try SearchGPTUsers who want to try SearchGPT can sign up now, but the feature is not yet available for testing.
As for how SearchGPT works, it's similar to ChatGPT. You type in a query, the AI scours the internet, and then tries to bring back a variety of helpful results in a visually clean and appealing way. Users can allegedly respond to results with conversational follow-ups to get even more specific results.
Tweet may have been deletedAs always with OpenAI, there will be concerns about accuracy and sourcing, even before the product has launched. For instance, CNBC's Kif Leswing pointed out on X (formerly Twitter) that some of the example search results given in the announcement post are inaccurate, misleading, or not helpful. OpenAI also promises "clear links to relevant sources" in results, but that can't be judged until the product is available.
OpenAI has a long way to go before it can reasonably call itself a Google competitor, but this may be a promising first step.
Curious about the top trending YouTube videos of the week? From the geyser explosion in Yellowstone National Park to Fortnite's inclusion of the controversial Tesla Cybertruck, this week's popular videos are a reflection of eye-catching events that have captivated millions.
We're also getting a sneak peek into some nostalgia, with Lisa Kudrow from "Friends" telling Conan O'Brien that she has renewed interest in watching the famed sitcom after Matthew Perry's passing.
Team Coco: Lisa Kudrow Started Watching 'Friends' After Matthew Perry’s PassingLisa Kudrow admitted that she avoided watching "Friends" — until the death of her co-star Matthew Perry changed her mind. In an 12-minute interview with Conan O'Brien, Kudrow reminisced about her time as an actress on arguably the most iconic TV sitcom of our time.
Fox Weather: Geyser explodes in Yellowstone National ParkOn Tuesday, July 23, the sudden explosion of a geyser near a pedestrian walkway had Yellowstone National Park visitors running to escape the hot water and debris.
SEE ALSO: Billie Eilish, College Football 25, and 1,000 basketballs: YouTube videos to watch this week Jaiden Animations: So it’s been 10 years huh…If you’re into "storytime" YouTube videos and animations, you’ve likely stumbled upon a Jaiden Animation video or two. In this 22-minute video that is currently #4 on YouTube's trending list, the channel creator and animator celebrated her 10-year anniversary while over five million viewers tuned in.
Call Her Daddy: Rob’s 'Love Island' Tell AllThe Love Island USA season may be over, but tea is still being spilled. If you’re a fan of Love Island USA, and have five minutes to spare, you might want to check out this interview with Rob Rausch. Nearly a half a million viewers tuned in. Sitting at the 13th spot on YouTube's trending list, it's clear that fans of the popular reality show are loving the inside scoop.
Warner Bros. Pictures: 'Joker: Folie À Deux' TrailerWhy so serious? Villains deserve love, too, and this trailer for the newest film in the Joker franchise shows that Gotham’s most notorious villain is getting just that and more. With over 14 million views and holding the 6th spot on YouTube's trending list, it’s safe to say that fans will likely be rushing to theaters on Oct. 4.
PlayStation: 'Helldivers 2' trailerCalling all PlayStation fans. A new update is dropping on Aug. 6 for Helldivers 2. Get ready for new enemies, new missions, and a more challenging difficulty setting.
Gordon Ramsay: Gordon Ramsay, Ryan Reynolds & Hugh Jackman Compete in a Chimichanga Cook-OffGordon Ramsay, Marvel’s Deadpool and Wolverine actors Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, and a cooking competition. What could go wrong?
National Rugby League: Maroons vs. Blues Match HighlightsAre you a fan of rugby, but didn’t get to watch the Maroons vs. Blues game? Don’t worry. You can catch the highlights curated by the NRL in under five minutes.
Perfect Score: How to Unlock The FREE Tesla Cybertruck in Fortnite!Fortnite fans, did you know you can upgrade your ride to a Tessy? You can figure out how to do that in this quick one-minute video.
Donut - Giving Our Broken BMW The Engine It DeservesGear heads, this video is for you. This build-a-long shows the process of upgrading an engine.
"We're trying to reach everyone in the United States," Josh Noval, the SVP of Olympic Sales at NBCUniversal, told Mashable.
The network's latest bid to draw in viewers to the 2024 Paris Olympics is Spotlight on Paris, a roughly one hour TikTok Live show debuting daily throughout the Games at 4:45pm ET.
SEE ALSO: Who will appear in the Olympics Opening Ceremony?Presented in partnership with Toyota and hosted by Savannah Sellers, the co-Anchor of NBC News' Morning News NOW, and TikTokker and radio host Josh "Bru" Brubaker, the show goes live Saturday.
"Our entire distribution strategy, whether it's linear streaming or social, is to make sure that we're reaching every American that we possibly can and giving them content on platforms in a voice that they're accustomed to hearing from," said Noval. Spotlight on Paris is just one piece of that. It's also hitting all its bases by sending 27 creators, known as "The Paris Creators Collective" to capture content in partnership with Meta, Overtime, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube.
"In the last few years with the different games, [NBCUniversal] has focused on putting content out where young people already are. With [Spotlight on Paris], we want to bring the Olympic Games to them on [TikTok]," Sellers told Mashable.
Sellers says the episodes will be made with the idea that the show may be viewers' only engagement with the Olympics. "We want to make people feel like they're getting a slice of Paris, in addition to getting them to understand what's happening within the games and the events." Episodes will be filmed in front of a live audience of American fans and athletes' family members at Team USA house.
Past social partnerships, like a show run on X, weren't filmed on location but in NBC's studios in Stamford, Connecticut. Spotlight on Paris will lean heavily into the experience of being on the ground in Paris with an emphasis on culture, nightlife, food, and fashion.
Brubaker said he was brought on to bridge the gap between traditional broadcasting and the people who use their phones as their main screens. It's both Brubaker and Sellers first time covering the Olympics, and they say they are very excited about the opportunity.
"It's the Olympics, so it's gonna be gold medal standard," said Brubaker.
Are you shopping around for a new bedroom set, but unsure of how to dispose a mattress or box spring? Don’t worry; you have options for getting rid of your old bed — and we’ve listed them for you.
Whether your mattress is beat down, or you’re just looking to upgrade, it’s important to know how you can properly dispose your mattress.
SEE ALSO: Eight Sleep's Pod 3 cooling mattress cover is clearly amazing, but it was as frustrating as it was functional How to dispose a mattressThere are several approved ways to dispose of mattress, starting with putting it out with the trash, but there are specific ways to do so without violating local disposal regulations.
Put your mattress out with the trashIn some cities like New York City, you can dispose of your mattress or box spring with your trash, but it must be sealed in a plastic bag of any color except red or orange. If you don’t seal your mattress, it won’t be picked up. However, it's imperative that you check out your local sanitation department website for region-specific guidelines on how to dispose a mattress. For our U.S. readers, click here to find your state's point-of-contact that will answer all your questions regarding mattress disposal and how to do it right.
Donate your mattressMattresses can last for 10 years depending on the fabric, so if you’re getting rid of yours before then, it may still have some life left in it and be worth donating. Charities that accept mattress donations include the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity Restore (make sure location accepts mattresses), and Furniture Bank Association of America. You can also check churches and charities near you you.
RecycleRecycling isn't just a trend — and it's lot easier than you may think. You can recycle your old mattress by getting in touch with a mattress recycling company that services your area. Some well-known ones are A Bedder World and Bye-Bye Mattress.
(Try contacting the furniture manufacturer; they just might recycle your mattress for you if you’re purchasing a new one from them.)
ResellA little extra cash never hurt anyone, so why not resell your mattress if it’s in decent condition? You can use platforms such as Facebook Marketplace or post an ad on your social media account that could potentially intrigue a follower who may be interested in purchasing a new mattress from you. (People do it all the time, so don't think you're alone.)
RepurposeYou can get creative with the old parts of your mattress and turn them into something new. Use the foam for additional padding on things like carpets and pet beds; use the wood to make some kind of box or bin to store things; use springs and screws to make trinkets.
SAVE $140: As of July 25, get the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 for $289.99 at Lenovo, down from its original price of $429.99. That's a discount of 32%.
Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 $289.99 at LenovoWhether you're sending your kids back to school or you've registered for classes yourself, a Chromebook is an affordable but reliable computer that's well worth investing in. Your young scholar can go far with it, and you can get plenty done while at home or on the go, however you're taking your classes. And right now, you can nab an especially great Lenovo Chromebook at an excellent price.
As of July 25, you can get the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 for just $289.99 at Lenovo. That's $140 off its normal price of $429.99 and a discount of 32%.
SEE ALSO: Amazon deal of the day: The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is even cheaper than it was yesterdayThis 11-inch IPS touchscreen Chromebook packs a Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 processor with Qualcomm Adreno graphics, 8GB of RAM, 128GB of eMMC storage, and a 5MP front and 8MP rear-facing camera, great for meetings and keeping in touch with friends and family. It also comes with the Lenovo Pen that you can use as a stylus.
Its detachable keyboard makes it great for working or getting school assignments done on the go. Plus, it's just 7.9mm thick, and comes with multiple USB-C ports so you can connect with other devices, transfer files, and be prepared for school or work.
For less than $300, you can't do much better on such a perfectly portable option, so snag one while you can.
SAVE $230: The dreame H12 Pro wet and dry vacuum is on sale for $269.99 at Amazon, down from the usual price of $499.99. That's a 46% discount and the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon.
Opens in a new window Credit: dreame dreame H12 Pro wet and dry vacuum $269.99 at AmazonIt's a dream for many of us to have our own home, or even an apartment that's large enough to require regular floor cleaning. The act itself of cleaning the floor, however, isn't usually on anyone's list of favorite activities. But in the last decade, we've seen major advances in tech that can help when it comes to keeping floors squeaky clean. Thanks to today's deal at Amazon, a do-it-all floor cleaner can be yours at a massive discount.
As of July 25, the dreame H12 Pro wet and dry vacuum is just $269.99, down from the normal price of $499.99. That's a whopping 46% discount, or a savings of $230. It's also the lowest price we've ever seen on this model at Amazon.
Welcome to the advanced world of the dreame H12 Pro wet and dry vacuum. Choose between three modes of operation: auto mode, ultra mode, and suction mode. Auto mode helps with basic cleaning, like a quick pass over the floors and rugs before friends arrive. Ultra mode is designed for deep cleaning, like when the dog comes inside after digging in the dirt. And suction mode magically vacuums up liquids without mopping.
SEE ALSO: Roomba models, explained: The guide to deciding which Roomba to buy (2024)After you suck up spilled milk or whatever liquid off the floor, the dreame H12 Pro's ability to self-clean will certainly come in handy. This feature uses self-cleaning with hot air drying to get the brush back to its clean state and ready to take on another mess — no hand cleaning required.
The dreame H12 Pro has a max run time of 35 minutes, and it also aims to impress when it comes to cleaning hard-to-reach corners or getting close to edges and baseboards thanks to its dual-edge cleaning function.
If you dread cleaning the floors or are often left with liquid spills to clean, the dreame H12 Pro might make life much easier. Thanks to today's sale price at Amazon of just $269.99, you can grab the powerful and versatile vacuum for the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon.
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