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How to watch Strasbourg vs. PSG online for free

Mashable - Sat, 10/17/2026 - 00:00

TL;DR: Watch Strasbourg vs. PSG in Ligue 1 for free on CazéTV. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Ligue 1 has started with some surprising results. PSG are not used to being in sixth place in the standings, but you'd expect the defending champions to climb towards the top. They are fresh from beating Manchester City in the Champions League, after all.

If you're interested in watching Strasbourg vs. PSG in Ligue 1 from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Strasbourg vs. PSG?

Strasbourg vs. PSG in Ligue 1 kicks off at 11:15 a.m. ET on Oct. 17. This fixture takes place at the Stade de la Meinau.

How to watch Strasbourg vs. PSG for free

Strasbourg vs. PSG in Ligue 1 is available to live stream for free on CazéTV.

CazéTV is geo-restricted to Brazil, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Brazil, meaning you can live stream Strasbourg vs. PSG for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Strasbourg vs. PSG for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

  4. Visit CazéTV

  5. Watch Strasbourg vs. PSG for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Strasbourg vs. PSG without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture (plus Premier League action) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Ligue 1?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries, including Brazil

  • 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 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 usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Strasbourg vs. PSG for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Hurdle hints and answers for October 17, 2026

Mashable - Sat, 10/17/2026 - 00:00

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.

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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 hint

Perfecting.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

ACING

Hurdle Word 2 hint

More rational.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 17, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SANER

Hurdle Word 3 hint

One of the five senses.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 17, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Oct. 17, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

TOUCH

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Prickly plant.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

BRIAR

Final Hurdle hint

Spoiled.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

MOLDY

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

NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Oct. 17, 2026

Mashable - Fri, 10/16/2026 - 22:00

Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.

Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.

While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 17, 2026 Alert meaning

A warning signal about danger or important information.

Chime meaning

To make a clear ringing sound.

Ding meaning

A short, sharp metallic ringing sound like a bell, timer or doorbell.

Ping meaning

A quick electronic message/signal sent to check someone's status.

Boheme meaning

"The bohemian" or "the bohemian life" in French.

Brea meaning

A thick, black, sticky substance used for waterproofing and roadmaking.

Paz meaning

The word for peace in Spanish.

Scala meaning

A Latin/Italian word for ladder or staircase.

Print meaning

Physical publications like books, newspapers and magazines.

Shot meaning

A single photographic exposure (snapshot) or an uninterrupted sequence of film/video captured by one camera.

Snap meaning

To break something thin or brittle with a sharp, cracking sound.

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Still meaning

A single, unmoving snapshot or film frame.

Fiddler meaning

A musician who plays the fiddle.

Hermit meaning

A person who lives in deliberate solitude and avoids human society.

King meaning

A male ruler or emperor.

Snow meaning

A white, crystallized precipitation that forms in colder temperatures.

Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

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

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 17, 2026

Mashable - Fri, 10/16/2026 - 22:00

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're glued ot your phone.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for October 17, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

  • Yellow: "You've got mail!"

  • Green: Take a pic

  • Blue: Sea creatures

  • Purple: Spanish article

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Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

  • Yellow: Digital notifications

  • Green: Photo

  • Blue: Kinds of crabs

  • Purple: La __

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 #1224 is...

What is the answer to Connections today
  • Digital notifications: ALERT, CHIME, DING, PING

  • Photo: PRINT, SHOT, SNAP, STILL

  • Kinds of crabs: FIDDLER, HERMIT, KING, SNOW

  • La __: BOHEME, BREA, PAZ, SCALA

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

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

NYT Strands hints, answers for October 17, 2026

Mashable - Fri, 10/16/2026 - 22:00

Today's NYT Strands hints will be easy if you catch feelings easily.

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 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: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 17, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Quite the crush

The words are related to feelings.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe developing feelings for someone.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Fall in Love.

NYT Strands word list for October 17
  • Stumble

  • Giggle

  • Babgle

  • Fidget

  • Fall in Love

  • Perspire

  • Blush

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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

Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 17, 2026

Mashable - Fri, 10/16/2026 - 22:00

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you tend to slip up.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 17, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Blunder.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter F appears twice.

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Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter G.

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...

GAFFE

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

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

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

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

Data center security is an American problem, too

Mashable - Fri, 10/16/2026 - 18:21

When Ukraine struck Russian data centers earlier this week, it was a stark reminder that the massive buildings are becoming a target in warfare. In March, the Iranian military struck Amazon data centers in the United Arab Emirates, which remained out of service several months later.

While warfare attacks on data centers may seem like a distant threat for Americans, a cybersecurity expert tells Mashable that they remain a valuable target for physical and digital breaches, even in the U.S.

SEE ALSO: Did Ukraine’s strikes on data centers really silence Russian bots?

"Everything you do online goes to a data center," says Charles Brooks, an adjunct lecturer in cybersecurity at Georgetown University.

The average person's Netflix viewing, Google Doc usage, and personal online banking, for example, typically rely on the servers housed in data centers.

Additionally, cloud computing services used by the government, healthcare systems, financial institutions, and businesses need data centers. They're also vital for Earth-to-space communications, Brooks says.

That's why stealing sensitive information from data center servers or disrupting their operations altogether has become alluring for state-backed criminal hackers and operatives.

Brooks says the 20-year-old adage of "data is the new oil" feels particularly true today. Just as oil supply and revenue have long been targets of war and government pressure campaigns, data has become immensely valuable and part of critical infrastructure.

"If something does happen it could be catastrophic," Brooks says of a potential data center breach in the U.S.

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3 threats to U.S. data centers

While a foreign drone-powered attack on an American data center is highly unlikely, Brooks says one could become the target of a physical breach with explosives. Though the damage might be limited, such an attack would be a symbolic victory for terrorists, or violent groups opposed to AI and its infrastructure.

Physical security vulnerabilities

Brooks says data centers must be fortified with more than surveillance cameras, alarms, and barbed-wire fences. He recommends electrified perimeters, security guards, and defensive spaces around the control center and water-cooling systems.

The inside job

The most likely source of a breach is the insider who can access servers, data, and infrastructure because they have permission to be in the building, Brooks says. Whether this person is disgruntled, on an adversary's payroll, or makes a costly mistake, they can still provide valuable information to bad actors, share security vulnerabilities, or interfere with a data center's critical operations.

Brooks suggests using AI surveillance to detect unusual behavior and guard against malicious insiders. He believes the trade-off of potential false positives, in which a worker is falsely flagged as acting suspiciously, would be worth it given the types of vital information stored at data centers.

Brooks also supports rigorous background checks similar to the kind staff in hospitals and power plants undergo.

"Who you hire has a responsibility that that may go beyond a normal security job," Brooks says.

AI-powered hacking

AI tools allow bad actors to rapidly scale their hacking efforts, including those against data centers.

For example, Anthropic recently released a security report detailing how individuals, including those backed by foreign governments, have used AI to automate cyber spying operations and conduct espionage.

Brooks says AI makes it easier for criminal hacker groups to efficiently "pan" the internet for clues about how to digitally infiltrate an AI data center. That might mean phishing an employee to access and use their system credentials.

"They're scaling these attacks [with] much greater capacity, and they're using AI software to find vulnerabilities that they didn't know were there before," Brooks says.

Why Americans should care about U.S. data center security

Brooks argues that data center security is a national security issue, given that the facilities have become critical infrastructure.

Even if a digital breach in an American data center feels invisible, it would likely have a ripple effect on ordinary people's lives. People might be unable to work or conduct business or become the victims of a ransomware attack that includes their personal and sensitive data.

Brooks said that data center security should be guided by partnerships between the government and private companies that own them.

Fortifying U.S. facilities, he added, is essential because they're "really the repository of all key data."

Lets talk You Can See Everything spoilers: An explainer for Nathan Fielders Elizabeth Holmes documentary

Mashable - Fri, 10/16/2026 - 18:00

You Can See Everything, comedian Nathan Fielder's documentary about Elizabeth Holmes' last days of freedom before being sent to prison for fraud, is now in theaters. So, now audiences curious and dubious can see for themselves if it lives up to the hype.

From the moment the internet got a glimpse of You Can See Everything, people have been obsessed. Rumors about what the movie contained sparked out of its Telluride Film Festival premiere, and grew more intense at its New York Film Festival debut.

That's where this critic saw the film. And in the span of its nearly three-hour runtime, I went from dubious about its conceit to a believer in its brilliance.

SEE ALSO: Does 'You Can See Everything' live up to the hype?

In my review, I wrote: "The project seemed preposterous, like something born from MadLibs or a brain-rot meme."

But whether you want to know more before you purchase a ticket or want to make sense of what you've just seen or just want to be up on the discourse, we're now going into spoilers for You Can See Everything.

Is this a real documentary? 

Yes. Co-directed by Nathan Fielder and filmmaker Lance Oppenheim (Primetime), You Can See Everything documents the 34 days of Holmes' life ahead of her incarceration for fraud.

Want more film and TV news and reviews delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for Mashable’s Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

The film employs fly-on-the-wall footage around the home she shares with her partner, Billy Evans, and their children. It also includes interviews conducted by Fielder with Holmes, Evans, and her parents, as well as re-enactment sequences.

Why is You Can See Everything rated R? 

Mainly because the film includes full frontal nudity.

Who is naked in You Can See Everything? 

Billy Evans is filmed in the shower of the rental home that he and Holmes share ahead of her incarceration. 

What's the context of the teaser, where Holmes stares? 

Days before her incarceration, Fielder speaks with her without Evans around to get a sense of what she might be hiding. It plays out in the movie as it does in the teaser. 

Is Nathan Fielder playing a character or himself? 

This will be a matter debated by his fans. Compared to Nathan for You or The Rehearsal, Fielder is less comedically wooden in You Can See Everything. He more often cracks a smile or is openly incredulous or challenging. However, there are scenes of deep social discomfort that play well to his style of comedy. 

Does the doc go up to the present day?

No. The film ends around the winter of 2025.

In a Q&A following the New York Film Festival premiere of You Can See Everything, Fielder and Oppenheim revealed that communication with the couple broke down from there. 

Has Elizabeth Holmes seen You Can See Everything? 

In the NYFF Q&A, Fielder confirmed she had not. 

Has Billy Evans seen You Can See Everything? 

In the NYFF Q&A, Fielder confirmed he had not. 

Nathan Fielder lives with Elizabeth Holmes, Billy Evans, and their children in "You Can See Everything." Credit: A24 Who's running Elizabeth Holmes' social media accounts?  SEE ALSO: What's going on with Elizabeth Holmes' X account? ' Is Amanda Seyfried in You Can See Everything? 

Yes. Among some of the more mind-bending elements of this documentary, Fielder urges Holmes to watch The Dropout with him while cameras roll. The Dropout was a critically acclaimed Hulu mini-series in which Amanda Seyfried played Holmes; she later won an Emmy for her performance.

Ahead of You Can See Everything's theatrical release, Seyfried seemed to deny any knowledge of the documentary.

Asked about her rumored involvement in the doc while on the red carpet for the Toronto International Film Festival premiere of The Life and Deaths of Wilson Shedd, Seyfried told Entertainment Tonight, "It's Nathan Fielder, and I know what he does. It's wild. And everybody's saying it's wild. So, I don't know. I want to know more."

Seyfried is in You Can See Everything, and in more than just clips from The Dropout. 

Fielder reached out to Seyfried because of her Emmy–winning turn in The Dropout to dissect some of his interactions with Holmes. Then, he invited her to re-enact other interactions, with Seyfried in the Holmes role. Christopher Abbott also appears, playing Billy Evans.

Is Elizabeth Holmes lying to Nathan Fielder?

This is the biggest question presented by You Can See Everything. The film leaves it up to the viewer to decide who to trust. The final act even calls Fielder's perspective into question, as he reflects on his feelings about "Liz" and how that impacts whether or not he can believe her.

At the NYFF Q&A, Fielder and Oppenheim said the crew was often divided on what a scene or moment meant. And the film's tight aspect ratio, which offers a close look at its subjects' micro-expressions, urges viewers to look close and decide for themselves. So, who do you believe?

Who's on first?

Who.

You Can See Everything Is Now playing in theaters.

Get this 75-inch Toshiba mini-LED TV at its lowest price ever

Mashable - Fri, 10/16/2026 - 17:39

SAVE $152: As of Oct. 16, you can get the 75-inch Toshiba Z670 Series Mini-LED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV (75Z670R, 2026) for $847.99, down from $999.99, at Amazon. That's a 15% discount, or $152 in savings.

75-inch Toshiba Z670 Series Mini-LED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV (75Z670R, 2026) $847.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $152   Get Deal at Amazon

If you're in the market for a large living room upgrade that won't totally drain your bank account, this Toshiba TV deal is worth a look. (And with the big football game inevitably coming up again this winter, you might want a larger-than-life screen, depending on the type of person you are.)

Right now, you can get the 75-inch Toshiba Z670 Series Mini-LED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV (75Z670R, 2026) for $847.99, down from $999.99, at Amazon. That's a 15% discount, or $152 in savings. This is the lowest price we've seen on this model to date.

SEE ALSO: What's the best time to buy a TV? The 4 optimal sale windows, including Black Friday.

The Z670 Series features a Mini-LED display with full-array local dimming and QLED color technology. That combo gives you precise control over the backlighting for deeper blacks, brighter highlights, and vibrant colors. It also has a built-in bass woofer, so you get room-shaking audio without necessarily needing to buy a separate soundbar right away. (Though you definitely can.)

For anyone connecting a PS5 or Xbox Series X, this model is specifically equipped to handle next-gen consoles. It features a native 144Hz refresh rate and a Game Mode Pro that supports VRR, ALLM, and AMD FreeSync Premium for smooth, tear-free gameplay (great news for anyone planning to play GTA 6). Bonus: It's a Fire TV, so you'll also get access to all your streaming apps, plus built-in Alexa for voice commands.

Meta Withdraws $25 Million from Its Midterms Push

NYT Technology - Fri, 10/16/2026 - 16:58
The company outlined a $65 million budget last year when it embarked on an effort to elect state politicians friendly to the A.I. industry.

Fourth Wing has cast its Violet and Xaden, and fans have thoughts

Mashable - Fri, 10/16/2026 - 16:40

The dragons haven't even taken flight, and Fourth Wing fans are already breathing fire.

Prime Video has reportedly found its Violet Sorrengail and Xaden Riorson for the upcoming adaptation of Rebecca Yarros's bestselling romantasy series, with Esther McGregor and Emilio Sakraya set to play the enemies-turned-lovers at the center of the story. And naturally, people online have thoughts.

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For years, readers have imagined what the dragon riders of Basgiath War College might look like in real life, sharing fancasts, character edits, and fan art across social media. But now that two of the series' most beloved characters have actual faces, not everyone is ready to embrace the casting.

According to Deadline, Sakraya was already a popular choice among fans to play the shadow-wielding Xaden, and early reactions suggest that plenty of readers are happy to see the German actor land the role.

McGregor's casting as Violet, meanwhile, has sparked a more contentious conversation, with some fans questioning whether she fits their vision of the character, while others urge readers to reserve judgment until they see her in costume.

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But some fans can already see the vision. "Just picture Esther brunette. That's a perfect Violet. She looks like she has bird bones. I can see it. I can see her dislocating things. It makes sense to me," TikToker @kittykiju said, referencing Violet's physical fragility, which plays a significant role in the books.

Others are praising McGregor's acting skills. "I dont go here but Fourth Wing fans i am so jealous you got the amazing Esther McGregor as a lead because shes just fantastic," one person posted on X.

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Of course, some fans have already turned to AI to visualize McGregor as Violet, which raises its own questions about how much AI-generated character art has shaped readers' expectations of what these fictional characters should look like. After all, there's a difference between imagining a character and expecting a real person to look exactly like that imagined version.

Previously, McGregor starred in the Prime Video teen thriller We Were Liars, and Sakraya's English-language credits include Netflix's Warrior Nun and the Peacock series Those About to Die.

The debate has gotten so lively that the Fourth Wing subreddit had to create a second casting megathread after the first surpassed 1,000 comments.

Welcome to the parapet, Esther and Emilio. It's going to be a bumpy ride — but I, personally, can't wait.

Those About to Die airs on Peacock in the U.S.; Prime Video distributes it in some international markets.

Teachers are reaching their breaking point in the ChatGPT classroom

Mashable - Fri, 10/16/2026 - 16:08

Teachers have a lot to get off their chests. Helping a classroom full of students learn to read, write, and work on their own is already a big job. Add chatbots that can do the homework — or create the lesson it’s based on — and there’s even more to work through.

Some are taking those frustrations to TikTok and Reddit, and finding plenty of people to commiserate with. Self-described teachers share accounts of students who need help getting through a sentence, or who hand in assignments they can’t explain. Some teachers for advice, others just need to vent.

SEE ALSO: Trump signs AI education order to train K-12 students amidst competition from China

In the replies, fellow educators recognize their own school days, while parents weigh in with concerns about their children’s education. The discussions can get heated, but some of the posts drawing attention are more personal — teachers admitting how hard their jobs have become.

In a TikTok posted a week ago, first-grade teacher Carol Fernandez broke down in tears as she talks about her students' struggles — along with her own.

"Clearly theyre not studying at home. Theyre failing." She gave an example of an exam, stating that only 1 student passed out of 34, and also telling a story about how they can't write words correctly, even when copying them from a board.

"It's exhausting," she says. "Its almost scary. And then you start questioning yourself, thinking, is it me?"

Teachers and parents in the comments tell her she isn’t alone, sharing their own concerns about students and their children falling behind.

"It's not you. These kids are DIFFERENT nowadays," wrote one commenter. "I had to quit. I ended up in an in-patient unit in September due to poor mental health. 30 beds...5 of us were teachers. This is nuts," wrote another. One commenter had her own theory: "It's the iPads. Now they have shorter attention spans so it's harder to teach them and it's harder for them to learn."

The frustration in those comments shows up in the research, too. In a Pew Research Center report published in 2024, 77 percent of U.S. public K–12 teachers said their jobs were frequently stressful, and 68 percent said they were frequently overwhelming. Most said they couldn’t get everything done during regular work hours. And students are having a hard time, too: On the 2024 Nation’s Report Card, 40 percent of fourth graders scored below the test’s Basic level in reading, with average scores falling from 2022.

Then there’s the challenge of getting students to focus long enough to learn. In a federal survey, about a quarter of public school leaders said student inattention severely hurt learning at their schools. The same share said it severely hurt staff morale. Many also share that commenter’s concerns about screens: In Feb. 2025, 73 percent said cellphone use had negatively affected students' attention spans. Apparently, "eyes on the board" has become a pretty big ask.

SEE ALSO: Kids don't need chatbots. Teach them this about AI instead.

Over on Reddit’s r/Teachers, users express the same exhaustion — and can sound considerably angrier. In a thread titled "I do not know how to teach kids this low," a user identifying themselves as a high school teacher writes: "They do not know how to write words and I have to stand over them and give them each letter. This is HIGH SCHOOL."

In one viral screenshot titled "My 8th graders are absolutely helpless," the user writes, "Independent work doesn't exist anymore because if I'm not right by their side holding their hand then nothing will get done," adding, "Maybe this isn't the right career for me." Another poster directs their anger at districts allowing students to advance without catching up: "Why are you okay with these students not getting appropriate help?" they ask. "I'm horrified at how our districts baby these parents."

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Now add in a chatbot that can fill in the answers before class even starts, and teaching becomes harder than ever. In another r/Teachers thread, "Student 'finishing' the activities in seconds," a user describes a student who repeatedly announced she was finished with textbook exercises almost immediately. The giveaway came when she claimed to have completed an activity requiring a video the teacher hadn’t played yet. Asked to put her answers on the board, the student struggled. "Half of them were completely wrong, and the other half were barely intelligible," the poster writes. As another user added, "That's what you get for trusting ChatGPT."

In the replies, users debated extra assignments, consequences, and moving more work into the classroom. One suggested having students watch recorded lessons at home and complete assignments in class, using pencil and paper, saying it's best if "students don't see the assignment until they get to class." Another questioned why suspected cheating should create yet another task for the teacher: "Oh, so the student who cheats through everything gets to have their teacher create more work for them to cheat through?" "The kid needs a detention and a call home lol," she adds.

Using a chatbot for schoolwork doesn’t automatically mean cheating. But teachers are navigating a classroom where those tools are already common: A Pew Research Center report published in February found that 54 percent of U.S. teens had used chatbots for help with schoolwork, and one in 10 said they did all or most of their schoolwork with chatbot assistance. For teachers already worried about students working independently, a completed assignment doesn't even give any sense of comfort.

SEE ALSO: I'm a college writing professor. Here's what AI still can't do

Of course, students aren’t the only people hoping AI can make the school day more manageable. As Mashable reported in July 2025, the American Federation of Teachers announced an AI training academy backed by Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic. That means teachers are being encouraged to embrace AI to ease their workloads, even as figuring out how students use it adds more to their plates.

Even figuring out whether a student used AI can become a project of its own. In a 2025 essay for Mashable, college writing professor Jonathan D. Fitzgerald discussed tools including GPTZero, ZeroGPT, and TurnItIn, describing how AI detectors could give conflicting verdicts on the same text. "How can a teacher approach a student with an accusation of AI plagiarism without concrete evidence, or really any way to get that evidence?" he wrote.

Interestingly, as per the Reddit threads, some students have questions about the teacher’s work, too. In another post, a student reportedly recognizes a teacher’s assignment formatting because it resembles the study guides they make with ChatGPT and reported it to the co-teacher. "It’s literally the meme of two AIs just communicating with each other," the poster writes.

Separate images circulating as alleged examples of classroom handouts show counting hands with six digits apiece, a fraction diagram with more sections than its label calls for, and a population map containing garbled place names.

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Some school systems are putting limits on how far this AI experiment can go. On Sept. 2, New York City announced a one-year moratorium on student-facing generative AI from pre-K through eighth grade, with exceptions including assistive uses. The policy allows limited, supervised high school pilots and lets teachers continue using approved tools for planning and operational tasks.

"There are a lot of holes in the policy, if we are being honest," Liat Olenick, AIM Coalition and Climate Families NYC organizer, told Mashable. "But Kindergartners will not be talking to chatbots this fall, and that is huge progress. We made that change this year."

As we move into the next phase of AI in schools, more policies like this will be needed. As generative AI becomes part of everyday life, the goal should be to make the most of what it has to offer while making sure neither students nor teachers take shortcuts that leave students unprepared for what comes after graduation. How well schools strike that balance is something teachers — and the rest of us — will be watching.

MapQuest lets you track Flock cameras

Mashable - Fri, 10/16/2026 - 15:52

MapQuest will not go gentle into that good night.

The navigation software — which debuted in 1996 and was later eclipsed by competitor Google Maps — is currying favor with new users by taking a hard line against Flock cameras.

Users can now track nearby Flock cameras and other surveillance systems using the platform's new Surveillance Layer, released yesterday to its mobile app. The layer includes location data for automatic license plate readers (APLRs) and other public cameras from almost a dozen companies: Flock, Motorola Solutions (Vigilant), Genetec, Axis Communications, Axon, Leonardo (ELSAG), Neology, Rekor, PlateSmart, Ubicquia, and Verkada.

According to MapQuest's terms, the data is sourced from Open Street Map contributors. Open Street Map is an open source, community-created mapping database.

SEE ALSO: Flock CEO says it won't work with clients who abuse its surveillance, but claims none have

Crowdsourced Flock maps have risen in popularity over the last year as communities fight back against the "public security" company. A nationwide backlash to ALPRs has resulted in intense scrutiny on Flock, including a recent Senate inquiry. Flock's CEO has doubled down on the company's partnerships with law enforcement and city governments, recently stating that only a small number of bad actors have abused its technology.

MapQuest shows nearby license plate readers as well as general surveillance cameras. Credit: MapQuest Credit: MapQuest

Flock partners have faced multiple accusations of misusing the surveillance system to stalk, harass, and profile individuals.

MapQuest saw an influx of new users in September, after the website announced it wouldn't honor President Donald Trump's executive order to rename Lake Ontario to "Lake America." Last year, the platform also debuted a customizable map feature that let users rename the Gulf of Mexico, following the Trump administration's announcement it was changing the geographical area's name to "Gulf of America."

The Roads Have Eyes! 👁️ Turn on the Surveillance Layer in Map Options to see known license plate readers from Flock Safety, Motorola Solutions (Vigilant), Genetec, Axis Communications, Axon, Leonardo (ELSAG), Neology, Rekor, PlateSmart, Ubicquia, Verkada, and other outdoor surveillance cameras.

[image or embed]

— MapQuest (@mapquest.com) October 15, 2026 at 3:49 PM How to turn on MapQuest's surveillance layer Total Time
  • 5 min.
What You Need
  • MapQuest app

Step 1: Download the MapQuest App.

Step 2: Tap the "layers" icon on the bottom right corner of the map.

Step 3: Toggle on "Surveillance."

Step 4: Look for the "eyes" to spot nearby surveillance cameras.

Credit: MapQuest Credit: MapQuest

Billy Evans: What we know about Elizabeth Holmes husband featured in You Can See Everything

Mashable - Fri, 10/16/2026 - 14:43

You Can See Everything, a three-hour documentary about Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, opens in theaters this week. You'd think Holmes would be the main point of focus, but people are coming out of it wondering about her husband, too.

Holmes is married to a man named Billy Evans, who is not a household name like his wife. If you saw You Can See Everything or want to see it, and you need to know more about Evans, here is a basic rundown of how he got to this point.

Who is Billy Evans? His life before Elizabeth Holmes

Prior to meeting Holmes, Evans came from a San Diego family known for a line of family-owned hotels in the area. William and Anne Evans, Billy's grandparents, founded the company in 1953, according to the Evans Hotels website. According to Business Insider, Evans Hotels operates the Bahia Resort Hotel, the Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa, and The Lodge at Torrey Pines.

Evans, however, did not work in the hotel business prior to meeting Holmes. According to his LinkedIn profile, he graduated from MIT in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Economics. During his time at MIT, he took student gigs at financial companies around California and was also a student brand manager at Red Bull.

Eventually, Evans took a job at LinkedIn in 2017 as a "strategy and leadership program analyst." Later in 2017, he joined Luminar Technologies, an autonomous-car tech firm.

How Billy Evans met Elizabeth Holmes

It's around this time that Evans met Holmes at a house party in San Francisco in 2017, per a joint interview the two gave to the New York Times in 2023. The timing of this is important, as Holmes was not indicted for fraud until early 2018. She had been a source of controversy prior to meeting Evans, but had not yet been charged by the SEC.

As stated in that interview, Holmes and Evans talked for three consecutive hours at the party. According to Evans, it "isn't an overstatement" to say they fell in love right away. Per Holmes, her public controversy allowed Evans to "get to know [Holmes] in a totally different way," leading them to connect in "a really deep way."

Their relationship became a public matter after they were spotted together at Burning Man. The two of them got engaged in August 2018. A few months later, at the start of 2019, Evans left his job at Luminar, per the New York Post. The Post's report included the nugget that his co-workers at the firm thought he left because of the public scrutiny around his relationship with Holmes.

Where Billy Evans and Elizabeth Holmes stand today

Evans would become one of several people who submitted letters of support during her 2022 trial in an effort to reduce her sentence. In his statement, he wrote he fell in love after speaking with her at the party before he really realized who she was. He was reluctant to start a romantic relationship for about six months because of the controversy, but it "was not long before the friendship turned into something more," per his letter.

The couple has two children: a son named William, born in 2021, and a daughter named Invicta, born in 2023. The family relocated to Texas prior to her imprisonment, close to the minimum-security facility where Holmes now resides. You Can See Everything covers the move and the family's last days together before Holmes had to leave. Family visits between Holmes and her husband and children are allowed, but conjugal visits between husband and wife are not, per People.

Evans insists that Holmes is his "best friend and soulmate," according to People. Holmes continues to maintain her innocence.

PSA: The Dyson Airwrap i.d. is $195 off at Best Buy in this better-than-Black Friday clearance deal

Mashable - Fri, 10/16/2026 - 14:34

SAVE $195: As of Oct. 16, the Dyson Airwrap i.d. Multi-Styler for Curly + Coily Hair is on clearance at Best Buy for only $454.99. That's 30% off its suggested retail price of $649.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Airwrap i.d. Multi-Styler for Curly + Coily Hair (Amber Silk) $454.99 at Best Buy
$649.99 Save $195   Get Deal at Best Buy

If you're planning on gifting a Dyson Airwrap this holiday season (to a loved one or just yourself), heed my advice: Don't bother putting off your purchase until Black Friday rolls around. Best Buy currently has the special-edition "amber silk" colorway of the Airwrap i.d. for Curly + Coily Hair marked down to only $454.99 as part of a clearance deal. That's a very rare 30% savings.

For some added context, Airwrap discounts usually max out around $150 during the holidays. I should also point out that another model geared toward straight and wavy hair has already sold out at Best Buy at its clearance price of $552.99. (And that's a way worse deal!)

Launched in 2024, the Airwrap i.d. is a mid-tier variant of Dyson's legendary multi-styler with several different attachments and Bluetooth support — meaning you can use the MyDyson mobile app to program a custom hair routine. It was re-released in amber silk for the holidays last year, so I'm assuming Best Buy is just getting rid of its remaining inventory to make way for this season's new limited-edition "plum and copper" finish.

The Curly + Coily version of the Airwrap i.d. comes with conical barrel, diffuser, volumizing brush, loop brush, long barrel, fast dryer, and detangling comb attachments (plus a storage case and filter-cleaning brush).

This wheeled Yeti cooler is perfect for tailgating — get it on sale for a record-low price on Amazon

Mashable - Fri, 10/16/2026 - 14:27

SAVE $85: As of Oct. 16, the Yeti Roadie 48 Wheeled Cooler is on sale for $340 on Amazon in the color "venom." That's 20% off its usual sticker price of $425, which is its biggest discount ever.

Opens in a new window Credit: Yeti Yeti Roadie 48 Wheeled Cooler $340 at Amazon
$425 Save $85   Get Deal at Amazon

Late-season clearance sales and early holiday discounts are the perfect recipe for some excellent outdoor deals this time of year. Case in point: Right now, Amazon has the Yeti Roadie 48 Wheeled Cooler on sale for a record-low price of $340, shaving $85 off its MSRP.

The Roadie 48 can hold up to 76 cans (without ice) or 54 pounds of ice (without cans) and is tall enough to fit most wine bottles and two-liter soda bottles, making it ideal for bustling tailgates and watch parties. It has a retractable handle and puncture-resistant wheels, so you can take it just about anywhere. Amazon reviewers have rated it very highly for its cooling performance and mobility.

Credit: Yeti

Note that Amazon's deal only applies to the lime green "venom" colorway, which is a win for Seattle Seahawks fans (or angels who are still bumping Charli xcx's 2024 album, brat). The other colors are still stuck at full price at Amazon and other retailers, including the Yeti website.

Avatar: Seven Havens gifts us a perfect Halloween episode

Mashable - Fri, 10/16/2026 - 13:48

When you think of Avatar: The Last Airbender and its sequel series, "horror" isn't the first word that comes to mind. While the franchise has dealt with some frightening elements, from Koh the Face Stealer to Korra being haunted by visions of her poisoned self, it has rarely crafted an episode that delves fully into the horror genre.

SEE ALSO: 'Avatar: Seven Havens' episode 5 is chock-full of 'Last Airbender' Easter eggs

The sole exception is The Last Airbender's Book 3 episode "The Puppetmaster," the show's 2007 Halloween special. Throughout the episode, The Last Airbender fashions an unsettling mystery about disappearances from a Fire Nation village during the full moon. By the episode's end, the culprit is revealed to be Hama, a waterbender who's able to manipulate people's bodies by bending the blood in their veins. The bloodbending reveal has lasting consequences, popping up again in The Legend of Korra in a major way, but it also opens the door for some genuinely frightening body horror. No Avatar fan can forget the first time they witnessed the herky-jerky movements of Katara, Aang, and Sokka as they succumbed to Hama's bloodbending. The Legend of Korra ups that body horror significantly, twisting bloodbending victims' limbs to impossible positions, but it's the sinister build-up and Hama's betrayal that keep "The Puppetmaster" standing tall as Avatar's scariest episode.

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Now, though, Avatar: Seven Havens has gifted viewers with a new addition to the Avatar Halloween canon with its sixth episode, "Night of the Afflicted."

The episode's name references George A. Romero's classic zombie movie Night of the Living Dead, and it delivers on its promise with a storyline that can only be described as "zombies by way of Avatar."

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The zombies in Seven Havens are not reanimated corpses, but rather citizens who have been "afflicted" by contact with the diamond anomaly from the show's second episode. In the case of Brigade Commander Bountan (voiced by Clyde Kusatsu), that means getting zapped by the anomaly's energy ray. In the case of Brigade members like Tala (voiced by Anjali Bhimani), that means making contact with the strange red crystals the anomaly left behind, which then embedded themselves in her skin in a case of gnarly body horror.

On top of the crystals, Seven Havens adds further disconcerting physical characteristics to its afflicted to turn them into zombie analogs. The darkened circles around their eyes give them a near-undead look. Meanwhile, their eyes themselves are downright terrifying: glowing, red, and bloodshot. What they see through these eyes is even worse. Under the anomaly's influence, twin Avatars Pavi (voiced by Saheli Khan) and Nisha (voiced by Aishu Devan) turn into downright monsters.

Possessed by fear, the sight of Pavi and Nisha sparks a fit of violent paranoia in the afflicted, resulting in a stampede akin to that of a zombie horde. What follows is a claustrophobic chase through darkened tunnels, the kind that would be right at home in a zombie film.

Threaded through it all is the moving story of Pavi learning to ask for help from Nisha. At the start of the episode, Pavi begins feeling phantom pain from her lost leg. While she waits for a new prosthetic, she uses a crutch and insists she doesn't need assistance from anyone, worrying that her limb difference will make her a lesser Avatar in the eyes of the White Lotus. By the episode's end, though, she overcomes that fear and asks Nisha for help in their fight against a newly manifested anomaly. The question doesn't just aid Pavi: It also aids Nisha, who looked terrified at the thought of facing the spooky diamond alone. Thanks to Pavi's request for help, the twins are able to lean on each other, literally and figuratively, and energybend the anomaly away. Their teamwork puts an end to the zombie story they've found themselves in and sets the stage for the next steps in their joint Avatar journey.

Between its zombie riff and its heartfelt twin story, "Night of the Afflicted" proves to be another strong entry in Seven Havens, as well as its most tonally unique. Pair it with "The Puppetmaster" for extra Avatar spookiness this Halloween season.

Avatar: Seven Havens is now streaming on Paramount+, with new episodes every Friday.

How to Pick the Right Wellness Gifts for Everyone on Your Holiday List

Mashable - Fri, 10/16/2026 - 13:15

Quick Answer: Choose the Theragun Relief for approachable, everyday muscle recovery, the Theragun Mini for portable recovery and the TheraFace Mask Glo for an upgraded skincare routine. The limited-edition Y2K Grape Blast Theragun Mini adds nostalgic 2000s style to the portable Mini.

Struggling to find the perfect gift for friends and family? Sick of worrying about favorite colors or ideal sizes? Simplify your shopping list by giving the gift of wellness this holiday season and you'll only have to ask one question: Which option benefits my friend's wellbeing the most?

That's where Therabody's self-care lineup comes in handy, especially when you choose one that fits something your giftee already enjoys doing. A massage gun might make sense for the runner who's always complaining about sore legs, while someone with an elaborate skincare routine may get more use out of an LED face mask.

Here's how to find the right Therabody model for each person on your list at Best Buy.

Which Therabody device fits each person on my gift list?

The best Therabody gift comes down to what the person you're shopping for will actually use. Think about whether they're more likely to reach for it after a workout, at their desk, while traveling or during their skincare routine.

A runner can put a massage gun to work after tough workouts, while a frequent traveler may prioritize a compact, lightweight design they can take on a business trip or vacation. For the skincare devotee, the TheraFace Mask Glo brings the focus to self-care, stimulating collagen production for firmer, more radiant skin. Think about how your recipient will actually use the gift, and the right fit becomes much easier to spot.

What to look for when choosing a Theragun

Choosing a Theragun is less about finding the model with the most features and more about figuring out which features you'll actually use. Think about how and where you'll use it, then consider:

  • How often you'll use it: Regular recovery or occasional soreness?

  • Where you'll use it: Mostly at home or at the gym and while traveling?

  • Size, weight and grip: Consider portability, how comfortable it is to hold and whether you can reach areas like your back and shoulders.

  • Intensity and speeds: Look at how much control you have over the massage.

  • Attachments: Different attachments can target different muscles and areas of the body.

  • Noise level: This may matter if you plan to use it around other people.

  • Battery life: Frequent users and travelers may want longer stretches between charges.

  • Budget: Consider which features matter enough to pay more for.

Theragun Relief vs. Mini: Which one should you gift?

For straightforward everyday recovery, the Theragun Relief is an approachable pick. It weighs 1.37 pounds and boasts one-button control with three speeds, plus standard ball, dampener and thumb attachments for treating different areas. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Theragun Theragun Relief $159.99 at Best Buy
  Shop Now at Best Buy

Theragun Relief is good fit for someone who wants a massage gun without much of a learning curve, whether they're sore after workouts or spend long hours at a desk. And you’re not just giving them a feel-good gift, either: A 2023 systematic review published in the Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology found that massage guns may help improve short-term flexibility and range of motion and may support muscle recovery, although research remains limited.

People who travel a lot, meanwhile, may prefer the Theragun Mini 3rd Gen, which CNET’s experts named the best lightweight massage gun. It's Therabody's smallest and lightest Theragun, with three speeds and three attachments, plus Bluetooth connectivity to the Therabody app for additional controls and guided routines.

Opens in a new window Credit: Theragun Theragun Mini $219.99 at Best Buy
  Shop Now at Best Buy

If it'll mostly live at home, the Relief keeps things simple. If it's going to the gym, out on the golf course or to the airport and everywhere in between, the Mini is easier to bring along.

What is the best Therabody gift for a self-care fan? Opens in a new window Credit: TheraFace TheraFace Mask Glo $379.99 at Best Buy
  Shop Now at Best Buy

For someone who's more concerned with skincare than sore muscles, the TheraFace Mask Glo makes more sense.

The wearable mask uses 504 LEDs to deliver red, red plus infrared and blue light across the face. A preset treatment takes 12 minutes, and the head strap adds vibration for a scalp massage.

Research into LED skincare is promising, although expectations should stay realistic. A randomized, double-blind study published in 2025 in Medicine found that a home-use mask combining red LED and infrared light improved crow's-feet measurements compared with a sham device after 16 weeks of use.

The Mask Glo can also slip into an existing skincare routine: Put it on, start the preset treatment and let it cycle through its light modes. For someone who takes their skincare time seriously, it's easy to picture this gift getting regular use.

Therabody's new Y2K Mini is made for nostalgic tech fans Opens in a new window Credit: Therabody Y2K Grape Blast Theragun Mini $229.99 at Best Buy
  Shop Now at Best Buy

The limited-edition Y2K Grape Blast Theragun Mini gives Therabody's portable massage gun an early-2000s makeover.

The translucent purple design takes its cues from the colorful, see-through electronics of the Y2K era, but underneath it's a Theragun Mini 3rd Gen. You still get the compact design, three speeds, three attachments and Bluetooth connectivity.

It's a fun pick for someone who'd appreciate a massage gun but doesn't want another black or gray gadget, combining the Mini's portability with a much more eye-catching design.

You can shop Therabody at Best Buy to find a recovery or self-care gift for someone on your list — even if that someone is yourself.

FAQsWhich Therabody is the best gift?

The best choice comes down to how the recipient likes to unwind or recover. Choose the Theragun Relief for everyday recovery, the Mini for portability, the TheraFace Mask Glo for skincare or the Y2K Grape Blast Mini for someone who'll appreciate its limited-edition styling.

Which Theragun is best for travel?

The Theragun Mini 3rd Gen is Therabody's smallest and lightest massage gun, making it the most travel-friendly option covered here. It fits easily into backpacks, gym bags and suitcases, so you can take it wherever you find yourself needing quick relief.

What is the difference between a Theragun and the TheraFace Mask Glo?

Theragun devices use percussive massage for muscle recovery. The TheraFace Mask Glo is a wearable skincare device that uses red, infrared and blue LED light plus vibration massage.

Is there a new Theragun launch this season?

Yes. The limited-edition Y2K Collection includes the Theragun Mini 3rd Gen in Grape Blast, a translucent colorway inspired by the colorful tech of the early 2000s. 

Where can I buy Therabody products?

Therabody products, including Theragun massage guns and TheraFace devices, are available at Best Buy. Shop Therabody at Best Buy to find the device that best fits your holiday wish list.

Everything to remember before the next A Court of Thorns and Roses book

Mashable - Fri, 10/16/2026 - 12:42

You remember the wings. You remember the mating bonds. You probably remember Nesta and Cassian's training sessions better than the political situation on the continent (or maybe that’s just me).

But with Sarah J. Maas's next A Court of Thorns and Roses book approaching, some details suddenly feel more pressing. Who is Koschei again? Where did we leave Elain and Lucien? And why are people talking about a sword from an entirely different series?

The last ACOTAR installment, A Court of Silver Flames, gave Nesta a love story, a new community, and a very expensive bargain with the Cauldron. Since then, Maas has expanded this world through her Crescent City books, leaving ACOTAR readers with developments they might have missed.

Here’s what to remember before opening A Court of Splintered Harmony.

Warning: Major spoilers for the published ACOTAR books follow. The Crescent City section also spoils House of Sky and Breath and House of Flame and Shadow.

When does the next ACOTAR book come out?

A Court of Splintered Harmony arrives Oct. 27, 2026. It’s the sixth published installment and carries the subtitle The Valkyrie Cycle, Movement I.

A Court of Forgotten Melody follows on Jan. 12, 2027. Both titles and dates are listed on Maas's official website. Your return to the Night Court could become an extended stay.

What is A Court of Splintered Harmony about?

The official synopsis puts Koschei the Deathless at the center of the threat. Bound to a mountain lake for millennia, he is attracting allies who want to reclaim the human lands.

Prythian is still recovering from the war with Hybern, while betrayals and revelations have divided the Night Court. Everyone will need to work through their issues to confront him.

There are also clues about perspective: A publisher teaser names Lucien in a passage following his thoughts, while another features a character communicating with shadows, strongly suggesting Azriel.

SEE ALSO: Sarah J. Maas announces two new 'A Court of Thorns and Roses' books Which ACOTAR books come before it?

The published reading order is:

  1. A Court of Thorns and Roses

  2. A Court of Mist and Fury

  3. A Court of Wings and Ruin

  4. A Court of Frost and Starlight

  5. A Court of Silver Flames

The shorter Frost and Starlight bridges Wings and Ruin and Silver Flames. Including it is why the upcoming release is called ACOTAR 6, even if you’ve seen readers count four novels and a novella.

For a targeted reread, start with Silver Flames. Its ending leaves several characters, magical objects, and alliances worth revisiting.

Where did we leave Nesta and Cassian?

By the end of Silver Flames, Nesta has accepted her mating bond with Cassian and defeated the human queen Briallyn. Then Feyre's childbirth crisis forces another decision.

Feyre cannot safely deliver her winged baby, Nyx. Her bargain with Rhysand means her death would also kill him. Nesta uses the Dread Trove and offers back the power she took from the Cauldron to save them, surrendering most of it.

She retains some magic and reveals that she also changed her own body so she could safely carry a winged child. After so much conflict with her family, Nesta ends the book as the person who saves Feyre, Rhysand, and their son.

Why do the Valkyries matter?

Nesta's recovery is closely tied to Gwyn, a priestess, and Emerie, an Illyrian shopkeeper. Through friendship and training, the three revive the traditions of the Valkyries, an ancient order of female warriors.

They're tested when they are kidnapped and forced into the Blood Rite, a dangerous Illyrian trial. Gwyn and Emerie reach the summit of Ramiel; Nesta stays behind to defend the pass so they can continue.

With the upcoming books branded The Valkyrie Cycle, their shared project deserves attention, even if the subtitle doesn’t establish which woman will lead the story.

Who is Koschei, and what does he want?

Koschei is an ancient sorcerer and the brother of the Bone Carver and the Weaver. Confined to a lake on the continent, he still manages to manipulate events beyond it.

He is responsible for the human queen Vassa's curse: She becomes a firebird during the day and returns to human form at night.

In Silver Flames, he works with Briallyn, whose schemes involve acquiring the Dread Trove. Nesta defeats her, but Koschei remains at large — and, according to the new synopsis, his influence is growing.

What's happening with Elain, Lucien, Azriel, and Gwyn?

Elain and Lucien have a mating bond, but she hasn't accepted it. Meanwhile, Elain and Azriel’s attraction becomes explicit in Azriel’s bonus chapter from the Books-A-Million edition of A Court of Silver Flames.

They nearly kiss before Rhysand interrupts. He orders Azriel to stay away, warning that pursuing Elain could provoke a confrontation with Lucien and serious political consequences.

Later, Azriel interacts with Gwyn. After Elain returns the necklace he gave her, he leaves it with Clotho to pass to Gwyn. His response to Gwyn — and his shadows’ behavior around her — has fueled competing romantic theories.

There’s plenty left unresolved, but none of this confirms an endgame pairing.

What is the Dread Trove again?

The three objects central to Silver Flames are the Mask, Harp, and Crown. The Mask can raise the dead, the Harp manipulates passage through space and time, and the Crown can control others.

Nesta’s connection to them comes from having been Made by the Cauldron herself. These objects are separate from the magical weapons she creates during training.

What happened in Crescent City that ACOTAR readers should know?

Skip this section if you want to experience the crossover unspoiled.

At the end of House of Sky and Breath, Bryce Quinlan crosses into the ACOTAR world. House of Flame and Shadow develops that crossover, including her exploration of underground passages with Nesta and Azriel.

Their discoveries connect the Prison’s island to the lost Dusk Court. They also reveal that the Asteri, the powers ruling Bryce's world, are the beings known in Prythian as the Daglan.

Bryce’s Starsword is known in Prythian as Gwydion and is connected to Azriel’s dagger, Truth-Teller. Nesta later lends Bryce the Mask. When Bryce returns it, she also leaves Gwydion with Nesta and encourages her to investigate the eight-pointed star that has repeatedly appeared in her life.

SEE ALSO: Are the 'ACOTAR' leaks real? Here’s what we know, without spoilers. Do you need to read every Sarah J. Maas book first?

For a refresher, prioritize Nesta and the Valkyries, Koschei, the unresolved mating bonds, and the magical objects now in play.

To experience the Crescent City crossover yourself, read House of Earth and Blood, House of Sky and Breath, then House of Flame and Shadow. Maas's official reading guide lists each series in order.

Apple, Nvidia lead list of tech companies that donated to Trump’s White House ballroom project

Mashable - Fri, 10/16/2026 - 12:15

Some of the world's biggest tech companies donated tens of millions of dollars for the construction of President Donald Trump's White House ballroom — and now we know exactly how much money they gave to the White House, too.

According to a new report from the Washington Post, Apple and Nvidia topped the list of donors to Trump's ballroom project, giving $25 million each for the president's pet project. The two tech companies were among the top four donors overall, alongside the Adelson Family Foundation and Charles Ergen, the co-founder of Dish Network.

However, Apple and Nvidia were far from the only tech companies to make massive donations for the ballroom.

Google provided $22 million, via a settlement the company made with Trump related to the shutdown of his YouTube channel following the events of Jan. 6, as Mashable reported previously.

Microsoft donated $10 million, and Palantir was right behind them with a near $10 million donation of their own.

Amazon, Meta, and T-Mobile donated $5 million each.

A number of cryptocurrency companies like Coinbase, Ripple, and the Winklevoss twins, who represent their Gemini crypto exchange, also donated $5 million. Crypto exchange Kraken donated $1 million.

HP and Micron each gave the president $2.5 million and Salesforce donated $2 million.

Non-tech companies like defense contractors and the former CEO of Marvel's foundation also gave tens of millions of dollars to the ballroom project.

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