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I wanted a TV in the bedroom. My wife didn’t. So I was tasked with finding a way for us to still be able to watch movies and TV shows in bed, but without a TV on the wall. Little did I know that the solution was a small, Coke-can-sized piece of tech that we could fit under the nightstand when not in use.

A Raspberry Pi Pico is very different from the rest of the Raspberry Pi family, and can be very daunting if you've never used one before. Luckily, there is a free website that lets you try things out before you dive in.

If you're the person friends and family call when their computer starts acting weird, you've probably opened Task Manager more times than you can count. It's the first place most of us go when a PC feels slow, an app stops responding, or the fans suddenly spin up for no obvious reason. For decades, it has been Windows’ built-in diagnostic dashboard, presenting CPU, memory, disk, and GPU activity in neat graphs that look authoritative enough to settle debates about what’s slowing your PC down.

If you've been holding off on an Android upgrade because your current phone is still chugging along, or you're waiting for the next big phone launch, you might want to reconsider. All signs point to 2026 flagships costing more while delivering the same or less than last year's phones.

Cascading drop-down lists—where choosing a category like "Fruit" narrows the next list to "Apple" or "Pear"—are a staple of high-level data entry in Excel. The old INDIRECT method works, but it's clunky and hard to maintain. Instead, use dynamic arrays to build lists that handle the modern workflow more smoothly.

The modern digital workplace is moving away from separate apps and files toward a single, shared workspace. Microsoft Loop components fix the major problem of switching back and forth between tools and losing information, especially in Team Chats, but Loop commands are how you summon them.

AI safety has been all over the news recently. The US Department of War asked Anthropic to allow use of its AI for "any lawful use," and the AI company ultimately refused. While this is seen by many as a positive step, it still seems the case that AI companies only really have a conscience when it suits them.

Client URL or cURL is a powerful command-line utility that's pre-installed on pretty much every modern computer (whether its Windows, macOS, or Linux). Think of curl as a web browser that lives in the terminal and works with raw text. This idea sounds pretty simple, but it's also why curl is omnipresent in modern tech. Even though modern alternatives exist (like wget), curl is not going anywhere. If you spend some time working with Linux, you will inevitably end up running a curl command.

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, March 5, 2026:

AcrossPoli ___ (college major)

• The answer is Sci.

Person with a superior attitude

• The answer is Snob.

Word whose letters are appropriately found from left to right in … CHARISMA

• The answer is Charm.

… PRECIPITATION

• The answer is Rain.

… UNSIGHTLY

• The answer is Ugly.

DownSlow-moving creature

• The answer is Snail.

Like a groan-inducing joke

• The answer is Corny.

Co. that created the first floppy disk

• The answer is IBM.

Furry variety of carpet

• The answer is Shag.

World Class Wreckin' ___, music group in which Dr. Dre got his start

• The answer is Cru.

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

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

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

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you're a handyman.

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.

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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.

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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 March 5, 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: Found in a toolbox

• Green: Put your thinking cap on!

• Blue: To flip

• Purple: Underneath

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Bits of hardware

• Green: Places where ideas are developed

• Blue: Go back and forth

• Purple: What "Sub" might refer to

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 #998 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Bits of hardware: BOLT, NUT, SCREW, WASHER

• Places where ideas are developed: INCUBATOR, LAB, SANDBOX, TEST BED

• Go back and forth: ALTERNATE, SEESAW, SWITCH, TOGGLE

• What "Sub" might refer to: BELOW, HERO, REPLACEMENT, SUBMARINE

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for March 5, 2026

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

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

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

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a follower, not a leader.

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 March 5, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for March 5, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Wooled animals.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter E appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

SHEEP

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're pint-sized.

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 March 5, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 5, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: That's it?

The words are related to size.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe small things.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Gee Thanks.

NYT Strands word list for March 5

• Meager

• Scant

• Puny

• Paltry

• Gee Thanks

• Negligible

• Piddling

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.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

How one might feel after eating beans.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

GASSY

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Creative.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 5, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

ARTSY

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A prize.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for March 5 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for March 5, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

AWARD

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A woman.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

FEMME

Final Hurdle hint

To groom.

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

PRIMP

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

Many of the suspiciously inexpensive robot vacuums cut corners too close to the sun, quickly shifting from helpers around the house to agents of chaos. The more basic the navigation tech under the hood, the more likely you are to come home to a vacuum stuck under the couch (rather than a fully swept home).

Most cheap robot vacuums don't have the suction power or brush roll system necessary to pry crumbs or pet hair out of any carpet pile. That mediocrity extends to many robot vacuum and mop combo models, which don't "scrub" so much as feebly drag a damp cloth across the floor. At that point, it'd be less of a bother to get a decent stick vacuum and do it yourself.

SEE ALSO: 'Why does my robot vacuum suck now?' Well, when's the last time you cleaned it?

Long story short: Buying a robot vacuum just because it's cheap puts that glorious hands-off cleaning experience in jeopardy. But not all cheap robot vacuums are crappy, even compared to a few years ago. Smart mapping and self-emptying docks are super easy to find for just a few hundred dollars, and more premium features like small obstacle avoidance and automatic mop washing and drying can often be found below $500.

Recent changes to this guide

March 2026: I added the Eufy C28 as the best budget roller mop robot vacuum. (It's also the only "budget" roller mop robot vacuum out there right now.) I consider this a replacement for the Eufy X10 Pro Omni, which was the best budget self-washing and drying station for much of 2025.

July 2025: I replaced the Roomba 205 DustCompactor with the 3i G10+. The G10+ has significantly stronger suction and better mapping than the Roomba, plus more advanced features like small obstacle and pet waste avoidance and a livestream pet camera.

Most guys have a love-hate relationship with dating apps. But between work and life, meeting someone organically can feel nearly impossible. That's the promise of online dating — an unlimited number of meet-cutes right to your phone, no serendipity required. Of course, the reality of online dating is often quite different. But don't get discouraged. The Mashable Dating & Relationships team has spent years testing the most popular dating apps for men, and we can tell you which apps are most likely to connect you with the right person for you.

Do dating apps still work in 2026?

We get it, though. Dating as a man in 2026 is tough. It's not just the pressure to make or the fear of rejection if you do — it's the endless swiping through fake profiles, scammers, AI-generated thirst traps, bots posing as potential matches, relentless Instagram models trying to lure you into their OnlyFans scam, and matches with impossibly high expectations (yes, the "6-6-6 rule" is a real thing).

But despite the challenges, dating apps do work. A 2025 SSRS Opinion Panel Omnibus survey found that nearly 39 percent of all U.S. adults have used a dating app at some point, and men are actually more likely to be current users than women (57 percent vs. 38 percent). While the experience isn't always perfect, the odds are in your favor: 57 percent of men report positive experiences with online dating, compared to only 48 percent of women. The numbers are even higher for young people and the LGBTQ+ community.

SEE ALSO: The dating app glossary: The A to Z of terms you need to know The best dating apps for guys who know what they want

This guide is your cheat sheet for the best dating apps for men in 2026. We've done the research and found the apps that are actually worth your time. Whether you're looking for something casual or something serious, we have a dating app to recommend.

Pro tip: Don't be afraid to experiment. Try out a few different apps and see what works for you. And most importantly, don't get discouraged! Sometimes, the occasional bad date or disappointing flirtation is just the price you pay to meet the match of a lifetime.

TL;DR: Unblock Pornhub from Mississippi with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN.

The online world is riddled with restrictions and blockades that stop you going where you want to go. Online restrictions are everywhere, even in the world of porn.

A number of U.S. states have introduced laws that require visitors to upload ID before accessing pornography sites. Pornhub bit back by banning visitors from those states from accessing their website. This ban is frustrating for users in places like Mississippi, but there is a simple workaround.

If you want to unblock porn sites like Pornhub for free from Mississippi, we have all the information you need.

How to unblock Pornhub for free in Mississippi

VPNs are useful tools that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other locations. This straightforward process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can access sites like Pornhub from anywhere in the world.

Unblock Pornhub by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location that supports access to Pornhub

4. Visit Pornhub

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The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free-trial peiods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like Pornhub without actually spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you the opportunity to temporarily retain access to Pornhub before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to sites like Pornhub, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for bypassing content restrictions is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Pornhub?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking porn sites like Pornhub, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

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

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

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Unblock Pornhub for free in Mississippi with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Stop battling with PDFs with some help from this AcePDF Converter and Editor lifetime license, on sale now for $23.97 through March 8.

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Working with PDFs is a drag. They’re a frustrating file type that can slow you down at work and at home, but AcePDF Converter and Editor is ready to make them manageable. This app helps you process PDFs and other documents easily, and you can rest easy knowing you’ll end up with high-quality conversions that retain their original layouts, images, and hyperlinks.

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If you’re tired of struggling to convert your PDF into a Word, Excel, or JPG file, let AcePDF Converter and Editor make it easier. It will only take a few taps, and the app makes it just as easy to convert an Excel or PPT file to a PDF if needed.

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TL;DR: Score a Grade A refurbished MacBook Pro (2020) with i7, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD for $479.99 (reg. $1,999).

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There’s a big difference between wanting a Mac and having to pay full retail for one. At $479.99 (reg. $1,999), this Grade A refurbished MacBook Pro (from 2020) makes that decision a lot easier.

Powered by a 10th-gen Intel Core i7 processor (2.3GHz, Turbo Boost up to 3.8GHz), paired with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, this machine handles demanding multitasking smoothly. It’s well-suited for productivity apps, content creation, coding, and everyday business workflows.

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The 13.3-inch Retina display (2560×1600) with True Tone delivers sharp detail and balanced color, whether you’re editing documents, reviewing designs, or streaming content. Intel Iris Plus Graphics provides solid performance for creative tasks and media playback.

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This model updates to macOS Tahoe, keeping you aligned with current Apple software features and security updates.

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Get this near-mint MacBook Pro for $479.99 (reg. $1,999) while it’s still in stock.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Every so often, a word or phrase claws its way out of a cultural underground and into the mainstream lexicon. More often than not, it's African American Vernacular English (AAVE) that gets co-opted by TikTokers before landing on Good Morning America, say. Slightly cringe, mostly harmless.

But some slang breaks containment in ways that aren't so benign.

Case in point: Looksmaxxing. This term, which has recently been explained to viewers of NBC News, refers to the practice of maximizing your physical attractiveness — methodically, relentlessly, and by any means necessary. But it's no fashion-world portmanteau. The word actually hails from incel forums in the 2010s.

And it's not just looksmaxxing. Incel terminology that once festered in the dark corners of obscure boards has gone mainstream, while its proponents viral. Influencers like Clavicular have amassed millions of views for unhinged takes involving the dangerous practice of bonesmashing. And unless you're in the know, you won't always know these terms when you see them.

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If you're scratching your head at tweets like this, or wondering what your kids or friends are suddenly all talking about, you're in the right place. Here's your field guide to the people, terms, and corners of the internet you never knew you needed to know.

Acension

The moment an incel successfully escapes their condition, crossing over from involuntary celibacy into an active romantic or sexual life.

Androgenic

An Australian looksmaxxing influencer locked in an ongoing battle with Clavicular and others for the title of #1 Chad — a term that broadly means a sexually successful male, but in looksmaxxing circles means winners of an online leaderboard.

ASU frat Leader

The influencer seen in a video that went viral on campus at Arizona State University. IRL, he's fitness influencer Varis Gilaj.

BIMAX

Short for bimaxillary osteotomy, BIMAX is a double-jaw surgery typically performed as a corrective procedure for conditions like an open bite. In medical contexts, it's reconstructive. In looksmaxxing circles, the procedure is sought out as an extreme cosmetic upgrade.

Blackpill

No, this isn't the red or blue pills of The Matrix. Blackpilling is a nihilistic offshoot of incel ideology and the manosphere, It refers to a bleak thesis: in the heterosexual dating market, physical attractiveness is the only thing that matters.

This worldview is propped up by pseudoscientific frameworks and cherry-picked data. It's the ideological bedrock from which practices like looksmaxxing grow. To "take the black pill" is to accept this as truth.

Chad

Incel slang for physically attractive and sexually successful men. In incel culture, Chads represent the top 1% of men that women seek in the dating marketplace. Chads are often depicted in memes as a strong-jawed, blonde Übermensch.

Chadlite

A portmanteau of Chad (see above) and lite (to be lesser). Used to describe men who are above average in looks, but not to the level of a Chad.

Chud

A forgettable 1984 sci-fi horror film set in New York City, C.H.U.D. — which stands for Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dweller — has found new relevance. It's a pejorative lobbed at incels and adjacent communities like the manosphere, comparing their communities to sewer creatures.

Clavicular SEE ALSO: Who is Clavicular, and why is he everywhere right now?

A Kick streamer, real name Braden Peters. His online username is a reference to the clavicle, which is very important in the looksmaxing community.

Mashable's Anna Iovine has an excellent piece on everything you'd need to know about the now-viral internet influencer.

Cortisol spike

Cortisol is a naturally-produced steroid in the adrenal gland; it's better known as the stress hormone. In incel spaces, "cortisol spike" means getting visibly flustered or stressed out over something embarrassing.

Foid

This is shorthand for the incel term "Femoid." A portmanteau of female and humanoid, this is one of many pejorative terms incels use to refer to women.

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When your upper body simply overwhelms the competition. This refers to having wider shoulders, a bigger back, and a silhouette that makes the guy next to you look narrow by comparison.

Incel

Short for "involuntarily celibate," the incel community has its origins in a niche blog in the late 1990s. The Involuntary Celibacy Project began as a genuine support group for people struggling to find aromantic connections.

Over time, the male community grew more extreme, placing the blame for their struggles squarely on women. These groups migrated to 4chan and Reddit — first to r/incels, then to r/Braincels after the former was banned in 2017. In the 2020s, the ideology was associated with various terror attacks carried out by self-described incels.

Jestermaxxing

On the surface, this just means someone who leans hard into being the funny one. But in incel spaces, it's a pejorative aimed at men who use humor to get attention from women.

Kick

A Twitch alternative, backed by crypto casino Stake. Kick has carved out its niche through looser content moderation, with a lighter touch on copyrighted material, hate speech, and on-stream gambling.

That permissiveness has made it a natural home for several right-wing manosphere influencers, including Sneako, xQc, Aidan Ross, and Clavicular.

Limb Lengthening Surgery

A reconstructive procedure that gradually elongates the bones of the arms or legs, typically performed on patients with skeletal dysplasia or other genetic bone growth conditions. The process is lengthy, painful, and intensive — bones are surgically broken and then slowly separated over months, allowing new bone tissue to fill the gap.

Nevertheless, you guessed it, the surgery has gained traction online as a way to make oneself taller.

Looksmaxxing

We explained it up top, but what does Looksmaxxing look like in practice? On the tamer end, it's standard self-improvement: skincare routines, hitting the gym, and upgrading your wardrobe.

But the rabbit hole goes deep for some, particularly men of color, who face an added layer of racialized beauty standards within these spaces. Skin whitening treatments, anabolic steroid abuse, and increasingly extreme body modification have all found a home here. And then there's influencer Clavicular, who has become the poster child for bonesmashing.

Looksmax.org

One of many online forums for people in the looksmaxxing and incel community. According to a 2023 BBC investigation, the site was created by Lamarcus Small, a Black man living in Alabama. Small is also the creator of a sanctioned suicide forum that the BBC links to 50 deaths in the UK.

-maxxing

To understand looksmaxxing, you first need to understand the suffix it borrows from. "-Maxxing" means doing something with maximum, obsessive effort — and it traces back to min-maxing, a concept from tabletop RPGs like Dungeons & Dragons. It refers to players putting all their points into high-value stats like strength while deliberately neglecting others — faith, intelligence, charisma.

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A pseudoscientific oral training technique that claims that proper tongue posture — pressed firmly against the roof of the mouth — can reshape your jaw structure over time. The science doesn't back it up, but that hasn't slowed the spread of this odd practice.

Mogging

To undermine another man by eclipsing him in physical appearance. The term is derived from the acronym AMOG, or "Alpha Male of the Group."

PSL Scale

A pseudoscientific attractiveness ranking system built by the looksmaxxing community to put an empirical number on your face. The acronym is an amalgamation of three defunct incel forums — PUAhate, SlutHate, and Lookism.

The scale runs from 0.25 to 8, though in practice, no one actually scores an 8. It measures facial features with an almost clinical specificity: eye shape, canthal tilt, nose angles, jaw size, and lip thickness. Proponents of the scale can be found on sites like Looksmax.org and on Reddit, in r/rateme and r/truerateme.

Sexual Market Value

An individual's measure of sexual attractiveness scored on a scale of 1 to 10. The formula shifts depending on gender. For women, SMV is almost entirely physical. For men, the calculus is broader: physique, income, career status, social clout, and personality can all push the number up or down.

Slaymaxxing

To have lots of sex.

Stacy

The female equivalent of a Chad. A Stacy is attractive, socially popular, and — crucially, to the incel mind — sexually active.

The term carries an implicit resentment: Stacy's represent everything incels want and, by their own logic, everything they'll never have access to.

Stake

An online crypto casino and parent company of Twitch-alternative Kick. Stake has become infamous for one of the laziest — and most effective — ad strategies on the internet: paying meme pages and content aggregators to slap its watermark onto viral images before reposting them.

Looking for something great to watch at home? Streaming subscribers are spoiled for choice between Hulu, Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, Apple TV, Prime Video, Shudder, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. And that's before you even look at the vast libraries of movies and television programs within each streamer!

Don't be overwhelmed or waste an hour scrolling through your services to determine what to watch. We've got your back, whatever your mood. Mashable offers watch guides for all of the above, broken down by genre: comedy, thriller, horror, documentary, and animation, among others. But if you're seeking something brand new (or just new to streaming), we've got you covered there, too.

10. Fackham Hall

If you've ever wondered what Downton Abbey might look like with poop and dick jokes, welcome to Fackham Hall.

Directed by Jim O'Hanlon, this period piece parody features a charming young lady (Thomasin McKenzie) who's on the verge of marrying her not-so-charming cousin (Tom Felton). But then, she fatefully crosses paths with a poor but dashing thief (Ben Radcliffe). In this upstairs/downstairs world, can their love last? Plus, there's murder, merriment, and scads of double entendres, prat falls, and unapologetically stupid humor. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

Starring: Thomasin McKenzie, Ben Radcliffe, Katherine Waterston, Emma Laird, Tom Goodman-Hill, Anna Maxwell Martin, Sue Johnston, Tom Felton, and Damian Lewis

How to watch: Fackham Hall debuts on HBO Max on March 6.

9. Dirty Rotten Scandals

If you love mess, you'll relish every episode of E!'s Dirty Rotten Scandals. This new documentary series kicks off by digging up the dirt on three TV shows that are truly iconic and deeply problematic: Dr. Phil, America’s Next Top Model, and The Price is Right.

On the surface, each show promised a space to grow, to win, and to achieve a big dream (or just a brand! New! Car!). But beneath the sheen of Hollywood glamor, there was exploitation, manipulation, and in the case of The Price is Right host Bob Barker, rampant sexism and racism. However, we suspect the most must-see eps will be the two-parter on America's Next Top Model. Coming in on the heels of Netflix's Reality Check, Dirty Rotten Scandals got former ANTM judge Janice Dickinson to share her thoughts on Tyra Banks. And that's some piping hot tea we will be seated to see spilled. — K.P.

SEE ALSO: 'Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model' is rage bait. We watched it so you don't have to.

How to watch: Dirty Rotten Scandals is now on E!

8. Friends Like These: The Murder of Skylar Neese

Some true crime docs are just too long. Friends Like These: The Murder of Skylar Neese is one such doc, leaning on parental fears to stretch its story across three meandering episodes.

Directed by Clair Titley, Friends Like These focuses on the heinous homicide of 16-year-old Skylar Neese, who was last seen sneaking out of her parents' West Virginia home in the summer of 2012. The story of her murder is tragic and grim, but Titley's clichéd portrayal of Neese as an "average American girl" and her finger-wagging portrait of teens on social media flattens this victim into a cautionary tale. Her grieving parents become a spectacle and a warning, and the final answer to who killed Neese and why are deeply unsatisfying. That part is not Titley's fault. That's just the facts of the case. You can read those instead of walking away with the sickening feeling of watching a mediocre doc that treats murder as a grave life lesson. — K.P.

How to watch: Friends Like These: The Murder of Skylar Neese is streaming on Hulu.

7. Vladimir

Rachel Weisz gets caught up in scandal in Netflix's limited series Vladimir. Based on the 2022 novel of the same name by Julia May Jonas (who also serves as showrunner), the show stars Weisz as an unnamed college professor whose life is in absolute shambles. Her husband is under fire for sleeping with his students, and on top of that, she's recently become obsessed with her young hotshot colleague, Vladimir (Leo Woodall). As her life spirals, will she give into her desires?

Armed with sexual fantasies and enough fourth-wall breaks to make Fleabag blush, Vladimir seeks to titillate and confound. Unfortunately, as I wrote in my review, "[A]s an erotic thriller and a portrait of the ripple effects of sexual misconduct allegations, Vladimir is just like its protagonist's worst nightmare: It fails to captivate." — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Rachel Weisz, Leo Woodall, John Slattery, Ellen Robertson, and Jessica Henwick

How to watch: Vladimir is now streaming on Netflix.

6. War Machine

For War Machine, Alan Ritchson, the wall of muscle from Reacher and Fast X, teams with Patrick Hughes, the director of The Expendables 3, The Hitman's Bodyguard, and The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard. So, expect an action-packed movie with plenty of stunt-driven spectacle.

Specifically, military drama and sci-fi action collide when — during the final stage of U.S. Army Ranger training — a team of soldiers come across a mysterious war machine. From the trailer, you can see this is some dangerous tech. Where did it come from? What does it want (beyond picking a fight)? The only answers come from watching, when War Machine hits Netflix. — K.P.

Starring: Alan Ritchson, Dennis Quaid, Stephan James, Jai Courtney, Esai Morales, Keiynan Lonsdale, and Daniel Webber

How to watch: War Machine debuts on Netflix on March 6.

5. Outlander, Season 8

Outlander fans, I've got good news and bad news. The good news? You've made it through your last Droughtlander, that dreaded period between Outlander seasons. The bad news? This means the end of Outlander is almost upon you. The fantasy series, based on Diana Gabaldon's beloved novels, begins its final journey this week, once again flitting back and forth through time to conclude Jamie and Claire Fraser's (Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe) epic love story. How will this century-spanning, globe-trotting adventure end? — B.E.

Starring: Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan

How to watch: The final season of Outlander debuts on STARZ on March 6.

4. Young Sherlock

What's that? Sherlock Holmes and his archenemy James Moriarty running around Oxford as youngsters, solving crimes together? It's the elementary basis of Guy Ritchie's new Prime Video series, Young Sherlock, in which the director takes another stab at Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous detective. In this adventure-fueled origin story, Hero Fiennes Tiffin finds his own style as Sherlock, while Wheel of Time's Dónal Finn fittingly steals scenes as fictional rival Moriarty, and 3 Body Problem's Zine Tseng frankly kicks everyone's ass. And while the overt "pip pip cheerio" energy of Young Sherlock takes a minute and Joseph Fiennes (yes, Tiffin's uncle plays Sherlock's father Silas Holmes) over-uses the term "my boy," the series' core mystery takes satisfying twists. If you liked Enola Holmes, you might enjoy Young Sherlock. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

Starring: Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Dónal Finn, Zine Tseng, Colin Firth, Max Irons, Joseph Fiennes, Natascha McElhone, and Numan Acar

How to watch: Young Sherlock is now streaming on Prime Video.

3. The Moment

Charli XCX offers a mockumentary that explores her Brat Summer moment through a thin, crackling sheen of neon-green comedy. The plot follows Charli from promo demands to tour prep to ultra-exclusive spas and shattering personal meltdowns. While she and her trusted creative director, Celeste (Hailey Benton Gates), have a pulsing nightclub vision for the Brat tour, a ever-smiling documentarian named Johannes (Alexander Skarsgård) pressures for a more mainstream vision that'll appeal to "dads."

In my review out of Sundance, I cheered, "Rather than broadly skewering the rich and famous, The Moment shrewdly targets the corporate side of making art for a living. Through celebrity cameos, a succinct yet riveting story, earnest emotion, and biting humor, Charli XCX's mockumentary captures something real about the battle of art versus commerce. How does one hold onto themselves when hit by an avalanche of more, more, more, for better or worse? The Moment shows one answer, urging audiences to find their own." — K.P.

Starring: Charli XCX, Rosanna Arquette, Kate Berlant, Jamie Demetriou, Hailey Benton Gates, Isaac Powell, and Alexander Skarsgård

How to watch: The Moment is now available for rental or purchase on Prime Video and Apple TV.

2. Stray Kids: The dominATE Experience

Stray Kids fans, cancel your damn plans, as The dominATE Experience lands on digital this week. Shot during the 2025 world tour at Los Angeles' SoFi Stadium, this eagerly awaited concert film promises to get up close with the K-pop icons in all their choreographic wonder — and from this sneak peek at "Maniac" live, you're in for a five-star Michelin treat whether you were there in person or not.

As Mashable's Crystal Bell writes, "These weren't shows that eased you in. They hit hard from the jump, stacking explosive choreography, blistering rap verses, and emotional pivots into a set designed to never let the energy dip. Bang Chan anchoring the chaos, Changbin and Han trading rapid-fire intensity, Hyunjin and Felix commanding the stage with physicality and presence, Lee Know's razor-sharp movement, Seungmin delivering steady vocals while casually instigating chaos, and I.N grounding it all with sincerity — every member played a specific role in keeping that engine running." — S.C.

Starring: Lee Know, Han, I.N, Felix, Bang Chan, Hyunjin, Seungmin, and Changbin

How to watch: Stray Kids: The dominATE Experience is available to rent or purchase on Prime Video and Apple TV.

1. Rooster

Steve Carell goes to college in HBO's charming new comedy Rooster, from creators Bill Lawrence (Ted Lasso, Shrinking) and Matt Tarses (Scrubs). He plays best-selling author Greg Russo, who accepts an offer to be the writer-in-residence at Ludlow College. He doesn't take the post for prestige, though. Instead, he takes it to be closer to his daughter, Katie (Charly Clive), an art history professor who's going through a rough patch after her husband (Phil Dunster) left her for a grad student (Lauren Tsai).

What follows is a sweet father-daughter comedy that examines the complexities of relationships with your parents as an adult. (Especially when your parent bursts into your small college bubble while your life is in shambles.) Packed with strong performances, Rooster is as warm as you'd expect from a Lawrence show, but it also finds a tad more rowdiness and bite in its satire of college life. — B.E.

Starring: Steve Carell, Phil Dunster, Charly Clive, Danielle Deadwyler, John C. McGinley, and Lauren Tsai

How to watch: Rooster premieres on HBO and HBO Max on March 8.

Best of Streaming this week: Hamnet

Academy Award–winning director Chloé Zhao finds herself back in the awards race thanks to Hamnet, an exquisite historical drama that offers up a different look at the life of William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal). Based on the novel by Maggie O'Farrell, who co-wrote the screenplay with Zhao, Hamnet's focus isn't really on the Bard. Instead, it's on his wife Agnes (a stellar Jessie Buckley), whose connection to nature and strange visions defy convention. But when Agnes and her husband lose their youngest son, Hamnet (Jacobi Jupe), the pair weather their grief in vastly different ways, resulting in the kind of film the word "heart-wrenching" was invented for.

Poised to wring every last ounce of water from your tear ducts, Hamnet charts its own bold course away from other Shakespeare-adjacent films. As Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko wrote in her review, "Not only does Zhao reject the temptations of glossy Hollywood biopics, but also the regal romance or cerebral theatricality of a barrage of Oscar-adored Shakespeare adaptations, from a handful of intense Hamlets to The Tragedy of Macbeth to the winsome Shakespeare in Love. Her Shakespeare and company are more feral, bringing this historic tragedy fresh blood and true grit."* — B.E.

Starring: Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Emily Watson, Joe Alwyn, Jacobi Jupe, and Olivia Lynes

How to watch: Hamnet debuts on Peacock on March 6.

(*) denotes a blurb came from a prior list.