IT General

Yes, Legos are for adults, and yes, buying Legos is a much more fun way to spend money than paying rent on the first of the month.

The plastic brick brand has fans covered this Aug. 1, thanks to a huge drop of new sets. If you like Mario Kart, One Piece, Star Wars, Nike, flowers, video games, vintage cars, architecture, and/or Halloween, there's a set for you among the 25 or so that just became available.

SEE ALSO: 'Andor' Season 2 review: The best Star Wars show goes out with a brilliant bang

I spent my time combing through them all, along with some other recent releases, to pick out the best of the best. Here you'll find affordable options and larger investments. Just under half the list is under $100 for any Lego fans looking to save a little bit of money (real Lego fans know under $100 is a downright bargain).

Below, find the 14 best new Lego sets as of Aug. 1:

Lego Jack-O'-Lantern Pickup Truck The farmer figurine nails the balance of fear and excitement known by every Halloween fan. Credit: Lego

The correct day to start celebrating Halloween season is Sept. 1, but as someone who absolutely loves Halloween, I will allow Aug. 1. This quaint Jack-O'-Lantern set (with a pumpkin you can open!) nails the vibe for adorable Halloween bookshelf decor for under $20.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Jack-O'-Lantern Pickup Truck $14.99 at Lego
Shop Now Lego Arcade Machine The perfect desk accessory. Credit: Lego

What is the point of being a gamer if not collecting adorable accessories through which to channel your passion? I guess actually playing games, but when your eyes need a break from your screen, building this mini arcade machine could do. The 468-piece set opens up to a mini gaming room for the included minifigure.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Arcade Machine $39.99 at Lego
Shop Now Lego Halloween Wreath Credit: Lego

Between the bats, spiders, pumpkins, and ghosts, the only Halloween heavy hitter missing on this wreath is a skeleton (though it does feature bones). While this wouldn't be the best outdoor option, Lego's Halloween Wreath comes with a string for easy hanging in your home, making it a great option for getting in the spooky spirit.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Halloween Wreath $39.99 at Lego
Shop Now Lego 'Mario Kart' Piranha Plant Power-Up Pursuit Switch 2 owners aren't the only ones who get to enjoy new Mario Kart content. Credit: Lego

Don't quite have the funds to get your hands on the new Mario Kart game just yet? This set requires no Switch 2 to enjoy, featuring Koopa Troopa, Toadette, the Tanooki Kart and Cat Cruiser, and of course, a piranha plant you can attach to either kart.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Mario Kart Piranha Plant Power-Up Pursuit $49.99 at Lego
Shop Now Lego Botanicals Mini Bonsai Trees Look at the serenity of these tiny Lego trees! Credit: Lego

Lego Botanicals fans: we did it. We finally got a set of bonsai trees that don't have any flowers or leaves actually made up of tiny pink frogs. (No shade to the frog fans, it's just a little unnerving for some of us!).

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Botanicals Mini Bonsai Trees $64.99 at Lego
Shop Now Lego Botanicals Hibiscus A perfect addition for a Lego Botanical garden. Credit: Lego

If there's a Lego Botanicals flower set that isn't gorgeous, I've yet to come across it, and the Hibiscus set is certainly no exception. The 660-piece life-size flower set comes with posable petals in a pretty lilac shade, making it an excellent accent piece.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Botanicals Hibiscus $69.99 at Lego
Shop Now Lego One Piece Battle at Arlong Park Credit: Lego

The Arlong Park arc of One Piece is what some fans consider the real hook — no small feat considering the original anime is over 1,000 episodes long (and still ongoing). Luffy's rubber powers get a fun feature in the arm-lengthening pieces, and a tap to the top of the pagoda causes it to explode in a nod to the show's unforgettable fight scenes.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego 'One Piece' Battle at Arlong Park $79.99 at Amazon
Shop Now Lego Nike Dunk x Lego Who knew a Lego sneaker would look this good? Credit: Lego

There's a Lego collab for everyone, including Nike and basketball fans. This 1,180 set comes with a couple of tricks up its sleeve (or down its shoe?), in the form of a storage compartment in the sneaker (where you can drop the minifig or extra shoe lace colors to swap later) and the ability to spin the basketball. That's a slam dunk of a fun set.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Nike Dunk x Lego $99.99 at Lego
Shop Now Lego Star Wars Wicket the Ewok What's more stunning decor, the Botanicals Hibiscus or Wicket the Ewok? Credit: Lego

Ewoks are the most adorable creature in the Star Wars universe, argue with the wall. While I think Lego could've made real magic with a life size Ewok set, this 1,010 piece that stands around nine inches tall is pretty adorable, too. And true to canon, he comes equipped with a spear and a little treat.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego 'Star Wars' Wicket the Ewok $129.99 at Lego
Shop Now Lego Marvel Spider-Man vs. Oscorp Display some of Spider-Man's most iconic heroes and villains in your living room. Credit: Lego

This Spider-Man set packs in the heavy hitters from the beloved series: Spider-Man, Miles Morales, Norman Osborn, the Green Goblin, and Venom — just to name a few of the minifigures found among the 808 pieces that make up this set. The city model features Miles Morales' apartment, the Oscorp building, and Venom's apartment, giving you plenty of opportunities for staging the perfect Spider-Man scene.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Marvel Spider-Man vs. Oscorp $139.99 at Lego
Shop Now Lego Icons Shelby Cobra 427 S/C From afar, this set almost doesn't look like Legos. Credit: Lego

Early buyers of the Shelby Cobra 427 S/C set are impressed: the attention to detail paid to the design makes the car look great from afar and up close. The working steering wheel is a nice touch, alongside Caroll Shelly's signature on the glovebox.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Icons Shelby Cobra 427 S/C $159.99 at Lego
Shop Now Lego Star Wars AT-ST Walker A room isn't complete without a good statement piece. Credit: Lego

If you missed out on the Lego AT-AT set before it was discontinued (and fair — it was $849.99), this AT-ST set is much more reasonably priced at $199.99, and it doesn't require quite as much shelf space, making it overall a much more practical option. And it's still just as iconic to the Star Wars universe.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Star Wars AT-ST Walker $199.99 at Amazon
Shop Now Lego Architecture Neuschwanstein Castle From the Alps to your living room. Credit: Lego

Lego's architecture line depicts some of the most famous structures from around the globe, from Notre Dame in Paris to the Himeji Castle in Japan. For this latest release, Lego brings us to the impressive Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany. It requires you build through 3,455 pieces, but it looks like the view is well worth it.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Architecture Neuschwanstein Castle $279.99 at Amazon
Shop Now Lego One Piece The Baratie Floating Restaurant Display this set on a repurposed trunk and you've got yourself a vibe. Credit: Lego

That's right — we have two iconic One Piece scenes on our list. With 3,402 pieces for building this set, you'll create the floating restaurant with detailed rooms where you can place 10 included characters and wanted posters.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego 'One Piece' The Baratie Floating Restaurant $329.99 at Amazon
Shop Now

TL;DR: Need serious cloud storage without the monthly fees? Internxt is offering 20TB of lifetime cloud storage for $389.97 (reg. $4,900), but only through August 3.

Opens in a new window Credit: Internxt Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription (20TB) $389.97
$4,900 Save $4,510.03 Get Deal

If you’ve ever tried to back up your entire digital life — photos, videos, work archives, old tax documents — you’ve probably run into the same issue I did: most cloud services either cap you at a few terabytes or make you pay a subscription indefinitely. That’s why this Internxt 20TB lifetime cloud storage plan caught my eye.

Right now, you can grab a lifetime subscription for $389.97 (reg. $4,900) for only two more days. That breaks down to less than a year’s worth of fees from many mainstream providers, and after that, it’s all yours.

So what do you actually get? 20TB of secure, end-to-end encrypted storage that works across desktop, mobile, and browser. Internxt is privacy-focused and fully GDPR-compliant. Files are encrypted both in transit and at rest, and you hold the encryption keys, not the provider. That means even Internxt can’t peek at your data.

Functionally, it works like other major cloud services: you can store and sync files, share links, and access everything across your devices. There’s also a dedicated backup app, so you can automate full system backups without having to manage files manually.

There are some things to keep in mind: Internxt has a slightly more stripped-down interface than Dropbox or Google Drive, and upload speeds may vary depending on your connection and encryption load. But if you’re looking for long-term digital storage that emphasizes security and privacy, this is a strong alternative, especially at this price.

You probably don’t need 20TB today, but that’s the point. For creators, families, and anyone building a growing archive of digital life, it’s space you won’t have to worry about running out of, or paying monthly for.

You have until August 3 at 11:59 p.m. PT to grab this Internxt 20TB cloud storage lifetime plan for $389.97 (reg. $4,900). Act now before supplies sell out for good.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: You can pick up a high-quality, refurbished 13.3-inch MacBook Air (2017) for just $199.97 (reg. $999) with free shipping. It's ideal for a travel laptop or a backup.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Refurbished Apple MacBook Air (1.8GHz i5, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD) $199.97
$999 Save $799.03 Get Deal

Ever wish you had a backup MacBook just lying around — you know, for travel days, coffee shop work, or when your main one’s acting up? At just $199.97, this refurbished MacBook Air makes that wish an attainable reality.

Whether you’re on the hunt for a budget-friendly laptop for school, a lightweight travel companion, or just a backup machine you won’t be afraid to toss in your bag, this refurbished Apple MacBook Air (1.8GHz i5, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD) checks every box. Even in 2025, it still holds its own when it comes to web browsing, working in Google Docs, streaming, emailing, and light creative tasks.

The 13.3-inch display features a crisp 1440×900 resolution, making your spreadsheets and Netflix sessions look clean and colorful. With 12-hour battery life, it’s a reliable all-day performer — great for commuters, college students, or anyone who prefers to spend the day untethered from an outlet. And thanks to WiFi and Bluetooth, connectivity is no big deal.

It may not be the flashiest MacBook on the shelf, but at just $200, it doesn’t have to be. This Grade A/B refurbished model arrives in good condition (with only light cosmetic wear, if any), giving you a premium Apple experience without the premium Apple price tag.

It’s just a solid Apple machine that gets the job done.

Pick up this refurbished Apple MacBook Air while it’s just $199.97 (reg. $999) with free shipping, but only while stock is available.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: The DJI Mini 4K drone is on sale for $249 at Amazon (Prime member discount). Not a member? You can still score this drone for under $300.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon DJI Mini 4K Drone $249 at Amazon
$299 Save $50 Get Deal

DJI is one of the biggest names in drones, with a strong reputation for creating incredible aerial shots. The DJI product range is the top choice of TikTokers, YouTubers, and filmmakers. That being said, we were surprised to see the DJI Mini 4K drone so near the top of the charts of best-sellers over Prime Day. We knew these drones were popular, but surely not as popular as AirPods?

Then the real reason hit us like an out-of-control drone.

President Donald Trump has signed two executive orders aimed at helping the U.S. drone industry and shoring up protections against malicious drone activity. The measures don't actually order a full ban on Chinese-made drones (yet), but talk of a ban on DJI drones has been doing the rounds for a while now. That uncertainty is clearly causing an uptick in sales.

SEE ALSO: The DJI Power 2000 portable power station means business, and it’s great for DJI drone owners

The good news for anyone hoping to buy before a potential ban is that you can still find the DJI Mini 4K drone on Amazon. In fact, it's on sale for $249 at Amazon for Prime members. It's being shipped by Amazon but sold by AeroTech Hubs. We don't generally recommend third-party sellers, but AeroTech Hubs has an excellent track record and times are tough right now. With stock running low, we'll take what we can get.

The DJI Mini 4K is full of helpful features for beginners and advanced users alike. It has one-tap takeoff options and a return to home function. But perhaps most importantly for content creators is the three-axis gimbal and 4K quality, as well as advanced wind resistance and extended battery life. It's a step up from the DJI Neo Mini 4K that we think creators will appreciate.

Prime members can get the DJI Mini 4K drone for under $250 at Amazon. Everyone else can still score this drone for under $300.

The Daily Show took a day off from the Trump/Epstein scandal on Thursday to talk about Sydney Sweeney's American Eagle jeans ad, which has received backlash for a slogan that some are arguing echoes language used in the eugenics era.

The criticism the ad has received has prompted a backlash from right wing online commentators and the White House itself, with communications director Steven Cheung describing it as "cancel culture run amok."

In the monologue above, Daily Show host Desi Lydic mocks the various pundits responding to the story, from creepy uses of the word "sensual" to Megyn Kelly defending Sweeney after previously making fun of her.

"This is such bullshit. Blonde women have had constant representation, okay?" concludes Lydic. "It's not that they want to see more white women, it's that they want to see none of anyone else."

Apple's iOS 18.6 update, which was released earlier this week, fixed a critical vulnerability that is being exploited by hackers in the wild.

Bleeping Computer reports that the bug, tracked under the name CVE-2025-6558, allowed for attackers to target Google Chrome users by crafting malicious HTML pages, potentially allowing them to run arbitrary code on the victim's computer.

The bug has been added to America's Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)'s vulnerability catalog, which listed it as being actively exploited. That makes it far more dangerous than bugs that have only been found to work in theory, which is why you should update your devices and software as soon as possible.

The bug primarily affects Chrome — Google fixed the vulnerability on July 15 with an update (Chrome version 138.0.7204.157), and you should update your Chrome browser right now if you haven't done so before. Google didn't release all the information about the vulnerability, saying that it's waiting until the majority of users have updated their browsers.

SEE ALSO: Google Chrome adds online store reviews to help you know if a retailer is legit

The same bug also affects Apple software, which is why Apple published a fix and bundled it with the iOS 18.6 release. According to the company, the bug can be used by malicious hackers to craft a web page that may unexpectedly crash Safari.

The same bug also affects iPads, so if you have one, make sure to update to iPadOS 18.6.

Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, 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 the latest 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 Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. 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 Mini crossword answers, hints for July 31, 2025 Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Working the rules

• Green: Regionally specific

• Blue: Honored athletes

• Purple: Expansion

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Fake a foul

• Green: Indiana college teams

• Blue: Miami Heat players with retired numbers

• Purple: Future WNBA home cities

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 Sports Edition #312 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Fake a foul - ACT, DIVE, EMBELLISH, FLOP

• Indiana college teams - BUTLER, INDIANA, NOTRE DAME, PURDUE

• Miami Heat players with retired numbers - BOSH, MOURNING, O'NEAL, WADE

• Future WNBA home cities - CLEVELAND, DETROIT, PHILADELPHIA, TORONTO

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.

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

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 today's Connections.

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

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

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

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, July 31, 2025:

AcrossArm-y greeting

• The answer is Hug.

Undiluted ... or a country with its vowels swapped

• The answer is Pure.

Ballroom dance ... or a country with its vowels swapped

• The answer is Tango.

Played a role

• The answer is Acted.

Eisenberg of "The Social Network"

• The answer is Jesse.

DownKetchup brand

• The answer is Hunts.

Eggs on

• The answer is Urged.

Crystal-lined rock

• The answer is Geode.

Marathoner's concern

• The answer is Pace.

___ Mahal

• The answer is Taj.

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

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

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

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

Maintaining fitness and health is a constant struggle, with a lazy morning in bed often much more alluring than a sweaty gym session. As such, anything which might help encourage you and keep you on track can make a significant difference.

Here are four fitness gadgets that may help set you up for success in reaching your health goals.

SEE ALSO: Withings Body Comp smart scale review: For better or worse, I'm obsessed Withings Body Scan smart scale Credit: Withings

One of the keys to good health is consistency. Even so, it's easy to give up when the mirror doesn't seem to be reflecting any impact from your regular workouts. 

Withings' Body Scan smart scale helps address this challenge by measuring your body composition as well as your weight, showing you the progress that may otherwise be hard to see. Using handheld electrodes, the Body Scan utilises bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to determine your percentage of fat and muscle. This means that even if your weight seems stagnant, you can take heart in knowing that your heart work is still paying off in fat loss and muscle gains.

According to Withings, the Body Scan's handheld electrodes make it more accurate than the Body Comp smart scales, which measure body composition using the user's feet. Even so, either set of scales is suitable if you want to track trends in your muscle and fat percentage, which will be the most important data for many users. After all, fitness is a journey, not a destination.

Withings Body Scan smart scale $499.95 at Amazon
Shop Now R.A.D One V2 gym shoe Credit: R.A.D

Specialised gym shoes aren't technically a workout necessity. Countless people work out in ratty old trainers every day. Even so, thoughtfully selected footwear can make exercise more comfortable, as well as lower your risk of injury. As such, the R.A.D One V2 shoe is worth your consideration if you're looking to upgrade your gym gear.

Designed specifically for the gym, the R.A.D One V2 has a wide toe box for stability when lifting yet still fits snugly around the heel, offering a secure fit even for those with broader feet. It also has a noticeably grippy sole, ensuring your feet aren’t shifting as you strain yourself under your weights. Such grip makes the R.A.D One V2 particularly suited for activities such as CrossFit, though it's also a decent gym all-rounder.

The R.A.D One V2's aesthetics may not be for everyone, with a contrasting coloured wave pattern along the sides of the shoe. However, choosing a colourway in which the wave is the same colour as the shoe makes this much less ostentatious.

Opens in a new window Credit: R.A.D R.A.D One V2 $150
Shop Now Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Credit: Samsung

Fitness trackers have become ubiquitous gadgets for anyone interested in monitoring their health. Most measure data such as your heart rate and the number of steps you take per day, as well as track your exercise and sleep. 

The Samsung Galaxy Watch8 does all this, but takes it a step further (no pun intended) by introducing an antioxidant index. This intriguing new feature measures users' carotenoids, which are pigments found in plants. Simply press your thumb to the back of the Watch8, and its light-activated sensor will detect carotenoids in your skin, offering an indication of whether you're getting enough fruits and vegetables in your diet. (Spoiler alert: you probably aren't.)

Skin carotenoids have a high correlation to carotenoids in blood, which is widely used as an indicator of a person's vegetable intake level. Carotenoids' strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects play an important part in slowing aging, as well as cancer and chronic diseases, so you're definitely going to want to make sure you're keeping those levels up.

Though diet is a crucial piece of the health puzzle, it's difficult for fitness trackers to gauge. The Samsung Galaxy Watch8's antioxidant index offers a handy reminder to add more veggies to your plate, and might help make you more mindful of what you eat.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Watch8 $349.99
Shop Now WalkingPad C2 foldable walking treadmill Credit: WalkingPad

Incorporating enough movement into your day can be difficult when you work a desk job. As such, many health-conscious corporate slaves who work from home have turned to walking pads, grinding out their daily steps during their daily grind.

The WalkingPad C2 foldable treadmill is a good option to consider for this purpose, especially for anyone working with limited space. Its ability to fold in half means it can be neatly tucked away when not in use — albeit only under furniture that is significantly elevated off the ground. The walking pad measures over 5 inches (13cm) thick when folded, so storing it under a table may be more realistic than sliding it under a couch. Wherever you position it, the C2's foldable design means it won't have a large footprint of your living space. It also had a set of wheels on one end, so you can move it in front of your TV while you binge The Bachelor on the weekend. 

With a top speed of 6km/h, the WalkingPad C2 comes with a handy three-button remote control for adjusting the pace. It also has an auto mode which ostensibly detects your speed and adjusts accordingly, though Mashable's testing found it felt precarious and accelerated too quickly (which is particularly dangerous considering the C2 has no handlebars). Even so, manual mode is all you really need, and is enjoyable and easy to use. Combined with its ability to fold for storage, the WalkingPad C2 is a tempting choice for apartment dwellers.

WalkingPad C2 foldable walking treadmill Shop Now

TL;DR: Youbooks is a unique AI tool that combines AI models to write your book how you want it, and it’s only £37.05 for life.

Opens in a new window Credit: Youbooks Youbooks - AI Non-Fiction Book Generator: Lifetime Subscription £37.05
£408.32 Save £371.27 Get Deal

If you’ve ever thought about writing a book but got stuck on where to start, Youbooks can help get you over that hurdle. This AI-powered platform helps transform your ideas into professional-quality non-fiction books, and right now, you can get a lifetime subscription for just £37.05.

AI can write your book

What makes Youbooks stand from other AI tools is its use of multiple AI models, including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Llama, to craft well-rounded and coherent content. You can create massive manuscripts of up to 300,000 words, so whether you’re a content creator, educator, or entrepreneur, Youbooks gives you a solid way to bring your ideas to life.

You can even upload your own research, documents, or notes to steer the AI in the right direction and make sure the final product reflects your voice and expertise. Plus, Youbooks taps into real-time web research to pull in current facts and stats, keeping your book accurate and up to date.

You also have a lot of flexibility when it comes to style. You can set the tone and writing style you want, and once your book is ready, you own it completely. You’re free to publish, sell, or share it however you like.

With 150,000 monthly credits included (and the option to stack codes for more), there’s plenty of room to create.

It’s now only £37.05 to get a Youbooks lifetime subscription.

StackSocial prices subject to change

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

Attractive.

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

HUNKY

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To go fast.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 1, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SPEED

Hurdle Word 3 hint

The sound a duck makes.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 1 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 1, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

QUACK

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Deadly.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for August 1 Hurdle Word 4 answer

FATAL

Final Hurdle hint

Not before or during.

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

AFTER

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

It's a half moon tonight, with the whole of the right side on display for us. Keep reading to find out what this means, and where we are in the lunar cycle.

The lunar cycle is a series of eight unique phases of the moon's visibility. The whole cycle takes about 29.5 days, according to NASA, and these different phases happen as the Sun lights up different parts of the moon whilst it orbits Earth. 

See what's happening tonight, Aug. 1.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Friday, Aug. 1, the moon phase is First Quarter. This phase occurs when the moon is half lit up. NASA confirms this, according to the Daily Moon Observation, it is 50% lit up tonight.

It's day eight of the lunar cycle, and the first moon in August. What can we see tonight? With the unaided eye, enjoy a glimpse of the Mare Serenitatis, the Mare Tranquillitatis, and the Mare Crisium. If you're in the Northern Hemisphere, look to the top right. If you're in the Southern Hemisphere, you'll see these on the bottom left.

With binoculars, you'll also see the Endymion Crater, the Mare Nectaris, and the Posidonius Crater, a lava-filled impact crater that's visible from the fifth to the 19th day of the lunar cycle. Add a telescope to the mix, and you'll also see the Linne Crater, Apollo 11, and Apollo 16.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on August 9. The last full moon was on July 10.

What are moon phases?

According to NASA, moon phases are caused by the 29.5-day cycle of the moon’s orbit, which changes the angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Moon phases are how the moon looks from Earth as it goes around us. We always see the same side of the moon, but how much of it is lit up by the Sun changes depending on where it is in its orbit. This is how we get full moons, half moons, and moons that appear completely invisible. There are eight main moon phases, and they follow a repeating cycle:

New Moon - The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side.

Last Quarter (or Third Quarter) - Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

Online privacy is in short supply, but that doesn't make it any less important. Your data is seriously valuable stuff, and you should be doing everything you can to protect it when navigating the online world. And if you watch porn, you should be even more vigilant.

We're going to take a wild guess that you'd prefer to be protected from the prying eyes of advertisers, your internet service provider (ISP), and your roommates when you're visiting porn sites. If that is indeed the case, you should consider investing in a VPN. These cybersecurity services also provide everything you need to unblock porn sites, circumvent geo-restrictions, and stream adult content anonymously.

What is a VPN?

VPNs provide powerful protection for your data and identity when you're online. VPNs offer this online privacy and anonymity by creating a private network that hides your real IP address (digital location), making all of your activity untraceable and secure. Incognito mode could never.

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This concept can be difficult to grasp, so it can be helpful to think of VPNs as encrypted tunnels through which all of your online traffic passes. Nobody can see into the tunnel, and everything inside the tunnel is protected against online threats like viruses, hackers, and malware. It's all about anonymity and cybersecurity, and that's particularly important if you're watching porn.

Do you need a VPN for porn?

There are two key reasons to consider a VPN for porn: anonymity and access.

The first reason is perhaps the most important. If you're concerned about your ISP, housemates, landlord, or someone totally random accessing your data, you could probably benefit from using a VPN. Any sort of activity on an unsecured WiFi network leaves your private information and browsing habits exposed to the world, unless you're using a VPN. Even porn sites can track your activity if you're unprotected. Pornhub tracks IP addresses for example, which means it has the potential to collect information about your site usage. But with a VPN, your IP address will always remain hidden.

Remaining private and anonymous is the key argument for using a VPN for porn, but there's another point to consider concerning access to your favorite sites. If you're in a location that has a firewall up to block access to porn sites, you'll need to use a VPN to bypass these restrictions. VPNs hide your real IP address and connect you to a server in another location, meaning you can bypass firewalls to stream on your favorite sites from anywhere in the world.

What features should you consider when selecting a VPN?

There are a number of things to consider before selecting a VPN for porn. We have highlighted a selection of the most important VPN features to help you make a decision:

• Connection speed — VPNs generally produce a drop in your connection speed, but you shouldn't accept anything significant. Make sure you opt for a VPN that doesn't negatively impact your connection speed to the point that you can't stream porn without disruption.

• Encryption — There are different levels of encryption, and while it's important to take note of the grade provided by your VPN, the best services will all offer powerful protection for your data. This is obviously vital when navigating porn sites because you need to know that your data is secure.

• Number of connections — Leading VPNs let you connect an unlimited number of devices with the same account, while others limit you to just a single device. Prioritize services that offer multiple simultaneous connections so you can stay secure on all your devices at the same time. You might stream pornography on a number of devices, so it's best to secure everything with the same account.

• Privacy policy — This is something that some users might take for granted, but you need to pay special attention to the data-handling, storage, and usage practices of a VPN. These practices should be clearly laid out in a privacy policy, and if they aren't, you should not subscribe. Most VPNs require access to your IP address, online transactions, and browsing history, plus your personal details when you sign up. Your favorite VPN should not store these details under any circumstances, as that would negate the whole anonymity thing.

• Server network — The top VPNs provide access to literally thousands of geographically diverse servers. This is useful because you should always be able to find a stable and speedy connection for streaming porn.

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You also need to consider things like price and subscription plans, but these features are a good place to start with your selection process. Once you've picked a favorite option, you can consider the wide range of subscription plans on offer from leading services. There should be something that suits everyone.

Should you use free VPNs?

The big question when it comes to watching porn securely is whether you need to pay for a VPN. The bad news is that, just as with most things in life, you get what you pay for with these cybersecurity services.

There are plenty of free versions of popular VPNs, and free trials of VPNs with full access to everything you get with a premium plan. The catch is that free versions usually come with limited data usage, meaning you can't really do any streaming or downloading. Free trials come with everything you get in a paid plan, but they obviously don't last very long. Trials are great for testing out a service before committing, but this isn't a long-term solution.

Considering all of this, the best option for unblocking porn sites and streaming anonymously is with a paid subscription to a VPN. To gain access to advanced security features without limitations on usage, you will need to cough up the cash.

What is the best VPN for porn?

Based on our in-depth tests of the top VPN services, we're here to recommend the best VPNs for porn in 2025.

When you call a series Chief of War, you're setting an expectation for jaw-dropping battle sequences and wartime chaos. It's unsurprising, then, that Apple TV+'s new historical epic carries those in spades — and boy, do they deliver. From a horrifying beach invasion to an unforgettable volcanic showdown, Chief of War delivers enough adrenaline-fueled fight scenes to make you feel like you can run through a wall or two.

Yet for as much as those battles stuck with me — and granted, I'm a sucker for epic battles — it's Chief of War's lulls between storms that wound up sticking with me the most. Here, the series tells a tale about the corrupting power of prophecy, and about the compromises people make in order to ensure their survival. These themes undoubtedly heighten the stakes of Chief of War's spectacular battles, although they occasionally risk being drowned out by the spectacles themselves.

SEE ALSO: What's new to streaming this week? (Aug. 1, 2025) What's Chief of War about? Jason Momoa in "Chief of War." Credit: Apple TV+

Co-created by Jason Momoa and Thomas Pa’a Sibbett, Chief of War aims to tell the story of the unification of Hawaii from an Indigenous perspective. The show's primarily Polynesian cast, led by Momoa, spends the vast majority of the series speaking in Hawaiian, while an army of cultural consultants worked behind the scenes to ensure cultural and historical authenticity. Their efforts, along with those of Chief of War's entire production team, create an immersive, stunning look back through time, as the series transports viewers to the Hawaiian Islands at the end of the 18th century.

As the series opens, the kingdoms of O'ahu, Maui, Kaua'i, and Hawai'i are trapped in a non-stop cycle of war. A prophecy foretells that one day a great king will unite the kingdoms and end these wars. However, that prophecy has only made kings believe that they'll be the ones to unite the kingdom, further exacerbating conflict.

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At the center of it all is Maui warrior Ka'iana (Momoa), one of many real-life figures who appear in the series. His introductory scene involves him lassoing then killing a full-grown shark. If that doesn't convince you how strong he is (or what kind of larger-than-life spectacle you're in for), I don't think anything else could.

Despite his strength, Ka'iana has no illusions that he is the prophesied king. Instead, those illusions belong to Maui's King Kahekili (Temuera Morrison), who kicks off a bloody campaign to unite the kingdoms. In this case, "unite" really means "brutally conquer and kill," all of which horrifies Ka'iana and leads him to desert Kahekili and Maui. Torn between kingdoms, traditions, and calls for war or peace, can Ka'iana help bring the Hawaiian Islands to a united future with as little bloodshed as possible?

Chief of War takes a thoughtful look at prophecy and the threats of colonialism. Luciane Buchanan in "Chief of War." Credit: Apple TV+

The prophecy at the center of Chief of War leads to some of the show's most fascinating developments. Kahekili approaches it with a religious fervor, slowly descending into madness the more he strives to accomplish what he believes to be his right. Meanwhile, in the kingdom of Hawai'i, counselors believe Kamehameha (Kaina Makua) to be the prophesied leader, pushing him towards conflict even as he prefers to choose peace. The two are polar opposites when it comes to prophecy, one actively trying to shape it to his will, the other taking his own course of action. Who is "correct" in their approach to shaping history? That's a question Ka'iana wrestles with throughout the season, especially as he reckons with his own relationship to war.

Described as "a chief of contradictions" by Kamehameha's wife Ka'ahumanu (Luciane Buchanan), Ka'iana sits at several crossroads. He's from Maui but comes to serve Hawai'i. He's a Chief of War who initially wanted peace. He's also one of the few Hawaiian characters to spend considerable amounts of time among Europeans and Americans. In that time, he learns to speak English and how to use a gun, a weapon that he comes to believe will turn the tide of war against Kahekili.

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Ka'iana's quest to obtain more guns leads down discussions of trade, of letting Europeans and Americans come to the Hawaiian Islands. If he is to be victorious using guns, Chief of War hints, the price of his victory will be colonization. So even though the conflicts between the various kingdoms take place on an epic scale, there's also a sense of claustrophobia, as the show makes it clear that outside colonial powers are slowly closing in. That creeping fear permeates much of the show, especially the quieter moments when Ka'iana and his friends and family wonder at how much he's changed since his time among white people.

Chief of War's battles are great, but are they too much? Jason Momoa in "Chief of War." Credit: Apple TV+

For all its mulling on prophecy and the creep of colonialism, Chief of War also wants to knock your socks off with action. Hey, starting the show with a shark-killing scene sets the bar pretty high for the level of epic you're going to get. That level only gets higher and higher as the series continues, culminating in a literally earth-shattering battle that had me writing "this goes so hard" over and over in my notes. (Again, sucker for epic battles over here.)

But for a show where so much time is spent on debating whether war is the correct course of action, does Chief of War go too far when it comes to creating glorious spectacle out of blood and guts and gore? Are the lingering shots on throat-slitting and bone-snapping meant to shock and awe, or to remind viewers of the horrors of war?

Ultimately, a show can do multiple things at once, including hold those two truths simultaneously. There are certainly moments when Chief of War's violence stunned me into silence, like a massacre that emphasizes the perils of treating with colonial powers. And there are others that made me let out a big "hell yeah," even if they could feel a tad like they were undermining some of the show's broader themes. Look, sometimes you just need to see Momoa rip a man's tongue out with his bare hands.

You'll get plenty of both kinds of moment in Chief of War, and while the balance isn't always right, it's immediately engaging — and an undeniable landmark achievement for Polynesian representation.

Chief of War hits Apple TV+ Aug. 1.

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