IT General

Saturday Night Live had its Season 51 finale over the weekend as former cast member Will Ferrell hosted the show for his sixth time.

However, before Ferrell could come out and perform his hosting duties, Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers attempted a coup. Smith came out first to open the show, hitting the stage and acting as if he were Ferrell. There's been a long-running joke that Ferrell and Smith, the drummer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, bear a striking resemblance to each other, and SNL continued the gag on its final show of the season.

Shortly after Smith thanked the audience, Ferrell came out dressed exactly like Smith, claiming the drummer had attacked him backstage as part of his takeover attempt.

Ferrell convinces Smith to get off the stage but the former SNL cast member acts as if the whole ordeal has thrown for a loop and has trouble getting back to his duties as host. Ferrell decides to take questions from the audience, and the first question is from a very casual audience member – Sir Paul McCartney.

The legendary musician believes that Ferrell is actually the imposter Smith and demands Ferrell leave the stage and get back to his drum set, where he belongs.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 17, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for May 17, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for May 17 Pips

Greater Than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 5. 6-4, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. 4-3, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed vertically; 4-3, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for May 17 Pips

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally; 5-1, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed vertically.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically; 2-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. 2-6, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 5. 6-0, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 6-0, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically; 3-1, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for May 17 Pips

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 2-4, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-4, placed vertically; 6-2, placed vertically; 2-5, placed vertically.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically; 6-5, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-0, placed vertically; 2-5, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically; 6-5, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 6-4, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically; 1-6, placed vertically; 0-6, placed vertically.

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

Car theft in the United States hit a decades-long low in 2025, a 23% drop from 2024, according to the latest data from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will require some sports and pop culture knowledge.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a 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. The sports 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 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 before 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: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. 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: NFC North

• Green: Allegedly an East Coast-based conference

• Blue: Too many Jalens in the NBA

• Purple: Caps. financial or fashionable

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: An NFC North Athlete

• Green: An ACC Athlete

• Blue: Ja(y)lens in the NBA

• Purple: ___Cap

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 #601 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• An NFC North Athlete: BEAR, LION, PACKER, VIKING

• An ACC Athlete: CAVALIER, EAGLE, HOKIE, MUSTANG

• Ja(y)lens in the NBA: BROWN, BRUNSON, DUREN, GREEN

• ___Cap: BASEBALL, GUARDIAN, RALLY, SALARY

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports 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.

When I first started setting up my smart home, I focused on Wi-Fi devices. They were easy to set up, and I didn't need any equipment other than the router I already owned. If I had my time over again, I'd do things very differently.

Most online Excel tutorials are obsessed with flashy new functions, complex formulas, or clever hacks that solve simple problems in overly complicated ways. But the real upgrade isn't new or exciting at all. Excel tables are old, unglamorous, and one of the most powerful features in the ribbon—and they'll transform how you work.

At this point in time, if your PC still has certain ports, it's officially too old. But that doesn't mean that those ports (and your PC by extension) weren't genius in their own right, or that they weren't (in some ways) better than USB.

When Lexus launched its LS 400 sedan in 1989, it introduced a new car with a new philosophy: deliver levels of refinement normally reserved for European luxury manufacturers, beat them on price, and back it with a level of quality the industry hadn't seen before. That philosophy underscores every Lexus product to this day, including the LX, the brand's full-size flagship SUV.

Most Excel users never look beyond the ribbon, which means they miss some of the app's most powerful workflow tools. From live-updating dashboard snapshots to hidden shortcuts that prevent data-entry mistakes, these four off-ribbon features will completely change how you use Excel.

I have a cloud-synced calendar on my phone and computer, which I use to track work, plans, and reminders. I figured Home Assistant's built-in calendar was surplus to my requirements.

As someone who has watched a lot of television over her twenty-something years, I’ve noticed a trend in the industry: many comedic actors, who were primarily known for sitcoms, sketches, or other hilarious work, have shifted into dramatic roles. While this isn’t necessarily a new thing, it’s still intriguing to see the difference in the actors' style — and just be in complete awe of their talents.

Homelabbing is a great way to escape an ever-increasing number of subscription services, and there are dozens of great free and open-source self-hosted alternatives out there. However, there is some software that is worth paying a one-time fee for, especially if you're looking for a setup that minimizes tinkering.

The ESP32 is a cheap microcontroller that powers sensors, toys, communication devices, and all manner of low-power electronics. It’s a favorite among hobbyists thanks to its versatility, price, and excellent software and hardware support.

Adobe has had a stranglehold on photo editing for a long time, and for most people, that means paying a monthly subscription for tools they may not fully use. The alternatives that exist tend to either cap out at basic adjustments or fall apart once your files get large enough. DaVinci Resolve was already the best free video editing software, but now it has got an upgrade.

It can be scary to leave the Apple ecosystem, but whatever your personal reasoning may be, I drew on my experience as a headphones and earbuds tester to ease the transition. For the purposes of this guide, I focused on the AirPods 4 with ANC and AirPods Pro 3. (If you want alternatives to the AirPods Max or AirPods Max 2, might I suggest any other pair of over-ear noise-cancelling headphones? I promise you'll get better bang for your buck).

SEE ALSO: AirPods Max 2 vs. Sony WH-1000XM6: Which headphones win?

After going back through testing notes and existing reviews, I came away with three options for the best AirPods alternatives: the Sony WF-1000XM6, the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2, and the EarFun Air Pro 4.

It can be scary to leave the Apple ecosystem, but whatever your personal reasoning may be, I drew on my experience as a headphones and earbuds tester to ease the transition. For the purposes of this guide, I focused on the AirPods 4 with ANC and AirPods Pro 3. (If you want alternatives to the AirPods Max or AirPods Max 2, might I suggest any other pair of over-ear noise-cancelling headphones? I promise you'll get better bang for your buck).

SEE ALSO: AirPods Max 2 vs. Sony WH-1000XM6: Which headphones win?

After going back through testing notes and existing reviews, I came away with three options for the best AirPods alternatives: the Sony WF-1000XM6, the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2, and the EarFun Air Pro 4.

TL;DR: The AdGuard Family Plan lifetime subscription is on sale for $15.97 (reg. $169.99) through May 17 at 11:59 p.m. PT and covers up to nine devices.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdGuard AdGuard Family Plan: Lifetime Subscription $15.97
$169.99 Save $154.02   Get Deal

If constant pop-ups, autoplay videos, and banner ads are making the internet feel more annoying than useful lately, an ad blocker can make a noticeable difference. What you need is the AdGuard Family Plan. Its family lifetime subscription is on sale for $15.97, discounted from $169.99, through May 17 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

AdGuard is great for people who are tired of incessant ads disrupting everyday browsing. Whether you’re trying to watch YouTube videos without interruptions, read articles without giant pop-ups covering the screen, or shop online without trackers following you afterward, this ad-blocking software creates a cleaner, less cluttered experience up across your devices.

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The Family Plan covers up to nine devices, including Windows PCs, Macs, iPhones, iPads, and Android devices, so households can use it across phones, laptops, and tablets under one subscription.

Along with blocking ads, AdGuard also includes tracker protection, phishing and malware safeguards, and parental controls. That added layer of privacy may appeal to families looking to cut down on both distractions and data collection while browsing. Parents can also restrict adult content on shared devices for younger users.

Mashable regularly covers tools that help simplify digital life, whether that means productivity apps, cybersecurity software, or privacy-focused tech. If you’ve already explored browser upgrades or online security tools, this deal lands in a similar category of practical quality-of-life improvements.

One of the more appealing parts of this offer is the lifetime access. Instead of adding another monthly subscription to your budget, you pay once and keep access permanently, including future updates.

For anyone frustrated with ads slowing down websites, interrupting videos, or cluttering nearly every corner of the web, the AdGuard Family Plan may be worth a look while it’s discounted to $15.97 (reg. $169.99) through May 17 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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

TL;DR: The AdGuard Family Plan lifetime subscription is on sale for $15.97 (reg. $169.99) through May 17 at 11:59 p.m. PT and covers up to nine devices.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdGuard AdGuard Family Plan: Lifetime Subscription $15.97
$169.99 Save $154.02   Get Deal

If constant pop-ups, autoplay videos, and banner ads are making the internet feel more annoying than useful lately, an ad blocker can make a noticeable difference. What you need is the AdGuard Family Plan. Its family lifetime subscription is on sale for $15.97, discounted from $169.99, through May 17 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

AdGuard is great for people who are tired of incessant ads disrupting everyday browsing. Whether you’re trying to watch YouTube videos without interruptions, read articles without giant pop-ups covering the screen, or shop online without trackers following you afterward, this ad-blocking software creates a cleaner, less cluttered experience up across your devices.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

The Family Plan covers up to nine devices, including Windows PCs, Macs, iPhones, iPads, and Android devices, so households can use it across phones, laptops, and tablets under one subscription.

Along with blocking ads, AdGuard also includes tracker protection, phishing and malware safeguards, and parental controls. That added layer of privacy may appeal to families looking to cut down on both distractions and data collection while browsing. Parents can also restrict adult content on shared devices for younger users.

Mashable regularly covers tools that help simplify digital life, whether that means productivity apps, cybersecurity software, or privacy-focused tech. If you’ve already explored browser upgrades or online security tools, this deal lands in a similar category of practical quality-of-life improvements.

One of the more appealing parts of this offer is the lifetime access. Instead of adding another monthly subscription to your budget, you pay once and keep access permanently, including future updates.

For anyone frustrated with ads slowing down websites, interrupting videos, or cluttering nearly every corner of the web, the AdGuard Family Plan may be worth a look while it’s discounted to $15.97 (reg. $169.99) through May 17 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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

TL;DR: Microsoft Windows 11 Pro is on sale for $9.97 (reg. $199) through May 18 at 11:59 p.m. PT and includes a lifetime license with upgraded security, multitasking, and more.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Windows 11 Pro $9.97
$199 Save $189.03   Get Deal

If your computer’s been dragging lately — slow load times, awkward multitasking, outdated features — an operating system upgrade might be just what you need to give it new life, no new hardware required. Grab Microsoft Windows 11 Pro while it’s on sale for just $9.97 (reg. $199), through May 18 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Windows 11 Pro is all about smoother performance and a better experience, especially if you’re still on an older version. The interface is cleaner and easier to navigate, but the big upgrade happens behind the scenes. Snap layouts, virtual desktops, improved search, and seamless redocking make multitasking way less of a hassle, whether you’re working, studying, gaming, or doing a bit of everything.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

Windows 11 Pro includes tools such as TPM 2.0 support, Smart App Control, BitLocker encryption, and biometric login protection to help guard against malware and unauthorized access. For business users or anyone handling sensitive information, those built-in protections may make the upgrade worthwhile on their own.

Gamers and creative users also get access to DirectX 12 Ultimate, which helps newer games and graphics-heavy applications run more smoothly by maximizing your hardware performance. Meanwhile, Microsoft’s built-in AI assistant, Copilot, can help summarize web pages, answer questions, generate writing ideas, and assist with coding tasks directly within Windows.

If your laptop still works but just feels dated, upgrading the operating system is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to breathe new life into it. It’s a smart move if you’re looking to stretch your device’s lifespan without spending a fortune on new hardware.

You’ll need at least 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage to run Windows 11 Pro. And since this is a lifetime license for one device, it can’t be transferred to another computer down the road.

If you’re hoping to revitalize an older PC without dropping hundreds on upgrades, Windows 11 Pro is just $9.97 for a limited time through May 18 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Microsoft Windows 11 Pro is on sale for $9.97 (reg. $199) through May 18 at 11:59 p.m. PT and includes a lifetime license with upgraded security, multitasking, and more.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Windows 11 Pro $9.97
$199 Save $189.03   Get Deal

If your computer’s been dragging lately — slow load times, awkward multitasking, outdated features — an operating system upgrade might be just what you need to give it new life, no new hardware required. Grab Microsoft Windows 11 Pro while it’s on sale for just $9.97 (reg. $199), through May 18 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Windows 11 Pro is all about smoother performance and a better experience, especially if you’re still on an older version. The interface is cleaner and easier to navigate, but the big upgrade happens behind the scenes. Snap layouts, virtual desktops, improved search, and seamless redocking make multitasking way less of a hassle, whether you’re working, studying, gaming, or doing a bit of everything.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

Windows 11 Pro includes tools such as TPM 2.0 support, Smart App Control, BitLocker encryption, and biometric login protection to help guard against malware and unauthorized access. For business users or anyone handling sensitive information, those built-in protections may make the upgrade worthwhile on their own.

Gamers and creative users also get access to DirectX 12 Ultimate, which helps newer games and graphics-heavy applications run more smoothly by maximizing your hardware performance. Meanwhile, Microsoft’s built-in AI assistant, Copilot, can help summarize web pages, answer questions, generate writing ideas, and assist with coding tasks directly within Windows.

If your laptop still works but just feels dated, upgrading the operating system is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to breathe new life into it. It’s a smart move if you’re looking to stretch your device’s lifespan without spending a fortune on new hardware.

You’ll need at least 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage to run Windows 11 Pro. And since this is a lifetime license for one device, it can’t be transferred to another computer down the road.

If you’re hoping to revitalize an older PC without dropping hundreds on upgrades, Windows 11 Pro is just $9.97 for a limited time through May 18 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.