IT General

Imagine you're in desperate need of money. Your mortgage is overdue, and foreclosure is closing in. You can't get a job, and calling friends and family for a loan is getting you nowhere but despised. Then, a man shows up at your front door, offering the solution to your problems — an almost obscene amount of cash. There's just one catch. Well, two: He wants to live in your basement for a couple of months, and he looks like Willem Dafoe.

Considering all the wild roles this rightfully celebrated American actor has played — from a deranged lighthouse keeper, to a gender-bending detective, to Spider-Man supervillain the Green Goblin, to Jesus himself — that face alone is reason enough for audiences to thrill. The possibilities are endless for what Dafoe might bring to the screen. But with him comes plenty of reason to worry for the hero of The Man in My Basement. 

SEE ALSO: 'The Man in My Basement' trailer: Corey Hawkins and Willem Dafoe star in this TIFF-bound psychological thriller

What follows is a blend of haunted house tropes, psychological horror, and spiritual debate that makes this thriller bold but not always successful. Still, it will leave audiences with haunting questions about what is for sale and what can't be bought. 

The Man in My Basement delivers on its promise with star power.  Willem Dafoe and Corey Hawkins co-star in "The Man in My Basement." Credit: Andscape/Hulu

In her directorial debut feature, filmmaker Nadia Latif adapts Walter Mosley's novel The Man in My Basement, with the author himself as her co-writer. And she kicks off her film with keen casting. Corey Hawkins (Straight Outta Compton) and Willem Dafoe co-star in The Man in My Basement, with the former playing Charles Blakey, a Sag Harbor native who did the college thing but failed to launch. So now, while his peers own homes, operate businesses, and get engaged, he’s back in his late mother's house, unemployed, unhappy, and alone. Well, almost alone. There are strange thumping sounds coming from upstairs. And then there's the man at his front door, and he knows a suspicious amount about Charles' basement. 

SEE ALSO: Willem Dafoe and Robert Eggers reveal their inspirations for 'Nosferatu'. It goes deeper than you may think.

With a gleaming sense of entitlement, Anniston Bennet (Dafoe) is a white businessman who is instantly a worrisome omen, offering a devil's bargain. What would he be up to in this Black man's basement? He's evasive on that question. But as the two share Charles' family home over the course of several pivotal weeks, answers will come out, and heinous secrets will be unveiled. 

The Man in My Basement is a slow-burning haunted house story.  Willem Dafoe and Corey Hawkins co-star in "The Man in My Basement." Credit: Andscape / Hulu

Despite the warm woods and golden stained glass windows that make this eighth-generation home a wonder, Latif employs gothic elements of psychological terror and restrained spooky visuals to make her house suitably scary. A bump in the night here, a walking disembodied voice there, and even a straining hand crawling slowly towards the haunted homeowner will brew suspense. But that's all upstairs. Down in the basement, Bennet is in a cage. 

While Latif uses the familiar iconography of ghost movies to create an eerie atmosphere, her movie stands out in the basement bits. There, Bennet has imprisoned himself, determined to pay for crimes he won't immediately confess. Meanwhile, Charles is understandably freaked out by this employment of his home. A battle of wills ensues as these two men face off over what can be redeemed and what needs to be paid.

In these scenes, Hawkins stands up to Dafoe with an energy ardent but nervous, while the four-time Academy Award nominee's mysterious antagonist is eerily calm. The two discuss philosophy, history, morals, and race relations in sequences that feel like they're lifted from a stage play, grounded in this space of the basement, depending on the delivery of dialogue over visual storytelling. This is at times compelling, perhaps intended to play like the gnarly conversations between Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling of The Silence of the Lambs. However, Latif won't deliver the gore or overt horror such a comparison might suggest. 

Latif pulls from Poltergeist, except for this one thing.

The Man in My Basement offers atmosphere and dramatic tension, but little in the way of bone-rattling scares. In the tradition of gothic horror, Latif probes the psychological isolation Charles feels as a Black man who’s fallen short of the expectations his proud family and robust Sag Harbor community had for him. But there are elements of more graphic ghost stories, like Poltergeist, in here too. Specifically, Latif gives her own spin on the skin-peeling gag before a mirror, and like Carol Anne, Charles receives messages from the dead through his TV. (Here is the rare place where onscreen violence plays out…literally onscreen, which while unnerving, also creates a distance between the protagonist and the horrors.) 

However, Latif rejects a climax with the kind of scary spectacle audiences of ghost movies or psychological thrillers might well expect. The showdown between Charles and Bennet is one of words, not violence, and while this is in line with the philosophical elements of Mosley's novel, it feels undercooked with other themes involving Charles' family being cut. Or perhaps the visual allusions to much scarier movies sets up an expectation that Latif either can't or won't satisfy. 

Instead, the ending plays best as the chin-scratching conclusion of a character-driven drama, which is what The Man in My Basement feels like when Charles gets away from his haunted house and out into his community. Combatting his own loneliness with dates with a local antique dealer (Nanny's Anna Diop), house parties, or a visit to an ailing neighbor, the film becomes less about horror and more about the tragedy of his own self-imposed loneliness. Latif's ending fits with these sequences, but all of these disparate influences together don't make for a masterful quilt of horror and drama — it's more like an intriguing but confounding collage in the end. Still, I can see what Latif was aiming for. 

A film in two parts represents the two paths Charles could take. One is to follow the dark lessons of the man in the basement, believing pursuit of wealth can justify any number of sins, and wealth can be used to buy absolution. The other is one where riches are not counted in gold but by maintaining strong roots in culture and community. These messages exist in The Man in My Basement, but aren't successfully knitted together among the clashing tones. So for all the atmosphere and the grounded yet disturbing performances, the movie fumbles its finale, delivering neither nerve-shredding scares nor a heart-filling nor -wrenching resolution. Still, there's richness in the attempt, and I can't wait to see what Latif does next.

The Man in My Basement was reviewed out of the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. It will open in select theaters on Sept. 12. A release on Hulu and Disney+ will follow this fall.

TL;DR: Serbia vs. Finland in EuroBasket 2025 is available to live stream for free on RTVE. Access this free streaming service from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

EuroBasket 2025 has been delivering some really exciting action for fans needing their fix in the NBA off-season. Some of the best players in the world are competing for their countries in this fascinating competition, including three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić. His Serbian team face off against Finland in the first knockout round.

If you want to watch Serbia vs. Finland in EuroBasket 2025 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Serbia vs. Finland for free

Serbia vs. Finland in EuroBasket 2025 is available to live stream for free on RTVE.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the NFL online for free

RTVE is geo-restricted to Spain, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Spain, meaning you can unblock RTVE from anywhere in the world.

Live stream EuroBasket 2025 for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly 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 Spain

4. Visit RTVE

5. Live stream EuroBasket 2025 for free from anywhere in the world

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By taking advantage of these offers, you can watch Serbia vs. Finland in EuroBasket 2025 without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you plenty of time to watch the tournament for free.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming services from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for live streaming is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for RTVE?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking free streaming sites, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Spain

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also 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 $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Serbia vs. Finland in EuroBasket 2025 for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream England vs. Andorra in World Cup qualifiers for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

England have made a perfect start to their World Cup qualification campaign, but that's exactly what fans expect. Andorra, meanwhile, have lost every game so far. So all the signs point to another England win at Villa Park.

If you want to watch England vs. Andorra in World Cup qualifiers for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is England vs. Andorra?

England vs. Andorra in World Cup qualifiers kicks off at 5 p.m. BST on Sept. 6. This fixture takes place at Villa Park.

How to watch England vs. Andorra for free

England vs. Andorra in World Cup qualifiers is available to live stream for free on ITVX+.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can access free live streams on ITVX from anywhere in the world.

Lve stream England vs. Andorra for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly 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 the UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Stream England vs. Andorra for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch England vs. Andorra in World Cup qualifiers without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select World Cup qualifiers before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also 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 $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream England vs. Andorra in World Cup qualifiers for free with ExpressVPN.

We'll soon be graced with a Full Moon,

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. 

So, let's see what's happening with the moon tonight, Sept. 5.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Saturday, Sept. 6, the moon phase is Waxing Gibbous, and 98% will be lit up to us on Earth, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.

The Moon is bright and easy to see tonight, with plenty to explore. With just your naked eye, you can spot the Mare Imbrium, Mare Vaporum, and Mare Fecunditatis. Bring out a pair of binoculars, and you’ll catch the Grimaldi Basin and Gassendi Crater. With a telescope, enjoy views of the Apollo 14 and 17 landing sites, as well as the Rupes Altai.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Sept. 7. The last full moon was on Aug. 9.

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.

Pips is the newest game in the New York Times catalogue. Released in August 2025, the new game 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 onto 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 for how Pips is played. Like dominoes, the tiles 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 September 6, 2025

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 September 6, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Sept. 6 Pips

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

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

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-0, placed horizontally; 5-3, placed horizontally.

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

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 5-3, placed horizontally; 0-6, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Sept. 6 Pips

Equal (3): Everything in this space must equal 3. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally; 5-2, placed horizontally.

Less than (1): Everything in this space must be less than 1. The answer is 3-1, placed vertically.

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

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Sept. 6 Pips

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally; 5-2, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must equal 3. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed horizontally; 2-3, placed horizontally.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally; 5-2, placed vertically; 0-0, placed vertically.

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

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

Number (15): Everything in this space must add up to 15. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically; 5-4, placed horizontally.

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

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally; 4-6, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally; 0-3, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally

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

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 September 2, 2025 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: Exploded

• Green: A ghost

• Blue: To foretell

• Purple: Musical recognition

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

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

• Yellow: Ruptured

• Green: Apparition

• Blue: Predict

• Purple: "Best ___ Performance" Grammy award

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 #818 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Ruptured: BLEW, BROKE, BURST, SPLIT

• Apparition: SHADE, SPECTER, SPIRIT, WIGHT

• Predict: CALL, DIVINE, FORECAST, READ

• "Best ___ Performance" Grammy award: AMERICANA, CHORAL, JAZZ, RAP

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 September 2, 2025

Are you also playing NYT 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.

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands 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 preferrined pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for September 2, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 2, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: In stitches

The words are things made with a needle and thread.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are things you'd handmake.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is KnittingProject.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for September 6

• Sweater

• Blanket

• Booties

• Socks

• Mittens

• KnittingProject

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 today's Strands.

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

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 September 2, 2025 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 September 2, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Swelling.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter B.

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...

BULGE

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for September 2, 2025

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 today's Wordle.

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

A steep hill.

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

BUTTE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A Boston hockey player.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

BRUIN

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To create.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 4 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

BEGET

Hurdle Word 4 hint

To con.

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

GRIFT

Final Hurdle hint

To come together.

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

UNITE

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

Well-structured data in Microsoft Excel improves accuracy, facilitates more effective analysis, and is easier for not only humans but also machines to understand and interpret. Following these five tips is guaranteed to make your life easier, your coworkers happier, and your data pop.

We gave the cast of The Paper (Oscar Nunez, Alex Edelman and Gbemisola Ikumelo) a list of journalists from TV and film to staff their ultimate squad of journalists for the fictional local newspaper they would create. We gave them to choose from. Which journalist will they fight over? Who does Alex Edelman think is the worst journalist on the list? Could one of these journalists end up having a crossover on The Paper?

Let us know in the comments which newspaper squad you think would cover the best news.

The Paper Season 1 is now streaming on Peacock.

Liquid Glass, Apple's big new design language, is finally rolling out. Liquid Glass is essentially a new design concept that's built on the idea of layering software elements that look like actual glass, making for a design that looks more natural, rather than completely digital.

It's a pretty neat idea. The concept has actually been refined quite a lot over the past few months during the beta phase, after Apple announced the new design language at its WWDC 2025 conference. Liquid Glass still isn't perfect, but it has a lot going for it. Here are some of the things I like most about it, and one thing that still needs some work.

Simplified controls are nice The Safari browser in iOS 26. Credit: Christian de Looper

Part of the Liquid Glass redesign is making controls a little more simplified, which makes sense. Having translucent controls on a screen is cool, but if they're too big and too in your face, it can start to be a little annoying. There are a number of areas where Apple has seriously refined controls, and while it can take some getting used to, after using the iOS 26 beta for a while, I quite like the changes.

A good example of this is in Safari. In iOS 26, Safari has new Liquid Glass controls that are similar to the old controls when you first open the app, showing a URL bar, back and forward buttons, and a menu for additional settings. Once you start scrolling, however, the controls minimize to a small URL bar at the bottom of the screen, helping maximize how much of a web page you can see at a time. It looks excellent. To access the controls again, simply tap on the URL bar at the bottom or start scrolling up a little and they'll show up. Again, it takes a little bit of getting used to, but it works well.

The new Camera app in iOS 26. Credit: Christian de Looper

Another example is in the new camera app. When you open the app, you'll only see two different shooting modes: Photo and Video. That's handy for average users who don't need to access other photo modes, especially now that things like portrait settings are available in photos taken outside of portrait mode. The good news is that for nerds like me, those modes are still available. You just have to scroll to one side to access them. It's just as easy to access them if you know they're there – and the change helps make the Camera app a little less daunting when you open it up.

Lock screens look great The lovely new Liquid Glass lock screen. Credit: Christian de Looper

Liquid Glass has come to the lock screen too, and I really like how it looks. Things like notifications and widgets have always had some translucency, but the Liquid Glass effect helps make them look even more refined. 

All of the digital elements on the lock screen can have the Liquid Glass effect, including the clock, lock screen widgets, and notifications. They can be clear glass, but they can also be colored, which can look pretty cool depending on the image that you've chosen for your lock screen background.

Along with adding Liquid Glass to the lock screen, there's also the new spatial scenes feature, which gives photos a parallax effect that helps make them appear three-dimensional when you tilt your phone. It's a super cool feature and works very well.  And there's a new full-screen music feature that shows the album art and controls on the lock screen when you're listening to music. It can be enabled or disabled by simply tapping on the album art, but I like it a lot.

Apple’s software feels more consistent Liquid Glass is also coming to macOS Tahoe 26 and iPadOS 26. Credit: Apple

One of the best things about Liquid Glass isn't simply about how it looks on iOS 26, but more about how it looks across Apple's entire ecosystem of products. Liquid Glass helps tie together iOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, and iPadOS 26 in a way that previous versions of these operating systems didn't. Sure, Apple's software has always been more cohesive than others, but Liquid Glass helps take it to the next level.

That's not necessarily to say that the redesigns of these operating systems are amazing. There's plenty to be said about macOS 26 and the changes that Apple has made, but at the very least, I like that it has the Liquid Glass design built into it. And I really like how Apple has changed iPadOS partly with Liquid Glass and partly with new productivity features that help make the iPad feel much more like an actual laptop.

Apple hasn’t quite figured out Messages yet Credit: Christian de Looper

As you would expect, the Messages app is getting a liquid glass overhaul too, but I'm not quite sure that all of the changes made to Messages are that great. Like in other apps, menu bars have been replaced with floating controls. And in chats, you'll now get floating liquid glass back buttons, FaceTime buttons, and a label for the name of the contact or group chat. 

The floating bubble for your contact kind of looks a bit silly, especially considering how far down the screen the image and label extend compared to the back and FaceTime buttons. And, perhaps to better highlight these controls, Apple has added a kind of fade to chats, where they'll fade to white at the top of the screen if there's a light background, or get darker if there's an image or something else. It's really not a huge deal, but I think it's a little bit sloppy.

GET A FREE SOLAR GENERATOR: As of Sept. 5, when you purchase the Bluetti Apex 300 solar generator at Amazon on sale for $1,799 (reg. $2,399), you'll get a free Bluetti Handsfree 1 portable solar generator. That's $600 in savings, plus a free solar generator worth $249.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bluetti Bluetti Apex 300 solar generator $1,799 at Amazon
$2,399 Save $600 + Get a free Bluetti Handsfree 1 solar generator Get Deal

Forget the noisy, unsafe gasoline generators of the past. We're onto bigger and better things now, thanks to solar power. Whether you want to power up your campsite off the grid or have a backup energy source during an outage, a portable solar generator is safer, quieter, and requires less maintenance. Bluetti offers some of our favorite options and for a limited time, you can save hundreds of dollars on a top model, the Apex 300. Not to mention, Amazon will give you a second solar generator for free with your purchase. Let's dive in.

As of Sept. 5, the Bluetti Apex 300 solar generator is on sale for $1,799 at Amazon. That's 25% or $600 off the list price of $2,399. As a bonus, since you'll be spending $1,500 or more, Amazon will gift you the Bluetti Handsfree 1 solar generator for free (a $249 value). In order to qualify, you need to add the Apex 300 to your cart from Amazon's promotional page. Once it's in your cart, click on the "benefit items" filter on the promo page and add the Bluetti Handsfree 1 to your cart. From there, you should see the freebie reflected at checkout.

SEE ALSO: Save over $800 on the EcoFlow Delta 2 Max power station at Amazon

There's no need to spend $1,799 on a solar generator just to score another one free. But if you're already planning on purchasing the Bluetti Apex 300, this is a helluva deal. Not only will you save $600, but you'll also get a freebie. It's a win-win.

The Apex 300 features 2,764.8Wh of power storage with 3,840W output, which is enough to keep your essentials up and running on camping trips or in emergencies. It claims to keep a laptop running for up to 150 hours or a refrigerator cooling for 24. With four typical AC outlets and two more robust AC outlets (NEMA TT-30R and NEMA 14-50R output ports), it's capable of powering heavy-duty appliances like washing machines, air conditioners, and water heaters. TL;DR: this thing is a beast. It's also designed to be expandable, so you can add to it to build a system to run your whole household for a week.

The Handsfree 1 solar generator is built to slide in a backpack and keeps your tech powered up on the move. It's perfect for outdoor photography, hiking, camping, and more. It weighs less than 10 pounds, can juice up five devices, and can fully charge via solar power in three hours.

TL;DR: Windows 11 Pro is down to just $12.97 (reg. $199) — pay once and enjoy lifetime access to Microsoft’s most advanced OS forever.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Windows 11 Pro $12.97
$199 Save $186.03 Get Deal

If you’ve been hesitating on upgrading your PC’s operating system, here’s the moment you’ve been waiting for: Windows 11 Pro is just $12.97 (reg. $199) through Oct. 5. Yes, you read that right — a lifetime license to Microsoft’s most advanced OS for less than you probably spent on coffee this week.

Windows 11 Pro isn’t just a basic update. It’s been designed with today’s professionals in mind, offering a sleek new interface, streamlined multitasking, and powerful security features that make it a real step up from Windows 10.

SEE ALSO: Windows 11 can link your PC clipboard to your phone

Features like Snap Layouts and multiple desktops help you organize work more easily, while advanced security tools like BitLocker device encryption, TPM 2.0, and Smart App Control keep sensitive business data safe.

And then there’s Copilot, Microsoft’s built-in AI assistant, which can help you tweak system settings, summarize web pages, or even kickstart documents and code suggestions. It’s like having an extra team member on hand.

Windows 11 Pro also shines in creative and entertainment spaces. With DirectX 12 Ultimate, gaming looks sharper and runs smoother than ever. Artists and designers get improved touchscreen and pen support, making hybrid devices more intuitive and powerful.

And since this isn’t a subscription, you pay once, and you’ll have Windows 11 Pro for life. Whether you’re running a business, studying, or simply want a smoother, more secure digital experience, this affordable upgrade is one of the most budget-friendly ways to modernize your tech.

Don’t wait until your old system slows you down — make the move to Windows 11 Pro and see just how far $12.97 can take you.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Use code LEARN by Sept. 8 to get a Babbel lifetime subscription for $159.

Opens in a new window Credit: Babbel Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages) $159
$299 Save $140 Get Deal

If time weren’t a factor, how many languages would you want to learn? Many popular language learning tools charge you every month, so there’s always a rush to learn as much as you can as fast as you can. It doesn’t exactly make for a fun experience. If you want a more relaxing way to learn a new language that actually works, check out Babbel.

They’re one of the most popular language-learning apps in the business, and the price for a lifetime subscription just dropped. Instead of paying $299, now it’s only $159, but this offer won’t last much longer.

What can Babbel teach you?

Babbel gives you lifetime access to beginner-friendly lessons in 14 different languages. That includes

• French

• Spanish

• german

• Italian

• Portuguese

• Swedish

And so many more.

Babbel lessons fit all throughout the day. They’re only 10-15 minutes long, so you can learn a little Turkish on your lunch break, practice your Dutch on the train home, or brush up on some Indonesian while you do the dishes.

Lessons are focused on real-life topics like dining, shipping, socializing, and business. That means you can use what you learn right away without slogging through months of memorization exercises.

SEE ALSO: Google Translate is using AI to help users learn languages

One of the most exciting new things Babbel is doing is their AI conversation partner. Now, you can practice speaking with an artificial native speaker who will respond. It’s like practicing with a real person, minus the pressure.

To help you retain what you learn, Babbel has their own personalized review sessions. That could hold you over until you travel abroad and get to use your language skills for real.

What language are you going to study first? Use code LEARN by Sept. 8 at 11:59 p.m. PT to get a Babbel lifetime subscription for only $159.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

On Friday, Roblox announced it would be launching a new social video platform within Roblox, plus new AI tools for Roblox creators.

The popular online game platform shared these announcements at its Roblox Developers Conference.

Roblox gaming clips and other short-form brainrot videos often go viral on vertical video platforms like TikTok and Reels. But, over on TikTok, they still have to compete with dancing videos, political talking heads, and viral AI slop.

Enter: Roblox Moments, a TikTok-like short-form video platform for Roblox players to watch and share in-game moments.

Roblox's announcements, especially its new social features, will likely come under scrutiny. Last month, Roblox endured a wave of headlines regarding lawsuits against the company over its allegedly lackadaisical child safety features.

Roblox Moments 

Roblox Moments is launching in beta for users 13 years and older, and it will act much like TikTok's feed, allowing users to scroll through viral Roblox gameplay moments. Users will be able to clip and edit their own moments, up to 30 seconds long, and share them to Moments for other users to view.

In Roblox's press release for Roblox Moments, the company quotes a YouTube announcement from last month regarding how Roblox-related content has garnered "over 1 trillion video views" on the Google-owned video platform.

Clearly, Roblox itself wants a piece of that action and is launching its own video platform for gamers to share gameplay videos.

Along with editing and trimming their gameplay clips, users will be able to add music and a text description to their videos, much like they can do on TikTok and YouTube Shorts.

Also, being that this is a developer conference, Roblox announced that it planned to release APIs for Roblox Moments, which would allow third-party developers to integrate new ways to capture, upload, and discover moments within Roblox games.

AI tools for creators

Roblox Moments wasn't the only big announcement at the conference. New AI tools for creators will also soon make their way to Roblox.

For example, creators will be able to enter a prompt regarding a specific vehicle or weapon they want their in-game character to use. Roblox's AI tool will then generate an interactive car based on the prompt, which their character can drive around in the virtual world. These functional creations are a significant upgrade from the static 3D objects that creators were generating in-game already

Roblox is also rolling out a new real-time AI-powered voice chat translation tool, allowing English, Spanish, French, and German-speaking users to more easily interact and socialize.

In addition, the company announced other AI-powered tools, like new text-to-speech and speech-to-text APIs for creators. The text-to-speech API will allow creators to integrate AI-powered voice narration and in-game character dialogue with at least 10 voice presets to start with. The speech-to-text API will allow users to control their characters in-game with vocal commands.

UPDATE: Sep. 6, 2025, 8:50 a.m. EDT This story has been updated to clarify that Roblox Moments is not a standalone app, but an experience within the Roblox platform.

SAVE $500: As of Sept. 5, get the LG 100-Inch Class QNED evo AI 4K TV for just $3,996.99, $500 off. That brings it down to its lowest price ever, saving you 11% off its list price of $4,496.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 100-Inch Class QNED Evo AI 4K TV $3,996.99 at Amazon
$4,496.99 Save $500 Get Deal

Fall is TV season. As the sun begins to set a little bit earlier and the weather gets a little bit chillier, there's no better place to be than inside and on the couch watching your favorite show. With so much TV returning in coming months, it's probably time upgrade what you're watching on. And now is a good time to look for that upgrade, as we just spotted a 100-inch model down to its lowest price ever.

As of Sept. 5, shop the LG 100-Inch Class QNED evo AI 4K TV for just $3,996.99 at Amazon. That saves you $500 off of its list price of $4,496.99. That's 11% in savings and brings it down to its lowest price ever.

The 100-inch screen of this LG, provides a huge canvas to watch the big game on. It's lit by mini LEDs with QNED color, giving more accurate and vibrant colors. It features an Alpha 8 AI Gen2 processor to help improve picture quality and with Filmmaker Mode, you can watch movies just as the director intended with calibrated color and frame rates.

Grab the LG 100-Inch Class QNED evo AI 4K TV for its lowest price ever at Amazon now and save $500.

Isn’t it cool how your TV turns on when you enter the room? Okay, you probably don't have that, but TCL is hoping you will one day. The company is releasing the first Google TV to ship with Gemini, and it also has some crazy presence-sensing abilities.

A couple of months ago, we got an official preview of the Lenovo Legion 2 from a leak, which also predicted a September launch date. Well, it turns out that the leak was entirely correct because it’s currently September and Lenovo has fully announced its new Legion Go 2 at IFA 2025 in Berlin. 

The new Windows-based handheld gaming console looks impressive, and it offers upgrades such as an improved battery and a fancy new OLED display. Now for the bad news — it arrives with a $400 price increase over the original.

The Lenovo Legion Go 2 is available for pre-order now but won't be in players' hands until Oct. 31. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Legion Go 2 Gaming Handheld, AMD Ryzen Z2, 16GB, 1TB SSD $1,099.99 at Best Buy
Pre-order Here The Lenovo Legio Go 2: The specs and pricing explained

The Legion Go 2 retains the same general shape and overall design language of its predecessor, including the removable, Hall Effect joysticks of the prior model. The joysticks slide out along a hidden rail after you hit a button, which isn’t quite as elegant as the Nintendo Switch 2 and its magnetic controllers, but it's still appreciated. 

Under the hood, the Legion Go 2 comes with two sets of specs. The first is an AMD Ryzen Z2 with 16GB of RAM and a 1TB PCIe SSD that gets you started for $1,099. This can be upgraded to the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme with 32GB of RAM and a 2TB PCIe SSD for $1,349. This is a sizable upgrade from the first generation, which had the Ryzen Z1 Extreme chip. However, the prices are quite a bit more than the prior model, which sold for $700 when it launched in 2023. 

Credit: Lenovo

While $1,099 is expensive for a handheld, it’s also hard to say how it compares to the competition. The long-awaited ROG Xbox Ally handheld launches Oct. 16, and we still don’t know how much that handheld will cost.

The new OLED display is definitely the most notable upgrade. The new Lenovo gaming handheld packs a beautiful 8.8-inch OLED display. The display features a 144Hz variable refresh rate (which can go up to a maximum of 240Hz) as well as HDR TrueBlack 1000 for deep blacks and brighter HDR colors. On the downside, Lenovo dialed back the resolution from 2,560 x 1,600 pixels to 1,920 x 1,200.

Credit: Lenovo

The increase in battery capacity is also appealing. The prior generation had a 49.2 WHr battery, which was good for around one to two hours of gaming at max power. Lenovo stuffed a 74 WHr battery into the Legion Go 2, nearly doubling the prior generation’s battery capacity. Of course, battery life won’t be known until the reviews come out, but a Lenovo press release promises a 50 percent increase in battery life.

In terms of ports, you get a headphone jack, two USB ports, and a microSD card reader for expanded storage. The handheld comes with three free months of Xbox's PC Game Pass. 

The Lenovo Legion Go 2 is available for pre-order on Lenovo’s website and online retailers like Best Buy. The current release date is slated for Oct. 31, a couple of weeks after the ROG Xbox Ally. 

SAVE UP TO $120: As of Sept. 5, you can save up to $120 on a range of Sonos speakers and soundbars at Best Buy. Shop the Arc Ultra, Era 300, and more.

Best Sonos deals as of Sept. 5: Best subwoofer deal Sonos Sub 4 $679 (save $120) Get Deal Best soundbar deal Sonos Arc Ultra $899 (save $100) Get Deal Best smart speaker deal Sonos Era 300 $359 (save 490) Get Deal

It’s not often you see a major sale on Sonos gear, but Best Buy is offering up to $120 off a handful of products, including the Sonos Sub 4 wireless subwoofer. (If you prefer to shop direct, Sonos is running a similar promotion on its website.) The sale includes speakers, soundbars, and subwoofers (and the Sonos Ace headphones are on sale on the Sonos website).

Here’s a breakdown of the best deals.

Sonos Sub 4 Opens in a new window Credit: Sonos Sonos Sub 4 $679 at Best Buy
$799 Save $120 Get Deal Why we like it

The Sonos Sub 4 is on sale for $679 at both Best Buy and the Sonos website. That's a $120 price cut from the original $799 list price. Just be mindful of the end dates: the Best Buy deal ends on Sept. 7, while the Sonos deal ends a day earlier on Sept. 6.

The Sonos Sub 4 wireless subwoofer is designed to transform your living room into a home theater. You can pair it with a soundbar like the Sonos Arc Ultra, Arc, or Beam to get dramatically deeper bass. If you're more focused on music and spatial audio, you can pair it with speakers like the Sonos Five, Era 300, or Era 100.

Sonos Arc Ultra Opens in a new window Credit: Sonos Sonos Arc Ultra $899 at Best Buy
$999 Save $100 Get Deal Why we like it

The Sonos Arc Ultra is on sale for $899, down from $999, at both Best Buy and the Sonos website. That's a $100 savings. You'll also get four months free of SiriusXM All Access and free Apple Music for up to three months with the Best Buy deal.

The big upgrade here (from the Arc) is Sonos's Sound Motion technology, which uses 14 internal drivers to create an immersive Dolby Atmos spatial audio experience. It's designed to precisely place sounds around you while keeping dialogue ultra-clear so you never miss a word. Setup is simple; just plug it in and connect it to your TV with the included HDMI cable, and then open the Sonos app to complete your setup.

Sonos Era 300 Opens in a new window Credit: Sonos Sonos Era 300 $449 at Best Buy
Get Deal Why we like it

The Sonos Era 300 is on sale for $359 at both Best Buy and the Sonos website. That's $90 in savings and, like with the Arc Ultra deal above, Best Buy will give you four months of SiriusXM All Access and three months of Apple Music for free.

The Sonos Era 300 supports Dolby Atmos Music and has six drivers positioned around the front, sides, and top. You can stream music from just about any service or device, and when you pair two Era 300 speakers with a Sonos Arc or Beam (Gen 2) soundbar, you can get a concert-like feel right at home.