IT General

Time flies when you’re busy watching worthy content. Can you believe the year is almost over? I can’t. As you head into the biggest weekend of the year, then roll right into the biggest week of the year, take some time for yourself and prep for the holidays by preserving your energy and engaging in some non-holiday content. This weekend, laugh a lot, get lost in a supernatural saga, then burn enough calories to eat whatever you want in the coming weeks with a heart-pounding medical drama.

SAVE OVER $80: As of Dec. 19, the Lego Technic NASA Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle (42182) has hit its lowest-ever price of $137.99. This is 37% off its list price of $219.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Technic NASA Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle LRV Building Set (42182) $137.99 at Amazon
$219.99 Save $82   Get Deal

Amazon has been dropping some great deals on select Lego sets recently in the lead-up to the holidays. If you have an adult Lego fan on your seasonal shopping list, this discount on the Lego Technic NASA Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle (42182) is worth a look. Particularly because it's hit its lowest price yet at the retailer.

For a limited time, Amazon has knocked the price of the Lego Technic NASA Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle set down to $137.99 from $219.99. This saves you a whopping $82, which is an excellent offer to take advantage of. Not to mention, it'll even arrive before Christmas if you pick it up now, according to the Amazon sale page. So why wait?

SEE ALSO: The 30 best new Lego sets run the gamut from Game Boy to 'The Goonies' and the U.S.S. Enterprise

This 1,913-piece Lego set creates a detailed display model of the lunar rover module that was carried by Apollo 17, alongside three attachable equipment sets that each have their own information plaque. Given its very detailed assembly and piece count, it's a set that's recommended for adults to build. If you know someone with a love of space, this is a great gift to give them for the holiday season that'll arrive just in time.

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Considering Amazon has it listed as a limited-time deal, it likely won't stay at this price for long. Now is a great opportunity to save $82 on the Lego Technic NASA Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle set while it's still on sale at Amazon.

Christmas is coming up fast, but if you're looking for more gift ideas, our roundup of the 60+ best Christmas gifts for 2025 highlights some more options worth giving this year.

With Wake Up Dead Man, writer/director Rian Johnson brings a third fascinating Benoit Blanc murder-mystery to movie fans. But what inspired this heady blend of faith, fear, and dogged logic?

Johnson spoke with Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko in a Say More interview. Their conversation began on Broadway, weaving in Johnson's long-held love of the theater — including his hopes for Miss Piggy doing Oh, Mary! From there, he talked his love of genre, blending highbrow and lowbrow elements. They dug into that neck tattoo of Josh O'Connor's "hot priest" — and how the internet is thirsting hard over it.

Fun fact for fans: O'Connor created the design himself. Johnson wrote the neck tattoo into the script, and apologized to O'Connor, saying, "I know this is going to be a lot of work. We'll barely glimpse it, and nobody might even notice it, but I feel like this says volumes. This is like the key to this guy."

An AI slop bucket piece of shit was never going to be able to have that connection with an audience because it's never lived.

He continued, "It's something that Josh designed. Because that was another thing, all I wanted to see is one little tiny peek of it. [I told him], 'I want you to pick what it is, and I want you to design it.' And I can't remember exactly what it was. It was some kind of like symbol or something. It wasn't like a word or something, but it was something that Josh kind of came up with a backstory that involved what this thing actually meant."

Beyond being "happy" that fans spotted the tattoo, Johnson is also hopeful about the future of film. While the possible Netflix/Warner Bros. merger has some worried about the fate of movie theaters, and the rise of AI has Hollywood in an uproar, this heralded filmmaker expressed a calm certainty that human-made art in theaters will survive.

"I'm not afraid," Johnson began, "Because I go to the movies, and what I see at the movies are young people. And I see young people showing up to movies. I see them getting excited to go with friends and have that experience. And I mean, AI is a bunch of slop bullshit...I don't care how good it gets. I think there is some element of the movie-going process where it's a bit like theater, where the audience is aware they're engaging with another person, even if that person is the filmmaker, when they're watching something."

SEE ALSO: The internet is drowning in AI slop. Here's how we got here.

He continued, "And I think that's the reason why you're seeing directors like Guillermo [del Toro] and directors like Director Bong [Joon Ho] and directors like PTA [Paul Thomas Anderson]. And I'm seeing fan bases growing up around them because they are voices, and the audience is having a connection with them when they're watching their movies. An AI slop bucket piece of shit was never going to be able to have that connection with an audience because it's never lived. So no, I think these are crazy times, and I think there are really hard things about these times. But ultimately, I feel secure that people are going to keep wanting to get together and watch stories."

For more from our Say More interview with Johnson, check out the full interview on YouTube.

Wake Up Dead Man is now playing on Netflix.

If there’s one thing car buyers consistently want, it’s an engine they never have to worry about. And while the market is full of complex hybrids, turbos, and high-strung performance motors, one humble Japanese four-cylinder has quietly built a reputation that outlasts most of the vehicles it’s been installed in. After more than 25 years on the market, its track record for reliability, longevity, and low running costs has made it one of the most trusted powerplants still in production.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you know a lot about ships.

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 December 19, 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: Stats

• Green: What to eat

• Blue: Government agencies

• Purple: Naval terms

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Findings

• Green: Dinner options

• Blue: U.S. Cabinet departments

• Purple: Homophone of places to park a ship

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 #922 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Findings: DATA, DETAILS, INFORMATION, INTELLIGENCE

• Dinner options: COOK, DELIVERY, GO OUT, LEFTOVERS

• U.S. Cabinet departments: COMMERCE, EDUCATION, ENERGY, LABOR

• Homophone of places to park a ship: BIRTH, DOC, PEER, WORF

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 December 19, 2025

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

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're a good cook.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

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

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 19, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 19, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: On the chopping block

The words are related to cooking.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe ways to cut food.

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 Immune Boosters.

NYT Strands word list for December 19

• Julienne

• Cube

• Making the Cut

• Slice

• Mince

• Chiffonade

• Dice

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.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love a good paste.

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 December 19, 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 December 19, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A minty gum.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter R appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter M.

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...

MYYRH

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 December 19, 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.

Two TV giants, Samsung and LG, can't stop talking about their fancy new Micro RGB TVs. But are these TVs truly better than OLEDs, and should you splurge now or wait for the prices to go down? We investigate.

What have Samsung and LG announced?

In mid-December, Samsung and LG front-ran CES 2026 by announcing their new Micro RGB TV sets.

In particular, Samsung said that in 2026 it would expand its Micro RGB TV lineup with 55-, 65-, 75-, 85-, 100- and 115-inch models (the company previously launched a massive, 115-inch TV in 2025).

Samsung's 115-inch Micro RGB behemoth will be joined by smaller models in 2026. Credit: Samsung

LG, on the other hand, said it would unveil its first-ever flagship RGB TV at CES 2026. Called the Micro RGB evo, it boasts the smallest individual RGB LEDs ever seen in an LG TV. The company said the TV would be available in 75-, 86-, and 100-inch sizes.

OK, but what are Micro RGB TVs?

These are still LCD TVs, but improved.

Remember when the first LED TVs showed up? Those were displays that used LEDs (light emitting diodes) for backlighting an LCD (liquid-crystal display) panel. The next step in the evolution of LED TVs was mini-LED TVs, which used smaller LED modules to provide backlight to an LCD screen. Smaller is better here, because the mini-LEDs drain less energy and provide more precise illumination, which translates into better picture on your TV.

SEE ALSO: What to look for when buying a TV, as told through this easy TV specs guide

This leads us to Micro LED TVs, which introduce even smaller LEDs. Again, this means less energy drain, and better picture quality (more on that in a second). But most importantly, these aren't LCDs, as there's no LCD panel being backlit with LEDs. Instead, the LEDs themselves create their own light at the pixel level.

And then we have Micro RGB TVs, which are less a name for the technology and more a marketing term that Samsung and LG use to describe a TV with tiny LEDs that, instead of emitting only white or blue light (like those on mini-LED TVs), use LEDs that can emit red, green, or blue light. Despite that, this is still an LCD TV. Think of it as a hybrid solution: The LEDs produce both the backlighting and the colors, but the image is created on an LCD panel.

Samsung has created this nifty evolution of LED TV panels in one picture. Credit: Samsung

All of the above compete with OLED (organic light emitting diode) TVs, which work in a different way (and are in fact similar to Micro LED TVs). Instead of using LEDs to illuminate the LCD panel, OLED TVs use pixels that can create their own light and color. The best OLEDs have superior picture quality to most LCD/LED TVs, with deeper blacks and almost infinite contrast, but OLED TVs are pricy to manufacture and tend to degrade over time.

Are these Micro RGB TVs any good?

This is where things get tricky.

Ideally, a Micro LED TV will offer incredibly precise colors, high contrast, and deep blacks — basically the stuff you expect from an OLED TV.

But what Samsung and LG have announced are Micro RGB TVs, and while the name is confusingly similar to Micro LED, it's not the same thing. (By the way, you can buy a true Samsung Micro LED TV right now, but it will cost you $150,000).

SEE ALSO: The best TVs for under £500 in 2025

The issue, of course, is that this is not just about making a TV that's better than OLED. Instead, companies such as Samsung and LG want to make TVs with picture comparable to OLED TVs, but at a more affordable price, and without the drawbacks.

That won't happen right away. Samsung's first Micro RGB TV, the 115-inch monster that launched this year, costs $30,000. Smaller models will be cheaper, but we don't know the exact prices yet.

Finally, these Micro RGB TVs are very new. Few people had a chance to review them, and we just don't know how they compare to OLEDs or the best LED TVs out there.

No detailed specs yet

There's a couple of things we can glean from Samsung and LG's announcements. For example, Samsung says its new Micro RGB TVs will offer "ultra-precise light control and improved color accuracy." The company also said that these TVs will come with a next-gen AI chipset which will enable "more precise frame-by-frame clarity and realism."

LG, on the other hand, said its Micro RGB TVs uses "OLED precision to control each of the RGB LED backlights," and, of course, there's a next-gen AI improving upscaling as well as overall picture quality. Both companies say their TVs will offer incredibly precise color reproduction.

All that said, we don't have the exact specs for the upcoming TVs, and we won't really know how good they are until we see them in person. That will happen at next year's CES, which takes place in Las Vegas from Jan 6. to 9, so stay tuned for more details.

Featured Video For You AR glasses vs. VR headsets: Visions of the past or dreams of the future?

How do you decide what to watch on Netflix? It's a tough challenge, especially if you're not the only person on the couch. Sure, you could play the first thing you see, but there's no guarantee that it's going to be any good.

Donald Trump shouted an 18-minute primetime address from the White House on Thursday night while surrounded by Christmas trees. And like Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers unpacked it all.

"Everyone, it is the holiday season," said Meyers on the last Late Night of the year, "which means it's time to gather around the fire with friends and family, share the warmth of community and connection, to give gifts, extend compassion, bask in the holiday spirit, and, of course, most importantly, to get yelled at by the president."

For his "A Closer Look" segment, Meyers examined the lead-up to Trump's speech, including the current state of the U.S. economy and the president's decreasing approval ratings. Having set the scene, the host then turned to the speech itself, which Trump delivered with his volume up.

"Stop yelling at us, grandpa!" said Meyers. "If you don't want us to come home and visit you at the retirement home on Christmas, we'll happily stay where we are."

Meyers also spoke to the amount of false claims made by Trump in his speech, including his statement that "inflation has stopped, wages are up, prices are down."

"The speech was so unhinged and so full of obvious lies that CNN's Fact Checker had to race through them and still ran out of time," said Meyers, throwing to footage of CNN's Daniel Dale debunking Trump's claims (again). He then finished the segment with a strong statement:

"Americans are struggling with rising costs and slowing economy, and instead of demonstrating empathy and coming up with a plan to fix it, Trump's just scolding everyone through the TV."

Jimmy Kimmel gave an emotional monologue on his show to finish up a turbulent year, one in which late shows including his own have been targeted by Donald Trump and Kimmel and his colleagues suffered a tragic personal loss.

Meanwhile, the major topic of the night for late night show hosts was the president's primetime address from the White House on Thursday, an 18-minute speech which Kimmel also unpacked.

"The president had limited time — his speech was interrupting the season finale of Survivor — so he went a mile a minute. He was shouting. He was racing through the script. It was 18 straight minutes of him yelling. It was like the whole country got to experience what it was like to be Eric in the eighth grade."

During the speech, Trump repeated false claims which have been debunked, from his statement that "inflation has stopped, wages are up, prices are down," to his claim that he has "settled eight wars in 10 months.”

"There were so many lies," said Kimmel. "11 fact checkers died watching that speech last night. He packed a lot of crap into 18 minutes."

I am a writer by trade, and like most knowledge workers, my job depends on sustained focus. When something pulls me out of my headspace, whether it is a notification, a pop-up, or a blinking icon, it is not just a brief interruption. Studies have shown it can take close to twenty minutes to fully regain focus after being distracted, which makes even small interruptions more costly than they seem. Because of that, anything I can do to reduce unnecessary noise on my PC is an easy win.

Donald Trump gave a primetime address from the White House on Thursday night, blaming immigrants and Joe Biden for the current state of his U.S. economy and promising an 'economic boom" in 2026 (despite his decreasing approval ratings) among other things, all while surrounded by Christmas trees. And like Jimmy Kimmel and Seth Meyers, Stephen Colbert unpacked it all.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I believe that years from now, I think we'll all remember where we were when we did not watch Donald Trump's speech last night," said The Late Show host on Thursday. "Yesterday, Old Man Baloney Hands somehow convinced every network to preempt their primetime programming to air a presidential address from the White House...I'm not sure what the emergency was here, other than his poll numbers, because he just played the old hits."

Colbert played a clip from Trump's speech in which he said: "This is what the Biden administration allowed to happen to our country, and it can never be allowed to happen again. We had men playing in women’s sports, transgender for everybody, crime at record levels with law enforcement and words such as that just absolutely forbidden."

"Yes, words such as 'that' were forbidden," joked Colbert. "Under Biden, you couldn't say 'that.' You had to say you had to say 'this but over there.' But under Donald Trump, we're finally saying 'Merry Thatmas' again."

SAVE $400: As of Dec. 19, the ASUS ROG Swift 32-inch 4K OLED gaming monitor has dropped back to its lowest-ever price of $899 at Amazon. This is $400 off its list price of $1,299.

Opens in a new window Credit: ASUS ASUS ROG Swift 32-Inch 4K OLED Gaming Monitor $899 at Amazon
$1,299 Save $400   Get Deal

If a gaming setup upgrade has been on your mind to kick off the new year, now is a great time to track down a new monitor with some nice deals floating around. Amazon has quite a few worth looking at, including the ASUS ROG Swift 32-inch 4K OLED gaming monitor back at its lowest-ever price.

Usually the ASUS ROG Swift 32-inch 4K OLED gaming monitor is listed with a hefty price tag of $1,299, but for a limited time its price has dropped to $899. This saves you $400, and Amazon notes that it'll arrive before Christmas. If you're hoping to get it as a gift, you'll still have time to get it all wrapped up.

SEE ALSO: The 71 absolute best stocking stuffers for 2025

This ASUS monitor is sure to make your games shine as you start playing what's to come in 2026 (and fingers crossed that's GTA 6). It boasts a 32-inch 4K QD-OLED display that makes images on screen pop with vibrant color and detail, alongside a 240 Hz refresh rate and 0.03 ms (GTG) response time so everything runs smoothly without any lag.

It even comes with features that help lower the risk of burn-in on the screen, including a custom heatsink, advanced airflow design, and graphene film. If it ticks all the boxes of what you're looking for in a monitor, now is a great time to grab the ASUS ROG Swift 32-inch 4K OLED gaming monitor at Amazon while it's still on sale.

If this was part of your last-minute Christmas shopping, and you're looking for more tech items to pick up, we gathered up the 65 best tech gifts of the year to help you narrow down your options ahead of the holidays.

Being slapped by Cher and being told directly to "snap out of it" is a recurring dream most of us will never experience IRL. But Ariana Grande and Bowen Yang now have the bragging rights.

The Grammy-winning artist back hosting Saturday Night Live on Dec. 20, and in a teaser for the show, Cher had a special something for Grande and Yang.

"I got you both gifts!" says Cher.

"We got a gift from Cher? What is it?" asks Yang.

"My presence," Cher replies.

Well, yeah.

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

Released in August 2025, the 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 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. 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 December 19, 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 December 19, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 19 Pips

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

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

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 5-3, placed vertically; 3-0, placed horizontally.

Less Than (5): Everything in this light blue space must be less than 5. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally.

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 19 Pips

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

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

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 1-0, placed horizontally; 5-0, placed vertically; 0-0, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically.

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

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 6-5, placed horizontally; 3-4, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 19 Pips

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically; 1-4, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

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

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally; 4-5, placed vertically.

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

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

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

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally; 4-0, 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.

Pluribus episode 8 sees a tentative reunion between Carol (Rhea Seehorn) and the Others, with our protagonist juggling her desire for semi-human contact with her urge to set the world back to the way it was.

SEE ALSO: Rhea Seehorn reacts to that big 'Pluribus' kiss: 'There is some willful delusion'

Having the Others back does allow her to get some more information about them, though, as she wastes no time in asking Zosia (Karolina Wydra) as many questions as possible while they're hanging out.

So what exactly does she learn, and what could it mean?

What does Carol learn about the Others?

All the new information Zosia lets slip to Carol is handily summed up on her "What I Know About Them" whiteboard list, which she adds a bunch of different things to this episode. Here's the second part of the list, in full:

1. They. Eat. People.

2. Communal sleeping/cuddle puddle/body heat

3. Communicate via body's electric charge??

4. Trains to transport food (ugh)

5. Individuals feel, everyone knows

6. Signal from Kepler-22b (640 lightyears from Earth)

7. Building GIANT ANTENNA!!! Using up all power in world to send signal to space!

The last point follows on from a conversation she has with Zosia while she's using a telescope to look at the planet – Kepler-22b – responsible for beaming out the signal that contained the virus.

"We'll probably never learn the first thing about them," Zosia says. "They're too far away. But we know we love them and we're grateful to them. And we'll pay it forward, however long that may take."

When Carol asks what that means, Zosia's response sheds light on what the Others are planning: "We have to share their gift with whoever else might be out there."

What does it mean?

We already know that the Others' main reason for existing seems to be to widen their supposedly utopian net, joining other beings to their own singular consciousness. The construction of a giant antenna to send the same signal that Earth received therefore isn't too big of a surprise — but it does raise some other interesting questions.

For instance, where does the virus itself really originate from? Is it possible that the occupants of Kepler-22b didn't create it, but were simply passing it along after being infected by it in the same way that the Others on Earth are now planning to do?

Also, what was the real motivate of the species that created the virus? Was it actually to instil happiness on as many beings as possible and make the universe a better place? Or was the thing created as a weapon intended to weaken other planets and make them vulnerable to potential invasion?

Pluribus is now streaming on Apple TV+ with new episodes Friday.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you like golf.

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. 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: 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: Baseball teams

• Green: Pugilistic cinema

• Blue: Same team

• Purple: Legends

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: An NL West player

• Green: Boxing movies

• Blue: Vikings career passing leaders

• Purple: Nicknames of 1990s NBA All-Stars

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 #452 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• An NL West player - DODGER, GIANT, PADRE, ROCKIE

• Boxing movies - CINDERELLA MAN, MILLION DOLLAR BABY, THE FIGHTER, THE HURRICANE

• Vikings career passing leaders - COUSINS, CULPEPPER, KRAMER, TARKENTON

• Nicknames of 1990s NBA All-Stars - GRANDMAMA, PENNY, SIR CHARLES, THE DREAM

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.

TL;DR: Live stream Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There's a long list of NBA games taking place over the festive weeks, including Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Oklahoma City Thunder. This intriguing contest sees the defending champions going up against Anthony Edwards. Can he head his team to a surprise win at home?

If you want to watch Knicks vs. 76ers in the NBA for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Knicks vs. 76ers?

Knicks vs. 76ers in the NBA starts at 9:30 p.m. ET on Dec. 19. This game takes place at Target Center.

How to watch Knicks vs. 76ers for free

Knicks vs. 76ers in the NBA is available to live stream for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.

This free live stream is geo-restricted to the U.S. and UK, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S. or UK, meaning you can access free live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Stream the NBA for free by following these simple steps:

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2. Subscribe to a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

4. Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S. or UK

5. Watch the NBA from anywhere in the world on Prime Video

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch NBA live streams without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select games from the NBA before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

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• Servers in 105 countries

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• 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 the NBA for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There are plenty of fascinating NBA games to keep fans entertained over the festive period, including New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers. The Knicks are fresh from winning the NBA Cup. Can they carry on that form and start to dominate the East? The 76ers will be a stern test.

If you want to watch Knicks vs. 76ers in the NBA for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Knicks vs. 76ers?

Knicks vs. 76ers in the NBA starts at 7 p.m. ET on Dec. 19. This game takes place at Madison Square Garden.

How to watch Knicks vs. 76ers for free

Knicks vs. 76ers in the NBA is available to live stream for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.

This free live stream is geo-restricted to the U.S. and UK, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S. or UK, meaning you can access free live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Stream the NBA for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime (if you're not already a member)

2. Subscribe to a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

4. Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S. or UK

5. Watch the NBA from anywhere in the world on Prime Video

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch NBA live streams without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select games from the NBA before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing free live streams on platforms like Prime Video, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is 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 the NBA for free with ExpressVPN.