Technology

There are tons of Linux distros out there, but one that's been around for a while, offers a unique experience, and doesn't get much coverage is Q4OS. So what is this four-character operating system, and is it worth trying?

SAVE $300: As of Feb. 26, the Samsung Frame TV 55-inch is on sale for $897.99 at Amazon. This deal saves you 25% on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Frame TV 55-inch $897.99 at Amazon
$1,197.99 Save $300   Get Deal

Are you the kind of person that thinks a big, clunky TV on the wall ruins the aesthetic? The answer isn't no TV, it's the Samsung Frame TV.

This TV is the answer to your aesthetic prayers. It's not just a TV — it doubles as a piece of art by displaying curated artworks or your own photos when it’s switched off, so your wall looks vibey even when you’re not watching.

As of Feb. 26, the Samsung Frame TV is on sale at Amazon, down from $1,197.99 to $897.99. That's $300 off, and its lowest price so far this year as per camelcamelcamel.

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And the great qualities don't end with the art displays, this TV has a whole lot more going for it. The screen delivers vibrant, lifelike colors and benefits from AI-enhanced picture and sound quality. This makes your favorite shows, sports, or even gaming bright and clear. And speaking of gaming, with this TV you'll also get smooth motion and support for VRR up to 4K 144Hz.

The TV also comes with customizable bezels that let you change the look to match your space. They’re easy to swap, so you can change your TV’s style without replacing the whole unit. Choose from modern brown, modern white, modern teak, or sand gold metal.

Ready for a TV upgrade? Get this Samsung deal at Amazon.

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 February 26, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for February 26, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Feb. 26 Pips

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

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

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 1-4, placed horizontally; 3-0, placed vertically.

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

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Feb. 26 Pips

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally; 5-4, placed horizontally.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally; 6-0, placed horizontally.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally; 0-4, placed horizontally.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed vertically; 0-0, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically.

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Feb. 26 Pips

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically; 6-0, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

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

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

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically; 6-5, placed horizontally.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 6-5, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed vertically.

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

Number (17): Everything in this space must add up to 17. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally; 6-6, placed horizontally.

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

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-3, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 5-3, placed vertically; 1-1, placed horizontally.

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

SAVE $420: As of Feb. 26, the Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 is on sale for $779 at Amazon. That's a 35% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 $779 at Amazon
$1,199 Save $420   Get Deal

If you’ve been thinking about investing in a serious portable power station, there couldn't be a better time to do it. As of Feb. 26, the Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 is on sale at Amazon and it's discounted by more than $400. This deal takes the price down from $1,199 to $779.

This is a powerful but portable power option from Jackery for your home, camping, or road trips. It gives you a 2,200W output and 2,040Wh capacity through three AC ports, alongside a fast 100W USB-C PD port. And despite its high power capacity, it’s compact and lightweight thanks to EV-inspired cell-to-body technology that improves both efficiency and safety. It even has seamless 20ms switching, making it a reliable backup during outages, keeping essential devices running without any cut off period.

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Charging is flexible, with it reaching up to 80% in just 66 minutes via AC or reaching full charge in just over 100 minutes using emergency mode. There's also a quieter charging mode that keeps noise to a minimum. And it’s built to last thanks to the LiFePO4 battery designed for up to 10 years of use.

Get this power station deal at Amazon now.

SAVE $15: As of Feb. 26, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K is on sale for $34.99 at Amazon. That's a 30% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roku Roku Streaming Stick 4K $34.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $15   Get Deal

Streaming devices are a handy, clutter-free way to transform your streaming experience. Whether you want a new operating system or you have an older TV that doesn't have apps like Netflix built-in, these products are really top tier. And as of Feb. 26, you can get a great model on sale. The Roku Streaming Stick 4K is $15 off right now, taking the price down to $34.99 from $49.99.

With this model of Roku Stick, you'll get sharp 4K resolution, Dolby Vision, and HDR10+, so everything you watch will display incredible quality.

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It’s compact and set up is easy. It sits neatly behind your TV (without blocking other HDMI ports), and it even powers directly from the TV, so there’s no extra clutter or cables for a wall outlet. When you turn it on, you’ll get all the major apps in one place, plus hundreds of free live TV channels. It also comes with a voice remote that handles everything including volume, power, and search so you don’t need to juggle multiple remotes.

Get this streaming deal from Amazon now.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition is for people who love sports movies and shows.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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: Choices

• Green: Same actor

• Blue: Person in common

• Purple: Make-believe leadership

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Coaching decisions

• Green: Will Ferrell sports movies

• Blue: Associated with Diana Taurasi

• Purple: Fictional coaches

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 #521 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Coaching decisions - EXTEND, FIRE, HIRE, PROMOTE

• Will Ferrell sports movies - BLADES OF GLORY, KICKING & SCREAMING, SEMI-PRO, TALLADEGA NIGHTS

• Associated with Diana Taurasi - CONNECTICUT, PHOENIX, SIX GOLDS, WHITE MAMBA

• Fictional coaches - BOMBAY, BUTTERMAKER, DALE, LASSO

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 yesterday's Connections.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition is for people who love sports movies and shows.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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: Choices

• Green: Same actor

• Blue: Person in common

• Purple: Make-believe leadership

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Coaching decisions

• Green: Will Ferrell sports movies

• Blue: Associated with Diana Taurasi

• Purple: Fictional coaches

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 #521 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Coaching decisions - EXTEND, FIRE, HIRE, PROMOTE

• Will Ferrell sports movies - BLADES OF GLORY, KICKING & SCREAMING, SEMI-PRO, TALLADEGA NIGHTS

• Associated with Diana Taurasi - CONNECTICUT, PHOENIX, SIX GOLDS, WHITE MAMBA

• Fictional coaches - BOMBAY, BUTTERMAKER, DALE, LASSO

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 yesterday's Connections.

The astronaut who experienced a medical issue in space last month has identified himself as the sick member of his crew prompting an evacuation from the International Space Station.

Col. Mike Fincke, pilot of the four-member SpaceX Crew-11, said in a statement released through NASA on Wednesday that he's "doing very well" and continuing the standard rehabilitation all astronauts undergo following their missions. 

While Fincke refrained from disclosing his diagnosis, he said the medical event that occurred on Jan. 7 — one day before he was scheduled to perform a spacewalk — required immediate attention from his crewmates. 

"Thanks to their quick response and the guidance of our NASA flight surgeons, my status quickly stabilized," he said. 

NASA's decision to bring the crew home one month early, on Jan. 15, marked the agency's first controlled medical evacuation from the station in its 25 years of continuous operations. The incident highlighted the limits of treating complex health problems 250 miles away from Earth. 

SEE ALSO: NASA's aging crawler is about to haul 18 million pounds on its back, again

Their premature departure left Chris Williams, who arrived on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in November 2025, as the only American astronaut at the station for a month until Crew-12 arrived on Feb. 14.

Fincke, 58, is a Pennsylvania native with a wife and three children. He joined NASA in 1996 and is now a veteran of four spaceflights: Expedition 9 in 2004, Expedition 18 in 2009, STS-134 in 2011, and most recently Expedition 74, for which he served as commander. 

NASA astronaut Mike Fincke has logged 549 days in space, with nine spacewalks totaling 48 hours and 37 minutes.  Credit: SpaceX

He and three crewmates — Zena Cardman, Japan’s Kimiya Yui, and Russia’s Oleg Platonov — arrived at the space station on Aug. 1, 2025. He has logged 549 days in space, with nine spacewalks totaling 48 hours and 37 minutes, according to NASA. 

Immediately after Fincke's medical event, NASA officials said they wouldn't name the affected astronaut, citing medical privacy concerns. During a news briefing the next day, NASA's chief health and medical officer J.D. Polk said the incident wasn't an injury in the course of work, though he stopped short of saying whether it was some other kind of injury. 

In Fincke's Wednesday statement, he described the evacuation as allowing him to get advanced medical imaging that wasn't available at the station. He thanked the staff at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla near San Diego, California, who checked him out upon the crew's splashdown.

"Spaceflight is an incredible privilege," he said, "and sometimes it reminds us just how human we are."

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Astronauts have handled many maladies over a quarter-century at the space station, but most, such as toothaches and earaches, aren't deadly. Astronauts also have managed minor injuries and infections, back pain, motion sickness, headaches, and vision changes with telemedicine and the onboard medical kit, according to public reports. 

They've even dealt with a blood clot in the neck, treating it with injections of a blood-thinning drug and later oral medicine, once it arrived on a cargo resupply ship.

NASA described the evacuation as a "controlled expedited return," rather than an emergency deorbit, which would mean departing the station immediately, regardless of the landing's timing, sea conditions, or weather.

The astronaut who experienced a medical issue in space last month has identified himself as the sick member of his crew prompting an evacuation from the International Space Station.

Col. Mike Fincke, pilot of the four-member SpaceX Crew-11, said in a statement released through NASA on Wednesday that he's "doing very well" and continuing the standard rehabilitation all astronauts undergo following their missions. 

While Fincke refrained from disclosing his diagnosis, he said the medical event that occurred on Jan. 7 — one day before he was scheduled to perform a spacewalk — required immediate attention from his crewmates. 

"Thanks to their quick response and the guidance of our NASA flight surgeons, my status quickly stabilized," he said. 

NASA's decision to bring the crew home one month early, on Jan. 15, marked the agency's first controlled medical evacuation from the station in its 25 years of continuous operations. The incident highlighted the limits of treating complex health problems 250 miles away from Earth. 

SEE ALSO: NASA's aging crawler is about to haul 18 million pounds on its back, again

Their premature departure left Chris Williams, who arrived on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in November 2025, as the only American astronaut at the station for a month until Crew-12 arrived on Feb. 14.

Fincke, 58, is a Pennsylvania native with a wife and three children. He joined NASA in 1996 and is now a veteran of four spaceflights: Expedition 9 in 2004, Expedition 18 in 2009, STS-134 in 2011, and most recently Expedition 74, for which he served as commander. 

NASA astronaut Mike Fincke has logged 549 days in space, with nine spacewalks totaling 48 hours and 37 minutes.  Credit: SpaceX

He and three crewmates — Zena Cardman, Japan’s Kimiya Yui, and Russia’s Oleg Platonov — arrived at the space station on Aug. 1, 2025. He has logged 549 days in space, with nine spacewalks totaling 48 hours and 37 minutes, according to NASA. 

Immediately after Fincke's medical event, NASA officials said they wouldn't name the affected astronaut, citing medical privacy concerns. During a news briefing the next day, NASA's chief health and medical officer J.D. Polk said the incident wasn't an injury in the course of work, though he stopped short of saying whether it was some other kind of injury. 

In Fincke's Wednesday statement, he described the evacuation as allowing him to get advanced medical imaging that wasn't available at the station. He thanked the staff at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla near San Diego, California, who checked him out upon the crew's splashdown.

"Spaceflight is an incredible privilege," he said, "and sometimes it reminds us just how human we are."

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Astronauts have handled many maladies over a quarter-century at the space station, but most, such as toothaches and earaches, aren't deadly. Astronauts also have managed minor injuries and infections, back pain, motion sickness, headaches, and vision changes with telemedicine and the onboard medical kit, according to public reports. 

They've even dealt with a blood clot in the neck, treating it with injections of a blood-thinning drug and later oral medicine, once it arrived on a cargo resupply ship.

NASA described the evacuation as a "controlled expedited return," rather than an emergency deorbit, which would mean departing the station immediately, regardless of the landing's timing, sea conditions, or weather.

If you've been online in the past few weeks, I'm sorry. That's a general comment, but it especially goes for if you've seen posts and articles about someone named Clavicular.

Clavicular, given name Braden Peters, is a 20-year-old "looksmax" influencer. His claim to fame is going to extreme measures to "ascend," or enhance his appearance, and immersing himself in the world of right-wing influencers. As of this publication, he has around 770,000 followers on TikTok and 190,000 followers on Kick, where he often streams live. 

SEE ALSO: Stop listening to the 'alpha male' grift

The most basic definition of "looksmaxxing" is just that: maximizing your looks. But it stems from incel (involuntarily celibate) communities of the 2010s. Now, in 2026, it appears that what was fostered in those dark corners of the internet is now becoming increasingly mainstream.

The looksmaxxing ideal

"Looksmaxxing" has been floating around incel communities since before COVID. As such, it's not quite about prioritizing your innate features or focusing on what makes your appearance unique. Rather, it's about shaping yourself into a certain mold that incels and conservatives deem superior. 

Clavicular, for instance, sees the actor Matt Bomer as the "most harmonious man's face in existence," according to his New York Times profile. Bomer is white, with symmetrical features and a square jaw. These are all physical elements that "lookmaxxers" aspire to, in addition to the societal-accepted appearance for men: luscious locks, toned muscles, and clear skin. The looksmax community is also deeply racist, propping up white skin as the ideal. "Just be white" is a well-known incel term. 

Actor Matt Bomer and his handsome, harmonious face. Credit: Amy Sussman/Getty Images

The ideal looksmaxxing man looks like a cross between Hitler's Übermensch and handsome Squidward.

And looksmaxxers hyperfocus on specific attributes. The name "Clavicular" itself references the clavicle, a bone important in the looksmax community. One's side profile and face shape are other examples. These are features that previous generations of men surely didn't notice or care about, and their sudden importance is the result of unlimited access to mirrors, a camera, and a mainline to endless posts about looksmaxxing. 

Some methods men discuss online to looksmax include going to the gym and "mewing," or sticking one's tongue on the roof of his mouth to give the appearance of a sharper jawline. But men have gone to drastic lengths to looksmax. This includes surgery (jaw surgery, leg-lengthening surgery), bonesmashing (using objects like hammers to literally try to "chisel" their face), and taking drugs such as steroids, hormones, or even illegal substances.

View this post on Instagram

In a November 2025 interview, Clavicular said he uses crystal meth to suppress his appetite and "leanmax" (maintain thinness) and has "hollow cheeks." He's separately stated that he bonesmashes with a hammer.

But why are these men doing this?

Why is looksmaxxing so popular?

The outward goal of looksmaxxing is to become as attractive as possible, but the underbelly signals a certain sexist, gender-essentialist world view.

Men looksmax to appreciate in "sexual market value," and while even Kinsey Institute researchers reference the "sexual marketplace," it's undoubtedly a capitalist way of looking at dating and romance. It implies a cisheteronormative idea about partnership and only prizes physical appearance. It assumes that all women are shallow and prefer "chads," or "alphas," and any men that don't fit the looksmax ideal are out of luck. 

Like capitalism, looksmaxxing is all about optimization. The goal is to "ascend" — but why and to where, however, is unclear. Perhaps the goal is just to be on top, be the best, become rich, and have an attractive wife who "mogs" all your friends' wives. (As Mashable's Crystal Bell explained in December, mogging means outshining or overshadowing someone in appearance.)

Men, to incels and looksmaxxers, must always be at the height of masculinity, represented by sharp jawlines and low bodyfat percentages. Femininity is unwanted, so much so that Clavicular doesn't even seem that interested in sex itself, but the idea that he could have it at any time, and that itself is a W. 

If even that. It seems like the true W may be praise and admiration from other men. As feminist philosopher Marilyn Frye said, "To say that straight men are heterosexual is only to say that they engage in sex (fucking exclusively with the other sex, i.e., women). All or almost all of that which pertains to love, most straight men reserve exclusively for other men."

View this post on Instagram

And while Clavicular has been hobnobbing with the highest-followed right-wing influencers, he has made it known that looks indeed matter to him more than anything. In an interview with conservative commentator Michael Knowles, Clavicular called Vice President JD Vance "subhuman." When asked to explain, Clavicular said Vance has a "short face width to height ratio," has a "recessed side profile," and is overweight. Gavin Newsom, the Democratic governor of California, is a chad, according to Clavicular.

In other words, Newsom, according to Clavicular, will mog Vance in a political showdown.

Why is Clavicular so popular?

GQ just called Clavicular the most famous looksmaxxer in the world. Mere months ago, most people didn't know who this man was, and now he's become a media darling, with multiple features and photoshoots in prominent outlets, all while his profile continues to rise. How did this happen?

As writer and internet culture researcher Aidan Walker wrote, Clavicular "contentmaxxes" — he's doing it for the views, the virality. 

Clavicular and other right-wing influencers engage in clip farming, Walker wrote. Clip farming is when a steamer does something deliberately outrageous to go viral and get "clipped" and shared out of context beyond the stream. 

In the last few months alone, Clavicular has gone viral for appearing to run someone over in a Tesla Cybertruck and not care if they died; partying with white supremacists and manosphere influencers while Kanye West's "Heil Hitler" played at the club; and getting "frame-mogged" by an Arizona State University frat leader.

"Everything you could say about Clavicular…feels optimized for algorithmic traction," Walker wrote. "He has lived his life in order to be a hook for a social media post."

As Clavicular and his antics become embedded in our culture, so does his ideology. It's not a coincidence that his rise is occurring at the same time as Trump is once again in power, and as the ideal for women's appearance becomes smaller and thinner. 

Whether Clavicular actually believes in what he's doing, it might not matter — he's reaching millions of people regardless. 

If you've been online in the past few weeks, I'm sorry. That's a general comment, but it especially goes for if you've seen posts and articles about someone named Clavicular.

Clavicular, given name Braden Peters, is a 20-year-old "looksmax" influencer. His claim to fame is going to extreme measures to "ascend," or enhance his appearance, and immersing himself in the world of right-wing influencers. As of this publication, he has around 770,000 followers on TikTok and 190,000 followers on Kick, where he often streams live. 

SEE ALSO: Stop listening to the 'alpha male' grift

The most basic definition of "looksmaxxing" is just that: maximizing your looks. But it stems from incel (involuntarily celibate) communities of the 2010s. Now, in 2026, it appears that what was fostered in those dark corners of the internet is now becoming increasingly mainstream.

The looksmaxxing ideal

"Looksmaxxing" has been floating around incel communities since before COVID. As such, it's not quite about prioritizing your innate features or focusing on what makes your appearance unique. Rather, it's about shaping yourself into a certain mold that incels and conservatives deem superior. 

Clavicular, for instance, sees the actor Matt Bomer as the "most harmonious man's face in existence," according to his New York Times profile. Bomer is white, with symmetrical features and a square jaw. These are all physical elements that "lookmaxxers" aspire to, in addition to the societal-accepted appearance for men: luscious locks, toned muscles, and clear skin. The looksmax community is also deeply racist, propping up white skin as the ideal. "Just be white" is a well-known incel term. 

Actor Matt Bomer and his handsome, harmonious face. Credit: Amy Sussman/Getty Images

The ideal looksmaxxing man looks like a cross between Hitler's Übermensch and handsome Squidward.

And looksmaxxers hyperfocus on specific attributes. The name "Clavicular" itself references the clavicle, a bone important in the looksmax community. One's side profile and face shape are other examples. These are features that previous generations of men surely didn't notice or care about, and their sudden importance is the result of unlimited access to mirrors, a camera, and a mainline to endless posts about looksmaxxing. 

Some methods men discuss online to looksmax include going to the gym and "mewing," or sticking one's tongue on the roof of his mouth to give the appearance of a sharper jawline. But men have gone to drastic lengths to looksmax. This includes surgery (jaw surgery, leg-lengthening surgery), bonesmashing (using objects like hammers to literally try to "chisel" their face), and taking drugs such as steroids, hormones, or even illegal substances.

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In a November 2025 interview, Clavicular said he uses crystal meth to suppress his appetite and "leanmax" (maintain thinness) and has "hollow cheeks." He's separately stated that he bonesmashes with a hammer.

But why are these men doing this?

Why is looksmaxxing so popular?

The outward goal of looksmaxxing is to become as attractive as possible, but the underbelly signals a certain sexist, gender-essentialist world view.

Men looksmax to appreciate in "sexual market value," and while even Kinsey Institute researchers reference the "sexual marketplace," it's undoubtedly a capitalist way of looking at dating and romance. It implies a cisheteronormative idea about partnership and only prizes physical appearance. It assumes that all women are shallow and prefer "chads," or "alphas," and any men that don't fit the looksmax ideal are out of luck. 

Like capitalism, looksmaxxing is all about optimization. The goal is to "ascend" — but why and to where, however, is unclear. Perhaps the goal is just to be on top, be the best, become rich, and have an attractive wife who "mogs" all your friends' wives. (As Mashable's Crystal Bell explained in December, mogging means outshining or overshadowing someone in appearance.)

Men, to incels and looksmaxxers, must always be at the height of masculinity, represented by sharp jawlines and low bodyfat percentages. Femininity is unwanted, so much so that Clavicular doesn't even seem that interested in sex itself, but the idea that he could have it at any time, and that itself is a W. 

If even that. It seems like the true W may be praise and admiration from other men. As feminist philosopher Marilyn Frye said, "To say that straight men are heterosexual is only to say that they engage in sex (fucking exclusively with the other sex, i.e., women). All or almost all of that which pertains to love, most straight men reserve exclusively for other men."

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And while Clavicular has been hobnobbing with the highest-followed right-wing influencers, he has made it known that looks indeed matter to him more than anything. In an interview with conservative commentator Michael Knowles, Clavicular called Vice President JD Vance "subhuman." When asked to explain, Clavicular said Vance has a "short face width to height ratio," has a "recessed side profile," and is overweight. Gavin Newsom, the Democratic governor of California, is a chad, according to Clavicular.

In other words, Newsom, according to Clavicular, will mog Vance in a political showdown.

Why is Clavicular so popular?

GQ just called Clavicular the most famous looksmaxxer in the world. Mere months ago, most people didn't know who this man was, and now he's become a media darling, with multiple features and photoshoots in prominent outlets, all while his profile continues to rise. How did this happen?

As writer and internet culture researcher Aidan Walker wrote, Clavicular "contentmaxxes" — he's doing it for the views, the virality. 

Clavicular and other right-wing influencers engage in clip farming, Walker wrote. Clip farming is when a steamer does something deliberately outrageous to go viral and get "clipped" and shared out of context beyond the stream. 

In the last few months alone, Clavicular has gone viral for appearing to run someone over in a Tesla Cybertruck and not care if they died; partying with white supremacists and manosphere influencers while Kanye West's "Heil Hitler" played at the club; and getting "frame-mogged" by an Arizona State University frat leader.

"Everything you could say about Clavicular…feels optimized for algorithmic traction," Walker wrote. "He has lived his life in order to be a hook for a social media post."

As Clavicular and his antics become embedded in our culture, so does his ideology. It's not a coincidence that his rise is occurring at the same time as Trump is once again in power, and as the ideal for women's appearance becomes smaller and thinner. 

Whether Clavicular actually believes in what he's doing, it might not matter — he's reaching millions of people regardless. 

TL;DR: Live stream the UFC on Paramount+. Access these live streams for free with a 30-day trial for Walmart+.

Some of the biggest names in sport became famous with the UFC. We're talking about the likes of Conor McGregor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Brock Lesnar, and Georges St-Pierre. All of these household names earned their stripes in the Octagon, and now the next wave of UFC superstars are primed and ready to take things to the next level.

And millions of fans from around the world will be watching every moment. Fortunately for this dedicated group of followers, it has never been easier to watch the biggest fight nights without spending anything.

If you want to watch the UFC for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the UFC?

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. The UFC has over 578 fighters contracted that fight across 11 weight divisions. The organization produces events worldwide — the UFC has held over 750 events going into 2026.

How to watch the UFC for free

The UFC is available to live stream on Paramount+. New subscribers can get Paramount+ for $8.99 per month with access to all UFC events.

Alternatively, you can sign up for a 30-day trial for Walmart+ to gain access to Paramount+ for free. Paramount+ is included as a perk of Walmart+, so with a free trial of Walmart+, you can live stream the UFC without spending anything. It's a sneaky trick, but it works.

If you're outside the U.S. for the next fight, you might need to use a VPN to unblock the UFC on Paramount+. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., allowing you to unblock live streams of the UFC from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the UFC from anywhere in the world 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 U.S.

4. Visit Paramount+

5. Watch the UFC from anywhere in the world

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the next fight before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the UFC?

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

• Servers in 105 countries

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

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

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Watch the UFC from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Save files forever with this 1TB lifetime subscription to Koofr Cloud Storage, now only $159.99 through March 7 with code KOOFR.

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Where are your most precious memories currently parked? If the answer is on an old external hard drive or in a cloud storage service you’re currently renting, it’s time to treat them with more respect. You can currently purchase a lifetime subscription to an ample 1TB of Koofr Cloud Storage and keep your most important data safe forever — now for only $159.99 through March 7.

Whether you have your photos and videos from your son’s childhood stuck in a drawer, or you’re keeping important business documents entrusted to a cloud storage company that doesn’t respect your privacy, Koofr Cloud Storage offers a permanent, affordable, and private solution to file saving.

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Not only will Koofr Cloud Storage save you a fortune in the long run — goodbye monthly cloud storage fees — but it also offers much better privacy. Your files will be end-to-end encrypted, so they won’t be accessed by anyone, including the company itself. When you need them, Koofr’s user-friendly interface makes it easy to grab from a smartphone, computer, or via WebDAV.

This 1TB of space lets you secure 250,000 12MP photos, 500 hours of HD video, or 6.5 million PDF files for good. If you’re already using another service, you can easily connect an existing account and transfer your files over from Dropbox, Google Drive, Amazon, OneDrive, and more.

Koofr Cloud Storage also offers helpful tools, such as the duplicate finder, which helps you get rid of unnecessary duplicate files to save you time and storage space. There are also convenient features like advanced renaming options and link appearance customization.

Save 1TB of files for good with this lifetime subscription to Koofr Cloud Storage, now $159.99 through March 7 with code KOOFR.

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

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

SEE ALSO: The 27 best comedies streaming on Netflix right now 20. House of Villains, Season 3

The Traitors Season 4 wraps up this week, but for those of you who love to watch reality TV stars scheming together in a house, might we suggest House of Villains as a possible replacement? The series brings infamous reality TV villains under one roof for a season of challenges, alliances, and banishments. Cast members include Traitors alumni like Kate Chastain and Tom Sandoval, as well as Flavor of Love's Tiffany "New York" Pollard. They're sure to bring the drama, but if you're looking for even better post-Traitors reality TV fare, I recommend you keep reading this list. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Joel McHale, Paul Abrahamian, Tyson Apostol, Kate Chastain, Jackie Christie, Drita D'Avanzo, Plane Jane, Johnny Middlebrooks, Ashley Mitchell, Tiffany "New York" Pollard, Christine Quinn, and Tom Sandoval

How to watch: House of Villains Season 3 premieres Feb. 26 on Peacock.

19. In the Blink of an Eye

Andrew Stanton has directed such celebrated animated adventures as Finding Nemo and WALL-E — as well as the live-action flop John Carter. Now, with the Colby Day-penned In the Blink of an Eye, he delivers interweaving vignettes about technology and human connection that stretch from a literal Neanderthal's struggle for survival to a contemporary anthropologist's search for work/life, to a far-flung space colony where mankind is taking bold new steps 

While Stanton collected a promising cast for his film, the reviews out of its Sundance debut were bleak. And we can confirm, this movie is a mess. Imagine Black Mirror without nuance or Cloud Atlas without ambition, and you'll have some idea. The Neanderthal plot, which features no modern dialogue, is the most impactful thread. The rest is confounding and bland. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor 

Starring: Rashida Jones, Kate McKinnon, Daveed Diggs, Tanaya Beatty, Jorge Vargas, and Skywalker Hughes 

How to watch: In the Blink of an Eye will debut on Disney+ and Hulu on Feb. 27.

18. CIA

You know FBI, now here's CIA. From Dick Wolf and David Hudgins, the CBS spinoff will be the natural next watch for fans, with this case-of-the-week drama cannonballing into intelligence operations that overlap. From the two institutions, CIA agency case officer Colin Glass (Lucifer's Tom Ellis) and FBI special agent Bill Goodman (Chicago Med's Nick Gehlfuss) are thrown together in the name of national security, and the differences between domestic and international law enforcement come into focus. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

Starring: Tom Ellis, Nick Gehlfuss, Natalee Linez, and Necar Zadegan

How to watch: The first episode of CIA is now streaming on Paramount+. New episodes premiere Mondays at 10 p.m. ET and stream the next day on Paramount+.

17. Crazy Old Lady

If you're seeking a scary story where no good deed goes unpunished, then you'll appreciate Crazy Old Lady. Written and directed by Martín Mauregui, this horror movie begins with a relatively mundane phone call. A woman is on the line with her elderly mother, Alicia (Carmen Maura), whose dementia keeps throwing them into a frustrating conversational loop. Not able to go check on her mom, she calls on an ex-boyfriend named Pedro (Daniel Hendler) to go by the house. Far from a feeble old woman living in fear, Alicia is fired up with a wicked scheme of her own. 

Dealing with some dark topics, including cognitive decline, sexual assault, and murder, Crazy Old Lady can be hard to watch. So, before you hit play, brace yourselves accordingly. — K.P. 

Starring: Carmen Maura and Daniel Hendler

How to watch: Crazy Old Lady will debut on Shudder on Feb. 27. 

16. The Traitors, Season 4 finale

After 11 episodes of conga lines and commiseration, The Traitors Season 4 comes to a close this week. But who will come out on top in this game of betrayal and murder? Will Traitor Rob Rausch continue to steamroll the competition with the help of new compatriot Eric Nam? Or will the Faithfuls finally come to their senses and realize Rob's been playing them masterfully this whole time? — B.E.

Starring: Alan Cumming, Mark Ballas, Maura Higgins, Tara Lipinski, Eric Nam, Rob Rausch, and Johnny Weir

How to watch: The Traitors Season 4 finale premieres Feb. 26 at 9 p.m. ET on Peacock.

15. Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans

Can you believe there have been 50 seasons of Survivor? That's 50 seasons of blindsides, immunity idols, and host Jeff Probst telling contestants they've got to dig deep. Now, Survivor celebrates its impressive run with Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans, which brings back 24 prior contestants, including recent winners like Kyle Fraser and Savannah Louie, legends like Cirie Fields, and White Lotus creator (and Survivor: David vs. Goliath runner-up) Mike White.

In addition to all these familiar faces, Survivor 50 incorporates fan-voted elements. These range from choosing the starting tribe colors to determining whether immunity idols would be in the game. One thing fans didn't vote on? The inclusion of celebrity guests, like Jimmy Fallon or Mr. Beast. — B.E.

Starring: Jeff Probst, Aubry Bracco, Q Burdette, Charlie Davis, Rick Devens, Colby Donaldson, Tiffany Ervin, Cirie Fields, Emily Flippen, Kyle Fraser, Chrissy Hofbeck, Christian Hubicki, Joe Hunter, Kamilla Karthigesu, Angelina Keeley, Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick, Jenna Lewis-Dougherty, Savannah Louie, Ozzy Lusth, Genevieve Mushaluk, Dee Valladares, Rizo Velovic, Benjamin "Coach" Wade, Mike White, and Jonathan Young

How to watch: The first episode of Survivor 50 is now streaming on Paramount+. New episodes air Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET, and stream the next day on Paramount+.

14. American Classic 

American Classic is a new series about a big Broadway star with an equally big ego who returns to his small hometown after being dealt some harsh blows. Kevin Kline stars as Richard Bean, whose Broadway run is derailed not only by a very bad review from a cutting critic but also the death of his estranged mother. Once back, he reconnects with his friends and family, and finds fresh purpose in giving back to the community — and the community theater — that made him. 

Seems like charming stuff. And I'm always a sucker for Kevin Kline. — K.P. 

Starring: Kevin Kline, Laura Linney, Jon Tenney, Tony Shalhoub, Aaron Tveit, Stephen Spinella, Len Cariou, Jane Alexander, Jessica Hecht, Nell Verlaque, Billy Carter, Elise Kibler, Ajay Friese, and Mark Linn-Baker 

How to watch: American Classic premieres on MGM+ on March 1.

13. Taylor Tomlinson: Prodigal Daughter

Stand-up and former After Midnight host Taylor Tomlinson is back with another Netflix comedy special. The comic, who's been crushing it on TikTok, explores her religious trauma with the cheekily titled Prodigal Daughter. Raised a devout Christian, her upbringing has been a recurring topic in her comedy. But this new special could push the envelope there. As she teases in the trailer above, "It's a lot of God stuff and a lot of gay stuff and my agents are nervous." 

Tomlinson will be spinning jokes about everything from the Bible and her own bisexuality to Pete Davidson. — K.P. 

Starring: Taylor Tomlinson 

How to watch: Taylor Tomlinson: Prodigal Daughter is now streaming on Netflix.

12. The Bluff

In The Bluff, Priyanka Chopra Jonas stars as the former pirate legend called Ercell "Bloody Mary" Bodden. Ercell has tried to outrun her past and her nasty ex-captain (played by none other than Karl Urban), but now she must kick pirate ass to protect her family. I'm here for it! Prime Video's new action movie was produced by the Russo Brothers and directed by Frank E. Flowers, with a script by Flowers and Joe Ballarini, and it promises bloody brawls, rapscallion sword fights, and general backstabbing on the high seas and on shore. — S.C.

Starring: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Safia Oakley-Green, Temuera Morrison, Ismael Cruz Cordova, and Karl Urban

How to watch: The Bluff is now streaming on Prime Video.

11. The Actor Awards Presented by SAG-AFTRA

Formerly known as the SAG Awards, the Actor Awards Presented by SAG-AFTRA is a celebration of the best performances of the year, voted on by America's most prestigious acting guild. Kristen Bell will host the 32nd annual Actor Awards, which will boast stars from TV and film, coming together to celebrate excellence in their craft. 

SEE ALSO: SAG Actor Awards nominations 2026: 'One Battle After Another' and 'Sinners' dominate

With the Oscars fast approaching, the Actor Awards could be the next clue for who will go home with an Academy Award. But considering the Golden Globes and BAFTAs had some major differences, the Actor Awards are not easy to predict. So tune in for the glamor, the gratitude, and to sharpen your chances in the office Oscar pool. 

Starring: Kristen Bell, Michael B. Jordan, Timothée Chalamet, Jessie Buckley, Teyana Taylor, Jacob Elordi, Amy Madigan, and more. 

How to watch: The Actor Awards stream live on Netflix on March 1 at 8 p.m. ET.

10. DTF St. Louis

Jason Bateman, David Harbour, and Linda Cardellini are caught in a potentially murderous love triangle in HBO's new limited series DTF St. Louis. When Floyd (Harbour) turns up dead, suspicion turns to his co-worker and close friend Clark (Bateman). He introduced him to hookup app DTF St. Louis, which may have played a part in Floyd's demise. Add in that Clark may have been having an affair with Floyd's wife Carol (Cardellini), and you're looking at a supremely sticky situation.

Despite its intriguing (and salacious) hook, as well as strong performances from its three leads, DTF St. Louis risks fizzling like its characters' unsatisfying marriages. From dragging out its central investigation to almost repeating scenes word for word, the show's non-chronological storytelling too often feels like it's spinning its wheels. — B.E.

Starring: Jason Bateman, David Harbour, Linda Cardellini, Richard Jenkins, Joy Sunday, Arlan Ruf, Peter Sarsgaard, and Chris Perfetti

How to watch: DTF St. Louis premieres March 1 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

9. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, Season 2

Here there be Titans! Apple TV's MonsterVerse series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters returns with a vengeance for Season 2, which introduces a terrifying new beast: Titan X. An aquatic beast of immense power, Titan X has the potential to be the most destructive monster we've seen in the MonsterVerse. It's so threatening, in fact, that the trailer suggests the only way to take it out is by unleashing both Godzilla and King Kong against it. You know what they say: Let them fight.* — B.E.

Starring: Kurt Russell, Wyatt Russell, Anna Sawai, Kiersey Clemons, Ren Watabe, Mari Yamamoto, Joe Tippett, Anders Holm, Takehiro Hira, Amber Midthunder, Curtiss Cook, Cliff Curtis, Dominique Tipper, and Camilo Jiménez Varón

How to watch: Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 2 premieres Feb. 27 on Apple TV.

8. Bridgerton, Season 4, Part 2

What happens after Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) asks Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha) to be his mistress? And will he ever put two and two together and realize she is his beloved Lady in Silver? This week, we finally find out.

Bridgerton Season 4, Part 2 picks up in the wake of Benedict's disastrous "proposal," and from the looks of the trailer, there's a lot of angsty yearning from both parties as Sophie takes some time to weigh her choices. Ben and Sophie don't go completely no-contact though, as the trailer also showcases a fair share of steamy scenes between the star-crossed lovers. On top of seeing how this delicious Cinderella story ends, Bridgerton Season 4, Part 2 will also see the return of Kate (Simone Ashley) and Anthony (Jonathan Bailey), as well as more sumptuous string covers of pop hits.  — B.E.

Starring: Yerin Ha, Luke Thompson, Adjoa Andoh, Lorraine Ashbourne, Nicola Coughlan, Ruth Gemmell, Claudia Jessie, Luke Newton, Golda Rosheuvel, and Emma Naomi

How to watch: Bridgerton Season 4, Part 2 is now streaming on Netflix.

7. FATHER MOTHER SISTER BROTHER

Indie director Jim Jarmusch has forged his reputation on intimate and immaculately cool character-driven dramas like Dead Man, Broken Flowers, Only Lovers Left Alive, and the unconventional zombie dramedy The Dead Don't Die. He has a way of taking famous actors and transforming them in ways we've never seen before. So frankly, we were giddy about this combination of ensemble cast and Jarmusch before we even got to the plot.*

FATHER MOTHER SISTER BROTHER is a collection of three vignettes, each focusing on a family reunion. While these three families aren't related to each other, each story shares similarities, some superficial. Some profound. In my review out of the New York Film Festival, I cheered, "His astoundingly stacked cast boasts Tom Waits, Adam Driver, Mayim Bialik, Charlotte Rampling, Cate Blanchett, Vicky Krieps, Sarah Greene, Indya Moore, and Luka Sabbat. Together, they construct short yet solid stories of three families in moments both mundane and pivotal, creating an absorbing portrait of love that's messy and profound." — K.P.

Starring: Tom Waits, Adam Driver, Mayim Bialik, Charlotte Rampling, Cate Blanchett, Vicky Krieps, Sarah Greene, Indya Moore, and Luka Sabbat

How to watch: FATHER MOTHER SISTER BROTHER begins streaming on MUBI Feb. 27.

6. Shoresy, Season 5

Last week, we missed that Shoresy Season 5 had arrived on Hulu. My sincere apologies, as this show is perfectly suited to snowy days and frustrating times. A spin-off from the hilarious Canadian comedy series Letterkenny, Shoresy takes the eponymous foul-mouthed hockey player (portrayed by series creator Jared Keeso) into new terrain: vulnerability. Think Heated Rivalry, with less sex and more "your mom" jokes. 

Sure, Shoresy can chirp insults and barrel into a brawl with the best of them. But at his core, he's got a big heart that shows in a lot of truly touching and very silly ways. An underdog story about a team that hates to lose, Shoresy is always finding new ways to make its audience laugh while championing the power of community. Season 5 has the Sudbury Blueberry Bulldogs hanging up their jerseys for a new challenge. Reteaming as the NOSHO North Stars, they're taking on the European team that's been talking trash on North American hockey. While Shoresy builds a winning culture, his relationship with sports reporter Laura Mohr (Camille Sullivan) is maturing. So, whether you love when he spits insults at teenage boys, suffers indignities from a snarky kid vlogger, or lays down swoon-worthy sweet talk to his lady, Shoresy Season 5 is sure to please. 

And if you've not gotten on board with this show yet, each season is six episodes long. So, it's easy to binge. And you don't need to know anything about Letterkenny to join in on the fun. — K.P. 

Starring: Jared Keeso, Tasya Teles, Blair Lamora, Keilani Elizabeth Rose, Ryan McDonell, Camille Sullivan, Jonathan-Ismaël Diaby, Terry Ryan, and Harlan Blayne Kytwayhat

How to watch: Shoresy is now streaming on Hulu.

5. Paradise, Season 2

Dan Fogelman's sci-fi thriller Paradise goes beyond the bunker in Season 2, showing viewers what the world looks like in the aftermath of the mass extinction event shown in Season 1. While Xavier Collins (Sterling K. Brown) is searching for his wife, Teri (Enuka Okuma), he runs across new survivors like Annie (Shailene Woodley). Elsewhere, the bunker is in chaos, with Samantha "Sinatra" Redmond (Julianne Nicholson) doing everything to keep things under control. She's also got a secret project cooking, which may or may not involve time travel.

Whatever sci-fi twist Paradise Season 3 is hinting at, it's enough to keep me both hooked and flabbergasted at the show's talent for bonkers developments. But even outside of that, Paradise Season 2 has a lot to love, like a sweetly hopeful take on post-apocalyptic life. At times, the show leans a bit too heavily into the saccharine, but as I wrote in my season review, "[T]hat almost-corny earnestness is part of Paradise's appeal. Combine that with whatever bananas twists Fogelman and his team have cooking, and you're looking at a heavenly good time." — B.E.

Starring: Sterling K. Brown, Julianne Nicholson, Sarah Shahi, Nicole Brydon Bloom, Krys Marshall, Enuka Okuma, Aliyah Mastin, Percy Daggs IV, Charlie Evans, James Marsden, Shailene Woodley, Thomas Doherty, and Jon Beavers

How to watch: The first three episodes of Paradise Season 2 are now streaming on Hulu, with a new episode every Monday.

4. Arco

French director Ugo Bienvenu's Academy Award–nominated animated film Arco is part fanciful tale of rainbows, time travel, and childhood friendship, part climate change fable. It all kicks off when 10-year-old Arco (voiced by Juliano Valdi in the English-language dub) steals his sister's time-traveling cloak and journeys from 2932 to 2075. There, he becomes fast friends with young Iris (voiced by Romy Fay), and the two endeavor to get him home. The pair's efforts play out against a sobering backdrop of ecological disaster, creating a poignant portrait of a world in crisis, and the hopeful young souls who will inherit it.

With its climate change angle and unlikely friendships, Arco recalls two of 2024's animated standouts:  Flow and The Wild Robot. But it also forges an identity of its own thanks to its stunning 2D animation, which plays like a combination of the styles of Jean Giraud (aka Mœbius) and the films of Studio Ghibli. As I wrote in my review, "In a mainstream animation landscape dominated by 3D-animated films, Arco's visuals are a testament to the enduring power of 2D work, as well as French filmmakers' commitment to the medium. If you love animation, run, don't walk — or better yet, fly by rainbow — to catch it."* — B.E.

Starring: Romy Fay, Juliano Krue Valdi, Natalie Portman, Will Ferrell, Andy Samberg, Flea, America Ferrera, and Mark Ruffalo

How to watch: Arco is now available for rent or purchase on Prime Video and Apple TV.

3. The Secret Agent

Kleber Mendonça Filho's Oscar–nominated, BAFTA–nominated, Golden Globe–winning political crime thriller The Secret Agent is finally available to watch at home — and you absolutely should. Set mostly in the '70s during Brazil's military dictatorship, the film sees Civil War star Wagner Moura delivering a riveting performance as a man trying to evade persecution in his own country.

"Mendonça Filho's film explores a time of political corruption, violence, and warranted paranoia through a human lens," I wrote in my review. "With Moura's powerful performance framed by a reverent, authentic aesthetic, The Secret Agent is a deeply humanised look at a historical moment of authoritarianism and government corruption. It's a must-see."* — S.C.

Starring: Wagner Moura, Carlos Francisco, Tânia Maria, Robério Diógenes, Alice Carvalho, Gabriel Leone, Maria Fernanda Cândido, Hermila Guedes, Isabél Zuaa, and Udo Kier

How to watch: The Secret Agent debuts on Hulu March 1.

2. It Was Just an Accident

This week, check out one of the most critically acclaimed international films of 2025, as Iranian director Jafar Panahi's It Was Just an Accident comes to digital. Winner of the Palme d'Or at this year's Cannes Film Festival, and nominated for four Golden Globes and two Oscars, it's a major awards season contender for good reason. This tale of former political prisoners trying to get revenge on the man they believe to be their former torturer is equal parts darkly funny and a scathing critique of authoritarianism.

The film hits even harder considering Panahi's life story. The Iranian regime has arrested Panahi in the past and even banned him from making films, meaning he shot several films in secret. While It Was Just an Accident is his first film following the lifting of the ban, he still shot it covertly. Such secrecy amplifies the film's tension, and Panahi certainly pulls no punches in one of the best films of the year.* — B.E.

Starring: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr, Afssaneh Najmabadi, and George Hashemzadeh

How to watch: It Was Just an Accident debuts March 1 on Hulu.

Best of Streaming this week:The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins

What do you get when you pair Tracy Morgan with Daniel Radcliffe? The delightful Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, that's what! From 30 Rock's Robert Carlock and Sam Means, this sports mockumentary follows disgraced former NFL player Reggie Dinkins (Morgan) as he tries to rehabilitate his image with the help of documentary filmmaker Arthur Tobin (Radcliffe).

The contrast between Morgan's larger-than-life energy and Radcliffe's more buttoned-up straight man role is gold, amplifying the show's 30 Rock-style rhythm and sharp wit. As I wrote in my review, "While their Reggie Dinkins characters gel like rubber and glue at first, Morgan and Radcliffe are the comedy equivalent of peanut butter and jelly: perfectly complementary, and a joy to savor." — B.E.

Starring: Tracy Morgan, Daniel Radcliffe, Erika Alexander, Bobby Moynihan, Precious Way, and Jalyn Hall

How to watch: The first two episodes of The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins are now streaming on Peacock. New episodes air Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC, and stream the following day on Peacock.

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

TL;DR: Lego is running Star Wars make and take events on March 7-8. A limited quantity of Lego Star Wars Lightsabers will be available for free at participating stores in the UK.

Lego regularly runs make and take events in which participants can walk away with an exclusive set without spending anything. These free giveaways always cause a stir, but nothing gets the people going like Star Wars.

Visitors to select Lego Stores on March 7 (from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. GMT) and March 8 (from 12-2 p.m. GMT) can participate in an awesome Lego Star Wars Lightsaber make and take event. This free giveaway is intended for children aged 10+, and the model is available on a first-come-first-serve basis, at participating locations in the UK, while supplies last. Will we see similar events scheduled for the U.S.? That's down to the Will of the Force.

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We should note that this Lego Star Wars Lightsaber is not available for purchase. By taking part in this special event, Star Wars fans can take home something that money literally cannot buy. The only catch is that you're limited to one build per participant, but come on — you can't just turn up and stock up on these exclusive Star Wars sets for free. That would be nice, but that's not the Way of the Force.

Score this free Lego Star Wars Lightsaber at your nearest participating store on March 7-8.

TL;DR: Live stream India vs. Zimbabwe in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 for free on ICC.TV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 T20 World Cup is really ramping up. The group stage built some momentum, and now the Super 8 stage is taking off. Places in the semi finals are up for grabs as the best international T20 sides battle it out.

India and Zimbabwe lost their opening games in this stage of the competition. Now that they come together at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, it's all or nothing for these exciting teams as they compete to advance from Group 1. A defeat for hosts India would be unthinkable. Fans always expect India to walk away as winners. Losing their title like this would be a huge disappointment.

If you want to watch India vs. Zimbabwe in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is India vs. Zimbabwe?

India vs. Zimbabwe in the 2026 T20 World Cup starts at 8:30 a.m. ET on Feb. 26. This game takes place at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium.

How to watch India vs. Zimbabwe for free

India vs. Zimbabwe in the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup is available to live stream for free on ICC.TV.

This free live stream on ICC.TV is only available in select regions (see full list of territories here), but anyone can live stream the T20 Cricket World Cup for free with a VPN. These helpful tools can hide your IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in a location with free access. This simple process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can live stream on ICC.TV from anywhere in the world.

Live stream India vs. Zimbabwe in the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup 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 a location with access

4. Visit ICC.TV

5. Watch the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch every game from the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup before recovering your investment.

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

What is the best VPN for ICC.TV?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ICC.TV, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

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

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

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Watch the 2026 T20 World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Box is being sold for $119.99 at Amazon — marking the lowest-ever price for the expansion’s newly released ETB.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Box $119.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now

Getting the latest ETB in the Pokémon trading card game is as challenging as it’s ever been, but Amazon is currently the best of the leading retailers out there. As of Feb. 25, the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Box is available for $119.99 at Amazon, landing at its lowest price since launch.

Prices have been fluctuating compared to the other big retailers, but Amazon currently has the competition beat by far — along with only being $2.46 above market price at the time of writing. Walmart is selling Ascended Heroes ETBs for $149.99, TCGplayer for $199.95, and Target for a massive $299.99.

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Centered around Mega Dragonite ex and the dawn of Mega Evolution in the Pokémon X & Y and Pokémon Legends: Z-A eras of the Kalos region, Ascended Heroes brings back Mega Evolved Pokémon ex cards alongside Trainer’s Pokémon and Stellar Tera Pokémon ex cards. 

Inside the box, you’ll get nine Ascended Heroes booster packs, a full-art foil promo card featuring N’s Zekrom, 65 themed card sleeves, 40 Energy cards, six damage-counter dice, a competition-legal coin-flip die, a plastic coin, a player’s guide, and a collector’s storage box with dividers. There’s also a code card for Pokémon TCG Live.

We expect these to sell out very soon, so act fast to secure this low price.

To save even more on Elite Trainer Boxes, you can still grab The Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution ETB for just under $95 at Amazon. Meanwhile, the Pokémon TCG Pokémon Day 2026 Collection is still available for under $40 at Amazon — a great collection for celebrating the franchise’s 30th anniversary.

TL;DR: Wendy's is giving out free chili for National Chili Day (Feb. 26). Customers who spend at least $5 can qualify for this free giveaway.

The day has finally come. After months of waiting, National Chili Day 2026 has arrived to bless you with the good stuff.

When it comes to chili, it doesn't get any bigger than Wendy's. This famous chili has something of a cult following. If you're a fan, you're probably well aware of National Chili Day and how Wendy's is planning to celebrate. If you're not fully up to speed just yet, you should know that you can grab a small portion of Wendy’s iconic chili on this special day. Here's how to qualify:

• Sign up as a Wendy’s Rewards member (signing up is easy, fast, and free)

• Make a digital order of at least $5 in the Wendy’s app or online

• Collect your free Wendy’s chili on Feb. 26

It's that easy. We know that the small portion of Wendy's chili isn't technically "free" if you're needing to make an order of at least $5, but in this economy? We'll take what we can get. Buy a couple of drinks to partner with your chili. Buy a burger and have the chili as a starter. Do what you've got to do — Wendy's chili is a solid option at anytime of the day.

Score free Wendy's chili on National Chili Day with this limited-time promotion.

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

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

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

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026:

AcrossTesla or Toyota

• The answer is Car.

What the "M" of BMX stands for

• The answer is Moto.

Leafy lunch

• The answer is Salad.

Weighing device

• The answer is Scale.

"To be," in Latin

• The answer is Esse.

DownPepsi and Coke

• The answer is Colas.

Dickens's "___ of Two Cities"

• The answer is A Tale.

Took to another floor, as the [circled letters]

• The answer is Rode.

Apple computers

• The answer is Macs.

Dir. from San Francisco to Santa Monica

• The answer is Sse.

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

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

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

FREE BOOKS: The latest Stuff Your Kindle Day takes place on Feb. 26. Sapphic Shelf Explosion, hosted by Year of Queer Lit, is offering free sapphic books for your e-reader.

Stop what you're doing. Another Stuff Your Kindle Day just went live.

This has been a glorious year for bookworms. The quantity and quality of Stuff Your Kindle Days has been unprecedented, and the schedule is showing no signs of slowing down. We've got two events on the calendar for this week, but for now, the focus is firmly on the Sapphic Shelf Explosion.

This 24-hour giveaway, hosted by Year of Queer Lit, offers participants the chance to download 100s of sapphic books for free or just $0.99 (check the price befoe you buy to avoid disappointment). And better yet, everything that you download is yours to keep forever.

SEE ALSO: I tested the best Kindles to help you find the perfect e-reader

Looking to make the most of the latest Stuff Your Kindle Day? We've lined up everything you need to know about this popular event.

When is Stuff Your Kindle Day?

The Sapphic Shelf Explosion takes place on Feb. 26.

Stuff Your Kindle Days tend to fall into one of two categories. Some events are live for a number of days, offering you the chance to take stock of your options and download at your leisure. Others are live for 24 hours, which adds a layer of intensity to the experience. The Sapphic Shelf Explosion falls into the latter category, but there's no need to panic. You've still got plenty of time to check everything out, make a plan of priorities, and stock up. It's not like you're going to be spending big anyway.

Which ebooks are free?

The Sapphic Shelf Explosion is offering free or heavily discounted sapphic books that fall into these sub-genres:

• Romance

• Fantasy

• Historical Fiction

• Mystery

• Erotica

• Contemporary

• Horror/Psychological/Thriller

• Sci-Fi/Paranormal

• Young Adult

Anyone can participate in Stuff Your Kindle Day. Kindle and Kobo readers can download these sapphic for free.

Is Stuff Your Kindle Day the same as Amazon Kindle Unlimited?

Everything you download on Stuff Your Kindle Day is yours to keep, and there's no limit on the number of books you can download. Stuff Your Kindle Day downloads don't count towards the 20 books that Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscribers can borrow at the same time.

The best Stuff Your Kindle Day deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle (16GB) + Kindle Unlimited (3 Months) $109.99 at Amazon
  Get Deal Why we like it

These popular e-readers let you take your entire library on the go. With weeks of battery life and an anti-glare display, you can read anywhere and anytime with the Kindle. Plus, you can get three months of Kindle Unlimited for free with your purchase. Now that's a sweet bonus for bookworms.