Technology

TL;DR: Watch Liverpool vs. Como in a 2026 pre-season friendly for free on SportyNet. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Pre-season is all about getting ready for the upcoming season, and if that means playing the same team twice in a single day, so be it. Liverpool are facing off against Como in a pair of behind-closed-doors games this weekend, and you can watch both live with a simple hack.

If you're interested in watching Liverpool vs. Como from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Liverpool vs. Como?

Liverpool vs. Como in a 2026 pre-season double-header kicks off at 6:30 a.m. ET and 1 p.m. ET on Aug. 16. These fixtures take place at Anfield.

How to watch Liverpool vs. Como for free

Liverpool vs. Como in a 2026 pre-season double-header is available to live stream for free on SportyNet.

SportyNet is geo-restricted to Brazil, 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 UK, meaning you can live stream Liverpool vs. Como for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Liverpool vs. Como for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Brazil

4. Visit SportyNet

5. Watch Liverpool vs. Como 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 they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Liverpool vs. Como without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream these fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for SportyNet?

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

• Servers in 105 countries, including Brazil

• 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 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 usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Liverpool vs. Como for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Watch Schalke 04 vs. Real Madrid in a 2026 pre-season friendly for free on SportyNet. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

What can we expect from José Mourinho’s Real Madrid this season? We honestly have no idea, but we'll get a valuable insight when his side travels to face Schalke 04 this weekend. Naturally, Real Madrid will expect to win. But anything can happen in a fixture like this. Experimentation is likely, after all.

If you're interested in watching Schalke 04 vs. Real Madrid from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Schalke 04 vs. Real Madrid?

Schalke 04 vs. Real Madrid in a 2026 pre-season friendly kicks off at 11 a.m. ET on Aug. 16. This fixture takes place at the Veltins-Arena.

How to watch Schalke 04 vs. Real Madrid for free

Schalke 04 vs. Real Madrid in a 2026 pre-season friendly is available to live stream for free on SportyNet.

SportyNet is geo-restricted to Brazil, 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 UK, meaning you can livestream Schalke 04 vs. Real Madrid for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Schalke 04 vs. Real Madrid for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Brazil

4. Visit SportyNet

5. Watch Schalke 04 vs. Real Madrid 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 they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Schalke 04 vs. Real Madrid without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for SportyNet?

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

• Servers in 105 countries, including Brazil

• 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 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 usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Schalke 04 vs. Real Madrid for free with ExpressVPN.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

Unhealthy.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

TOXIC

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Opposite of micro.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 16, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

MACRO

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A noisy inhalation through the nose.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 16, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 16, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

SNORT

Hurdle Word 4 hint

To accommodate

Hurdle Word 4 answer

CATER

Final Hurdle hint

A type of bear, known for its white fur.

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

POLAR

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

After nights of almost complete darkness, the Moon is finally illuminated enough to be able to spot some lunar features on its surface. Keep reading to find out what you might be able to see.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Sunday, Aug. 16, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon phase is in Waxing Crescent phase, with 15% of its surface visible.

There's finally some features to spot again, both with and without visual aids. Without any, you can see the Mares Crisium and Fecunditatis. With binoculars or a telescope you'll also be able to see the Endymion Crater.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on August 28.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon doesn't look the same from Earth every night. As it travels around our planet, it moves through a lunar cycle that takes roughly 29.5 days to complete, according to NASA. The changing positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon affect how much of the Moon's sunlit side we can see, creating the different phases. Over the course of the cycle, the Moon progresses from a narrow crescent to a half Moon and eventually a Full Moon, before starting the sequence over again.

The eight phases are:

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

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

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

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

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

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

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

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

TL;DR: The latest Stuff Your Kindle Day takes place on Aug. 15-16. Fantasy and Sci-Fi Worlds, hosted by Book Below, is offering fantasy, science fiction, and paranormal books for free.

Big plans for this weekend? Cancel them, because Stuff Your Kindle Day is back in a big way.

The Fantasy and Sci-Fi Worlds event, hosted by Book Below, is dropping free fantasy, science fiction, and paranormal books all weekend. And even better, everything you download to your Kindle is yours to keep forever. We know you might have a busy schedule this weekend, but this is clearly all that matters at this point. It's time to make some calls.

SEE ALSO: T-Mobile is giving away the 2026 Motorola Razr for free — how to qualify

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?

Fantasy and Sci-Fi Worlds takes place from Aug. 15-16. This two-day event gives you the chance to properly assess your options, make a plan of attack, and then spend all weekend stocking up.

Which books are free?

Fantasy and Sci-Fi Worlds is offering free fantasy, science fiction, and paranormal books for free. There's a helpful hub page with everything neatly organized and instructions on how the event works:

1. Browse free books — explore the collection of free books in your favorite genres and discover new authors by scrolling through the list

2. Click store link — select the Amazon store link for any book that interests you, taking you directly to the book's page on Amazon

3. Download while free — download your free books to your Kindle device or app

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

Everything you download on Stuff Your Kindle Day is yours to keep forever, 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
  Shop Now 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 for a limited time.

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 16, 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 August 16, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for August 16 Pips

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

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

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally; 5-4, placed vertically.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically; 5-4, placed vertically.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically; 6-0, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for August 16 Pips

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

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 0-2, placed horizontally.

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

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

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed horizontally; 3-0, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-2, placed horizontally; 5-0, placed horizontally; 3-0, placed horizontally; 0-4, placed horizontally.

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for August 16 Pips

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

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

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically; 1-1, placed horizontally.

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

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

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically; 1-1, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed horizontally.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically; 2-6, placed vertically.

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

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

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 2-0, placed vertically.

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 2-0, placed vertically; 0-4, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you've ever watched baseball.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight, and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. The sports Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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 anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes before the game ends.

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: Atlantic Coast

• Green: QBs out west

• Blue: Blue Jays

• Purple: Types of defenders

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: ACC Schools, Abbreviated

• Green: First Names of AFC West QBs

• Blue: Toronto Blue Jays

• Purple: Defensive___

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 #692 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• ACC Schools, Abbreviated: BC, CAL, CUSE, PITT

• First Names of AFC West QBs: BO, FERNANDO, JUSTIN, PATRICK

• Toronto Blue Jays: BIEBER, CEASE, GUERRERO, SPRINGER

• Defensive___: BACK, END, INDIFFERENCE, TACKLE

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 NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're familiar with musical theater.

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.

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: NYT Pips hints, answers for August 7, 2026 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: Musical

• Green: Involved

• Blue: Family tree

• Purple: Older humans

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Musical Performance

• Green: Participant

• Blue: Family Relationship Modifiers

• Purple: Descriptors for Our Human Ancestors

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 #1162 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Musical Performance: CONCERT, GIG, SET, SHOW

• Participant: ACTOR, AGENT, PARTY, PLAYER

• Family Relationship Modifiers: GRAND, GREAT, HALF, STEP

• Descriptors for Our Human Ancestors: FROM NEADER, HANDY, UPRIGHT, WISE

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 13, 2026

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

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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 Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you enjoy French cuisine.

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 August 16, 2026 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 August 16, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Savory gelatin.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter A.

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...

ASPIC

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.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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 Wordle.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you know a bit of trivia.

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 August 16, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Learn by doing

The words are related to receiving guidance.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe being guided by a leader or mentor.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Job Training.

NYT Strands word list for August 16

• Intern

• Disciple

• Apprentince

• Protege

• Mentee

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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 yesterday's Strands.

Content warning: suicide, self-harm.

By no means a light watch but an important and timely one, Mission sees a young man struggling to feel connected to society, contemplating dying by suicide but giving himself one week to convince himself to stay alive.

Written and directedy with disorientating flair by Scottish director Paul Wright (Arcadia), this BBC-produced film explores the personal and social reasons behind suicidal behaviour through the experience of Dylan (a phenomenal George MacKay). It's not a sensational, generalised depiction of mental health, but instead a splintered, chaotic endeavor to visually render one person's complex perspective. 

SEE ALSO: 21 reasons to keep living when you feel suicidal

MacKay, who starred in Wright's For Those in Peril back in 2013, gives a mercurial performance as a man vehemently trying to find meaning in a world he feels alienated from. Dylan yearns for the reality of his younger self, free of inhibition and full of wonder, and he scorns conformity. But where is the line between uninhibited whims and total anarchy? Dylan will test both his own and societal boundaries in a week-long crusade, which sees whimsy and transgression at either end of a slippery slope.

Mission is as much a film about death as it is about life. Rosy McEwen as Claire in "Mission." Credit: BBC

Dylan's "mission" is to live, in every sense of the word, through experiences he's never allowed himself to have. Feeling stuck in his waiter job and overwhelmingly lonely and rudderless, he struggles to find a sense of purpose. Here, MacKay imbues Dylan's physicality with monotonous, mechanical movements and blank stares, flicking lights on and off, and internalising his rage over incessant phone vibrations and drilling outside his apartment.

Through voiceover, we gain insight into Dylan's inner turmoil as if we're reading his diary: "I don't know how to live in this world the way it is," he says, longing for a way to connect. He's buoyed by two people, his friend and co-worker Becky (Bridgerton's Emma Naomi), whom he clearly has feelings for, and his sister Claire (Scarpetta's Rosy McEwen), whose connection with Dylan has deep roots. Through sweet home video flashbacks (and adorable performances from youngsters Oliver Boyd and Matilda Thomson), Wright weaves Dylan and Claire's relationship as one of childhood magic, silliness, and creative expression. Their bond, though changed in adulthood, becomes the true heart of the film.

Dylan's turning point occurs during a routine check-in interview with his boss, James (Emun Elliott), that sees Dylan move from parroting corporate speak to admitting his hatred for the job as "soul-destroying." From here, he quits, slowly obsessing over James, an initially amiable but eventually contemptible representation of everything Dylan hates. 

Retreating to an abandoned shack on the edge of a lake, Dylan ideates ending his life. However, he gives himself one week to find a "reason to go on." He begins a quest of total ecstasy, commanding himself to "do something," whatever euphoric act comes to mind. "Embrace the random. No longer be afraid. Connect to the forgotten parts of yourself," he declares in voiceover, setting out the rules of his manifesto. But there's a difference between singing karaoke in front of strangers and more harmful acts, as Dylan's increasingly extreme choices simmer with anarchy. 

George MacKay is fearless in Mission. George MacKay in "Mission." Credit: BBC

Fresh off miraculous performances in Rose of Nevada and The End, MacKay truly leans into physicality with Mission. The actor builds a character so erratic, interior, and determined that it's hard to know whether we're barracking for Dylan or, frankly, fearful of him. Every turn sees him plunging into bacchanalian excess and self-harm, making unbridled decisions that could cause others or himself harm. So, while we're along for this life-affirming ride, we're almost becoming complicit in something malevolent, with no ability to change anything.  

Seeking solace in childhood unpredictability, Dylan yearns for a time when "everything was possible," seeing random acts as a form of resistance. He sees his alienation from society as a license to disturb, to provoke. Going from the embodiment of mechanistic drudgery to a man of sheer glee, convulsing and writhing with animalistic expression and chaotic energy, MacKay pushes himself to the absolute limit.

McEwen is superb as Dylan's sister Claire, whose practicality sees her struggling to understand her brother's pain and acting as his anchor in the mayhem. "Everyone's just trying to live their life," she says, unable to see how a simple sentence could be so complicated for Dylan. However, one particular scene between the two proves one of the most quietly powerful conversations I've seen on screen, with MacKay and McEwen showing pure talent.

Mission relishes in punk cinematography, editing, and sound.

In order to explore Dylan's frame of mind, Wright leans into the disorientated style of his documentary Arcadia, a celebrated work of juxtaposition and montage. With meticulous, energetic editing from Jennifer Mackie and Michael Aaglund, Mission splices Limbo and Bring Them Down cinematographer Nick Cooke's stunning shots with frenetically edited footage of current events, abstract visuals, home footage, and MacKay's voice-over.

Roly Porter's hypnotic score is a constant companion to Dylan, with The Unheard composer finding poignancy and care in the protagonist's darkest moments. And as a sum of its parts, Mission becomes an intense, sobering experience, one that aims to get us inside Dylan's deepest thoughts.

Ultimately, Mission pulls us under with Dylan, rattled and contorted into his high-stakes "experiment" without the ability to connect with him ourselves. Through MacKay's fearless performance, Wright's discombobulating style, and a timely theme, the film wrestles with existence and connection, balancing darkness and light, despair and hope. It's a haunting watch, but one with an all-important glimmer of hope.

Mission was reviewed out of its premiere at Edinburgh International Film Festival. International release dates TBC.

If you're feeling suicidal or experiencing a mental health crisis, please talk to somebody. You can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. You can reach the Trans Lifeline by calling 877-565-8860 or the Trevor Project at 866-488-7386. Text "START" to Crisis Text Line at 741-741. Contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET, or email info@nami.org. If you don't like the phone, consider using the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Chat. Here is a list of international resources.

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Before there was Donald Duck or Goofy or even Mickey Mouse, there was Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.

And now Oswald is finally getting his very own TV miniseries.

At this year's D23 fan event, Disney announced that Oswald the Lucky Rabbit will star in a live-action animated three-part TV miniseries on Disney+.

The "Oswald" miniseries is written, directed, and executive-produced by Jon Favreau. The cast includes an all-star comedy lineup, including Albert Brooks, Amy Sedaris, Kathryn Hahn, Steve Martin, Al Madrigal, Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Mykal-Michelle Harris, and Ryder Allen.

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The road to his own Disney series was a long one for Oswald.

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was first created in 1927 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks for Universal Pictures. Oswald starred in more than two dozen theatrical short films in the late 1920s, animated by Walt Disney Studios. However, in 1928, Universal took control of the Oswald character from Disney, prompting the latter to create a replacement known to audiences as Mickey Mouse.

The rest is history. Mickey soon became more popular than Oswald, who faded into obscurity after a few final appearances in the 1950s.

In 2006, Disney gained the rights to Oswald in a bizarre trade with NBCUniversal. Disney received the Oswald trademark and rights to the Disney-era animated films, and in exchange, NBCUniversal was able to have play-by-play announcer Al Michaels' services for NBC Sunday Night Football. Since then, Oswald has made cameo appearances in animated shows, Disney theme parks, and video games like Epic Mickey.

Now, Oswald is finally set to receive his very own Disney miniseries, which will mix hand-drawn 2D animation with live-action.

The miniseries comes to Disney+ in Feb. 2027.

While Windows, Mac, and maybe Linux are the dominant OSes today, there are others that never made it. Here are some of my favorite OSes that never had a chance in the marketplace.

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