Mashable

Hey folks, Spotify would like you to know that its Spotify Wrapped feature, which showcases your favorite songs, albums and artists of the year, is coming soon.

Not yet, though. If you open Spotify on your phone, you'll be greeted with a teaser for Spotify Wrapped, reminding you to check your top songs of 2023, as well as your favorite songs of 2022.

It's time...to wait a few more days for Spotify Wrapped. Credit: Spotify

So when's Spotify Wrapped going to be available? We don't know. According to Spotify, "the best time of the year is right around the corner." They also said that about Spotify's HiFi tier, back in February 2021, and it still hasn't launched. Just sayin'.

All we can do at this point, aside from falling into desperation, is remember that last year, Spotify Wrapped launched on November 29, a day after Thanksgiving, so it's reasonable to expect the feature to show up on the date this year, too. If you want to take speculation a step further, Reddit has a thread in which people post various clues on when Spotify Wrapped may happen this year.

SEE ALSO: Everything you need to know about Spotify Wrapped 2024

In any case, this pre-announcement gives you a couple more days to repeatedly play Slayer's seminal 1990 album, "Seasons in the Abyss", so that it shows higher on your personal top list.

If you're meeting up with friends or heading home, sharing your location through DMs can be a wildly useful feature — and safety method for all ages. It's a tool that's been long available on Google Maps, Snapchat, and pretty much all of the messaging apps out there, and finally, Instagram has added location sharing.

As of Nov. 25, Instagram now lets you send your current whereabouts to your friends for up to an hour, or share a pin so you can see how far you and your mates are from the meeting point — there will be no more "I'm almost there" shenanigans afoot.

SEE ALSO: When do you stop sharing your location with someone?

Your live location can be shared and unshared to either a solo or group chat, and those you've shared to can't forward this to other chats. And remember, you should never share your location with someone you don't know, whatever age you are.

Importantly, if you're under 13 you can't set up a Instagram account at all. Instagram's recently launched Teen Accounts (for users aged 13 to 17) are automatically set to only receive messages from accounts they follow or have previously connected with. Plus, teens under 16 will need a parent's permission to change any of those strict automatic protections. According to Meta, "Location sharing is off for minors by default. When either an adult or minor turns on location sharing, we include a consistent indicator as a reminder that they're sharing their location."

The feature is available through the Instagram app on iOS and Android in select countries, and is turned off by default. But how do you turn it on? Here's how.

How to share your live location on Instagram Total Time

• 2 min

What You Need

• iPhone or Android smartphone
• Instagram app

Step 1: Open Instagram.

Step 2: Go to your Messages.

Tap the minimalist paper airplane icon in the top right.

Step 3: Open a chat.

Either a solo or group chat works with this feature.

Step 4: Tap the + button at the bottom of the screen.

Step 5: Tap "Location".

Step 6: Tap "Share your location" to drop it in the chat.

Remember, you can stop sharing your location at any time, and it's a good idea to keep in mind that you'll still be sharing it for an hour after you activate it — even when you've arrived at your destination.

Why can't I share my location on Instagram?

If you can't see the option to share your live location in Instagram, the feature may not have launched in your country yet.

Alternatively, you may need to check if your phone is allowing location sharing. For iPhone users, you'll need to go to Settings, tap Privacy and security, scroll down to Instagram and toggle the switch on. You'll be prompted to select when Instagram is allowed to use your location; select either Never, Always, or While using the app, depending on your preference.

SAVE $170: As of Nov. 27, the 44mm Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is on sale for $159.99 in Amazon's Black Friday sale. That saves you 52% off its list price of $329.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 $159.99 at Amazon
$329.99 Save $170.00 Get Deal

Black Friday is one of the best times of year to invest in the tech you've had your eye on. If you've been on the hunt for a smartwatch, whether to gift yourself or someone you know, Amazon's got a fantastic deal on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 that's definitely worth taking advantage of right now.

As part of Amazon's Black Friday sale event, you can score the 44mm Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 at its lowest-ever price of $159.99. This is over 50% off its list price of $329.99 and an all-time low price for the watch according to price tracker camelcamelcamel. There's truly no better time to grab it.

SEE ALSO: Hulu's Black Friday deal is back. Get a whole year for just $0.99 per month.

Samsung's Galaxy Watch 6 has plenty of features to make it worth the investment, including fitness tracking features, a heart rate monitor, and sleep tracking. Writer Alex Perry called it the, "king of the Android smartwatch mountain for now, thanks to a nice display, ease of use, and more features than the competition" in our Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 review. It also made our list of the best smartwatches as the top pick for Android users, in case you're in need of a little extra convincing before hitting that 'buy' button.

Don't miss out on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 at its lowest-ever price for Black Friday.

There are plenty more tech deals worth exploring this Black Friday. Other top retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Walmart are dropping delightful deals each day in the lead-up to Black Friday proper, so have a look at our breakdowns for each to see if any more offers catch your eye.

Daniel Craig and Drew Starkey give us a behind-the-scenes look at how Luca Guadagnino approached filming the ayahuasca scene in Queer. They also give an in depth look at the relationship between the two lead characters in the film.

Queer opens November 27th in NY & LA, in theaters everywhere December 13.

TL;DR: Stay connected abroad with an eSIM that comes with $50 in credit to spend on affordable data — now only $25 ahead of Black Friday.

Opens in a new window Credit: Affinity Click aloSIM Traveler's Mobile Data Plan: Pay $25 for $50 Credit $24.97
$50.00 Save $25.03 Get Deal

Whether you’re flying home for the holidays or checking off a bucket list destination, planning an international getaway is extremely exciting. And stressful. And expensive. Especially when it comes to getting a SIM card and mobile data.

Instead of getting the usual physical SIM card from your provider and succumbing to international data costs while you're traipsing through Paris or Tokyo, why not try aloSIM? There's no need to wait for Black Friday to save — this eSIM is your key to international connectivity and arrives with $50 in data credits for only $24.97 (reg. $50) through December 1.

A lifelong eSIM for all your travels

A digital SIM card is essentially mobile data, so you don’t have to worry about getting a physical SIM card through your mobile carrier—or deal with overpriced roaming charges when you return. Check out how easy it is to use aloSIM:

1. Download aloSIM to your phone, tablet, or computer. You can only use this eSIM on only one device.

2. Select a data package for the location and duration of your trip. aloSIM works in over 175 countries and has plans starting at seven days long and as low as $4.50.

3. Activate the data package when you arrive at your destination. Setting up your eSIM before you arrive at the airport is recommended so you don't have to deal with extra stress or spotty WiFi.

One important thing to remember is that data packages expire at the time stated at redemption, even if you have remaining data. This means leftover data will not carry over for future use, though aloSIM is yours for life.

Your digital SIM comes with Hushed

In addition to your eSIM and data credits, you'll get a free Hushed phone number. This might be helpful if you need to leave a number for your dinner or tour reservation but don't want to put down your actual number.

Don't wait for Black Friday to save on this travel hack. Get your aloSIM for life and $50 of credit to spend on data for just $24.97 (reg. $50) through December 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Act while supplies last.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

SAVE UP TO 50%: Get up to 50% off matresses in the DreamCloud Black Friday sale. Plus, spend $1,000 and save an extra $100 at the checkout.

Opens in a new window Credit: DreamCloud DreamCloud Black Friday Sale Get Deal

Black Friday provides an awesome opportunity to save on popular products like robot vacuums, headphones, laptops, and much more. The focus is definitely on tech during these major shopping events, but there is value to be found elsewhere.

If you're looking to improve your sleep and secure a saving over this busy shopping period, you can find a number of Black Friday mattress sales. We're not going to pick a favorite from the bunch, but the DreamCloud Black Friday sale has got our attention. You can save up to 50% on matresses in the DreamCloud Black Friday sale. Plus, spend $1,000 and save an extra $100 at the checkout.

SEE ALSO: PSA: You can get a new mattress now without dealing with the Black Friday chaos

With this big Black Friday discount applied, you can pick up the DreamCloud Memory Foam mattress for $299, the DreamCloud Hybrid Mattress for $419, the DreamCloud Premier Memory Foam mattress for $749, and the DreamCloud Premier Rest Hybrid mattress for $949. You can also save on bed frames, pillows, mattress protectors, and other important sleep accessories.

Save up to 50% with the DreamCloud Black Friday sale.

Lindsay Lohan, Kristin Chenowith and Ian Harding dive into the hilarious holiday chaos in Our Little Secret, where awkward family dynamics and romantic entanglements collide.

Our Little Secret is now streaming on Netflix.

SAVE UP TO 50%: Get up to 50% off matresses in the Nectar Black Friday sale. Plus, spend $1,000 and save an extra $100 at the checkout.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nectar Nectar Black Friday Sale Get Deal

We make a lot of noise about the best tech deals over Black Friday, and we're not going to apologize for that. You can save on everything from robot vacuums to Apple's range of products, so of course we're going to make a fuss. But that's not to say that there isn't value to be found in other categories during this busy shopping period.

There are many other avenues of opportunity during Black Friday, and if you're looking for a deal on better sleep, you can rest easy. Nectar's Black Friday sale is offering up to 50% off all Nectar mattresses. Plus, you can save an extra $100 at the checkout when you spend $1,000 or more.

SEE ALSO: PSA: You can get a new mattress now without dealing with the Black Friday chaos

With this Black Friday discount applied, you can pick up the Nectar Classic Memory Foam mattress for $349, the Nectar Classic Hybrid mattress for $499, the Nectar Premier Hybrid mattress for $799, the Nectar Luxe Memory Foam mattress for $999, and much more. You can also save on sleep accessories like bed frames, pillows, and mattress protectors.

Save up to 50% with the Nectar Black Friday sale.

SAVE $70: As of Nov. 27, Beats Studio3 headphones are on sale for $89 in Walmart's Black Friday sale. That's $70 off their list price of $159.

Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Studio3 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones $89.00 at Walmart
$159.00 Save $70.00 Get Deal

There are an abundance of headphone deals that drop during Black Friday, especially on some high-quality models with noise-canceling features. If you're looking to score something for under $100, Walmart is here to help with a fantastic discount on Beats Studio3 headphones.

The Beats Studio3 have been discounted by $70 in Walmart's Black Friday sale, bringing their price down from $159 to $89. Not to mention, purchasing them comes with bonus offers as well, and who doesn't love free things? You'll get up to three months of Apple TV+, up to four months of Apple Music, up to three months of Apple Fitness+, up to three months of Apple News+, and up to four months of Apple Arcade all for free.

SEE ALSO: The Apple Watch 10 is at its lowest-ever price in the Amazon Black Friday sale

Not to mention, three colors of the Beats Studio3 are on sale at this price at Walmart. You can have your pick of matte black, shadow gray, or white headphones.

Alongside a sleek selection of colors, these headphones also feature a comfortable design and pure adaptive noise canceling that make them a worthy investment. Not to mention, a fantastic 22 hour battery life. At the time of their release, our review even called them "one of the best Bluetooth wireless models we’ve ever tested." So, if you've been hoping to pick up noise-canceling headphones without a super steep price tag, this Beats Studio3 deal is worth jumping on.

As we mentioned earlier, there are plenty of headphone deals to check out over Black Friday. Outside of Walmart, retailers like Amazon, Target, and Best Buy are also offering up some excellent deals that are worth checking out. If you're curious what they have available at the moment, have a look at our breakdowns for each to learn more about what they've got in store.

SAVE OVER $1,000: In Amazon's Black Friday sale, the 65-inch LG G4 OLED TV has dropped from its list price of $3,399.99 to $2,296.99. That's a discount of 32%.

Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 65-Inch Class OLED evo G4 Series Smart TV $2,296.99 at Amazon
$3,399.99 Save $1,103.00 Get Deal

If you've been on the lookout for a new TV this year, Black Friday is the best time to scoop one up at a discounted rate. With excellent discounts on a wide variety of options, you can save big on even the biggest and best TVs around. If you're looking to upgrade to a TV with some of the highest picture quality available right now, look no further than this deal on the 65-inch LG G4 OLED TV.

The 65-inch LG G4 OLED TV has been discounted by over $1,000 for Black Friday, dropping its price from $3,399.99 to $2,296.99. This saves you 32% overall and also marks its lowest-ever price according to price tracker camelcamelcamel. With savings like that, there's no better time to jump on it.

SEE ALSO: Hulu's Black Friday deal is back. Get a whole year for just $0.99 per month.

Boasting 4K resolution and LG's OLED technology, the picture quality of your favorite shows and films will look wonderfully rich and detailed. This TV also features Brightness Booster Max that really makes the images on your screen shine. If you've been looking for a TV to help you create a cinematic experience at home, the G4 will certainly get you there.

And this is made all the better with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, which bring the cinematic feel of picture and sound into your own home. It also has a Filmmaker Mode, so you can watch your favorite movies as the filmmakers intended. This TV isn't just for movie lovers, though. Gamers can even enjoy AMD FreeSync Premium and NVIDIA G-Sync for smooth gameplay with their favorite titles.

A TV deal like this doesn't come around very often, so if you want to make the jump to OLED, don't miss out on this LG G4 OLED TV Black Friday deal at Amazon.

If you're hoping to check out even more deals on TV or tech, there's plenty more available right now for Black Friday. Retailers like Target, Best Buy, and Walmart are offering excellent discounts this week that are worth having a look at. And with Black Friday proper coming up in just a few days, there'll be plenty more deals dropping.

Squid Game Season 2 is getting closer by the day. We've already had a teaser, and a longer teaser, and now we've got the first official trailer — and it comes with our best glimpse yet at one of the new games Player 456 (Lee Jung-jae) will have to survive during his second round in the titular competition.

The shots are only brief, but at a couple of points in the trailer (1:00 and 1:13) we see glimpses of what looks like a giant merry-go-round. All the contestants are gathered on this carousel as it spins slowly around, while on the outskirts of the room multiple coloured doors are visible. In the second shot we hear gunfire, and see a bird's-eye view of the contestants scattering.

Maybe it's something to do with who is facing which door when the carousel stops? We'll find out soon enough.

Squid Game Season 2 arrives Dec. 26 on Netflix.

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 27 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 27 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Come fly with me

These words are traveling.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

Words are companies used for flying.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Airlines.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for November 27

• United

• Southwest

• Frontier

• Delta

• Spirit

• Virgin

• Airlines

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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

When Challengers screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes first agreed to adapt William S. Burroughs' Queer for director Luca Guadagnino, he had no idea where to begin.

"This was a movie that I said yes to writing without really knowing how I was going to do it," Kuritzkes told Mashable. "Immediately after I said yes, I was completely scared shitless, because it's a book that was so important to Luca, and it's a legendary book by a legendary author who's such a massive cultural figure."

SEE ALSO: 'Queer' review: Daniel Craig tackles William S. Burroughs in hot, heart-wrenching romance

Guadagnino first approached Kuritzkes about writing Queer while they were in production on Challengers. Both Challengers and Queer premiered in 2024 and share considerable overlap between their creative teams (including composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross and costume designer Jonathan Anderson), as well as themes of yearning and what Kuritzkes calls "unsynchronized love." Yet tonally, they're worlds apart. Challengers volleys back and forth through time, fueled by love triangles and a pulsing techno beat. Queer, on the other hand, is the word "languid" put to film, slowly guiding us through the push and pull between American expats William Lee (Daniel Craig) and Eugene Allerton (Drew Starkey) during their time in Mexico City. (There's also a surreal third-act odyssey into the Amazon rainforest.)

This was a movie that I said yes to writing without really knowing how I was going to do it. - Justin Kuritzkes

The film's stark differences are mirrored in Kuritzkes' writing process for both. He wrote Challengers (his first produced screenplay) on spec, with no idea who would make it, or whether it would even get made. "You're writing [the movie] to will it into existence," he said.

Queer, on the other hand, is an adaptation — one Kuritzkes knew he'd be writing for Guadagnino. Having gotten to know the filmmaker extensively during the Challengers production process, Kuritzkes tailored the screenplay to him.

Daniel Craig and Drew Starkey in "Queer." Credit: A24

"I was writing a movie that I was excited to watch Luca make, so I would selfishly write scenes that I really wanted to see what he would do with," Kuritzkes said.

Among these "selfish" scenes? Moments when Craig's Lee imagines touching Allerton, reaching out a ghostly hand to stroke his face or leaning into his neck. Kuritzkes drew these instances from Lee's internal monologue in the novel, excited to see how Guadagnino could externalize these thoughts and feelings of desire.

SEE ALSO: Why Zendaya says you gotta see 'Challengers' twice 

Other scenes Kuritzkes couldn't wait to see Guadagnino's take on were crafted solely for the film. Chiefest among them is a scene towards the end of Queer where Lee and Allerton take ayahuasca after searching the jungle for it. In the novel, they do not find or take the drug. However, before Kuritzkes even began writing the script, Guadagnino asked him to write in a new ending exploring what would happen if the two men did take ayahuasca. The result is one of the most striking sequences in the film: an intimate trip where the pair dance together, intertwined in the dark jungle, with their hands sometimes disappearing beneath their partner's skin.

"The whole time I was writing that sequence, I was really giddily imagining Luca doing that," Kuritzkes said. "That's not a sequence you write if you don't know that it's going to be handled by a filmmaker like Luca. But I had so much trust that he would do something incredible with it, so I just went for it and said, 'Will you figure it out?' knowing that he would."

SEE ALSO: A24's 'Queer' trailer is a lusty dream with Daniel Craig

As Kuritzkes worked on the screenplay for Queer, he began to see himself as a "medium" between Guadagnino and Burroughs. "It was this process of opening a channel between somebody I knew really well and was working with very closely, and somebody who I was never going to know except through the work that he left behind," he said. "I really wanted to make it possible for the two of them to communicate with each other."

A necessary part of this process became negotiating how much Burroughs as a character found itself into the film. After all, the novel Queer features several autobiographical details, like Burroughs' time in Mexico City and the Amazon. The film also incorporates some elements from Burroughs' life that aren't in the novel, like allusions to him shooting his wife Joan Vollmer in an attempted William Tell stunt.

I really wanted to make it possible for [Luca Guadagnino and William S. Burroughs] to communicate with each other. - Justin Kuritzkes

However, Kuritzkes stresses that he and Guadagnino were not out to make a Burroughs biopic. "We were making a fictional movie about a character, and even though that character was an alter ego to some extent of the author, it's still a character who has his own logic and his own psychological reality," he said. "That was the person I had to be faithful to, more than William Burroughs."

Daniel Craig in "Queer." Credit: A24

How to unlock that character beyond Burroughs? By looking beyond the persona he projected to the world, which Kuritzkes describes as a "very gruff, cool, macho guy." Queer, on the other hand, presents a more vulnerable interior to Burroughs and his stand-in Lee.

"It's really surprising to find a character that's very tender and sweet, and at times is a complete asshole, but is also really embarrassing," Kuritzkes said. "He's a character who doesn't know when to shut up. He's the kind of guy who gets stuck in the middle of the room because he started to approach somebody, and then that person goes and sits at another table, and now he doesn't know where to go."

Perhaps nowhere is Lee more stereotypically embarrassing than during his early courtship of Allerton, when he offers up a little bow in the middle of a bar.

The moment is exactly as written in the book, which describes Lee's "ghastly" attempt to muster a dignified greeting, only to instead let out a "leer of naked lust." (A misreading of the line by Allen Ginsberg led to the title of Burroughs' novel Naked Lunch.)

"That's exactly the thing that made me feel connected to this character," Kuritzkes said. "I can't really connect with the guy who has an obsession with guns, does heroin his whole life, and projects this macho, cool, austere literary persona. That person I can't really touch. But I can touch the person who can't help but let out 'a leer of naked lust' when he's trying to look cool. That felt like a character I could write, and that felt like a character that would be exciting for someone to play."

Queer is now in theaters.

One person can only eat so much. Sure, I push that limit regularly — I can eat more chicken wings than you — but the truth holds firm.

On Thanksgiving — the day dedicated to gratitude and gluttony — stomach space is at a premium. You’ve got to spend that gastric budget wisely. There’s no room for mediocrity on the plate.

All that sounds reasonable, right? Now comes the controversial part — this series is called Don't @ Me, after all. I’ve taken it upon myself to rank Thanksgiving dishes, and here’s why: you don’t need to waste your precious stomach space on anything less than greatness. This is the biggest eating day of the year; don’t squander it on food that doesn’t deliver.

Before we dive in, a couple of disclaimers:

1. I ranked 15 Thanksgiving staples, curated with input from a sizable sample of Mashable colleagues. Your family’s quirky favorite might not have made the cut.

2. This is my list based on my tastes. I’m not a professional chef, but I am an experienced home cook and erstwhile Internet Food Guy.

3. This list is definitive. Don’t like it? Tough. Make your own.

OK, let’s dig in — ranked in descending order.

15. Salad

Oftentimes, a Thanksgiving host feels the need to have something fresh and green on the table. That's all well and good. Salads can be great. But Thanksgiving is not the day for salads. And with all the work that's gone into the main dishes, you know the salad is a sad afterthought — likely some mixed greens and an under-seasoned vinaigrette.

14. Sweet potato casserole

Not a dessert. Not really a side. Sweet potato casserole exists only so the kids at the table can munch on burned marshmallows.

13. Green bean casserole

This one-note, too-creamy dish was created by Campbell's to sell you cans of cream of mushroom soup. It's not bad, per se, but it's of its time: a '50s concoction of convenience. If you're craving something creamy and savory, there are far better options on the table.

It’s green bean casserole season and you’ll never get me to stop loving this slop.

— Veda Scott (@vedascott.bsky.social) November 26, 2024 at 10:14 AM 12. Dinner rolls

Sure, those Sara Lee dinner rolls taste fine enough. They're not offensive. But they're filling and completely plain. It's the biggest eating day of the year, and you're going for overly processed, mushy bread? No thanks.

11. Cranberry sauce

I don't love cranberry sauce. Still, I respect it. Let's be real: It's a once-per-year dish, but it does yeoman's work. On a dinner plate filled with savory, buttery, and fatty dishes, it brings a bit of acidity and sweetness. A scoop or a slice of the canned stuff does wonders to break up — and enhance — the flavors of the star dishes.

ANNUAL REMINDER: Put your canned cranberry sauce in the fridge now to ensure that all the can-shaped ridges stay intact when you schloop it out of the can on Thursday.

— Gravy Crockett (@bostonjerry.bsky.social) November 25, 2024 at 12:18 PM 10. Ham

Ham has a high floor but a low ceiling. It's unlikely you'll have a gross spiral ham. It's just as unlikely you'll have a life-changing ham. Ham's tagline might as well be, Ham: It's ham.

9. Cornbread

I like cornbread, and it leaves so much room for creativity. A jalapeño and cheese cornbread? Freaking lovely. But on Thanksgiving, I want a small slice and not much more. It's solid. It's not a star.

8. Pecan pie

Full disclosure: I'm not a dessert person. If you've got a sweet tooth, you'd probably have desserts higher on your list. That being said, I do love pecan pie. It's my second-favorite pie, behind only...

7. Pumpkin pie

I love pumpkin pie. Give me a slice engulfed in a cocoon of whipped cream, and I'll be good for dessert. It's also a dish synonymous with Thanksgiving, which adds a bit of nostalgia.

I made this.

[image or embed]

— Daniella Zeman (@noodleverse.bsky.social) November 24, 2024 at 12:14 PM 6. Collard greens

Skip the salad and eat the collards. Granted, bad collard greens could be disappointing. But assuming they're cooked well, collard greens have that salty, unctuous bite while also breaking up the brownish hue of your plate.

5. Mac and cheese

Let's be clear: Mac and cheese is freaking delicious. Even bad mac and cheese is pretty good. It's pasta drenched in a gooey cheese sauce; there is nothing to dislike. But we're reaching the peak of the rankings here, and mac and cheese doesn't scream Thanksgiving to me. People eat it all year round. It doesn't feel as special as some of the other top dishes. Still, I will take a heaping scoop on my plate.

4. Turkey

Turkey gets a bad rap. Much of the food-focused internet will have you believe it's more an obligation than a feature at the Thanksgiving table. Everyone talks about it being dry, or bland, or whatever.

Let's test how safe this space really is... Turkey sucks. I'm not cooking one this year. We've suffered enough.

— Mike Nellis (@mikenellis.bsky.social) November 25, 2024 at 6:23 PM

But a well-roasted turkey is none of those things! It is buttery and herbaceous and the perfect protein that goes with the other stars of the table. Turkey drippings make gravy possible. Its leaner nature pairs well with creamy mashed potatoes and carb-forward stuffing. And, importantly, it simply is Thanksgiving. For better or worse, it has become the literal centerpiece of the meal. If you're not serving turkey, I'm not attending.

3. Mashed potatoes

Do I have to sell you on the merits of mashed potatoes? They're freaking delicious. I love any style of mashed potato: creamy, rustic, red potato, an ultra-buttery pommes purée, whatever. And they're the perfect delivery vehicle for No. 2...

2. Gravy

If your plate isn't swimming in gravy, you're doing it wrong. Gravy is the predominant flavor of Thanksgiving. It is the fatty, delectable lube that helps the meal ease into your gullet. It's not something you get to eat often, but on Thanksgiving, it is absolutely essential. It brings everything to life. Sure, it's a sauce and not really a dish, but it deserves this high ranking regardless.

Pregaming Thanksgiving by having gravy on my cereal for breakfast

— Stone Cold Jane Austen (@abbyhiggs.bsky.social) November 26, 2024 at 6:45 AM 1. Stuffing

Stuffing was always the winner.

I don't fully comprehend why stuffing is limited to a Thanksgiving-only dish, but that's reality. In some ways, I enjoy that fact because I treasure gorging on stuffing annually. The stock-soaked bread, the fresh herbs, the crispy edges, maybe some crumbled sausage — it's so good, and it screams Thanksgiving. Stuffing is why you should not be filling up on dinner rolls. Every roll you eat is stomach space wasted on bland bread that could, instead, be devoted to the savory, gravy-soaked wonder that is stuffing.

Opinions vary on Thanksgiving food. I'm sure most folks would have edits to my list, but I hope we can all agree on one thing: Leave the salad for the other 364 days of the year.

The U.S. Army chose frigid, remote Greenland for a secretive Cold War project code-named "Iceworm." Years later, NASA detected the project's buried base, called Camp Century, deep beneath the accumulating ice.

A space agency research plane swooped over the remote Arctic region this year, using an advanced radar to scan the changing ice sheet below.

"We were looking for the bed of the ice and out pops Camp Century," Alex Gardner, a NASA cryospheric scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said in a statement. "We didn’t know what it was at first."

SEE ALSO: NASA scientist viewed first Voyager images. What he saw gave him chills.

Camp Century existed between 1959 until 1967 until being abandoned. Engineers used huge plows to dig trenches into the snow and ice, and then covered them with arched ceilings and more snow. The base grew to 26 buried tunnels stretched over two miles. "It included dormitories, a kitchen and cafeteria, a hospital, a laundry, a communications center, a recreation hall, a chapel, and even a barbershop," the Atomic Heritage Foundation wrote. They installed a power nuclear reactor at the site, too.

The camp is now buried under at least 100 feet (30 meters) of ice. But NASA's Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar, attached beneath its Gulfstream III research craft, is capable of sending out radio waves (which ping back and show what's underground) both directly beneath and to the side, revealing the base.

The image below shows Camp Century's long abandoned structures and tunnels under Greenland's sprawling ice.

NASA's Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar reveals Camp Century buried beneath Greenland's ice. Credit: NASA Crew use a pile-driver to install the foundation for water storage tanks at Camp Century. Credit: U.S. Army / Pictorial Parade / Archive Photos / Getty Images

The ultimate vision for Camp Century, however, was much greater. It was a secretive scheme to hide nuclear missile launchers beneath the ice.

"Using the model at Camp Century, Project Iceworm planned to build an additional 52,000 square miles of tunnels — three times the size of Denmark — with the possibility of extending it to 100,000 square miles," the Atomic Heritage Foundation explained. "The Army planned to deploy 600 missiles, each four miles apart in trenches similar to those at Camp Century, and to build 60 Launch Control Centers (LCCs)."

Camp Century — both its structures and infamous legacy of hazardous chemical and radioactive waste — might not stay buried forever. The Arctic is the fastest warming region on Earth, and Greenland is melting some 270 billion tons of ice into the sea each year as the planet warms. Research concluded that the ice now covering Camp Century may grow vulnerable in the centuries ahead — though exactly how quickly is uncertain.

“The question is whether it’s going to come out in hundreds of years, in thousands of years, or in tens of thousands of years," said James White, a scientist at the University of Colorado in Boulder. "This stuff was going to come out anyway, but what climate change did was press the gas pedal to the floor and say, 'It’s going to come out a lot faster than you thought.'"

TL;DR: Save 26% on a refurbished HP EliteDesk, a mini desktop that comes with Windows 10 Pro, a keyboard and mouse, and 256GB of storage while supplies last.

Opens in a new window Credit: HP HP EliteDesk 800 G5 Mini Desktop $279.97
$379.99 Save $100.02 Get Deal

'Tis the season for a home office upgrade. Your laptop may have been a trusty device, but you may be holding your productivity back by not upgrading to a desktop.

Desktops may have been large and clunky in the past, but you can get the performance and battery upgrade of a desktop without the clutter. How? Just add this mini HP desktop to your office. This compact, refurbished HP EliteDesk brings power in its sleek design, and it's now available for $279.97, 26% off the usual price of $339.99.

Refurbished doesn't mean used

Shopping refurbished is what makes it possible to get this mini HP desktop for less than $280. However, there's a clear distinction between refurbished vs. used — this HP EliteDesk was awarded a Grade 'A' rating, meaning it'll arrive in near-mint condition with minimal wear and at least 80% battery health. The only downside of shopping refurbished is that inventory is limited.

Desktop power in a compact design

Your casual tasks and day-to-day work can get a performance boost with this EliteDesk's Intel Core i5 and 16GB of RAM. Run your Microsoft apps, Adobe Suite, or other programs simultaneously with minimal to no lag. You'll even be able to game on this mini desktop, and users can save photos, files, and other media locally, thanks to its 256GB SSD.

Adding to this desktop's enhanced processing and providing built-in security is Windows 10 Pro integration. This operating system is equipped with measures like BitLocker device encryption and Windows Information Protection services, features that aren't available on the free Home version of Windows 10.

Here's yet another pro of this desktop: the HP EliteDesk comes with a keyboard and mouse for increased productivity, so you'll only need to add a monitor. Plug in your peripherals through its variety of ports. 

All of these features are housed in an unobtrusive, sleek profile. Whether you're adding this to your home office or office cubicle, this desktop won't take up much surface area.

Take advantage of this limited-time offer on this near-mint mini HP EliteDesk, now $279.97, while inventory is still available.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Give the gift of convenience with the PowerBand Apple Watch Band with a built-in MagSafe-compatible charger for just $29.97 (reg. $49) during this Early Black Friday sale.

Opens in a new window Credit: WonderCube PowerBand: Apple Watch Band with Built-In MagSafe Charger $29.97
$49.99 Save $20.02 Get Deal

When it comes to Apple Watch accessories, the PowerBand is about to blow your mind. This isn’t just another stylish watch strap, it’s a game changer with a hidden MagSafe-compatible charger built right into the band. Sleek, functional, and oh-so-convenient, it’s the perfect gift for any Apple Watch owner on your list.

Give the gift of convenience with the PowerBand Apple Watch Band with a built-in MagSafe-compatible charger for just $29.97 (reg. $49) during this Early Black Friday sale.

Gone are the days of lugging around bulky charging cables or forgetting your charger entirely. With the PowerBand, your Apple Watch can stay powered up wherever you go, thanks to a hidden USB charging mechanism tucked away inside the band. Simply flip it out when you need it, plug it into a USB outlet, and watch the power flow.

The PowerBand doesn’t just charge your watch; it looks and feels amazing, too. Crafted from a lightweight nylon weave, this band is breathable, soft, and highly elastic, giving you a snug fit that moves with you. Its pull-tab adjustment system means you can customize the fit on the fly — ideal for those all-day wear sessions or sweaty workouts.

And let’s not forget about its durability. The aluminum metal housing adds an extra layer of strength, so you won’t have to worry about wear and tear. It’s compatible with all Apple Watch series, making it a universal accessory for anyone who loves their Apple Watch.

Ideal for travelers, fitness enthusiasts, and busy professionals, it will be the gift they didn't know they needed.

Get the PowerBand Apple Watch Band with a built-in MagSafe-compatible charger for just $29.97 (reg. $49) through December 8.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Get 1TB of cloud storage with a lifetime subscription to FolderFort for just $59.97 (reg. $251.64) ahead of Black Friday 2024. 

Opens in a new window Credit: FolderFort FolderFort 1TB Cloud Storage Pro Plan: Lifetime Subscription $59.97 at the Mashable Shop
$251.64 Save $191.67 Get Deal

In the early days of Google Drive, it felt like your free cloud storage would never run out of space, but eventually it does. Suddenly, you have to pay a fair bit to back up your photos and save all your other files. Fortunately, Google Drive isn't the only place to save your files. 

FolderFort is a Google Drive alternative that gives you a full 1TB of storage that you can access through any modern browser or mobile device, and you aren't paying for it every month. With a one-time fee of only $59.97, you get a lifetime subscription.

Head to the Mashable Shop to take advantage of this Black Friday cloud storage deal, which won't last for long.

Reliable cloud storage for life

FolderFort lets you upload and access your files on all of your devices.

Yes, you'll always need an internet connection to access your files, and with some cloud providers, there's a chance the whole service might be down. But that's not really a problem with Folderfort, which guarantees a 99.9% uptime. 

1TB is a lot of space, and you might end up paying for storage you would never use if this were another cloud service. With FolderFort, you can upgrade or downgrade whenever you want. Don't pay for what you're not going to use. 

Share files across all your devices

Google Drive and iCloud aren't the only places to keep your files safe. 

There's no need to wait for Black Friday for this deal — get a lifetime subscription to FolderFort 1TB Storage for just $59.97 (reg. $251.64) now through December 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

FolderFort 1TB Cloud Storage Pro Plan: Lifetime Subscription | Only $59.97 at the Mashable Shop

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

It's outrageous that in the same year that Italian filmmaker Luca Guadagnino gave audiences the high-tension love triangle of Challengers, he's also served up a Daniel Craig-fronted adaptation of William S. Burroughs' novella Queer. Both films were written by Justin Kuritzkes, and both offer bold explorations of love, lust, and longing, with steamy sex scenes that serve as punctuation. And yet, they are wildly unalike.

Challengers is a propulsive love story that zings back and forth its timeline, keeping the audience on their toes, just like its tennis-playing trio. Queer is a languid journey that meanders through flirtations, fucking, dream sequences, and willfully anachronistic music to chart a passionate but also baffling tale of unrequited love.

It's a marvel of a movie that feels as if it is precisely what it intends to be, and yet it's ultimately unsatisfying. Perhaps that's intended too?

Daniel Craig is a dynamic thrill-seeker in Queer.  Credit: Yannis Drakoulidis

Echoing elements of Burroughs' own life, Queer ushers audiences into 1950s Mexico City, where a band of American expats — many of whom are gay men — lounge about cafes, bars, and cheap motels looking for illicit thrills, be it booze, hard drugs, or casual sex. Wearing a white linen suit, a crisp fedora, and a crooked smile, William Lee (Craig) has a breezy American swagger with a hint of comic buffoonery that beckons to the English actor's acclaimed portrayals of Southern gentleman detective Benoit Blanc in Knives Out and roguish bomb-maker Joe Bang in Logan Lucky. Yet his Lee is distinctive, with an unapologetic sleaziness that's edged with gawping insecurity, which urges him toward playing the fool more often than not. 

Craig is mesmerizing as Lee, swanning from catty gossip sessions to carnal encounters to body-rattling withdrawals and psychedelic splendors. It's easy to be beguiled by his charms, including a suave sex appeal made less intimidating by his tendency toward silliness. He smoothly seduces local trade and amuses scene queens like the chic John Dumé (Drew Droege, who became internet famous with his cheeky impersonations of Chloë Sevigny), and lovable loser/rousing raconteur Joe (Jason Schwartzman). And yet, Lee cannot firmly claim the love of his crush, a young discharged American Navy serviceman named Eugene Allerton (Drew Starkey). 

The romantic interest of Queer proves its central mystery.  Credit: Yannis Drakoulidis

Lee throws himself at his could-be paramour ardently, plying him with affection, booze, and even a flashy getaway when all else fails. Maybe a journey into the jungle to try the mind-altering psychedelic ayahuasca will unlock the gate that seems to stand between them. 

The first act is an intoxicating portrait of Lee's Mexico City, rich in color, music, and romantic possibilities — or at least enthralling ones. In tender moments, Lee's dream of being intricately partnered with Eugene is expressed beautifully through simple dissolves. Footage of what is — the two sitting side by side in a movie theater — is overlaid faintly with what Lee wishes: to stroke Eugene's face, softly and publicly. More vivid dream sequences use jarringly bright red sets and stark female nudity to express Lee's doubts about Eugene's interest in the older man. But as his desperation to keep Eugene close intensifies, the audience might wonder what it is Lee is even fighting for. 

Defined chiefly by his wandering eye and an interest in playing chess with a red-headed female acquaintance, Eugene is not a fleshed-out character but a sketch, unknowable between the slight lines that are his only details. Is he into Lee? Is he even queer? These are questions that might seem answered by the torrid love scenes between the two. But for every moment approaching intimacy, Eugene offers a follow-up that is at best casual, and at worst cruel.

Tall, white, preppy, and neatly pressed even when wearing a T-shirt, Eugene is presented visually as a tidier, younger version of Lee. Perhaps this is meant to echo that what Lee is chasing is not this man but his past, or a version of himself that was less ravaged by drugs, trauma, and heartache. Or perhaps the supremely unrumpled persona is all Lee can understand of this mysterious man.

Queer's third act is its biggest risk.  Credit: Yannis Drakoulidis

In any case, as Lee drags a reluctant (and infuriatingly stoic) Eugene into the jungle to find a mythic medicine woman (Lesley Manville), Guadagnino's movie asks more patience of its audience than his most heralded offerings. In I Am Love, it's easy to see why Tilda Swinton could be seduced by such photogenic food. Call Me by Your Name captured the heat and sweetness of young love through a well-placed peach. Bones and All masterfully turned a tale of teenage cannibals into a sizzling subtextual queer romance, not despite of its gore but because of it. Then, Challengers sold the electrifying love triangle between its players through the breath-taking onscreen chemistry of Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O'Connor. Queer, on the other hand, asks us to follow Lee to fight for a love that feels like an illusion.

Since the film's world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, critics have jeered Queer's turn from its vivacious first act to its lumbering third. Yet there's something in the film's aesthetic that gently warns of this change.

In the beginning, production design by Stefano Baisi paints Lee's Mexico City as a quaint yet deliciously seedy paradise, where towering windows in cafes and warm street lights allow for layers of lives to unfurl all at once, without feeling cluttered or claustrophobic. The palette of yellows, reds, and sickly greens favored by cinematographer Sayombhu Mukdeeprom as tracking shots follow Lee in slow motion down lively streets evoke the faded colors of pulp novels, promising decadent delights around every corner. Queer's soundtrack boasts smooth, smokey songs like Nirvana's "Come as You Are," Sinead O'Connor's cover of Nirvana's "All Apologies," and Radiohead's haunting "Talk Show Host." Through the jarring anachronism of this collection of songs, Guadagnino knowingly blends the nostalgic sentimentality of the film's visuals with the sharper-edged sounds of '90s pop disillusionment. Essentially, the visual and audio are thematically at war, reflecting Lee's inner doubts about his life and his lover. 

Credit: Yannis Drakoulidis

At two hours and 15 minutes, Queer is a movie that indulges its protagonist more than its audience, following him through meandering mental exercises to an unfulfilling epiphany. Viewers may grow restless as Craig's charms are swallowed by Lee's raw need and his ruthless vices. Undeniably, the experience of living vicariously through Lee shifts from pleasurable to uneasy as the glamor is stripped away from this expat holiday, revealing crude realities like the decidedly unromantic subterfuge required to cop drugs in a new locale, or the subsequent toll of withdrawals on Lee's body — and Eugene's patience. That certainly seems to be Guadagnino's goal: not to tell a story of formative first love or world-altering romance, but the ugly truth of unrequited love. It's not easy to experience, but it is undeniably masterfully made. So, in the end, Queer is both visually lush, sexually explosive, and emotionally infuriating. It is not a journey that leaves our hearts full, but open and aching.

Queer opens in limited theaters on Nov. 27.

TikTok and food go hand-in-hand.

The platform hosts a diverse range of food-related content, from creators sharing recipes and reviewing food to those indulging in mukbangs and everything in between. Naturally, this has led to the emergence of various food trends.

SEE ALSO: The best memes of 2024 (so far)

Interestingly, 2024 has seen a shift away from stunt food, a type of content that often featured bizarre, not-necessarily-tasty concoctions typically made in an air fryer. Instead, TikTok users are gravitating toward genuine cooking and exciting recipes. While these don't always become viral trends, the platform is brimming with quality food content. You can learn from a butcher how to save money on meat or discover how to build a beautiful salad from pantry staples. The focus has moved away from gimmicks like air-frying Oreos to more practical and inspiring culinary tips.

However, food trends, both good and bad, still make waves in 2024. As we reach the end of the year, here are some of the most notable trends.

Cottage cheese...everywhere

Who could've guessed that 2024 would be the year of cottage cheese? Yet, here we are. TikTok is brimming with recipes for cottage cheese toast, cottage cheese bowls, cottage cheese protein cookie dough—practically anything you can think of. Cottage cheese has captured TikTok's imagination as a high-protein, relatively low-calorie, and tasty food. It's refreshing to see it used as a healthy, filling ingredient, a far cry from its '90s diet culture stigma.

I once thought I didn't like cottage cheese, but 2024 proved me wrong — the '90s just had terrible, diet-focused food.

Raw carrot salad

Raw carrot salad recipes have racked up millions of views on TikTok. Typically, these recipes involve thin-sliced carrot ribbons, some acid, soy sauce, and great seasoning, resulting in lightly pickled carrots that are absolutely delicious.

Many videos tout the salad's benefits for gut and hormonal health. I can’t vouch for those claims, but I do love a raw carrot salad, and it’s great to see it become a trend in 2024.

Chipotle portions...so much about Chipotle portions

TikTok has become obsessed with the (seemingly) shrinking portions at Chipotle, causing such a stir that the CEO had to awkwardly address it in an interview.

Do I know if the portions have shrunk? No. Would it surprise me? Not at all. Large companies often look to maximize profits at customers' expense.

However, TikTok users have taken to filming Chipotle workers to try and get bigger portions or catch them skimping. It’s really rude to shove a camera in someone's face while they’re working, so please don’t do that.

Nonetheless, Chipotle portions have been a noticeable trend on TikTok this year.

Chamoy pickles

Neon-red pickles? Sure, why not?

If you’ve missed it, chamoy pickles have become super popular on TikTok. Chamoy, a bright Mexican condiment often paired with fruit, is now being added to pickles. Some people take it a step further by stuffing the pickles with snacks like Flamin' Hot Cheetos and wrapping them in Fruit Roll-Ups. It sounds gross, but it makes for compelling TikTok content. While the chamoy pickle itself isn’t stunt food, stuffing it with snacks certainly is.

A whole cucumber

Apparently, sometimes you really do need to eat a whole cucumber. At least that's if you believe TikTok. As I wrote in August, this recipe idea from TikTok creator @logagm (Logan) is "actually an elite summer side dish." He went super viral with his initial video showing a recipe for, effectively, lightly marinated and umami-forward cucumbers.

SEE ALSO: TikTok's new cucumber recipe obsession is actually an elite summer side dish

From there, Logan made a whole bunch of other whole cucumber recipes. Pretty soon, anyone and everyone was making a cucumber dish of some sort. There have certainly been worse trends on TikTok — most every dish Logan makes, especially, looks great.

Hear me out cakes

OK, this trend is food but really isn't about the food. As Mashable explained in October, folks on TikTok skewered print-outs of characters into cakes, indicating they would hook up with those characters. Thus the hear me out.

SEE ALSO: The 'hear me out' cake TikTok trend, explained

So, you might learn who on TikTok wants to hook up with Nemo's dad or Megamind and, for really no reason, cake was involved.

Onions boils

You can never tell what TikTok will get obsessed with next. Case in point: onion boils. For a bit you couldn't scroll TikTok without seeing onion recipes. An onion boil is basically all the accoutrement you'd find in a seafood boil — lots of spices, lots of butter — stuffed and roasted inside a whole onion. The result is a gloopy, buttery onion. On its own, it seems a little gross, but over rice or potatoes, you might have a winner.

SEE ALSO: TikTok's latest food trend is an obsession with...onions? The dense bean salad

TikTok got super into meal prepping bean salads this year, all thanks to creator Violet Witchel. She went viral for her weekly DBS — yes, it has an acronym — and it really was one of the food trends of 2024.

A DBS typically involves hearty, nutritious ingredients that will both fill you up and keep well in the fridge for a week. Here's one with sun-dried tomatoes, bell pepper, and shallot, for instance, that garnered some 11 million views.

Chili's cheese pulls

In what must be a corporate marketing exec's wildest dream, Chili's went viral in the latter parts of 2024 for its Triple Dipper meal deal. It's basically a promotion where you build a dinner out of appetizers for less than $20. Most notably, people became obsessed with the chain's mozzarella sticks and the truly impressive cheese pulls — you know, the thing where the cheese stretches — that were possible with the appetizer.

The virality on TikTok has had real world effects. Chili's reported a 14 percent hike in same-store sales, with the Triple Dipper accounting for 11 percent of Chili’s total business, CNN reported last month.

Search Triple Dipper on TikTok and you'll see countless videos with hundreds of thousands, if not millions of views. And honestly, the mozz sticks do look fantastic.

That's the beauty of food on TikTok. In January there was simply no way to predict that by the end of the year, Chili's would be on everyone's FYP. Never underestimate a good cheese pull, it would seem.

Want more of the best of 2024? Join Mashable as we look back at all the internet slang, TikTok songs, movies, memes, dating trends, hyped up hardware, scientific discoveries, social media apps, and more that have delighted and amazed us this year.