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TL;DR: Give your cybersecurity a boost with this 3-year subscription to Surfshark VPN Starter Plan, on sale now for only $62.99 (reg. $430) through Oct. 15 with code SAVE25.

Opens in a new window Credit: Surfshark Surfshark VPN Starter Plan: 3-Yr Subscription $62.99
$430 Save $367.01   Get Deal

Free Wi-Fi is convenient… until you start thinking about what you’re sending across that connection. A VPN gives you a secure connection so you can easily keep yourself protected no matter where you log on — whether at home or out and about.

Right now, you can lock in a 3-year subscription to Surfshark VPN Starter Plan for just $62.99 until Oct. 15 with code SAVE25.

How often are you thinking about your cybersecurity? If you’re rarely working from home or your office, it’s even more important to consider how you’re connecting to the internet. Give yourself peace of mind when signing on to public WiFi by adding a layer of protection with Surfshark VPN.

Surfshark VPN keeps you safer online and ensures your data is never compromised with military-grade AES-256 encryption. You won’t be tracked, and a no-logging privacy policy makes it even more secure by not retaining any records of your activity.

Aside from keeping you safe from hackers, Surfshark VPN lets you enjoy a freer internet without any geographical restrictions. Simply choose from one of the 3,200 servers around the world across 100 countries. If you ever need to share your real location on an app, there’s a bypasser feature that easily shows it.

Surfshark VPN includes other perks like Surfshark Search, a search engine that keeps your searches totally private and gives you unbiased, organic search results. You also have a kill switch to disable your internet connection if your VPN ever drops.

Secure your own 3-year subscription to Surfshark VPN Starter Plan for just $62.99 through Oct. 15 with code SAVE25.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Get a laptop that can keep up with your workflow without breaking the bank thanks to this Dell Latitude 5420, on sale now for just $264.99 (reg. $1,099).

Opens in a new window Credit: Dell Dell Latitude 5420 2021 (Refurbished) $264.99
$1,099 Save $834.01   Get Deal

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly laptop that really does the trick, look no further than this Dell Latitude 5420. It’s a reliable device that can handle multitasking and keep up with your workflow, letting you tackle your lengthiest to-do lists.

Right now, this Dell Latitude 5420 can be yours for just $264.99.

If you’re looking for a laptop that’s not fussy and can get the job done without costing a month’s rent, it’s the Dell Latitude 5420. This workhorse of a laptop comes equipped with an 11th Gen Intel Core i5 processor that delivers super-responsive performance, with a 2.4 GHz base frequency and up to 4.2 GHz Turbo Boost.

A 256GB SSD gives you space for apps and storing files locally. A 14-inch Full HD anti-glare display with integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics enables comfortable viewing even during the longest workdays.

This Dell Latitude 5420 is running Windows 11 Pro, an efficient operating system that helps you tackle everyday business tasks. It also has WiFi 6 and Bluetooth for easy connectivity.

You’re saving big on this model thanks to its Grade A rating, which means it will arrive in near-new condition with minimal scuffing, and you’ll score a massive discount.

Get your own Dell Latitude 5420 for just $264.99 while supplies last.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: CellarStash’s 15-bottle assortment costs $79 plus $34.95 shipping, with red, white, and mixed options selected at redemption.

Opens in a new window Credit: CellarStash 15 Bottles of Curated Wines (Shipping not included) $79
$294.87 Save $215.87   Get Deal

Choosing wine can be tricky, especially when you’re trying to find something that suits someone else’s taste (or multiple someone else’s). To make things less complicated, CellarStash offers a 15-bottle assortment featuring wines sourced from California, France, Argentina, and Italy. The collection includes a range of familiar varietals, with three assortment options available at redemption.

Customers can select a mixed assortment of red and white wines, an all-red collection featuring Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Pinot Noir, Syrah, and red blends, or an all-white selection featuring Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, and Moscato.

The assortment is priced at $79 (reg. $294.87). Shipping costs an additional $34.95, paid separately at redemption, bringing the total purchase and shipping cost to $113.95, which is still a very low price for 15 bottles delivered to your door.

Orders ship only to eligible addresses within the United States. Shipping is unavailable to South Dakota, Utah, Arkansas, Mississippi, Michigan, Delaware, Rhode Island, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Canada, and PO boxes.

Purchasers must be at least 21 years old. Delivery requires a valid adult signature and identification. Redemption within 180 days is recommended for the fastest processing.

Whether you’re stocking up for a long winter to come or getting ready for holiday festivities, this is a win.

Get 15 bottles of CellarStash’s red, white, or a mix of both for $79, plus $34.95 shipping, while you can.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

There's always a nervousness when signing up for a new dating site. If you're not that tech-savvy, it can be a daunting thing to do. Especially on a site such as AdultFriendFinder, which has been around for so long (it's one of the true OGs of online dating). The site comes across as dated and counterintuitive, with a myriad of menus and submenus to navigate. It's easy to assume it's unsafe or just too difficult to use. But trust us when we say it's worth the effort due to its sizable community of singles and non-monogamous users looking for steamy fun.

Making the most of AFF means a certain amount of trial and error, or at least some guidance from someone with an intimate knowledge of the spicy hookup platform.

We've come to the rescue by outlining four essential tips to get you started on AFF and help you connect with like-minded people for kink-based fun.

We also recommend keeping an open mind when delving into AFF. If you charge in with a narrow idea of what it is you want, you'll almost certainly be disappointed. But if you start searching AFF with an open-minded curiosity and let yourself just go along for the ride, you might even discover new things about yourself — and find never-before-explored pleasure points — while you have some fun.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdultFriendFinder AdultFriendFinder   Learn More

Here are four essential steps for getting the most out of your AdultFriendFinder experience:

Fill out your full AFF profile 

Sure, this is a given on any online dating service, but it’s particularly important on AFF because the site doesn’t rely on the carousel-style, swipe-left formula of dating profiles that you get on other apps. With AFF, you specify everything from your age and gender to your sexuality and personal kinks. All of this makes it easier for potential connections to find you in their searches. In other words, the more you fill out, the easier it is for someone else to find you; the less you fill out, the harder it is.

We recommend doing this even if your personal kink list is fairly conventional, and even more so if it leans towards the exotic. Trust us when we say there are people out there looking for the very same experience, so it's worth taking the time to be specific and detailed. It will pay off in the end.

SEE ALSO: Is Hinge really 'designed to be deleted'? I tested it to find out.

Also, don’t sleep on the importance of videos. Unlike many dating sites that only have profile pictures, AFF allows you to upload short videos to your profile. It's a super helpful way of showing other users that you’re an actual human being — as opposed to a bot, of which you'll find many on AFF — and it helps you show off a little personality in the process. Just be wary of posting nude content upfront in your profile. It's perfectly within the rules of AFF — the site's culture encourages it, in fact — but putting that kind of content online carries privacy risks.

Verify your AFF account as soon as possible

AdultFriendFinder throws up very few barriers when you're creating your account. That makes it very easy for anyone to join, but it also means there is a huge amount of spam and bots clogging up the platform. To combat this, they’ve also created a profile verification system using the Confirm ID service. 

It requires you to share your government ID for cast-iron verification, but the benefits to your profile will give you major peace of mind. It means photo authentication, age confirmation, and location verification, all of which help others trust that your profile is authentic. When the process is complete, you'll see a blue checkmark beneath your profile photo, just to the right of your username, which helps people identify your profile at a glance and boosts your visibility in search results, as search results prioritize verified users.

Be selective with your search criteria

If you use the site’s search function, you’ll find that you can be extremely specific and selective. And if you know exactly who and what you want, by all means, narrow your search, but if you’re on AFF to be surprised, it’s also worth being less selective from time to time.

For example, if you know you want an in-person date for next week, it obviously makes sense to narrow your location search to people who live near you. But what if you don’t know exactly what you want, or if you’re open to a sultry chat with a stranger half a world away? In that case, distance is irrelevant, and you should consider turning that filter off.

SEE ALSO: All your Tinder questions, answered

On the other hand, there are quite a few filters that are turned off by default that we actually recommend you turn on. For example, the default profile filter shows you all people who have bothered to upload photos, but while that’s a good start, it’s not enough to help you wade through the huge number of users. We strongly recommend narrowing it down to Verified/Confirmed users, since those people all proved their identity the same way you did (see above). That way, you can trust that your search results and potential connections are 100 percent legit. It's another means of filtering out the spam.

Another useful filter is the Last Visit, which by default is set to "All." We recommend specifying accounts that have been active within the last month. That's because lots of people sign up to AFF then never bother checking back in. Other users go inactive for weeks or even months at a time. If you stick with the default "All" setting, you risk messaging accounts that you might never get a reply from.

Explore the live-chat communities

AdultFriendFinder isn’t a traditional dating website, so don't use it like one. The search-and-swipe dating app method is tried and true, but it’s also a bit played out, and one of AFF’s biggest strengths is its larger community offerings. There's more to it than swiping — or should we say swinging? — left or right.

There are lots of forums to explore, all based around common interests (though you should know that some of these interests — or kinks — are not so common), or you can venture into a user’s livestream and interact with them and others there. AFF even has a dedicated Stories section, where users can share their memories or try their hand at writing erotica. That's all well and good for anyone with a knack for the written word, but if you're more visual, you can set up a webcam stream and invite others to tune in. 

For all of the above, AFF tracks not only which stories/streams/group chats are new but also which are trending, making it very easy to jump into a popular discussion or keep up with the latest site news.

Upgrade your AFF membership tier

As with other dating sites and apps, you only get the most out of AFF when you sign up for a paid membership. It is entirely possible to use AFF and interact without handing over your credit card information, but the site’s best features and functions are paywalled. And it has to be said that the advantages — visibility, communication options, and site functionality are all just too good to ignore.

Gold and VIP members receive special icons on their profiles, and these profiles are given priority in every search, regardless of the criteria. Because there are thousands of potential profile options for almost every search criterion that isn’t location-based, it’s very difficult to stand out from the crowd on AFF as a free user.

Additionally, if you fork out for the upgraded VIP membership, you’ll unlock an entire section dedicated exclusively to VIPs. It's the dating site equivalent of entering the velvet-roped area of a night club; you'll find the most glamorous people hiding there. VIP members even get additional points to spend on digital gifts or lavish on live streamers who catch your eye. This is another great way of standing out from the crowd. 

The learning curve on AdultFriendFinder is steeper than most other dating sites, and much steeper than most dating apps, but if you follow the above tips and you're willing to experiment, you’ll encounter more than a few fun and sexy surprises along the way. 

TL;DR: The Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box is on sale for $108.99 at Amazon, down from its $122.09 typical price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box $108.99 at Amazon
$122.09 Save $13.10   Get Deal at Amazon

Amazon has given us some decent discounts on the Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed expansion this year, including a deal for under $120. That was good, but the latest deal on the 30-pack Play Booster Box is the best we've ever seen.

As of Oct. 14, the Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box is available for just $108.99 at Amazon, cut by $13.10 from its usual $122.09 price. Confirmed by the price tracker camelcamelcamel, this 11% discount is the lowest-ever price for this MTG box. 

At $3.63 per pack, this limited-time deal is shipped and sold directly by Amazon, not through a third-party seller. 

SEE ALSO: Magic: The Gathering Star Trek Play Booster Box preorders hit an all-time low on Amazon — save over $40

If Amazon does end up running out of stock, Walmart has matched the same $108.99 price. Just know that this listing is sold by third-party seller Cataclysm Games, but the order is still fulfilled by Walmart.

The Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box contains 30 packs of 14 cards each, giving you 420 cards overall. Every booster guarantees a traditional foil, plus one to four cards of rare or higher rarity.

The expansion revisits the worlds of Lorwyn and Shadowmoor, featuring returning creature types like Kithkin, boggarts, merrow, and Elves, with new and familiar mechanics to experiment with.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is available for $159.99 at Amazon, but Walmart has it for $144.96.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box $144.96 at Amazon
$237.98 Save $93.02   Shop Now at Amazon

Amazon has been offering the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box for $159.99, but there's still the issue of actually getting invited to buy one. Fortunately, Walmart has now introduced a considerably cheaper alternative that doesn't require waiting for an invitation email.

As of Oct. 14, the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is available for just $144.96 at Walmart, with $93.02 knocked off its previous list price of $237.98. That puts this 30th Celebration ETB only $6.20 above its $138.76 market price. What’s more, it's also $15.03 cheaper than Amazon's $159.99 invitation-only listing. 

TCGplayer is currently the cheapest place to buy readily available stock, with the specialist trading card marketplace boasting listings as low as $138.76 at the time of writing — actually matching that estimated market price. 

SEE ALSO: The Pokémon TCG Delta Reign Booster Bundle is now only $55 at Walmart — save $25 on preorders

For the price, you're getting nine 30th Celebration booster packs, each containing one of 30 collectible Pikachu rare variations. There's also a special full-art foil Nidorina promo, featuring 30 Nidorina to match its #0030 Pokédex number. The ETB also includes 16 foil Basic Energy cards, 65 card sleeves, dice, a coin, dividers, a player's guide, and a Pokémon TCG Live code card.

If you’re hunting any chase cards, like any of the RGB Rare Mews worth over $3,500, you can buy single 30th Celebration Pokemon cards at TCGplayer.

TL;DR: The Apple iPhone 17 is under $100 with T-Mobile. To claim this offer, switch and bring your number on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan (no trade-in needed)

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple T-Mobile: Apple iPhone 17 for under $100   Shop Now

We're constantly tracking the best deals on smartphones. T-Mobile is usually one of the first places we look, because they generally offer free deals on new handsets like the Motorola Razr+, Google Pixel 11, and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8.

But what about the iPhone?

The only iPhone you can get for free right now with T-Mobile is the iPhone 17e. To claim this handset for free, you can switch to almost any T-Mobile plan with no trade-in required. The iPhone 17 is not free at the time of writing, but it's under $100 when you switch and bring your number on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan (no trade-in needed). That's still a wild offer.

T-Mobile spreads your savings across 36 monthly bill credits, effectively locking you into a three-year agreement. If you cancel or switch carriers early, you will owe the remaining balance immediately. You will also need to cover state sales tax on the phone’s full retail value upfront, plus a standard $35 device connection fee per line at checkout.

This is one of the best ways to score a top-tier phone without taking a massive hit to your bank account.

Get the Apple iPhone 17 for under $100 this week with T-Mobile.

PREORDER NOW: Preorder the Apple HomeView smart display for $299. Choose from either the standard or wall-mounted edition in silver, starlight, rose pink, or space gray.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Apple HomeView $299 at Amazon
  Preorder at Amazon

Apple’s first smart display has officially been announced. The Apple HomeView, announced on Tuesday morning at the company’s “Welcome Home” event, puts a seven-inch screen on top of a HomePod-style speaker base and adds FaceTime, messages, photos, and smart home controls to the mix.

It’s the first entirely new Apple hardware category since the Vision Pro, and likely an enticing buy for users firmly rooted in the Apple ecosystem. But where and when can you get your hands on one to deck out your home with additional Apple tech? Here's everything we know so far.

What is Apple HomeView?

Powered by Apple's A18 chip, the Apple HomeView is a seven-inch Liquid Retina touchscreen attached to a domed speaker base by a stainless steel hinge. You can tilt the screen to whatever angle works on a counter or nightstand. The display goes up to 500 nits in a bright room and down to 0.3 nits at night, and the interface shows simpler information when you’re across the room and more detail as you walk closer.

It includes two full-range drivers in the display, plus a down-firing woofer and two passive radiators in the base, with Spatial Audio support and computational tuning that adjusts bass at any volume. It supports Apple Music with animated album art and lyrics, Apple Podcasts, Apple News, Apple TV, and third-party audio and video apps, and also pairs with other HomeViews, HomePods, and AirPlay speakers for multiroom audio.

As a smart home hub, HomeView controls lights, thermostats, locks, and blinds by touch or Siri AI, and its Home Camera face can livestream up to nine camera feeds at once. It works with Apple Home and Matter accessories as well as the new Apple Home Collection, a lineup of cameras, thermostats, and a lock built with LG and Schneider Electric that arrives in December.

Where to buy Apple HomeView

Right now, you can preorder the HomeView at Apple and Amazon. Both the tabletop model and the wall-mounted model cost $299, and both are set to ship out on Friday, Nov. 13.

The tabletop Apple HomeView version is available in silver, starlight, rose pink, or space gray, each with a color-matched USB-C cable.

Meanwhile, the wall-mounted option is up for grabs for the same price and is available only in space gray and silver. It uses the same display, speakers, and features as the tabletop version, but you’ll need one of the Schneider Home mounts to hang it.

There are accessories as well: The Power Mount USB-C Wall Connector for $59.95 and the Power Mount AC Wired for $79.95. Both can be preordered through Apple as well today. A Power Mount PoE Wired version is also coming in early 2027 for $129.95.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Apple HomeView $299 at Amazon
  Preorder at Amazon

On Saturday, singer Kelly Clarkson published a scathing X post about her experience at Brooklyn store Art of Play, claiming that she was treated "like Julia Roberts' character in Pretty Woman" when she tried to buy a mechanical bird. The internet quickly took sides, with Clarkson and Art of Play both issuing multiple statements arguing about what actually happened.

Now security footage of the interaction has been made public, offering more fodder for people to scrutinise and argue about. 

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Podcast Pablo Torres Finds Out shared the video in a YouTube livestream on Tuesday, showing Clarkson visiting Art of Play just before 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10. In the footage timestamped 2:49 p.m., a person Torres identified as Clarkson entered the store and began browsing items on display. She soon looked toward Molly, the mechanical bird at the centre of the controversy, and sought the attention of a store worker.

Though Art of Play's security video has no audio, it appears as though Clarkson and the worker were discussing Molly. The pair stood behind the bird as they spoke, Clarkson pointing and looking toward it while the worker performed an American lean with a drink in hand. Unfortunately, the footage is too blurry and obscured to clearly determine the full nature of the conversation.

The worker then walked away toward the other side of the store while Clarkson moved to the back of it, apparently done with the conversation. The worker did point at something on the wall he had moved to, looking toward Clarkson as he did so. However, Clarkson did not appear to see this gesture due to her back being turned. The Art of Play worker then began speaking to a different customer, and was engaged in this conversation when Clarkson turned back around.

Clarkson then returned the other items she'd picked up to the shelves and exited the store, but not before appearing to express her displeasure to another Art of Play worker. Though it's unclear exactly what she said, Clarkson's hand gestures suggest she was left frustrated and unhappy after her interaction with his colleague. Overall, Clarkson was in Art of Play for approximately five minutes, having promptly left after her negative experience.

While podcast host Torres did not state how he obtained the video, he and guest Wyatt Cenac disclosed that both were customers at Art of Play and had previously spoken "a bunch" with Adam Rubin, one of the store's co-owners. Torres even shared a clip he had filmed last year of Molly in action. However, he also claimed that Pablo Torres Finds Out is a "pro Kelly Clarkson podcast," citing a 2024 episode in which he praised her song covers.

The internet reacts to Kelly Clarkson security footage

The internet has swiftly pounced on the new security footage, attempting to analyse Clarkson and the worker's body language to determine what happened. Even so, the video doesn't appear to have changed many people's opinions, with its lack of audio and unclear images leaving much up to debate.

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Technically, a store is not legally obligated to sell a product merely because an associated price tag is on display. U.S. contract law states that a price tag is an invitation to negotiate, meaning that it is a seller telling customers they can offer to buy the item. If a customer does so, it is then up to the seller to decide whether to accept the offer. 

The U.S. has anti-discrimination laws which prevent stores from denying service to potential customers based on factors such as their race, religion, sexual orientation, or gender. However, such laws do not cover discrimination based on socioeconomic status, which Clarkson's Pretty Woman comparison implied occurred.

Regardless of the strict legalities of the situation, general social convention dictates that items in a store with a price tag on them are for sale. As such, it seems reasonable that Clarkson believed Molly was for sale, and was put off when a worker attempted to direct her to alternatives. At the same time, Art of Play also appears within its rights to refuse her attempt to buy Molly. Whether or not the worker was rude when he refused Clarkson is another question, and one that seems unlikely to be definitively answered by this security footage.

Donald Trump's rally tour may have drawn attention for its empty seats, but the president has a secret weapon up his sleeve: Jake Paul.

Trump brought out the YouTuber-turned-boxer during a recent rally in Ohio, with Paul making a speech about how he doesn't understand the left because they "just carry [protest] signs around while we're doing the work."

Unsurprisingly, Jimmy Kimmel wasn't impressed.

"I have a quick question for Jake: Are you under the impression that what you do is work?" the host asks in the clip above. "Last I checked you were promoting gambling apps and selling crypto tokens. What is your job? Being Logan Paul's brother? You're selling body spray to people. These guys have done such a good job of deluding themselves into thinking they're hard-working, average Americans."

Want more of the best of late night? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier for those who watch basketball.

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.

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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: Audience

• Green: Crashing the boards

• Blue: Famous Madisons

• Purple: Tee

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: People in the Stands

• Green: Basket off an Offensive Rebound

• Blue: Madison___

• Purple: Preceded by "T-"

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 #751 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• People in the Stands: CROWD, FANS, SPECTATORS, SUPPORTERS

• Basket off an Offensive Rebound: FOLLOW, PUTBACK, STICK-BACK, TIP-IN

• Madison___: BUNGARNER, CHOCK, KEYS, SQUARE GARDEN

• Preceded by "T-": BALL, MAC, SHIRT, WOLVES

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.

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

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 October 14, 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 October 14, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for October 14 Pips

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 2-4, placed vertically; 5-1, placed vertically.

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

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

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for October 14 Pips

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

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed vertically.

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

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 0-1, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically; 6-0, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically; 4-4, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for October 14 Pips

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically; 4-0, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

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

Number (14): Everything in this space must add up to 14. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed vertically.

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

Greater Than (7): Everything in this space must be greater than 7. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically.

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically.

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

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 5-1, 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.

If you need more proof that our lives are quickly turning into a 'Mission Impossible' movie, we present to you the latest news coming from OpenAI.

In a post on Tuesday, OpenAI said that it had discovered a "sophisticated recording device" hidden inside one of the company's offices.

Turns out, an employee planted the device to an unknown end, and he was, in OpenAI's wording, "terminated," prompting some commenters to jokingly wonder what, exactly, that means.

The company also said it used its own models to "understand the device and where it had come from." Guess you can't even do spy stuff without the help of AI these days.

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The U.S. Department of Justice has more details on the case. The employee in question is a 35-year-old Saudi national named Abdulrahman Alfozan, who worked as an OpenAI engineer and was arrested by the FBI on Oct. 9.

The DoJ published a photo of Alfozan checking the recording device he had planted in OpenAI's office. Credit: justice.gov

According to the prosecutors, he inserted the device into a USB port on the back of a TV set in an OpenAI executive conference room in one of the company's San Francisco offices. The device, wrapped in toilet paper, was installed on Sept. 28 and was discovered a few days later. OpenAI says the device's contents were encrypted.

If you see something like this plugged in your TV, you've probably gone too far in your AI research. Credit: justice.gov

Alfozan also left a bag containing another recording device and a few other items in another room in the building. He is charged with using or endeavoring to use an electronic, mechanical, or other device to intercept oral communications, according to the FBI. If found guilty, Alfozan could be sentenced to up to 5 years in prison and fined up to $250,000.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI to bring in $20 billion less than previously expected

OpenAI says it currently has no indications that Alfozan successfully obtained model weights, source code, or customer data. The room where the device was planted, however, was a place where "highly confidential" technical, commercial, and strategic information was frequently discussed.

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The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you like comic books.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

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

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

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

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

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for October 14, 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: Tease

• Green: Racketeering

• Blue: Winning

• Purple: Giant words

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Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Hint

• Green: Tennis shots

• Blue: Superheroes, with "the"

• Purple: Start with "Fee, Fi, Fo, Fum"

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 #1221 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Hint: FLICKER, SUGGESTION, TRACE, WHIFF

• Tennis shots: SERVE, SLICE, SMASH, VOLLEY

• Superheroes, with "the": FLASH, HULK, PUNISHER, THING

• Starting with "Fee, Fi, Fo, Fum": FEED, FIERY, FOMENT, FUMBLE

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

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.

Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.

Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.

While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 14, 2026 Feed meaning

To provide food.

Thing meaning

A type of noun.

Serve meaning

To provide.

Suggestion meaning

To offer a recommendation.

Fiery meaning

Something proven combustible.

Flicker meaning

An unstable light.

Flash meaning

A bright moment of light.

Foment meaning

To stir up.

Smash meaning

To destroy or crush.

Hulk meaning

A large, damaged object.

Trace meaning

To track.

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Fumble meaning

To drop or mishandle something.

Slice meaning

To cut something.

Whiff meaning

A hint.

Volley meaning

A discharge of an array of weapons.

Punisher meaning

Someone who punishes.

Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.

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 NYT Strands hints will be easy if you've read a few fairy tales.

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 October 14, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Folk & fairy tale twosomes

The words are related to characters.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe exactly as the hint implies: characters whose stories are linked.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Once upon a time.

NYT Strands word list for October 14

• Tortoise

• Hare

• Beauty

• Beast

• Frog

• Princess

• Once upon a time

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.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you aren't serious.

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 October 14, 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.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Just kidding.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter P.

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...

PSYCH

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.

VisionQuest reunites viewers with Vision (Paul Bettany), the synthezoid first introduced in Avengers: Age of Ultron. However, he's not the only AI from the MCU to reappear in Marvel's latest television outing.

SEE ALSO: We watched 'VisionQuest's first episode at New York Comic Con. It's a trip.

That's because VisionQuest boasts a supporting troupe of Stark Industries AI who have popped up throughout the MCU. Within Vision's simulated mind palace (or mind mansion, really), they manifest as human avatars who help him with everything from basic upkeep to human socialization. From smaller-name robots like Dum-E (Henry Lewis) and U (Jonathan Sayer) to full-on Avengers villains like Ultron (James Spader), here's your guide to the AI characters of VisionQuest.

D.U.M.-E and U

First introduced: Iron Man

Created together during Tony Stark's (Robert Downey Jr.) time at MIT, Dum-E and U are a package deal. They're a pair of hydraulic arms that helped Tony assemble his Iron Man armors.

Within Vision's simulation, the pair manifest as handymen, although VisionQuest lists their more official roles onscreen in a series of helpful bullet points. Thanks to these, we learn that Dum-E is a general maintenance AI in charge of limb servo control and fire suppression. Like Dum-E, U is a general maintenance AI, as well as a defragger and video analyzer.

J.A.R.V.I.S.

First introduced: Iron Man

Arguably the most recognizable Stark AI, J.A.R.V.I.S. (Just A Rather Very Intelligent System) served as Tony Stark's AI assistant and was also uploaded into all the Iron Man suits. Ultron almost destroyed him in Avengers: Age of Ultron, but Tony uploaded what was left of J.A.R.V.I.S. into a synthetic vibranium body, helping create the Vision we know today. Before playing Vision in his physical form, Bettany lent his voice to J.A.R.V.I.S.

In VisionQuest, James D'Arcy takes over the role of J.A.R.V.I.S. His human avatar is a butler-like figure, which is fitting, given that Tony named him after the Stark butler. On top of housekeeping, J.A.R.V.I.S. is a security AI who also takes care of encryption.

SEE ALSO: New York Comic Con 2026: Everything announced at Marvel TV's panel F.R.I.D.A.Y.

First introduced: Avengers: Age of Ultron

With J.A.R.V.I.S. uploaded into Vision, Tony needed a new AI assistant for his Iron Man armor. Enter F.R.I.D.A.Y. (Female Replacement Intelligent Digital Assistant), who took over J.A.R.V.I.S.'s responsibilities from Avengers: Age of Ultron all the way up to Tony's death in Avengers: Endgame.

Originally voiced by Kerry Condon, F.R.I.D.A.Y. is played by Orla Brady in VisionQuest. The show presents her as a socialization AI, which basically means she's Vision's human interaction coach. She also aids him with humor and tactical ops.

E.D.I.T.H.

First introduced: Spider-Man: Far From Home

After his death, Tony left an augmented reality security and defense system named E.D.I.T.H. (Even Dead, I'm The Hero) to Peter Parker (Tom Holland). E.D.I.T.H. (voiced by Dawn Michelle King) lived in a pair of sunglasses that Peter used, then mistakenly gifted to Quentin Beck (Jake Gyllenhaal), aka Mysterio. Following Far From Home, E.D.I.T.H. has been offline.

VisionQuest's E.D.I.T.H. (Emily Hampshire) presents as a major daredevil. As a recreational AI, she tries to understand all the extreme ways humans have fun, leading to some pretty wild stunts. According to the show's bullet-point list of her roles, she also specializes in game theory and weapons.

Ultron

First introduced: Avengers: Age of Ultron

The biggest, baddest AI in the MCU is none other than Ultron. Tony and Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) originally cooked him up as a peacekeeping program, which they then combined with the Mind Stone from Loki's scepter. Following his birth, Ultron decided that the greatest threat to the world was humanity, and set in motion a plan to extinguish all of mankind.

Years after the Avengers defeated him in Age of Ultron, Ultron returns as a prisoner inside Vision's mind, albeit now in human form. Unlike the other AI characters, he doesn't appear to have a specialized role. As the show describes him, he's simply an "asshole."

VisionQuest is now streaming on Disney+, with new episodes Wednesdays.

Generative AI is enabling a tidal wave of nonconsensual intimate imagery and child sexual abuse material. Social media algorithms are exacerbating online harassment and the doxxing of rape survivors. Now, humanoid robots are making the offline world more unsafe for girls and women.

Two teen boys are under investigation by German authorities after allegations that they used a walking bot to grope and harass a 16-year-old girl while she was in public. Police in Cologne confiscated the robot today (Oct. 13) after receiving reports over the weekend. Emergency services were also dispatched to the scene, the Associated Press reported.

The authorities haven't yet charged the boys with a crime, but told the press that they are being treated as suspects.

SEE ALSO: Did Ukraine’s strikes on data centers really silence Russian bots?

The alleged perpetrators were two teens themselves, aged 16 and 19. Witnesses said they appeared to be controlling the 4-foot-tall robot, decorated in human clothing and jewelry, nearby. In video clips that purport to show the two teens, the robot is being steered through busy streets to intentionally bump into women as part of what appears to be a livestream. The robot's behavior is routinely played for laughs in the clips.

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Investigators are evaluating whether or not the robot was programmed to act in such a manner, or if the technology was maneuvered in real time. The answer to that question may determine what kind of legal repercussions the teens face in what is considered uncharted legal waters. Cologne authorities told the Associated Press they were not aware of humanoid robots ever being used for public harassment of this kind.

Popular live streamers have come under fire in recent years for profiting off of the public harassment of strangers, service workers, and women, in particular. Many have used novel technology, such as Meta's AI-powered Ray-Ban glasses, to secretly record interactions for views. It's only recently that platforms have begun to crack down on the viral trend.

SAVE $1,302: As of Oct. 13, the 65-inch TCL QM8L SQD-Mini LED 4K TV is down to $1,197.99 at Amazon. That’s a 52% discount off the $2,499.99 list price on Mashable’s "best QLED TV for most people."

Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 85-inch Class QM8L Series TV $1,197.99 at Amazon
$2,499.99 Save $1,302.00   Get Deal at Amazon

Shopping for a new TV often feels like a dizzying exercise in decoding endless display acronyms. But if you want staggering peak brightness and deep contrast without taking on a multi-thousand-dollar OLED price tag, TCL’s flagship 2026 set is currently discounted. The 65-inch TCL QM8L SQD-Mini LED 4K Smart TV is down to $1,197.99 on Amazon, saving you a massive $1,302 off its original list price of $2,499.99.

In Mashable’s guide to the best 65-inch TVs, shopping reporter Leah Stodart dubbed the TCL QM8L the "best QLED TV for most people." Unlike base-level sets that struggle in low-light environments, the QM8L introduces TCL’s revamped Super Quantum Dot (SQD) backlight system. By using microscopic 5-nanometer particles instead of standard 60-nanometer dots, the display delivers pinpoint color accuracy, dynamic contrast, and anti-blooming technology that actually keeps halo effects at bay during dark movie scenes.

Clocking in at up to 6,000 nits of peak brightness alongside over 4,000 discrete local dimming zones, this TV is tailor-made for high-glare living rooms. Stodart noted that its sublime peak brightness makes it "one of the brightest TVs you can buy," easily handling midday glare and sunlit sports matches while offering contrast that rivals far more expensive non-OLED displays.

The 2026 QM8L is built for high-end entertainment and gaming. It packs a 144Hz refresh rate, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, and TCL's Game Accelerator suite for smooth console action, while Google TV with Google Gemini AI handles smart navigation.

Grab the 65-inch TCL QM8L SQD-Mini LED 4K Smart TV at Amazon before the 52% discount vanishes.