Mashable

Tradition continues on Weekend Update.

On the season 51 finale of Saturday Night Live, Colin Jost and Michael Che continued their long-running gag of writing each other's jokes to cap the season's last Weekend Update.

From penis jokes to Michael Jackson references, Jost and Che made sure this season's Weekend Update joke swap was as brutal as ever. Also, it seems like Jost just promised a big hairstyle change, courtesy of what Che wrote for him to say, of course.

Just because it's the middle of Spring doesn't mean we can't get a little parody of "A Christmas Carol" on Saturday Night Live in May.

In the season 51 finale of SNL on Saturday, President Donald Trump, played by cast member James Austin Johnson, falls asleep in the Oval Office. However, Trump is soon visited by the ghost of Jeffrey Epstein, played by host Will Ferrell.

SEE ALSO: Will Ferrell confronts his look-alike during his 'SNL' monologue

Ferrell's Epstein gives Trump a look into the future, offering the president a peek at what his cabinet members, past and present, will be up to, ostensibly, after they leave their positions. The cold open also features Ashley Padilla as former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Colin Jost as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Aziz Ansari as FBI Director Kash Patel.

Saturday Night Live had its Season 51 finale over the weekend as former cast member Will Ferrell hosted the show for his sixth time.

However, before Ferrell could come out and perform his hosting duties, Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers attempted a coup. Smith came out first to open the show, hitting the stage and acting as if he were Ferrell. There's been a long-running joke that Ferrell and Smith, the drummer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, bear a striking resemblance to each other, and SNL continued the gag on its final show of the season.

Shortly after Smith thanked the audience, Ferrell came out dressed exactly like Smith, claiming the drummer had attacked him backstage as part of his takeover attempt.

Ferrell convinces Smith to get off the stage but the former SNL cast member acts as if the whole ordeal has thrown for a loop and has trouble getting back to his duties as host. Ferrell decides to take questions from the audience, and the first question is from a very casual audience member – Sir Paul McCartney.

The legendary musician believes that Ferrell is actually the imposter Smith and demands Ferrell leave the stage and get back to his drum set, where he belongs.

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 17, 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 May 17, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for May 17 Pips

Greater Than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 5. 6-4, placed vertically.

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

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. 4-3, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed vertically; 4-3, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for May 17 Pips

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally; 5-1, placed vertically.

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

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically; 2-4, placed vertically.

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

Greater Than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 5. 6-0, placed horizontally.

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

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for May 17 Pips

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

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

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-4, placed vertically; 6-2, placed vertically; 2-5, placed vertically.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically; 6-5, placed vertically.

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

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-0, placed vertically; 2-5, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically; 6-5, placed vertically.

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

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

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

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically; 1-6, placed vertically; 0-6, placed vertically.

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will require some sports and pop culture knowledge.

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.

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: NFC North

• Green: Allegedly an East Coast-based conference

• Blue: Too many Jalens in the NBA

• Purple: Caps. financial or fashionable

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: An NFC North Athlete

• Green: An ACC Athlete

• Blue: Ja(y)lens in the NBA

• Purple: ___Cap

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 #601 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• An NFC North Athlete: BEAR, LION, PACKER, VIKING

• An ACC Athlete: CAVALIER, EAGLE, HOKIE, MUSTANG

• Ja(y)lens in the NBA: BROWN, BRUNSON, DUREN, GREEN

• ___Cap: BASEBALL, GUARDIAN, RALLY, SALARY

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

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

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

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

It can be scary to leave the Apple ecosystem, but whatever your personal reasoning may be, I drew on my experience as a headphones and earbuds tester to ease the transition. For the purposes of this guide, I focused on the AirPods 4 with ANC and AirPods Pro 3. (If you want alternatives to the AirPods Max or AirPods Max 2, might I suggest any other pair of over-ear noise-cancelling headphones? I promise you'll get better bang for your buck).

SEE ALSO: AirPods Max 2 vs. Sony WH-1000XM6: Which headphones win?

After going back through testing notes and existing reviews, I came away with three options for the best AirPods alternatives: the Sony WF-1000XM6, the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2, and the EarFun Air Pro 4.

It can be scary to leave the Apple ecosystem, but whatever your personal reasoning may be, I drew on my experience as a headphones and earbuds tester to ease the transition. For the purposes of this guide, I focused on the AirPods 4 with ANC and AirPods Pro 3. (If you want alternatives to the AirPods Max or AirPods Max 2, might I suggest any other pair of over-ear noise-cancelling headphones? I promise you'll get better bang for your buck).

SEE ALSO: AirPods Max 2 vs. Sony WH-1000XM6: Which headphones win?

After going back through testing notes and existing reviews, I came away with three options for the best AirPods alternatives: the Sony WF-1000XM6, the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2, and the EarFun Air Pro 4.

TL;DR: The AdGuard Family Plan lifetime subscription is on sale for $15.97 (reg. $169.99) through May 17 at 11:59 p.m. PT and covers up to nine devices.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdGuard AdGuard Family Plan: Lifetime Subscription $15.97
$169.99 Save $154.02   Get Deal

If constant pop-ups, autoplay videos, and banner ads are making the internet feel more annoying than useful lately, an ad blocker can make a noticeable difference. What you need is the AdGuard Family Plan. Its family lifetime subscription is on sale for $15.97, discounted from $169.99, through May 17 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

AdGuard is great for people who are tired of incessant ads disrupting everyday browsing. Whether you’re trying to watch YouTube videos without interruptions, read articles without giant pop-ups covering the screen, or shop online without trackers following you afterward, this ad-blocking software creates a cleaner, less cluttered experience up across your devices.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

The Family Plan covers up to nine devices, including Windows PCs, Macs, iPhones, iPads, and Android devices, so households can use it across phones, laptops, and tablets under one subscription.

Along with blocking ads, AdGuard also includes tracker protection, phishing and malware safeguards, and parental controls. That added layer of privacy may appeal to families looking to cut down on both distractions and data collection while browsing. Parents can also restrict adult content on shared devices for younger users.

Mashable regularly covers tools that help simplify digital life, whether that means productivity apps, cybersecurity software, or privacy-focused tech. If you’ve already explored browser upgrades or online security tools, this deal lands in a similar category of practical quality-of-life improvements.

One of the more appealing parts of this offer is the lifetime access. Instead of adding another monthly subscription to your budget, you pay once and keep access permanently, including future updates.

For anyone frustrated with ads slowing down websites, interrupting videos, or cluttering nearly every corner of the web, the AdGuard Family Plan may be worth a look while it’s discounted to $15.97 (reg. $169.99) through May 17 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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

TL;DR: The AdGuard Family Plan lifetime subscription is on sale for $15.97 (reg. $169.99) through May 17 at 11:59 p.m. PT and covers up to nine devices.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdGuard AdGuard Family Plan: Lifetime Subscription $15.97
$169.99 Save $154.02   Get Deal

If constant pop-ups, autoplay videos, and banner ads are making the internet feel more annoying than useful lately, an ad blocker can make a noticeable difference. What you need is the AdGuard Family Plan. Its family lifetime subscription is on sale for $15.97, discounted from $169.99, through May 17 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

AdGuard is great for people who are tired of incessant ads disrupting everyday browsing. Whether you’re trying to watch YouTube videos without interruptions, read articles without giant pop-ups covering the screen, or shop online without trackers following you afterward, this ad-blocking software creates a cleaner, less cluttered experience up across your devices.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

The Family Plan covers up to nine devices, including Windows PCs, Macs, iPhones, iPads, and Android devices, so households can use it across phones, laptops, and tablets under one subscription.

Along with blocking ads, AdGuard also includes tracker protection, phishing and malware safeguards, and parental controls. That added layer of privacy may appeal to families looking to cut down on both distractions and data collection while browsing. Parents can also restrict adult content on shared devices for younger users.

Mashable regularly covers tools that help simplify digital life, whether that means productivity apps, cybersecurity software, or privacy-focused tech. If you’ve already explored browser upgrades or online security tools, this deal lands in a similar category of practical quality-of-life improvements.

One of the more appealing parts of this offer is the lifetime access. Instead of adding another monthly subscription to your budget, you pay once and keep access permanently, including future updates.

For anyone frustrated with ads slowing down websites, interrupting videos, or cluttering nearly every corner of the web, the AdGuard Family Plan may be worth a look while it’s discounted to $15.97 (reg. $169.99) through May 17 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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

TL;DR: Microsoft Windows 11 Pro is on sale for $9.97 (reg. $199) through May 18 at 11:59 p.m. PT and includes a lifetime license with upgraded security, multitasking, and more.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Windows 11 Pro $9.97
$199 Save $189.03   Get Deal

If your computer’s been dragging lately — slow load times, awkward multitasking, outdated features — an operating system upgrade might be just what you need to give it new life, no new hardware required. Grab Microsoft Windows 11 Pro while it’s on sale for just $9.97 (reg. $199), through May 18 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Windows 11 Pro is all about smoother performance and a better experience, especially if you’re still on an older version. The interface is cleaner and easier to navigate, but the big upgrade happens behind the scenes. Snap layouts, virtual desktops, improved search, and seamless redocking make multitasking way less of a hassle, whether you’re working, studying, gaming, or doing a bit of everything.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

Windows 11 Pro includes tools such as TPM 2.0 support, Smart App Control, BitLocker encryption, and biometric login protection to help guard against malware and unauthorized access. For business users or anyone handling sensitive information, those built-in protections may make the upgrade worthwhile on their own.

Gamers and creative users also get access to DirectX 12 Ultimate, which helps newer games and graphics-heavy applications run more smoothly by maximizing your hardware performance. Meanwhile, Microsoft’s built-in AI assistant, Copilot, can help summarize web pages, answer questions, generate writing ideas, and assist with coding tasks directly within Windows.

If your laptop still works but just feels dated, upgrading the operating system is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to breathe new life into it. It’s a smart move if you’re looking to stretch your device’s lifespan without spending a fortune on new hardware.

You’ll need at least 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage to run Windows 11 Pro. And since this is a lifetime license for one device, it can’t be transferred to another computer down the road.

If you’re hoping to revitalize an older PC without dropping hundreds on upgrades, Windows 11 Pro is just $9.97 for a limited time through May 18 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Microsoft Windows 11 Pro is on sale for $9.97 (reg. $199) through May 18 at 11:59 p.m. PT and includes a lifetime license with upgraded security, multitasking, and more.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Windows 11 Pro $9.97
$199 Save $189.03   Get Deal

If your computer’s been dragging lately — slow load times, awkward multitasking, outdated features — an operating system upgrade might be just what you need to give it new life, no new hardware required. Grab Microsoft Windows 11 Pro while it’s on sale for just $9.97 (reg. $199), through May 18 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Windows 11 Pro is all about smoother performance and a better experience, especially if you’re still on an older version. The interface is cleaner and easier to navigate, but the big upgrade happens behind the scenes. Snap layouts, virtual desktops, improved search, and seamless redocking make multitasking way less of a hassle, whether you’re working, studying, gaming, or doing a bit of everything.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

Windows 11 Pro includes tools such as TPM 2.0 support, Smart App Control, BitLocker encryption, and biometric login protection to help guard against malware and unauthorized access. For business users or anyone handling sensitive information, those built-in protections may make the upgrade worthwhile on their own.

Gamers and creative users also get access to DirectX 12 Ultimate, which helps newer games and graphics-heavy applications run more smoothly by maximizing your hardware performance. Meanwhile, Microsoft’s built-in AI assistant, Copilot, can help summarize web pages, answer questions, generate writing ideas, and assist with coding tasks directly within Windows.

If your laptop still works but just feels dated, upgrading the operating system is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to breathe new life into it. It’s a smart move if you’re looking to stretch your device’s lifespan without spending a fortune on new hardware.

You’ll need at least 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage to run Windows 11 Pro. And since this is a lifetime license for one device, it can’t be transferred to another computer down the road.

If you’re hoping to revitalize an older PC without dropping hundreds on upgrades, Windows 11 Pro is just $9.97 for a limited time through May 18 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

The best HBO Max deals and bundles in May 2026: Best Disney+ Bundle Deal Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle $19.99/month with ads, $32.99/month ad-free Get Deal Best Hulu Bundle Deal Hulu and HBO Max Bundle Add HBO Max from $10.99/month Get Deal Best Student Deal HBO Max Student Save 50% on HBO Max Basic With Ads Get Deal

Looking for some exciting new films or shows to watch this spring? HBO Max is the place to find them. With a new season of Euphoria dropping weekly on the platform and a brand new season of House of the Dragon coming in June, there's plenty to watch right now.

If these have caught your eye, the good news is that HBO Max has a few different bundles available at the moment that are worth checking out, including a popular bundle with Disney+ and Hulu. With streaming prices on the rise, a bundle like this can be a great way to save some cash while retaining access to your favorite services.

SEE ALSO: How Sydney Sweeney surprised Trisha Paytas during her 'Euphoria' cameo

Alongside bundles, we've also broken down HBO Max's standard plans in case you're interested in its service on its own.

Best Disney+ bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max Bundle $19.99/month with ads, $32.99/month ad-free Get Deal Why we like it

The HBO Max, Disney+, and Hulu bundle is a top-tier choice for those looking to have access to some of the biggest streaming services around. Starting at $19.99 per month, this bundle grants you access to Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max's streaming services for a much lower price than what you'd pay for them on their own. If you've already got Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions, this bundle is worth every cent. If you're interested, there are two plan options to choose from:

• Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle (with ads) — $19.99 per month (save 42%)

• Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle (no ads) — $32.99 per month (save 41%)

Best Hulu bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu and HBO Max Bundle Add HBO Max to your Hulu base plan from $10.99 per month Get Deal Why we like it

If you're not interested in the Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max mega bundle, you can just get Hulu and HBO Max together if you already have a Hulu base plan, which starts at $11.99 per month. HBO Max Basic with Ads can be added onto your plan for $10.99 per month, or you can splash out on the HBO Max Standard plan for $18.49 per month.

• Hulu with HBO Max add-on — from $10.99 per month

Best student deal Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max HBO Max Student Discount Students save 50% on HBO Max Basic With Ads Get Deal Why we like it

It's always nice when streaming services have a deal for students, and HBO Max's offer is definitely worth taking advantage of. Students who can verify their status with UNiDAYS are eligible to get the HBO Max Basic With Ads plan for just $5.49 per month. That's a 50% discount off its $10.99 monthly price. After verifying your status, you'll receive a unique code that can be used to redeem the discounted plan on HBO Max.

• HBO Max Student Discount — $5.49 per month (save 50%)

HBO Max's monthly plans

HBO Max offers a few different subscription plans. If you don't mind having to sit through ads, HBO Max's Basic With Ads plan starts at $10.99 per month or the annual plan runs for $109.99 per year. If you can't stand ads and don't mind throwing down a bit more cash, the Standard plan will cost you $18.49 per month or $184.99 per year. If you really want to go big on an HBO Max plan, you can spring for the fancy Premium plan, which costs $22.99 per month or $229.99 per year.

Below we've broken down what comes with each of these plans, per HBO Max's website, so you can know a bit more before you buy.

Basic With Ads — $10.99 per month, $109.99 per year

• Stream on two devices at once

• Full HD 1080p resolution

Standard (Ad-free) — $18.49 per month, $184.99 per year

• Stream on two devices at once

• Full HD 1080p resolution

• 30 downloads to watch on the go

Premium (Ad-free) — $22.99 per month, $229.99 per year

• Stream on four devices at once

• 4K Ultra HD video quality (as available)

• Dolby Atmos immersive audio (as available)

• 100 downloads to watch on the go

If you're wondering where to start once you've set yourself up with a HBO Max subscription, we've got an excellent selection of recommendations to point you in the right direction. Looking for a great TV show to kickstart your next binge-watching session? Have a look through our roundup of the 20 best TV shows streaming on HBO Max. Or if you prefer movies, we narrowed down the 25 best movies on HBO Max to make your next movie night a spectacular one.

TL;DR: Watch One Piece for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Anime fans are often forced into one of two camps: Those who pay a lot of cash to subscribe to a number of streaming platforms and those who rely on dodgy streams from dark corners of the online world. It doesn't need to be this way. There are legitimate streaming platforms out there with enormous banks of anime content, just waiting for you to binge.

BBC iPlayer might not be the first name you think of when it comes to anime, but this popular service hosts literally thousands of episodes from the One Piece anime series. It's also a great place to access free Pokémon content. Who knew?

If you're interested in watching One Piece for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

How to watch One Piece for free

Over 1,000 episodes from the One Piece anime series are available to watch for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but you can access this free service from abroad with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock BBC iPlayer to watch One Piece from anywhere in the world.

Stream One Piece for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Stream One Piece for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for unblocking streaming sites are not free, but they do tend to offer free trials and money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch One Piece without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you time to binge everything on offer before recovering your investment.

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

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for accessing free streams on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use apps for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, as well as platforms like Linux, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, and routers

• Strict no-logging policy

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Watch One Piece for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

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

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

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

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

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

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

To hit.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

SPANK

Hurdle Word 2 hint

An Alaskan dog.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 17, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

HUSKY

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To tease.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 17 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 17, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

FLIRT

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Egg-shaped.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

OVATE

Final Hurdle hint

An old book.

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

CODEX

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There is still very little visibility of the Moon tonight, but we are now in a new lunar phase and it will slowly begin to reappear.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Sunday, May 17, the Moon phase is Waxing Crescent. Tonight, 1% of the moon will be be lit up, according to NASA's Daily Moon Guide.

The Moon is too dimly lit tonight to be able to spot any surface details.

When is the next Full Moon?

There are two Full Moons in May, with the next due to take place on May 31.

What are Moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon takes about 29.5 days to complete a full orbit around Earth, moving through eight distinct phases along the way. Although we always see the same side of the Moon, the changing angle of sunlight as it orbits creates the familiar full, half, and crescent shapes. In total, the lunar cycle is made up of eight main phases:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you love a hot drink.

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 May 17, 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: A funnel

• Green: To scam

• Blue: A good cuppa

• Purple: An academy

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Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Conduit

• Green: Swindle

• Blue: Tea-making verbs

• Purple: "School" modifiers

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 #1071 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Conduit: DUCT, LINE, MAIN, PIPE

• Swindle: FLEECE, HOSE, SQUEEZE, STIFF

• Tea-making verbs: BOIL, POUR, STEEP, STRAIN

• "School" modifiers: GRADE, GRAMMAR, HIGH, PRIMARY

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 17, 2026

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

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you always strike out.

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 May 17, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Strike one!

The words are related to a popular game.

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Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe a gaming venue.

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 Bowling Alley.

NYT Strands word list for May 17

• Scoreboard

• Pins

• Lanes

• Bowling Alley

• Arcade

• Balls

• Lounge

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

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

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

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you follow the rules.

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 May 17, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for May 17, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A rule.

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Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter B.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

BYLAW

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.

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

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

TL;DR: Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business is on sale for $129.97 (reg. $249.99) through May 31 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC Lifetime License $129.97
$249.99 Save $120.02   Get Deal

Subscription prices keep climbing, and productivity software is no exception. If you’re tired of monthly payments just to use Word or Excel, this Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business deal is a refreshing alternative.

For a limited time, Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC is on sale for $129.97 (reg. $249.99), and this promo runs through May 31 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

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This version includes the classic Microsoft apps most of us rely on every day: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote. Instead of subscribing to Microsoft 365, Office 2024 is a one-time purchase, perfect for those who’d rather own their software outright.

As we’ve discussed before with other Microsoft Office deals, the biggest draw is the combination of familiarity with newer AI-powered tools and performance upgrades. Word now includes Smart Compose suggestions to help speed up writing, while PowerPoint adds improved presentation recording tools with voice narration, video support, and live camera integration for remote meetings or presentations.

Excel also gets some of the biggest upgrades this time around. Microsoft says it now handles larger datasets and multiple spreadsheets more smoothly, plus it brings AI-powered insights to help you spot trends and build visualizations faster.

For business users, Outlook remains a huge perk, bundled with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote in the Home & Business edition. Built-in collaboration tools — such as real-time co-authoring, comments, version history, and Microsoft Teams integration — make working with others much easier and more tolerable.

Another practical feature is offline access. Unlike Microsoft 365’s cloud-first approach, Office 2024 works well for anyone who wants reliable software without being online all the time.

This deal is a smart option for freelancers, students, remote workers, small business owners, or anyone clinging to an older Office version and wanting an affordable, up-to-date setup without another recurring bill.

Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business is currently available for $129.97, 48% off, through May 31 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

We're still in the early stages of the AI revolution, but there's already plenty of evidence that it won't be purely a blessing. Generative AI has made writing exponentially faster, if not necessarily better, and the result has been a massive increase in submissions of novels, newspaper pieces, and even academic journals, with one publication even warning of a coming "swamp of slop." 

Now, however, the journals are fighting back. ArXiv, one of the largest open-access repositories of preprint academic research, is issuing a one-year ban on all authors who submit "obviously AI-generated work," according to 404media. Moreover, if the offending author wishes to return to the good graces of ArXiv, they will have to first submit to a "reputable peer-reviewed review venue," according to Thomas Dietterich, chair of the publication's computer science division.

SEE ALSO: The fierce battle over AI in schools

He recently took to X to not only clarify the new rules but also place the onus on authors to use LLMs responsibly: "If generative AI tools generate inappropriate language, plagiarized content, biased content, errors, mistakes, incorrect references, or misleading content, and that output is included in scientific works, it is the responsibility of the author(s). We have recently clarified our penalties for this. If a submission contains incontrovertible evidence that the authors did not check the results of LLM generation, this means we can't trust anything in the paper."  

Faulty, misleading references, plagiarism, and invented citations are not the only issues with AI; however, there are others. In November of 2025, ArXiv was forced to shut down its entire computer science review section due to the overwhelming volume of AI-generated submissions, most of which did not even introduce new research results, according to a press statement. 

A funny, counterintuitive consequence of AI-enabled hyperefficiency is the evaluation bottleneck. If, in any given month, there are 100 academic papers submitted for review, it's not too hard to find and publish the best work, but if there are a thousand submissions, even the best-funded journals can't keep up. 

Expect the backlash to grow even fiercer as the power of AI increases and the costs of using it decrease.