Blogroll

In 2020, fans of Tom Hooper's much-maligned Cats clamored for the "butthole cut" of the film, one where the cats' CGI buttholes were fully on display. Big names like Rian Johnson and Seth Rogen got in on the movement to #ReleaseTheButtholeCut. Members of Cats' VFX team even confirmed the cut's existence in anonymous interviews — although one source claimed that any resemblance to genitalia and buttholes was an accident due to suspicious folding in the simulated cat fur and skin.

After all that uproar, Cats' butthole cut remains unreleased. But for anyone who still yearns for it, a new project has come to fill the hole left by Cats' biggest missed opportunity. That project is Genndy Tartakovsky's Fixed, a 2D animated comedy full of more animal butts and balls than any Cats butthole cut truther could have ever dreamed of.

SEE ALSO: 'Fixed' red band trailer: Animated dog comedy is so NSFW, you have to see it to believe it Fixed is a gleefully NSFW animal adventure. There's a lot of humping in this movie. Credit: Netflix

You may know Tartakovsky for his work on Cartoon Network shows like Dexter's Laboratory, Samurai Jack, or Star Wars: Clone Wars; or for his Hotel Transylvania film series. While those projects resonate with younger and older audiences alike, with Fixed, the animation legend is specifically aiming for older audiences.

The film centers on a mutt named Bull (voiced by Adam DeVine), whose hobbies include hanging out at the dog park and humping the hell out of his human Nana's leg. When he learns that his owners plan to neuter him the very next day, Bull panics and decides to spend one last crazy night out on the town with his friends (and his balls).

Let's talk about those balls for a second, because Tartakovsky doesn't leave them to the imagination. Bull's testicles are always visible, and always bouncing around — a reminder of what he's going to lose in the morning. Also on display is every dog's (and the occasional cat's) butthole. And look, if you can't handle these 2D renderings of balls and butts, like the many outraged YouTube commenters under Fixed's trailer, then there's no way in the world you were ever ready for the Cats butthole cut! Don't ask for something you can't take, internet!

SEE ALSO: 'Haunted Hotel' trailer: Meet a crew of ghostly guests in Netflix's animated sitcom

In all seriousness, the animal genitals of Fixed definitely start out as shocking. Tartakovsky aims for this, cutting from a sweet vignette of Bull's adoption day to his horned-up destruction of his house. But soon, they're just anatomy, elements of every character's design along with their floppy dog ears and snouts.

That doesn't mean Fixed loses its shock factor. The film is wildly crass throughout, upping the ante with scatological humor reminiscent of Pink Flamingos, talking balls, and quite a bit of dog sex. Some of these gags are inspired, like the film's interpretation of what a dog sex club would look like. Others, like the aforementioned dog sex, move past crass to pure discomfort. Overall, though, the film remains steadfast in its portrayal of a simple truth: Dogs are gross. I love them, and I'm happy to cuddle them, but they're also pretty darn disgusting.

For a movie about a dog and his balls, Fixed is oddly sweet. Romance, but make it "Fixed." Credit: Netflix

As in-your-face as Fixed can be, the film is more than just its shock factor. The animation, for starters, is delightfully nostalgic, calling to mind Looney Tunes cartoons, or even beloved animated dog movies like One Hundred and One Dalmatians. Fixed even comes with its own Lady and the Tramp-style romance, one between Bull and his Afghan hound neighbor, Honey (voiced by Kathryn Hahn). Bull, intimidated by Honey's purebred nature, doesn't think he's worthy of her, even though she clearly has feelings for him. Much of Bull's quest in the film involves him trying to confess his feelings, making for a cute storyline that still comes with its fair share of raunch.

Hahn and DeVine are two key parts of Fixed's game voice cast, which also includes Idris Elba, Fred Armisen, and Bobby Moynihan as Bull's trusted crew of friends. (All are great, but Elba's tough-as-nails delivery of Fixed's crass dialogue is downright hysterical.) That crew of friends becomes the glue of the movie, as they're ride-or-die for Bull as he confronts his neutering. But as the film progresses, they also help him to realize that maybe his balls aren't the only thing that defines him. It's an earnest, sweet message in a purposefully crude package, and one that leaves room for more character development and self-discovery than Fixed's initial premise may have you think.

The core friendship dynamic has been part of Fixed since Tartakovsky first conceived of the film — then a broader animal road trip comedy named Buds — back in 2009. Since then, the movie has been in and out of development hell, with Warner Bros. and New Line dropping it in 2024, leaving Tartakovsky and Sony Pictures Animation to find a new distributor.

While Fixed was never canceled outright in the vein of other dropped Warner Bros. projects like Batgirl and Coyote vs. Acme, the fact that it was in jeopardy and still got released is deserving of a victory lap. It's an original, R-rated, 2D animated film, a kind of project that we don't see too frequently.

So even if the film's gross-out comedy isn't what I'd tend to gravitate toward, I'm more than happy that Fixed exists, and that its blend of brazen crassness and surprising sweetness finally gets its day in the sun.

Fixed is now streaming on Netflix.

SAVE $500: As of Aug. 13, the LG C5 OLED TV is on sale for $1,299.99 at Amazon. That's a 28% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG C5 OLED TV $1,299.99 at Amazon
$1,799.99 Save $500 Get Deal

Amazon has got some great TV deals live right now, but this latest discount on the LG C5 OLED TV stands out from the crowd. As of Aug. 13, it's now priced at $1,299.99. That's its lowest-ever price, so if you’ve been thinking about upgrading, this is the perfect excuse to do so.

And this really is a great TV, especially for the price. It has millions of self-lit pixels, so you get deep blacks, vibrant colors, and incredible detail, no matter what you're watching. Seriously, your late-night film watch just got so much better. It also has a Brightness Booster to keep things clear and sharp. And the glare-free design is perfect for daytime, sunny watching. No more squinting to see what's happening.

SEE ALSO: The Roku Streambar SE is the perfect 2-in-1 upgrade for your bedroom TV, and it's just $79

Meanwhile, the Alpha 9 AI Processor Gen8 quietly works in the background, making everything you watch smoother and sharper, whether it’s a movie, live sport, or your comfort show on repeat. And if you’re a gamer, the lightning-fast response time, high refresh rates, and multiple HDMI 2.1 ports make it easy to plug in and play without lag. And the Game Dashboard gives you easy access to controls and settings.

This TV is just as good for weekend gaming marathons as it is for movie nights. Get it from Amazon at this new low price now.

SAVE $76: As of Aug. 13, the SKYROVER X1 drone is on sale for $682.20 at Amazon. That's a 10% saving on the list price, and the lowest-ever price.

Opens in a new window Credit: SKYROVER SKYROVER X1 drone $682.20 at Amazon
$758 Save $75.80 Get Deal

With the threat of a Chinese-made drone ban hanging over the U.S., popular models are already selling out in anticipation. But all is not lost, because you can still secure discounts on some of the best alternatives.

As of Aug. 13, the SKYROVER X1 drone is available for its lowest-ever price on Amazon. Right now, you can purchase this popular drone for $682.20, a saving of over $70 on list price.

SEE ALSO: The next big robot vacuum drop on our radar is from DJI — yes, DJI as in drones

But why this model? Well, it can snap vibrant 8K photos and record smooth 4K/60fps HDR video, with features like 360° obstacle sensing to help avoid crashes and a 50,000ft transmission range for stable live feeds, even in busy city spots where signal often drops. Super Night Mode also makes sure your low-light shots are clear and detailed, while smart tracking and a built-in spotlight make filming moving subjects much easier.

Battery-wise, you'll get up to 32 minutes of flight time on a single battery.

Get it from Amazon before this record-low deal runs out.

SAVE $37: As of Aug. 13, the Kindle Paperwhite (refurbished) is on sale for $106.99 at Amazon. That's a saving of 26% on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kindle Kindle Paperwhite (Refurbished) $106.99 at Amazon
$143.99 Save $37.00 Get Deal

Book lovers, this is a deal for you. Amazon has a fantastic discount on a refurbished Kindle Paperwhite, saving you over $30 on list price.

As of Aug. 13, this device is priced at $160.99. This deal is on the 16GB model, and is available in all colorways: black, jade, and raspberry. And don't be put off by the refurbished stamp. According to Amazon, this Kindle is "refurbished, tested, and certified to look and work like new and comes with the same limited warranty as a new device." That's good enough for us.

SEE ALSO: Stuff Your Kindle Day is live until Aug. 16 — download 100s of free historical fiction and contemporary books

If you're toying with the idea of a few Kindles, we think this one will sway you. This is Amazon's fastest Kindle yet, and has a sharper contrast and 25% faster page turns. It has an ultra-thin, glare-free design to make it perfect for reading anywhere, whether you're traveling, lounging around at home, or sitting out in the sun.

A single USB-C charge can last up to 12 weeks, and the adjustable display lets you switch from white to amber for comfortable reading in any light. Plus, it's waterproof, so you can take it to the pool, bath, or beach without worry. Access over 15 million titles in the Kindle Store instantly, and if you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited, you can dive into an endless catalog of bestsellers and more.

Get this deal from Amazon now.

Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for August 13, 2025 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: Out of the park

• Green: Same second word

• Blue: Famous professional athletes

• Purple: Famous soon-to-be professional athletes

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Slang for home run

• Green: "-up" exercises

• Blue: Tennis players to achieve career Grand Slam

• Purple: Lottery picks in 2025 NBA Draft

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 #324 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Slang for home run - BIG FLY, DINGER, JACK, TATER

• "-up" exercises - CHIN, PULL, PUSH, SIT

• Tennis players to achieve career Grand Slam - GRAF, KING, LAVER, NADAL

• Lottery picks in 2025 NBA Draft - EDGECOMBE, FEARS, FLAGG, QUEEN

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.

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 the latest Connections.

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

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

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

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Wednesday, August 13, 2025:

AcrossSailboat's post

• The answer is Mast.

"My ___ car is a ..." (bumper sticker phrase)

• The answer is Other.

Official state mammal of Alaska and Maine

• The answer is Moose.

T-shirt size

• The answer is Small.

Defeat, as a dragon

• The answer is Slay.

DownStory time readers, perhaps

• The answer is Moms.

There are roughly ten million billion (10^16) of these in a grain of salt

• The answer is Atoms.

Sandbank

• The answer is Shoal.

Automaker named after an inventor

• The answer is Tesla.

Count (on)

• The answer is Rely.

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

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

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

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

TL;DR: Online safety for the whole family is easy with this lifetime AdGuard Family Plan, now just £11.82 with code FAMPLAN.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdGuard AdGuard Family Plan: Lifetime Subscription £11.82
£125.80 Save £113.98 with code FAMPLAN Get Deal

The internet isn’t just cluttered with ads; there are also trackers and other hidden threats. AdGuard keeps you safe online by blocking intrusive ads, stopping trackers, and safeguarding your privacy across all your devices.

Right now, you can grab lifetime protection for the whole crew with the AdGuard Family Plan. Cover up to nine devices for only £11.82 with code FAMPLAN.

Enjoy a safer and smoother browsing experience

The internet should be fun, not frustrating. AdGuard tackles the most annoying parts of online life, like pop-ups, autoplay videos, and banner ads, so that you can enjoy your time browsing, streaming, and scrolling again.

Aside from blocking ads, AdGuard also protects your privacy. Your information will stay safe from trackers and activity analysers, and you'll be shielded from malware and phishing websites that you or your family members could fall victim to. 

Moms and dads will love AdGuard's parental control feature, which keeps your kids safe from inappropriate content online.

This Family Plan lets you protect up to nine devices with AdGuard, so you can make sure everyone's devices stay safe. And it works with Android and iOS operating systems alike, so it can be used on tablets, smartphones, and laptops. 

Secure your own AdGuard Family Plan for life for just £11.82 with code FAMPLAN. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Want high-performing teams that collaborate, communicate, and stay engaged? Treat kindness as a core management responsibility—not a personal trait or optional extra. Here’s how to operationalize kindness on your team. Set clear expectations. Make kindness measurable by turning it into clear, behavioral standards. Define what respectful, inclusive, and supportive interactions look like. Use onboarding, performance […]

257257

With each day we move through the lunar cycle, the moon becomes less and less visible.

The lunar cycle is a series of eight unique phases of the moon's visibility. The whole cycle takes about 29.5 days, according to NASA, and these different phases happen as the Sun lights up different parts of the moon whilst it orbits Earth. 

So, what's happening with the moon tonight, Aug. 13?

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Wednesday, Aug. 13, the moon phase is Waning Gibbous, and it is 79% lit up to us on Earth, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.

Tonight is the second night of the Perseids Meteor Shower peak. The moonlight may dim some of the meteors, but some should still cut through the light as the celestial event flashes through our skies.

Alongside this, with no visual aids on the moon, you can spot the Tycho Crater, Mare Serenitatis, and the Oceanus Procellarum, an "Ocean of Storms" that covers more than 10% of the moon's surface.

With binoculars, you can add the Clavius Crater, Alphonsus Crater, and the Mare Frigoris to your list. And add a telescope to see the Apollo 11, the Rima Ariadaeus, and the Linne Crater.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Sept. 7. The last full moon was on Aug. 9.

What are moon phases?

According to NASA, moon phases are caused by the 29.5-day cycle of the moon’s orbit, which changes the angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Moon phases are how the moon looks from Earth as it goes around us. We always see the same side of the moon, but how much of it is lit up by the Sun changes depending on where it is in its orbit. This is how we get full moons, half moons, and moons that appear completely invisible. There are eight main moon phases, and they follow a repeating cycle:

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.

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

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

TL;DR: Live stream PSG vs. Tottenham in the UEFA Super Cup for free on RTÉ Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Domestic leagues around Europe are set to kick off next week, but first there's the UEFA Super Cup. The Champions League winners face off against the Europa League champions in a showpiece event in Udine, Italy. We're expecting a really entertaining game between two strong sides.

If you want to watch PSG vs. Tottenham in the UEFA Super Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is PSG vs. Tottenham?

PSG vs. Tottenham in the UEFA Super Cup kicks off at 8 p.m. BST on Aug. 13. This fixture takes place at the Stadio Friuli.

How to watch PSG vs. Tottenham for free

PSG vs. Tottenham in the UEFA Super Cup is available to live stream for free on RTÉ Player.

RTÉ Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock RTÉ Player to stream the UEFA Super Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream PSG vs. Tottenham for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

4. Visit RTÉ Player

5. Watch PSG vs. Tottenham 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 streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the UEFA Super Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream PSG vs. Tottenham in the UEFA Super Cup before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for RTÉ Player?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% 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 $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream PSG vs. Tottenham in the UEFA Super Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

Now, think of the happiest things, it's the same as having wings, but it won't save you from a Xenomorph in Alien: Earth.

Noah Hawley's Alien TV series holds J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan close to its heart, as the primary thematic impetus behind trillionaire Boy Kavalier's (Samuel Blenkin's) revolutionary hybrid project. And because I'm like this, I've rounded up all the references to Peter Pan you'll encounter in the first two episodes of Alien: Earth.

SEE ALSO: 'Alien: Earth' review: Xenomorphs get upstaged in this sci-fi treat Prodigy's Neverland research facility Children never grow up in Neverland. Credit: Patrick Brown / FX

Boy Kavalier's secret island research lab is dubbed Neverland, after the fantastical world of Peter Pan. The world where children never grow up, Neverland is an apt name for the Prodigy facility where hybrids are made — the consciousness of terminally ill children implanted into synthetic bodies. They quite literally will never grow up.

The Lost Boys Gang's all here. Credit: FX

Not able to keep their own human names due to being part of a classified project, the hybrids are renamed for the characters from Peter Pan. Marcy (Sydney Chandler) takes on the moniker of Wendy, named for the matriarch of the group. As for the rest, they all take on the names of the Lost Boys, Peter Pan's gang of kid runaways: Tootles (Kit Young), Slightly (Adarsh Gourav), Curly (Erana James), and Nibs (Lily Newmark). The only one of the Lost Boys to have the name of a pirate from the story is Smee (Jonathan Ajayi), the villainous Captain Hook's boatswain. Leading them all is Boy Kavalier, who fancies himself quite the Peter Pan.

Disney's Peter Pan Think of the happiest things... Credit: Disney / RKO / Shutterstock

In the lab where hybrids are made, Boy Kavalier plays Disney's 1953 film Peter Pan during the procedure that transfers their consciousness from their human bodies to their synthetic bodies. You can see in episode 1, they're playing the scene in which Peter Pan teaches Wendy, John, and Michael to fly, whisking them all off to Neverland.

Boy Kavalier's nightly bedtime stories "...tidying up her children's minds..." Credit: FX

Each night, Boy Kavalier reads a bedtime story over the Neverland speakers to the Lost Boys, though through Blenkin's performance, the tale takes on a more sinister tone in the world of Alien: Earth.

In episode 1, he reads passages from Barrie's 1911 novel, Peter and Wendy (otherwise known as Peter Pan), all of which fittingly — and forebodingly — speak to the "tidying" of children's minds and the nature of Neverland, the namesake of the research facility:

From Chapter 1:

Mrs. Darling first heard of Peter when she was tidying up her children's minds. It is the nightly custom of every good mother after her children are asleep to rummage in their minds and put things straight.

When you wake in the morning, the naughtiness and evil passions with which you went to bed have been folded up small and placed at the bottom of your mind and on the top, beautifully aired, are spread out your prettier thoughts, ready for you to put on.

From Chapter 4:

In the old days at home the Neverland had always begun to look a little dark and threatening by bedtime. Then unexplored patches arose in it and spread, black shadows moved about in them, the roar of the beasts of prey was quite different now, and above all, you lost the certainty that you would win.

There'll be plenty more where that came from, we're sure, so we'll be updating this post as Alien: Earth episodes drop.

Alien: Earth premieres Aug. 12 at 8 p.m. ET on Hulu and FX with two episodes, then weekly on Tuesdays.

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.

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

Related to the sun.

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

SOLAR

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A sheet of paper.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

FOLIO

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To rub.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 4 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

CHAFE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A customer.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for August 4 Hurdle Word 4 answer

PAYER

Final Hurdle hint

Value.

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

WORTH

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

When I caught a glimpse of an orange cat in Alien: Earth's first episode, I thought, "What a precious Easter egg!"

The cat appears during the show's extended opening sequence onboard the Weyland-Yutani deep space research vessel Maginot. The whole sequence pays tribute to Alien, capturing the crew dynamics and atmosphere of Ridley Scott's film. Alien: Earth's cat is just another part of that sequence, echoing the role Jonesy the cat played on the Nostromo in the original film.

SEE ALSO: 'Alien: Earth' review: Xenomorphs get upstaged in this sci-fi treat

Anyone who's seen Alien knows that Jonesy is the film's fuzzy MVP. One of the film's two survivors, alongs with eternal badass Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), he's the only Alien character who could hiss at a Xenomorph and somehow get away unscathed.

Because Jonesy is such an Alien icon, seeing his doppelgänger pop up in Alien: Earth feels like a sweet piece of fan service. I saw it as series creator Noah Hawley gesturing out to one of the most beloved elements of the franchise, and I believed that, just like Jonesy, no harm would befall the Maginot's cat.

How wrong I was.

In Alien: Earth's first episode, the Maginot crash lands on Earth, which certainly does not bode well for anyone onboard — including sweet cats! However, perishing in a crash landing would be infinitely better than what actually happens to the Maginot's cat.

SEE ALSO: The coolest tech of the 'Alien' universe, from medpods to X-ray torches

Viewers discover the cat's fate in episode 2, when Prodigy Corporation's team of hybrids explores the Maginot wreckage. There, they discover the Maginot's lab, where a familiar feline lurches into view. His meows are gurgled, his fur is caked in blood, and his back paws drag awkwardly behind his body.

The image is horrifying in itself, but any cat owner who's ever shepherded their pet through a medical emergency will feel an extra layer of dread. Aspects of the cat's movement and vocalizations reminded me of my own experience caring for my ill cat. Trust me when I say, from one former cat owner to the many cat owners out there who watch this show, that it's more than okay to take a break here.

Especially since the scene only gets worse.

SEE ALSO: 'Alien: Earth': Did you catch series creator Noah Hawley's sneaky cameo?

The Maginot's cat turns his head and reveals that one of his eyes is unnaturally large. That's because it's not actually its original eye — it's the creature known as T. Ocellus, a parasitic eyeball-octopus hybrid that replaces its hosts' eyes and takes over their brains.

T. Ocellus, recognizing the hybrids as being more advanced hosts, exits the cat's skull in a flood of tentacles and gore, leaving the poor animal well and truly dead. Justice for the Maginot cat!

The sequence doesn't even last a minute, yet it's among Alien: Earth's most disturbing. Obviously, as a cat lover, I'm inclined to be extra scared. But the frights here go beyond the blood and brain matter.

So much of the horror around the Xenomorph is tied to the primal fear of losing bodily autonomy. In the Xenomorph's case, hosts become unwilling parents, "birthing" the chestbursters into the world. T. Ocellus, on the other hand, moves away from reproductive anxieties and instead introduces the fear of having your very movement (really, all your brain functions) being co-opted by some outside force. It's a nightmare, pure and simple, and rendered extra effectively thanks to the death of the Maginot's cat in particular.

Anyone who's watched Alien knows the fear of thinking Jonesy will die, and the overwhelming relief when he survives. Hawley plays with these expectations coming into Alien: Earth, luring us into a false sense of security about the Maginot's cat.

"Surely this is just an Easter egg and won't come to anything," you might think, as I did. "Surely the cat will follow in Jonesy's footsteps and be fine!"

Not in Hawley's house of horrors! He makes an upsetting example of the poor cat, demonstrating both the terror of T. Ocellus and a chilling truth about Alien: Earth. Going forward, no one is safe.

Alien: Earth is now streaming on Hulu, with new episodes premiering Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Hulu and FX.

Alien: Earth boasts a stacked cast, from Timothy Olyphant as synthetic Kirsh to Sydney Chandler as human-AI hybrid Wendy. But the show welcomes another surprising performer to the fold: series creator Noah Hawley.

Hawley, who's also created series like Fargo and Legion, makes his acting debut in Alien: Earth's first episode, titled "Neverland." He plays Wendy and Joe's (Alex Lawther) father in brief flashbacks.

SEE ALSO: 'Alien: Earth' review: Xenomorphs get upstaged in this sci-fi treat

However, Hawley isn't the only member of his family to star in Alien: Earth. His 12-year-old son, Lev Hawley, plays young Joe in the flashbacks. Like his father, Alien: Earth marks Lev Hawley's acting debut — and his presence in the show is the reason Noah Hawley ended up in front of the camera.

In May, Hawley told Deadline that his son had asked whether there was a role he could play in the show.

"I thought, 'Okay, well, he could play Alex [Lawther] at a young age, but then what am I going to do?' Cast some day players to come in, when [Lev] has never acted before? I figured it would be easier if I did it," Hawley said to Deadline. "I get down on the floor with him and improvise, and I can make him relax. It felt like the best way to direct him."

He continued: "There's something nice and metaphorical about being my lead actor's parent."

However, the Hawley family appearance in Alien: Earth may just turn out to be a one-time thing. Hawley warned Deadline, "Don't look out for a lot of me in the show."

Alien: Earth is now streaming on Hulu, with new episodes premiering Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Hulu and FX.

The White Lotus Season 3 isn't the only major show of 2025 to film in Thailand. Noah Hawley's Alien prequel Alien: Earth shot there as well, with the series taking place in a futuristic version of the country, now called New Siam.

That's not the only overlap the two series share, though! They also share a star, as a White Lotus Season 3 actor pops up in Alien: Earth.

SEE ALSO: 'Alien: Earth' review: Xenomorphs get upstaged in this sci-fi treat

In Alien: Earth's very first episode, Tayme Thapthimthong, who played Gaitok the security guard on the third season of The White Lotus, makes a brief but memorable appearance. He plays Anant, a member of the search and rescue team that's sent to help survivors of the USCSS Maginot's crash in Prodigy City.

Tragically for Anant, this is an Alien project, and that means that most of the people who step foot in that crashed spaceship won't be stepping back out. They'll be fodder for the Xenomorph that's now running rampant in the wreckage — or for the four new alien species that were also part of the Maginot's cargo.

That's the fate that befalls Anant, who's one of the first victims of a gnarly new tick-like alien. It burrows into his flesh and sucks him dry, becoming a distended blood balloon in the process. What a spectacular entrance to the franchise for this new beastie!

While Thapthimthong won't be returning to Alien: Earth — losing all your blood will do that to you! — he does get to join the ranks of other actors who have died spectacular deaths at the hands of the franchise's horrifying extraterrestrials. Those ranks include Alien's John Hurt, the original chestburster victim, and Alien: Romulus' Isabela Merced, who birthed and then fell prey to a nightmarish Xenomorph/human hybrid.

Now that Alien: Earth has unknowingly opened the floodgates to a White Lotus crossover, who's another character from the show you'd want to pit against Alien: Earth's alien foes? The obvious answer, in my mind, is Parker Posey's Victoria Ratliff. Can I imagine Victoria embracing her inner Ripley (Sigourney Weaver)? Not really, but I'd still love to hear her Southern drawl take on Ripley's most quotable line, "Get away from her, you bitch."

New episodes of Alien: Earth premiere Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Hulu and FX.

If you saw the animated movie franchise Ice Age becoming an integral part of the Alien universe, then you've got some serious soothsaying skills.

As it turns out, the family-friendly films created by screenwriter Michael J. Wilson play a pivotal role in Noah Hawley's FX series Alien: Earth, serving as a crucial connection between two main characters. Here's how it plays out.

Where does Ice Age come up in Alien: Earth? Joe (Alex Lawther) watches "Ice Age" for sad reasons. Credit: FX

First things first, it's not just any old Ice Age — it's Ice Age: Continental Drift.

The fourth movie in the franchise appears in Alien: Earth's first episode, when Prodigy military medic Joe (Alex Lawther) gets home to his apartment in New Siam, Prodigy City. He sits down to watch the film, and it's obvious he's seen it many times before, as he quotes it aloud. (Notably, this movie came out in 2012; given Alien: Earth is set in 2120, it's an 108-year-old weeknight screening Joe's going for here.)

But he's not the only one watching. Joe's sister Marcy (Sydney Chandler), is watching Joe watch Continental Drift through security cameras back on Neverland, Prodigy's secret research facility. The thing is, Joe thinks Marcy is dead — she's not, her consciousness has been transferred into a hybrid called Wendy by Prodigy. But despite her new synthetic body, Marcy remembers watching this film with her brother (there's a flashback), and also quotes the scene aloud.

It's specifically a scene in which mammoth Manny, smilodon Diego, and ground sloth Sid encounter giant ape pirate Captain Gutt. "Surrender your ship or face my fury," says the captain. "Or face your furry what?" replies Sid.

Why is Ice Age: Continental Drift important in Alien: Earth?

Turns out quoting movies is the most human thing you can do in the reality that is Alien: Earth.

Ice Age: Continental Drift comes up again when Joe tries to resign from his post as medic to go to medical school on Mars, while Marcy watches on the cameras. He's rejected by the robot attendant, who says he has seven months left on his Prodigy contract. "Have a heart," Joe says. "Or face my fury."

At this moment, Marcy places her hand on the screen, somehow rewrites the code, and makes the robot attendant say, "Or face your furry what?" In the moment, Joe is stunned not only to hear this corporate robot quoting Continental Drift, but the specific response in Joe and Marcy's favourite scene.

It's a sign, an in-joke sent from Marcy to Joe, that she might not be gone for good. And luckily, they won't have to wait long to watch the whole movie together again.

Considering both the Alien and Ice Age franchises are produced by 20th Century Studios (formerly known as 20th Century Fox), it's also extremely convenient IP to drop into the narrative — much like those Disney movies on Boy Kavalier's roof. And honestly, if you haven't seen all the Ice Age films, then doom on you, doom on you, doom on you…

Alien: Earth premieres Aug. 12 at 8 p.m. ET on Hulu and FX with two episodes, with new episodes dropping weekly on Tuesdays.

Alien: Earth takes place before the first Alien movie chronologically, at a time when the globe — and some of space — is ruled by five different corporations.

Some of these are names we've heard before in the Alien universe, while others are brand new. Some appear to be more relevant to the story Alien: Earth is telling than others. To help you keep track, we've broken down the five corporations, and everything we know about them so far.

SEE ALSO: 'Alien: Earth' review: Xenomorphs get upstaged in this sci-fi treat What are the five corporations in Alien: Earth?

Although only three of the corporations have been mentioned so far in the show, the names of all five have been revealed in the official Alien: Earth press release. These are:

• Weyland-Yutani

• Lynch

• Dynamic

• Threshold

• Prodigy

We get a brief glimpse of the people who presumably run these five corporations near the start of episode 1, during an impromptu politics lesson given by Maginot engineer Shmuel (Michael Smiley) to his apprentice Malachite (Jamie Bisping).

What do we know about the corporations?

We know quite a bit about a couple, and basically nothing about some others. The two corporations that have been key to the Alien: Earth story so far are Weyland-Yutani, which owns the USCSS Maginot deep space research vessel that crashes on Earth carrying the alien specimens, and Prodigy, a newer corporation that owns Prodigy City in New Siam, where the ship lands, and the "Neverland" research island where the hybrids are based.

Featured Video For You 'Alien' was my gateway to horror. Now I'm obsessed with the franchise.

Prodigy is owned by Boy Kavalier (Samuel Blevin), the "youngest trillionaire ever" who we learn founded the company around a decade ago — Alien: Earth is set in 2120. Prodigy is known for synths and AI, but as we discover in episode 1, they're in the process of pioneering something new: hybrids, which are essentially synths with a downloaded human consciousness.

In terms of the other corporations, we know basically nothing about Lynch and Threshold — these haven't been mentioned in Alien: Earth yet — and the only thing we know about Dynamic is that they control the moon, thanks to a passing comment by Zaveri (Richa Moorjani) in the Maginot canteen. As Shmuel explains further in the scene, Weyland-Yutani has control of both North and South America and Mars and Saturn.

As we already know from the Alien franchise as a whole, Weyland-Yutani has an obsession with Xenomorphs, and acquiring alien species for its own shady purposes (often at the expense of the humans involved with said acquiring). Given the lengths the corporation has already gone to to gather the specimens onboard the Maginot, what lengths might they go to to try and get them back?

Alien: Earth premieres Aug. 12 at 8 p.m. ET on Hulu and FX with two episodes, then weekly on Tuesdays.

Alien: Earth is packed so full of near-sociopathic characters that it's sometimes easy to lose track of whether you're dealing with an AI, a human, or some combination of the two.

The good news is, although there are various artificially intelligent beings in Noah Hawley's Alien universe prequel, the show starts by providing us with a handy guide to remember them all. We've transcribed that opening lore below, along with some more information (and examples) of the different types of being in Alien: Earth, from cyborgs to synths and hybrids.

SEE ALSO: 'Alien: Earth' review: Xenomorphs get upstaged in this sci-fi treat What does the Alien: Earth intro tell us about cyborgs, synths and hybrids?

At the start of episode 1, text appears briefly explaining the difference between three beings: cyborgs, synths, and hybrids. We've transcribed it in full below:

"In the future the race for immortality will come in three guises:

Cybernetically enhanced humans: Cyborgs
Artificially intelligent beings: Synths
Synthetic beings downloaded with human consciousness: Hybrids

Which technology prevails will determine what corporation rules the universe."

Let's break those three down in some more detail.

What are cyborgs? Credit: Patrick Brown / FX

Cyborgs have a rich history in sci-fi, and Alien: Earth is no exception. A cyborg is essentially a human being with some kind of robotic enhancement. We meet our first one fairly early on in the form of Morrow (Babou Ceesay), the head of security onboard Weyland-Yutani's USCSS Maginot, the doomed ship carrying multiple alien species that crash lands into Earth.

Morrow may have a fairly robotic demeanour, but he has the brain of a human. His arm, on the other hand, is pretty much a Swiss Army Knife, complete with a blade and various handy power tool attachments.

What are synths? Credit: Patrick Brown / FX

Remember Ash (Ian Holm) from the original Alien movie? He was a synthetic, which is basically an entirely man-made being with an AI brain. Our main Alien: Earth synth is Kirsh (Timothy Olyphant), a Prodigy employee who works alongside Boy Kavalier (Samuel Blenkin) and his new batch of hybrids (more on those below).

What are hybrids? Credit: FX

Synthetics crossed with humans, hybrids are Prodigy's brand new experiment and the core focus of Alien: Earth. Wendy (Sydney Chandler) is the first of a group of terminally ill children who have their consciousness' transferred into the bodies of synthetics. This means Wendy is capable of super-human speed and strength, but still has the memories and emotions of the little girl she was before her procedure.

Alien: Earth premieres Aug. 12 at 8 p.m. ET on Hulu and FX with two episodes, then weekly on Tuesdays.

James Cameron has never hesitated to give good quotes on anything, so naturally, he has thoughts on generative AI.

The 70-year-old director is the all-time box office GOAT, with an impressive string of hits such as Titanic and the Avatar series. He recently took to a couple of different venues to discuss generative AI, which is impacting movie-making in the same way it's impacting virtually everything else.

In a conversation with Screen Daily, an international film industry publication, Cameron said that artists will need to "master" generative AI so they can harness its potential on their own terms.

“I can’t think of anything coming up that is bigger and more important to us right now than confronting this generative AI issue,” Cameron told Screen Daily. “It is critical that we master it and control it so that it remains an artistic tool and it doesn’t replace artists."

Cameron is known to be as verbose as he is opinionated, and he has consistently been on the cutting edge of visual effects technology. In general, generative AI has been extremely controversial in Hollywood, with even the smallest whiff of generative AI leading to fierce backlash. However, in recent conversations, Cameron staked out a more measured point of view.

"There are some very dangerous things ahead of us right now, but I’ve never been afraid of new technology,” the director said to Screen Daily. “I want to learn it, I want to master it for myself, then use my own best judgment about how I apply it to my personal art.”

SEE ALSO: ChatGPT fans are shredding GPT-5 on Reddit as Sam Altman responds in AMA (updated)

Cameron went on to tell Screen Daily that we're in a sort of "wild west" with AI right now. “We as the artists in movies, in television, have to set the rules for it. Right now, there are no rules. It’s the Wild West.”

And in an appearance on the Boz to the Future podcast, Cameron said that generative AI could be critical for filmmakers trying to drastically lower the costs of making big, effects-heavy films, citing Dune as an example. However, he stressed that doesn't mean taking away work from humans.

"Now that’s not about laying off half the staff and at the effects company," the director said, according to Variety. "That’s about doubling their speed to completion on a given shot, so your cadence is faster and your throughput cycle is faster, and artists get to move on and do other cool things and then other cool things, right? That’s my sort of vision for that."

If you haven't kept up with Cameron throughout his filmmaking career, this is entirely in keeping with his approach for the past few decades. He has consistently advocated for new technologies like CGI (pioneered in Terminator 2) and performance capture and 3D filmmaking, like the kind seen in Avatar. Where this gets tricky is that CGI and performance capture still require a human touch to work properly, while some generative AI advocates believe the technology can be used to write screenplays or make movies without human input at all.

Currently, the use of AI in Hollywood has become a battleground for unions like SAG-AFTRA negotiating with big studios.

U.S. antitrust regulators have been on a roll, and Google may soon be forced to sell its popular Chrome browser, which is by far the leading web browser among Americans.

Now, Google has reportedly received a massive 'longshot' offer from a surprising source: Perplexity AI.

The Wall Street Journal broke the news today that Perplexity AI has reportedly offered Google $34.5 billion to buy Chrome, which is surprising for a few reasons. Most notably, Perplexity itself is only valued at $18 billion, the Journal reports. Second, while the exact valuation of Chrome is not known, some estimates place the web browser's value at either $20 or $50 billion, depending on who's asking.

Perplexity is best known as an AI-powered search engine, but the company recently launched Comet, an agentic AI browser.

SEE ALSO: I’m testing Perplexity’s new AI browser Comet. Here are 3 features I tried right away.

So, how would Perplexity AI fund this offer? According to the Wall Street Journal, Perplexity has the backing of several venture-capital funds and other investors, who would back their offer.

OpenAI has also reportedly expressed interest in buying Google Chrome, though it's unclear if Google would be willing to sell such a popular asset to its chief AI rival.

All of this is unfolding as tech companies brace for the ripple effects of the Department of Justice’s landmark antitrust case against Google. Indeed, Google is unlikely to sell Chrome unless forced to do so.

The antitrust case over Google's monopoly of the search marketplace determined that Google “illegally [monopolized] the search engine and search advertising markets.” Google has already lost that case, and now U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta is weighing potential remedies, one of the most dramatic being a forced sale of Chrome.

At the same time, major tech companies are looking to a post-Google Search web economy and trying to get a head start in the race for AI browser dominance

Many analysts think a sale of Google Chrome is ultimately unlikely, but that hasn’t stopped rivals like Perplexity from moving fast to put their name in the hat. On top of the Chrome question, Judge Mehta could also restrict Google’s ability to pay for default search engine placement on browsers and devices — a move that reportedly had Apple eyeing Perplexity as a potential acquisition target in the first place.

Chrome boasts roughly 3.5 billion users worldwide and commands more than 60 percent of the global browser market — a dominance that makes any talk of a forced sale one of the most consequential antitrust remedies in tech history.