Technology

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.

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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.

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: Against the rules

• Green: Blue 42

• Blue: Against the rules on the court

• Purple: Artsy

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: Banned by baseball

• Green: Pre-snap football motions

• Blue: Types of fouls in basketball

• Purple: Art but make it sports

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 #167 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Banned by baseball - BETTING, CORKED BAT, SPITBALL, STEROIDS

• Pre-snap football motions - AUDIBLE, HARD COUNT, MOTION, SHIFT

• Types of fouls in basketball - FLAGRANT, LOOSE BALL, OFFENSIVE, TECHNICAL

• Art but make it sports - DRAW PLAY, GALLERY, PITCH FRAMING, THE PAINT

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 today's Connections.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for March 9 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: Tools used to interact with a computer

• Green: Substances used in construction

• Blue: Acts of kindness or assistance

• Purple: Hit songs from the early 1980s

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

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

• Yellow: Computer Input Devices

• Green: Building Materials

• Blue: Helpful Deed

• Purple: #1 Songs From 1982

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 #637 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Computer Input Devices: MICROPHONE, MOUSE, SCANNER, TABLET

• Building Materials: BRICK, CONCRETE, METAL, STONE

• Helpful Deed: FAVOR, KINDNESS, SERVICE, SOLID

• #1 Songs From 1982: ABRACADABRA, CENTERFOLD, MICKEY, PHYSICAL

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 March 9

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.

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

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 today: Hints and answers for March 9 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's The Mini crossword answers for March 9, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A selfish desire for more than you need.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There is one letter that appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter G.

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...

GREED.

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for March 9

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.

The Github Copilot AI service is a great tool for developers that can assist with code generation, code completion, refactoring, debugging, generating test cases, and much more. However, as a public cloud AI service, many developers cannot access Copilot due to their company policies or budget constraints. Thanks to modern hardware, it is now possible to run AI models locally on your machine using...

Having the best productivity tools is key to completing your workload efficiently. For simple daily tasks, you don't need a task management app. That's why I use Sticky Notes to get everything done.

The term "cult classic" has come to mean nothing in the modern age, when just about anything can be found online. Yet O'Dessa, a rock musical about destiny, defiance, and dictatorship, feels like it could have become a true cult classic — not just a movie that finds a fandom, but the kind of oddball cinema that would be so clung to by a group of movie misfits that it would be passed around on VHS like a treasured relic. And I can't think of anything more you might want from a rock musical but for it to sing out for the freaks and weirdos. 

Written and directed by Geremy Jasper (Patti Cake$), O'Dessa begins on a barren farm, far from anything, where the title hero sings of the fate her father promised her. She is the Seventh Son, whose song on her heirloom six-string guitar is foretold to save the world from a ruthless tyrant, who wallows in wealth and attention while his people starve.

Bringing in shades of such queer gems as The Rocky Horror Picture Show and The Legend of Billie Jean, O'Dessa forges a genderfuck musical that's riveting, romantic, repulsive, and rocking in turns. 

Sadie Sink shines as the rambler heroine of O'Dessa. 

Described by her "dirt-farmer" mother as a "19 year old with stars in her eyes," O'Dessa's story begins in cliche. Played by Sink, this farm girl dreams of the big city and the culture and chaos it promises. Satylite City promises a chance to get on television and fulfill her fortune as a "rambler," like her dearly departed father. With her heirloom guitar and folk-country songs, she hopes to open hearts and change minds. But between her and greatness, she'll come across deceitful "train rats," uncaring pawn shop dealers, sneering brutes, and a sultry lounge singer in a fringed mask that's very Orville Peck. The last of these veers her path into one of romance, rescue, and revenge.

Flipping the gender expectations of such a story on its head, not only is the "Seventh Son" promised to be the hero of enlightenment a girl, without question, but also the beautiful and tragic singer, whose body and song are on sale for survival, is played by a man. Kelvin Harrison Jr. (Mufasa: The Lion King, Cyrano) co-stars opposite Sink as Euri Dervish, whose dashing facade hides a tender heart eager for true love.

As teased in the trailer, the two fall for each other fast, finding love in a hopeless place, full of shadows and neon lighting. Even as they plan their nuptials, gender expectations are challenged, as she wears a rockabilly tuxedo and he favors a gown with a matching red veil. Stranger Things' Sink is enchanting as the androgynous busker, while Harris is beguiling as her wounded but warm-hearted lover. But the freedom to love as you like is challenged in Satylite City, which is ruled by an iron fist, or more specifically an electrified one. 

Regina Hall creates an epic villainess in O'Dessa. 

Reigning high over all the residents of Satylite City is the ever-beaming dictator Plutonovich (The Last of Us' Murray Bartlett). With outrageous (but empty) promises and a constant TV broadcast of himself, he mesmerizes the masses into complacency, even as the world falls to ruin around them. If anyone dares speak out against his narcissistic tyranny, they'll get knocked down by his enforcer, Neon Dion (Regina Hall), who brandishes brass knuckles that carry the electrical charge of a Taser in their punch.

Hall has long been a chameleon who can gracefully leap from outrageous comedies like Girls Trip to heartfelt dramedies like Support The Girls to the chilling suspense of The Master. In O'Dessa, the rightfully acclaimed actress seems to be channeling Grace Jones in a rockin' '80s New Wave/punk style with an exciting don't-fuck-with-me attitude. Wearing sharp-shouldered leather and bangs so blunt they could smash through concrete, Hall's stare is leveling as she takes in Neon Dion's prey. Her physicality is purposeful, and intimidating. Even a limp informed by her character’s tragic backstory only makes her seem harder. Her villainy should make us hate her, but she's so fashionable and thrilling that we could never hate her.

She is a vision of things both terrible and enticing, bringing with her swagger and fury a wealth of world-building beyond the expensive and vivid production design. And in this, Hall plays a clever foil to Plutonovich, with his large lying smile and the jubilant energy of a supercharged reality TV show host. Together, these two performances create a villainy landscape that is intoxicating enough for viewers to understand why so many in Satylite City have fallen into its allure, but toxic enough to crave its undoing. 

O'Dessa's soundtrack is largely spectacular.

Many characters will sing across this tale, but Sink is the frontman. Her O'Dessa experiences the edgy glow-up of a country girl gone rock 'n' roll. Her songs shift accordingly moving away from folksy country melodies to more provocative guitar playing and subject matter. Harrison oozes with sex appeal and steamy songs catered to nightclub audiences. And with each of these, the world of O'Dessa grows richer more riveting. However, when it comes to the heroine's big moment and the song that will change the world. I was admittedly let down. 

In Rocky Horror, the climactic "I'm Going Home" is a song delivered by a malevolent misfit, and yet it's so gloriously emotional and strange that you can’t help feeling for Frank even as he gets his final comeuppance. O'Dessa is not that daring. It is the heroic O'Dessa who will get the final song, and hers — while earnestly performed — just doesn’t feel like a finale. There's a lack of energy or perhaps panache that left me yearning for something more in line with Pat Benatar's "Invincible," the anthem for The Legend of Billie Jean, another movie where a resilient teen girl was all that stood between corrupt authority and the truth. O'Dessa's style transformation mirrors Billie Jean's, shifting from long girlish locks that men and mothers adore to a defiantly short and edgy wet look with a rocker garb to match. So, I simply expected more from O'Dessa's climactic number. 

Still, along the way Jasper paves O’Dessa’s path with treasures. Most of the music is delicious as it transitions from country to rock to funk and beyond. The vivid color palette paints a world of surreal pollution and blazing beauty. The performances not only from the leads but also the likes of circus-performing bit players and character actor Mark Boone Junior add texture with each flickering moment of magic and menace. Rather than a glossy aesthetic, Jasper knowingly embraces the grubby, with dirt and glitter giving the film a queer punk energy that infuses each moment with spontaneity and potential.

For all these reasons, O’Dessa feels less like a new movie and more like an old lost gem, finally uncovered. It’s an intoxicating pastiche of color and sound, joy and pain. Admittedly, Jasper's choice to keep the impact of the most gruesome violence offscreen, implied over shown, might undercut the underground aesthetic. But overall, O’Dessa is an exhilaratingly strange and sensational rock musical, studded by powerful screen presences and topped off with scads of WTF flare. 

O'Dessa was reviewed out of the 2025 SXSW Film Festival. The Searchlight Pictures release will debut on Hulu on March 20.

It's 2025, and people still flock to 1080p monitors for their computers. I think it's high time that we make 4K the default resolution of computer displays, because a 4K monitor is absolutely worth putting on your desk.

Switching to Linux? Many will say to try out Ubuntu. Thing is, if you're after a Linux distribution similar to the Windows desktop you already know, Ubuntu might not be the one you want.

Car enthusiasts seem to think electric vehicles are boring, but they're wrong. Sure, some EVs are dull, but most are effortlessly fast and have instant torque, propelling them ahead of any sports car that dares to challenge. Best of all, these EVs are faster than they look, so you can really embarrass other drivers at the lights.

Do you have both a gaming PC and a Mac? You might be pleased to learn that you can stream games from your PC to your Mac, over a local network. That way you can play anything on your Mac, even if there's no native Mac version. Here's how.

Reddit's automated moderation system is apparently flagging the word "Luigi" as potentially violent, The Verge reported.

On Friday, a post appeared on the r/FreeLuigi subreddit stating, "PSA: the word 'luigi' is now flagged by reddit for violence." A screenshot of a comment about the video game Luigi's Mansion 3 on the r/popculture subject shows a highlight of the word "Luigi" and a tag, "Check for Violence - [Luigi]."

Reddit

r/FreeLuigi is a community dedicated to Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old suspect in the December 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Since Mangione's arrest in December, he has received a flood of support online, both because of his status as a "folk hero" amid outrage at the U.S. healthcare system, and because of his physical attractiveness. His legal defense team recently created a website as supporters donate to his defense fund and follow his case. Mangione is currently being held in federal custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, according to the website.

A Reddit spokesperson told The Verge that there isn't a "sitewide filter for the word 'Luigi' or expectation that users stop talking about Luigi Mangione." Despite this, however, the same user posted a second example of Reddit "flagging" Luigi, telling the user to check for violence.

Mashable has reached out to Reddit and will update this story if we hear back.

Nothing's phones aren't the most premium, and yet they punch above their weight. They're playing by a different set of rules, and I wish others did the same.

TL;DR: Get a Headway Premium lifetime subscription for A$76 with our unbeatable offer (reg. A$480) using code LEVELUP20 at checkout until 30 March at 11:59 PM PT.

The (quickie) TikTok ban left us all staring blankly at our screens, but maybe that’s a good thing. Perhaps this was a wake-up call to replace our doomscrolling, or at least some of it, with reading.

We aren’t suggesting you delete all of your social media apps, but maybe spend just 10 to 15 minutes each day on Headway. This book-summary app makes reading a lot more fun than usual since you just get the highlight reel instead of having to read it cover to cover. Now, Mashable readers can get a lifetime subscription to Headway Premium for A$76 (reg. A$480) and save hundreds.

Scroll less, read more

Headway is full of content that’s personalized to your interests, from CEO success stories to wacky animal facts or healthy lifestyles.

Still aren’t convinced you’re actually going to enjoy reading? You don’t have to — listen to the audio version of book summaries instead; they’re like mini-podcasts. 

The more you read (or listen) to books on Headway, the more the app gets to know your taste. It’ll recommend books you’ll enjoy, almost like "BookTok."

Looking to read more books? A Headway Premium lifetime subscription is A$76 (reg. A$480) using code LEVELUP20 at checkout until March 30 at 11:59 PM PT, and you won’t find a better price anywhere else.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: GTHW App Limited Headway Premium: Lifetime Subscription AU$76
AU$480 Save AU$404 Get Deal

Recently, I wanted to find out how phone and tablet screen time was affecting battery drain. You might not think to go to Python for that, but its basic statistics tools can actually provide the answer.

The electric and autonomous vehicle industries are evolving rapidly, driven by innovative technologies that promise to change how we travel. This list highlights the key players in these industries, their contributions, and how they're shaping the future of transportation.

EVs were once a niche choice, but with the world clearly moving towards electrification and infrastructure growing, their value proposition is becoming more and more clear. However, with so many great options on the market right now, it’s hard to figure out who offers the best bang for your buck.

With a good pair of open-back headphones, you can experience audio in a much more natural state, especially if you value music, from simply listening to sound mixing. Rejoice, audiophiles—these headphones are for you!

This week, a viral Instagram post stated that Apple cut International Women's Day (March 8) from its calendar — but that's not quite right.

Bellesa, a sex toy brand, posted on March 4, "Apple quietly removed International Women's Day from the calendar. That's weird." The carousel post goes on to explain how one can add it to their own Apple Calendar. International Women's Day was first observed in 1911, according to the IWD website, and is now run by various groups across the world. It's nestled in Women's History Month, and is a day to celebrate women's achievements and advocate for their rights.

SEE ALSO: Down with the Enola Gay? Defense Department purging digital materials under Trump's DEI orders

This post, which has over 41,000 likes as of publication, came after Google Calendar removed Black History Month, Pride Month, and more holidays around three weeks ago. The tech giant stated it was due to a move to only include public holidays and national observances, but the removals prompted public outrage, as their timing aligns with the anti-diversity push fueled by Donald Trump's second presidential term.

Since coming back into office in January, Trump has overseen the removal of LGBTQ White House pages and language about queer and trans people on other government websites, as part of an overall crusade to end Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. Tech companies have started to comply with this, such as Meta and Google removing its DEI programs. (Apple shareholders recently voted to keep its DEI policies.)

Given the anti-DEI push, commenters easily believed that Apple made this move. But according to Politifact, this isn't the case because Apple apparently never had International Women's Day on its calendar in the first place. Apple told Politifact that neither International Women's Day nor Women's History Month were ever featured on Apple Calendar.

Mashable has reached out to both Apple and Bellesa, and will update this story if we hear back.

This week, Mashable's Entertainment Editor, Kristy Puchko appeared on the movie review panel show, Talking Pictures with Neil Rosen. Alongside fellow film critics, Neil Rosen, Bill McCuddy, and Mike Sargent, she shared her thoughts on a array of new releases and still sizzling standouts from 2024.

Among the movies discussed on the episode, which airs nationally on PBS All Arts, were the Nicole Kidman erotic-thriller Babygirl, Ed Burns' latest dramedy Millers in Marriage, the toxic rom-dramedy I Love You Forever, the Oscar-winning I'm Still Here, the Daisy Ridley actioner Cleaner, the sci-fi thriller Companion, and Bong Joon Ho's latest genre-bending gem, Mickey 17.

Which are a must-see and which are worthy of missing? Watch the episode above, and you'll know what's up.

Tax season is no walk in the park — and that’s especially so for small business owners and solopreneurs. Even if you’re already properly managing your quarterly taxes and have all of your ducks in a row, this time of year means facing your business financials head-on and making any revisions needed to keep your business books going in the right direction.

Thankfully for small business owners, there are a handful of really good tax credits that you can take advantage of for the 2024 tax year. The following tax credits range from employee retention to healthcare credits, all of which are designed to give small business owners a leg up come tax season.

What is the difference between a tax deduction and a tax credit?

The main difference between a tax deduction and a tax credit is that a tax deduction applies to your business income, which can potentially put you into a lower tax bracket and lessen the amount of taxable income you’ll report to the IRA. A tax credit is simpler — it reduces the dollar amount of taxes that you owe. This means that you’ll save dollar-for-dollar on the tax credits that apply to your small business.

Here are the best 2024 tax credits for small business owners:

Disabled Access Tax Credit

The Disabled Access Tax Credit covers 50% of expenses incurred (up to $10,250) from making your small business more accessible to those living with disabilities. The credit can also be used for hiring interpreters, making alternative materials available to individuals with visual impairments, and more.

Empowerment Zone Employment Credit

The Empowerment Zone Employment Credit allows businesses in empowerment zones or distressed areas that hire and retain employees in said area to claim up to $3000 per employee. The credit doesn’t limit the number of employees and can be renewed annually.

Qualified Plug-in Electric and Electric Vehicle Tax Credit

If you purchased a plug-in electric vehicle such as an electric car or electric scooter for your small business after the 2010 tax year, your small business might be eligible for this tax credit. The credit total is between $2,500 and $7,500 depending on the size of your EV’s battery.

R&D Tax Credit

Businesses of all sizes that are innovating a process or product and can prove that they’re doing so through quantifiable research are eligible for the R&D Tax Credit. This might include software development, design, product enhancements, and other relevant innovations.

SECURE 2.0 Act

The SECURE 2.0 Act affords tax credits to small businesses that implement a 401(k) plan for employees or that add an auto-enrollment feature to an existing employer retirement plan. 

Small Business Health Care Tax Credit

The Small Business Health Care Tax Credit was created to help small businesses put in place health insurance programs for their employees. The tax credit covers 50% of premiums paid and is available for small business owners for up to two consecutive taxable years. Keep in mind that to qualify for this tax credit, a small business must also have fewer than 25 full-time employees and pay average wages below the annual inflation-adjusted limit.

Work Opportunity Tax Credit

The Work Opportunity Tax Credit was first announced in 2021 but has since been extended to the end of 2025 by the Consolidated Appropriations Act. This tax credit applies to small businesses that hire those who otherwise face difficulties finding employment, such as ex-felons, SNAP recipients, and certain veterans. Small business owners can receive up to $2400 for every new hire that meets the appropriate specifications.