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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

A stuffed animal.

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

TEDDY

Hurdle Word 2 hint

The sound a bird makes.

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

CHIRP

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To pull.

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

HEAVE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A nickname for a father.

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

DADDY

Final Hurdle hint

Perspective.

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

ANGLE

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

The Full Moon is just around the corner, so there's plenty of things to spot on the surface, with or without visual aids.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Sunday, Nov. 2, the moon phase is Waxing Gibbous. There will be 87% of the moon lit up tonight, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.

Even without any visual aids, there’s plenty to spot tonight, including the Mare Tranquillitatis, Mare Imbrium, and the Kepler Crater. With a pair of binoculars, you can make out the Gassendi Crater, the Apennine Mountains, and the Mare Nectaris. If you have a telescope, pull it out to see the Rima Ariadaeus, the Apollo 15, and the Gruithuisen Domes.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Nov. 5.

What are moon phases?

According to NASA, the moon moves through its phases as it completes a 29.5-day orbit around Earth. The phases we see are caused by the changing angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. From Earth, the moon can appear full, partly lit, or seem to disappear entirely, but it’s always the same side facing us. What changes is how much sunlight reflects off its surface, depending on where it is in orbit. This pattern is known as the lunar cycle.

The eight main moon phases are:

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 to solve if you're into astrology.

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 Pips hints, answers for October 24, 2025 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 shipment

• Green: Bronze tones

• Blue: What one might do after exercising

• Purple: Astrological

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: Goods to be transported

• Green: Light brown shades

• Blue: Show signs of physical exertion

• Purple: Starts of zodiac signs

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 #875 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Goods to be transported: CARGO, FREIGHT, HAUL, LOAD

• Light brown shades: CAMEL, FAWN, KHAKI, TAN

• Show signs of physical exertion: CRAMP, PANT, REDDEN, SWEAT

• Starts of zodiac signs: AQUA, CAPRI, GEM, SAG

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 October 24, 2025

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 Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're always a fanatic.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 24, 2025 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 October 17, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Extreme.

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 R.

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...

RABID

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 October 24, 2025

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.

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

Released in August 2025, the 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 onto 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 for 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 November 1, 2025

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 November 1, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 1 Pips

Number (10): Everything in this space must add to 10. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally; 0-6, placed horizontally.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add to 12. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed horizontally.

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

Number (2): Everything in this orange space must add to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 1 Pips

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

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

Number (11): Everything in this space must add to 11. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed vertically.

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

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 6-1, placed horizontally; 4-1, placed vertically; 5-1, placed horizontally.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add to 11. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically; 5-4, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 1 Pips

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

Number (8): Everything in this space must add to 8. The answer is 1-4, placed horizontally.

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

Number (8): Everything in this space must add to 8. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically; 1-6, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add to 6. The answer is 3-0, placed vertically; 3-1, placed horizontally.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add to 0. The answer is 3-0, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-4, placed horizontally; 1-1, placed vertically; 3-1, placed horizontally; 1-6, placed horizontally; 0-1, placed horizontally; 1-5, placed vertically; 0-1, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add to 10. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally; 1-5, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this red space must add to 0. The answer is 0-1, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed horizontally; 0-6, placed vertically.

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

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

Number (12): Everything in this space must add to 12. The answer is 5-6, placed horizontally; 0-6, placed vertically

Number (8): Everything in this space must add to 8. The answer is 2-4, placed vertically; 4-6, placed horizontally.

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

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 is simple if you know racket sports.

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. 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: 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: Swing and a hit

• Green: Improve

• Blue: Halfbacks

• Purple: Types of golf

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: Racket Sports

• Green: Prosper

• Blue: Current NFL Running Backs

• Purple: ____Golf

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 #405 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Racket Sports - BADMINTON, RACQUETBALL, SQUASH, TENNIS

• Prosper - BLOSSOM, DEVELOP, FLOURISH, GROW

• Current NFL Running Backs - COOK, HALL, SWIFT, WALKER

• ____Golf - DISC, LINKS, MINI, TOP

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.

TL;DR: Save big on a Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows lifetime license, now just $39.97 (reg. $219.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License $39.97
$219.99 Save $180.02   Get Deal

These days, we’re all multitaskers. One minute we’re working on our family budget, the next we’re helping a kid finish a school project, and in between we’re answering work emails. If you’re looking for apps that can keep up with your daily demands, look no further than Microsoft Office.

Right now, you can score a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows for only $39.97 (reg. $219.99).

SEE ALSO: Make your year-end workload easier with this $20 Microsoft Office license

Though you may recognize the name Microsoft Office, this suite of powerful tools is updated for today’s world. This Microsoft Office Professional 2021 license includes eight power-packed apps ready to help you tackle even the lengthiest to-do list, and they’re available for less than $7 each with this deal.

Curious what this suite of apps can help with? Draft documents with Word, create a killer presentation with PowerPoint, and get your finances in order with Excel. Outlook makes it easy to manage your emails, and Teams keeps you connected to coworkers. There’s also OneNote, an easy digital notetaking method, and Access to help you manage databases.

If the edition’s year raises concerns, don’t worry. These apps have been redesigned to be powerful for everyone, from data analysts to designers. A ribbon-based user interface provides quick access to all available features, tools, and customizations.

Make sure you’re running Windows 10 or 11 before purchase. You’ll receive instant delivery and download, so you’ll have constant access to the apps with no need to connect to the cloud.

Outfit your PC with this Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows lifetime license, now for only $39.97 (reg. $219.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Live stream Ireland vs. New Zealand in the Autumn Internationals for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Autumn Internationals are gaining a reputation for producing some of the best matchups outside of the World Cup. When else would you get to see huge contests like Ireland vs. New Zealand?

And this hotly-anticipated game is extra special as it takes place in Chicago. The last time these sides met at Soldier Field was back in 2016, with Ireland producing a stunning display to beat the All Blacks 40-29. That was the first time Ireland had ever beaten the All Blacks. They've fared much better since then, but any matchup with the All Blacks is always incredibly tough.

If you want to watch Ireland vs. New Zealand in the Autumn Internationals from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Ireland vs. New Zealand?

Ireland vs. New Zealand in the 2025 Autumn Internationals kicks off at 8:10 p.m. GMT on Nov. 1. This fixture takes place at Soldier Field.

How to watch Ireland vs. New Zealand for free

Ireland vs. New Zealand in the 2025 Autumn Internationals is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player.

Virgin Media 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 Virgin Media Player to stream the Autumn Internationals for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Ireland vs. New Zealand 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 Virgin Media Player

5. Watch Ireland vs. New Zealand 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 Autumn Internationals without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream all of Ireland's Autumn Internationals before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Virgin Media 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 one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% 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 Ireland vs. New Zealand in the Autumn Internationals for free with ExpressVPN.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition is simple if you've played video games.

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. 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: 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: Amateur global sports

• Green: Games played with friends

• Blue: I like Lamar, but there's something about this guy

• Purple: Not spelled like you think it is

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: Summer Olympic Sports

• Green: Football Video Games

• Blue: Associated with Joe Flacco

• Purple: Contains A Double I

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 #404 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Summer Olympic Sports - SAILING, SOCCER, SPORT CLIMBING, SWIMMING

• Football Video Games - BACKYARD FOOTBALL, MADDEN, NFL BLITZ, TECMO BOWL

• Associated with Joe Flacco - DELAWARE, ELITE, RAVENS, SUPER BOWL MVP

• Contains A Double I - EMBIID, HAWAII, SKIING, WII SPORTS

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.

A beloved San Francisco neighborhood cat has died after being hit by a self-driving Waymo vehicle, and mourners across social media are posting about it.

KitKat, also known as the "mayor of 16th Street," was struck by the Waymo around 11:30 p.m. Monday night, his owner, Mike Zeidan, told The San Francisco Standard. Zeidan also owns Randa's Market, the convenience store where KitKat roamed. There, he became known and loved by the community, often frequenting the market's Instagram page.

SEE ALSO: Waymo under investigation for school bus incident

On Monday night, the driverless robotaxi made a stop near the market, and apparently, it didn't slow down or attempt to avoid the cat, according to an anonymous complaint made to 311, as reported by The Standard.

Zeidan told the Standard that KitKat was found underneath the Waymo. A store employee brought him to an animal hospital, and he was pronounced dead.

Now, the pinned post on the shop's Instagram is a tribute to KitKat.

View this post on Instagram

"We're heartbroken to share that our beloved store cat, KitKat, has passed away," the post states. "He brought warmth, smiles, and comfort to everyone who walked through our doors. Thank you to all who loved him as much as we did. The store won't be the same without his little paws padding around."

More memorial posts have appeared on the platform and on TikTok, featuring photos and videos of a shrine to KitKat near the store.

"If you're not a 16th street regular this can seem silly but this cat meant so much to this community. if you knew kitkat you’d understand [sic]," one TikTok by user @frijolefiddler posted with a video of the memorial full of flowers, photos of the cat, and KitKat bars. The video has over 500,000 likes at the time of this publication. Mourners have also posted saved videos of KitKat as tributes.

On Thursday, Waymo responded to SFGATE's request for comment about the death, acknowledging it but not claiming responsibility. Waymo also stated it will donate to an animal rights group in KitKat's honor:

"The trust and the safety of the communities we serve is our highest priority," Waymo told SFGATE. "We reviewed this, and while our vehicle was stopped to pick up passengers, a nearby cat darted under our vehicle as it was pulling away. We send our deepest sympathies to the cat's owner and the community who knew and loved him, and we will be making a donation to a local animal rights organization in his honor."

Tesla CEO Elon Musk claims that a demo of the long-anticipated new Roadster is coming — and in the next couple of months.

Yesterday, host Joe Rogan asked Musk on his podcast (around 38 minutes into the over three-hour-long episode) whether the company is still doing the Roadster, which was first announced in 2017.

SEE ALSO: Tesla Robotaxis are crashing more than Waymo, even with human safety monitors

Musk said yes. "We're getting close to demonstrating the prototype," he said. "I think this will be...one thing I can guarantee is that this product demo will be unforgettable," Musk said. He repeated: "Unforgettable."

Musk said this a day after OpenAI CEO Sam Altman posted on X that he tried to cancel his 2018 Roadster reservation, only to be met with a bounce-back email.

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

"I really was excited for the car!" Altman said in a follow-up post. "And I understand delays. But 7.5 years has felt like a long time to wait." (Musk and Altman started OpenAI together, but their relationship has since strained.)

After the 2017 announcement of the revamped Roadster, production was scheduled to begin in 2020 and launch in 2021. However, it was then delayed again, first to 2022 and then to 2023.

In February 2024, Musk posted to X that he aimed to ship the Roadster in 2025. One feature he teased was that the Roadster would be able to go from zero to 60mph in less than a second. He also stated that, "I think it has a shot at being the most mind-blowing product demo of all time."

Musk said much of the same about the demo during his appearance yesterday on The Joe Rogan Experience — but with new, cryptic boasts about what the Roadster will be able to do.

"Whether it's good or bad, it'll be unforgettable," he joked about the demo when Rogan asked what he meant.

Rogan asked whether Musk could say more, and Musk replied with a quote from his "friend" billionaire Peter Thiel, that the future was supposed to have flying cars, but we don't have flying cars. He wouldn't respond to Rogan's direct question about whether the Roadster will be able to fly, just that Thiel should be able to purchase a flying car, and that we will have to see the demo.

"I can't do the unveil before the unveil," Musk said. "I think it has a shot at being the most memorable product unveil ever."

When Rogan asked when he plans on doing this, Musk said, "Hopefully before the end of the year."

"We need to make sure that it works. This is some crazy, crazy technology." He affirmed that this is different than what was previously announced.

"Is it even a car?" Musk asked himself. "I'm not sure. It looks like a car." He then said, "If you took all the James Bond cars and combined them, it's crazier than that," but didn't elaborate.

The vague statements also came over a week after Tesla released its latest quarterly earnings, during which the EV company's profits fell 37 percent.

Take-Two Interactive Software Inc.'s Rockstar Games, which develops Grand Theft Auto, has terminated staff members involved in a British trade union. While the union accuses the studio of union-busting, the company claims that the workers were let go for misconduct.

Rockstar Games apparently fired over 30 employees on Thursday, according to a statement by the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB). The workers, who are members of IWGB, were involved in an IWGB Game Workers Union Discord channel; the union says the firings were illegal and retaliatory.

SEE ALSO: Rockstar explains how 'GTA 6' trailer was made and posts dozens of screenshots

"Rockstar has just carried out the most blatant and ruthless act of union busting in the history of the games industry," IWGB president Alex Marshall said in the union's press release. "This flagrant contempt for the law and for the lives of the workers who bring in their billions is an insult to their fans and the global industry."

Staffers were in offices across the UK and Canada, Bloomberg reported. According to IWGB organizers, some of the fired workers were visa holders sponsored by Rockstar, and others had medical conditions.

IWGB stated that it will "be mounting a full and robust defense of its members."

Meanwhile, Take-Two spokesman Alan Lewis told Bloomberg the firings were due to "gross misconduct, and for no other reason" and that "we fully support Rockstar's ambitions and approach."

Rockstar Games is most well-known for the Grand Theft Auto franchise. The latest iteration, Grand Theft Auto VI, has been delayed multiple times, with its long-awaited release now slated for May 2026 — but rumors are floating that it may be even later.

Why are we so obsessed with serial killers?

Maybe it’s because we can’t quite imagine what it takes for an ordinary human brain to cross that line. Or maybe it’s just the morbid curiosity that so many of us find hard to shake. Ed Gein didn’t kill hundreds of people, but his story, one man on a farm, and one deranged devotion to his mother, quietly changed horror forever. Because from that frozen little town in Wisconsin emerged the DNA for three of the most iconic killers in film history: Norman Bates, Leatherface, and Buffalo Bill.

Join us as we delve into the story of Ed Gein. A story that inspired iconic movie villains like Norman Bates, Leatherface, and Buffalo Bill. Discover how Gein's twisted life rewrote the rules of horror, transforming the genre from monstrous fantasies to terrifying realities. Explore the psychology behind why we can't look away from these dark stories and what they reveal about the human condition.

Monster: The Ed Gein Story is now streaming on Netflix.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you know the law.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for October 24, 2025 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: To take legal action

• Green: Midnight

• Blue: Iconic pairs

• Purple: Animated animals

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: Take to court

• Green: Black

• Blue: Second in a famous real-life duo

• Purple: Rodents who are first in a cartoon duo

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 #874 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Take to court: CHARGE, FILE, INDICT, SUE

• Black: INKY, JET, PITCH, RAVEN

• Second in a famous real-life duo: CHER, CLYDE, HARDY, TELLER

• Rodents who are first in a cartoon duo: CHIP, ITCHY, PINKY, ROCKY

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 October 24, 2025

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're a foodie.

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 17, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 24, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: It's not polite to lick your plate

The words are related to food.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe tasty food.

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 Good Taste.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for November 1

• Delicious

• Flavorful

• Good Taste

• Scrumptious

• Delectable

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're always on the road.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 24, 2025 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 October 17, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A small, cheap hotel.

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 M.

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...

MOTEL

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 October 24, 2025

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 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 SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025:

AcrossEthically sourced, as some eggs

• The answer is Cagefree.

Residents of Tehran

• The answer is Iranians.

Air sign?

• The answer is Sky Write.

___ Faire (medieval-themed festival, informally)

• The answer is Ren.

Athlete from Cleveland or the University of Virginia

• The answer is Cavalier.

Kind of bathing suit

• The answer is One piece.

Musical whizzes

• The answer is Maestros.

DownSinus-treating doctor, for short

• The answer is ENT.

Opposite of WNW

• The answer is ESE.

_mon URL ending

• The answer is Com.

De Armas who starred in 2025's "Ballerina"

• The answer is Ana.

Shape of flying geese

• The answer is Vee.

Prefix with friendly

• The answer is Eco.

Restaurant booking, informally

• The answer is Res.

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 today's Mini Crossword.

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

Released in August 2025, the 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 onto 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 for 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 November 1, 2025

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 November 1, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 1 Pips

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

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

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 1 Pips

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

Number (12): Everything in this space must add to 12. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically

Number (12): Everything in this space must add to 12. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically; 4-6, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add to 0. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add to 5. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically; 2-1, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add to 6. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add to 1. The answer is 2-1, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 1 Pips

Number (3): Everything in this space must add to 3. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically; 3-6, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add to 4. The answer is 0-2, placed horizontally; 6-2, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (6): Everything in this yellow space must be equal to 6. The answer is 6-2, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed horizontally; 6-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this dark blue space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally; 5-3, placed horizontally; 5-4, placed vertically; 5-2, placed vertically.

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

Number (3): Everything in this space must add to 3. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically.

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

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

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

TL;DR: Live stream the 2025 Paris Masters for free on France.tv. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

We've been desperately lacking matchups between the best tennis players in the world. The 2025 Grand Slams provided so many epic battles between the top stars. We became spoiled, expecting the games to simply keep coming.

Unfortunately, the schedule does become a little quieter after the U.S. Open. That has been tough to take, but all is not lost because the 2025 Paris Masters is bringing together the biggest names in the men's game. Carlos Alcaraz has already been knocked out, so all eyes will be on Jannik Sinner as he battles it out at La Défense Arena.

If you want to watch the 2025 Paris Masters for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the Paris Masters?

The Paris Masters is an annual indoor tennis tournament for male professional players held in Nanterre, France. It is usually the last tournament on the calendar before the season-ending ATP Finals.

The defending champion is Alexander Zverev.

When is the 2025 Paris Masters?

The 2025 Paris Masters is the 53rd edition of this ATP Masters 1000 event. This year's tournament takes place from Oct. 27 to Nov. 2.

How to watch the 2025 Paris Masters for free

The 2025 Paris Masters are available to live stream for free on France.tv.

France.tv is geo-restricted to France, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in France, meaning you can unblock France.tv from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2025 Paris Masters 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 France

4. Visit France.tv

5. Watch the 2025 Paris Masters for free from anywhere in the world

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can live stream the 2025 Paris Masters before recovering your investment. This is a sneaky trick, but it works.

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

What is the best VPN for France.tv?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on France.tv, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including France

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• 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 also 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 the 2025 Paris Masters for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Learning a new language seems to be on everyone’s bucket list, and Babbel’s latest offer might make it easier to scratch it off. For a limited time, you can grab lifetime access to all 14 Babbel languages for $134.99 (reg. $299) using code LEARN, but the deal ends Nov. 3 at 11:59 p.m. PST.

Opens in a new window Credit: Babbel Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages) $134.99
$299 Save $164.01   Get Deal

Babbel has built a reputation for short, structured lessons that help you learn at your own pace. Developed by more than 100 language experts, the platform uses real-life dialogue and spaced repetition to help words stick. Studies from Yale University and Michigan State University have shown that Babbel’s approach leads to measurable progress in as little as 15 hours of learning.

With a lifetime plan, you’ll unlock 10,000+ hours of content across 14 languages, including Spanish, French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Turkish, and Swedish. Each lesson takes about 10 to 15 minutes and focuses on practical situations from chatting with locals at a café to giving a presentation at work. You can track your progress, test your pronunciation with speech recognition tools, and even download lessons for offline use when WiFi isn’t available.

SEE ALSO: Go beyond vocabulary — build real language fluency with Babbel

This deal’s biggest draw is its flexibility. You’re not committing to one language or a recurring subscription, just a one-time payment that lets you jump between all 14 languages whenever you want. It’s especially appealing for travelers, expats, and professionals who want to build communication skills without the high cost of in-person classes or monthly apps.

If you’ve ever wanted to speak another language (or several), this is one of the best prices you’ll see for this lifetime plan. Use code LEARN at checkout before Nov. 3 at 11:59 p.m. PST to get Babbel Lifetime (All Languages) for $134.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.