Life

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The Out-of-Touch Adults’ Guide to Kid Culture: ‘Grand Theft Auto 6’ Trailer Breaks Internet

This week’s Out-of-Touch guide features one of the most viral videos of all time, the first trailer for RockStar Games’ Grand Theft Auto 6. On the opposite side of the mass-appeal spectrum: artsy musician Laurie Anderson is becoming an unlikely TikTok star, and I finally have a resource to help explain all the internet jokes I don’t understand.

Viral video of the week: GTA 6 trailer instantly breaks world record in virality

The trailer for Rockstar Games’ upcoming open-world crime simulator Grand Theft Auto VI has gone extremely viral this week, breaking the world record for most first-day views of a non-music video on YouTube in history. In only 24 hours, the trailer racked up over 90 million views. It’s day three as I post this, and the total is already over 130 million. Add to the total by clicking below.

Set in Vice City, the series’ Miami equivalent, this is the first GTA game with a female lead character. The trailer features imagery inspired by real-life viral videos shot in Florida, and it looks absolutely batshit-awesome.

As you’d probably expect, a GTA game with a Latina woman as main character has lead to tiresome claims of “wokeism” from the worst people on the internet, along with unsourced rumors that Lucia is trans.

The opinions of dummies aside, Rockstar really does have a cultural balancing act ahead of it. Much of the Grand Theft Auto series’ shock-based, “we offend everyone equally” parody was fairly passé when GTA 5 came out back in 2013, and it definitely wouldn’t fly today; not because people are too “sensitive” or whatever, but because that style of confrontational comedy is as stale as Mother-in-Law jokes and Andrew Dice Clay, especially to younger people.

Sadly, we’ll have to wait until 2025 to see how Rockstar threads the needle and determine whether the game actually lives up to the amazing first trailer.

Reddit’s meme-explainer: Peter explains the joke

Have you ever seen a meme or joke online that you just didn’t understand? Maybe something like this: 

A logic-based meme

Credit: SpikedMath/Reddit

Or this:

Cosmic radiation meme

Credit: u/Person_Named_Jermbo/Reddit

Well now there’s a subreddit that will clear up any confusion. Just visit r/PeterExplainsTheJoke and you’ll find over 300,000 people willing to break it down for you (a service fossils like us need frequently). To keep everything from getting too pedantic—explaining jokes has that problem—the style of the sub is to post comments in the voice of Peter Griffin from Family Guy, like the name says. I’m not sure why; that’s another internet joke I don’t get.

Explanations (not in the style of Peter Griffin): 

Meme 1: The bartender is asking if everyone in the group would like a beer. The first two logicians each want a beer, but they don’t know what the others want, so the only logically sound answer is “I don’t know.”  The third logician now knows that the other two want a beer—if they didn’t they would have answered, “no”—so they respond “yes. (everyone wants a beer.)”

Meme 2: That is a picture of a cosmic radiation. The reference is to a seemingly impossible glitch caught in a 2013 livestream of a Mario 64 speed-run by TeabagSLR. The glitch: Mario was suddenly able to jump higher than he should have, but only once. The Mario 64 speed-running community got together to try to replicate the glitch, going as far as putting up a $1,000 bounty for an explanation. They could not duplicate it, even when using the exact inputs Teabag used, leading to the theory that a stray ionizing particle from space randomly flipped a single bit on Teabag’s Nintendo 64 at exactly the right moment to benefit his speed run—an astronomically unlikely occurence that was (maybe) confirmed when pannenkoek12 figured out exactly what byte flipped when, then recreated it manually, ultimately duplicating the event.

TikTok discovers a new Christmas cliché: red trucks hauling Christmas trees

Have you ever heard a new word, and suddenly you see that word everywhere? Red pickup trucks hauling Christmas trees are like that: Once you’re aware of this cliché illustration of a cozy, home-y Christmas, you’ll see it everywhere you look from Thanksgiving to New Years.

TikToker mello_yoshi first noticed the imagery on holiday ornaments his mother gave him, showing off a total of 12 decorations with Christmas tree trucks and repeating the phrase, “a little red truck—hauling a Christmas tree!” in a delightful way. This lead to videos of others posting their own little red trucks hauling a Christmas trees, both from holiday decorations and real life, usually imitating the distinct twang of mello_yoshi. If you want to see little red trucks hauling trees, you can either visit the hashtag like 14 million other people already have, or you can just look around at your own holiday decorations. I’ll bet you find at least one. 

Why is “O Superman” going viral on TikTok?

It’s fascinating when older music suddenly goes viral, whether they’re from The Mountain Goats or Fleetwood Mac. What is it about this particular tune, at this specific time, that suddenly captures the imagination of a generation of people who weren’t born when the song was released? Case-in-point: The kids are getting into 1980s experimental musician Laurie Anderson. Never particularly popular when she was current—Anderson was way too high-art for mass appeal—her iconic, enigmatic track “O Superman” is gathering steam on TikTok, connected with videos that might make you stop in your tracks as you ponder the great mysteries of existence. Anderson’s lines “Well, you don’t know me, but I know you, and I’ve got a message” is isolated and used for videos illustrating the connections we have to our ancestors, connections that the universe sometimes surprises us with, as if to say, “you know, you actually came from somewhere.” This trend is in its infancy, but I really hope it gets bigger; I can’t get enough of these strange, evocative videos, and I hope to see many more of them. 

20 Places to Legally Download or Stream Movies for Free

Has Netflix cut you off with the message “This TV isn’t part of your Netflix household” since it started cracking down on password sharing? Are you tired of every streamer you subscribe to hiking prices year over year? Yes, the modern streaming landscape is starting to look a lot like cable. But that also means exploring free streaming options is more enticing than ever.

Luckily there are plenty of ways to stream other awesome shows and movies online for free. Here are 20 great sites to bookmark for when you want something new to watch. (Note that many films are available on multiple free services at once, so if your selection has too many commercial interruptions or painfully low resolution on one source, search for it on another.)

Kanopy and Hoopla

Streaming services Kanopy and Hoopla both have a large selection of high-quality movies—Kanopy even carries The Criterion Collection—but they’re only available if your local library system has a subscription, which also means you’ll need a valid library account to log in. That’s one more hoop you’ll have to jump through, but it’s worth it, considering the variety of what’s available. Check on either site to see if you can access them via your existing (free) library account.

Supported devices: Apps are available for most smart TVs and streaming boxes (including Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, and Apple TV) as well as iOS and Android.

PBS

PBS is home to shows like PBS Newshour, Antiques Roadshow and This Old House. While many titles are restricted to paying members, some of PBS’s online selection (taken from its TV programming) is available online for free, including a series of film school shorts. Depending on the show, you may be able to view certain episodes or previews without a subscription. That’s not as great as a full, free season, but it’s enough to get by.

Supported devices: iOS. Android. Amazon Fire TV. Roku, Chromecast, Apple TV, most smart TVs

Tubi

Free streaming site Tubi offers movies and TV shows from several major studios with minimal (sometimes zero) advertising. The catch is that—judging by a spot-check—desktop streaming is limited to SD resolutions. The wide range of titles—more than 50,000—covers ever viewing niche imaginable. There are several genre lists to help you browse the large catalog, and even a dedicated section covering movies “Not on Netflix.”

Supported devices: Tubi is available on desktop as well as Android, iOS, Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV.

Vudu

Paid streaming service Vudu has a free section offering an assortment of recognizable movies floating among less familiar titles. You’ll need to sign up for a free account and sit through some ads—and some movies are only available in SD, which isn’t great—but you’ll get access to more than 5,400 movies on your computer, phone or streaming device. You’ll find a lot of films from the ‘80s and ‘90s (as the rights to supply them have gotten cheaper), as well as a ton of stuff you’ve never heard of before (mostly that, to be honest). But there are some decent hidden gems.

Supported devices:

PlutoTV

PlutoTV is a free, ad-supported, hybrid “live” TV and on demand streaming service offering hundreds of channels you can scroll through to see “what’s on” (with channels covering a wide rage or categories and genres, including a bunch that show inly endless episodes of a single show, from CSI, to Doctor Who, to Family Ties, to Mystery Science Theater 3000) as well as a decent-sized collection of movies and shows to stream on demand. Movies are grouped by categories, including specific themes like “LGBTQ Cinema” and “Popcorn Movie Summer.” The service is owned by ViacomCBS, so a lot of the content mirrors what you’ll find on Paramount+.

Current top on demand selections include all of the Hunger Games films, the original RoboCop, the early 2000s Charlie’s Angels movies, and the Scarlet Johansson-starring adaptation of the Ghost in the Shell anime, which I have been meaning to watch—and doing so via a free streaming services that peppers its programming with ads seems like more or less what the movie deserves.

Supported devices:

Public Domain Torrents

If you’d rather download than stream, Public Domain Torrents is the place to go. As you’d expect, most of the films you’ll find are pretty old, but many are also stone-cold cinema classics. And, as the site’s name implies, they’re all completely free to download. Best of all, many of the films are available in versions optimized or encoded for specific mobile devices—but you can always grab the highest quality download and do the encoding yourself.

Supported devices: This one is up to you and your computer.

TopDocumentaryFilms

TopDocumentaryFilms offers lots of documentaries broken up by category, from war, global conflict and crime to health and the environment. The categorization makes the offerings fairly easy to navigate, and the site has a community of users who provide ratings for each film so you can get an idea of what you’re in for before you begin watching.

If you’d like a starting point, check out their top-100 documentary list to see what others are watching, or check the front page for their featured films. The site is more of an aggregator than a host—the content is pulled from YouTube, Vimeo and other sources—but that makes them a convenient, one-stop shop for documentary fans.

Supported devices: Access the site in your browser.

Classic Cinema Online

If the name doesn’t give it away immediately, Classic Cinema Online is ideal for classic movie buffs who love the era of black-and-white films and artistically painted movie posters. There’s even an entire section dedicated to silent films, if that’s your thing. If you’re looking for something specific, you can sort by category using the menu in the upper-right—if you’re feeling like serials, or a solid silent film. And if you prefer old-time television, check out its sister site, Classic Television Online.

Supported devices: Access the site in your browser.

PopcornFlix

With thousands of free TV shows and movies with names and titles you’ll probably recognize, PopcornFlix prides itself on the fact that none of its programs or movies are more than two clicks away. They’re all completely free to watch on your computer, as well as mobile apps or other supported devices. There are some nice hidden gems here, in addition to a grab-bag of popular (if aging) Hollywood films; one of the current “Most Popular” entries is Memory: The Origins of Alien, a feature-length doc about the creation of Ridley Scott’s horror classic.

Supported devices: Apps are available for Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, and most smart TVs.

Crackle

Crackle is often overlooked when people discuss free streaming media on the web, but you can grab this service for a number of mobile devices and set-top boxes. You have to sign up for an account, but once you do, it’s easy to create a watchlist, get recommendations for new shows to stream and browse Crackle’s full library of TV shows and movies. These the films Charlie’s Angels, Black Snake Moan, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014), and TV series like That Girl!, 21 Jump Street, and 3rd Rock From the Sun. That’s part of the beauty of Crackle: You’ll absolutely find movies you’ve heard of, shows you actually want to watch and more. It’s all free—as long as you’re willing to watch the occasional commercial.

Supported devices: There are apps for Apple, PC, iOS, and Android. You can also add Plex to most streaming devices, including Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, and Apple TV.

Plex

We’ve written a lot about Plex, which announced in December 2019 that it was launching a free, ad-supported streaming service. While it offers paid live TV streaming, there’s a bunch of free content too—but you have to watch ads to view any of its free content. Still, the convenience of being able to view free movies and TV along with anything from your (or your friends’) media servers, all in one place and on any device, is pretty great. Plus, Plex recently added content from Crackle, expanding what you can stream within the service.

Supported devices: There are apps for Apple, PC, iOS, and Android. You can also add Plex to most streaming devices, including Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, and Apple TV.

Vimeo

Vimeo might be a distant second to YouTube for size and popularity, but it’s still a great video-streaming service for short film and independent filmmakers. It’s also ideal for people who want the freedom and flexibility of a mobile-friendly, HD-capable upload service that has great privacy and video management controls, as well as an upbeat community of users. For those just looking for something great to watch, Vimeo’s Staff Picks is full of gems that run the gamut from dramas, to documentaries, to science fiction.

Supported devices: You can either grab the Vimeo mobile app to take your movies with you (available on iOS and Android), or stream Vimeo films directly to your TV through your Chromecast, Roku, Xbox, Amazon Fire or Apple TV.

YouTube

No list of free TV shows and movies would be complete without YouTube, and not because of the sheer volume of ripped and pirated media available there. In fact, YouTube is home to a ton of freely-published movies and TV shows, some of which are YouTube originals, and others that are available via Creative Commons licenses or shared in the public domain. YouTube also collects free-with-ads films inside its Movies section. If you need help finding something fresh, the Full Movies on YouTube subreddit lists new free movies every day. Recent finds include The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly and Open Your Eyes (Abre los ojos), the Spanish film later remade into Vanilla Sky.

Supported devices: YouTube is YouTube; there’s an app on basically every platform and device in existence.

The Internet Archive

The Internet Archive is a repository for all sorts of things. While you probably know it for the ever-useful Wayback Machine, it’s also great for public domain films, independent media, TV broadcasts and newsreels and other media that you’re free watch—and to use and remix on your own, if you want. There are plenty of movies—organized by categories like sci-fi, horror or film noir—in addition to art films, educational videos and films, special collections that were made available to the Internet Archive for posterity, documentaries and even collections of stock footage. It’s not the most easily browsable archive, nor is it organized for mobile screens, but it’s certainly a treasure trove of interesting material.

Supported devices: This one is browser only, but you can cast to your TV with a compatible device.

Fandor

Fandor is a subscription streaming service that offers a diverse catalog of independent and international films. However, they also offer a growing library of free movies and films with ads.

Supported devices: Available on the web or in the Fandor app on iOS, Android, Chromecast, and Roku.

Freevee

Formerly IMDb TV, Freevee is a another ad-supported free streaming service with thousand of popular TV shows and movies spanning generes, including comedy, drama, suspense, and animation. Freevee also gives you access to over 150 FAST channels (free, ad-supported television in linear format, like cable television).

Supported devices: If you are an Amazon Prime member, you already have access to Freevee directly from the Prime Video app. If you are not, it has its own standalone app accessible on all Amazon Fire TV devices, iOS, and Android mobile devices, Xbox, PlayStation 5, and many smart TVs. If you don’t have one of those devices and are not an Amazon Prime member, you can still stream from your web browser from the Amazon website—completely free (but not ad free).

Shout Factory TV

Shout Factory TV is a free, ad-supported streaming service where you can catch classic and cult (very cult-y) movies and TV series, as well as some original programming. Shout Factory TV also includes FAST channels and curated live channels and events. The library goes deep in the offbeat—current selections include a documentary about a Power Rangers fan convention—so you’ll be sure to find something interesting to keep you busy.

Supported devices: Streaming online via your web browser, or download the compatible app for your device (including Apple and Android phones and tablets, as well as Roku, Chromecast, and Apple TV. (You can read an in-depth review of the service from PCMag.)

The Film Detective

If you haven’t had enough classic feature films, cult classic movies, and classic TV, The Film Detective will give you hope. It’s a classic film restoration, distribution, and streaming company.

Supported devices: The service is available on web, iOS, Android, Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV, and on their own app. They also run a 24/7 linear channel you can find on multiple platforms. You can watch all their content for free with ads.

ViX

For the Hispanic (and Lusophones) audience who love their telenovelas, soccer games, news, shows, and movies, ViX offers a 24/7 plan that’s completely free (vix gratis) in Spanish and Portuguese. It also includes more than 100 TV channels available on their website.

Supported devices: Android devices, iOS, Apple TV, Roku, Samsung, and Amazon Fire. The service shows content mainly from TelevisaUnivision, but also from other third-party content providers.

Redbox

One of Netflix’s original competitors, Redbox, now offers Redbox on Demand and Redbox Free Live TV. Redbox on Demand is a free on demand streaming option that lets you watch movies and shows on your internet browser, where you’ll find a limited selection of movies with commercials. On Redbox Free Live TV, you might find some old favorites and syndicated shows on one of their dozens of channels, but it is live TV, so you won’t have much control over anything.

Supported devices: You can catch Redbox on most leading platforms and smart TVs (there’s a full list here).

This Smart Soundbar and Subwoofer Combo Is a Great Deal Right Now

The Roku Streambar and Roku Wireless Bass bundle can do a lot for your entertainment area and kick your TV to the next gear, especially if you don’t have a lot of space to spare. As I’ve covered before, getting a soundbar is one of the best and easiest ways to dramatically improve your TV’s audio. Right now, you can get a streaming device soundbar and subwoofer combo from Roku for $149.99 (originally $249.99) from Amazon, the cheapest price it’s been since its release earlier this year, according to Camelcamelcamel’s price history.

How to use the Roku Streambar and Roku Wireless Bass

I’ve been using Roku devices for years while there’s nothing revolutionary about them, the simplicity is probably what makes them so appealing to me. They are very simple and user-friendly and great for making any TV into a Smart TV. You can download all your favorite apps, cast from your computer or phone (Roku works with both iPhones and Androids) and watch your content in 4K.

The “streambar” is the streaming device and soundbar in one. In comparison to other soundbars, it’s very small (2.4 by 14.0 by 4.2 inches). It can easily fit under most TVs that have at least 2.5 inches of space below the screen, and is small enough to not be too intrusive if it needs to be placed in front. You won’t get the best and most powerful sound out of the soundbar, but it’ll be a big improvement over most TV speakers. You can read the full “excellent” review from PCMag here. However, paired with the Roku Wireless Subwoofer, you’ll get that extra kick in power that the compact soundbar lacks. Since it’s wireless, you don’t need to struggle to fit it on your TV stand. For $20 more than what the streambar normally costs, you get the subwoofer, making this a great deal for anyone looking to improve their audio and streaming system.

Here are some other soundbars to consider:

If You Hate Holiday Baking, Make a Chocolate Salami

Something about making a dessert reminiscent of shareable slices of salty meat really works for the holiday season. This no-bake dessert is surprisingly easy, full of texture, and most of the time it takes to prepare is passive fridge-time. Take a break from the oven and make a chocolate salami for Santa.

What is a chocolate salami?

Chocolate salami is a dessert made of crushed cookies and nuts coated in a chocolate mixture, all rolled into a log and dusted with powdered sugar. When sliced, the nuts and cookie bits give the impression of a savory salami with fat and meat hunks distributed throughout. The powdered sugar on the outside resembles the harmless white mold that coats the outside of some aged salamis. Doesn’t that all sound appetizing? You already ate the real fat and mold during the first course, so don’t worry about that now. This sweet version of your cured and savory favorite is a stupendous mélange of textures, and perfect for chocolate lovers.

The beauty of this recipe is that once you make the base chocolate mixture, you can add almost anything you like to it. Most recipes start with a chocolate-heavy ratio of a simple ganache, so instead of the usual 1:1 chocolate to cream mixture, you build a firm ganache with a 2:1 ratio. Add a dab of melted butter to the mixture to lend even more stability after chilling, and you’re ready to add mix-ins.

Most recipes include a crushed, crunchy cookie and nuts to complete the cured meat look, but you can use anything you think will taste good with chocolate. Crunchy cookies add a welcome contrasting texture, but you can use leftover soft cookies, crumbled blondies, dried fruit, or maraschino cherries. Some dried fruit, or whole nuts might cling to the knife, or tear out of the salami, so you might need to switch your knife depending on your ingredients. If a sharp chef’s knife isn’t giving you the cleanest cuts, try a serrated knife.

How to make a chocolate salami

1. Prepare the mix-ins

Making a chocolate salami is simple. Crush, or roughly chop, your mix-ins; they should be around half-inch pieces or smaller. Set them aside.

A bowl of chocolate next to a bowl of broken cookies and nuts.

Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann

2. Make the chocolate mixture

Add the butter, cut into small pieces, to a wide bowl, and pour the chocolate chips on top. Heat the cream in the microwave for about 30-40 seconds, or until steaming, and pour the cream over the chocolate and butter. Let this sit for two minutes on the counter. Whisk until smooth. If the chocolate mixture begins to set, nuke it for ten seconds to loosen it up.

A chocolate mixture in a bowl.

Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann

3. Combine the two

Add the mix-ins to the chocolate mixture and stir to coat. The combination will look quite thick.

4. Shape the salami

A chocolate log wrapped with parchment paper.

Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann

Pour this salami mix onto a piece of parchment paper or plastic wrap. Use the wrap to help shape it into a log, and roll it up. Twist the ends to seal it off. Put the salami in the fridge for at least four hours, or overnight, to set.

5. Dust with powdered sugar and slice

When you’re ready to slice it, unwrap the log and coat it heavily with powdered sugar using your hands. It should stick easily. Slice into half inch rounds, and enjoy with a cup of bitter espresso.

Chocolate Salami Recipe

Ingredients:

  • ¾ cup chocolate chips (4.5 ounces)

  • 1 tablespoon butter

  • ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon heavy cream (2.2 ounces)

  • 1 cup crushed cookies

  • ¼ cup sliced or slivered almonds

  • ¼ cup chopped pistachios

  • ⅛ teaspoon salt

  • Powdered sugar for coating

1. Add the butter and chocolate to a bowl. Heat the cream until steaming, and pour over the butter and chocolate. Let this sit for two minutes, then whisk until smooth.

2. Pour the cookies, nuts, and salt into the chocolate mixture and stir to coat completely.

3. Pour the mixture onto a piece of parchment, wax paper, or plastic wrap. Use the wrapping to cover it, and roll up the mixture into a log. Twist the ends to seal it. Chill the chocolate salami for at least four hours, or up to a week if sealed in an airtight container.

4. When you’re ready to slice it, unwrap the salami and coat it in powdered sugar “mold.” Serve on a cutting board, sliced into half-inch rounds.

Secretary Vilsack Highlights U.S. Agriculture’s Climate Leadership at COP28

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Dec. 8, 2023 – The United States’ leadership in climate-smart agriculture and forestry is taking center stage at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) as Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and other U.S. Department of Agriculture officials highlight the U.S. commitment to investing in innovative climate solutions, quantifying and demonstrating results, and sharing resources and solutions with the world. 

Today’s Wordle Hints (and Answer) for Friday, December 8, 2023

If you’re looking for the Wordle answer for December 8, 2023 read on. We’ll share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solution. Today’s puzzle is on the easier side; I had it narrowed down to just one possibility after my second guess. Beware, there are spoilers below for December 8, Wordle #902! Keep scrolling if you want some hints (and then the answer) to today’s Wordle game.

How to play Wordle

Wordle lives here on the New York Times website. A new puzzle goes live every day at midnight, your local time.

Start by guessing a five-letter word. The letters of the word will turn green if they’re correct, yellow if you have the right letter in the wrong place, or gray if the letter isn’t in the day’s secret word at all. For more, check out our guide to playing Wordle here, and my strategy guide here for more advanced tips. (We also have more information at the bottom of this post, after the hints and answers.)

Ready for the hints? Let’s go!

Does today’s Wordle have any unusual letters?

We’ll define common letters as those that appear in the old typesetters’ phrase ETAOIN SHRDLU. (Memorize this! Pronounce it “Edwin Shirdloo,” like a name, and pretend he’s a friend of yours.)

Four of the letters are common, and one is sort of medium. No weird or unusual letters today.

Can you give me a hint for today’s Wordle?

It will make you think of a fresh pencil, or a bright student.

Does today’s Wordle have any double or repeated letters?

Nope, five different letters today.

How many vowels are in today’s Wordle?

There is only one vowel in today’s Wordle.

What letter does today’s Wordle start with?

Today’s word starts with S.

What letter does today’s Wordle end with?

Today’s word ends with P.

What is the solution to today’s Wordle?

Ready? Today’s word is SHARP.

How I solved today’s Wordle

ARISE first, as always; the A, R, and S were yellow. I considered SEA_ or SAR_ _ , but those didn’t feel promising. I settled on SCRAP, thinking I might actually get it in two for once. I didn’t, but getting the green S and P, with yellow R and A, only really left S_ARP as a possibility. Had to be SHARP.

Wordle 902 3/6

🟨🟨⬜🟨⬜
🟩⬜🟨🟨🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

A primer on Wordle basics

The idea of Wordle is to guess the day’s secret word. When you first open the Wordle game, you’ll see an empty grid of letters. It’s up to you to make the first move: type in any five-letter word. 

Now, you can use the colors that are revealed to get clues about the word: 

  • Green means you correctly guessed a letter, and it’s in the correct position. (For example, if you guess PARTY, and the word is actually PURSE, the P and R will be green.)

  • Yellow means the letter is somewhere in the word, but not in the position you guessed it. (For example, if you guessed PARTY, but the word is actually ROAST, the R, A and T will all be yellow.)

  • Gray means the letter is not in the solution word at all. (If you guessed PARTY and everything is gray, then the solution cannot be PURSE or ROAST.)

With all that in mind, guess another word, and then another, trying to land on the correct word before you run out of chances. You get six guesses, and then it’s game over.

The best starter words for Wordle

What should you play for that first guess? The best starters tend to contain common letters, to increase the chances of getting yellow and green squares to guide your guessing. (And if you get all grays when guessing common letters, that’s still excellent information to help you rule out possibilities.) There isn’t a single “best” starting word, but the New York Times’s Wordle analysis bot has suggested starting with one of these:

  • CRANE

  • TRACE

  • SLANT

  • CRATE

  • CARTE

Meanwhile, an MIT analysis found that you’ll eliminate the most possibilities in the first round by starting with one of these:

  • SALET

  • REAST

  • TRACE

  • CRATE

  • SLATE

Other good picks might be ARISE or ROUND. Words like ADIEU and AUDIO get more vowels in play, but you could argue that it’s better to start with an emphasis on consonants, using a starter like RENTS or CLAMP. Choose your strategy, and see how it plays out.

How to win at Wordle

We have a few guides to Wordle strategy, which you might like to read over if you’re a serious student of the game. This one covers how to use consonants to your advantage, while this one focuses on a strategy that uses the most common letters. In this advanced guide, we detail a three-pronged approach for fishing for hints while maximizing your chances of winning quickly.

The biggest thing that separates Wordle winners from Wordle losers is that winners use their guesses to gather information about what letters are in the word. If you know that the word must end in -OUND, don’t waste four guesses on MOUND, ROUND, SOUND, and HOUND; combine those consonants and guess MARSH. If the H lights up in yellow, you know the solution.

One more note on strategy: the original Wordle used a list of about 2,300 solution words, but after the game was bought by the NYT, the game now has an editor who hand-picks the solutions. Sometimes they are slightly tricky words that wouldn’t have made the original list, and sometimes they are topical. For example, FEAST was the solution one Thanksgiving. So keep in mind that there may be a theme.

Wordle alternatives

If you can’t get enough of five-letter guessing games and their kin, the best Wordle alternatives, ranked by difficulty, include:

Today’s NYT Connections Hints (and Answer) for Friday, December 8, 2023

If you’re looking for the Connections answer for Friday, December 8, 2023, read on—I’ll share some clues, tips, and strategies, and finally the solutions to all four categories. Along the way, I’ll explain the meanings of the trickier words and we’ll learn how everything fits together. Beware, there are spoilers below for December 8, NYT Connections #180! Read on if you want some hints (and then the answer) to today’s Connections game. 

If you want an easy way to come back to our Connections hints every day, bookmark this page. You can also find our past hints there as well, in case you want to know what you missed in a previous puzzle.

Below, I’ll give you some oblique hints at today’s Connections answers. And farther down the page, I’ll reveal the themes and the answers. Scroll slowly and take just the hints you need!

NYT Connections board for December 8, 2023: STATE, FLAG, PURE, AIR, PRINCE, BANNER, UTTER, FADE, SPEAK, SHEER, STARK, TOTAL, EBB, VOICE, WANE, WAYNE.

Credit: Connections/NYT

Does today’s Connections game require any special knowledge?

Some familiarity with comic books (or action movies) would help.

Hints for the themes in today’s Connections puzzle

Here are some spoiler-free hints for the groupings in today’s Connections:

  • Yellow category – Decreasing.

  • Green category – The most.

  • Blue category – Speaking your mind.

  • Purple category – A lesser-known identity.

Does today’s Connections game involve any wordplay?

There are some names that can be confused with dictionary words.

Ready to hear the answers? Keep scrolling if you want a little more help.

BEWARE: Spoilers follow for today’s Connections puzzle!

We’re about to give away some of the answers. Scroll slowly if you don’t want the whole thing spoiled. (The full solution is a bit further down.)

What are the ambiguous words in today’s Connections?

  • FLAG, STATE, and PRINCE may seem like they go together, but they’re all in different categories and have nothing to do with government today. (Think of FLAG and STATE as verbs, and PRINCE as a name.)

  • To UTTER can mean to VOICE a concern, but it can also be an adjective meaning something extreme or utmost. (No relation to “udder,” which a cow has.)

  • A BANNER can be a flag, or an ad on a website; or it might be Bruce BANNER, alter ego of the Incredible Hulk.

What are the categories in today’s Connections?

  • Yellow: DECLINE

  • Green: ABSOLUTE

  • Blue: EXPRESS

  • Purple: SUPERHERO LAST NAMES

DOUBLE BEWARE: THE SOLUTION IS BELOW

Ready to learn the answers to today’s Connections puzzle? I give them all away below.

What are the yellow words in today’s Connections?

The yellow grouping is considered to be the most straightforward. The theme for today’s yellow group is DECLINE and the words are: EBB, FADE, FLAG, WANE.

What are the green words in today’s Connections?

The green grouping is supposed to be the second-easiest. The theme for today’s green category is ABSOLUTE and the words are: PURE, SHEER, TOTAL, UTTER.

What are the blue words in today’s Connections?

The blue grouping is the second-hardest. The theme for today’s blue category is EXPRESS and the words are: AIR, SPEAK, STATE, VOICE.

What are the purple words in today’s Connections?

The purple grouping is considered to be the hardest. The theme for today’s purple category is SUPERHERO LAST NAMES and the words are: BANNER, PRINCE, STARK, WAYNE.

How I solved today’s Connections

First I go for SHEER, STARK, PURE, and TOTAL, figuring that UTTER must go with the speech-related words like SPEAK and STATE. But I’m wrong, and one away! I switch gears and try EBB, WANE, FADE, and FLAG. 🟨

I’m stuck for a while, and still smarting from yesterday’s loss. As I try to figure out what WAYNE is doing here, I realize I might be looking at a Bruce WAYNE (Batman) and a Bruce BANNER (the Hulk). Are there any more Bruces? No, but there’s a Tony STARK (Ironman) and a Diana PRINCE (Wonder Woman). 🟪

That leaves UTTER in the group with SHEER, PURE, and TOTAL, 🟩 and my final grouping as SPEAK, STATE, VOICE, and AIR. 🟦

Connections 
Puzzle #180
🟩🟩🟪🟩
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟦🟦🟦🟦

How to play Connections

I have a full guide to playing Connections, but here’s a refresher on the rules:

First, find the Connections game either on the New York Times website or in their Crossword app. You’ll see a game board with 16 tiles, each with one word or phrase. Your job is to select a group of four tiles that have something in common. Often they are all the same type of thing (for example: RAIN, SLEET, HAIL, and SNOW are all types of wet weather) but sometimes there is wordplay involved (for example, BUCKET, GUEST, TOP TEN, and WISH are all types of lists: bucket list, guest list, and so on).

Select four items and hit the Submit button. If you guessed correctly, the category and color will be revealed. (Yellow is easiest, followed by green, then blue, then purple.) If your guess was incorrect, you’ll get a chance to try again.

You win when you’ve correctly identified all four groups. But if you make four mistakes before you finish, the game ends and the answers are revealed.

How to win Connections

The most important thing to know to win Connections is that the groupings are designed to be tricky. Expect to see overlapping groups. For example, one puzzle seemed to include six breakfast foods: BACON, EGG, PANCAKE, OMELET, WAFFLE, and CEREAL. But BACON turned out to be part of a group of painters along with CLOSE, MUNCH, and WHISTLER, and EGG was in a group of things that come by the dozen (along with JUROR, ROSE, and MONTH). So don’t hit “submit” until you’ve confirmed that your group of four contains only those four things.

If you’re stuck, another strategy is to look at the words that seem to have no connection to the others. If all that comes to mind when you see WHISTLER is the painting nicknamed “Whistler’s Mother,” you might be on to something. When I solved that one, I ended up googling whether there was a painter named Close, because Close didn’t fit any of the obvious themes, either.

Another way to win when you’re stuck is, obviously, to read a few helpful hints–which is why we share these pointers every day. Check back tomorrow for the next puzzle!

These Are the Best Christmas Sales on Headphones

Unless you give AirPods to an Android user, you can’t really go wrong with a nice pair of headphones as a gift. Even still, to make things a little easier for you, I rounded up the best deals you can find right now on headphones and who they’re best suited for, so you can rest easy knowing you’re getting a good deal and giving a great gift. 

Noise-canceling headphones for those who work from home

Everyone who works from home could use a nice pair of noise-canceling headphones, especially if they have kids or dogs. Luckily for you (and them), there are many great deals on headphones with Active Noise Cancelling (ANC).

Long battery life for the music lovers

Headphones that can last for than 30 hours of playtime are impressive, but you know what’s even better? 50 hours. If you have someone on your list who appreciates not charging their gadgets, these headphones will impress them.

  • The JBL Live 660NC are over-ear noise-canceling headphones that will give you 50 hours of playtime with ANC turned off (up to 40 hours with ANC off). A 10-minute charge will give them another four hours of playtime. It also has an Ambient Aware feature that lets you hear your surroundings and another feature that lets you have a conversation without taking your headphones off. You can get the JBL Live 660NC for $99.95 (originally $199.95) from Amazon. This is the second-lowest price they’ve ever been, according to Camelcamelcamel’s price history.

  • If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option with just as impressive battery life, consider the JBL Tune 710BT headphones. These also have a 50-hour battery life, just none of the fancy features. However, you can still take calls and have voice assistant to control your phone with the push of a button. You can get the JBL Tune 710BT headphones for $39.95 (originally $79.95) from Amazon. This matches the lowest price they’ve ever been, according to Camelcamelcamel’s price history.

Headphones for the gamer in your life

If you have a gamer on your list who plays on consoles or PC, the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay gaming headphones are a great gift for an even more impressive discount. The ANC Bluetooth headphones are currently $329 off after a 66% discount from Woot. You can get the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay for $169.99 (originally $499) during the month of December or while supplies last.

Pixel Buds Pro for the Google lovers

People who like Google gadgets, like Google Homes and Pixel phones, are probably invested in the Google ecosystem and want to keep it that way. If they’re in need of new earbuds, consider the Google Pixel Buds Pro, which are 40% off at $119.99 (was $199.99). This matches the lowest price they hit (starting on Black Friday) since their release last summer, according to Camelcamelcamel’s price history. You can read their full PCMag review here.

Beats for the ones who like to show off

We know the type who likes to show off their new headphones to their friends. If you have someone like that on your list, consider the Beats Solo3, which are 50% off at $99.99 (originally $199.95). This matches their Black Friday price, which is the cheapest they’ve ever been, according to Camelcamelcamel’s price history. These headphones give you up to 40 hours of listening time with fast charging (Three hours of playtime with just a five-minute charge) and have a microphone so you can take calls with them. You can read the full Beats Solo3 PCMag review here.

You Need to Balance Your HVAC System

When certain rooms in a home are consistently warmer or cooler than others, there may be an obvious cause, like an uninsulated exterior wall or drafty windows. But that’s not always the case.

If you’re unable to determine what’s behind the temperature difference, there’s a good chance that your home’s HVAC system needs to be balanced. Air balancing is an essential part of maintaining effective circulation and air quality throughout your home. To better understand this process and why it’s important, Lifehacker spoke with four HVAC technicians and specialists. Here’s what they told us about HVAC balancing, including how to make some DIY adjustments, and when to call a professional.

What is air balancing?

Balancing an HVAC system (or simply “air balancing”) refers to the process of making adjustments in order to optimize a home’s heating and cooling system, and ultimately, making it more efficient, says Jimmy Hiller, president and CEO of Hiller Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical.

“The primary goal of air balancing is to ensure the even distribution of air throughout the home, leading to consistent temperatures in all rooms,” Hiller tells Lifehacker. The process involves making sure each room receives an appropriate amount of heated or cooled air based on its size and usage, he explains.

What are the signs an HVAC system needs to be balanced?

According to all of the HVAC experts we spoke with, the telltale sign that your HVAC system needs to be balanced is uneven heating and/or cooling in different areas of the home. In other words, certain rooms or areas being consistently warmer or cooler than others without a (separate) clear cause.

“If you walk into a room in your house and it feels like the temperature dropped five degrees, this could be a sign of a draft, but it could also be a sign of an HVAC system that just needs to be balanced,” says John Gabrielli, owner and founder of Air Temp Solutions.

Noises like whistling vents or loud air handlers may also be a sign of imbalances in an HVAC system, says Hiller. “Balancing the system can help reduce these noises by ensuring that air flows smoothly through the ductwork,” he explains.

What causes HVAC system imbalances?

Temperature imbalance can be due to various factors like the distance from the HVAC unit, the size and layout of the ductwork, or the natural heat gain/loss in different parts of the home.

“Over time, ductwork can become blocked or begin to leak out air,” Gabrielli tells Lifehacker. “Changes in the home, like renovations or additions, can also alter airflow patterns.” Hiller adds shifts in foundations and insulation to the list of changes in a home’s dynamics that can lead to a home’s original HVAC design no longer being optimal.

In other instances, a closed supply register may be the culprit. “A homeowner that closes supply registers may unintentionally reduce total system airflow, which can stress the blower motor,” says Jennie Bergman, senior product manager of Indoor Air Quality at Trane Residential. “This can lead to increased energy usage, and ultimately, may cause premature system failures because of the excessive wear on the HVAC system.” According to Bergman, a closed supply register has a similar negative impact on HVAC system performance as a dirty or clogged air filter.

Why is air balancing important?

As we discussed above, a balanced HVAC system is necessary for even airflow and consistent temperatures throughout the areas of your home. But, as Hiller and Gabrielli explain, air balancing is essential for reasons beyond comfort. Let’s start with those related to money.

“An unbalanced system can lead to inefficiencies, causing the HVAC system to work harder than necessary to maintain the desired temperature,” says Hiller. When your HVAC system is forced to work harder, it will lead to increases in energy consumption, and, in turn, utility bills. And because it’s overworked, this puts extra strain on the system, which could result in components breaking down more frequently and requiring costly repairs, potentially shortening its lifespan.

It could also cost you when you decide to sell your home. “Regular air balancing is important for preserving and potentially increasing the value of the property, as a well-maintained HVAC system is one of the key features that potential buyers look for,” Hiller explains.

But that’s not all: HVAC system imbalances could also end up harming your home, or even your health. “Proper air circulation is essential for maintaining good indoor air quality,” says Hiller. “An unbalanced system might not effectively circulate air in certain areas, leading to issues such as moisture accumulation, mold growth, or stagnant air.”  

How to balance your HVAC system

As the experts have explained, air balancing is a process that involves making adjustments to various parts of your HVAC system to improve its efficiency. Like most processes, there are usually a number of different steps—some of which are more difficult than others.

In this case, there are many complicated aspects of HVAC system balancing that should only be done by a professional. However, there are also some relatively simple DIY adjustments you can try making first. While these adjustments aren’t going to fix every possible problem, they may take care of yours and are worth trying before calling a professional.

Check the filters

Even if you’re already changing your HVAC filters on a regular basis, you’ll need to do it again. “Whether you or an HVAC technician will perform the balancing, it should always start with checking and replacing filters, because dirty air filters can restrict airflow,” Hiller explains. And according to Chris Winters, a tech content specialist at Cielo WiGle Inc. with five years of experience as an HVAC technician, clogged filters can also cause uneven temperatures. “Clean [your HVAC air filters] every two weeks, and replace [them] every three to four months for optimal performance,” he tells Lifehacker.

Inspect the vents

Next, check all of your home’s air vents—meaning the supply vents (i.e. the ones that blow heated or cool air into your home) as well as the return vents (i.e. the ones that pull air from the rooms in your home and return it to the HVAC system), Hiller advises. Make sure that the vents are open and unobstructed.

Clean the vents

If you notice dust and dirt in your air vents—including stuck in their cover or grille—it’s time to clean them. This 2021 Lifehacker post walks through the various steps in the cleaning process.

Sometimes you might get lucky and figure out that a particular room or area was too hot or too cold because one (or more) of its air vents was switched off, or that a piece of furniture, other large object, or an obscene amount of dust and dirt was blocking it completely. If that didn’t happen, move on to the next steps. (Or, if you’re nearing the end of your technical expertise and/or patience, it may be time to call a professional.)

Do a temperature check

While the HVAC system is running, check the air vents in each room. First, make sure air is blowing out of the each supply vent. If it’s not, double check the vent to see if it’s actually open. If it’s open, but there’s no airflow at all—or it’s extremely low—make a note of it: You’ll probably need to call an HVAC technician, and this way, you’ll be able to let them known which vents aren’t working.

If there is air blowing out of the supply vent, use a thermometer (we recommend an infrared thermometer) to check and make note of its temperature. When you’ve hit up all the vents in your home, review the airflow temperatures, identifying rooms or areas that are too hot or too cold.

Find and adjust the dampers

The next step in DIY air balancing involves your HVAC system’s dampers. According to Hiller, many systems have dampers in the ductwork that can be adjusted to control the airflow to each room.

But before you adjust the dampers, you have to find them. “To locate the dampers, follow the ductwork from the furnace,” Hiller explains. “Dampers are typically located where the ducts branch off from the main line.”

If you don’t already know which ducts supply the air to the various rooms and areas in your home, you may need someone to check the airflow coming through the supply vents and let you know whether there are any changes when you adjust a particular damper. The process is similar to figuring out which breaker controls the electricity on an outlet or switch, and also involves some trial and error.

To adjust your HVAC dampers, you’ll need to rotate the levers outside the ducts. As Winters explains, moving the lever will either open or close a metal disk inside the supply line that controls the airflow to different parts of your home. “Rotate the lever for maximum airflow, keeping the metal disk flat, and be mindful that an upright position blocks airflow,” he notes.

Now that you’ve figured out how to make the adjustments, refer back to your list noting the temperature of the air coming through the vents of each room.

“Slightly close the dampers in rooms that are receiving too much air—usually the ones closest to the HVAC unit—and open them more for rooms that are not receiving enough,” says Hiller. “Make small adjustments, about 10 to 20 percent at a time, and wait a day or two to observe the impact before making further changes.”

Over the next few days, monitor the temperatures in each room, and continue making further adjustments to the dampers until you achieve balanced airflow. “Remember: Each home and HVAC system is unique, so what works for one might not work for another,” says Hiller. “Be patient and prepared for a bit of experimentation to achieve the best results.”

You Can Use End-to-End Encryption in Facebook Messenger Right Now

Meta may not be a bastion of digital privacy (and very well may be an enemy of it), but the times might be a-changin’. In August of 2022, the company announced it was testing end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for Facebook Messenger as the default, meaning all Messenger users would have their chats protected from spying eyes unless they choose not to. Following expanded tests earlier this year, Meta has finally done it: One-on-one Messenger chats and calls are now encrypted by default.

How end-to-end encryption works

With typical messaging, texts are stored openly on your device, the device you send them to, and the server of the messaging platform (i.e. Facebook Messenger itself). Those messages can be read by anyone with access to the devices where those messages are stored, including the hosts of the messaging platform. That makes it easy for a company like Meta to hand over your messages to an authority, should such a request come through.

With end-to-end encryption, however, messages aren’t sent and stored in plain text, but rather they’re “scrambled.” If you were to try to read an encrypted message, it would appear as an unrecognizable jumble of characters, making it useless to intercept.

To unscramble the message, you need a “key.” For messaging purposes, that key is either your device or the recipient’s device. Those two devices are the only devices capable of unscrambling your particular conversation—even though Meta is facilitating the passage of these messages, it has no way to unscramble the messages for itself or anyone who comes asking for them.

How to enable end-to-end encryption in Facebook Messenger

The new E2EE update is rolling out starting today. Once it hits your account, you’ll see a notification explaining the changes. From here, Messenger will invite you to choose a PIN: You can use this number to access your Messenger messages on new devices. Be sure to write the PIN somewhere secure, though. If you forget it, you won’t be able to access your previous messages on other devices, only devices you currently have set up with the PIN.

That’s all there is to it for personal chats: Once updated, you can chat away with friends one-on-one without doing a thing, knowing that your messages are encrypted and protected. Group chats can be encrypted too, but it’s still opt-in at this time. To do so, tap the group chat name at the top of chat, then look for the “Start end-to-end encrypted chat” option.

How to use end-to-end encryption in Messenger before the update

If the update is taking a while to roll out on your end, you can still take advantage of the old way to use E2EE in Messenger. This hidden feature is called “secret conversation,” and it’s fairly straightforward to use (albeit a bit buried). To start, open a chat you’d like E2EE for, then tap the person or group name at the top of the display. Under “More actions,” tap “Go to secret conversation” or “Start end-to-end encrypted chat,” and Messenger will instantly open up a new E2EE chat.

The catch is that the other user needs to be using a device and Messenger app that is compatible with secret conversations and E2EE. If they aren’t, you’ll get an error message when you try to send anything in a secret conversation.

E2EE used to be quite limited on Messenger. You’d get a simple black and white theme to denote the special nature of the chat, all without the usual bells and whistles you’d expect from a Messenger chat. However, following a January update, you can now access many of the usual Messenger features, like chat themes, custom emojis and reactions, group chats, group pictures, link previews, active status, and chat bubbles (Android only).

Just keep in mind, you’ll see two chats in your app for each contact you started a secret conversation with. Make sure you tap on the thread with the lock icon, not the normal conversation, if you want your messages protected. Once E2EE is fully rolled out, I expect this won’t be a problem.