Month: August 2024
‘A tech firm stole our voices – then cloned and sold them’
A voice over artist found out his voice had been taken when he heard a chatbot on a podcast using it.
A voice over artist found out his voice had been taken when he heard a chatbot on a podcast using it.
NYT Strands today — hints, answers and spangram for Sunday, September 1 (game #182)
Looking for NYT Strands answers and hints? Here’s all you need to know to solve today’s game, including the spangram.
Strands is the NYT’s latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it’s great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.
Want more word-based fun? Then check out my Wordle today, NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.
NYT Strands today (game #182) – hint #1 – today’s theme
What is the theme of today’s NYT Strands?
• Today’s NYT Strands theme is… Serve ginger-ly?
NYT Strands today (game #182) – hint #2 – clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
WEEDLEEDFAILFULLCULLMULL
NYT Strands today (game #182) – hint #3 – spangram
What is a hint for today’s spangram?
• Sushi staple
NYT Strands today (game #182) – hint #4 – spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today’s spangram touches?
First: bottom, 2nd column
Last: top, 5th column
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #182) – the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today’s Strands, game #182, are…
RICEAVOCADOSEAWEEDMAYOCUCUMBERCRABSPANGRAM: CALIFORNIAROLL
My rating: EasyMy score: Perfect
I hate this Strands. Not the puzzle itself – which is just about fine. But CALIFORNIAROLL, which is a disgusting concoction simply because it contains MAYO. Mayo is one of the worst things ever – not just a terrible food, but a plague on society, because IT IS USED IN ALMOST EVERYTHING AND I HATE IT. Listen, you don’t need mayo in things. It doesn’t make it better. In fact, it spoils it. Just leave it out and taste the actual ingredients rather than smearing this horrible stuff everywhere. Especially in sushi, which doesn’t need it at all.
Oh yeah, so there’s a game to talk about here too, right? Well it’s a reasonably easy one on account of the spangram taking up about half of the board. Most of the answers are relatively easy to find, and if you like mayo then I’m sure you’ll be delighted with the whole thing.
How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.
Yesterday’s NYT Strands answers (Saturday 31 August, game #181)
SPOONSBROOMCOWBELLWASHBOARDSTOVEPIPEBONESSPANGRAM: JUGBAND
What is NYT Strands?
Strands is the NYT’s new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It’s now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT’s games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
I’ve got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you’re struggling to beat it each day.
Quordle today – hints and answers for Sunday, September 1 (game #951)
Looking for Quordle clues? We can help. Plus get the answers to Quordle today and past solutions.
Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now nearly 1,000 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.
Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my Wordle today, NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.
Quordle today (game #951) – hint #1 – Vowels
How many different vowels are in Quordle today?
• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.
* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).
Quordle today (game #951) – hint #2 – repeated letters
Do any of today’s Quordle answers contain repeated letters?
• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 2.
Quordle today (game #951) – hint #3 – uncommon letters
Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?
• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today’s Quordle answers.
Quordle today (game #951) – hint #4 – starting letters (1)
Do any of today’s Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?
• The number of today’s Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.
If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you’re not ready yet then here’s one more clue to make things a lot easier:
Quordle today (game #951) – hint #5 – starting letters (2)
What letters do today’s Quordle answers start with?
• R
• C
• G
• B
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.
Quordle today (game #951) – the answers
(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)
The answers to today’s Quordle, game #951, are…
RABBICRAWLGUPPYBRAND
Words that end in I can always be a little tricky to find, because it’s really not where you would expect one. My analysis of every Wordle answer – which should broadly apply to Quordle too – shows that I ends only 11 of Wordle’s original 2,309 games. That’s a tiny amount! RABBI may or may not be one of those 11, but it’s definitely a Quordle answer. And when you throw in the repeated B too – another uncommon occurrence – you have a potential game-ender.
How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.
Daily Sequence today (game #951) – the answers
(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)
The answers to today’s Quordle Daily Sequence, game #951, are…
BLURTVIOLATASTYSLOSH
Quordle answers: The past 20
Quordle #950, Saturday 31 August: AWOKE, TIBIA, ITCHY, SNACKQuordle #949, Friday 30 August: ARISE, OLDER, ISSUE, ERUPTQuordle #948, Thursday 29 August: DECAY, DRUID, AVOID, KNEEDQuordle #947, Wednesday 28 August: VIOLA, GONER, CAVIL, SHAREQuordle #946, Tuesday 27 August: ABYSS, DAILY, AGONY, MUSKYQuordle #945, Monday 26 August: NEVER, CHUNK, AUNTY, CROUPQuordle #944, Sunday 25 August: APTLY, LEVER, STORK, WIDOWQuordle #943, Saturday 24 August: EVENT, APNEA, SWATH, IRONYQuordle #942, Friday 23 August: LAUGH, SATYR, CACHE, CLONEQuordle #941, Thursday 22 August: BEARD, PAYER, BROWN, TRUCKQuordle #940, Wednesday 21 August: ALOFT, SNUCK, LAPSE, COMICQuordle #939, Tuesday 20 August: CHIEF, SNORT, OUNCE, MILKYQuordle #938, Monday 19 August: GIVEN, STIFF, STOOL, ANTICQuordle #937, Sunday 18 August: DEPTH, JUICY, GAWKY, INLAYQuordle #936, Saturday 17 August: HUMUS, FRONT, FUNNY, DRYLYQuordle #935, Friday 16 August: BRICK, CABLE, INBOX, FLOSSQuordle #934, Thursday 15 August: STINT, TRAIL, DECAL, BRAINQuordle #933, Wednesday 14 August: TENOR, CLEFT, USHER, CREEPQuordle #932, Tuesday 13 August: LIMIT, AMBLE, ALBUM, BULLYQuordle #931, Monday 12 August: CHEER, FUNKY, TRITE, THUMP
NYT Connections today — hints and answers for Sunday, September 1 (game #448)
Looking for NYT Connections answers and hints? Here’s all you need to know to solve today’s game, plus my commentary on the puzzles.
Good morning! Let’s play Connections, the NYT’s clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need clues.
What should you do once you’ve finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I’ve also got daily Wordle hints and answers, Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.
NYT Connections today (game #448) – today’s words
(Image credit: New York Times)
Today’s NYT Connections words are…
CHARCOALHAMMERGOLF BAGGRILLTOOLBOXRAVENLIMOUSINEJETBROWNDRUMSABLECHARANVILMOVIE SETSEARCANAL
NYT Connections today (game #448) – hint #1 – group hints
What are some clues for today’s NYT Connections groups?
Yellow: Stove top cuisine?Green: Aural areasBlue: Paint it…Purple: All could contain something/someone that gets you somewhere
Need more clues?
We’re firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today’s NYT Connections puzzles…
NYT Connections today (game #448) – hint #2 – group answers
What are the answers for today’s NYT Connections groups?
YELLOW: COOK IN A PAN BROWN, CHAR, GRILL, SEARGREEN: PARTS OF THE EARBLUE: SHADES OF BLACKPURPLE: WHERE YOU MIGHT FIND “A DRIVER”
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Connections today (game #448) – the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today’s Connections, game #448, are…
YELLOW: COOK IN A PAN BROWN, CHAR, GRILL, SEARGREEN: PARTS OF THE EAR ANVIL, CANAL, DRUM, HAMMERBLUE: SHADES OF BLACK CHARCOAL, JET, RAVEN, SABLEPURPLE: WHERE YOU MIGHT FIND “A DRIVER” GOLF BAG, LIMOUSINE, MOVIE SET, TOOLBOX
My rating: ModerateMy score: Fail
Connections is ultimately a game of knowledge and I am just going to have to accept that I do not have enough of that. Or maybe not enough of the type that the NYT values. It’s something of an anomaly, because I solve the likes of Wordle, Quordle and Strands every day (or almost every day in the case of the latter two), and I’ve generally been quite adept at quizzes. But this… this is ridiculous. It’s my eighth failure in 15 games and my fourth in a row, which is unprecedented for me and possibly for the entire world. I might well be the biggest loser anywhere right now.
The argument against that – and the thing I’m clinging on to – is that you could argue that some of this knowledge is arcane, unnecessary and really quite random. For instance, green today, ‘Parts of the ear’: I knew CANAL and DRUM, but ANVIL and HAMMER… nope. And why should I know that? Or DRIVER being something you’d find in a TOOLBOX or on a MOVIE SET? Again, no idea.
So OK, that’s what I’ll stick with for now. The problem is the NYT’s Connections puzzle setter, not me. Let’s go with that.
How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.
Yesterday’s NYT Connections answers (Saturday, 31 August, game #447)
YELLOW: NEWSPAPER SECTIONSGREEN: TREE FEATURESBLUE: KINDS OF SALAD CHEF, GARDEN, GREEK, WEDGEPURPLE: SEEN ON BACKS OF U.S. COINS EAGLE, MONTICELLO, SHIELD, TORCH
What is NYT Connections?
NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.
On the plus side, you don’t technically need to solve the final one, as you’ll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What’s more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.
It’s a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.
It’s playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
‘Is It Ethical to Have Children in the Face of Climate Change?’
A climate newsletter from the Los Angeles Times asked the question: Is it ethical to have children in the face of climate change?
And they start by noting many people ask that question:
A Pew Research Survey published in July found that among U.S. adults aged 18 to 49 who don’t plan on having kids, more than a quarter — 26% — cited “concerns about the environment, including climate change,” as a major factor. Of the people over 50 who did not have kids, 6% cited the same reason, pointing to a generational divide that may be fueled by growing awareness of the issue, as well as increasing exposure to worsening climate hazards…
I worry about the well-being of these kids: What kind of world will they live in? Will there be clean air and water? Will it be too hot or smoky to play outside? (To be blunt, the outlook on these matters doesn’t look great under most emissions scenarios.) But the other side of the coin involves the well-being of the planet. Is it wrong to add more people at a moment when resources are so strained — when, say, the Colorado River is shrinking to record lows and the global average temperature is soaring to record highs? Each new child, after all, will bring not only a cute little footprint but a carbon footprint as well…
[T]he fact is that climate change is also affecting reproduction. Hotter temperatures and air pollution, for instance, have been linked to increased stillbirths, preterm births, lower birth weight and increased risk of hospitalization for newborns and infants, among other negative outcomes. Pregnant people are also especially vulnerable to climate hazards, which can trigger hypertension and other health issues and contribute to reduced fertility rates.
The newsletter makes many other points, but ultimately concludes that “children, after all, are one of the clearest symbols of how we, as a society, feel about the future.” And it includes this quote from the book The Quickening, in which author Elizabeth Rush visits the melting Thwaites Glacier in Antarctic.
“I can celebrate the idea that to have a child means having faith that the world will change, and more importantly, committing to being a part of the change yourself.”
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
A climate newsletter from the Los Angeles Times asked the question: Is it ethical to have children in the face of climate change?
And they start by noting many people ask that question:
A Pew Research Survey published in July found that among U.S. adults aged 18 to 49 who don’t plan on having kids, more than a quarter — 26% — cited “concerns about the environment, including climate change,” as a major factor. Of the people over 50 who did not have kids, 6% cited the same reason, pointing to a generational divide that may be fueled by growing awareness of the issue, as well as increasing exposure to worsening climate hazards…
I worry about the well-being of these kids: What kind of world will they live in? Will there be clean air and water? Will it be too hot or smoky to play outside? (To be blunt, the outlook on these matters doesn’t look great under most emissions scenarios.) But the other side of the coin involves the well-being of the planet. Is it wrong to add more people at a moment when resources are so strained — when, say, the Colorado River is shrinking to record lows and the global average temperature is soaring to record highs? Each new child, after all, will bring not only a cute little footprint but a carbon footprint as well…
[T]he fact is that climate change is also affecting reproduction. Hotter temperatures and air pollution, for instance, have been linked to increased stillbirths, preterm births, lower birth weight and increased risk of hospitalization for newborns and infants, among other negative outcomes. Pregnant people are also especially vulnerable to climate hazards, which can trigger hypertension and other health issues and contribute to reduced fertility rates.
The newsletter makes many other points, but ultimately concludes that “children, after all, are one of the clearest symbols of how we, as a society, feel about the future.” And it includes this quote from the book The Quickening, in which author Elizabeth Rush visits the melting Thwaites Glacier in Antarctic.
“I can celebrate the idea that to have a child means having faith that the world will change, and more importantly, committing to being a part of the change yourself.”
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Trailers of the week: Sonic 3, Napoleon, and Agatha All Along
This week brought a few noteworthy movie and TV trailers — the big one being Sonic the Hedgehog 3. And while I won’t include them here, you should check out some of the trailers included with our coverage of the most recent Nintendo Direct (shoutout to the Nintendo DS Castlevania games collection).
It’s clear that summer is winding down, and so are the big blockbusters. Things will liven up a bit with Beetlejuice Beetlejuice next week, but things are looking quiet for a little bit after that.
Sonic the Hedghehog 3
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 finally brings Sonic’s big nemesis, Shadow, into the mix, played by Keanu Reeves. The trailer only gave a bit of Reeves’ voice but makes up for it with lots of Jim Carrey’s disheveled and depressed Dr. Robotnik and Gerald Robotnik (also played by Carrey). The movie hits theaters on December 25th.
Agatha All Along
Marvel’s Agatha All Along, the Disney Plus series that follows Kathryn Hahn’s WandaVision villain, will begin streaming soon on September 18th. While the show is looking like it’ll have plenty of comedy, this week’s trailer makes it clear there will be plenty of drama, too.
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
A new Wallace & Gromit movie means more stop-motion animation, which is something I’ll never get tired of. In this movie, which will hit Netflix in the US this winter, Wallace invents a smart home device (which is a garden gnome) named Norbot. Things go awry when Norbot is surreptitiously controlled by Feathers McGraw, a villain in the Wallace & Gromit world.
Napoleon: The Director’s Cut
Apple released a director’s cut of Ridley Scott’s Napoleon this week on Apple TV Plus. With 48 minutes of extra footage, it sounds like there’s plenty more to watch if you don’t plan on spending Labor Day weekend standing by a barbecue grill.
This week brought a few noteworthy movie and TV trailers — the big one being Sonic the Hedgehog 3. And while I won’t include them here, you should check out some of the trailers included with our coverage of the most recent Nintendo Direct (shoutout to the Nintendo DS Castlevania games collection).
It’s clear that summer is winding down, and so are the big blockbusters. Things will liven up a bit with Beetlejuice Beetlejuice next week, but things are looking quiet for a little bit after that.
Sonic the Hedghehog 3
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 finally brings Sonic’s big nemesis, Shadow, into the mix, played by Keanu Reeves. The trailer only gave a bit of Reeves’ voice but makes up for it with lots of Jim Carrey’s disheveled and depressed Dr. Robotnik and Gerald Robotnik (also played by Carrey). The movie hits theaters on December 25th.
Agatha All Along
Marvel’s Agatha All Along, the Disney Plus series that follows Kathryn Hahn’s WandaVision villain, will begin streaming soon on September 18th. While the show is looking like it’ll have plenty of comedy, this week’s trailer makes it clear there will be plenty of drama, too.
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
A new Wallace & Gromit movie means more stop-motion animation, which is something I’ll never get tired of. In this movie, which will hit Netflix in the US this winter, Wallace invents a smart home device (which is a garden gnome) named Norbot. Things go awry when Norbot is surreptitiously controlled by Feathers McGraw, a villain in the Wallace & Gromit world.
Napoleon: The Director’s Cut
Apple released a director’s cut of Ridley Scott’s Napoleon this week on Apple TV Plus. With 48 minutes of extra footage, it sounds like there’s plenty more to watch if you don’t plan on spending Labor Day weekend standing by a barbecue grill.