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Tyler Perry and Kerry Washington tell the lesser-known story of ‘The Six Triple Eight’, the 855 Black women who served in World War II, and why it was important to them to bring this story to life.

Tyler Perry and Kerry Washington tell the lesser-known story of The Six Triple Eight, the 855 Black women who served in World War II, and why it was important to them to bring this story to life.

The Six Triple Eight premieres on Netflix Dec. 20.

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A 3 month membership to Audible is just 99 cents per month, down from the typical price of $14.99 per month. That’s a discount of over 90%.

SAVE OVER 90%: A three-month subscription to Audible is on sale for just $0.99 per month, down from the typical price of $14.95 per month. That’s a total savings of $41.88.

Shopping for last-minute holiday gifts? While it may seem late in the game, there’s still time to gift something thoughtful that’ll be enjoyed for months to come. Especially great for dealing with chilly winter months, audiobooks are the perfect gift and there’s currently a great deal from Amazon.

Until Dec. 31, the first three months of a Premium Plus Audible subscription are just $0.99 per month, down from the usual price of $14.95. This sale price will save you over 90% on the three-month deal, slashing $41.88 off the total price overall. After the initial three months, the plan will automatically revert to $14.95 per month, but you’re free to cancel at anytime.

The Audible library is packed with audiobooks, podcasts, and Audible originals that will keep you happily entertained through the winter. If you haven’t jumped on the audio bandwagon yet, consider how enjoyable it would be to listen to an audiobook while driving, working out, walking the dog, or folding laundry.

If you’re not one for listening to books, the Audible collection has tons of podcasts, including exclusives. The Premium Plus membership also gives you a credit each month to purchase any title from the Audible premium selection for free. Additionally, Premium Plus members get exclusive deals and discounts.

If you’re one to always be tuned into podcasts or audiobooks, take advantage of this Amazon deal that’ll give you three months of Audible for just $2.97 in total. You’ll be saving over 90% compared to the typical price of $14.95 per month, and it’s the perfect way to get a taste of the service. Be sure to sign up by 11:59 p.m. PT on Dec. 31 to snag this Amazon deal.

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NYT subscribers can now play old ‘Connections’ puzzles

The New York Times Games has finally introduced the Connections Archive — an exclusive feature for Games and All Access subscribers. Launched on October 8, the archive allows users to revisit and replay over 450 puzzles from the popular Connections game, which launched in June 2023.

Initially accessible on desktop and mobile web, the archive was rolled out to the NYT Games app on iOS and Android later that month. According to Jonathan Knight, head of Games at The New York Times, the archive was “one of the most requested features” from fans.

Through the archive, subscribers gain access to all past Connections puzzles, can resume unfinished games, and track their performance history. Upon completing puzzles, users have the option to share their results and explore insights via the Connections Bot, a daily tool designed to offer personalized puzzle analysis.

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 yesterday’s Connections.

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As of Dec. 23, the PlayStation VR2 is back down to its Black Friday price ($250 off). You can have it before Christmas if you pick it up at Best Buy, and you’ll also get a copy of ‘Horizon Call of the Mountain.’

SAVE $250: As of Dec. 23, the PlayStation VR2 is back down to its Black Friday price of $349.99 ($250 off). It’ll be delivered before Christmas if you pick it up at Best Buy, and you’ll also get a copy of Horizon Call of the Mountain.

If you haven’t ventured into the world of VR gaming yet, the holiday season is a perfect time to do just that. Why? Well, because they usually go on deep sale. Even if you missed Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it’s still not too late to take advantage of some savings.

If you’re one of those people who’s scrambling to get a last-minute holiday gift (don’t worry, we understand — 2024 was a weird one), you might want to consider picking up this PlayStation VR2 bundle. It’s back down to the same price it was on Black Friday, and it’ll get delivered before Christmas as long as you purchase from Best Buy. You’ll also get a copy of Horizon Call of the Mountain, one of the very best PSVR2 games.

While the Meta Quest 3S is probably the more user-friendly option, the PlayStation VR2 is a great VR headset in its own right thanks to its catalog of games and simple setup. Yes, it is a tethered headset, but it plugs easily into your PlayStation 5 console instead of a PC tower and doesn’t require anything else of you other than some guided calibration settings. The star of the show here is the gaming library, though. In addition to Horizon, you’ll also be able to jump into killer titles like Gran Turismo 7, Resident Evil 4, Firewall Ultra, and more.

Grab your PSVR2 bundle at Best Buy today to save $250 and get it before Christmas. Just be fast!

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The cast of ‘A Complete Unknown’ delve into the intricate process of portraying figures from Bob Dylan’s orbit.

The cast of A Complete Unknown—Timothée Chalamet, Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro and Ed Norton—delve into the intricate process of portraying figures from Bob Dylan’s orbit. From Dylan’s input on the screenplay to the emotional weight of embodying Joan Baez and Pete Seeger, the actors share insights, challenges, and how Fanning approached Suze Rotolo’s sacred legacy.

A Complete Unknown opens only in theaters Dec. 25.

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YouTuber MrBeast has shared the first 10 minutes of his Prime Video game show “Beast Games” on YouTube.

Beast Games, MrBeast’s new game show that has been at the centre of controversy after contestants accused production of creating unsafe filming conditions, is live on Prime Video — and now the YouTuber has shared the first 10 minutes.

In the footage above we see 1000 contestants entering a dark arena with the hope of winning the $5 million top prize — but it isn’t long before the challenges start and the players begin to get whittled down.

Beast Games is streaming on Prime Video, with new episodes dropping each Thursday.

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Answers to each clue for the December 23, 2024 edition of NYT’s The Mini crossword puzzle.

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.

Here are the clues and answers to NYT’s The Mini for Monday, December 23, 2024:

Across

Character who’s blue in the face?

The answer is Smurf.

Mideast country that juts out from Saudi Arabia

The answer is Qatar.

Loosen, as a knot

The answer is Untie.

Author’s negotiator

The answer is Agent.

Labourite’s rival, in British politics

The answer is Tory.

Down

What catchers do behind home plate … or an adjective that might describe their physique

The answer is Squat.

Tropical fruit in a sweet salsa

The answer is Mango.

Say aloud

The answer is Utter.

Like stereotypical weather in the Pacific Northwest

The answer is Rainy.

Bar on a guitar’s neck

The answer is Fret.

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

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 yesterday’s Mini Crossword.

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Hints and answers to today’s Hurdle all in one place.

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.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

A surprise.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

SHOCK

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To aggerate an emotion.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

EMOTE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Someone trained in medicine.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

MEDIC

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Someone who makes bread and pastries.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

BAKER

Final Hurdle hint

Liquified fruit or vegetables.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

PUREE

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

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Connections: Sports Edition is a New York Times word game about finding common sports threads between words. How to solve the puzzle.

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

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

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

What is Connections Sports Edition?

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

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

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

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

Here’s a hint for today’s Connections Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

Yellow: Oops!

Green: Where a pitcher stands

Blue: Parts of shooting at a target

Purple: Two of them

Here are today’s Connections Sports Edition categories

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

Yellow: Mistake

Green: Pitching mound

Blue: Archery terms

Purple: Double ____

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 #91 is…

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

Mistake – BLUNDER, ERROR, FLUB, HOWLER

Pitching mound – BUMP, HILL, MOUND, RUBBER

Archery terms – ARROW, BULLSEYE, NOCK, QUIVER

Double ______ – DRIBBLE, DUTCH, HEADER, PLAY

Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

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

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

Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Connections.

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The “Dune: Prophecy” brought us major reveals and set up some new mysteries. Let’s break them down.

Throughout its first season, Dune: Prophecy has hit us with a potent combination of space politicking and sci-fi strangeness, with everything from prophetic visions to magnificent sandworms on the table. In its Season 1 finale, Dune: Prophecy brings all this together for a revelatory conclusion, answering some of our biggest questions from the season, while raising others that will be explored in Season 2.

From revelations about the Omnius Plague to game-changing flashbacks, let’s break down Dune: Prophecy‘s Season 1 finale, “The High-Handed Enemy.”

Flashbacks reveal that Tula is Demond Hart’s mother — and why she gave him away.

Episode 5 of Dune: Prophecy revealed the true reason behind Desmond Hart’s (Travis Fimmel) hatred of the Sisterhood. His mother was a Sister, yet she gave him away. Turns out, his mother was none other than Tula Harkonenn (played by Olivia Williams in the present and Emma Canning in the past). That means his father is the late Orry Atreides (Milo Callaghan), killed by Tula’s own hand.

In a flashback, Tula discloses her pregnancy to her sister Valya (played Emily Watson in the present and Jessica Barden in the past), who is supportive of her decision to keep the baby. She becomes even more supportive after a trip to Mother Superior Raquella’s (Cathy Tyson) breeding index, which shows that a cross between the Atreides and Harkonnen lines would result in a child with extraordinary potential. (Paul Atreides says hi from 10,000 years in the future.)

However, Tula has some misgivings about Valya’s desire to mold and shape her son into a powerful figure from birth. Without Valya’s knowledge, she swaps her newborn baby with the stillborn child of a laborer on Wallach IX. She hopes that in getting her son away from the Sisterhood, he can make his own path. But how could she have predicted that path would have led him right back to the Sisterhood with vengeance in his heart?

More flashbacks show Valya’s bloody rise to power, leading to chaos on present-day Wallach IX.

“The High-Handed Enemy” remains in the past for more major reveals. In the aftermath of Valya’s murder of Sister Dorotea (Camilla Beeput), she, Tula, Kasha (Yerin Ha), and Francesca (Charithra Chandran) confront Dorotea’s disciples in order to assume total control of the Sisterhood. They offer them a choice: Follow Dorotea’s path into death, or follow Valya into the future of the order. When the Sisters don’t choose right away, Valya, Kasha, Francesca, and a hesitant Tula use the Voice to compel them. Most slit their own throats. Only Sister Avila (Barbara Marten) sides with Valya.

The incident would have been lost to history, if it wasn’t for Sister Lila (Chloe Lea) in the present. After undergoing the Agony in episode 2, Lila has become unstable, with her ancestors possessing her body for hours at a time. In episode 5, that ancestor was Raquella. Thanks to her, Tula was able to understand that the cause for present-day Kasha’s (Jihae) death was something similar Omnius Plague, a bioweapon used by thinking machines in the Butlerian Jihad that was long thought to be gone.

But in episode 6, a new ancestor grabs hold of Lila. Sister Dorotea takes control and uncovers the mass grave of her old followers, proving to the current acolytes that the entire Sisterhood was built on blood. Dorotea-as-Lila then leads the acolytes to Raquella’s thinking machine Anirul. She destroys it, possibly taking the breeding index with it.

That’s where Dune: Prophecy leaves things on Wallach IX, with the acolytes disillusioned and ready to destroy everything Valya and Tula have built. But since those two are off-planet, they’ll just have wait until Season 2 to learn about the consequences of their actions.

Salusa Secundus falls into disarray.

Wallach IX isn’t the only planet in the Imperium where all hell is breaking loose. On Salusa Secundus, Empress Natalya (Jodhi May) arrests her own daughter Ynez (Sarah-Sofie Boussnina) for trying to break Kieran Atreides (Chris Mason) out of his suspensor cell. Since Ynez is Valya’s strongest prospect for having a Sister on the throne, she decides to intervene, getting herself arrested on purpose in order to free Ynez. With the help of the Voice and Sister Theodosia’s (Jade Anouka) shapeshifting abilities — which she received as a result of genetic experimentation by the Tleilaxu — Valya, Ynez, and Kieran escape. Theodosia stays behind and disguises herself as a wounded soldier. She almost kills Desmond with the element of surprise, but he wounds her and plans to have her imprisoned. Next season, expect to learn more about her role as a Face Dancer, and the mysterious Tleilaxu who made her this way.

Things continue to fall apart for Emperor Javicco Corrino (Mark Strong). He learns that the Sisterhood has been steering his life from the very beginning, sending Sister Francesca (played in the present by Tabu) to imprint on him in his youth and setting up his match with Natalya. Now that he is no longer useful to the Sisterhood, Valya sends Francesca to kill him with the poisoned gom jabbar needle. But Javicco chooses to grab hold of what little agency remains to him and dies by suicide instead. As Francesca grieves, Natalya uses the gom jabbar to kill her.

With Javicco gone and any trace of the Sisterhood’s council removed from the palace, the Imperium presumably falls to Natalya’s control. But remember, Javicco made his and Francesca’s son Constantine (Josh Heuston) the commander of his fleet in episode 5, meaning that Season 2 could see him fighting Natalya for control.

The cure for the Omnius Plague is basically the Litany Against Fear.

At the very start of the “The Heavy-Handed Enemy,” Tula and Sister Nazir (Karima McAdams) research the mysterious bioweapon that killed Kasha, Pruwet Richese (Charlie Hodson-Prior), and members of the Landsraad. How could Kasha have withstood this virus for so long, while Pruwet and those in the Landsraad died after very little exposure to Desmond?

Turns out, Kasha had a “unique ability to live in the face of fear,” and that kept the virus at bay for a time. Nazir and Tula realize that the virus feeds on fear, explaining the nightmares of the sandworm and those glowing blue eyes that the Sisters have been having. Nazir attempts to create an antiviral by transmuting the virus within herself — similarly to how Sisters alter poison when they undergo the Agony — but fails.

However, when Valya is exposed to the virus in her confrontation with Desmond at the end of the episode, she’s able to make it through thanks to help from Tula. “You have to let go of your fears,” Tula tells her as Valya fights through a vision of the death of their brother Griffin.

She continues: “All the fear. All the pain. You can’t run from it. You can’t fight it. You have to let it pass through you.”

Sound familiar? The emphasis on withstanding fear here calls to mind the Litany Against Fear in Frank Herbert’s original Dune novels, which Lady Jessica and Paul both call upon to center themselves in dire times.

“I must not fear,” the Litany goes. “Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”

Tula’s words to Valya sound like a precursor to the Litany, something we’ll no doubt see take form in Season 2 of Dune: Prophecy. But in Season 1, they work just as well. In her vision, Valya stands and allows the fear to pass through her. She witnesses the sandworm nightmare that has horrified so many of her fellow Sisters, but she also sees beyond it, learning what those monstrous blue eyes have been all this time.

What were the blue eyes in Dune: Prophecy?

As Valya sees, the nightmare that’s plagued her Sisters isn’t just a nightmare: It’s what Desmond Hart experienced after the sandworm attack on Arrakis. When he awoke, he came face to face with a large machine, the blue lights of which are the eyes from the nightmare.

In a gnarly sequence shot from Desmond’s point of view, we watch as the machine pulls one of Desmond’s eyes from its socket and implants his optic nerve with what must be the nanobots that transmitted the virus. A mysterious figure watches the procedure from a nearby window flooded with golden light, suggesting whoever carried out this operation was stationed on Arrakis.

With that knowledge in mind, it’s off to Arrakis for Valya, Ynez, and Kieran, who hope to find the truth behind their hidden enemy. Meanwhile, Tula stays behind in the hopes of saving Desmond from the pain the machines have caused him. But after a silent reunion, Desmond calls for Tula’s arrest. At least she’ll have Theodosia to keep her company.

So after that jam-packed finale, the biggest question remains: Who is the hidden enemy who mobilized Desmond against the Imperium and the Sisterhood?

Whoever it is would have to have access to thinking machines, and no qualms about using them. There are a few possibilities from the Dune novels we could look at. First up is the Richese family, who played a prominent part in Dune: Prophecy‘s first episodes. As longtime makers of thinking machines, they’re clearly more lax about possessing and using them, even though they’re outlawed. However, why would the Richeses use Desmond to kill and maim members of their own family? Could we be looking at a splinter faction within the family?

Another more likely possibility is the Ixians, inhabitants of the planet Ix who continued to manufacture thinking machines. Dune’s “Terminology of the Imperium” section describes Ix as having “escaped the more severe effects of the Butlerian Jihad” alongside House Richese. Now, it’s “supreme in machine culture.” With that in mind, it’s very likely that Dune: Prophecy could be setting up Ix as the next big enemy the Sisterhood and Imperium will face. After all, it’s another important faction from Herbert’s universe, so why not get it on the board for Season 2?

Season 1 of Dune: Prophecy is now streaming on Max.

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