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The NYT Strands hints and answers you need to make the most of your puzzling experience.

If you’re reading this, you’re looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times‘ elevated word-search game.

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

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

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

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: We’re in this together

These words are cozy.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are names for groups of animals.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today’s NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today’s spangram is Groupname.

NYT Strands word list for October 21

Flock

School

Pride

Groupname

Swarm

Knot

Colony

Pack

Herd

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable’s Games page has more hints, and if you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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

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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 October 21’s 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 hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

Yellow: “Who do you think you are I am” not included

Green: Ways to retire

Blue: Large and in charge

Purple: Words after a word that rhymes with “fair”

Here are today’s Connections Sports Edition categories

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

Yellow – Bowling terms

Green – Types of baseball outs

Blue – “Big” baseball nicknames

Purple – Air ___

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 #25 is…

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

Bowling terms: FRAME, GUTTER, SPARE, SPLIT

Types of baseball outs: FLY, GROUND, POP, STRIKE

“Big” baseball nicknames: HURT, MAC, PAPI, UNIT

Air ___: BALL, BUD, FORCE, HOCKEY

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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Here’s the answer for “Wordle” #1220 on October 21, as well as a few hints, tips, and clues to help you solve it yourself.

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

If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for October 21’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What’s the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.

Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:

A kitchen utensil.

Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?

There is one letter that appears twice.

Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…

Today’s Wordle starts with the letter S.

The Wordle answer today is…

Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today’s Wordle is…

SPOON.

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

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

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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

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

Read More 

Skydivers reconsider jumping in Please Don’t Destroy ‘SNL’ sketch

Skydivers reconsider jumping in Please Don’t Destroy ‘SNL’ sketch

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‘SNL’ sketch pokes at Train’s ‘Hey, Soul Sister’ for being kinda racist

‘SNL’ sketch pokes at Train’s ‘Hey, Soul Sister’ for being kinda racist

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‘SNL’ recreates what it feels like to mindlessly scroll thru TikTok

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‘SNL’ Cold Open sees Kamala Harris on Fox News

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Michael Keaton is selling some weird Halloween cookies in ‘SNL’ Shop TV sketch

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Answers to each clue for the October 20, 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 Sunday, October 20, 2024:

Across

Luggage ID

The answer is Tag.

“___ Lisa”

The answer is Mona.

Smallest of five digits

The answer is Pinky.

90° is the right one

The answer is Angle.

“Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and ___”

The answer is Wise.

Down

Equipment used while barbecuing

The answer is Tongs.

Low-down joint

The answer is Ankle.

Marvin of Motown

The answer is Gaye.

Puzzle that celebrated its 10th anniversary this summer

The answer is Mini.

Nails stick out of it

The answer is Paw.

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.

Read More 

Live stream Las Vegas Raiders vs. Los Angeles Rams in the NFL for free from anywhere in the world.

TL;DR: Live stream Las Vegas Raiders vs. Los Angeles Rams for free on TVNZ+. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Not every team has had a good start to the NFL 2024 season. Both the Las Vegas Raiders (2-4) and Los Angeles Rams (1-4) have lost more games than they’ve won and have struggled to make their mark so far.

Now the one-time local rivals meet with a chance to swing the momentum back their way. But the teams will need show serious improvement. The Raiders looked poor both offensively and defensively last week against the Steelers, while the Rams are looking to turn around their worst season start since moving to Los Angeles. Whatever happens, expect drama on the gridiron as both teams battle for the win.

The great news is that Las Vegas Raiders vs. Los Angeles Rams is available to watch for free from anywhere in the world. But only if you know how to access free streams. Read on to find out how.

When is Raiders vs. Rams?

Las Vegas Raiders vs. Los Angeles Rams starts at 4.05 p.m. ET on Oct. 20. This fixture takes place at SoFi Stadium.

How to watch Raiders vs. Rams for free

Las Vegas Raiders vs. Los Angeles Rams is available to live stream for free on TVNZ+.

TVNZ+ is a free streaming platform based in New Zealand and is geo-blocked to that country. But you’ll still be able to access this platform around the world by using a VPN. VPNs are helpful online tools that can hide your actual IP address (digital location) and connect you with a secure server in New Zealand. This will allow you to get around the geo-restrictions and stream TVNZ+ from any location worldwide.

Access free live streams of the NFL by following these simple steps:

Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

Open up the app and connect to a server in New Zealand

Visit TVNZ+

Live stream Raiders vs. Rams for free from anywhere in the world

The best VPNs for streaming aren’t actually free, but the leading VPN providers offer deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By signing up for these deals you’ll be able access free live NFL streams without spending a dime in the long run. This is a temporary fix but you’ll have enough time to stream Las Vegas Raiders vs. Los Angeles Rams, along with other select fixtures, before claiming back any initial downpayment.

What is the best VPN for the NFL?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the NFL live, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries including New Zealand

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

Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

Fast connection speeds

Up to eight simultaneous connections

30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95, which means a saving of 49% on the list price. As part of this limited-time deal you’ll also receive three bonus months of usage for free, a whole year of unlimited data backup via the cloud, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Raiders vs. Rams for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

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