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Leaked footage of EA Motives Iron Man has surfaced online

noreply@blogger.com (mimisabreena) — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 19:26:23 +0000

Gaming leaks have been having a moment lately, most notably the weeks-long saga between Rockstar Games and hacker Cyberleek surrounding Grand Theft Auto VI. But another notable leak flying under the radar is footage from EA Motive's long-dormant Iron Man game that has surfaced online.

What makes this particular leak notable is how long the project has been MIA for. Motive's Iron Man game was first announced four years ago, and since then, it's largely been lumped in with a handful of other Marvel game projects from that era that appeared to stall out. For example, the Captain America and Black Panther-led Marvel 1943, and a separate, solo Black Panther game that was canceled outright.

The leaked footage runs about two minutes and shows off several gameplay areas, including flight-based combat and free-roam exploration. Interspersed throughout are unfinished cutscenes featuring familiar characters from the Iron Man universe, including Pepper Potts and Rhodey, along with a pair of villains, Madame Masque and Obadiah Stane.

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A watermark reading "AUG26" appears across the footage, suggesting a recent capture date — though it's unclear whether that refers to this August or the same date in a prior year during the project's four-year silence. Regardless of when it was recorded, Motive has confirmed the footage is authentic.

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The game's official X account acknowledged the leak in a post, writing, "Well, that didn't go as planned," while promising to share more on the project once the studio is ready.

EA Motive is best known for Star Wars: Squadrons and the critically well-received Dead Space remake.

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My grandparents had a complicated marriage. Then illness made them fall in love again.

noreply@blogger.com (mimisabreena) — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:47:14 +0000

The author's grandparents raised her.

Courtesy of the author

My grandparents had a complicated marriage, but remained together.
When my grandmother developed cancer, the illness brought them closer than I'd ever seen.
They died three months apart, at the exact same hour and minute.

My grandmother got ovarian cancer in her 70s. The initial sign came on New Year's Eve, when Gram, who often said overeating was one of her greatest flaws, thought she had simply done that. She had eaten too much Chinese food, and that was why she threw up. Or so my grandmother reasoned.

Next came the weight loss. She'd struggled with her weight for most of her adult life, so the pounds falling off suddenly was concerning. She'd been a shining example of a healthy older woman until the cancer diagnosis.

Gramps, on the other hand, had health battles from birth. He was born with hydrocephalus, or water on the brain. Time after time, he faced health issues. He had back issues from the military and heart issues starting in his late 40s. He went out on permanent disability after his third heart attack in his 50s. He had heart disease, testicular cancer that he beat, and throat cancer that stole his voice. It also caused him to go into cardiac arrest long enough that we thought he would have brain damage. He did not. Gramps was never healthy, but always strong.

My grandfather was terrified of my grandmother's diagnosis

They both were. Each in their own way. Both of my grandparents were strong-willed, built of the toughest resolve. They were hard workers who had been born to immigrants. They had each worked their way up in their respective fields and had shown me the value of an unwavering work ethic. Gramps went to work through almost anything. Used to battling one form of illness or another for most of his life, he still continued to move forward. Illness never caused any sort of weakness in his determination.

The author says both her grandparents were strong.

Courtesy of the author

As strong as my grandfather was, when he found out my grandmother was sick, it terrified him. He wanted, and had always planned, to be the one to go first. He was the sick one. She was the rock, at least in terms of physical health. Because he had never planned to live without her, there were so many things he didn't know how to do. The tasks of managing the house fell to my grandmother. When she discovered she had cancer, my grandfather was lost in so many ways.

Their marriage wasn't easy

While their marriage had not always been easy, they had always loved each other. My grandmother, who had been married twice before, insisted the third time was the charm. Cliché, but true. Gram and Gramps shared a mutual love of socializing, trips, and outings on the wooden boat we owned. The weekends of my youth were filled with visits from their friends. They often flew off to tropical lands, without my brother and me.

Illness brought them together in a different way. It was a deeper connection, perhaps because they knew it would be the thing to take them from one another. Or maybe because they were sharing a new experience. Either way, they battled it together. Gram and Gramps learned to appreciate and love each other in a pure and infinite way.

While I've witnessed sickness pull people apart, for my grandparents, it strengthened their marriage. They lived in the present and left past slights behind. It was an unbelievable journey that I felt blessed to watch. I remember my aunt saying that illness had changed them, softened them. She was right. While Gram and Gramps' bodies were weaker, illness had made them better versions of themselves.

They died months apart, but at the same time to the minute

When Gram went to a rehabilitation center for an extended period, Gramps' health declined. He entered the hospital in July, and we got to spend his final hours with him. He died on July 7. Gram, one of the strongest women I knew, showed grace and fierce tenacity when he died. She brought us comfort by sharing a letter that she and Gramps wrote together about their wishes after death. I still have that letter.

Gram died three months later. Remarkably, it was at the exact hour and minute that my grandfather did. Their unfaltering devotion to each other, while battling illnesses that would end their lives, taught me what devotion really looks like.

The author says sickness brought her grandparents together, and they died months apart.

Courtesy of the author

It was remarkable to watch them fall in love all over again and let go of all the past wrongs. Until they got sick, I hadn't thought much about the marriage vow, "In sickness and in health." Through their renewed commitment in the hardest times of their marriage and their lives, I finally understood.

Marriage lasted beyond the initial phase of love and became something far greater — undying devotion until the very end.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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Robert De Niro & Adam Scott on How The Whisper Man Tackles Generational Trauma

noreply@blogger.com (mimisabreena) — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 18:26:06 +0000

In advance of the release of Netflix's new thriller The Whisper Man, Mashable executive producer Mark Stetson sat down with stars Robert De Niro, Adam Scott, director James Ashcroft, and author Alex North to discuss the film's theme of generational trauma, the complex dynamics between fathers and sons, and the process of adapting the highly anticipated novel for the screen.

Author of the book, Alex North discussed the book's themes that were most important to translate to film: "This is a book that I wanted to write because it was about fathers and sons, and grandfathers and fathers and sons. And different iterations of the way that plays out in terms of generational trauma. How we respond to things that have happened in our childhood, how we protect our children from things that have happened in our childhood, how we pass things down and how we don't."

Adam Scott was particularly drawn to North's themes. "I thought it was a really interesting part of the script, this horrifying trauma that they are both going through while simultaneously trying to repair their relationship."

De Niro added, "It was one of the things that attracted me to the script, that relationship."

At the close of the interview, Robert De Niro shares his candid advice for young actors who experience imposter syndrome when working with their heroes: "If it manifests in a such a way where it gets in the way of working on a scene, I'd say, 'It's ok, don't worry. In two days, it's all going to go away. It's just us."

The Whisper Man is now streaming on Netflix.

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OpenAI cuts off Cursors AI models, deepening feud with Musk

noreply@blogger.com (mimisabreena) — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 16:26:25 +0000

OpenAI said Friday it will wind down its partnership with Cursor, the popular AI coding tool now owned by SpaceX, marking the latest escalation in the long-running dispute between OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Elon Musk.

In a company blog post, OpenAI said it notified SpaceX of its intent to end the contract, proposing a shutoff date of Nov. 12, 2026 — the maximum notice window allowed under the agreement.

OpenAI framed the decision as a matter of trust. The company said it could not be confident that SpaceX would use its technology in accordance with OpenAI's terms of service, citing what it described as a pattern of Musk's companies violating contracts. Specifically, OpenAI's post alleged that X breached the terms of its own contract with OpenAI after Musk's acquisition, and noted that Musk had admitted under oath earlier this year that xAI had also violated OpenAI's terms of service.

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OpenAI added that its custom agreement with Cursor only gave it a limited window to cancel following a change of ownership, and said it wanted to preserve as much access as possible for developers in the meantime, calling the choice "incredibly tough" given how widely it wants its models used.

SpaceX completed its acquisition of Anysphere, the startup behind Cursor, earlier this month, following a deal announced in June.

Responding on X, Musk wrote that he "couldn't care less," while calling Altman and OpenAI president Greg Brockman "untrustworthy" and repeating his long-standing claim that the pair "stole an open source nonprofit." Michael Truell, Cursor's co-founder and now a SpaceX executive, struck a more conciliatory tone, saying on X that the company was in talks with OpenAI's team to try to resolve the issue.

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Since the announcement, OpenAI competitor Anthropic — which has an ongoing partnership with SpaceX — said it would increase compute support for its Claude models within Cursor.

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This is only the latest chapter in a feud that has simmered for years. Musk sued OpenAI and Altman for $150 billion over the company's shift from its nonprofit roots; a federal jury ruled against him earlier this year, finding he'd filed too late.

The fight has also played out repeatedly on social media, as Mashable has reported. Altman reposted allegations that Musk's companies failed to preserve key documents during discovery, then turned Musk's own catchphrase back on him: "Concerning!" He later said he was "really excited" to depose Musk, calling it "Christmas in April."

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

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I'm an Airbnb Superhost who's had over 500 guests. Here are 5 things I wish visitors knew before checking in.

noreply@blogger.com (mimisabreena) — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 16:47:23 +0000

I am an Airbnb host with two properties in upstate New York, including a home near Lake George.

Emily Elizabeth

I'm an Airbnb Superhost with several properties. Here's what I wish guests knew before each stay.
When guests tell me why they're coming, I can tailor my suggestions to them better.
If I'm not getting a five-star rating and review, I don't want one at all.

As an obsessive traveler, I've always been fascinated by the world of hospitality.

Throughout my career in public relations, I was fortunate to work for some of the world's best hotel brands, which gave me a behind-the-scenes look into what it takes to provide an exceptional guest experience.

Now, I'm an Airbnb Superhost with dozens of five-star reviews and high standards that I strive to uphold daily at my rentals across upstate New York.

Airbnb is a marketplace, so your rental options (and the people who host them) will vary. However, many hosts, like me, are dedicated to providing an exceptional experience for guests.

Here's what I wish people knew before staying at my properties.

It's really helpful when you tell me why you're coming

I like to know why guests are staying at my properties.

Emily Elizabeth

Booking a rental home can feel like going on a first date, just with a place. You might wonder: Will it look like the photos? Were certain features overexaggerated? Will it satisfy my needs?

As a host, I feel similarly, though my perspective is more of a protective parent: Will you take care of my baby and return her on time?

When you send me a message to introduce yourself and explain why you're visiting, I get a glimpse of your personality and can feel more at ease about welcoming you. You become a real person, not just a face on a screen.

Plus, learning more about you, your guests, and the purpose of your trip helps me to provide you with better recommendations.

I spend a lot of time curating local recommendations

Speaking of recommendations — I have a lot of them. I've explored every corner of the areas where my rentals are based, visiting local restaurants, hiking trails, shops, and more.

It's been fun, but it's also research. Part of the reason I did this is because I want to be able to share personal recommendations with guests. Anyone can Google, but as a host, I want to suggest local places, dishes, and travel tips that a quick search won't uncover.

When I know who's staying at my Airbnb and what they're looking to get out of their trip, I'm better able to curate my recommendations.

The first few minutes of a stay are crucial, and I hold my breath for your check-in

I've stayed in my own rental properties many times and explored the surrounding areas.

Shandi Marie

I used to work for a boutique hotel brand that commissioned some proprietary research about the guest experience.

One finding from it has stuck with me: The first 10 minutes of a guest's arrival set the tone for their entire stay.

For my rentals, that translates to a series of questions. Did I provide clear enough directions, or did you drive past the house a few times before finding it? If you're arriving at night, did my motion-sensor light illuminate the driveway and stay on long enough for you to unpack your car?

Did the personalized key code work on the first try? Did my home look spotless when you walked in? A smooth and seamless arrival is key — it sets the stage for you to instantly feel at home.

My rentals are a point of pride that I've spent months perfecting and testing

Before committing to any paid stays, I made sure each of my rentals had several thorough trial runs.

I have spent many weeks hosting family and friends, demanding their most nitpicking, detailed feedback.

I've also stayed with my own family at each place during every season, making real-time improvements to increase functionality or add missing amenities.

Not every host does this, but I find this has been the best way to get thorough, realistic feedback about each property.

Give me a 5-star review or no review at all

It's not great when guests leave Airbnb reviews that are less than five stars.

Emily Elizabeth

Think about your last Google search: How often do you venture past the first page of results?

Just as first impressions matter on search engines, they're equally crucial on Airbnb, where listings with higher review scores generally rank higher in the algorithm.

Though four stars may seem commendable elsewhere — even the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it as "of a superior degree of excellence"— it doesn't quite cut it on Airbnb (or on a lot of review-fueled marketplaces).

In many ways, the success of my business hinges on achieving five-star reviews. I'd rather guests not leave a review than give me anything less than a perfect score.

This story was originally published on August 5, 2024, and most recently updated on August 28, 2026.

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GTA 6 Netflix extended look: What time it releases today

noreply@blogger.com (mimisabreena) — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 16:26:13 +0000

For months, video game enjoyers have been wondering when we'd actually get to see some real gameplay footage of Grand Theft Auto VI prior to its release in November. Over the past few days, leakers have been sharing a lot of footage online, but today we'll get to see something official.

Rockstar Games is bringing "an extended look" at GTA VI that will air today, Aug. 27, on Netflix, at 3 p.m. ET. If you can't or don't want to watch it on Netflix, the same footage will appear on Rockstar's YouTube channel at 9 p.m. ET that night. The Netflix website also states, "Coming August 27: See an extended look at Grand Theft Auto VI, the next evolution in the groundbreaking Grand Theft Auto series.

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Fans have been speculating for months about when the next GTA VI trailer will finally see the light of day. Interestingly, neither Rockstar Games nor Netflix actually uses the word trailer, so it's unclear what form this "extended look" will take.

Likewise, Rockstar's post didn't include any new footage or even a clear description of what we'll see, but it's easy enough to make an educated guess. The game is out on Nov. 19, and we've seen very little gameplay footage from official sources.

It's also worth briefly noting that, as someone who has followed video game news very closely for more than 20 years, I can't recall a single game trailer airing first on a paid streaming service. That's the world Rockstar has created for itself.

As a reminder, you have until the middle of November to save up $100 for the version of the game that comes with every feature.

'Grand Theft Auto VI' for PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X

$79.99 at Amazon

'Grand Theft Auto VI' Ultimate Edition: PS5 or Xbox

$99.99 at PlayStation Store

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GTA VI Netflix extended look: 3 things we want to see

noreply@blogger.com (mimisabreena) — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 18:26:46 +0000

A ton of Grand Theft Auto VI footage has leaked in August. Rockstar has, in a moment of rare transparency, acknowledged the leaks and confirmed their authenticity. But there's still the matter of the big "Extended Look" that's set to air on Netflix on Thursday.

With so many gameplay videos swirling around the internet already, it's easy to forget that Rockstar's first official glimpse at GTA VI gameplay is happening this week. You'll need a Netflix account if you want to see it at 3 p.m. ET, but it'll go up on YouTube at 9 p.m. ET, too. We still don't know exactly how long the footage will be or what it will entail, but presumably, it will show, in some detail, how the game actually plays.

Here are three major things I want to see from this extended look on Netflix.

The game's other protagonist

Early marketing for GTA VI has all but confirmed that the game has two protagonists, a couple named Jason and Lucia. It very much seems like the game is going for a sort of modern-day Bonnie and Clyde thing, which is a novel hook for GTA. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, Lucia has been almost entirely absent from the leaked materials so far as of publication.

We've seen brief glimpses of her in cutscenes, but whoever is leaking all that footage is seemingly totally uninterested in playing as her. I suppose there's a chance she's not actually playable, but man, that would be a huge disappointment, as GTA hasn't had a playable female protagonist in its main story since the series blew up on the PlayStation 2.

Considering GTA V had three protagonists, it's likely that VI has two. I'd like an answer to the question of Lucia's playability more than almost anything else in the extended look on Netflix.

Literally anything that wasn't already in GTA V

Another bummer of the leaks so far is that they've been almost entirely focused on things you could already do in other GTA games.

I frankly didn't need a leaker to tell me I could beat up civilians, steal cars, and visit strip clubs. I've been able to do all of those things in GTA games for nearly 30 years. One leak featured a playable basketball mini-game, which is fine, but you could also play tennis and golf in GTA V. Other leaks have briefly showcased mechanics such as cars needing gas and cops being able to recognize the player character's current appearance. Those are neat ideas, but again, the leaks don't do a great job of showcasing how they actually function within the game's design.

This game is coming out 13 years after the previous entry in the series. I need to know what has taken that long besides making beach towels look super detailed. Will this game build on the depth of NPC interactions that were possible in Red Dead Redemption II? Will it bring any original ideas to the table? I'd love to know that by the end of the Netflix presentation.

A glimmer of hope that the writing is good this time

By far the most important (and honestly maybe least likely) change I'd love to see in GTA VI has to do with the writing. I used to enjoy the sense of humor in GTA games, and then I turned 16. By the time GTA V came out, I was all the way done with Rockstar's grating, juvenile, and sometimes outright hateful satire of American culture. To be clear, satirizing America is fine and necessary, but not the way the old GTA games do it.

What I want to see more than anything else in the Netflix footage is a sign — just one — that things have changed. I know better than to expect a fully woke GTA game, so I'd settle for something that's a little more self-serious, heartfelt, and focused on its characters. Red Dead Redemption II wasn't perfect, but it showed a way forward for writing in Rockstar games. I hope GTA VI follows that path.

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The Owala FreeSip Sway water bottle is on sale for the best price at Amazon

noreply@blogger.com (mimisabreena) — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 18:26:35 +0000

SAVE $7: As of Aug. 26, the 30-ounce Owala FreeSip Sway water bottle is on sale in select colorways for $27.99 at Amazon, down from the usual price of $34.99. That matches the lowest price we've seen at Amazon.

Credit: Owala

Owala FreeSip Sway (30 ounce)

$27.99 at Amazon
$34.99 Save $7.00

We all know chugging down the ounces is good for us. Our physical bodies depend on water to survive, and yet, most of us are on the struggle bus when it comes to actually staying hydrated. It's one of life's greatest mysteries as to why we have trouble consistently consuming a tasteless beverage to keep our bodies healthy and happy. One small improvement, however, is getting a water bottle you actually like. A Mashable favorite is on sale today for a nice 20% discount.

As of Aug. 26, the 30-ounce Owala FreeSip Sway water bottle is on sale in select colorways for $27.99 at Amazon, marked down from the usual price of $34.99. That matches the lowest price we've seen.

When it comes to finding the best water bottle, Mashable staffers are all in on the Owala FreeSip. Mashable Lead Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino has owned her FreeSip for years. In her review, she wrote, "The Owala FreeSip lives up to its promise of both a sippable and chuggable water bottle. The best part to me is that, unlike other bottles with a straw that I've used, the FreeSip has a cover for the spout. That way, when you're out and about in the world, it's safe from germs and bacteria."

Today's sale price of $28 applies to the 30-ounce version, and you have your choice of several colorways. The Owala does an excellent job of keeping cool drink chilled while also being leakproof. That makes it a great travel companion knowing it won't spill in your backpack or tote. But keep in mind the Owala FreeSip is not designed for hot beverages.

Since it's a staff favorite at Mashable and it's on sale for a great price, consider making the upgrade to the Owala FreeSip Sway water bottle. It's perfect for back-to-school season and getting a fresh start with hitting daily hydration goals.

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GTA VI Cyberleek update: Everything leaked Tuesday, this week

noreply@blogger.com (mimisabreena) — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 17:26:08 +0000

Alleged clips of Grand Theft Auto VI simply cannot stop leaking onto the internet.

After a few clips came out over the weekend and into Monday, there are now a few more, courtesy of the now-notorious leaker known as Cyberleek. As Rockstar and Take-Two step up their efforts to find and stop Cyberleek, clips keep coming out at an even more rapid pace.

We're not going to embed or link directly to any of these clips, but they are easy to find on social media. As of Tuesday morning, three new clips have surfaced:

A clip of the player exploring a nightclub
A clip of protagonist Jason riding a bicycle on a beach packed with civilian NPCs
A clip of Jason looking around a fictional video game retailer, complete with a bunch of fake video game boxes

That brings the total number of leaked clips to 13, at the time of publication. To be clear, their authenticity has not been totally verified, but Rockstar and parent company Take-Two's legal efforts to stop them from coming out is certainly telling in that regard. In subpoenas, Take-Two has referred to the Cyberleek videos as "stolen content" and "leaked gameplay videos," suggesting they could be authentic.

As a reminder, Rockstar is set to officially show an extended look at GTA VI gameplay on Netflix on Thursday.

In the meantime, neither Rockstar nor Take-Two has issued any statements about the Cyberleek situation.

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SpaceX disses and Eminem remixes: Inside David Einhorn's latest Greenlight letter

noreply@blogger.com (mimisabreena) — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 18:47:20 +0000

David Einhorn founded Greenlight Capital three decades ago.

Bloomberg/Getty Images

Greenlight Capital's second-quarter letter mixed market commentary with firm and personal updates.
David Einhorn's $5.3 billion manager celebrated its 30th anniversary in May.
Einhorn remixed Eminem's "Lose Yourself" to be about the investment manager at the firm's party.

David Einhorn rapped a remix of Eminem's hit "Lose Yourself" at Greenlight's 30th anniversary party, but saved his best disses for SpaceX.

In the $5.3 billion firm's second-quarter letter, seen by Business Insider and dated from the beginning of August, the IPO of Elon Musk's rocket-meets-artificial-intelligence company was called "a marker that a speculative top is near."

The letter congratulates investors who invested in the company during private fundraising rounds on their big win, but questions the massive valuation at which the company went public.

"We don't know if it is best described as the meme-ification of the market at scale, the latest proof that the markets are 'broken,' a remarkable manipulation of the IPO process (including floating less than 5% of the company while persuading several index providers to grant early inclusion), or just another insult to value investing," the letter reads.

Greenlight's five-page letter is stuffed with personal news, firm updates, and market commentary. A picture of the firm's staff at the 30th anniversary party in May appears up top, along with news that Einhorn proposed to his longtime girlfriend at the event.

A snippet of his Eminem rap — which the letter calls "The Greenlight Story" — ends the note: "Lose Yourself in the Greenlight the moment you own it, you better never let it go. You only get one shot. Do not miss your chance to grow. This opportunity comes once in a lifetime."

The fund, however, lost money in the second quarter and is up just 1.9% through June on the year, thanks to losses in the firm's macro book, which was stung by wrong-way bets on gold and US interest rates. The average hedge fund was up by more than 7% through the same stretch, according to industry data tracker PivotalPath.

SpaceX investor conversations and criticism

The longtime value investor is unsurprisingly critical of SpaceX's valuation. Einhorn and Musk have butted heads before, as the former was once a loud skeptic of Tesla, shorting the stock and presenting on the position at conferences like Sohn.

His criticisms of SpaceX, however, are directed at the market, not the company. The letter cites a conversation with an unnamed investor in SpaceX who has "billions" invested in the company and told Greenlight that the company will generate $1 trillion in high-margin revenue.

"When we observed that $1 trillion would exceed the annual revenue of either Amazon or Walmart and asked him to support his claim, he offered no explanation and instead pivoted to a rant about short sellers," the letter reads.

A footnote attached to the sentence included a Musk barb: "In fairness, this investor appears to be simply repeating Elon Musk's forecast."

Rating agencies are "perhaps demonstrating even more questionable behavior than the equity holders," the letter states, by giving SpaceX an investment-grade rating despite its lack of positive cash flow.

"We can't find any other examples of investment-grade ratings being awarded to a company with a multi-year forecast of negative free cash flow and no history of generating free cash flow," the letter states.

The firm added five new equity positions to its book and closed out three long-standing bets last quarter.

The additions were: Comcast, building products company Fortune Brands Innovations, Saratoga water parent Primo Brands, PayPal, and auto parts maker Versigent. The manager sold its stakes in Greek utility Public Power Corp, oilfield equipment company Weatherford International, and Victoria's Secret.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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NYT Pips hints, answers for August 23, 2026

noreply@blogger.com (mimisabreena) — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 17:26:09 +0000

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

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for August 23 Pips

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

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 3-2, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

Greater Than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 6. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for August 23 Pips

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally; 0-2, placed horizontally.

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

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 5-4 placed vertically; 3-0, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is1-1, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for August 23 Pips

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally; 5-0, placed horizontally.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 5-0, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally; 1-5, placed vertically.

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

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-1, placed vertically; 2-0, placed vertically.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally; 6-1, placed horizontally.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 2-0, placed vertically; 6-6, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 6-1, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally.

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

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

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LG C5 TV review: Here's why it's still one of our favorite midrange OLEDs

noreply@blogger.com (mimisabreena) — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 16:47:20 +0000

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The LG C5 is now available in sizes ranging from 42 to 83 inches.

John Higgins/Business Insider

LG's C-Series OLEDs consistently rank high on many top TV lists. As someone who reviews TVs for a living, I've helped a few friends invest in one, and they're always incredibly satisfied. Even more than a year since it first hit stores, the brand's C5 OLED continues that tradition, remaining an excellent value.

It delivers solid brightness, has excellent color accuracy, and produces the deep, inky black levels OLED TVs are known for. It also boasts AI features (as does everything nowadays) and a long-needed remote redesign.

After putting the C5 through my extensive testing process, here's why this 2025 TV model is still an excellent buy in 2026.

A familiar design, but the remote has been refreshed

Four HDMI 2.1 ports are included for connecting components such as a soundbar, gaming console, and streaming player.

John Higgins/Business Insider

The C-Series is one of LG's most expansive TV lines, so it's no surprise that the C5 is available in six sizes: 42, 48, 55, 65, 77, and 83 inches. My review sample is a 65-inch model provided by LG. All sizes but the 42-inch version use an angled pedestal stand (the 42-inch TV has two widely spaced feet).

The connections are on the left side of the TV (when facing the front) and include four HDMI 2.1 ports (with eARC on HDMI 2), three USB 2.0 ports, LAN, optical audio out, RS-232C, RF antenna, and an IR blaster port. The TV also supports Bluetooth 5.3 and WiFi 6E connectivity. The power cable is hard-wired and extends from the middle of the set. The back of the panel has an interesting textured marble look and feel. I'll admit that I dig it, but am also a bit surprised when cool design elements like this are so hidden, considering few are likely to see the panel's rear.

One of the C5's biggest changes isn't even on the TV itself. It's a new design for LG's Magic Remote. I've never been much of a Magic Remote fan, so I was excited that a change was in store. While the old Magic Remote had a chunky, curved design that was meant to be ergonomic (I never found it to be), the new one has a more traditional rectangular design. It fits more comfortably in my hand, and there are significantly fewer buttons because the redesign has removed all numeric functions.

The remote's new design is more comfortable and streamlined, but it's now missing dedicated mute and input buttons.

John Higgins/Business Insider

It's a vast improvement over previous iterations, but it's still not perfect. For one, it isn't backlit, which is annoying in a dark room, and there's no input select button. Instead, you need to navigate through the Home menu to select an input on screen. There isn't a dedicated mute button either. Muting can still be achieved by holding the volume down button. But by mapping the function this way, it's now difficult to quickly lower the volume rather than completely mute it. It's just an odd design choice.

The Magic Remote still has its motion control tech, which lets you wave it around like a wand to move a virtual cursor on the screen. This remains a divisive feature, and there's still no way to turn it off completely. You can press down on the directional pad to navigate the TV in a traditional manner, but the motion controls are reactivated whenever you move the scroll wheel, which is too easy to accidentally toggle. Hopefully, LG will add a way to fully disable the wand feature for those who dislike it.

The C5 delivers great picture quality

LG's C5 offers impressive image quality for a midrange OLED.

John Higgins/Business Insider

TVs — especially those in the midrange class and above — have grown so close in performance that it's hard to find significant fault with all that much. This is even more true for the best OLED TVs, because no matter the price point, they have perfect black levels at the pixel level (since the pixels can actually turn off) and are generally highly color-accurate.

The LG C5 is no exception. I measured the C5 using a Portrait Displays C6 HDR5000 colorimeter, G1 pattern generator, Konica Minolta LS-100 light meter, and Calman calibration software. The LG C5 ships in Auto Power Save mode, which exhibits an extreme blue tint and overbrightens most midtone grays. For an accurate picture, the first thing you should do is switch into either Filmmaker or Cinema mode. After that, navigate to the energy saving option in the General settings menu and change Energy Saving Step from Auto to Off. This will unlock the brightness adjustments.

In Filmmaker and Cinema modes, high-dynamic-range (HDR) grayscale accuracy tracks incredibly well. DeltaE (dE) errors, which indicate how close the measurements are to perfect readings (the lower the better), were under the perceptible value of 2.3. The C5 covers 98.6% of the P3 color gamut and 73.34% of the BT.2020 color space, both of which are excellent for an OLED of this type. Standard dynamic range (SDR) performance is equally impressive, with an average grayscale dE of just 1.9, a gamma of 2.21, and 98.7% coverage of Rec. 709 (the standard SDR color gamut used for most cable, satellite, and live TV streaming services).

In SDR with brightness set to 100, the C5 outputs 410 nits within a 10% window. If you plan to watch SDR content in a suitably dark room, a brightness setting of 11 reduces light output to 104 nits, just above the target of 100. If you prefer a slightly brighter picture for your SDR content, setting 40 increases light output to 202 nits.

With an HDR signal, the LG C5 delivers respectable brightness for a midrange OLED. On a 10% HDR window, the C5 hit 1,174 nits. But the C5 still can't compete with LG's G-Series models, which can hit over 2,000 nits, or flagship Mini LED TVs from Hisense and TCL that can surpass a whopping 4,000 nits.

HDR content looks great thanks to the C5's high-contrast OLED panel.

John Higgins/Business Insider

What does this brightness mean with actual content, though? Small, bright portions of the screen (called specular highlights) sparkle, adding life to the picture when watching HDR movies and shows. This is especially true because OLED tech can light a single pixel at a time. I was lucky to have my review period line up with the premiere of "Andor" season two, and just the opening title sequence, where the word Andor appears amid a space sky littered with stars, looked stunning. The blaster fire from the stolen TIE prototype lit up the Yavin IV night, as did the resulting explosions against the dark landscape.

Dark shadows also provide great detail. The piano against the back wall of Sapper Morton's home in the early scenes of "Blade Runner 2049" stands apart and gives the image great dimensionality. On less capable TVs, the piano in this sequence tends to meld into the wall.

Colors on the C5 looked lush and rich. The hills of the Shire and the forests around Rivendell in "Fellowship of the Ring" were inviting and realistic. And the fireworks at Bilbo's birthday celebration sparkled with light and color to the delight of all.

The C5 uses a traditional WOLED panel rather than a Quantum Dot OLED (QD-OLED) panel, which is used on some competing Samsung TVs. The main shortcomings of WOLED when compared to QD-OLED are color volume and brightness. As such, Samsung's S90F can get a bit brighter and has slightly wider color capabilities than the C5.

The LG C5 is a very capable gaming TV

The C5 has a handy Game Optimizer menu, and it's one of the first LG TVs to support the Xbox app.

John Higgins/Business Insider

In the past, I've recommended the Samsung S90 series to friends and readers as a gaming-centric television. It used to set itself apart from many direct competitors by supporting cloud gaming through the Xbox app with Game Pass, allowing access to a vast catalog of games without a console. It also has a high 144Hz refresh rate with PCs. Both of those features were missing on LG's older C4.

But the C5 levels the playing field. It now supports cloud gaming through the Xbox app and a 144Hz refresh rate with PCs. It also uses Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium variable refresh rate (VRR) technologies.

I played "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33" through the Xbox app with a wired Gigabit connection and was overall impressed. The image still isn't as detailed as it is when playing the game locally on my Xbox Series X, and streaming causes some posterization (likely from compression), especially in dark portions of the screen, but the game was responsive. I would still opt for a console to get the best visuals, but using the app is a great way to get your gaming fix without dropping a few hundred dollars for a Series S or X.

Another small drawback to using cloud gaming instead of a console is that LG's Game Optimizer menu is only available with an HDMI connection. I'm a fan of the Game Optimizer menu, which displays frame rate, VRR, latency, and black stabilizer information while making it quick and easy to access these gaming features. Pressing the settings button on the remote opens the Game Optimizer menu instead of the usual settings menu you get when watching regular TV.

The one issue with the default Game Optimizer Picture Mode is that its color leans very blue. This does make the image appear brighter, but it causes the colors to be inaccurate. To bring the color accuracy in line with Filmmaker Mode, under the Picture menu, you can go to Advanced Settings, then Color, White Balance, and change Color Temperature from 0 to Warm 40. I also switched Color Gamut from Native to Auto Detect, and boosted OLED Pixel Brightness in the Brightness menu up to 100 (from the default of 80).

AI features are mostly unnecessary, but Voice ID is a cool addition

The C5 can recognize your voice and automatically switch user profiles.

LG/Best Buy

When the C5 launched, LG touted a few new AI software features for its webOS smart TV system, including a new AI Sound Wizard, joining the previously available AI Picture Wizard. These modes let you customize your picture and sound settings by viewing different images and listening to different audio clips. Based on the images and audio clips you select, the system learns which picture and sound elements you favor and then creates custom settings tailored to your preferences.

While that sounds cool in theory, these modes generally introduce unnecessary adjustments. If you're unhappy with any of the TV's built-in presets, it could be worth giving the AI Wizards a whirl, but you can get the most accurate performance by simply choosing the TV's Filmmaker picture mode and Standard sound mode.

A more interesting addition, though, is the ability to support up to 10 user profiles, each with unique preferences and content recommendations. Each profile can be tied to a Voice ID (after you agree to share your biometric data), so the TV will automatically switch to your profile when you speak into the remote. In my experience, it only took a few seconds for the profile switch to happen. The profile is linked to your LG account, and the settings and layout preferences are saved in the cloud, so you could sign into your friend's C5 when you visit to pull up your own preferences easily (as long as there's space to add your account).

That's a niche example, but the ability for a family to easily switch between profiles so kids can access the apps most interesting to them, while one of their parents can later speak into the remote and call up their profile setup, is intriguing.

Otherwise, LG's webOS smart TV system remains much the same as before. That is to say, it gets the job done but isn't likely to wow you. You get access to all of the most popular streaming apps, and navigation speed is solid. The interface's emphasis on ads and shopping recommendations is a bit of a drag, but you can disable them in the menu system.

While sound performance is lacking, Auracast inclusion is a welcome perk

We recommend pairing the C5 with a soundbar or a surround sound system to achieve the best audio performance.

There aren't many TVs out there with sound I would call decent. It's an inherent flaw of the thin design of modern displays, and very few can overcome it. Unfortunately, the C5 falls victim to this common pitfall. While dialogue can generally be heard clearly, the sound is thin and a bit tinny. If you're buying a set like this, it's worth adding a soundbar to the package to enhance the overall performance. Or better yet, an AVR with a full surround sound system.

On that note, the C5 has an interesting feature I hope to see added to more TVs: Auracast support. Samsung started supporting it on select models in 2023, but it's nice to see it on the C5. Auracast allows the TV to transmit over Bluetooth to multiple devices simultaneously, rather than to a single device. I tested this with a few different Auracast-capable headphones and earbuds, including the JBL Tour One M3 headphones, Earfun Air Pro 4 earbuds, and the LG xboom Buds.

In the Sound menu, you can enable Auracast broadcasting and select a sampling rate: 16kHz, 24kHz, or 48kHz. Then, from your headphones app, you can connect to the broadcast signal with any number of devices. With the JBL and the LG headphones, the process worked flawlessly with audio playing through both, and I could watch without distracting my family or worrying about being too loud for my neighbors late at night. The Earfun were a bit tricky to get working, but that was due to the earbuds and their app, not the C5.

There's also no lag between headphones and the TV, so the Auracast connection could help people better control the intelligibility of what they're watching.

How does the LG C5 compare to the new C6?

The LG C6 is the 2026 version of the C5 OLED.

Steven Cohen/Business Insider

LG now offers a 2026 edition of its C-Series, called the C6. The C6 is available in 42, 48, 55, and 65 inches. We're testing the 65-inch C6 now for a full review, but based on earlier impressions and specs, this new model offers very similar performance overall.

Since the C5 is often sold at a discount, it's the better buy for most people. However, that will change over the coming months as the remaining C5 stock sells out. With that in mind, I recommend grabbing the C5 while it's still available.

It's also important to note that in 2026, LG also launched a new submodel in the C-Series, the C6H, which is only available in 77- and 83-inch sizes. The C6H uses a more advanced panel that delivers a substantial brightness upgrade over the C5. It costs more than the C5, but it could be worth the extra money for viewers who favor a brighter picture. You can learn more in our full LG C6H OLED TV review.

Should you buy the LG C5 OLED TV?

The C5 is an excellent TV for a variety of needs.

John Higgins/Business Insider

The LG C5 was one of the top midrange TVs released in 2025, and it remains one of the best LG TVs you can buy today. When it comes to other midrange OLEDs, its biggest rival is the Samsung S90F, which offers slightly better color and brightness. In that sense, the S90F has an edge, but the C5 is an excellent alternative for those who prefer LG. And depending on current sale prices, certain C5 sizes may cost less than comparable S90F options.

The newer LG C6 OLED is also a fine option, but the 42-, 55-, and 65-inch sizes don't offer much of an upgrade over the C5, and they're typically more expensive. For that reason, the C5 remains the better value while it's still in stock.

For more display recommendations, check out our complete guide to the best TVs.

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Latest GTA 6 leaks reveal strip club setting and new slow-motion camera

noreply@blogger.com (mimisabreena) — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 19:26:11 +0000

Grand Theft Auto VI is being plagued by more leaks than a sinking ship, beginning with the trailer three years ago, and continuing into this week with a gameplay release that sees the protagonist, Jason Duval, robbing a gas station convenience store, escaping in a car, suffering a slow-motion car crash, and then escaping into a strip club.

Some of these gameplay elements will definitely be familiar to long-time fans of the series, but the slow-motion camera interrupting the regular game speed is definitely a novelty, and probably something Rockstar Games wanted to keep secret, given that Rockstar still hasn't revealed actual gameplay.

In fact, they've been saving the biggest reveal for a Netflix launch on Thursday, Aug. 27th at 3 p.m. ET, which is itself an unprecedented move for a game release.

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Behind the scenes, Rockstar Games and parent company Take-Two are working hard to discover the source of the leaks, reportedly even having been granted subpoenas for GitHub, Microsoft, and Discord server records by a federal court, which they allege will help them uncover the culprits.

Even Xbox CTO Scott Van Vliet has weighed in on the issue, promising to support efforts to stop the theft, saying in a post on X that "[Xbox] are working closely with Take-Two and Rockstar Games to support efforts to protect creative works and intellectual property."

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The main leaker, using the alias Cyberleeks, is so confident in his IP theft that he's now charging up to $165,000 (in cryptocurrency) to anyone wanting to advertise in his leaked footage, according to Yahoo Tech.

While these leaks are definitely sucks for the developers at Rockstar Games, they're also probably doing even more to hype up what promises to be the biggest game launch of all time.

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Civil society groups push FTC to sue AI companies over book destruction

noreply@blogger.com (mimisabreena) — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 17:26:26 +0000

Earlier this month, we reported on the disturbing trend of AI companies using and then destroying physical copies of books to train their agentic AI, in a practice so eerily reminiscent of book burning that it's spooking even devotees of artificial intelligence.

Well, according to Axios, the FTC is now being urged to investigate the practice, not, as we might like, for crimes against humanity, but for violations of antitrust law, since every book destroyed is one less book available for competing AI agents to use.

Axios reports that "[m]ore than a dozen civil society groups," including Demand Progress Education Fund, the Consumer Federation of America, and the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, are urging the FTC to investigate these practices, particularly those involving rare books. In their letter, they "urge the FTC to view this practice not in isolation but rather as the latest escalation in a documented pattern of anticompetitive conduct designed to create an insurmountable systemic moat around AI incumbents."

The problem is all the more acute because these companies are allegedly targeting older books — especially those published before 2022 — since those books are guaranteed not to have been written by AI and are far more likely to have been well edited.

The letter continues:

"Unlike a standard data acquisition strategy, this hoard-and-destroy practice could serve as yet another structural mechanism to raise rival companies' costs and deny start-ups and fledgling competitors a key source material essential to competing in the AI marketplace."

Recall OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's description of knowledge as a utility that could be sold to you "like electricity and water"? That business proposition looks a lot less wholesome when it involves the wholesale destruction of books, our first and still-unsurpassed repository for human knowledge, most of which can still be acquired cheaply or freely loaned from a local library.

Sadder still is the fact that our best practical defense against this modern book burning isn't an ethical one but a legal one: that it would be bad for other businesses.

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I made the easy sausage and tortellini soup I've been seeing online. It's perfect for busy weeknights.

noreply@blogger.com (mimisabreena) — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 16:47:19 +0000

The easy sausage and tortellini soup recipe was hearty, but unbelievably easy to make.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

As fall approaches, I've been seeing recipes for sausage and tortellini soup online.
The recipe called for a few standard ingredients you can find at the grocery store.
It was cozy, filling, and surprisingly easy to make.

There's nothing quite like a warm, hearty bowl of soup when the weather starts to cool down — especially one that's easy enough to throw together on a busy weeknight.

As fall approaches, I've been seeing recipes for sausage and tortellini soup all over social media. With savory Italian sausage, cheesy tortellini, and a rich, comforting tomato base, it looked like exactly the kind of low-effort recipe I'd reach for after a long day.

The recipe called for just a handful of standard ingredients I could find at the grocery store, along with a few pantry staples.

I was impressed by how quickly everything came together — the soup was cozy, filling, and surprisingly easy to make, with enough flavor to feel like I'd spent far more time in the kitchen than I actually had.

After trying it for myself, I can see why sausage and tortellini soup has become such a viral recipe. Here's how I made it and what I thought.

I started by gathering the ingredients for the soup.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The ingredient list was pretty straightforward. While I've seen many versions of this tomato, sausage, and tortellini soup online, I followed a recipe from Here's Your Bite, which was first posted on TikTok in 2024.

To make it, you'll need:

I cooked the mirepoix in butter and olive oil first.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

In a large Dutch oven, I melted the olive oil and butter together before adding the diced celery, onions, and carrots over medium-high heat.

While the mixture cooked down and became fragrant, I added my seasonings.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The recipe called for Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. These were all standard seasonings I already had in my pantry.

I sautéed the vegetables for about 5 minutes.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

After a few minutes, the vegetables started to soften and lightly caramelize around the edges.

Next, I added garlic to the vegetables — I always add minced garlic to the pot later than other vegetables, as I find it starts to burn much more quickly.

By now, my kitchen was already smelling heavenly.

I browned the Italian sausage directly in the pot.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I used spicy Italian sausage for an extra kick. As it cooked, I broke the sausage into smaller pieces and mixed it with the vegetables to combine everything.

The recipe said to cook it until it was no longer pink, which took about 10 minutes.

Once the sausage was cooked, I cleared a space in the middle of the pot for the tomato paste.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The recipe recommended adding the 3 tablespoons of tomato paste right in the center of the pot and letting it cook on its own for about a minute before mixing it into the sausage and vegetables.

After that, I stirred the tomato paste into the sausage and vegetables.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The mixture became much richer and more tomato-forward.

I sprinkled the flour evenly over the sausage mixture and stirred until it disappeared into everything else. The recipe called for cooking it for a minute or two to remove any raw flour taste.

I then poured in the white wine and used a wooden spatula to scrape up any bits that had stuck to the bottom of the pan.

This is where the mixture really thickened and congealed into a delicious-smelling base for the rest of the soup.

After a couple of minutes, I added the crushed tomatoes and chicken broth.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I seasoned the mixture with more salt and pepper, and poured a bit of water into my can of crushed tomatoes to make sure every drop was added to my pot.

Instead of using store-bought chicken broth, I made my own using Better Than Bouillon chicken base and boiling water. I find that it makes for a richer, more flavorful broth.

The pot finally started looking like soup.

I added a Parmesan rind while the soup simmered.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The Parmesan rind was optional, but I decided to use it. As someone who goes through a lot of Parmesan cheese, I luckily already had a nearly-used-up block in my fridge, so I just cut it down to remove the rind.

I dropped it directly into the tomato broth and also added a bay leaf for extra flavor. Then, I let the soup simmer uncovered for about 20 to 30 minutes.

As it simmered, the broth darkened and concentrated.

I added the tortellini and spinach near the end.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

Once the broth had simmered, I removed the bay leaf and the Parmesan rind.

Then, I added the tortellini directly to the pot and stirred in the spinach at the same time. The tortellini only needed a few minutes to become tender, and the spinach wilted almost immediately into the hot broth.

After the tortellini had cooked, I added the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese as a final touch.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The heavy cream and grated cheese made the soup noticeably thicker. The finished soup looked creamy, hearty, and packed with tortellini.

The sausage was evenly distributed throughout the soup, and bits of spinach added color to each spoonful.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The cream made the tomato base look especially rich. It looked much more indulgent than the simple steps it took to prepare.

I topped my bowl with a dusting of freshly grated Parmesan.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The cheese started melting as soon as it hit the hot soup, and added even more savory flavor to the tomato broth, while the tortellini and sausage made every spoonful feel substantial.

It looked exactly like the kind of meal I would want on a cool fall night.

The finished dish landed somewhere between a traditional pasta with sauce and a soup.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The tomato-and-cream base was thicker and richer than a typical broth, but still loose enough to eat by the spoonful. The tortellini and sausage also made the soup feel hearty and substantial, almost like a saucy pasta dish with extra liquid.

The recipe was enough to feed four people with plenty left over, which was a bonus.

I would happily make this again for an easy weeknight dinner.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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Robots running into walls go viral ahead of 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games

noreply@blogger.com (mimisabreena) — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 16:26:20 +0000

The second World Humanoid Robot Games will kick off this weekend in Beijing, China, gathering tech companies and university groups from around the world to test their robots across 50 events. As such, entrants have been running last-minute tests in preparation for the competition, showcasing some impressive feats — and amusing failures.

Last year's inaugural Games featured over 500 robots from 280 teams, competing in 26 events. These not only included sports such as floor gymnastics and soccer, but also competitions designed to test the robots' capabilities when working in hotel, factory, and hospital scenarios.

The Games have grown considerably this year, involving 2056 robots presented by 666 teams from across 16 countries. New athletic events such as table tennis, tug of war, and weightlifting have been added, alongside expanded "scenario-based events" like assembling power tools, conducting a fire rescue, and charging an electric car.

They also have varying automation requirements. While human operators are permitted in sporting events like long jump and kickboxing, the humanoid robots are required to act independently in ones such as breakdancing, cheerleading, and the 4x100-metre relay. Though the rules for scenario-based events are less strict, allowing both automation and remote control, the scores for the latter are halved. As such, entrants who submit fully autonomous robots have a definite edge.

Teams have come from across the world to compete. Credit: Jia Tianyong / China News Service / VCG via Getty Images

According to the World Humanoid Robot Games' website, participating robots are to "demonstrate a perfect balance of strength, speed, and flexibility" in the sporting events, while the scenario events will test them "on functionality and adaptability in real-world environments."

"As the world's first multidimensional humanoid robot competition encompassing 'sports + art + application,' the Games adhere to the principles of fair competition, open innovation, safety control, and industrial synergy," the World Humanoid Robot Games states. "Participating teams are encouraged to push athletic boundaries through technological innovation and to explore the infinite possibilities of human–robot coexistence through interdisciplinary collaboration."

The Galbot ET1 is one of the many humanoid robots at this year's Games. Credit: Lintao Zhang / Getty Images

Chinese robotics companies Unitree and X-Humanoid dominated the competition last year, topping the medal tally at 11 and 10 respectively. Of these, Unitree's H1 humanoid robot scored the company's four gold medals in track and field events, while X-Humanoid took two golds in the 100-metre sprint and a factory floor scenario.

Unitree is likely to do well again this year. The company previewed its new "Superman" humanoid robot earlier this week, sharing a video of it jumping approximately 2 metres high as well as running at 12.658 m/s. The top recorded speed reached by world-class sprinter Usain Bolt — credited with being the fastest man in the world — was 12.42 m/s.

"This new machine has only been in development for a little over three months, with significant room for further improvement in the coming months," Unitree claimed.

Unitree's demonstration combined with last year's performance certainly makes it one to watch, particularly as the new Superman robot seems likely to compete. Earlier this week, robotics expert Eren Chen shared a clip on X that appeared to show Unitree's Superman doing a test run on the World Humanoid Robot Games' track, though it sprinted off course and crashed into some electrical boxes.

While the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games runs from Aug. 22 to 26, some teams arrived at Beijing's National Speed Skating Oval ahead of time, with videos of their preparations spreading online. Another viral clip Chen shared showed an unidentified humanoid robot running down the track before colliding with a cushioned blue wall. Unfortunately it was unable to catch itself, falling backwards onto its head and apparently breaking at the waist, sending sparks flying.

Robots are expected to dance autonomously. Credit: Kevin Frayer / Getty Images

Judging by such test runs, Chen noted that this year's runners seem to have more difficulty navigating than at last year's event. This may be due to the World Humanoid Robot Games updating the requirements for several track events, changing them from remote-controlled to autonomous.

"Last year, running and dynamic motion control were meaningful because they proved a basic point: before a humanoid can do useful work, it first needs a capable body. But once that foundation exists, simply making the robot run faster gives you diminishing returns," Chen posted, questioning the value in continuing to make humanoid robots run faster.

"Knowing when to slow down, when to stop, and how to stop safely matters just as much as how fast you can run. That kind of judgment is also part of what makes a robot actually intelligent…. At the end of the day, our goal is to have a robot that can safely and reliably work around people and actually get things done."

Tug of war is a new event added this year. Credit: Fred Lee / Getty Images

That isn't to say that the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games were without mishaps. Several robots reportedly did not finish or even leave the starting line in last year's opening race, with at least one competitor falling and losing an arm. Meanwhile, a robot fell and tripped several others during a soccer game, while a kickboxing robot sent itself to the floor after disrupting its own balance with a roundhouse kick. Even so, such incidents no doubt provide valuable data and learning experiences for the humanoid robots' development teams.

It's unlikely that those in the U.S. will get to see such humanoid robots in person any time soon. The U.S. government banned all new foreign-made mobile robots from the country last month, including robot vacuums. If you do happen to be in Beijing this weekend, attendance at the World Humanoid Robot Games is open to the public, with tickets starting from ¥98 (approximately $14.50).

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Gaming monitor deals that take the pain out of upgrading: Save up to $650 on our top picks from LG and Samsung

noreply@blogger.com (mimisabreena) — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 17:26:04 +0000

The best gaming monitor deals at a glance:

BEST OLED deal

LG 27-inch Ultragear OLED 27GX790A-B

$499.99 (save $500)

Best budget pick

Samsung 27-inch Odyssey G55C

$199.99 (save $130)

Best curved deal

Samsung 57-inch Odyssey Neo G95NC

$1,449.99 (save $650 + get a free $120 Amazon credit)

Gaming hardware might come with major sticker shock, but upgrading your gear can truly make a world of difference in how you experience your favorite games. If your current setup is feeling lifeless, I've spotted a few deals on gaming monitors that'll take some of the pain out of upgrading. A discount of up to 50% is a great excuse to make the jump to a new monitor, don't you think?

While the market is wide and varied, here are three of the best deals we could find on gaming monitors as of Aug. 20. Gaming is not a cheap hobby by any means, but it also doesn't have to cost a fortune.

Best OLED gaming monitor deal

Credit: LG

LG 27-inch Ultragear OLED 27GX790A-B

$499.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $500

Why we like it

LG's Ultragear gaming monitors are some of the most popular models on the market for their premium specs, excellent build quality, reliability, and performance. And the OLED 27GX790A-B is no exception.

It packs a brilliant 27-inch matte 1440p OLED panel with VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400, a blistering 480Hz refresh rate, and a 0.03ms response time for fluid gameplay. There's also plenty of ports on board, including dual HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.1, and USB 3.0 (1 upstream / 2 downstream). While the LG UltraGear OLED 27GX790A-B's premium specs might be out of reach on a normal day, this 50% discount makes it a whole lot more approachable. At $499.99, it's the cheapest it's ever been.

Best curved gaming monitor deal

Credit: Samsung

Samsung 57-inch Odyssey Neo G95NC

$1,449.99 at Amazon
$2,099.99 Save $650.00

+ get a $120 Amazon credit

Why we like it

If you like to be in the center of the action while gaming, this Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 monitor deal is for you.

Beyond its wild 57-inch screen real estate, the Odyssey Neo G95NC also features a 1,000R curve that envelops you as you play. A 1,000R curve is considered ideal for a monitor, as it closely matches the human field of view, reduces eye strain, and enhances depth perception. It's worth noting, however, that the G9's 32:9 aspect ratio isn't compatible with every game (check that your faves will work before pulling the trigger). The G95NC packs a solid 240Hz refresh rate, a 1ms response time, VESA DisplayHDR 1000, and G-Sync and FreeSync Premium Pro compatibility. There's also plenty of ports for connectivity, including HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.1, and a USB Hub.

Not only is it 31% off as of Aug. 20, but you'll also get a free $120 Amazon credit with your purchase for a limited time.

Best budget gaming monitor deal

Credit: Samsung

Samsung 32-inch Odyssey G55C

$199.99 at Amazon
$329.99 Save $130

Why we like it

If you're a little curious about curved monitors, but don't want to break the bank making the switch, Amazon's deal on the Samsung Odyssey G55C can transform your gaming experience for under $200.

It packs a 32-inch 2560x1440 QHD display with a 1000R curvature and 16:9 aspect ratio. That means the screen will wrap around your field of view, enhancing the depth of your games while reducing eye strain. It also features a 165Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, AMD Radeon FreeSync, HDR10, and an eye-saver mode to reduce screen flickering during extended gaming periods.

While it's not the most premium monitor on the market, Samsung monitors have a solid reputation. If you're balling on a budget, it's a hard deal to pass up for only $199.99. That's just $10 away from its best price ever.

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Peacock streaming: Pricing, plans, and how to sign up (2026)

noreply@blogger.com (mimisabreena) — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:47:24 +0000

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Peacock is one of the best streaming services, especially for fans of NBC shows and reality TV.

Mateusz Slodkowski/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Peacock initially started as a streaming hub for NBCUniversal TV shows and films, but the service has grown to include a massive collection of live sports, original series, and reality TV programming. Peacock ranks among the best streaming services we've tested, whether you're looking to stream a classic NBC sitcom like "The Office" or the latest season of "Love Island USA."

Key Peacock plans start at $13 a month following a recent price hike (although there's also a budget option, which we'll dig into below) for ad-supported access to the streamer's entire on-demand lineup. This includes NBC and Bravo shows, as well as Peacock Originals and other programming. These Premium plans also get access to select sporting events, including certain NFL, NBA, and WNBA games. Upgrading to Premium Plus unlocks ad-free on-demand content and the ability to live stream your local NBC station.

If you're trying to decide whether Peacock is a good fit for your household, you've come to the right place. We've outlined everything you need to know about the service, including full details on pricing, plans, content, bundles, and supported devices. We'll also break down some of the best shows, movies, sports, and live events available on the streaming service right now.

What is Peacock?

Peacock is a streaming service created by NBCUniversal with two main subscription plans: Premium (with ads) and Premium Plus (ad-free). The platform offers a collection of shows, movies, and original series, along with live sports and news. There's also Peacock Select, which we'll dig into further down this page.

Content can be viewed via an on-demand library or always-on streaming channels broken down by genres and franchises. Some of the channels available in all plans include Dateline 24/7, NBC News Now, NBC Sports Now, ION, and ION Mystery, among others. The streamer also offers channels pegged exclusively to popular shows and movies, including a Law & Order: SVU channel, a Real Housewives channel, The Office Channel, an SNL Vault channel, and others.

Peacock's catalog includes a mix of Universal films and NBC shows, like "Wicked" and "Parks and Recreation." The TV shows tend to hang around in the platform's back catalog on a long-term basis, but many movies filter in and out, often ending up on Prime Video and Netflix after their initial streaming premiere on Peacock.

Original series and movies are also available, including hit shows like "Ted," "Long Bright River," "Poker Face," and "The Miniature Wife." In addition to live sports, which we'll outline below, the streaming service also carries select other live events, including "Eurovision" coverage.

How much does Peacock cost?

Following a recent price hike, Peacock Premium costs $13 a month or $130 annually for ad-supported streaming. To watch without ads, you need to upgrade to a Peacock Premium Plus plan, which now costs $20 a month or $200 a year.

Both Peacock plans offer access to the service's entire lineup, including new original series, exclusive content from NBC shows, current and past Bravo shows, select USA shows such as "Suits," live sports like Sunday Night Football, and next-day streaming support for many NBC shows airing on TV. In addition, Peacock Premium Plus also includes download support and live streaming access to your local NBC station.

What is the Peacock Select tier?

The Peacock Select tier rolled out in July 2025 following a price hike. Originally, Peacock Select was only available for existing subscribers, but the plan now appears on Peacock's main sign-up page.

The Select plan costs $9 a month or $90 a year after a recent price hike. The plan offers viewers select access to the app's programming, including current season and library content from NBC and Bravo. It also offers access to some other shows, like Yellowstone.

Unlike Premium, Select doesn't have any Peacock Originals, live sports and events, or films. It also doesn't have the Premium Plus tier's NBC live streaming, although Select subscribers can view a few specific channels (like The Office Channel and NBC News Now Channel) on their TV only.

When was the last Peacock price hike?

Peacock hiked prices on all stand-alone plans on August 18, 2026. This includes both monthly and annual subscription models. Peacock Select previously cost $8 a month or $80 a year, Peacock Premium previously cost $11 a month or $110 a year, and Peacock Premium Plus previously cost $17 a month or $170 a year.

Prior to this summer's price hike, Peacock last raised prices on July 23, 2025. Previously, Peacock Premium plans cost $8 a month or $80 a year, and Peacock Premium Plus plans cost $14 a month or $140 a year. Before that, the service hiked its prices on July 18, 2024.

Do any shopping memberships come with Peacock?

Both Walmart Plus and Instacart Plus members receive Peacock as part of their membership. Walmart Plus costs $12.95 a month or $98 a year. Subscribers will have the choice of either Peacock Premium or Paramount Plus Essential, and they can choose which one they want every 90 days. Instacart Plus costs $10 a month or $99 a year and comes with Peacock Premium. Both of these shopping services offer a variety of other perks in their paid benefits.

How can I sign up for Peacock?

Signing up for a Peacock subscription is easy. You can sign up for any of the main plans or bundles (more on that below) on the Peacock website. You might need to scroll down to see all of your options. Once you hit "Choose" on the plan you want, you'll be prompted to create an account and password with your name, email, gender, birth year, and ZIP code. On that same page, you can add any available Peacock promo codes. From there, you'll be prompted to input your payment information.

Are there any Peacock bundle deals?

TV fans can bundle either of the Peacock plans with Apple TV for a reduced rate. The Apple TV and Peacock Premium bundle costs $15 a month, while the Apple TV and Peacock Premium Plus bundle costs $20 a month. This is 39% to 42% in monthly savings compared to what you'd pay if you subscribed to the two services separately, depending on which plan you sign up for. The bundles didn't receive a price increase during the most recent round of price hikes.

You can subscribe to the bundles directly through the Peacock website or Apple TV website, or learn more in our Peacock and Apple TV bundle guide. Current Peacock subscribers should also be eligible to upgrade to this bundle by changing their plan within the app.

Where can I watch Peacock?

You can access the Peacock app on many devices, including phones.

Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Peacock's streaming app is available on all the best TVs from every major brand, as well as iOS and Android mobile devices, Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Google TV, Fire TV, Xbox One, PlayStation, Chromecast, Xfinity, and Flex devices, among others. Check out our guide to the best streaming devices for our top media player picks.

The service is also available through its official website. You can browse a full list of supported devices here.

Is Peacock free?

Peacock originally offered a free entry-level plan, but that option is no longer available to new subscribers. The ability to sign up for the free tier was removed in early 2023.

Does Peacock have a free trial?

Peacock doesn't have a free trial. The streaming service initially offered a seven-day free trial to new customers, but Peacock has since phased out the option.

What shows and movies are on Peacock?

Love Island USA just wrapped up its eighth season.

Ben Symons/Peacock via Getty Images

Peacock Premium and Premium Plus plans both feature more than 80,000 hours worth of on-demand TV and movies. Peacock Premium Plus also lets you live stream your local NBC network.

All paying subscribers can stream classic shows like "The Office," "Law & Order," and "Parks and Recreation." Peacock users can also access new episodes of ongoing NBC (and Bravo) shows the day after they air. Daily broadcasts from NBC News stream on Peacock as well, along with new episodes of popular soap operas like "Days of Our Lives."

Most new Universal, Focus Features, and DreamWorks movies also arrive on Peacock after they play in theaters. Some notable newer movies on Peacock right now include "The Black Phone 2," "Wicked: For Good," and "Song Sung Blue." However, it's important to note that while new Universal films typically hit Peacock first, they often only remain on the service for a few months before heading to other subscription platforms, like Prime Video and Netflix.

Outside NBCUniversal content, Peacock has select movies and series licensed from other studios, including a rotating selection of films like the "Harry Potter" movies from Warner Bros. The service also carries all five seasons of the hit Paramount Network series "Yellowstone," including the elusive final eight episodes.

Subscribers can also watch original Peacock shows and movies on the platform. Some of the most popular original series include scripted programming like "Poker Face," "Ted," "The Day of the Jackal," "All Her Fault," and "Based on a True Story." Peacock is also behind the US version of "The Traitors" reality series and has all of the latest episodes. Seasons from the UK, AU, and NZ versions of "The Traitors" also eventually end up on Peacock.

"The Traitors" isn't the only reality series on Peacock. The streaming service also hosts new seasons of "Love Island USA" and "Love Island: Beyond the Villa." The app ranks among the best US streaming services for reality TV fans since Peacock is the online home for most Bravo series. The app gets new episodes of Bravo shows like "Top Chef," "Vanderpump Rules," and the "Real Housewives" franchise the day after they're broadcast. Plus, most past seasons of beloved Bravo shows are available to stream in full on demand.

What sports are on Peacock?

Peacock has live sports, too, including Sunday Night Football during the NFL season, matches from the Premier League, and NBA games. In addition to NBA on NBC games, Peacock will host several streaming-exclusive NBA games during the 2025-2026 season.

NBC and Peacock also recently got in on some WNBA action, getting the rights to host a wealth of games starting with the 2026 season. Select WNBA games are also airing on USA, although these match-ups won't stream on Peacock.

Peacock is also the main US streaming home of the Olympics, serving as a one-stop shop for all things Summer and Winter Olympics through 2036. Peacock offers a comprehensive Olympics streaming hub, with additional coverage beyond the main broadcasts on NBC and other NBCUniversal networks. The platform also holds the US Spanish-language broadcast rights for the 2026 World Cup.

Additionally, sports fans can live stream select Big Ten games, golf tournaments, and cycling coverage (including the Tour de France). If you missed a major sports event covered by Peacock, there's a pretty good chance that the streaming service will have replays or highlights available, at least for a little while.

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COVID-era juggernaut Moderna spikes 160% after successful late-stage trial for melanoma drug

noreply@blogger.com (mimisabreena) — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 16:47:18 +0000

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Moderna stock surged as much as 160% on Wednesday on news of a successful late-stage cancer-drug trial.
The drugmaker is developing a personalized mRNA vaccine with Merck that targets melanoma.
Moderna has been looking for its next blockbuster drug after a wildly successful COVID era.

After making its name as a vaccine-maker during the COVID era, Moderna has been looking for its second act as a major drug developer. Investors seem to think it's landed on something.

Moderna stock surged as much as 160% to $163.47 on Wednesday after reporting successful results in a late-stage trial for a melanoma drug, in partnership with Merck.

"These Phase 3 findings represent a pivotal moment for the field of cancer research," Stéphane Bancel, CEO of Moderna, said in a press release on Wednesday. "For many years, the idea of creating an mRNA treatment designed specifically for an individual patient's cancer was aspirational. We are now helping turn that vision into a reality."

The vaccine's effectiveness is in reducing the recurrence of melanoma and is given alongside Keytruda, an immunotherapy drug from Merck.

The jump in Moderna's stock price comes after a difficult five-year stretch following COVID-era heights. Even after the triple-figure surge on Wednesday, shares are still down roughly two-thirds from a peak of $484 reached in August 2021.

Still, Wednesday's gain brings the company's year-to-date gain to 445%. Things are moving in the right direction for the vaccine giant.

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I'm a chef who's obsessed with my air fryer. Here are 13 of my favorite things to make in it.

noreply@blogger.com (mimisabreena) — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 16:47:15 +0000

French toast is one of my favorite breakfasts to make in my air fryer.

Aefa Mulholland

I'm a chef. After years of resisting the appliance, I now love my air fryer and use it often.
It's great for making air-fried, nut-crusted chicken, grilled cheese, and panko shrimp.
I also make desserts in my air fryer, like molten lava cakes and apple hand pies.

When everyone else was buying air fryers years ago, I held out. I still hauled out my deep-fat fryer and gallons of oil or wrestled with various frying pans and griddles.

Eventually, though, I gave in and bought a Gourmia 7-quart digital air fryer — I was astounded and delighted by how easy it was to use. Now, I love cooking with the appliance so much that I've even bought a second one.

From breakfast to dessert, here are some of my favorite things to make in an air fryer.

Stuffed portobello mushrooms make for a quick, tasty dinner.

Aefa Mulholland

There's no end to the list of things you can pile on a portobello cap and pop in the air fryer.

A recipe from the blog Spend With Pennies pairs them with cheddar and bacon, but I know some people swear by spinach and cream cheese or garlic and Parmesan. I've also been inspired by crab-stuffed mushrooms with Gouda or ones that are a play on French onion soup.

I make mine with whatever I have on hand, but I particularly liked the batch I made with feta, cheddar, spinach, artichokes, breadcrumbs, and lemon.

I pop the caps in the air fryer for a few minutes, gill-side down, to let any water drain out before flipping them and adding toppings.

Breaded or panko-crusted shrimp turns out incredibly well in an air fryer.

Panko-crusted shrimp is an incredibly easy appetizer and can be rustled up in minutes.

Aefa Mulholland

There are tons of recipes out there for air-fried breaded shrimp.

I prefer mine served with a hint of heat, like the "bang bang" shrimp recipe from the recipe blog Stay Snatched. I also like the shrimp paired with lemon aioli.

Setting up a three-bowl dipping station is the best way to bread the shrimp quickly and efficiently — one bowl for flour, one for a whisked egg (sometimes I add mustard or mayo), and one for panko.

However, I've also made crispy shrimp by simply dipping lightly oiled shrimp in panko before tossing them in the air fryer.

I put nut-crusted chicken on the menu again and again.

Aefa Mulholland

Air-fried, nut-crusted chicken comes out moist, delicious, and with a perfect crust in just 20 minutes.

Depending on what kind of air fryer you have, it might take a little more or less time — I've found my basket air fryer cooks faster and my convection-oven air fryer takes slightly longer.

The blog Where Is My Spoon has a delicious, easy recipe for panko-breaded chicken. I adapted it by using half crushed nuts and half panko and adding smoked paprika and Parmesan for extra flavor.

Crab cakes with fire-roasted green chiles are my favorite appetizer.

Aefa Mulholland

Crab cakes are one of the tastiest things I've cooked since getting an air fryer.

I followed a Food Network recipe, substituting a can of fire-roasted green chiles and chipotle powder for the listed chipotle chiles and adobo sauce, just for convenience.

A creamy, lemony chipotle sauce is the perfect accompaniment. It's so tangy and delicious that I could drink it.

Crispy tofu can be made with or without cornstarch.

Aefa Mulholland

I like the simple recipe for cornstarch-free, garlic-and-soy sauce tofu on the blog Live Eat Learn. It reminded me how much better the texture is after pressing the moisture out of the tofu before cooking (I used a heavy Dutch oven to squash my block).

I've also made crispy fried tofu with a ginger, tamari, and garlic marinade, finished with sesame seeds for extra crunch. The resulting tangy saltiness makes it a good bacon substitute for vegetarians and a delicious addition to Buddha bowls.

Corn "ribs" are an excellent air-fried option for vegetarians.

Aefa Mulholland

You can make corn "ribs" in an air fryer using all sorts of recipes.

I've used one from the blog Plant Based Folk. These corn "ribs" can be paired with elote-style seasoning, barbecue sauce, or even masala spice for an Indian-inspired take on the trend.

Pro tip: Microwave the cobs for seven to nine minutes before cutting them to make quartering easier.

Every batch of Buffalo cauliflower I make is devoured almost immediately in my house.

Aefa Mulholland

Buffalo cauliflower "wings" are a top choice any night of the week — it takes just 15 minutes to make crispy, spicy florets.

Simply whisk hot sauce, oil, garlic powder, and salt, and use the mixture to coat the cauliflower before tossing it into a single layer in the air fryer. I found the recipe I usually follow on Live Eat Learn.

Serve with blue cheese or another creamy dip.

Grilled cheese is a quick, simple air-fryer favorite.

Aefa Mulholland

Air-fried grilled cheese is a good, quick lunch. Larger air fryers easily fit a few sandwiches, or you can chop them into half-sized sandwiches to cram more in a smaller basket.

My favorite grilled cheese is a take on a recipe from The Kitchn, but with added apple slices.

I also love rustling up any cheese and jam, jelly, or fruit combination; a current favorite is ham, cheddar, and banana.

Pro tip: Cook at a lower temperature until the cheese melts, and then turn the heat up to toast the bread for an extra few minutes.

I throw garlic in alongside whatever vegetables I'm roasting.

Aefa Mulholland

Cooking garlic in the air fryer takes half as long as cooking it in a regular oven.

One writer from the blog Tasty Oven suggests slicing off the bottom of each head of garlic, cooking a big batch, and freezing the extras.

I like cooking the heads alongside roasted vegetables such as honeyed parsnips or carrots and then crushing the cloves to make garlic bread.

Apple hand pies are fiddly to make from scratch, but worth the effort.

Aefa Mulholland

Empanada-sized pies are a breeze to make with store-bought apple filling and pie dough. However, making your own lets you choose how much sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon to add.

The blog BellyFull has a great recipe for air-fryer hand pies, whether you're making a premade or homemade version. Both turn out crisp and delicious in a basket air fryer or an oven air fryer. I tried both and couldn't tell the difference.

According to the recipe, the pies last in the fridge for three days and in the freezer for up to two months.

Even cake can turn out perfectly in an air fryer.

Aefa Mulholland

I didn't believe you could bake cakes in an air fryer, but I was proven wrong.

I've made some excellent cheesecakes in my basket air fryer, but the one I keep going back to is a simple coffee cake. I like a recipe from the blog Fork to Spoon.

I'll be working my way through the other recipes on the site, too. I've also enjoyed the air-fryer banana-walnut pound cake and banana-nut bread.

Air-fried French toast is always on the menu.

Aefa Mulholland

I followed food writer Chelsea Davis's technique for making air-fried French toast with a delicious, crispy exterior. I also like to add ground cardamom pods, cinnamon, and nutmeg to the eggy French toast batter.

Cutting the bread into fingers is a great tip for fitting more toast into basket fryers with curved corners. Preheating is also a good idea, particularly with convection-oven air fryers.

Molten lava cakes are gooey and gorgeous.

Aefa Mulholland

Oozing with liquid chocolate, molten lava cakes are irresistible.

I liked a small-batch recipe I found on the blog Essential Omnivore, but I use orange-flavored chocolate for even more flavor.

Pro tip: Only fill your ramekins around ⅔ of the way, or the gooey middles might bubble up all over the bottom of your air fryer.

This story was originally published in February 2023 and most recently updated on August 18, 2026.

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Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 month-long review: is it worth it?

noreply@blogger.com (mimisabreena) — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 16:26:20 +0000

I tested its features, accuracy and battery life, and this is Samsung’s best watch yet. But it’s also the most expensive. Here’s who should splurge on the Ultra 2 and who’s better off with the Galaxy Watch 9.

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I returned to gymnastics at 41. Five years later, I'm competing nationally.

noreply@blogger.com (mimisabreena) — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 17:47:19 +0000

The author quit gymnastics when she was 14.

Courtesy of the author

I quit competitive gymnastics at 14 after an injury and abusive coaching.
Nearly three decades later, I found an adult gymnastics class and started again.
I've since competed nationally and represented the US at the Masters World Cup.

At 41, after years of chronic back pain, postpartum depression, and the consuming demands of motherhood, I did what I thought was impossible: I found my way back to the sport that shaped me.

My journey back started with a Google search for "adult gymnastics." I had no idea that it existed. That was the moment I realized my childhood dreams did not have to end at 14.

Nearly three decades after walking away, I sat in my car outside a gym, debating whether to go inside for my first adult class. I was a wife, a mother of two, and someone whose body carried years of back pain from a car accident. Still, something inside told me to open the door.

The moment I stepped inside, I knew I was home. The uneven bars felt familiar; my body remembered movements I hadn't done in decades. But then came the vault.

Standing at the end of the runway, I prepared for a front handspring vault, a movement engraved in my muscle memory. Yet, everything felt different. I was no longer a fearless teenager, and the old vaulting horse was now a modern table. I was a 41-year-old mom, wondering if my body could handle what my younger self had done without hesitation. Every instinct told me to turn around. Instead, I ran.

Giving up on a childhood passion

When I quit competitive gymnastics at 14, I thought that part of my life was over. For 27 years, gymnastics became a distant memory while life moved forward. I built a career, got married, and became a mother, pouring everything into everyone else.

The author's best friend was diagnosed with cancer.

Courtesy of the author

A car accident in my early 20s left me with spinal injuries and chronic pain. My second pregnancy made those injuries worse, and I eventually found myself on disability while battling postpartum depression. I was surviving instead of thriving. The woman in the mirror no longer resembled the brave athlete I had once been.

My best friend was diagnosed with breast cancer

Everything changed when my best friend was diagnosed with breast cancer. As her cancer progressed and became terminal, I watched her face unimaginable circumstances with incredible courage. She reminded me that life was too precious to keep living in fear.

I began rebuilding my health. I became a Zumba and HIIT instructor, watching women walk into my classes carrying stress, self-doubt, and the weight of daily responsibilities. By the end of the hour, they stood taller, rediscovering confidence they thought they had lost.

Watching them reclaim their strength gave me the courage to reclaim mine. I wasn't trying to relive my youth. I wanted to know if the strongest parts of me were still there beneath years of pain, fear, and responsibility.

Rebuilding trust was harder than rebuilding strength

When I finally took that leap and sprinted down the runway, I wasn't thinking about technique and perfection; I was thinking about everything my body had survived. Chronic pain teaches you caution, but gymnastics demands trust. You cannot sprint toward a vault believing your body will fail you.

The author had to learn how to trust her body again.

Courtesy of the author

Soaring over the vaulting table taught me that the hardest part of returning wasn't rebuilding physical strength; it was rebuilding trust with my own body. I had spent years seeing my back as fragile. Over time, I stopped resenting my body for what it had lost and started appreciating what it could still do. I chose faith over fear, and everything changed.

I compete nationally in my 40s

Over the past five years, my return to gymnastics has taken me further than I ever imagined. I've competed nationally, represented the USA at the Masters World Cup, appeared on "America Ninja Warrior," and at 45 became the oldest gymnast to complete the 14-event Omnithon at NAIGC Nationals for the second consecutive year.

But my journey isn't just about medals; it's about the love of the sport. I've had so much fun adding things like trampoline and tumbling (events I never got to try as a child), and embracing new challenges. I am also helping to lead a rapidly growing movement of thousands of adult gymnasts worldwide.

Those accomplishments mean a lot, but they aren't the real victory. The real victory happened the day I stopped believing my identity had an expiration date. My personal mantra is "Purpose Over Podium." I'm no longer chasing validation from judges or collecting medals; those eventually collect dust. What stays with me is the confidence, the courage, and the reminder that my best years are not behind me. Flipping through the air and making myself proud is something no medal can measure.

I want my sons to see that resilience matters more than comfort. I want the women in my fitness classes to know they aren't too old to pursue something that scares them. And I want every woman who has quietly placed her dreams on hold to know she doesn't have to leave them there. Growth does not end at midlife. Sometimes, it's where the greatest chapters begin.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 15, 2026

noreply@blogger.com (mimisabreena) — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 17:26:05 +0000

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you've ever watched baseball.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

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

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

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. The sports 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 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 before 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: No chips
Green: Working at the country club
Blue: Seen in KC
Purple: Spelled like a W team

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

Yellow: Teams to Never Win a World Series
Green: Jobs at a Golf Course
Blue: Kansas City Teams
Purple: Anagrams of WNBA Teams

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 #691 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

Teams to Never Win a World Series: BREWERS, MARINERS, PADRES, ROCKIES
Jobs at a Golf Course: CADDIE, GREENSKEEPER, STARTER, SUPERINTENDENT
Kansas City Teams: CHIEFS, CURRENT, ROYALS, SPORTING KC
Anagrams of WNBA Teams: CASE, MADRE, RIFE, SWING

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

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

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

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

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My husband had hobbies. My kids had activities. Somehow, I only had laundry.

noreply@blogger.com (mimisabreena) — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 16:47:22 +0000

The author became a mom at 19 and didn't have any hobbies.

Courtesy of the author

I became a mother at 19 and spent much of adulthood focused on my family.
At 35, I challenged myself to try 35 new things, from hiking to embroidery.
I'm learning that hobbies don't have to be productive or profitable to be worthwhile.

My husband looked at the towels spread across our back porch. "Why paper making?"

My 13-year-old didn't even hesitate. "Paper is so cheap," he said.

I had spent nearly two hours on my knees on the hot concrete, scooping watery paper pulp into a frame, sponging out the excess water, and laying each fragile sheet onto a towel as if I were preserving ancient documents.

Instead, it looked like wet, nasty oatmeal.

Just as I finally stood up, my hip bumped the bucket, and over she went. Cue the sound of dirty paper water pouring straight into the grass.

At 35, the author started new hobbies.

Courtesy of the author

Was I making paper? Was I making papier-mâché? Honestly, I wasn't sure anymore.

My back hurt. My knees hurt. My grass looked like a kindergarten art class had exploded. By the time I finished cleaning everything up, I had exactly one thought:

I am never doing this again.

But the paper had never been the point. Heck, it didn't even look good.

At 35, I decided to try one new thing for every year I had been alive. Some of those things would stick. Others, clearly, would not. The point was to remember what it felt like to do something simply because I wanted to know what it would be like.

I had spent years putting myself at the end of the line

I became a mom at 19. My first son was born before I had fully figured out who I was as an adult. By the time many people my age were learning what they liked, I was learning how to keep a tiny human alive.

Now I have three kids, ages 15, 13, and 6. For the last 15 years, motherhood has been the center of my life.

I love being a mom. I love my family. But somewhere along the way, I got very good at being useful.

I work from home, which means I am almost always available. Available for school pickups, snacks, laundry, appointments, and the "Mom, where is my…" questions that somehow only I can answer, even when the item is directly in front of everyone.

Everyone in my house had something that belonged to them

My husband coached our son's soccer and football teams. He volunteered with the church band. He played golf with friends.

My kids had sports, friends, activities, and their own growing lives.

I had laundry. That is not entirely fair. I also had dishes.

It was not that my husband was stopping me from doing things. When I told him I was frustrated, he encouraged me to try new things. My family wanted me to be happy.

The problem was quieter than that. No one had taken my identity from me. I had just slowly moved myself to the end of the line.

A birthday trip reminded me I could still discover new things about myself

Earlier this year, we took a birthday trip. During that trip, I went hiking and was surprised by how much I loved it.

I expected to tolerate it. Maybe enjoy the view. Maybe complain once or twice about my legs in a way that felt charming but was probably just annoying.

Instead, I felt awake. I had discovered something new about myself.

I liked hiking. I liked being outside. I liked feeling capable in a way that had nothing to do with being needed. When we came home, I kept thinking about it. If I could still discover that I loved hiking, what else had I never given myself the chance to enjoy?

So I decided to try 35 new things during my 35th year.

I made clay magnets. I decorated planters with Mod Podge. I planted a vegetable garden. I baked bread. I made peach cobbler. I started a book club. I tried cyanotype photography. I embroidered pictures of my dogs. I hemmed a dress. I sewed a toddler skirt.

Some projects made me feel proud. Some made me feel ridiculous. Some left my yard covered in soggy paper pulp.

I am learning that joy does not have to be useful

Embroidery has been my favorite so far, even though it has been one of the most complicated. There were so many moving parts to learn: the software, the machine, the thread, the stabilizer, the files, and the mistakes. At one point, I stared at a machine, a hoop, and a tangled mess of thread and thought, "This is why people buy things from stores."

But I loved it.

The author also tried embroidery.

Courtesy of the author

As a mom, I am used to measuring time by usefulness. If I am making dinner, folding laundry, working, helping with homework, driving someone somewhere, or cleaning something up, I can justify the time.

But spending an afternoon making paper I did not need felt almost suspicious, like someone was going to walk outside and ask to see a permit for joy.

Maybe that was the point. Some things are worth doing simply because they remind you that you are still a person who gets to try.

At first, making time for these things felt selfish. There was always something else I could have been doing, and usually something more useful. But I am learning that taking up space does not make me less devoted to my family. It just reminds me that I am part of the family, too.

I do not regret becoming a mother at a young age. I do not regret building my life around my family. My children are the best part of my life. But I am starting to understand that loving them well does not require disappearing.

In fact, I think my kids need to see me as a whole person. They need to see me try things I am bad at. They need to see me laugh when something flops. They need to see me make space for joy, not only responsibility.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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Comedian Chloe Radcliffe is changing the conversation around cheating

noreply@blogger.com (mimisabreena) — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 16:26:22 +0000

Chloe Radcliffe is a lot of things: comedian, writer, actor, are only a few of the many words that might be used to describe her. So like most up-and-coming comedians, she is hard to define. One word she has used, especially in her hit solo show, is "cheater."

To get a better idea of who Radcliffe actually is, Mashable's Executive Producer Mark Stetson sits down with the multi-hyphenate to talk about her comedy process, her famous stand-up bits, Cheat, her "solo show about how I have a history of cheating in most of my relationships." In her raw and honest show, she explores the decisions and patterns in her life and the way we as a society handle infidelity and the people who cheat.

"I don't think the way we talk about cheating helps us cheat less," she says in the interview above. "We have more sympathy for serial killers than we do for cheaters."

In the latest episode of Mashable's Say More, Chloe also breaks down how she crafts and hones a joke over time, the nuance behind discussing sensitive topics like infidelity through comedy, and hosting her web series In Tandem with Chloe Radcliffe. She also shares hilarious behind-the-scenes stories from the Bradley Cooper-directed Is This Thing On?, including what it was like doing magic for a group of unbelievably mean 11-year-olds!

So, Chloe Radcliffe is a lot of things: hilarious, an avid cyclist, and yes, cheater. But when it comes to cheating, she might be changing the narrative.

Radcliffe is performing her solo show, Cheat, at Joe's Pub in NYC on Aug. 19 and 20.

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