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TL;DR: ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing restrictions to access blocked sites. Unblock Pornhub from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The world of porn has once again been thrown into disarray. And it all comes down to access.

Earlier in the year, Pornhub blocked access to users in North Carolina and Montana following the introduction of age verification laws in both states. Users in Montana were required to provide "a digitized identification card" to go through "a commercial age verification system", while North Carolina's law meant that sites had to provide a "commercially reasonable method of age and identity verification".

Pornhub wasn't happy with these new laws, and decided to block access as a form of protest. And now the same thing has happened in Texas. Fortunately, the solution remains the same.

If you want to unblock sites like Pornhub from anywhere in the world, we have the information you need.

How to unblock Pornhub for free

If you're based in a location with restricted access to porn sites, you'll need to use a VPN to bypass these blockades. VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure server in another location, bypassing geo-restrictions so you can stream on your favourite sites from anywhere in the world.

Retain access to Pornhub by following this quick and easy process:

1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location that supports access to Pornhub

4. Unblock Pornhub from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) Get Deal

The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like Pornhub without fully committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you the opportunity to temporarily retain access to your favourite sites.

If you want permanent access to everything online, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for porn sites is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Pornhub?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking porn sites like Pornhub, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to five simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $105.20 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Unblock Pornhub for free with ExpressVPN.

At a glance, Immaculate is provocative. Not only does this horror film center on a pregnant nun, but also, its harried heroine is played by Sydney Sweeney, the American actress known for boundary-pushing TV dramas like Euphoria and White Lotus. Even in the film's first trailer, there are signs that Immaculate will tap into nunsploitation terrain, colliding Catholic imagery with sensuality and iconoclastic violence. On those fronts, director Michael Mohan delivers. Yet this grisly bit of pregnancy horror still feels underdeveloped. 

To the credit of screenwriter Andrew Lobel, Immaculate takes a claustrophobic tale of terror and winds it into a metaphor for pregnant Americans whose bodies are subject to the beliefs of a religious authority following the overturn of Roe v. Wade. However, despite dedicatedly ghoulish twists, irreverent spectacle, and some terrific performances, this movie falls short of hitting as hard as it should. 

What's Immaculate about?

Sweeney stars as Sister Cecilia, a novitiate who is preparing to take her vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in an Italian convent. There, she will not only devote herself to Christ, but also to the aging nuns to whom this big, stone structure is a hospice. The addled sisters wander the halls, say cryptic things, and occasionally suffer violent outbursts, making for some easy scares. Indeed, jump scares pepper these proceedings. But the heart of the horror here is about Cecilia's faith being used against her. 

After a cheerful montage shows the American sister finding her footing (even as she openly struggles with the local language), Cecilia is shocked to discover that her strange sickness is actually pregnancy. 

She swears up and down to strapping Father Sal Tedeschi (Álvaro Morte) that she is a virgin, and swiftly the doting Mother Superior (Dora Romano) and intimidating Cardinal (Giorgio Colangeli) declare this is a miracle. With an alarming lack of evidence, they unilaterally declare that Cecilia is carrying the Second Coming. But as her belly grows big with child, this dedicated sister begins to doubt if this pregnancy is what she wants. Of course, being surrounded by devout Catholics who believe her role in life is to be the bearer of this child, conflict will arise. 

Sydney Sweeney and Benedetta Porcaroli have terrific chemistry in Immaculate. 

This movie borrows pretty heavily in tone and plot from some massively iconic horror movies regarding pregnancy and female spaces. To reveal some would mean major spoilers. However, the first act, in which Cecilia is giddy to join the sisterhood despite its jealousies and in-fighting, recalls Suspiria (either version, really). The moody lighting of the convent creates a surreal space, where long hours of work and devotion collide with blasts of red details (like face-covering masks) to create a giallo-like hellscape. Also in line with the sinister sorority of Suspiria's ballet academy are a thrilling collection of friends and foes. 

With wide eyes and an openness, Cecilia becomes fast friends with Sister Gwen (Porcaroli), a former sex worker who escaped an abusive relationship by joining the nunnery. Where Cecilia believes it is God who brought her here, Gwen shrugs at whether God even exists. Despite this massive fundamental difference in faith, they click instantly, whether whispering over group meals or sharing a big wooden bathtub while wearing translucent white chemises — allowing for nunsploitation's version of a wet T-shirt contest. 

In sharp contrast to this odd couple is Sister Isabelle (Giulia Heathfield Di Renzi), who glowers so powerfully, even the audience recoils under her glare. Her jealousy over the praise the pretty American nun gets upon her arrival is ominous but also exciting, the first red flag that Cecilia can't see through her rose-colored glasses. Yet the violence Isabelle's attitude forewarns — while shocking — is undercut by a messy middle. 

Immaculate's politics are undermined by favoring salacious spectacle over character. 

The first act of the film introduces compelling characters, even as they lean into dated archetypes of naive virgin, mouthy whore, and jealous zealot. However, in the film's second act, Cecilia's personality is overwhelmed by the script's need to make her a prop. On some level this is clever. Perhaps Mohan is reflecting how she has shifted from person to vessel to the Catholics around her, her life not nearly as valued as the fetus inside her womb. But from a viewer's perspective, it's not just Cecilia's bodily autonomy that is lost as the priests and elder nuns co-opt every decision about her birth plan. It's our access to her innermost thoughts.

Incredibly, while she is given earth-shattering news that not only is she miraculously pregnant but also believed to be carrying Jesus Christ, Cecilia barely has a chance to react. The other sisters fawn or frown or snark, but she gets one single tear to communicate what must be a flood of emotions. 

The third act will pitch her into scenes of violence and much blood, where religious iconography — like a gold cross and a pair of very sturdy rosary beads — will be used as weapons. Undeniably, there's irreverent pleasure in seeing such preposterous assaults. However, the emotional undercurrent is lost because Cecilia feels more like an abstraction than a flesh-and-blood pregnant person.

This makes for a finale that, while explosive, feels more like an arrogant mic drop than a satisfying climax. The plot makes sense both structurally and politically. But the emotional weight was dropped long before the final shot. Plus, message-wise, it's muddling to promote bodily autonomy with the plot but still make a spectacle of the nude bodies of the women trapped within this nightmarish story. Even in a story about our rights to our own flesh, our body is not our own, but that of the world's to goggle. 

Still, props to Sweeney, who not only shows her merit as a leading lady, but also produced Immaculate. While the film wobbles, it shows her fearlessness not only in what she'll take on as an actress (Nude scenes? Blood? Action? Bring it on!), but also delivers an impossible-to-miss message about the sanctity of a woman or pregnant person's right over their own body. This concept is where Immaculate comes alive, and in the third act, from which Sweeney's screams become much more than those of terror. They become a war cry. 

In the end, Immaculate is solid B-movie entertainment, brandishing sex, violence, and gore with a heady mix of irreverence and star power. But despite its proudly presented politics, it could have been more. As I wrote in my Arcadian review (also out of SXSW), when horror is grounded in human stakes and the gnarly tangle of human emotion, it just hits harder. And as Immaculate delivers its final brutal blow, I wish I was more shocked or awed instead of just nodding along. 

Immaculate was reviewed out of SXSW 2024; the movie will open in theaters March 22. 

TL;DR: As of March 18, get Microsoft Office 2019 and Windows 11 Pro together for $49.97 — usually $408.

Upgrading your computer can be a major expense, but with software subscriptions, just having a device that does everything you need costs money. If you're looking for a low-cost way to give your Windows computer an overhaul and get reliable apps for basic productivity, here's a bundle that comes with Microsoft Office 2019 and Windows 11 Pro. Microsoft Office 2019 doesn't have any recurring costs but still comes with older versions of many apps you might rely on every day. Plus, Windows 11 Pro still gives you modern upgrades to security, usability, and aesthetics. 

This whole bundle with Microsoft Office 2019 and Windows 11 Pro is only $49.97, but that's only through March 24. 

Upgrades for productivity and price

This two-part bundle comes with Microsoft Office 2019 and Windows 11 Pro. This version of Microsoft Office may look a little different from what you're used to if you have the most recent versions included in Microsoft 365, but they still work great for everyday tasks. 

This MSO 2019 license lets you install Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, and Access on one device for life. Security updates are included, and they connect directly to your Microsoft account. 

Windows 11 Pro gives your computer a total overhaul with new features for security, and usability, and it even changes a few visual details. For security, you can look out for tools like BitLocker device encryption, wake and lock, and support for biometric login. If you like keeping your digital space organized, you might be excited to see expanded support for widgets, snap windows, and smart app control. 

Both parts of this bundle only require a one-time payment for lifetime access. 

Low-cost alternative to Microsoft 365

Here's your chance to upgrade your operating system and get a software suite you only have to pay for once. 

Until March 24 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can get this Microsoft Office Pro 2019 and Windows 11 Pro bundle for $49.97. No coupon required. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Opens in a new window Credit: NERDUSED The All-in-One Microsoft Office Pro 2019 for Windows: Lifetime License + Windows 11 Pro Bundle $49.97 at the Mashable Shop
$408.00 Save $358.03 Get Deal

TL;DR: As of March 18, get a lifetime subscription to the Producti AI Pro Plan for only $49.99 — that's 92% off.

In today's world, content is king. Most industries rely on creating content for advertising, marketing, training, and more. Even self-employed vloggers or small business owners need to be able to put their names and voices out there. Hiring professionals to write or design can be too pricey, especially if you are just building your business. 

The advancement of AI has made things infinitely easier for all of the above and more. For example, you can get a lifetime subscription to the Producti AI Pro Plan for just $49.99. That means you have the help and assistance of AI for life for this one reasonable price.

Producti can help in a variety of ways. Whether you want to generate text or images to bolster your website, online store, or social marketing, you can have this platform make it for you within seconds. You can even create helpful chatbots, have a virtual assistant to send emails, and manage other tasks.

You'll even be able to connect with an AI expert to answer questions and help guide you along the way. And if you need to transcribe speech to text or code, this AI tool can do that, too. You will get lifetime access to Producti AI's Pro plan for mobile and desktop, with updates included.

Take control of your workflow and create content more efficiently with this tool.

Save hundreds on a lifetime subscription to the Producti AI Pro Plan while it's on sale for just $49.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Xenitha Producti AI Pro Plan: Lifetime Subscription $49.99 at the Mashable Shop
$647.64 Save $597.65 Get Deal

TL;DR: As of March 18, get the iSpyPen PRO camera pen for just $149.97 — usually $198.

If you've ever sat through an 8 a.m. meeting, you probably already know that your memory isn't perfect. Whether you're in class, at work, or just chatting with a friend, it's tough to keep all the little details together. Writing things down is an option, but that means you have to pay attention to what you're listening to and what you're writing. 

A simple solution could be recording, and you don't have to take out your phone to do it. The iSpyPen PRO is a stylish ballpoint pen with a secret. It has a built-in HD camera and microphone, so you can record all those little moments you might normally forget, and it's only $149.97. Don't forget when that price expires, though. This deal only lasts through March 24. 

The pen really is mightier

No more losing track of the important details from meetings. The iSpyPen Pro is a compact camera pen with an HD camera that records from a hidden lens just above the clip. This covert recorder even captures clear audio and has a storage capacity of 128GB. When you want to watch your video back, just take the pen apart and plug it into your computer. Fully charged, you could record for up to 75 minutes, and a charger is included. 

This isn't just a novelty device. The camera records in excellent resolution, and you even have the option to add a timestamp overlay to help you keep track of essential details. Plus, you can still take notes while you're recording. The pen even comes with ink refills, among other accessories including a case, charger, and more. 

A pen that remembers your meetings

Writing notes is one way to remember a meeting, but recording the whole thing means you don't have to try to catch every detail in time to write it down. With the iSpyPen, you can do a bit of both. 

You have until March 24 at 11:59 p.m. PT to get the iSpyPen Pro while it's marked down to $149.97. And you don't need a coupon for that price, either. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Opens in a new window Credit: ISpyPens iSpyPen PRO 2021 Model (128GB/24-Hour Storage/Black) + Adapter & Battery $149.97 at the Mashable Shop
$198.00 Save $48.03 Get Deal

TL;DR: Through March 24, get the Flash Pro Plus power bank for only $199.97 — normally $319.

Low batteries are a nuisance, but it's hard to avoid them. You might bring along a cable, but then you have to find an outlet. And if your device has a few years on it, that battery may not be lasting as long as it used to. Always being near an outlet isn't a practical solution. Instead, try bringing the power with you.

The Flash Pro Plus is a versatile power bank with a large battery capacity and the ability to connect to six devices at once. Successfully funded on Indiegogo, this efficient power bank has an OLED display that gives you real-time information about how much power is being directed to each device. Normally, you'd have to pay $319 for this powerhouse of a power bank, but this is your chance to get it on sale for just $199.97 through March 24.

Power up on the go

The Flash Pro Plus may be small, but it's powerful. Literally, it's full of power with a 25,000mAh battery accessible through three USB-C ports, one USB-A output, and two spots for wireless charging. The USB ports all have their max power output labeled beneath them, but you can also check the OLED display to see how much power is being directed to each port. That's also where you can find out how much of your total charge is left. 

The MagSafe-compatible wireless charging spots support 15W devices. The smaller of the two wireless charging pads is magnetic and can securely charge your Apple Watch while you also charge your iPhone, iPad, AirPods, and other devices with cable access. Plus, the whole charger comes with safety features for overcurrent, overvoltage, and short circuits. 

No more low batteries

Keep your batteries full whether you're powering through a long workday or hitting the road on a cross-country trip. 

Until March 24 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can get the Flash Pro Plus for $199.97. No coupon needed. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Chargeasap Flash Pro Plus 100W USB-C 25000mAh Graphene Power Bank w/ Magsafe Compatibility $199.97 at the Mashable Shop
$319.00 Save $119.03 Get Deal

Apple's AirPods are getting a new member of the family.

This is according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who claims that Apple plans to launch two new versions of AirPods this year, neither of them "Pro."

In the latest of his newsletters, Gurman said that Apple is preparing for the "biggest AirPods launch to date," with the company planning to produce a record-breaking 20 to 25 million earbuds, with production starting in May and general availability starting in September or October.

Apple is launching two models this year, the report claims. One, codenamed B768(E), is an entry-level model, with the other is codenamed B768(M), with the "M" standing for "mid-tier." Both will be redesigned compared to the current AirPods, with a better fit, and charging cases equipped with a USB-C port. The mid-tier variant will also have active noise cancellation, as well as Find My speakers in the case, which should make it easier to find if you misplace it.

SEE ALSO: Apple AirPods Pro 3: Every single thing we know so far

These are just regular AirPods, not the AirPods Pro. Apple currently sells only one new variant of the AirPods for $179, though the company does also sell the previous generation of the AirPods for $129. Unfortunately, there's no word on the price for the upcoming model.

Apple AirPods $99.00 at Amazon
$129.00 Save $30.00 Shop Now

As for the AirPods Pro, a new variant is coming "as soon as next year," the report says. Gurman also reiterated his previous report that the new AirPods Pro will get a hearing aid feature.

SEE ALSO: Apple AirPods Pro might get a 'hearing aid' feature soon

Finally, Gurman says an AirPods model that comes out "a few years from now" could come with low-resolution cameras that can scan the environment around the user, with the data then processed via AI to help you out with daily activities.

Twitter/X's AI chatbot Grok is now open source. In a better timeline, I wouldn't have to know any of those words.

Last Monday, Twitter/X owner and xAI founder Elon Musk announced that Grok would soon go open source, making its source code freely available for anyone to access and modify. Now the company has acted on that plan, releasing Grok-1's base model weights and network architecture on GitHub.

"░W░E░I░G░H░T░S░I░N░B░I░O░," the official Grok Twitter/X account posted, mimicking a format frequently used by spam bots claiming to share pornographic images on the platform.

Tweet may have been deleted

In a brief blog post announcing the release, Musk's artificial intelligence company xAI stated that the model being released is from when Grok-1 was in its "pre-training phrase" in Oct. 2023. So while this base model has been trained on "a large amount of text data," it hasn't been fine-tuned to any specific task. This means you're probably better off continuing to use Grok on Twitter/X if you just want to play with a Musk-approved chatbot (and are prepared to shell out your hard-earned cash to become an X Premium+ subscriber).

SEE ALSO: OpenAI shares Elon Musk's emails, says he wanted 'full control' of the company

For those more interested in toying with code, Grok's weights and architecture have been released under an Apache 2.0 licence, meaning anyone is free to modify and redistribute them. In an apparent reference to 1989 sci-fi comedy Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, the code of conduct accompanying Grok's release reads only: "Be excellent to each other." 

"Grok is a 314-billion parameter Mixture-of-Experts model trained from scratch by xAI," wrote xAI. 

Grok was uploaded to GitHub by an account apparently belonging to AI researcher and xAI employee Igor Babuschkin. All you need to do is head over to the website, hit the green " Code" button, and select the format you want it in.

Musk has been pushing OpenAI to go open source

This move comes just weeks after Musk sued Grok competitor OpenAI for not being open source. Musk previously sat on the ChatGPT creator's board of directors, as well as invested several million dollars into the AI research company. Now the billionaire has accused OpenAI of breach of contract, contending that there was a "Founding Agreement" that its artificial general intelligence would be open source, and that the organisation would be run as a non-profit "for the benefit of humanity." 

OpenAI has since refuted Musk's claim, stating that no such agreement existed. It further published emails demonstrating that Musk knew of and agreed with OpenAI's plans to become proprietary rather than open source, as well as its intention to become a for-profit organisation.

"As we discussed a for-profit structure in order to further the mission, Elon wanted us to merge with Tesla or he wanted full control," wrote OpenAI, noting that Musk stated OpenAI had zero chance of success without raising several billion dollars per year.

"Elon left OpenAI, saying there needed to be a relevant competitor to Google/DeepMind and that he was going to do it himself… When he left in late February 2018, he told our team he was supportive of us finding our own path to raising billions of dollars."

Apparently Musk isn't quite as supportive as OpenAI expected, if his lawsuit is anything to go by.

TL;DR: A lifetime subscription to Rosetta Stone is on sale for £148.68, saving you 52% on list price.

The barrier to learning a new language is practically non-existent at this point, thanks to the proliferation of free online resources and language-learning software. If you're committed enough, you can even train yourself to be a polyglot all on your own. But if you want structure in your learning and wish to do away with tedious grammar rules to plunge you directly into the practical use of a new language, you could use the guidance of language-learning apps.

Rosetta Stone is an award-winning app that takes out the complexities of language learning. Trusted by organizations like NASA, Calvin Klein, and TripAdvisor, it offers an immersive and intuitive training method to help you become fluent quicker than you'd expect. For a limited time, you can grab a lifetime subscription on sale for £148.68.

Rosetta Stone teaches new languages by mirroring the natural way you learned your first language. Instead of having you watch monotonous video lectures, its training approach kicks off with having you match words and images and then escalates to interactive lessons. Its progressive learning structure offers a comfortable pace, beginning with basic conversational skills like ordering food, hailing a taxi, and shopping. Once you've got a good grasp of the foundation of the language, you then move on to picking up intermediate language skills like discussing pop culture and sharing opinions.

Fine-tuning your pronunciation and diction is also easier with the app's proprietary speech-recognition technology that analyses your words 100 times per second and yields instant feedback. With a subscription, you can learn up to 25 languages, including Spanish, Mandarin, Korean, Filipino, and French, focusing on one at a time. Before long, you'll be reading, writing, and speaking in your chosen language with confidence.

A lifetime subscription to Rosetta Stone normally goes for over £300, but you can get it for only £148.68.

Opens in a new window Credit: Rosetta Stone Rosetta Stone: All languages (Lifetime Subscription) £148.68 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

With the rise of remote and hybrid work, the number of employees working at different times and collaborating across time zones is growing. As a result, you need to develop an increasingly important skill: asynchronous communication. Here are a few tactics that can help. Asynchronous work requires more autonomy. Familiarize yourself with company resources, like […]

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

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for March 18's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

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

Another name for dinkle wheat.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no letters that appear twice.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. What's the answer to Wordle today?

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to Wordle #1003 is...

SPELT.

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

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

Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. 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 March 18's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

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 categories

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

• Yellow: The next part

• Green: A group of stars

• Blue: Spirals

• Purple: The One

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Segment of a Process

• Green: Constellations

• Blue: Spirals in Nature

• Purple: Associated with "One"

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 Connections #281 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Segment of a Process: CYCLE, PHASE, ROUND, STAGE

• Constellations: CYGNUS, GEMINI, ORION, PEGASUS

• Spirals in Nature: CYCLONE, GALAXY, SNAIL, SUNFLOWER

• Associated with "One": CYCLOPS, MONOLOGUE, SOLITARE, UNICYCLE

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

Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections.

Reddit is planning on going public. But first, the Federal Trade Commission has to check on some stuff.

The social media company revealed that on March 14, the FTC sent them a letter declaring that the commission would conduct a "non-public inquiry" regarding Reddit's licensing of user-generated data for training third-party AI models, per CNBC. Data licensing is a young business for Reddit, which relies mostly on advertising revenue at this point.

SEE ALSO: Reddit finally files IPO, gives Redditors first dibs on buying stock

Reddit's plan at the moment is to go public on March 21. It is unclear what kind of effect, if any, this FTC investigation will have on those efforts.

As you may or may not be aware, many generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Sora, and Midjourney require a great deal of data to train on. The easiest, and most accessible source for huge data sets like the ones these tools require is the internet. Some companies like Tumblr owner Automattic have been willing to strike deals with AI companies to license data for training. That's what Reddit is trying to do here.

Arguably the most prominent third-party AI model that Reddit has partnered with for training is Google's, which was announced last month. We'll see if it winds up haunting Reddit at some point down the road.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for March 17 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for March 17

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Sunday, March 17, 2024:

AcrossWord meaning "beverage" that scores 20 points in Scrabble

• The answer is Quaff.

Value of B or C, in Scrabble

• The answer is Three.

The "R" of the state abbreviation R.I.

• The answer is Rhode.

Wear and tear

• The answer is Use.

Evil Spell

• The answer is Hex.

Down15 minutes of an N.F.L. game: Abbr.

• The answer is QTR.

"Sure, sure ..."

• The answer is Uh huh.

Came up

• The answer is Arose.

Company with planes that ship

• The answer is FedEx.

Penalty for using another bank's A.T.M.

TL;DR: Stream Chelsea vs. Leicester City in the FA Cup for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The remaining eight teams in the FA Cup will be starting to dream of a famous victory. The problem with those dreams is that everyone wants to win just as much as each other, and only one team can lift the trophy.

Chelsea will be favourites in their clash with Leicester City, but this is the FA Cup. This competition is all about the underdog story.

If you want to watch Chelsea vs. Leicester City in the FA Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Chelsea vs. Leicester City?

Chelsea vs. Leicester City kicks off at 12:45 p.m. GMT on March 17. This fixture takes place at Stamford Bridge.

How to watch Chelsea vs. Leicester City for free

The match between Chelsea and Leicester City will be broadcast live on BBC One, with coverage starting from 12:20 p.m. GMT on March 17. You can also live stream this FA Cup fixture for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can access BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Access BBC iPlayer to stream the FA Cup by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Stream Chelsea vs. Leicester City for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) £82.82 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but top VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This is not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the FA Cup before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 94 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to five simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Watch Chelsea vs. Leicester City for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Stream Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona in La Liga for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Watching La Liga for free is not easy, but it's not impossible. Every now and then an opportunity presents itself, and we make some noise about it.

In this case you can watch Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona in La Liga without spending anything. You just need to know how to bypass geo-restrictions. And we can help with that.

If you want to watch Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona?

Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona kicks off at 8 p.m. GMT on March 17. This fixture takes place at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, Spain.

How to watch Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona for free

The match between Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona will be broadcast live on ITV4. You can also live stream this fixture for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can bypass geo-restrictions to access ITVX from anywhere in the world.

Access ITVX to stream Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Stream Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) £82.82 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to ITVX without committing with your cash. This is not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking ITVX, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 94 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to five simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Watch Atlético Madrid vs. Barcelona for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Stream Manchester United vs. Liverpool in the FA Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The FA Cup quarter-finals have thrown together some really intriguing matchups, but nothing comes close to Manchester United vs. Liverpool. It's arguably the biggest game in domestic football, and there's a place in the FA Cup semi-finals up for grabs. It's going to be electric.

If you want to watch Manchester United vs. Liverpool for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Manchester United vs. Liverpool?

Manchester United vs. Liverpool kicks off at 3:30 p.m. GMT on March 17. This fixture takes place at Old Trafford.

How to watch Manchester United vs. Liverpool for free

The match between Manchester United and Liverpool will be broadcast live on ITV1, with coverage starting from 2:45 p.m. GMT on March 17. You can also live stream this fixture for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can bypass geo-restrictions to access ITVX from anywhere in the world.

Access ITVX to stream Manchester United vs. Liverpool by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Stream Manchester United vs. Liverpool for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) £82.82 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to ITVX without committing with your cash. This is not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the FA Cup before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking ITVX, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 94 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to five simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for £82.82 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Watch Manchester United vs. Liverpool for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Stream Denver Nuggets vs. Dallas Mavericks in the NBA for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

We're inching closer to the NBA playoffs, which could mean that teams are starting to build momentum before it really matters. It could also mean that teams are resting to save up energy for the latter stages. We're hoping that there are plenty of entertaining games still to come, given that a lot of teams have not yet confirmed their place in the playoffs.

The Dallas Mavericks are a team with a lot left to prove, but a big win against the NBA champions might convince some fans that they could go all the way this year. Any team with Luka Dončić has a chance, after all.

If you want to watch the Denver Nuggets vs. Dallas Mavericks for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Denver Nuggets vs. Dallas Mavericks?

Denver Nuggets vs. Dallas Mavericks starts at 3:30 p.m. ET on March 17 (7:30 p.m. GMT). This game takes place at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.

How to watch Denver Nuggets vs. Dallas Mavericks for free

Denver Nuggets vs. Dallas Mavericks will be broadcast live on BBC Three. You can also live stream this game for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. These powerful tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can access BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Access BBC iPlayer to stream the NBA by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Stream Denver Nuggets vs. Dallas Mavericks for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $106.14 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This is not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch Denver Nuggets vs. Dallas Mavericks before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best service for unblocking BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 94 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to five simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $106.14 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Watch Denver Nuggets vs. Dallas Mavericks for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

People long for the days when our smartphones weren't a crucial aspect of our lives. Our phones are how we connect to our friends and loved ones, how we get our news, schedule our appointments, buy our groceries, and where we listen to our music. But we also use our smartphones way too much.

That's what Humane says it wants to change with its Ai Pin. Founded by former Apple executives Bethany Bongiorno and Imran Chaudhri and backed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, the Ai Pin is designed to bring us a smartphone-less world through the use of AI and wearable computing.

SEE ALSO: Google is training an AI to play video games — why this could be problematic

Starting at a cool $699, the Ai Pin ships out in April. Before then though, Bongiorno, who also serves as Humane's CEO, let me watch as she demoed her personal Ai Pin at SXSW to remove any skepticism about the pin and Humane's goals.

First Impressions of Humane's Ai Pin Credit: Chance Townsend / Mashable

For the price tag of the Ai Pin, I expected to have my mind blown, and while truthfully, the demo given by Bongiorno didn't do that, I was impressed with how well it worked.

The gist of the Ai Pin is that it's an AI assistant that attaches to your clothes where a boutonnière would go. Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, you can ask it questions, play music, call/text people, or even take photos or videos. The more you use it and tell it about yourself, the more it'll learn about you and perform tasks suited to your specific needs, its makers say. It's similar in some ways to the Rabbit R1, which uses a Large Action Model (LAM) to learn and interact with different apps. But with the Ai Pin, there is no screen to interact with. If you need to mess with some settings, there's a very cool laser projector that turns your palm into a flesh-and-blood "screen."

SEE ALSO: Humane Ai pin gave 2 wrong answers in demo. Is this a bad sign?

Here's what Humane made clear that the Ai Pin is not: it's not a companion to your smartphone, and it's not just ChatGPT pinned on your chest. The pin comes with an SIM card, connecting it to mobile phone networks. While the pin itself is powered by GPT-4, Bongiorno made clear that the pin doesn't just take your queries, send them to OpenAI and then back to you. Instead, the device processes inputs locally, utilizing its own AI framework to provide immediate, context-aware responses.

You can activate the device through voice, touch, or gesture commands. Pressing and holding activates the device to take voice commands. Waving your hand in front of it will turn on the laser projector where you can enter your passcode. You can change the volume by swiping on the pin — it'll then make mechanical scrolling noises like a mouse wheel.

The laser projection is sharp on the palm, but it's meant for really quickly and quietly reading small bits of text and information. It will overheat if used for an extended period. It's supposed to be a screen-free experience.

It cannot be stressed how much Humane wants you off your phone.

Credit: Chance Townsend / Mashable

Most interaction with the pin will be done through voice commands. The Ai Pin has some well-designed speakers that in quiet environments can be heard loud and clear. Bongiorno also told us that she had no problem having full conversations with a colleague as she walked through a crowded airport. This does not mean we all have to be held hostage by the annoying guy with the Bluetooth earpiece — you can connect the Ai Pin to your AirPods or Bluetooth headphones.

Because most of the AI action is done off-device, it does take some time for questions to be answered. When Bongiorno asked it the name of "Austin's pink coffee place," the Ai pin took 10 or 15 seconds to answer "Revival Coffee." Would googling that be faster? Perhaps, but the whole point is to be off your phone.

The Ai Pin can also take photos and short videos — always a touchy topic when it comes to wearables. Humane says it takes privacy very seriously, and to that end there are indicator lights brightly telling everyone around you that you activated the device or if you're taking a video. "Any attempt to cover the LED indicator, the Ai Pin will stop recording immediately," Bongiorno told me.

What's genuinely impressive is the camera's ability to scan things in front of you and describe them in detail. On top of that, when you're sending messages you can tell the pin what tone you want the message to have. For example, Bongiorno texted her sick daughter and told the pin "Send a message to Oliver and ask her to call me, and make it sound Gen Z." (Its Gen Z translation: "Hey Oliver, can you call me later, I wanna chat. Thanks.")

The Ai Pin also has a real-time translation feature, with over 50 languages. Bongiorno demoed some Mandarin and Spanish, which allowed me to flex my 300-day Duolingo streak chops. The pin does have a hard time picking up my voice and it's unclear if that's because I have a very low speaking voice or if the mics are directionally focused upwards to pick up the voice of the wearer. Regardless, the pin will speak back to you after translating and will then translate back your response in whatever language you're conversing in. Or if it's loud, the laser can project the translations on your palm.

While I wish I could do more hands-on testing myself, from the demo there's some practical use for the Ai Pin. From the live demo Bongiono gave, it feels as if the device is a very late-stage proof of concept for what the future of mobile computing can look like. However, the Ai Pin as it exists now is far from being the world-changer that Humane wants it to be.

There's nothing the Ai Pin can do for me that a smartphone can't already do, other than not be a smartphone. I can already call, text, listen to music, and have a basic Q&A AI on my iPhone that doesn't cost an additional $700.

It's official, Ireland is the first country to get the stan treatment. 

The small island country with a population of only 5 million — roughly the same as Alabama — is adored online. Film Twitter roots for Irish actors like they're a sports team, and in recent years, an entire language of memes has emerged in devotion to Ireland.

There's "Sometimes tha side chick ain't even a chick, it's the gorgeous and proud nation of Ireland" — used when an Irish person embraces their Irishness or does something the poster agrees with. For example, "cillian said fecking!!" There's "The Irish people do not deserve this," a screenshot of Azealia Banks' 2021 anti-Irish Instagram story — used when something bad happens to an Irish person (for example, when Colin Farrell lost Best Actor at the Oscars last year). Users edit it to "The Irish people do deserve this" when something good happens to an Irish person (for example, Cillian Murphy's Best Actor win at the Oscars this year). The latest addition to the canon is a video of PinkPantheress posing with an Irish flag on stage, also used in celebration of Murphy's achievement. 

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

Ireland aficionados also refashioned the lyrics to Taylor Swift's "London Boy" from "But God, I love the English" to "But God, I love the Irish" to caption images of their favorite Irish "It" boy … and there are plenty to choose from: Murphy, Farrell, Paul Mescal, Barry Keoghan, and Andrew Scott. That's not to forget the Irish "It" girls: Saoirse Ronan, Ruth Negga, Nicola Coughlan, and Alison Oliver.

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There's been a huge outpouring of talent from Ireland in recent years, whether it be performances from the aforementioned actors to the work of Irish writers like Sally Rooney, Claire Keegan, and Paul Lynch to music from Hozier, Kneecap, and One Direction's Niall Horan, all ushering in the biggest wave of global interest in Ireland since the 1990s (thanks to the success of "Riverdance" and bands like U2, The Cranberries, and the boy band Boyzone reaching their peak).

Why do Americans identify with Ireland?

"There has always been a warmth towards Irish culture in the United States, which initially came from the Irish-American population, but more widely, Irish are known as entertainers and storytellers," Ruth Barton, a professor of film studies at Trinity College Dublin and the author of Acting Irish in Hollywood, told Mashable. 

Ireland has longstanding ties to the U.S. due to Irish emigration at different points in history. There were significant waves of immigration to the U.S. in the mid 1800s, the early 20th century, the 1950s, 1980s, and again in the 2000s. There are 14 million people in the United States that claim Irish heritage, 600 times the population of Ireland.

Eleanor O'Leary, a lecturer in media and communications at South East Technological University in Ireland, pointed to the large diaspora of Irish people as a reason why Irishness is so mobile. The latest iteration of Irish celebrities and popular media builds upon that initial connection Americans have to Ireland. "Ireland's online virality allows the Irish-American diaspora to reconnect to Ireland in different ways," she told Mashable. "Irish people have to negotiate what Irishness means inside and outside of Ireland, which is not always as linear as you would assume."

The fanfare for the country doesn't end with the large population claiming Irish heritage. 

The honorary Irishwoman Ayo Edebiri

Even if you don't exist in Hibernophile spaces online, you've likely caught wind of the obsession with Ireland. Ayo Edebiri, the star of three of 2023's screen obsessions — The Bear, Bottoms, and Theater Camp — brought this newfangled fondness to the mainstream. At South by Southwest last year, the actress, who is not Irish, joked that she went method to portray Jenny the donkey in Martin McDonagh's The Banshees of Inisherin. She's since kept the joke alive, tweeting when Bottoms came out in Ireland, thanking Ireland in her Critics Choice Awards acceptance speech, and wearing a T-shirt with a shamrock on it on Saturday Night Live. 

"Banshees of Inisherin plays with and against Irish stereotypes. The marketing of the film using Jenny the donkey was a masterstroke, because it tied the film to a notion of cute Irishness," Anthony McIntyre, a lecturer in film and media studies at University College Dublin and author of Contemporary Irish Popular Culture: Transnationalism, Regionality, and Diaspora, told Mashable. "It was brilliant of Ayo Edebiri to piggyback on that. She managed to get in on something that was already becoming a meme, attach herself to it, and reinvigorate it in subsequent moments." 

Edebiri has been accepted by Ireland — Film in Dublin tweeted, "Congratulations to Ireland's own Ayo Edebiri for her nomination for the 2024 BAFTA Rising Star Award" and the Irish Independent wrote, "the Irish couldn't be happier to welcome Edebiri into the fold" — and by Ireland aficionados online. All the aforementioned memes now apply to the actress as well. 

"Within Ireland, we fondly accept these tenuous links to Irishness," said McIntyre. "There's a history of playfully accepting African Americans [as our own]." For example, when Barack Obama was elected president, Ireland embraced his Irish ancestry with the Irish band Hardy Drew and the Nancy Boys, later known as the Corrigan Brothers, writing the folk song "There's No One as Irish as Barack O'Bama."

This identification with Ireland is also happening at a time when other English-speaking countries, like the United States and England, are going through crises of increased polarization. Onscreen Ireland is often presented as "a safe harbor away from the difficulties of American contemporary life," said McIntyre, who pointed to films like The Matchmaker and The Quiet Man as examples.

Ireland's reality appeals to Americans. "[Irishness] is a positive identity. It's OK to be Irish, because we were colonized. It used to be a repressed Catholic country, but we are a liberal country now. You can get an abortion, you can express your opinion, you can get a divorce, you can do all these things and nobody's going to put you in prison," said Barton.

"There's an openness to Irish identity in the United States that there isn't to English identity. English people, without generalizing too much, stand for old colonialism, and there's a sense that the English are very upright and repressed. They do stand for something politically different to the Irish in the United States," said O'Leary.

Irish internet boyfriends

On an internet that traffics in white boys of the month, it's unsurprising that Irishness is so widely embraced. But Irish actors weren't always soft boy sex symbols. In the '90s, Irish men onscreen were often portrayed as hard-drinking, cursing tough guys. The Troubles in Northern Ireland perpetuated the stereotype of the Irish gunman, but with over 20 years passing since then, conceptions of Irish masculinity onscreen have evolved. "[Irish] actors [today] present with a very particular type of masculinity that's not so toxic, which stands out in the manosphere with the quite brash forms of masculinity that are circulating.They seem to be very gentlemanly, approachable, and unassuming," said O'Leary.

She pointed to Mescal's character in Normal People, the runaway COVID hit adaptation of Rooney's novel of the same name, as an example of this new masculinity that fits with the ideals of Gen Z and millennial posters.

Rooney's stories are rooted in Irishness, but rather than following the lead of traditional Irish storytellers and exploring disadvantage, she focuses on generational issues, inviting global identification. "She's interested in exploring relationships, and the relationship of the young person to an older, patriarchal, consumer-driven society, and in that she's really touching on a very universal set of anxieties around identity that any young person from any country could relate to," said Barton.

The country's history of oppression is another reason the internet is so endeared to Ireland. Until the 1990s, Ireland was very poor and economically disadvantaged. While it's not so anymore, it retains the identity of an underdog.

Irish actors like Cillian Murphy often assert their Irish identity in interviews. One popular fancam that features eight Irish actors — including Ayo Edebiri — begins with Keoghan correcting his Saltburn co-star Jacob Elordi for referring to him as a Brit. Keoghan says, "I'm Irish, just saying." The internet rallies around these moments of Irish confidence. 

Tweet may have been deleted

"We're used to Irish actors being appropriated by the UK. [British people] kind of assert that you're British really, and [Irish actors] often have to stand up and say no," explained McIntyre. "It's something in our history where there is a tendency for UK media to forget that Ireland is a different country."

Irish celebrities' strong attachment to Ireland makes them stand out in a sea of famous people. "[Irish] actors who operate outside the conventions of celebrity are more attractive to people in this moment. The fact that they really strongly identify as Irish helps [people] see them as a group," said Barton. For instance, while many actors relocate to London or Los Angeles, Murphy insists on raising his children in Ireland. Any sort of authenticity goes a long way online.

In many ways, the internet simply mimics the Irish pride seen from Irish celebrities and their supporters in their homeland. "The success of anyone from here on a world stage, we get a lot of national pride from. People who identify with Ireland in America also get a certain type of nationalistic pride when an Irish person succeeds on the global stage," said O'Leary. 

Ireland's history of being colonized and staunch stance against colonization makes it appeal not just to cinephiles looking to feel a part of something, but to another vocal group online, those advocating for ceasefire in Gaza. "Ireland is known for having a very strong pro-Palestinian stance," said O'Leary. "A lot of new people are aligning themselves with Ireland around that stance, particularly groups that weren't previously interested in Irish culture. Ireland's pro-Palestine stance forges new allegiances around Ireland globally."

Sometimes tha side chick isn't even a chick, it's the gorgeous and proud nation of Ireland.