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Spiritually and visually luminous, Greg Kwedar’s Sing Sing is one of the year’s most powerful works. The movie follows a theater production at a New York prison arts program, and is for all intents and purposes a dramatization — but it remains so closely tethered to reality that it may as well be docufiction. Rustin Academy Award-nominee Colman Domingo leads an impeccable cast, many of whom were formerly incarcerated and play versions of themselves, in a tale of learning to "trust the process" of performing.

The film is an aesthetically alluring, emotionally rigorous look at the way men are molded — and broken — by punitive systems. Yet, at its core, Sing Sing is about finding hope and catharsis through creation, and the difficulties therein. Kwedar’s deft direction works in tandem with fine-tuned drama to craft naturalistic mosaics, drawn from a patchwork of real prison experiences, resulting in a work of community storytelling both in front of and behind the camera. 

That its cast and crew were all paid the same rate across the board, and given a share of the profit, isn’t just a necessary equity model — Hollywood at large, take note — but an embodiment of the movie’s collective spirit, which radiates off its canvas in every scene.

What is Sing Sing about?

Shot in a number of real penitentiaries — including Sing Sing Correctional Facility, a maximum security prison in upstate New York — the film is inspired by the true story of  an unlikely friendship that was perhaps destined to be. Domingo plays John "Divine G" Whitfield, an author/playwright incarcerated at Sing Sing, who takes a keen interest in the prison’s RTA program (Rehabilitation Through the Arts), which stages a new theater production every season. Meanwhile, Clarence "Divine Eye" Maclin plays himself: a drug dealer and prison yard extortionist who is reluctantly roped into Whitfield’s program. That the two men have similar nicknames is about where commonalities end.

Though the film pulls from real experiences, Sing Sing takes dramatic liberties in order to inject the story with intention and propulsive drama. Whitfield sees something in Maclin that perhaps he doesn’t see in himself, whether talent or the need (and potential) for rehabilitation. Whitfield has seen and experienced the RTA’s positive effects up close, but Maclin’s closed-off, hyper-masculine approach to emotional expression — which one can intuit as a survival mechanism in a world that shows unjust cruelty toward Black men — proves a hurdle to his participation.

SEE ALSO: Best documentaries streaming now on Prime Video

However, Maclin reaches a turning point when the group gives him the floor and actually listens to his advice. He suggests a comedic approach for the RTA’s next production, rather than their usual fodder of Shakespearean tragedy or one of Whitfield’s straightforward dramas. Soon, the whole group has their input heard, and a riotous mix of Hamlet, ancient Egypt, and A Nightmare on Elm Street becomes a brazen time travel musical titled Breakin’ the Mummy’s Code — a real play once staged at the RTA, which Kwedar discovered in the 2005 Esquire article The Sing Sing Follies.

The path to staging Breakin’ the Mummy’s Code is winding, between attempts to garner more prison funding for elaborate sets and costumes to simply easing the tensions arising from Maclin’s involvement in an otherwise well-oiled unit. He’s confrontational, to the point of rejecting Whitfield’s help in both his performance and his upcoming appeal for parole. The enthusiastic author isn’t about to give up on him so easily. However, when Whitfield himself struggles with hopelessness and ire, it's Maclin who uses the emotional tools he’s learned at the RTA to come to his friend's rescue.

In centering its characters’ humanity through the lens of performance, Sing Sing becomes one of the best modern films about acting as well.

Colman Domingo and Clarence Maclin deliver tremendous performances in Sing Sing.

For the most part, Sing Sing’s ensemble blends into the movie’s naturalistic fabric, but the dynamic between Domingo and Maclin isn’t so seamless — albeit with good reason. Domingo brings a rehearsed, boisterous, theatrical quality to Whitfield, befitting of a seasoned stage performer who takes a special interest in shaping the RTA. Which is to say: He’s distinctly Domingo, with all the pronounced inflections, buttery-smooth delivery, and penchant for melodrama that makes his performances so worthwhile.

Whitfield’s resilience, and his belief that he’ll successfully appeal his conviction, make for vital dramatic centerpieces that inform Domingo’s approach. He’s so jovial and conversational that he never feels at odds with the film, but he does feel like an outsider — an erudite who displays hints of arrogance as he takes control of rehearsal sessions — which makes things all the more difficult for him when he begins to lose hope. Domingo, like Whitfield, has Shakespeare on his mind when he nears the end of his rope, becoming emotionally shattered in mind, body, and soul while projecting for the back row.

This makes for an intriguing dramatic contrast with the more naturalistic Maclin, and creates a wider chasm between them, which they need to work even harder to overcome. Maclin carries himself with a street-smart self-assuredness that frequently gives way to a deep sensitivity and pain — which Whitfield encourages him to access in their rehearsal sessions. Watching both actors perform, with different modes and methods but striving toward a common emotional goal, is a moving meta-text, and Sing Sing invites this reading through its numerous scenes of introspective acting exercises, allowing each participant to access their most walled-off emotions.

The RTA’s purpose isn’t just playtime, but rehabilitation of a kind entirely separate from the cruelty of prisons. Where punitive lockup and invasive searches don’t do the characters much good, their creative outlets afford them the chance to get in touch with their emotions in ways even those in the outside world might not. The film, in this regard, mirrors the harrowing and incisive 2017 film The Work, a powerful prison documentary whose group therapy sessions are strikingly akin to the emotional recall exercises of Russian theatrician Konstantin Stanislavski, whose acting "system" was a precursor to Lee Strasberg’s modern "method acting." The more the characters in Sing Sing rehearse, the closer they get not just to their immediate physical goal of putting on a great comedic performance, but to the spiritual goal of finding their most authentic selves.

The movie’s ensemble captures this journey in thoughtful fashion. The central relationship between Whitfield and Maclin may be key to the unfolding drama, but let it not go unsaid: The performances are incredible across the board.

Sing Sing’s supporting players shine. 

The two other actors who join Domingo from outside the prison system are Paul Raci as Breakin’ the Mummy’s Code writer and RTA director Brent Buell, and Sean San José as Whitfield’s close friend "Mike Mike," a Latino man whose "Hare Krishna" appearance — rosary beads, along with a bald head and shikha ponytail — hint at a turn towards ISKCON Hinduism for comfort. However, both Raci and San José come from a place of empathetic involvement with the prison system too. Raci, who appeared in Sound of Metal, is a CODA (a Child of Deaf Adults) and works as a sign language interpreter within the criminal justice system, while San José has worked with numerous theater workshops in Bay Area prisons and county jails.

Both actors bring a sense of fun, conversational naturalism that matches the rest of the cast, who largely play themselves, and draw from their experiences as RTA performers. Sean "Dino" Johnson has a tranquil presence, and his repetitive rehearsal techniques in the corner of numerous frames are sure to catch your eye; Jon-Adrian "JJ" Velazquez brings a reserved toughness that hides a subtle but recognizable vulnerability; David "Dap" Giraudy shines with a youthful energy that’s magnetic and tragic in equal measure (he should be at the club); practically every supporting actor has a story to tell and a face so interesting that their silent close-ups are usually enough to tell it.

In this way, Sing Sing is a beautiful, multifaceted movie that not only draws from the real lives of its ensemble, but centers each of their stories and personalities with a commitment to realism, which Kwedar and cinematographer Pat Scola ensure in immensely thoughtful ways.

Sing Sing is a gorgeously crafted drama.

Sing Sing, for the most part, avoids the question of what these men did in order to end up behind bars. This only comes up for specific, plot-centric reasons concerning Whitfield and Maclin. Otherwise, the movie allows us to get to know each man through their jokes, their rehearsal techniques, their idiosyncrasies, and their deepest fears and fantasies when it comes to life outside the prison’s walls, as relayed through various thoughtful acting exercises. We get to know them as people first and foremost, and as artists rather than as "criminals" as determined by the state.

Like Breakin’ the Mummy’s Code — a combination of theatrical and cinematic influences — the direction in Sing Sing combines elements of the stage and screen to create something wholly unique. Its opening images, plucked out of time, feature Whitfield performing a Shakespeare piece in order to set the mood. The combination of this show’s blinding stage lights and the celluloid film stock create a dreamlike haze, with visual grain practically coming alive as it darts across the screen.

The movie also features a sense of stage-like blocking; the actors’ posture and body language speak as loudly as their voices, in moments of both camaraderie and conflict. However, as the camera captures these interpersonal dynamics, the cinematography takes a loose, freeform approach — a documentarian, cinéma verité aesthetic — playing with shifting focus in order to reveal new layers to each relationship.

SEE ALSO: ‘Grand Theft Hamlet’ review: 'Grand Theft Auto' meets Shakespeare in hilarious, moving doc

Following an argument between Maclin and Whitfield, a two-shot of the would-be friends in profile captures their proximity, as the camera keeps a distracted Whitfield out of focus while centering Maclin’s silent remorse. It’s as though his attempts to reconcile were being blocked by the film itself, conveying the underlying emotions more powerfully than dialogue possibly could. Sing Sing never slows down, but Scola’s camera lingers just long enough on these silent moments in between conversations to be able to capture the words that go unspoken by men unwilling — or unable — to speak them.

Kwedar and Scola’s use of 16mm film creates a sense of timelessness. Through its visual language, and its production and costume design — limited to what’s seen inside the prison walls — Sing Sing feels evergreen, as though it could’ve been made, or set, in practically any decade. The movie also obscures the passage of time in disorienting ways, an effect of living behind harsh walls and razor wire fences.

However, the use of film also creates a vibrant visual contrast that feels vital to the movie’s underlying themes. The prison’s walls may be drab, but their cream and beige pillars are interrupted by light that doesn’t just stream through narrow windows, but wraps its way around them. The filmmakers lean into the natural texture of celluloid — particularly, the halation effects of Kodak 7207 film stock — to create an ethereal glow emanating from the outside world.

The men of the RTA, who mostly joke around with each other and try to get along, have to hold on to hope in some fashion. This usually takes the form of thoughts, stories, and fantasies of their lives outside the prison’s walls, which we never see, but which the cast narrates with longing and determination as they meditate during recall exercises. This affords them a sense of infinite emotional possibility, despite their physical confines. 

SEE ALSO: 'Forgiving Johnny' review: Exploring a paperless framework for restorative justice

Despite the movie’s documentarian feel, and its self-reflexive approach to performance, Sing Sing is first and foremost an entertaining, engaging story of a community thrown together under oppressive circumstances. As much as it resembles The Work, it also echoes the rousing classical drama of Miloš Forman’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest — only its Nurse Ratched is the ever-present specter of the American prison system, which seeks to stifle hope and personal growth.

For the men of Sing Sing, art becomes both refuge and rebellion, presented not only as a coping mechanism for incarceration, but a therapeutic alternative. Kwedar, through his gentle visual approach, affords each imprisoned character (and formerly imprisoned actor) the room — and just as importantly, the time — to tell their own stories, in ways that cinema seldom does. The result is a heartrending, visually enrapturing balm for the soul.

Sing Sing was reviewed out of its U.S. premiere at SXSW 2024.

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TL;DR: Through April 2, you can gain over 1,000 Mac features and enhance your user experience with a lifetime license to MacPilot for just $29.97 (reg. $99).

We Mac users love our machines. Wouldn't it be exciting to level up your Mac experience with a key to hidden features? That's what MacPilot is made to do. And through April 2, you can get a lifetime license for just $29.97 (reg. $99).

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MacPilot makes it easy to see everything about your computer, including the graphics card, RAM, and serial number.

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Take the pilot's seat while using your Mac with this lifetime license to MacPilot — on sale for just $29.97 (reg. $99) until April 2 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

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TL;DR: Through April 2, lifetime access to FastestVPN PRO on 15 devices is just $24.97 for a limited time.

Online security and privacy are both extremely important when it comes to using the internet, so having a reliable virtual private network (VPN) is usually a good idea. Whether you’re conducting online banking, working with certain sensitive data, or just want some added security, you could benefit from using a VPN.

FastestVPN PRO offers a comprehensive solution that not only helps protect your digital life but enhances your online experience with a plethora of advanced features. Through April 2, you can get a lifetime subscription to FastestVPN PRO while it’s on sale for $24.97.

FastestVPN PRO lives up to its name by providing lightning-fast speeds with a 99.9% uptime guarantee. With access to over 350 high-speed servers globally, users can enjoy seamless browsing, streaming, and downloading without any lag or buffering. Whether you're accessing the internet from your Windows PC, Mac, iOS, Android, Smart TV, or router, FastestVPN ensures a smooth and uninterrupted connection.

Using the WireGuard protocol, users experience secure and unhindered speeds of up to 10 GBPS on the fastest available servers. The inclusion of double VPN servers adds an extra layer of protection, encrypting your data twice for enhanced privacy. Plus, the Internet Kill Switch feature ensures that your IP address remains hidden even if your connection drops unexpectedly, preventing any potential breaches.

The inclusion of a NAT firewall and ad blocker ensures that your device is shielded from potential threats and intrusive advertisements. Additionally, the AES 256-bit encryption safeguards your data with military-grade protection, giving you peace of mind knowing that your information is secure.

This VPN is very user-friendly, making it accessible to users of all levels. The intuitive interface allows for easy navigation and setup, while the multi-device login feature enables you to protect up to 15 devices simultaneously.

Until April 2 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can grab a lifetime subscription to FastestVPN PRO on sale for $24.97.

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TL;DR: Through April 2, pick up a lifetime subscription to AdGuard's Family Plan (on up to nine devices) while it's on sale for just $22.97 (reg. $79).

There is so much to love about the internet. The ability to hop online, buy something, and have it arrive almost instantly is pretty cool. And while having enormous amounts of information at our fingertips is helpful, those unwanted ads we have to suffer through are not. Of course, people have already figured out a way around that, like the people at AdGuard. 

Through April 2, new users can avoid annoying advertisements with a lifetime subscription to AdGuard's Family Plan for just $22.97 (reg. $79). That covers up to nine devices for life.

AdGuard is an intuitive ad blocker that can give you a more efficient, less frustrating online experience. In addition to blocking ads, AdGuard acts as a privacy tool that helps protect your devices from malware and offers parental controls for the young ones in the group. That means you can easily set the kids up with restricted access to inappropriate sites.

This ad-blocking privacy solution can work to hide your data from trackers and analyzers. It's also compatible with a wide variety of devices, including Apple and Android, so you can cover everyone in the family, even if they use different tech brands.

Block ads and enjoy a safer, more streamlined online experience with a lifetime subscription to AdGuard's Family Plan (on up to nine devices) for just $22.97 (reg. $79) until April 2 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

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An enchanting solar eclipse is imminent. Are you ready?

Witnessing a total solar eclipse — wherein the moon completely blocks out the sun — is a rare opportunity. But on April 8, 2024, millions of Americans will be in the "path of totality" (shown below), allowing many to experience something that's at once astonishing, unsettling, and thrilling. It's an event that's difficult to convey.

"In my experience you can't overhype it," Richard Fienberg, an astronomer and senior advisor at the American Astronomical Society, told Mashable.

SEE ALSO: What's the 'best' place to see the solar eclipse? Experts explain.

It's worth preparing for this celestial happening, so you can enjoy it, and enjoy it safely. What follows is guidance from the experienced astronomer Fienberg, who has witnessed 14 — soon to be 15 — total solar eclipses.

"In my experience, you can't overhype it." The path of the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. Credit: NASA Science Visualization Studio How to experience "totality"

When the moon passes in front of the sun, it casts a shadow on Earth that passes over a relatively thin band of our planet's surface. On April 8, this band — shown in the map above — is about 115 miles across and passes over Mexico, from Texas through Maine, and finally across Eastern Canada.

Crucially, to experience a total solar eclipse — as opposed to a partial eclipse — one must be in this path. "There is no such thing as a 50 percent total eclipse, or 99 percent total eclipse," Fienberg emphasized. "There's only a total eclipse or a partial eclipse."

Put another way, "Seeing a partial eclipse bears the same relation to seeing a total eclipse as kissing a man does to marrying him," the author Annie Dillard wrote in her essay "Total Eclipse," a poignant tale about experiencing totality in Washington state.

Only during a total solar eclipse will you witness the star of the show.

"The star of the show is always the solar corona," Fienberg emphasized.

A composite image showing the progression of the total solar eclipse from partial to totality, and again to partial. Credit: NASA / Aubrey Gemignani

The solar corona, which is the sun's outer atmosphere, is almost always impossible for us to see, because of the sun's intense brightness. But when the moon blocks the sun during totality, the ghostly wisps of the corona are revealed.

"The total phase is spectacular," Fienberg marveled.

"The star of the show is always the solar corona."

If weather allows, any person in the path of totality will first witness the partial eclipse — as the moon gradually moves in front of the sun — followed by totality, and then once again a partial eclipse as the moon moves away.

Eclipse viewing: Arrive early. Stay put. And leave late.

Many of us will travel to reach the path of totality. I, for example, drove from Southern California to Central Oregon to witness 2017's total solar eclipse.

For travelers, plan to make eclipse viewing at least a full-day event.

"Don't leave right after the eclipse. Otherwise you'll just get stuck in traffic," Fienberg, an experienced eclipse viewer, explained. "Arrive early. Stay put. And leave late."

While the totality phase will last three or four minutes, the greater eclipse event will last some two and a half hours. For example, on April 8, 2024, in Dallas, Texas, the moon will begin moving in front of the sun at 12:23 p.m. CDT. This is the start of the partial eclipse phase. Then, over an hour later, at 1:40 p.m. CDT, totality begins, meaning the moon has completely blocked the sun. Totality lasts until around 1:44 p.m. CDT. Then the moon gradually moves away from the sun, with the last of the partial eclipse ending at 3:02 p.m. CDT.

As you can see, it's an event. Add on travel time, traffic, finding a place to watch, and beyond. It's best to make it a trip.

Prepare for a full eclipse experience — not just a view

When totality hits, the whole world around you changes.

"It's not just something you see. It's something that you feel," Fienberg said.

"It's not just something you see. It's something that you feel."

The world immediately shifts from day to appearing as dark as deep twilight. The temperature drops. The change can prompt reactions among animals, like bats awaking and birds flying into trees. You might even hear crickets.

Combine these effects with a suddenly blackened sun (like a great black eye in the sky), surrounded by the brilliant corona, and the experience is poignant.

"So much happens in that moment, so much happens above you, around you, and within you," Kate Russo, a former psychologist and avid eclipse chaser, previously told Psychology Today.

"I've seen people cry during totality. I've seen people with their mouth agape, and everything in between," Fienberg said.

You can only remove your eclipse glasses during totality

During the totality phase — and only during totality — you can remove your specialized eclipse viewing glasses.

"You can view the eclipse directly without proper eye protection only when the moon completely obscures the sun’s bright face – during the brief and spectacular period known as totality. (You’ll know it’s safe when you can no longer see any part of the sun through eclipse glasses or a solar viewer,)" NASA explains.

But during the partial eclipse, you'll need to view the event with eclipse viewers or glasses. So get ready to put those glasses on again. "As soon as you see even a little bit of the bright sun reappear after totality, immediately put your eclipse glasses back on or use a handheld solar viewer to look at the sun," the space agency said.

Make sure to view a solar eclipse with approved eclipse glasses. Credit: NASA / Mamta Patel Nagaraja

The American Astronomical Society has amassed a great list of vetted sellers. You can find them at https://eclipse.aas.org/resources/solar-filters. If you choose to buy your eclipse glasses from a website, see if the vendor is selling products that have been vetted by the AAS. There's a risk of purchasing unsafe or misleading products.

In the few minutes or so of totality, the only light you'll see is from the corona, whose "radiation is too weak to have any harmful effects on the human retina," NASA explained.

Don't try to take an amazing total solar eclipse picture

If it's one of your first eclipses, Fienberg recommends focusing on the rare experience rather than trying to get a potentially OK picture.

"Don't worry about trying to get great photos of it," he emphasized. "Use those precious few minutes to observe all around you." 

Have a great time.

Some places have better odds, climatically and statistically, of having clear skies on April 8. Texas, for instance, has better odds of clear weather on April 8 than many parts of New England, where it can be overcast in early spring.

But no one knows what exactly the weather will be doing, and where, months in advance. So make your plans, choose a location that works for you, and see what you can experience.

An image of the sun just before totality taken aboard NASA’s Gulfstream III jet in 2017. Credit: NASA

And for those who live in the path of totality, you ought to embrace the opportunity.

"If you're in the path of the eclipse, consider yourself really fortunate," said Fienberg. "This is your shot. Take advantage of it."

This story has been updated with more solar eclipse information.

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In this digital world, it can be incredibly useful to have tools to make some of the more time-consuming jobs easier. Case in point, this PDF Converter Pro was created to make easier work of converting files to and from the PDF format. A lifetime license is on sale for just £19.80 through April 2.

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When your company is having a tough time, you might feel compelled to work longer hours in an attempt to help right the ship. But if you’re not careful, your valiant efforts could lead to burnout. Here’s how to strike a balance between being loyal to your company and to yourself. Get specifics before taking […]

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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 27'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:

Piecered by a bug.

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 #1012 is...

STUNG.

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 27'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: Corrections

• Green: Argue

• Blue: Casino games

• Purple: Types of chips

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: Update for Accuracy

• Green: Quarrel

• Blue: Games of Chance

• Purple: ___Chip

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 #289 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Update for Accuracy: AMEND, CORRECT, FIX, REVISE

• Quarrel: FIGHT, ROW, SCRAP, TIFF

• Games of Chance: BINGO, LOTTERY, ROULETTE, WAR

• ___Chip: BLUE, COMPUTER, POKER, POTATO

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.

Everything is better without ads ruining the vibe, and your perfect playlist deserves to play on uninterrupted. Don't believe us? As of December 2023, Spotify had more than 230 million Premium subscribers enjoying ad-free songs, podcasts, and audiobooks. Here's how each of the platform's Premium plans break down.

What do I get with a free Spotify account?

You'll have access to Spotify's music library, but you'll have to listen to ads and won't be able to download music to your phone for times when you don't have W-Fi access (like on planes).

What do I get with a Spotify Premium plan?

If you want an ad-free and offline listening experience, Premium is the way to go. You'll get ad-free access to Spotify's entire music library and be able to download music and podcasts to your device. Plus, you have the option to bump up the quality of your audio, play songs in any order, and create a listening queue, none of which are available on Spotify's free plan.

SEE ALSO: Spotify is dabbling in online learning What are Spotify's Premium plan options?

• Premium Individual (Two months free, then $10.99/month): This plan is for one person and includes all the Premium features.

• Premium Student (One month free, then $5.99/month): Students at an accredited higher education institution can get 50% off all Premium features for up to 4 years, in addition to access to Hulu's ad-supported plan at no extra cost (a $1.99/ month value for students).

• Premium Duo ($14.99/month): Two people can each get their own Premium account with Premium Duo. Spotify stipulates that these two people must be living together but, since there's no way for them to know that, you could probably split this plan with a bestie or sibling. You'll also get 15 hours of audiobooks listening time per month.

• Premium Family ($16.99/ month): This plan offers a discounted rate for families of up to six, and each member gets their own account. One family member, the "plan manager," pays for the plan, manages members, and can set explicit content filters for members.

  This plan is great for parents who want to ensure that their little ones aren't listening to explicit material, or parents who want to give their child their own account in the Spotify Kids app. On the Premium Family plan, only the plan managers get 15 hours of audiobook listening time per month.

Sometimes a simple screenshot doesn't suffice.

When you want to show off a new app feature you're experimenting with or need to share a looong conversation with a trusted group of friends, it's better to record a video. If you have an iPhone, recording your screen can be done in a few simple steps. Here's how.

SEE ALSO: How to easily combine photos on an iPhone Total Time

• Less than 1 minute

What You Need

• iPhone

Step 1: Add Screen Recording to Control Center

Go to Settings > Control Center and tap the plus sign to add the Screen Recording tool. This enables you to prepare for the next step and easily start recording.

Credit: Screenshot: Apple

Step 2: Open Control Center

Open your Control Center on newer iPhone models by swiping down from the upper righthand corner. On iPhone models with a home screen, open Control Center by swiping up from the bottom.

Credit: Screenshot: Apple

Step 3: Hit record

Tap the Screen Recording button which is the circle icon of the recording symbol. Once you do this, you'll receive a three-second countdown. You'll know your iPhone is recording when there's a red dot at the top of the screen.

Credit: Screenshot: Apple

Step 4: Make your video

Now that your iPhone is recording, navigate to what you want to record. Whatever action you perform on the device is being captured, so essentially your iPhone records what you see. To stop recording, tap the red dot at the top of your screen, and then tap the Stop button to end the video.

Credit: Screenshot: Apple

Step 5: Find and edit your recording

Once you hit Stop, your recording is automatically saved to your Photos app. From here you can edit it however you would with any other video, like cutting, cropping, or adding filters.

Credit: Screenshot: Apple

Try to contain your surprise: Apple is going to hold a big event later this year.

No, not the one announcing new iPhones, though that's inevitable, too. This one will be focused on the next versions of iOS, iPadOS, and the rest of Apple's software suite. That's right, the 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference is starting on June 10, per an official announcement from Apple on Tuesday.

SEE ALSO: I used the Apple Vision Pro on a flight to Costa Rica — and it was chaotic Tweet may have been deleted

Apple marketing exec Greg Joswiak gave us the biggest clue as to what to expect in his tweet, with the conspicuous capitalization of "Absolutely Incredible." A CNBC report came out not 24 hours prior to Apple's announcement claiming that the company would have some kind of AI-infused app store available by June. This could be a cornerstone of iOS 18, which we don't know a lot about so far.

WWDC is typically not a hardware event, though it is worth noting that Apple Vision Pro was announced there a year ago. Maybe that'll happen again, but given Joswiak's tweet (and the fact that Apple is generally not that subtle about these things), software might take the forefront yet again in 2024.

In the early hours Tuesday, in Baltimore, Maryland, a massive cargo ship rammed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The bridge collapsed shortly thereafter, reportedly plunging eight people into the waters below, six of whom are still missing.

It is a horrific tragedy. It was also caught on live cams and seemingly filmed by nearby witnesses. The footage is bone-chilling.

Yet, nearly immediately, this horrible incident was met with conspiracy theories and people just asking questions despite a complete and total lack of evidence suggesting this was anything but a tragic accident. It puts into stark relief just how broken the internet's collective brain is, and, relatedly, just how much being online has steered folks toward conspiratorial, nonsensical thinking. To a certain subset of people, it appears, nothing can be as it seems — there has to be a nefarious or salacious backbone to any story, no matter how obviously tragic.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

Here's a disturbing and sad thought. A couple hours after most of the East Coast woke up — and some eight hours after the accident itself — and the conspiracies are already too numerous to fully count. The octopus' tentacles have already spread. That's the way these things go. Folks latch onto one piece of "info" here, another "thought" there, and the conspiracies get confusing and nearly impossible to comprehend. Think of how something like QAnon bleeds into Epstein conspiracies which fuses with political conspiracies, and forever and ever it goes on.

SEE ALSO: What happens when people talk to their therapists about conspiracy theories? It's tricky.

But soon after the bridge collapse, one popular theory popped up prominently in the comment sections of TikTok videos of the accident. There were lots of just asking questions about how there were so many angles of the collapse. People wondered how witnesses would just know to film at that exact time. Seriously, this type of comment was posted quite a lot on disturbing video footage. How is that peoples' first thought?

Credit: Screenshot: TikTok / @toby_jg02 Credit: Screenshot: TikTok / @toby_jg02

Let's take a step back and be logical here. Why would there be so many videos? First, the Key Bridge spanned the Baltimore Harbor, which is a major port. There are live cams on the bridge and harbor. Many of the videos seemed to come from those cameras. Also, if you happened to be in the area and awake shortly before 2 a.m. — Baltimore is a densely populated city with people out at all times — you might begin filming when you heard the likely horrific and loud sound of a cargo ship ramming into a bridge. The fact that there are multiple angles of the accident is far from surprising. It's 2024. It's expected, at least if you stop to think about it for a moment. Also, not for nothing, but if some shadowy group or entity was going to do something as horrific as this why would they want to have it filmed? As a famous Baltimore-based show pointed out — "is you taking notes on a criminal conspiracy?" — someone wouldn't purposefully create evidence to incriminate themselves.

But that's where the internet is. If anything happens online — and, well, everything happens online — there are bound to be theories about how things are not as they seem. Think of the recent Kate Middleton debacle, which obviously inspired more mainstream and prevalent conspiracies. Middleton had been diagnosed with cancer and was dealing with it privately, but the online ecosystem wouldn't allow for that vacuum of information. Mashable's Meera Navlakha summarized the emergence of the royal Photoshop chaos and early spin, and Ryan Broderick, who writes the digital culture newsletter Garbage Day, did a good job breaking down how the Middleton theories expanded and got out of control.

Broderick wrote, near the conclusion of the piece:

"Over the last 25 years we have slowly uploaded every part of our lives to a system of platforms run by algorithms that make money off our worst impulses. Well, the ones brands are comfortable advertising around. And for years we have wondered what the world might look like when we crossed the threshold into a fully online world. Well, we did. We crossed it. This is what it looks like."

The Rubicon is well in the rear-view and it means even a tragic bridge collapse or cancer diagnosis is subjected to the often mis-aligned spotlight of the internet's conspirators.

And, by the way, the how were there cameras is far from the only theory and "question" to arise in the hours after the collapse. Conspiracists questioned if DEI were to blame, or Jewish people, or unnamed terrorists. Lots of people wondered how the bridge could collapse just because it was hit, not taking into account, of course, just how massive that a cargo ship really is.

Tweet may have been deleted

People suggested in the comments that it could've been intentional or some kind of "distraction" planted by the government.

Credit: Screenshot: TikTok / @dailymail Credit: Screenshot: TikTok / @joeycontino2 Credit: Screenshot: TikTok / @apaynelife757

Fox News host Maria Bartiromo, on air, went right from talking about the White House saying there was no evidence of nefarious intent to talking about the "wide open border" in a now-viral clip.

Tweet may have been deleted

This is where we are now. A tragedy is, almost immediately, grist for the internet's mill. You could see the theories shape-shift and grow in real time on Tuesday. The internet has, almost subliminally, taught folks that they can tie a hobbyhorse gripe to any major incident.

To be clear: This is not everyone. Far from it. And that's not to say skepticism isn't warranted online. Especially amid the rise of AI, it's worth stopping for a second to consider what is real and what isn't. It's worth questioning power and the official story. But the internet's predilection for conspiratorial thinking, depressingly, sucks the oxygen out of other, real issues that might be worth questioning. Maybe we should be talking about the degradation of America's infrastructure. But maybe not through the lens of how this accident can be pinned on someone or some thing.

Conspiracy theories, just asking questions, all of this isn't new. We've seen it time and again. The worst things imaginable — Sandy Hook, notably — have all been subjected to it.

But Tuesday morning made clear how impossible it is to escape. How engrained it now is in our culture. Our internet brains, the internet's brain, it's all one and the same.

Around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday the Key Bridge collapsed in what all indications suggest was a horrible accident. And before most of Baltimore had gotten out of bed, the internet was already questioning the city's awful reality.

Everyone runs into this speedbump eventually.

I get it: You're reading an article or scrolling through your social feeds and you see something you want to share with a friend. Unfortunately, the easiest way to do that would be via screenshot, and you don't actually know how to do that on a Windows PC. The good news is that's really not a difficult problem to solve these days.

Here's how it works.

SEE ALSO: Microsoft adds spellcheck and autocorrect to Notepad on Windows 11 How to take screenshots on Windows

Unlike MacOS, which has a screenshot feature built-in at the OS level, Microsoft has opted to put an app into modern versions of Windows called Snipping Tool. This is the key to taking screenshots on Windows, according to the mothership itself.

Before we get into all the wonders of Snipping Tool, I should mention that there's one way to take screenshots on Windows that has always worked. Simply find the "Print Screen" button on your keyboard and press it to take a screenshot, which should automatically be pasted to your clipboard. For basic screenshots, this might be all you need. Pressing the Windows key + Shift + S will also do this, in case you'd rather press three buttons instead of one.

But for anything a little more complicated, such a screenshot that only includes one window or needs cropping, Snipping Tool is the way to go. You can find it by pressing the Windows key and searching for it in the search bar. Snipping Tool will let you choose what shape you want your screenshot to be, which windows you want to screenshot, or even annotate a screenshot with text or drawings.

If you want, you can always put Snipping Tool on your taskbar, too.

In short, Snipping Tool is the way to screenshot on Windows 11. However, the Print Screen button will work just as well a lot of the time. It's up to you to figure out what's the best method for any scenario. Have fun out there, folks. Just remember to always crop to the point of focus.

SAVE 38%: The Shark HP102PETBL Clean Sense air purifier is just $149.99 at Amazon, down from the typical price of $239.99. That's a savings of $90.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark HP102PETBL Clean Sense air purifier $149.99 at Amazon
$239.99 Save $90.00 Get Deal

If you deal with allergies from pollen or suffer from itchy eyes on account of a beloved pet's hair, using an indoor air purifier can provide tons of relief. Swap tissue boxes for this Shark air purifier that's discounted at Amazon today.

As of March 26, the Shark HP102PETBL Clean Sense air purifier is just $149.99, down from the regular price of $239.99. That's a savings of $90 or a 38% discount.

As much as we love our pets and spring flowers, both can cause major allergy issues. From the runny nose to sneezing, pollen and other allergens can linger in indoor air. The Shark Clean Sense air purifier aims to take care of 99.98% of these pesky airborne particles.

Designed for rooms up to 500 square feet, the Shark air purifier uses a HEPA filter to capture the particulate matter that could be the source of respiratory irritation. The size means it's ideal for a bedroom, nursery, or a smaller office. But since it weighs under six pounds, it's possible to move it from the bedroom to the office or the rec room throughout the day without much trouble.

This model features Shark Clean Sense IQ, a digital reading that shows you how clean the room's air currently is. It automatically adjusts power to ensure clean, filtered air. You can also program it to continuously operate at one of four fan speeds.

If you're dreading the congestion that comes with springtime, set up the Shark HP102PETBL Clean Sense air purifier and enjoy the season thanks to allergen-free indoor air.

Get me a pack of Tropical Fruit Bubblicious and some Skittles because the snack-heavy trailer for Bad Boys: Ride or Die is here.

Screeching into frame in a deeply expensive Porsche Turbo S, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are back as Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett in the fourth installment of the Bad Boys franchise (following 2020's Bad Boys for Life).

This time, the detective lieutenants have a dangerous game on their hands as the late Captain Conrad Howard (Joe Pantoliano) has been framed for corruption by some powerful foes. Soon, the guys on the run themselves.

SEE ALSO: 'Bad Boys 2' is Michael Bay at his best, giving into his worst impulses

Expect plenty of snacks, major action-sequences, and one of the slickest gun-passing camera shots I've seen this week.

Bad Boys: Ride or Die hits cinemas June 7.

Since acquiring the company now known as X, Elon Musk has claimed that his social media platform would be one where free speech ideals reigned supreme. In August 2023, Musk went so far as declaring that he would financially support any user who was punished for their speech on X.

"If you were unfairly treated by your employer due to posting or liking something on this platform, we will fund your legal bill," Musk said. "No limit. Please let us know."

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk and X lose lawsuit against anti-hate nonprofit

This past Sunday, X seemingly shared an example of one such case.

"X is proud to help defend Dr. Kulvinder Kaur Gill against the government-supported efforts to cancel her speech," X said, going on to say they would pay the remainder of the doctor's $300,000 legal bills. Gill had previously posted that she had raised around half of the amount herself through a crowdfunding campaign, meaning X was going to fund the estimated remainder of $150,000.

Tweet may have been deleted

However, Musk and company left out an important, glaring detail that seems to run contrary to his stated "free speech" beliefs: The lawsuit that Gill lost was one that she filed in an attempt to silence critics from saying things she did not like.

Who is Dr. Kulvinder Kaur Gill?

Dr. Kulvinder Kaur Gill is a Canadian physician who published posts in 2020 on X, then Twitter, that presented her COVID vaccine-skepticism and anti-lockdown beliefs in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For example, in one tweet that Gill posted in August 2020, she said, "If you have not yet figured out that we don't need a vaccine, you are not paying attention. #FactsNotFear."

Gill's posts were highly criticized by the medical community and were covered by journalists with mainstream news outlets.

As a result, Gill sued 23 doctors, journalists, and news outlets, claiming defamation. Some of the individuals that she sued were ones who had posted their criticism in direct response to her on the social media platform X.

The judge dismissed the lawsuit under anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) law, deeming that the suit was an attempt by Gill to silence her critics' speech. Gill was ordered to pay the defendants' legal fees, a judgment of $300,000.

X steps in to support Gill

According to X's official statement on its support for Gill, "Elon Musk learned earlier this week about her crowdfunding campaign to pay the judgment," and that's when he pledged to help.

Tweet may have been deleted

In its post, X claims that "free speech is the bedrock of democracy and a critical defense against totalitarianism in all forms" and that "we must do whatever we can to protect it."

"At X, we will always fight to protect your right to speak freely," X's statement ends.

However, X leaves out critical information about this case that makes their position contrary to Musk and company's stated beliefs.

X claims in its statement that Gill was "harassed by the legacy media, censored by prior Twitter management, and subjected to investigations and disciplinary proceedings by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario."

But it was Gill who filed the lawsuit, in an attempt to stifle speech she didn't like, which included posts from her critics on then-Twitter. 

Also, while the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO), a regulatory medical body, did "caution" Gill over her COVID posts, those are intended to be educational or remedial measures, not punitive. Gill did not lose her medical license. (In addition, the CPSO was not involved in Gill's lawsuit.)

Tweet may have been deleted

But, X's actions here shouldn't be too surprising. Musk and company just lost a lawsuit of their own — also struck down under anti-SLAPP law — one day after it announced their financial support for Gill. In that case, X sued the Center for Countering Digital Hate, a nonprofit that tracks hate speech online, over reports regarding X that Musk did not like.

"In support of your right to speak," Musk commented earlier this week regarding X's financial help for Gill.

But, it doesn't seem that Musk extends that "right to speak" to Gill's or X's critics.

SAVE $10: As of March 26, get a copy of Princess Peach: Showtime! on Nintendo Switch for $49.99. That's a 21% discount and the first we've seen on this new release.

Opens in a new window Credit: Woot! 'Princess Peach: Showtime!' $49.99 at Woot!
$59.99 Save $10.00 Get Deal

Mario's had his fair share of adventures. It's time for Princess Peach to have her time in the spotlight. While she starred in the excellent Nintendo DS title Super Princess Peach, she's had very few opportunities to shine on her own. Princess Peach: Showtime! puts the Mushroom Kingdom royalty front and center in a theatrical platforming game on Nintendo Switch. And even though it just debuted on March 22, it's available at a discount that'll make joining Peach on stage that much sweeter.

As of March 26, the Switch exclusive Princess Peach: Showtime! is just $49.99 at Woot! That's $10 off its usual price of $59.99 for a brand-new copy and a discount of 21%.

SEE ALSO: Verizon will give you a free Nintendo Switch (and more) just for switching to Verizon Home Internet in March

Princess Peach is a "pleasant, bite-sized adventure," according to Mashable reviewer Alex Perry, that spans about six to eight hours. With the Sparkle Theater overrun by the evil Grape and the Sour Bunch, it's up to Peach to save the day and the theater with the help of several transformative costumes.

With each level taking on the form of a play, Peach can play plenty of roles including a thief, a swordfighter, a martial arts master, and more. It's glitz and glam throughout and a "solid little adventure," but as Perry notes, it's a bit simple – meaning little Switch fans may get more out of it than adults. But for Peach fans, this one might be considered a must-have.

SAVE $15: Grab a $100 DoorDash gift card (digital or physical) from Best Buy for just $85. That's a 15% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: DoorDash $100 DoorDash gift card $85.00 at Best Buy
$100.00 Save $15.00 Get Deal

There's nothing better than ordering dinner in and enjoying a night off from cooking. If you order meals from local restaurants via DoorDash, you'll want to grab this gift card deal from Best Buy today.

As of March 26, a $100 DoorDash gift card (digital or physical) is just $85. That means you'll be saving $15 for grabbing the gift card.

DoorDash is paramount when it comes to the convenience of having a meal arrive on your doorstep. Servings over 4,000 cities in the U.S. and Canada, DoorDash comes to the rescue if you don't feel like cooking or when you deserve a little treat mid-week.

Not only can you order from thousands of restaurants, you can also order DoorDash from the local grocery store to get that one forgotten item needed to make the birthday cake you're working on. You can also order pet supplies or a few quick items from the convenience store.

Whether you use DoorDash weekly or plan to use it sometime in the future, snag a $100 gift card for you or a loved one at Best Buy for just $85. Free money is the best money.