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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 April 1'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.

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

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

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Mm...Food

• Green: Things that rhyme with "in"

• Blue: Spooky scary

• Purple: Homophones

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: Food Slang for Money

• Green: Words That Rhyme

• Blue: Horror Movies

• Purple: Letter Homophones

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 #295 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Food Slang for Money: BREAD, BACON, LETTUCE, CHEESE

• Words That Rhyme: PLANE, RAIN, TRAIN, BRAIN

• Horror Movies: ALIEN, SCREAM, DRACULA, SAW

• Letter Homophones: EWE (SHEEP), BEE, EYE, TEA

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.

Whether you write code professionally or just as a hobby, static code analysis is an important tool for any developer to find bugs, security vulnerabilities, and opportunities to improve the quality of your code. The most popular tool is called Sonarqube which offers a free open-source community edition that can be installed locally and supports most of the popular languages. While it does not have...

If I had to rank leaks, I'd say a leaky faucet is the second worst leak, bested only by the most devastating of all fissures: the data leak. And, boy, do we have a data leak on our hands.

A huge cache of AT&T customers' data, including Social Security numbers and encrypted passcodes that could be used to access customer accounts, was dumped online in March, forcing the telco giant to reset millions of customer account passcodes, TechCrunch learned in an exclusive. After a security researcher analyzed the leaked data and told the news outlet that the passcodes were "easy to decipher," TechCrunch told AT&T.

AT&T told TechCrunch that there isn't any evidence just yet that anyone used this data leak to access customer's information and accounts.

SEE ALSO: 26 billion records have been leaked in 'Mother of all Breaches,' but don't freak out

In response, AT&T told the outlet: “AT&T has launched a robust investigation supported by internal and external cybersecurity experts. Based on our preliminary analysis, the data set appears to be from 2019 or earlier, impacting approximately 7.6 million current AT&T account holders and approximately 65.4 million former account holders.”

Cybersecurity researcher Troy Hunt told the Associated Press that while this particular data leak popped up on a hacking forum just two weeks ago, it looks a whole lot like a 2021 data breach that AT&T never acknowledged. Hunt said that if AT&T assesses the leak and "made the wrong call on it, and we’ve had a course of years pass without them being able to notify impacted customers,” then the company could be on the hook for class action lawsuits.

In a statement on AT&T's website, the telco company encourages customers to take safety into their own hands by "monitoring account activity and credit reports" and setting up "free fraud alerts from nationwide credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion."

Elon Musk has a lot of money. He also owns a couple of companies that have a lot of money. One of those companies, X, is using some of its money to fund yet another lawsuit.

The lawsuit was filed by Chloe Happe against her former employer Block — yes, the Block that was founded by Jack Dorsey, the person who founded X back when it was Twitter. The tech world is just one interconnected web not unlike The Chart in The L Word.

In the complaint, Happe accused Block of firing her for making two posts on X in her personal time: One in which she purported to be a citizen of Kurdistan and referenced refugees fleeing Gaza in the aftermath of the October 7 Hamas attacks, and another in which she used ableist language and slurs against trans people in reference to gender neutral restrooms. Both were made from pseudonymous accounts.

The lawsuit alleges that she was unlawfully terminated in violation of Block's own employee speech policy and "several constitutionally protected freedoms, including the freedom of thought, the freedom of belief, the freedom of speech, and the freedom of expressive association" because neither post mentioned Block, she posted both of them during her personal time, and she "voluntarily deleted" both posts within days of posting them.

According to the lawsuit, human resources at Block said it received reports about Happe's posts. When Block obtained the deleted posts and showed them to Happe, she denied making them and "claimed an abusive ex-boyfriend must have impersonated her online." A few days later, Block fired Happe. She is claiming that Block terminated her without severance solely because she "expressed her political views, opinions, or beliefs in the form of satire" that Block disagreed with.

SEE ALSO: Musk's X to pay legal fees to support doctor who sued to silence her critics (and lost) Tweet may have been deleted

"X is funding a lawsuit filed today by Chloe Happe against her former employer, Block," X's account posted on X. "Block fired Chloe because of the political opinions she expressed on X. Chloe had two pseudonymous accounts on X, @bronzeageshawty and the now-deprecated @samsarashawty. She did not reference Block or her own identity on either account before Block fired her. But because some of the opinions she expressed in her X accounts did not conform to the prevailing political orthodoxy, Block fired her, in violation of the law.  X is supporting her suit to vindicate her rights."

Happe wants her job back and to be compensated for loss of pay. Block has not released a public statement about the lawsuit and did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Mashable.

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 31 SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for March 31

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Sunday, March 31, 2024:

AcrossWhat electric vehicles do without

• The answer is Gas.

With 5- and 6-Across, storybook beginning

• The answer is Once.

See 4-Across

• The answer is Upon A.

See 4-Across

• The answer is Time.

Alphabet ender

• The answer is Zee.

DownGarden Statue

The answer is Gnome.

Unwanted breakout

• The answer is Acne.

Word before lion or monster

• The answer is Sea.

___ Taylor, early role for Ron Howard

• The answer is Opie.

Snack food brand

• The answer is Utz.

TikTok users are in the mood to manifest. But do they know what they're manifesting?

The concept of willing the universe to grant everything you want, sometimes referred to as "Lucky Girl Syndrome," came alongside a surge in popularity of platform-wide mantras and affirmations in 2023. 

Manifestation mania followed another very 2020s TikTok trend: "shifting," or basically lucid dreaming for views. A community of "shifters" alleged they spent hours in "alternate universes" living out completely different lives, often with fictional characters. Some made guided meditations, or used others', to help shift into their dream selves.

Throw in the increasing popularity of yoga influencers, mental health and wellbeing professionals, and gentle parenting accounts on the rise in the wake of a traumatic pandemic. All these coping tools boil down to one simple, ongoing TikTok trend: mindfulness.  

SEE ALSO: TikTok and Instagram 'diet' tips to avoid

Definitions of mindfulness are often as varied as TikTok's interpretations of the practice. We've previously described it as "awareness gained by pausing to register one's emotions," or "the ability to observe thoughts and feelings non-judgmentally, and with compassion and curiosity."

Academics such as Jon Kabat-Zinn define mindfulness as "paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally." According to professor of psychology J. David Creswell, it's "present attention to your present situation." Meditation teacher Jeff Warren, a proponent of accessible meditation practices, points to the concept of equanimity, or "allowing self and world to be exactly what they are in a given moment."

All of that may seem like the opposite of an instant-gratification platform like TikTok. But increasingly, the platform is a tool for popularizing mindfulness in one form or another. 

TikTok hits the Reset button

Nestled next to "Get Ready With Me" makeup and fashion TikToks, there's a growing trend of "Daily Reset" videos, also known as "quiet life vlogs."

These TikToks are a kind of routine video that documents a user's mundane daily tasks. Essentially a form of present attention, these videos invite viewers into a creator's moments of stillness and ritual. 

Many of the videos are tagged #QuietLife, alluding to a lifestyle that embraces calmness and simplicity. Related: the "Silent Walk" trend, a version of TikTok's "Hot Girl Walk" — one that asks participants to walk without any kind of agenda, in complete silence.

True, some TikToks present unrealistic forms of self-optimization, or promote overconsumption. Parenting videos offer unapproachable standards. You could see the #QuietLife videos as a humblebrag — or they may help you feel gratitude for your life. 

'Stop scrolling' videos encourage pauses  

It isn't just TikTok itself trying to curb mindless scrolling on its app, via pop-up videos warning users to take a screen break. Creators in the health and wellness sphere are choosing to combat the infinite scroll with their own content. 

Your endless FYP perusal might be interrupted by a pilates instructor asking you to stop and do some simple stretches, nudging you away from the phone. Other creators may ask you to simply pause and look up. You may come across breathwork teachers (or businesses) teaching you how to do simple breathing exercises, or disability advocates teaching neurodivergent communities how to attune their environments to their mental needs.

In short, users are trying to shift TikTok's isolating experience into a communal acknowledgement that we all need to take a moment. You can acknowledge the entirety of your awareness, not just the bit that's focused on your phone. 

TikTok embraces its inner child 

In the wake of Greta Gerwig's 2023 mega-hit Barbie and its message of finding yourself and honoring your past, TikTok users are obsessed with speaking directly to their inner child. To the soundtrack of Billie Eilish's "What Was I Made For", users are exploring the emotions of aging, mourning the experiences and lives they could have had, and channeling their childhood imaginations to see the world afresh. 

Other nostalgic trends involve returning to favorite childhood pastimes or niche obsessions. Parenting circles are exploring what it really means to "gentle parent." Followers are encouraged to become more attuned to their own past in order to break the cycles of trauma with their own children.

These trends embrace the mindfulness principle of "beginner's mind," or the practice of seeing the world with fresh eyes. While not quite up to the level of a guided inner child healing meditation or other research-based practices, TikTok's inner child trend centers the feeling of wonder and innocence, as both a comfort and a place of learning. 

Journaling goes viral

Even before the rise of TikTok shop, the platform was awash in products such as the viral Shadow Work Journal, based on the concept of hidden trauma proposed by psychoanalyst Carl Jung. The journal blew up via sponsored posts and product-oriented wellness spaces, despite some mental health professionals seeing it as a dubious product. Still, users embraced the notion of at-home journaling as a way to process emotions. 

Last year, The Sadness Book: A Journal to Let Go from Modern Frame of Mind rose to popularity. There are several similar guided journaling books, offering prompts and affirmations. 

Journaling content, broadly, is popular across the app, from aesthetic-driven journaling accounts to users who share readings from their journals. Many of these are effectively practicing mindfulness journaling, or the act of writing down your thoughts, emotions, and experiences in a non-judgmental way.

Livestream the silence

ASMR, the whisper-based content intended to create comforting tingles in the minds of viewers, has also found a home on TikTok. Some ASMR videos include "trigger tests": Different types of sounds and visuals designed to stimulate different types of ASMR responses.

But there's also a trend of deliberately non-stimulating live streams, in which creators make very subtle sounds, or do simple activities, while thousands of people watch. Some live streamers literally sit in silence, usually with a sign posted in frame or a caption that ask those who join to sit with them... and sometimes tip them.

One mindfulness trend is "Wood Soup," or a bowl of water filled to the brim with wooden beads and trinkets. The "soup" is then softly stirred by a faceless hand. Livestreams of wood soup are sometimes paired with meditative chants, rain noises, or gentle music.

Better sleep through meditation

Whether it's Calm app collaborations with influencers reciting meditations, or its abundance of life hacks and How-Tos, TikTok users often seem obsessed with calming themselves down and getting to sleep. 

Viral trends include sounds designed to stimulate different parts of your brain, also called bilateral music stimulation, which is used in various therapies like EDMR and a practice known as "brainspotting."

Breathing exercises packaged as sleep or relaxation hacks are also popular, alongside sensory and grounding techniques that those who already meditate may recognize. Meanwhile, guided sleep meditations are a large subset of the ASMR videos mentioned above.

Of course, we shouldn't ignore TikTok's long standing reluctance to admit the platform is missing the mark in the mental wellness space. The parent company can do more to protect users and prevent misinformation and disinformation, including when it comes from mental health "practitioners." The infinite scroll, the lack of moderation, the accusations of child endangerment: Suspicion over TikTok's ability to aid users' wellness journeys is warranted.  

Nevertheless, users are taking their mental wellbeing into their own hands. They're making genuine attempts at building human connection, and helping us find coping mechanisms in such a digital space.

Silly memes and absurdist audio may dominate, but if you look in the more earnest corners of TikTok, you'll find creators dipping their toes into mindfulness techniques that may actually help. 

TL;DR: Through April 2, get cooking with a Wolfgang Puck Outdoor Wood Pellet Pizza Oven & Grill for just $129.99.

The warmer weather brings with it new opportunities to enjoy food grilled on a real outdoor BBQ. If you'd like to enhance your outdoor living for years to come, a pizza oven could really elevate things. This Wolfgang Puck Outdoor Wood Pellet Pizza Oven and Grill is just $129.99 (reg. $279).

This quick-heating pizza oven allows you to create delicious pizza menus for your gatherings. It has a stainless steel construction and runs on wood pellets, which are not included. It can cook pizzas up to twelve inches in as little as ninety seconds. It can even heat up a frozen pizza in as little as four minutes.

It was designed to distribute heat evenly, which translates to a terrifically cooked pizza. On one side, it's a glazed grill surface. To cook your pie, just flip it to the pizza stone side. Whether you're craving wood-fired pizza, smoky barbecued meats, perfectly grilled steaks, or delicious vegetables, this versatile appliance allows you to cook a wide variety of dishes with precision and ease.

This portable oven comes with recipes like breakfast pizza, Wolf's BBQ Chicken Pizza, and more.

Whether you're hosting backyard gatherings or intimate dinner parties, this versatile appliance is sure to impress.

Elevate your outdoor culinary experience with this Wolfgang Puck Outdoor Wood Pellet Pizza Oven and Grill for just $129.99 (reg. $279).

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TL;DR: Through April 2, charge on the go with this USB-C Docking Station for Tesla Model 3 2021–2023 for just $31.99 (reg. $39).

If you drive a Tesla and are looking to enhance its functionality in powering your devices, you have a great option in this USB-C Docking Station — an innovative accessory designed to streamline your driving experience. It's on sale for just $31.99 (reg. $39) for a limited time.

The docking station was designed for Tesla Model 3 cars from 2021 to 2023. The sleek design fits in perfectly, so it doesn't interfere with the central control storage box, and it has a built-in storage management system, so the look and feel of the Tesla are maintained.

This USB hub was designed to match Tesla's clean aesthetic. It features four ports, including two fast-charge cables, a USB-A port, and a USB-C port. It's compatible with phones, tablets, gaming units, and more so you can make sure your battery stays charged while you're on the road.

Whether you're looking to expand connectivity options, enhance entertainment capabilities, or simply make your driving experience more convenient, this docking station could be the answer.

If you drive a compatible Tesla model, this is a good way to charge four devices simultaneously while maintaining the integrity of the brand's look and feel. 

For a limited time, get a USB-C Docking Station for your Tesla for just $31.99 (reg. $39).

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TL;DR: Through April 2, get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office with Windows 11 Pro on sale for just $49.97 (reg. $408).

When it comes to productivity and performance, having the right tools can make all the difference. If your computer isn't running as quickly as you'd like and could use a techie makeover, this bundle could fit the bill. It gets you a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows and Windows 11 Pro for just $49.97 when you order by April 2.

The two parts are designed to work together seamlessly. While Office 2019 is not the the latest of Microsoft's Office offerings, it still has the productivity apps we've all come to rely on, such as Word for document creation, Excel to process data, PowerPoint to create interesting slideshows. It also has Outlook email, OneNote, Access, and Publisher.

While the 2019 version of Office doesn't come with Teams, Windows 11 Pro does, so you won't miss out on that communication app. The included Windows 11 Pro operating system is the latest and has a lot of features that could benefit nearly anyone.

Windows 11 Pro includes the most recent AI updates that allow you to work and play more efficiently. This includes the new AI assistant, Copilot, which can launch playlists, summarize documents, and much more. 

The OS also features updated security enhancements, a more user-friendly interface, and remote desktop access. 

This is a good opportunity to upgrade your system and software at a reasonable price.

This Microsoft Office Pro 2019 and Windows 11 Pro bundle is on sale for just $49.97 (reg. $408) until April 2 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

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TL;DR: Through April 2, learn AI and automation skills with this online learning bundle for just $49.97.

It's no secret that artificial intelligence and automation have taken the world by storm. These tools are being used across industries worldwide to help streamline processes, generate content, and generally support businesses large and small in various ways. 

Because of this, jobs in AI and automation development are booming. According to the Hostinger website, "The global AI market size is expected to grow 37% every year from 2023 to 2030."  And the world is going to need developers.

This bundle can help budding or current developers get involved in AI and automation. It has thirteen courses covering 46 hours of material. 

A good place to begin could be the course called Introduction to the Latest Artificial Intelligence Tools. This 20-lesson course covers how AI is changing everything, discussing over 1,000 of the latest ones out there. It also covers solving problems and supportive decision-making using the tools.

Of course, there are courses covering ChatGPT. You'll get lessons on using this tool to create blog posts, write technical material, and use it for LinkedIn and other platforms.

Other courses go on to explore Python automation, C++, Java, Google Assistant automation, and more. And with lifetime access to the course materials, you can learn at your own pace, on your own schedule, from anywhere in the world. Whether you prefer to study in the comfort of your home or during your lunch break, this bundle makes it easy to fit learning into your busy lifestyle.

These thirteen courses could benefit anyone interested in AI and automation development, especially while the bundle is on sale.

Until April 2 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can get this Artificial Intelligence and Automation Developer bundle on sale for just $49.97.

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TL;DR: Through April 2, instantly expand your memory with this 4-in-1 Smart Flash Drive for just $20.99 (reg. $29).

It seems that the more devices we have, the more challenging it is to manage our files across them. However, necessity being the mother of invention, there are ways to mitigate these challenges without having to carry around a whole bunch of drives and adapters. This 4-in-1 Smart Flash Drive is an innovative solution designed to simplify your digital life. For a limited time, it's on sale for just $20.99 (reg. $29).

The portable four-way design easily fits in your bag or backpack, making it ideal for taking with you on the road or between offices. It has a 32GB storage capacity and features USB 3, Lightning, micro-USB, and type-C ports for transferring videos, photos, and files from your phone or tablet to your PC or saving them in the cloud.

It is compatible with a wide variety of device types, including micro-USB Androids and various Apple products. It can also quickly transfer files.

With this drive, you can enjoy versatile connectivity, high-speed transfer, and portability. Avoid the hassle of managing multiple devices and struggling to access your files while you're away on vacation or traveling to a business meeting.

Instantly expand your memory with this 4-in-1 Smart Flash Drive, on sale for just $20.99 (reg. $29) for a limited time.

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Looking to spike your cortisol levels? Then we've got the Netflix streaming guide for you.

From old frights to new fears, we've scoured Netflix's horror catalog to find the best cinematic nightmares for darkening your device. Of course, not all terrifying titles are born of the same fire and brimstone — so we've included a variety of ethereal ghost stories, stark home invasion horrors, gentrifying vampires, psychological thrillers, classic creeps, satirical scares, and more. Yes, Netflix originals like the Fear Street trilogy and I'm Thinking of Ending Things are on here. But we've also got genre staples and hidden gems.

Here are the best scary movies currently streaming on Netflix — all of them packed with eerie entertainment value, because you don't need to sleep ever again. Happy haunting!

25. The Autopsy of Jane Doe

Anybody who saw the absolute blast of found footage fun that was 2010's Troll Hunter knew that Norwegian director André Øvredal was somebody to watch out for. And yet six years later, his follow-up, this claustrophobic oddity about a father and son pair of coroners (pre-Succession Brian Cox and Emile Hirsch) who go to work trying to figure out what killed the mysterious, unblemished young woman whose body has been delivered to their lab, didn't make much of a sound. Not at first, anyway. 

But over the years the film's cult has steadily grown, and by now from where I stand, it's become a stone cold (or should I say, "corpse cold"?) classic. Awash in deeply unsettling body horror that digs its hooks deep into our anxieties about what's under our own skin, The Autopsy of Jane Doe eventually twists its scalpel to become something even stranger still. A real hidden gem. — Jason Adams, Freelance Contributor

How to watch: The Autopsy of Jane Doe is now streaming on Netflix.

24. El Conde Credit: Netflix

Chilean General Augusto Pinochet was one of history's most notorious dictators and a voracious embezzler, to boot. What if he were "bloodthirsty" in a more literal sense? 

From Spencer director Pablo Larraín,  this pitch-black satire reimagines Pinochet (played here by Jaime Vadell) as a 250-year-old vampire, living in exile with a family whose ready to tear him (and each other?) apart over his vast fortune. Think of it as "Blood Succession," but with a math-whiz nun at the center of it (Paula Luchsinger, who nearly steals the film). 

Filmed in lush black and white, El Conde is a dark, clever, and often gruesome gothic alternative history. It pulls off the feat of offering supernatural chills while never losing sight of the monstrous historical evils which it draws upon. — Rufus Hickok, Contributing Writer

How to watch: El Conde is now streaming on Netflix.

23. Under the Shadow 

Times are tense in 1980s Tehran for mother Shideh (Narges Rashidi) and her daughter Dorsa (Avin Manshadi). The former medical student is worried about running afoul of Iran’s repressive post-revolutionary government, and the country is mired in a seemingly endless war with Iraq. Her husband Iraj (Bobby Naderi) is called to serve as a doctor on the frontlines, and their apartment building is being shelled daily.

Things only get worse after a bomb hits their apartment building and lodges, unexploded, in the roof; as their neighbors flee to safer locations, the building becomes downright uncanny. Did the bomb let something — or someone — in? Precious objects are disappearing from their apartment or being thrown out entirely, which the feverish little girl blames on malevolent djinn. It's up to Shideh to save not only her daughter's life from all these external threats but her very soul from malevolent, seemingly mystical intruders. 

In his first feature-length film, Iranian-born director Babak Anvari proves adept at slowly ratcheting up the paranoid atmosphere and jittery details, before finally letting it all explode in the last act. — R.H. 

How to watch: Under the Shadow is now streaming on Netflix.

22. Run Rabbit Run Credit: Netflix

Succession star Sarah Snook has more to worry about than the Roy family in this Aussie chiller. She plays Sarah, a divorced mother and fertility doctor suddenly in charge of her late father's estate — which includes her estranged mother, Joan (Greta Scacchi), who is in the beginning stages of dementia and is in an adult care home. If that weren't enough, Sarah's young daughter, Mia (Lily LaTorre), has begun acting strange. First, it’s the stray rabbit she’s brought home and started dressing like. Then, it’s some creepy crayon drawings and insistent demands to visit Joan, whom Mia has never met. Finally, it’s the girl’s conviction that she’s not Mia at all but Alice, Sarah’s sister who went missing when they were children at the same age Mia is now. Is Alice back for some sisterly spooks? Director Daina Reid makes deft use of unnerving sound design, creepy visuals, and a pervasive sense of dread and danger to strongly suggest the answer is yes. — R.H. 

How to watch: Run Rabbit Run is now streaming on Netflix.

SEE ALSO: We need to talk about 'Run Rabbit Run's twisted ending 21. The Babysitter

Y'know, I'm not sure The Babysitter really works as a movie; it's more the idea of a movie loosely strung together by one-liners and style. Still, it's a fun way to kill a few hours. Samara Weaving stars as the titular childcare professional, a popular teen with a passion for human sacrifice and one-liners. Judah Lewis stars as the kid being babysat, with supporting performances by Hana Mae Lee, Robbie Amell, Bella Thorne, and Andrew Bachelor. The sequel, released in 2020, is more of the same — so if you like the first, do a double feature. — Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: The Babysitter is now streaming on Netflix.

20. X

When The House of the Devil director Ti West dropped his throwback slasher X in March of 2022, nobody had any idea what they were in for. Meaning both that nobody had any idea that we were about to watch one of the great modern slasher movies, or that we were watching what would quickly become the first part in a time-hopping trilogy slash ode to the genius of actress Mia Goth. And yet here we sit just two brief years later, impatiently awaiting MaXXXine, the third chapter after last year's also brilliant (but quite different tonally) technicolor WWI-era nightmare Pearl. 

So until that's in theaters in July, we'll just make due with revisiting where it all began — with a crew of extremely likable porno-makers (Goth, Jenna Ortega, Brittany Snow, Martin Henderson, Kid Cudi, and Owen Campbell) unexpectedly finding themselves in the path of a pair of real, real old folks who aren't quite what they appear to be. — J.A.  

How to watch: X is now streaming on Netflix.

19. Velvet Buzzsaw Credit: Claudette Barius / Netflix

From the dude behind the brilliant 2014 psychological thriller Nightcrawler comes a hilarious — and horrifying — send-up of the Los Angeles art scene. In writer-director Dan Gilroy's epic Velvet Buzzsaw, Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Toni Collette, and half a dozen other performers you probably love act their hearts out as fine art appreciators hunted down and killed by their priceless pieces. (Seriously, Billy Magnussen gets strangled by a painting of monkeys. It's awesome.) — A.F.

How to watch: Velvet Buzzsaw is now streaming on Netflix.

18. Blood Red Sky

Netflix's Blood Red Sky is one of those horror movies made so much better by knowing as little as possible going into it that I'm going to try to say as little as possible to get you to watch it. Directed by Peter Thorwarth, who co-wrote the script with Stefan Holtz, this action horror adventure combines the best parts of Flight Plan with tinges of A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night. Star Peri Baumeister is completely breathtaking as a woman attempting to protect her son from hijackers aboard a transatlantic voyage. — A.F.

How to watch: Blood Red Sky is now streaming on Netflix.

17. The Ritual

In director David Bruckner's scenic tour of a hellscape, four pals hike through northern Sweden to honor a departed friend. Of course, their trip soon morphs into a torturous and never-ending nightmare — with a killer lead performance by Rafe Spall. Slippery and divisive, this movie begs to be picked apart. More likely than not, you'll love the world it creates but hate the way it ends. Or, like me, you'll love the world it creates and how it ends. Have fun with it! And pack bug spray! — A.F.

How to watch: The Ritual is now streaming on Netflix.

16. Apostle Credit: Netflix

Before Michael Sheen became the angel Aziraphale in Amazon's Good Omens, he celebrated religion in a, uh... "different" way. Apostle is a completely bonkers period horror film that features Sheen at his most terrifying, playing a cult leader with an affinity for bloodletting and other "creative" religious sacraments. Lead Dan Stevens keeps the slow-paced narrative moving, with stunning supporting performances by The Politician's Lucy Boynton and Welsh stage actor Mark Lewis Jones. — A.F.

How to watch: Apostle is now streaming on Netflix.

15. Train to Busan

Just when you think the zombie movie has moaned its last "brainnnssssss," along comes another twist on the horror subgenre to breathe some air into its undead lungs. And so it felt in 2016, halfway through the run of the death-less television series The Walking Dead, when most of us — save the die-hardest of fans — were feeling fully zombie'd out. 

Enter a sneak attack from South Korea of all places, when director Yeon Sang-ho's blockbuster movie about an outbreak in Seoul somehow made all of the ol' gut-munching cliches feel fresh again. Most beneficial was adding a good dollop of heart to the center of the flesh feast: the estranged relationship between father and daughter on the run Seok-woo (Gong Yoo) and Su-an (Kim Su-an) transcended the subtitle barrier and smashed us all into sobbing little ninnies by movie's end. — J.A.

How to watch: Train to Busan is now streaming on Netflix.

14. It Follows

Kicking off with a righteous banger of an opening scene — we watch a young woman run out of her house half-dressed in a panic from something we can't see, only to end up moments later unnervingly mangled in the sand of a local beach — David Robert Mitchell's 2015 new classic of atmospheric terror never lets up. Much like the shape-shifting entity at its heart, which passes from teenager to teenager like an STD on fire. 

Starring Maika Monroe (who cemented her Scream Queen status this year thanks to the double-feature of this and The Guest) as unwitting teen Jay, who's just met a sweet, mysterious boy she likes, It Follows immediately becomes a death march of tension that thrums along on Disasterpeace's masterful throwback synth score. And Mitchell's brilliantly off-kilter camera work does a lot of the heavy-lifting, giving us a nightmare that presents itself in bright light and familiar spaces, disfiguring ordinariness into something unforgettably horrific. — J.A.

How to watch: It Follows is now streaming on Netflix.

13. Cam Credit: Netflix

One of the most underrated titles in Netflix's original horror catalog, Isa Mazzei and Daniel Goldhaber's Cam combines the tumultuous world of professional webcam modeling with the insidious terrors of a body-snatching whodunnit. The Handmaid's Tale's Madeline Brewer stars as Alice Ackerman, an ambitious performer eager to climb up the digital ranks who finds herself confronted with a doppelgänger gunning to take her spot, her fans, and maybe...her life. — A.F.

How to watch: Cam is now streaming on Netflix.

12. The Babadook

Way back before becoming an inexplicable LGBT icon, The Babadook was just a simple ghoul standing in front of a girl asking her to "dook dook dook" it. Anyway, enough has been written in the last decade about director Jennifer Kent's 2014 film being an "allegory for grief" that we should probably start writing papers about those papers now. Or perhaps we should just wipe away the cobwebs and see the movie for what it is, which is a barn-burner of a tale about an overworked mom (Essie Davis, who deserved all of the awards for this performance) and her anxious little boy Samuel (Noah Wiseman, really earning that "World's Most Annoying Brat" mug) unraveling together hand-in-hand in the wake of family tragedy. The performances keep everything almost too relatable, and Kent's eye for gothic weirdness summoned a new horror icon right out of thin air. — J.A.

How to watch: The Babadook is now streaming on Netflix.

11. Bodies Bodies Bodies

Horror in the sense of Zoomer Clue more than it is a splatterific Saw type of movie, director Halina Reijn's Bodies Bodies Bodies is a spin on the "Old Dark House" trope — get a bunch of pretty people trapped inside a space and then start picking them off one by one, until the survivor(s) can suss out the killer(s) and their motive(s). Here it's a "Hurricane Party" thrown by rich dickweed David (Pete Davidson) at his parent's palatial place. We enter the festivities alongside girlfriends Sophie (Amandla Stenberg) and Bee (Borat 2 breakout​ Maria Bakalova), who want to showcase their new love to Sophie's old friends. But once the bodies start hitting the hardwood floors, old tensions and new questions — who is this stranger in their midst? — quickly arise. All that, plus a hilarious Rachel Sennott and a half-naked Lee Pace opening a champagne bottle with a sword! What more could one ask for? — J.A.

How to watch: Bodies Bodies Bodies is now streaming on Netflix.

10. 1922 Credit: Netflix

Directed by Zak Hilditch and based on Stephen King's novella of the same name, 1922 tackles classic themes of guilt, envy, and evil through the grim lens of the American Dust Bowl. Thomas Jane and Molly Parker square off to striking effect, painting a portrait of a marriage that is as at once remarkably absurd and nauseatingly plausible. The couple's son, played by Dylan Schmid, is just as compelling, with a heartbreaking storyline you won't soon forget. (FYI, fans of the book, there are big changes to the adaptation's ending that didn't bother me but could bother you.) — A.F.

How to watch: 1922 is now streaming on Netflix.

9. Ouija: Origin of Evil 

The biggest surprise in Ouija: Origin of Evil, the 2016 prequel to the mediocre 2014 film Ouija, was when it turned out to actually be a good movie. It makes sense now, since Origin of Evil's director Mike Flanagan has gone on to mesmerize us with The Haunting of Hill House, Midnight Mass, and The Fall of the House of Usher. But in 2016 this movie hit as a shock — the best kind. 

Set in the late 1960s, this is an old-fashioned tale of two sisters, one of whom asks the board to connect with their dead father and the other one who gets possessed by an evil spirit in the process. Flanagan manages to suss out big wallops of the oogie-boogies from the little wooden board and its recognizable planchette, which has haunted every sleepover for the past 130 years. (Ouija boards as we know them date all the way back to 1890, if you can believe it!)* — J.A.

How to watch: Ouija: Origin of Evil is streaming on Netflix.

8. Vampires vs. the Bronx

Want a movie that's got excitement, comedy, a scorching message about the evils of gentrification, and is a kid-friendly romp? Then take a bite out of Vampires vs. the Bronx. Oz Perkins's PG-13 horror-comedy centers on Afro-Latino teens, who recognize that a flurry of missing person posters and influx of rich white folks with tote bags means bad news for the neighborhood. Together, they team up Monster Squad-style to take down the bloodsuckers and save their community. With a sharp wit, a warm heart, a rich sense of atmosphere, and an equal appreciation for the Blade movies and '80s Amblin, Vampires vs. the Bronx is an easy watch full of rewards.* — Kristy Puchko, Film Editor

How to watch: Vampires vs. the Bronx is now streaming on Netflix.

7. The Fear Street trilogy Credit: Netflix

Director Leigh Janiak pulls off a small movie miracle in her Fear Street trilogy, delivering consistently fun and fright-filled sequels that just keep getting better. Start your journey off with Fear Street Part One: 1994, in which we meet the cursed teens of a town named Shadyside. For years, the suburban haven has been terrorized by mass murderers — all of them normal townspeople who seemingly "snapped" over nothing.

Across Fear Street Part Two: 1978 and Fear Street Part Three: 1666, get to the bottom of the mystery behind these killings and their connection to the legendary Shadyside Witch. Based on the Fear Street books by R.L. Stine, this is a punchy slasher with enough gore and goofs to fuel a straight-through binge. — A.F.

How to watch: Fear Street is now streaming on Netflix.

6. The Perfection

From cellos and foreplay to hallucinations and hiking, The Perfection does absolutely whatever it wants. Featuring Allison Williams in her best role since Get Out and Dear White People's Logan Browning in her best part ever, this vibrant genre blend will get a reaction out of you. Not necessarily a good reaction, but a reaction nonetheless. It's body horror meets psychological thriller meets occult drama meets classical music. With bugs. And vomit. I, for one, loved it! — A.F.

How to watch: The Perfection is now streaming on Netflix.

5. His House Credit: Aidan Monaghan / Netflix

Writer-director Remi Weekes's His House is easily my favorite scary Netflix release from 2020. Wunmi Mosaku and Sope Dirisu star as refugees from South Sudan seeking asylum in Britain who are assigned to live in an eerie neighborhood where they aren't welcome. Spectacularly frightening and ruthlessly critical of its subject matter, His House delivers everything it must — and then some. — A.F.

How to watch: His House is now streaming on Netflix.

4. Gerald's Game

Another romp from Mike Flanagan, based on one of Stephen King's lesser-known terrors, Gerald's Game follows a couple on a romantic trip to a remote cabin where things are totally fine and nothing bad happens. Just kidding! It's so, so, so bad! This survival thriller rooted in psychosexual trauma offers an exquisite performance by Carla Gugino, who is devastating nearly every moment she is on screen. Really. It's Haunting of Hill House times 10. Watch it for her. — A.F.

How to watch: Gerald's Game is now streaming on Netflix.

3. Creep

Oh, you thought you liked Mark Duplass? Because he was the love interest in all those indie rom-coms, played that doctor in The Mindy Project, and is easily the best character in The Morning Show? Well, think again! In Creep, a found-footage film that foregoes pageantry for a stark sense of panic, Duplass plays a strange loner named Josef that freelance documentarian Aaron, played by writer-director Patrick Brice, can't quite pin down. Duplass's performance is intoxicating, and Brice imagines a universe so compelling it absolutely merits its equally great sequel (also on Netflix). — A.F.

How to watch: Creep is now streaming on Netflix.

2. Incantation Credit: Netflix

Kevin Ko's Taiwanese horror freaked people out so much that it even started a TikTok challenge and managed to become the all-time highest-grossing horror film in Taiwan. "When one imagines horror movies, it’s almost impossible to not associate them with jump scares, monsters, or slashers," wrote Rizwana Zafer for Mashable. "Incantation does not rely on any of those typical horror movie factors, so it’s not really 'scary' in the traditional sense. Instead, Ko manages to terrify us using suspense and dread, built on the intimacy and psychological terror of the heroine. He plays on our deepest fears to scare us, incorporating elements of gore, trypophobia, and the eeriness of the unknown, that something evil is always lurking in the background."* — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

How to watch: Incantation is now streaming on Netflix.

1. I'm Thinking of Ending Things

Emotional demolitions expert/filmmaker Charlie Kaufman destroys audiences once more in the mind-boggling I’m Thinking of Ending Things. Adapted from Iain Reid’s novel of the same name, this cryptically titled psychological thriller follows a woman, played by Jessie Buckley, and her boyfriend, played by Jesse Plemons, on a disturbing visit to his parents’ remote farmhouse. What follows? Well, that depends on who you ask.

A transfixing meditation on art, existence, value, authorship, isolation, and more, I’m Thinking of Ending Things is a truly one-of-a-kind experience as profound as it is disquieting. You may not have a great time in this house of abstract horrors (especially when Toni Collette is onscreen doing those classically terrifying Toni Collette things), but it will be a lasting one.* — A.F.

How to watch: I'm Thinking of Ending Things is streaming on Netflix.

Opens in a new window Credit: Netflix Netflix Get Deal

* denotes that this blurb appeared in a previous Mashable list. 

UPDATE: Mar. 28, 2024, 3:30 p.m. EDT This list has been updated to reflect Netflix's current streaming library.

The Amazon deals of the day include $100 off a Kindle Scribe (64GB), plus more deals on headphones, smartphones, robovacs, and more. Here are our top picks:

Amazon Deals of the Day: Amazon deal of the day Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (64GB) with Premium Pen 319.99 (save $100) Get Deal Best robot vacuum and mop deal Shark AI robot vacuum and mop AV2001WD $269.99 at Amazom (save $210) Get Deal Best smartphone deal Samsung Galaxy S24+ $849.99 (save $150) Get Deal Best headphones deal Sony WH-XB910N Extra Bass noise-canceling headphones $148 (save $101.99) Get Deal Best Echo bundle deal Amazon Echo Pop with Amazon Basics Smart Color Bulb $22.99 (save $29.99) Get Deal

There's nothing we love more here at Mashable than a great deal. When it comes to tech, if there's a sale out there, we've got it covered — and we found some excellent ones today at Amazon.

There's always a plethora of deals on products at Amazon, but it's tedious work to sort through them. But we did all the hard work for you and found Amazon's best deals on Kindles, robovacs, Amazon's Echo devices, and more, with discounts up to 44%. Check out our top picks for deals at Amazon as of March 30 below:

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Scribe (64GB) with Premium Pen $319.99 at Amazon
$419.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

For those who love to take notes, highlight, and even doodle while they read, an Amazon Kindle Scribe with a large screen of 10.2 inches could make your life a lot simpler. Use the included Premium Pen to mark up whatever you're reading with your thoughts easily, then convert your handwritten notes to text through the Kindle app. You can import and mark up documents for work, journal, and even sketch with different brush types, from fountain pen to pencil. With 64GB of storage, you'll have to work hard to run out of space for all your books on this device. Plus, this Kindle has the longest battery of all Kindle devices and should last you months.

If you're ready to buy two Kindle Scribes today you'll save an additional $40 thanks to this limited-time deal.

Best robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark AI robot vacuum and mop AV2001WD $269.99 at Amazon
$479.99 Save $210.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If you're ready to take spring cleaning to the next level, it could be the perfect time to invest in a robot vacuum. This one from Shark does double duty with the capability to vacuum up all that dust, dirt, and pet hair and mop up your hard floors, too. Its LIDAR technology lets you map your home so you can set up cleaning schedules or areas you want the robovac to stay away from, and its AI Laser Navigation makes sure your entire home gets clean, row by row, every time. Plus, you can dispatch it with your voice with Alexa or Google Assistant. Easy peasy.

Best smartphone deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy S24+ $849.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $150.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

"A close rival to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, Samsung's new Galaxy S24 Ultra is a premium 6.8-inch smartphone with a durable titanium design, a rear telephoto lens with impressive zoom capabilities, and a smattering of neat AI features. It also comes with a built-in S Pen stylus that doubles as a remote, said Mashable tech editor Kim Gedeon. This is the 256GB base model's first discount since it launched in January 2024." — Haley Henschel, Senior Shopping Reporter

Best Echo bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Pop with Amazon Basics Smart Color Bulb $22.99 at Amazon
$52.98 Save $29.99 Get Deal Why we like it

"As of March 30, you can get the Echo Pop speaker paired with an Amazon Basics smart light bulb for only $22.99. That's the same price as the Echo Pop on its own at the current sale price (regularly $39.99). The Amazon Basics smart bulb regularly costs $12.99, so you'll be pocketing that amount by snagging the bundle. The Echo Pop is a 'good budget-friendly option in the Echo lineup,' according to Mashable's reviewer, SaVanna Shoemaker, and makes a good addition to the homes of folks 'who like to keep music playing, and who also use Alexa as a home assistant.'" — Christina Buff, Mashable Deals writer

TL;DR: A lifetime subscription to a Curiosity Stream Standard Plan is on sale for £142.57, saving you 55% on list price.

In a world where some car makers charge drivers monthly fees to use their heated seats (yep, that’s a real thing), Curiosity Stream’s lifetime subscription is a diamond in the rough. There’s no catch or password-sharing rules (like some other platforms) — just pay once and stream documentaries and nonfiction content for life.

And, with this limited-time price drop, Curiosity Stream’s lifetime plan is only £142.57. That’s a price you won’t find anywhere else online.

What will you watch first? Curiosity Stream has content on all of your favourite subjects like science, technology, history, nature, and art. Take a look at a few of the included series: Into the Jungle, Deep Time History, Polar Bears, The History of Home, and the award-winning Stephen Hawking’s Favorite Places.

Discover thousands of movie-length documentaries and shorter shows, and always look forward to something new to watch with regular content updates.

Just like other streaming services, Curiosity Stream offers high-definition content on multiple devices, search tools to help you find your next binge-worthy series, and a watch-later list to bookmark everything that interests you. You’ll even have the option to download content ahead of time to watch offline, like on your commute or flights.

But, unlike your other streaming services, you’ll never be charged monthly or yearly fees to enjoy content. Plus, with so many documentaries and docu-series at your fingertips, your mode of entertainment may also turn into an avenue for learning.

Get a lifetime subscription to Curiosity Stream while it’s on sale for £142.57. No coupon is needed for this best-on-web price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Curiosity Stream Curiosity Stream Standard Plan (Lifetime Subscription) £142.57 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

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 31'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:

A forbidden social custom.

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 T.

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 #1016 is...

TABOO.

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 31'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: Rolling down the hill

• Green: Sources of water

• Blue: Things that'll help achieve a curvy shape

• Purple: Types of bears

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: Take a Tumble

• Green: Kinds of Water

• Blue: Things That Are Cinched in the Middle

• Purple: ___Bear

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 #294 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Take a Tumble: FALL, SLIP, SPILL, TRIP

• Kinds of Water: MINERAL, SPRING, STILL, TAP

• Things That Are Cinched in the Middle: CORSET, DIABOLO, HOURGLASS, WASP

• ___Bear: BOO-BOO, BROWN, HONEY, TEDDY

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.

Wondering how to watch the college basketball tournament? Here are your best options: Most affordable Paramount+ with Showtime 7-day free trial, then $11.99/month Get Deal Most channels FuboTV Pro plan 7-day free trial, then $59.99 for the first month (Save $20) Get Deal

The NC State and Duke men’s basketball teams are scheduled to meet in a tournament game in Dallas on Sunday, March 31. The game is scheduled to start at 5:05 p.m. ET/4:05 p.m. CT. 

No. 11 seed NC State comes into the matchup 25-14 overall. Most recently, NC State beat No. 2-seeded Marquette 67-58 on Friday in the third round of the tournament. DJ Horne led NCSU with 19 points and five rebounds with Mohamed Diarra adding 11 points and 15 rebounds. 

No. 4 seed Duke comes into the matchup 28-8 overall. On Friday, Duke defeated No. 1-seeded Houston 54-51 in the tournament’s third round. Duke got 16 points and nine rebounds from Kyle Filipowski, and Jeremy Roach added 14 points vs. Houston.

SEE ALSO: How to download the 2024 March Madness basketball bracket

Kevin Keatts is the NC State men’s basketball head coach. Jon Scheyer is the Duke men’s basketball head coach. 

Duke vs. NC State basketball game time and network

The Duke vs. NC State men’s basketball game is scheduled to be broadcast on CBS at 5:05 p.m. ET/4:05 p.m. CT on Sunday, March 31. CBS broadcasters for the game are scheduled to be Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Bill Raftery (analyst), Grant Hill (analyst), and Tracy Wolfson (reporter).

Whatever team wins this game advances to play on Saturday, April 6 in Phoenix.

Cable and satellite TV are no longer necessary for enjoying live sports. Consider live streaming options to watch Sunday’s game via services like Paramount+ and FuboTV.

Best streaming services for the NCSU vs. Duke basketball game

Watching college basketball requires a streaming service if you don’t have cable or satellite TV. For the NC State vs. Duke men’s basketball game on Friday, here are your top streaming options.

Most affordable: Paramount+ Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount+ Paramount+ with Showtime 7-day free trial, then $11.99/month Get Deal

If you want to watch the Duke vs. NC State men’s basketball game on CBS, Paramount+ offers a solution.    

New subscribers to Paramount+ get a seven-day free trial. Then for the Paramount+ plan that includes live streaming CBS, you need the Paramount+ with Showtime tier, which is $11.99/month. If you choose the annual plan, it is $119.99 for a year, saving about $1.99/month. 

For students, Paramount+ will give you a 25% discount.

Most channels: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: FuboTV FuboTV Pro plan $59.99
$79.99 Save $20.00 7-day free trial, then $59.99 for first month Get Deal

With FuboTV, new subscribers can enjoy a seven-day free trial and more than 250 live TV channels, along with the ability to simultaneously stream on 10 devices. College sports fans who want access to CBS for matchups such as the Duke vs. NC State men’s basketball game will want the FuboTV Pro tier, which is $59.99 for the first month and then has a rate of $79.99 per month.

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NBCSN, NFL Network, Pac-12 Network, and SEC Network. 

Wondering how to watch the college basketball tournament? Here are your best options: Most affordable Paramount+ with Showtime 7-day free trial, then $11.99/month Get Deal Most channels FuboTV Pro plan 7-day free trial, then $59.99 for the first month (Save $20) Get Deal

The Tennessee and Purdue men’s basketball teams are scheduled to meet in a tournament game in Detroit on Sunday, March 31. The game is scheduled to start at 2:20 p.m. ET. 

No. 1 seed Purdue comes into the matchup 32-4 overall. Most recently, Zach Edey led Purdue with 27 points and 14 rebounds in an 80-68 win against Gonzaga on Friday in the tournament’s third round. 

No. 2 seed Tennessee enters the matchup 27-8 overall. On Friday, the UT Vols defeated No. 3-seeded Creighton 82-75 in the third round of the tournament. Dalton Knecht led Tennessee with 24 points, six rebounds and five assists against Creighton.

SEE ALSO: How to download the 2024 March Madness basketball bracket

Matt Painter is the Purdue men’s basketball head coach. Rick Barnes is the Tennessee Vols men’s basketball head coach. 

Purdue vs. Tennessee basketball game time, network

The Purdue vs. Tennessee Vols men’s basketball game is scheduled to be broadcast on CBS at 2:20 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 31. The CBS broadcasters for the game are scheduled to be Andrew Catalon (play-by-play), Steve Lappas (analyst), and Evan Washburn (reporter).

Whatever team wins advances to play on Saturday, April 6 in Phoenix.  

In the evolving world of sports broadcasting, the emergence of live-streaming platforms like Paramount+ and FuboTV represents an alternative to traditional cable and satellite TV that meets the expectations of the modern fan. 

Best streaming services for the Tennessee vs. Purdue basketball game 

As the Tennessee Vols take on the Purdue men’s basketball team, you don’t need to worry if you don’t have cable. Explore the best options to catch every moment of this showdown via streaming.

Most affordable: Paramount+ Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount+ Paramount+ with Showtime 7-day free trial, then $11.99/month Get Deal

If you want to watch the Purdue vs. Tennessee Vols men’s basketball game via CBS, Paramount+ offers a solution.    

New subscribers to Paramount+ get a seven-day free trial. Then for the Paramount+ plan that includes live streaming CBS, you need the Paramount+ with Showtime tier, which is $11.99/month. If you choose the annual plan, it is $119.99 for a year, saving about $1.99/month. 

For students, Paramount+ will give you a 25% discount.

Most channels: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: FuboTV FuboTV Pro plan $59.99
$79.99 Save $20.00 7-day free trial, then $59.99 for first month Get Deal

With FuboTV, new subscribers can enjoy a seven-day free trial and more than 250 live TV channels, along with the ability to simultaneously stream on 10 devices. College sports fans who want access to CBS for matchups such as the Purdue vs. UT Vols men’s basketball game will want the FuboTV Pro tier, which is $59.99 for the first month and then has a rate of $79.99 per month.

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NBCSN, NFL Network, Pac-12 Network, and SEC Network. 

If you've ever wanted Notes to have a fake social media function, there's a new app just for you: Palmsy.

As reported by TechCrunch, Palmsy is essentially a phony social media app in that you can post texts and photos — to no one. Import your contacts list and Palmsy will fabricate "likes" from them, and even send push notifications as if people have interacted with your posts. But, according to the welcome screen and developer Pat Nakajima, it's all for show. Nothing ever leaves your device.

SEE ALSO: How Facebook changed the internet as we know it

Nakajima posted on Threads that Palmsy "lets you make lil posts. then get fake likes from random folks in your contacts. nothing ever leaves your device, it's just pretend."

Palmsy welcome screen explaining the app. Credit: Screenshot: Palmsy

As Engadget put it, Palmsy is a journaling app that offers "fake likes from real friends." Why? Perhaps to provide the dopamine hit that actual social media offers while maintaining your privacy. Social media isn't exactly good for our mental health, so maybe apps like Palmsy can provide some solace — in case you don't want to actually put down your phone.

In a Mashable test of the app, advanced options allowed you to determine how many fake likes you get, and over what period of time. Palmsy can then provide a curated social media experience that only exists for you.

Palmsy lets you decide how many likes you get over a certain timeframe. Credit: Screenshot: Palmsy

In recent years, social media apps like BeReal have attempted to be more "authentic." In BeReal's case, it eventually plateaued and is now months away from running out of money. Palmsy appears to be the next evolution of this as the anti-social social media app. We'll see how long this one lasts.

Palmsy is free to download on iPhone and iPad, but it's only available on iOS 17.2 or later.

It's hard being a DEI in a time like this, ain't it?

In the aftermath of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland on Tuesday, many on the right have blamed the tragedy on DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) initiatives.

SEE ALSO: Baltimore's Key Bridge collapse put the internet's conspiracy brain on gross display

Thus, "DEI" seems to be turning into a new alt-right buzzword in the same vein as "CRT" and "Woke" — dog whistles meant to rally like-minded readers against efforts at racial equity. See, for example, this X user calling Baltimore's elected mayor, Brandon Scott, the "DEI mayor."

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This post in particular kicked off a wave of backlash amongst Black Twitter, who immediately saw the tweet as thinly veiled racism, essentially calling Baltimore's mayor the n-word. Of course, Black Twitter loves a good joke, and because "DEI" was so oddly used as a not-so-subtle adjective, they ran with it.

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This post from user Alecia Renece explains, that calling Mayor Scott the "DEI Mayor" was meant to harm Black folk, who instead turned it into a joke, thus de-weaponizing something that was meant to hurt us.

Will it stop alt-right agitators from coming up with a new dog whistle? No, but at least Black Twitter will always be prepared to push back against bullshit.