Author Archives: Carol Edwards

You may know Remi Cruz from her 10 years of vlogging as MissRemiAshten, or her “Cooking with Remi” series, or her podcast Pretty Basic which she co-hosts with bestie and fellow vlogger Alisha Marie. But in March, Cruz reached a new echelon of fame when Lana Del Rey referred to her as one of “the vloggers who got [her] through Covid” in an acceptance speech at the Billboard Women in Music Awards.

Del Rey had run into Cruz, Marie, and their friend Oli Abbas before the show and immediately started gushing about how much she loved their content. “I was like Lana knows what YouTube is?” Cruz tells Mashable over Zoom from her Los Angeles home. “The biggest thing for me is that she knows what Vlogmas is. Hearing the word ‘Vlogmas’ come out of Lana Del Rey’s mouth is something I never had on my bingo card, ever.”

Now, Cruz says, they’ll never get over it. “I will message [Marie and Abbas] and be like, ‘Don’t forget that that happened!’ We’ll be driving and listening to Lana and just be like, ‘Oh my god!,'” she laughs. “It’s crazy… On the way home [after meeting her] Oli was like, ‘I can die happily. Like if I die right now, I’d be OK.’ And I know he truly meant it.”

In this interview, we turn the tables on Cruz to get to know her favorite creators, K-pop idols, and icons.

1. Juicystar07, “a lot can happen in a few years…”

Mashable: When I saw this Juicystar07 video I thought, “Oh my god, Remi and I watched the same OG YouTubers.”

Cruz: She was the OG, she got me obsessed with YouTube. When I was in middle school, or very early high school, I was obsessed with her room tours, everything she did. I tried to scrunch my hair like hers — I had Asian, straight hair so I didn’t understand why it wouldn’t stay, but I would try every morning, every night. I followed all her tutorials. I’d decorate my room, moving my furniture to look like hers.

I watched her relentlessly for years and years and then she took a break. But she’s the one YouTuber that all of the friends I’ve met through doing lifestyle content are inspired by. Alisha, my best friend, and I always talk about her. Alisha’s the one that sent me the video with an all-caps, “OH MY GOD!” And so I had to watch immediately.

I’m interested to see where [Juicystar07] is gonna go from here because she is so OG YouTube and [in this video] she was very much like, “I know YouTube’s not really as poppin’ as it once was, maybe now I’ll do short-form.” I would love to see Juicystar on TikTok. 

In the video, she talks about falling out of love with content creation. I hear that from a lot of creators. But you’ve been hitting it so hard for years and seem to find some way through it, which is impressive.

Thank you so much! When I do [feel burnt out] I take it as a challenge to pivot and try different content which is why I really got into cooking. My main channel felt almost too broad; lifestyle is so broad that I could be doing a hair tutorial one day and then a room tour the next and while that’s fun, I didn’t feel like I had a niche to come back to and hone in on. So that was why I started “Cooking with Remi.”

I don’t get burnt out with vlogging specifically because it’s my everyday life, and I don’t really plan or filter anything. It just feels natural to me to grab the camera. It feels more unnatural to not grab a camera.

2. Maangchi, “Sweet and Sour Pork (Tangsuyuk: 탕수육)”

Maangchi is an iconic queen.

Iconic! Another OG. I have learned so many techniques and recipes from her. My parents are both of Korean descent, and my mom made a lot of Korean food staples.

Where I live now, I’m kind of far from any good Korean restaurant. So when I moved I was like “OK, I need to make it myself.” I watch Maangchi if I crave a certain dish, like this sweet and sour fried pork. We always ate it going out, so I’ve been learning how to make it myself. It’s one of my all-time comfort foods. She makes it with a technique that I never had even thought of before. I feel like she’s very innovative but traditional at the same time.

Which technique?

When she soaks the potato starch in water! I never even heard of doing that before, but I just trust her. She says to do it and I do it. It turns out great.

What are your other current cooking inspirations?

I love the OG Food Network people, like Rachael Ray and Ina Garten, who is a huge, huge one for me. And there’s just such a huge wave of TikTok creators who are doing very candid, in-the-moment cooking like “This is what I’m making for lunch.” I love Snack Queen. Emily Mariko is an icon also. I get a lot of inspiration from TikTok.

3. Disneyland Vlogs, “disneyland day with the girls (+ schultzzie vid behind the scenes)”

I’m from Anaheim so growing up, in middle school and high school, when my mom didn’t want to watch me she would just drop me off [at Disneyland]. That was like my babysitter [laughs].

I don’t want to say I’m a Disney adult because they scare me. But I love Disney and have that nostalgia of growing up there. I don’t like rides. I don’t like roller coasters. I don’t like going fast. I don’t like spinning. I just go for the food.

This vlogger, I’m just obsessed with her. She’s the one YouTuber that I will never miss a video [from]. I think she’s so cute. I like to say that she’s like me in a mom form, even though she’s younger than me [laughs]. It reminds me a lot of my life: She loves gardening [and] going to Target. I was like, this is the same life!

She has polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and I have PCOS. So when she was going through fertility struggles, I felt like I would resonate with that one day. I’ve been seeing this specialist and she was saying, “I see 20 people a day and every single woman will be completely different on the spectrum of PCOS.” There’s still so much research to be done.

When I chatted with the guys from Watcher, we also struggled with the label “Disney adult.”

I have some Disney adult friends, and I have friends that are so against them. We get into some heated conversations at dinner. I feel like I’m very neutral. I’m like, “Let people have what makes them happy.” I’m not one to judge, but I do think sometimes it can just be a little intense.

Honestly, I feel like I fall into Disney adult things sometimes. I’ll wear a pair of ears always. I’ll usually get a sweatshirt if I get cold, but I only wear it at the park, not outside. I guess I am a Disney adult to a degree.

4. Strictly Dumpling, “NEW #1 Best LOBSTER BRUNCH BUFFET in Las Vegas! Review of M Resort STEAKHOUSE Bruch Buffet”

I love his energy, and it perplexes me how he can eat so much and be so fit. His metabolism is crazy. Every time I watch him I’m like, “How? How?” I’ve been watching him on and off for quite a few years and then more recently, I’ve been binging. I don’t miss a video.

I love Mikey because, for instance, when we went to Japan we looked up every restaurant that he went to and went to a majority of them. I think he has quality recommendations, and I just like watching his face. He seems so happy. It’s not over the top. It’s just perfect, where you know he’s not lying. 

My boyfriend always wants to watch some action movie and I want to watch a romcom, and this [channel] is the one thing we can both agree on. So we’ll sit there and watch that or the Try Guys’ “Keith tries everything.”

What’s one Mikey recommendation you remember?

Anytime I go anywhere I look up where he ate. He gave me my best New York bagel recommendation: Brooklyn Bagel and Coffee Company. I went recently and bought 48 bagels and brought them home for my family. I brought a second bag to bring them back and went to CVS and bought gallon bags and sat in my hotel room bagging them up [laughs]. The bagel suitcase weighed more than my suitcase of shoes, makeup, and clothing. But it was so good. I gave them to my mom and my aunt and my friends when I got home. My bags still smells like everything bagel seasoning.

5. First We Feast, “TWICE Break Down Their Favorite Snacks | Snacked”

I’m a hardcore Once [fan of Twice]. I actually just went to MetLife to see their concert. That’s why I got the bagels! I was there for the concert. I’ve only been a Once for maybe a year or so, so I missed their last tour. I made sure I got to New York for the last show [this year]. It was incredible. I didn’t realize that MetLife is outside, and it was like 90 degrees with 85 percent humidity. My body was drenched. And I was like, “If I’m miserable, I can’t imagine how hot and tired the girls are.”

I’ve been into K-Pop for as long as I’ve been into YouTube, but I always like go through waves where I’m obsessed and then I fall out of love. I have to really get into it to become obsessed with them. I need to be on their bios knowing who’s the leader and what their signs are. It’s an investment.

I think I’m in it for the long haul now. I began with Wonder Girls, and then I was obsessed with Girls’ Generation. I was like really into Sistar when they were around. When they disbanded, I cried really hard. I love Le Sserafim and (G)I-DLE. I love NewJeans. I’m really into XG now.

XG’s synchronization is mind-blowing! I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. Who’s your Twice bias?

Jeongyeon. I switch all the time, but I always go back to her because I just love her so much. She seems so sweet. I feel so connected to her. The reason I watched this video recently is because I’m doing a video on my channel where I’m eating like Twice for a week. I’m going to Korea in September. I want to see one of them on the street. I know I won’t, but I want to.

Elon Musk’s company SpaceX discriminated against refugees and asylees between 2018 and 2022, according to a complaint filed Wednesday by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The complaint alleges that SpaceX, which designs, manufactures, and launches rockets and spacecraft, wrongly discouraged and rejected applicants who were refugees and asylees.

While the complaint doesn’t speculate whether SpaceX’s policy was an unintentional or willful misinterpretation of federal law, it states that the company falsely told prospective applicants it could only hire U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, sometimes referred to as green card holders.

SpaceX explained that “export control laws” imposed such a requirement, then rejected refugee and asylee applicants as a result. But the company’s claim was untrue, according to the complaint.

The DOJ has asked that the administrative law judge overseeing the case order SpaceX to, among other actions, cease and desist its “illegal” hiring practices, pay a civil penalty for each individual discriminated against, hire victims of its discriminatory practices, and provide back play plus interest to applicants who were qualified for a role but were rejected because of their citizenship status.

A press release issued by the DOJ urges potential victims to contact the federal agency for more information.

“Asylees and refugees have overcome many obstacles in their lives, and unlawful employment discrimination based on their citizenship status should not be one of them,” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, said in the release.

“Through this lawsuit we will hold SpaceX accountable for its illegal employment practices and seek relief that allows asylees and refugees to fairly compete for job opportunities and contribute their talents to SpaceX’s workforce.”

SpaceX had not publicly responded to the complaint at the time of this article’s publication.

The government’s complaint alleges that SpaceX and some of its employees, including founder and CEO Elon Musk, falsely claimed in public that applicants had to be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.

After SpaceX failed to respond to the government’s investigation, which it launched in 2020, the DOJ subpoenaed the company to obtain previously requested documents.

Investigators found that, in addition to false public statements, SpaceX’s internal hiring practices were also discriminatory.

Between September 2018 and May 2022, the company used a database that allowed recruiters to see applicants’ self-identified citizenship or immigration status, according to the complaint. During that time period, the complaint alleges, SpaceX officials repeatedly rejected multiple candidates using a code indicating that they weren’t authorized to work at the company when, in fact, they were.

Gaming’s biggest surprise hit of 2023 will come to Xbox consoles this year, after all.

In a series of tweets on Thursday, Larian Studios head Swen Vincke confirmed that the much-heralded Baldur’s Gate 3 will indeed hit Xbox Series X and S later in 2023. PC gamers got access to the Dungeons & Dragons-based RPG first in early August, and the PlayStation 5 version of Baldur’s Gate 3 is set to launch on Sept. 2. Whether the game would arrive at all for Xbox players had been the subject of much contemplation for months, but now we know it’s actually happening.

Tweet may have been deleted

There are a couple of concerns to note here. One is that no definitive release date was given. Presumably Larian won’t launch on Xbox at the same time as its quickly-arriving Playstation 5 release date, given how close Thursday’s announcement is cutting it.

Much more pressing is the lack of local, split-screen co-op play on Xbox Series S. Per a July tweet from another Larian employee, getting local co-op to work on the less powerful of the two Xbox consoles proved to be such a big headache that it held up the Xbox release entirely. That’s not a problem anymore, per Vincke, but it does mean the cheaper Xbox won’t get that feature at all.

Tweet may have been deleted

That’s a bit of a bummer for people who opted for the $350 Series S as their gateway into the next generation of gaming. So far, some Xbox games have been downgraded visually for the Series S, but major gameplay features typically don’t get cut to make a game run on the cheaper console. It may be a first for Baldur’s Gate 3, but here’s hoping it won’t happen very often going forward.

Looking for a new streaming solution? Select Amazon Fire TV streaming devices are on sale now. Here are the best Amazon Fire TV streaming device deals as of August 24, just in time for the return of fall TV.

• BEST FIRE TV STICK: The Fire TV Stick 4K Max packs WiFi 6 and 40% more streaming power into a small package — $26.99 $54.99 (save 51%)

• BEST BUDGET FIRE TV STICK: The Fire TV Stick is a budget pick that can handle all your streaming needs and more — $24.99 $39.99 (save 38%)

• BEST FIRE TV SPLURGE: The Fire TV Cube is the most powerful Fire TV device Amazon has to offer, with WiFi 6 support and an octa-core processor — $119.99 $139.99 (save 30%)

Looking for a new streaming device? You’ve got several choices, like Roku, Google’s Chromecast, or Amazon’s Fire TV lineup. Their streaming sticks and other devices are great options for just about any user. They’re super easy to set up and they also go on sale pretty often — like right now!

As of August 24, there are several Fire TV streaming devices on sale for up to 51% off. You can snag the latest and greatest addition to the line, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, for just $26.99. You could also opt for the Fire TV Stick or the Fire TV Cube.

Whether you’re gearing up for a movie marathon or just want an easier time streaming your favorite shows, now’s a great time to bring home a Fire TV Stick and start your next binge-watching sesh.

Best Fire TV Stick

Why we like it

The Fire TV Stick 4K Max comes packing 40% more streaming power and WiFi 6, which makes it the best of the Fire TV offerings. While it’s usually a bit more cost-prohibitive than the other models in the line (but barely more than a regular Fire Stick today), it’s well worth the extra cash with improved navigation, support for 4K Ultra HD, Dolby Vision, HDR, HDR10+, and Dolby Atmos audio. Plus, it can connect to your Echo smart home devices.

Best budget Fire TV Stick

Why we like it

The Fire TV Stick is a great base streaming option for just about anyone. Amazon says the latest model is 50% more powerful than its previous generation and it offers full HD streaming, so whether you’re watching Love is Blind or The Super Mario Bros. Movie everything looks crisp and colorful. However, if a couple of bucks doesn’t matter too much to you, it’s best to grab the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (above) over this model while they’re both on sale.

Best Fire TV splurge

Why we like it

The Fire TV Cube is the fastest Fire TV device you’ll find. It boasts an octa-core processor that Amazon claims is two times as powerful as the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, with 4K HD and Dolby Vision, HDR, and Dolby Atmos support. It also supports WiFi 6. Not only can you control streaming services with it, but it comes with a built-in mic and speakers so it can be used as a media hub as well. It’s by far the priciest of the Fire TV options, but well worth it if you want the best of the best.

A woman who lost her speech after a stroke is regaining it thanks to video game technology.

Facial animation software company Speech Graphics and researchers at UC San Francisco and UC Berkeley have collaborated on a brain-computer interface that can restore communication for paralyzed people.

The team tracked the parts of the woman’s brain responsible for speech and implanted a paper-thin rectangle of 253 electrodes near the surface of that area. The electrodes decoded her brain signals and, through a cable fixed to the implant, transmitted them to computers where AI algorithms were trained to read her brain activity.

The AI learned a vocabulary of over 1,000 words over several weeks, which it then reproduced in audio based on recordings of her own voice pre-stroke.

Speech Graphics created the avatar with its AI-based facial animation tech, usually used for video games like Fortnite. The AI was harnessed to simulate the woman’s individual facial muscles to express certain emotions.

Though this is still a proof of concept, the success of the all-rounded avatar has raised hopes that the technology could soon be able to help many others.

UPDATE: Aug. 24, 2023, 3:00 p.m. EDT This shopping guide has been updated to reflect the latest prices and deals.

Labor Day is September 4 this year, but you can take advantage of some not-to-miss deals even before then. In fact, some of the best Labor Day deals of 2023 are already live. Summer might be coming to a close, and we might all be crying about that, but at least these sweet discounts exist. Shop our top picks on Labor Day sales (in multiple categories) below.

Our top picks:

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Best mattress/pillow deal

TEMPUR-Cloud mattress

$1,399.30 at Tempur-Pedic
(save $599.70 with coupon code CLOUD30)

Get Deal

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Best home appliance deal

TUSHY Ace electric bidet

$399 at TUSHY
(save $200)

Get Deal

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Best online learning deal

Lifetime access to Rosetta Stone

$179 at Rosetta Stone
(save $120)

Get Deal

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Best tech deal

Pivo Pod Influencer Phone Mount

$65.99 at Amazon
(save $44)

Get Deal

If you’re in the market for a new mattress, piece of technology, or — dare we suggest — a bidet, then Labor Day is the perfect time to snag those items. Savvy shoppers know to wait to buy top home goods and appliances until Labor Day sales begin, but sometimes it can be pretty overwhelming to keep track of all the deals.

To simplify your life, we’ve gathered all of the best early Labor Day deals into one place. Check out the biggest discounts on mattresses, tech, and online learning. Don’t forget to keep checking back as we update this guide with even more early deals.

Best mattress/pillow deal

Why we like it

This mattress from Tempur-Pedic is your golden ticket to a good night’s sleep. It adapts to your weight, temperature, and shape; relieves pressure so you wake up feeling rested and not achy; has four whole layers of support; and is super easy to install on your bed. If you’re hesitant to commit, the purchase has a 90-night trial period, meaning you’ll get your money back if you’re not totally in love with your new mattress.

We’ve gathered more early Labor Day deals on mattresses below, and we have an in-depth guide to the latest mattress deals as well.

More mattress/pillow deals

• Avocado Vegan Mattress (Twin through California King) — from $1,259.10 from $1,399 (save 10% with coupon code LABORDAY)

• Avocado Latex Mattress (Twin through Split California King) — from $1679 from $2,399 (save up to $1,500)

• Bear — Save 35% off sitewide and get free Sleep Accessories Bundle (when you purchase a mattress) with coupon code LDAY

• Birch Luxe Natural Mattress (Queen) — Save 25% off sitewide and get two free Eco-Rest pillows (when you purchase a mattress) with coupon code LDS25

• Brooklyn Bedding — Save 25% off sitewide with coupon code LABORDAY25

• Buffy — Save 20% off sitewide

• Helix — Save 25% off sitewide and get two free Dream Pillows (when you purchase a mattress) with coupon code LDS25

• Purple Mattress (Queen) + Smart Base — $1,199 $1,399 (save $200)

• TEMPUR-Adapt Topper (Queen) — $167.60 $419 (save $251.40)

• TEMPUR-Cloud Adjustable Pillow (Queen) — $99 for two $138 for two (save $39)

• TEMPUR-Cloud Breeze Dual Cooling Pillow (Queen) — $259 for two $398 for two (save $139)

• Cocoon Chill Memory Foam Mattress (Queen) — $699 $1,079 (save $380 and get a free pillows + sheets bundle)

• Nolah Mattress — Up to $1,200 off mattresses plus two free Nolah Squishy pillows ($198 value)

• Sealy Adjustable Pillow — $69 for two $98 for two (save $29)

• The DreamCloud Hybrid Mattress (Queen) — $799 $1,332 (save $533)

• Essentia — Save 25% off sitewide

• Big Fig Mattress (Queen) — $1,399 $1799 (save $400 with coupon code LABORDAY)

• New T&N Mint Hybrid Mattress (Twin) — $1,018.35 $1,395 (save $376.65, plus an additional 15% off when you bundle with the Mattress Protector, Down Alternative Pillow Set, and any sheet set with coupon code MATTRESS15)

• Beautyrest Black (Queen) — $2,399 $2,699 (save $300)

• Sleep Number 360 iLE Limited Edition smart bed (Queen) — $2,749.50 $5,499 (save $2,749.50)

Best home appliance deal

Why we like it

What’s more luxurious than treating your tush to a little TLC? You can do just that with the purchase of this TUSHY bidet, which isn’t just any bidet. Indeed, it comes with a heated seat that can provide five different temperature options; a front wash feature; an antimicrobial and self-cleaning nozzle that tucks away into the seat after every use; and a remote control that lets you control all of those bells and whistles. Sometimes bidets can look bulky and awkward, but this one plays it cool to match the overall decor of your bathroom flawlessly. Your bum will thank you.

More Labor Day sales on appliances

• TUSHY Ottoman — $59 $69 (save $10)

• Bio Bidet USPA A7 Bidet Seat —$299 $349 (save $50)

• Bio Bidet SlimGlow Bidet Attachment — $49 $79 (save $30)

• LG Black Stainless Steel Series NeoChef Countertop Microwave — $199 $279 (save $80)

• Ultra Large Capacity Smart Front Load Washer with TurboWash 360° and Built-In Intelligence — $749 $1,149 (save $400)

• Dyson Purifier Cool purifying fan TP07 — $499.99 $649.99 (save $150)

• Samsung – 5.0 Cu. Ft. High Efficiency Top Load Washer with Active WaterJet — $629.99 $809.99 (save $180)

• hai Smart Showerhead — $199 $249 (save $50)

Best online learning deal

Why we like it

One of the most thoughtful gifts you can give to anyone (or yourself) is the gift of learning. However cheesy that sounds, lifetime access to Rosetta Stone courses in 25 languages is too good to pass up. Rosetta Stone can help you gain mastery of languages from Arabic to Tagalong to Italian — with lessons available both online and offline that function with highly precise speech recognition technology. Rosetta Stone has been in the language-learning game long enough to know what it’s doing. If you’re not convinced, read some customer success stories to see for yourself.

More online learning deals

Check back for more Labor Day 2023 online learning deals.

Best tech deal

Why we like it

If you’re a certified TikTok girlie, amateur content creator, or videography enthusiast, the Pivo Pod Influencer Phone Mount is calling your name. When you connect it to your phone, this mount employs 360-degree AI-powered Auto Tracking to spin and track your face and body movements. Next time you learn a TikTok dance and want to record it for a laugh, you don’t have to ask someone else to film: Simply pair your phone to the Pivo Pod Mount via Bluetooth and capture the content of your dreams.

More Labor Day tech deals

• Samsung The Frame 65-Inch 4K QLED TV — $1,449 $1,997.99 (save $548.99)

• Dell Inspiron 15 laptop (11th Gen Intel Core i3-1115G4, 8GB, 512GB) —$299.99 $479.99 (save $180)

• Amazon Fire TV 55-inch Omni QLED Series 4K UHD Smart TV — $429.99 $599.99 (save $170)

• Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) Wireless Earbuds — $219 $249 (save $30)

• Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) — $219 $249 (save $30)

• Satechi — Save 30% off on Back-to-School Collection with coupon code BTS30

• Raycon Global — Save 20% off sitewide with coupon code FIRSTDAY

Miscellaneous Labor Day deals

Fitness equipment

• Hydrow Rower — $2,195 $2,495 (save $300)

• Hydrow Wave Rower — $1,795 $1,895 (save $100)

Home goods/furniture

• Etsy — Up to 50% off on items from participating sellers

• Outer — Up to 30% off all seating products (30% off wicker seating, 25% off aluminum seating, 15% off chaise lounges, etc.)

• TEMPUR-Lumbar Support Office Chair — $299.20 $352 (save $52.80)

• Nurture& — Up to $500 off baby furniture bundles

Luggage

• Away — Up to 35% off best-selling Original suitcases and assorted bags

Beauty/personal care

• CLEARSTEM Skincare — Save 20% off sitewide with coupon code LABORDAY23

Travel

• Priceline — Save $20 on Hotel & Rental Car Express Deals (app only; $150 min spend) with coupon code SUM20; save $15 on Hotel Express Deals ($150 min spend) with coupon code SUM15; save $10 on Rental Car Express Deals ($100 min spend) with coupon code SUM10; save at least 20% on hotels with End of Summer Deals; save up to 20% on select rental cars

Gift cards

• Panera Bread — Save 20% off on all gift cards

It’s Thursday, when historic moon news is abundant and there’s another Wordle puzzle to solve. We’re here for you, as we are every day, with some tips and tricks to help you figure out the solution.

If you just want to be told today’s answer, you can jump to the end of this article for August 24’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 Wordle answer for Aug 23.

What’s the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that brings you the most joy. But if you like being 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.

Why are there two different Wordle answers some days?

Though usually Wordle will only accept one correct solution per day, occasionally it has rebelled against the norm and deem two different answers acceptable. This is due to changes the New York Times made to Wordle after it acquired the puzzle game.

The Times has since added its own updated word list, so this should happen even less frequently than before. To avoid any confusion, it’s a good idea to refresh your browser before getting stuck into a new puzzle.

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

If you’re good at Wordle, you might be this.

Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?

Not today!

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

Today’s Wordle starts with the letter W.

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 #796 is…

WORDY.

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.

If Quordle is a little too challenging today, you’ve come to the right place for hints. There aren’t just hints here, but the whole Quordle solution. Scroll to the bottom of this page, and there it is. But are you sure you need all four answers? Maybe you just need a strategy guide. Either way, scroll down, and you’ll get what you need.

What is Quordle?

Quordle is a five-letter word guessing game similar to Wordle, except each guess applies letters to four words at the same time. You get nine guesses instead of six to correctly guess all four words. It looks like playing four Wordle games at the same time, and that is essentially what it is. But it’s not nearly as intimidating as it sounds.

Is Quordle harder than Wordle?

Yes, though not diabolically so.

Where did Quordle come from?

Amid the Wordle boom of late 2021 and early 2022, when everyone was learning to love free, in-browser, once-a-day word guessing games, creator Freddie Meyer says he took inspiration from one of the first big Wordle variations, Dordle — the one where you essentially play two Wordles at once. He took things up a notch, and released Quordle on January 30. Meyer’s creation was covered in The Guardian six days later, and now, according to Meyer, it attracts millions of daily users. Today, Meyer earns modest revenue from Patreon, where dedicated Quordle fans can donate to keep their favorite puzzle game running. 

How is Quordle pronounced?

“Kwordle.” It should rhyme with “Wordle,” and definitely should not be pronounced exactly like “curdle.”

Is Quordle strategy different from Wordle?

Yes and no.

Your starting strategy should be the same as with Wordle. In fact, if you have a favorite Wordle opening word, there’s no reason to change that here. We suggest something rich in vowels, featuring common letters like C, R, and N. But you do you.

After your first guess, however, you’ll notice things getting out of control if you play Quordle exactly like Wordle.

What should I do in Quordle that I don’t do in Wordle?

Solving a Wordle puzzle can famously come down to a series of single letter-change variations. If you’ve narrowed it down to “-IGHT,” you could guess “MIGHT” “NIGHT” “LIGHT” and “SIGHT” and one of those will probably be the solution — though this is also a famous way to end up losing in Wordle, particularly if you play on “hard mode.” In Quordle, however, this sort of single-letter winnowing is a deadly trap, and it hints at the important strategic difference between Wordle and Quordle: In Quordle, you can’t afford to waste guesses unless you’re eliminating as many letters as possible at all times. 

Guessing a completely random word that you already know isn’t the solution, just to eliminate three or four possible letters you haven’t tried yet, is thought of as a desperate, latch-ditch move in Wordle. In Quordle, however, it’s a normal part of the player’s strategic toolset.

Is there a way to get the answer faster?

In my experience Quordle can be a slow game, sometimes dragging out longer than it would take to play Wordle four times. But a sort of blunt-force guessing approach can speed things up. The following strategy also works with Wordle if you only want the solution, and don’t care about having the fewest possible guesses:

Try starting with a series of words that puts all the vowels (including Y) on the board, along with some other common letters. We’ve had good luck with the three words: “NOTES,” “ACRID,” and “LUMPY.” YouTuber DougMansLand suggests four words: “CANOE,” “SKIRT,” “PLUMB,” and “FUDGY.”

Most of the alphabet is now eliminated, and you’ll only have the ability to make one or two wrong guesses if you use this strategy. But in most cases you’ll have all the information you need to guess the remaining words without any wrong guesses.

If strategy isn’t helping, and you’re still stumped, here are some hints:

Are there any double or triple letters in today’s Quordle words?

Three words have twice-occurring letters. One is a double letter.

Are any rare letters being used in today’s Quordle like Q or Z?

No.

What do today’s Quordle words start with?

D, B, C, and G.

What are the answers for today’s Quordle?

Are you sure you want to know?

There’s still time to turn back.

OK, you asked for it. The answers are:

1. DITTY

2. BARGE

3. CANON

4. GOLLY

It’s that season again: Presidential primary debates, and their politics, are upon us.

The first debate of the 2024 election cycle is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 23, at 9 p.m. ET, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It will air live on the Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network; it will also be streaming on FoxNews.com and Fox Nation. The streaming site Rumble, which features numerous conservative personalities as commentators, will also air the debate in partnership with the Republican National Committee.

The debate will feature eight Republican presidential hopefuls: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, former Vice President Mike Pence, former Govs. Nikki Haley (South Carolina), Asa Hutchinson (Arkansas), and Chris Christie (New Jersey), and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.

Former President Donald Trump won’t be in attendance. Trump opted to skip this event and future debates, explaining in a post on his social media platform Truth Social that the public is already familiar with his “successful Presidency.”

He will instead appear in a pre-taped interview with Tucker Carlson, broadcast on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Regardless of Trump’s absence, his four criminal indictments will undoubtedly come up as his fellow GOP contenders try to explain why they’re a better choice for voters without necessarily offending his loyal supporters.

If you’re interested in fact-checking the candidates’ claims as they state them, you can consult the below efforts to evaluate their accuracy. Just remember that those fact-checkers could be prone to false equivalence, particularly as they try to sort through claims rooted in conspiracy theories, misinformation, or disinformation. They might also not consider some assertions as critical to vet in real time.

Consider, for example, how Nikki Haley suggested in a June CNN town hall that suicidal thinking and behavior amongst teen girls could be linked to playing sports with transgender athletes. While moderator Jake Tapper didn’t question the claim, it was roundly rejected as baseless online by clinical psychologists experts and LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations, and in subsequent media commentary. More than a day after Haley made the remark, the Washington Post‘s Fact Checker column debunked the claim.

In other words, if you suspect a candidate has falsely presented something as fact but don’t see it refuted by fact-checking operations, that may not be because what they said is indeed true.

How to fact-check the Republican primary debate in real time:

1. PolitiFact, a platform owned by the nonprofit Poynter Institute for Media Studies, will fact-check the debate live on its website, as well as on its Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and X accounts. PolitiFact is also partnering with ABC News to fact-check its live blog of the debate.

2. CNN will cover the debate on CNN.com, where the news organization will provide live updates and fact-checking.

Let’s face it: Dating is hard. Swiping endlessly on dating apps, blindly walking into a setup your friends assured you would be “perfect,” and waiting in vain to meet someone organically can sometimes be disheartening (to put it lightly). This is particularly true for those of us looking for a partner who’s chill with cannabis.

Sure, recreational weed hasn’t been legalized and/or decriminalized in every state, but you should be able to find someone with a mutual love for smoking a joint or enjoying an edible no matter where you live. (Life, and stoners, find a way.) That’s why we’ve scoured the web to find the best 420 dating sites and apps where you can connect with like-minded individuals who enjoy cannabis just as much as you do.

Whether you’ve had that super-awkward first date where you’ve suddenly become an unofficial criminal to the other person, or just want to skip the hassle of discussing it altogether, we’ve got you covered with a list of 420-friendly dating sites to make your search for a canna-lover as stress-free as possible. So, pack your favorite strain and get ready to meet your match.

Cannabis culture and 420-friendly dating in 2023

Before we introduce you to the world of 420-friendly dating, let’s take a second to look at some facts.

• As of Aug 23, 2023, 21 states (as well as Washington, D.C. and Guam) have legalized recreational marijuana; Virginia and Minnesota will also legalize recreational weed in 2024 and 2025, respectively.

• Approximately 88% of adults want to legalize weed. According to the Pew Research Center, 88% of U.S. adults favor legalizing marijuana for medical or recreational use. Only 10% of adults say it shouldn’t be legal at all.

• Weed has the potential to improve your love life. In 2019, Match’s Singles in America survey revealed that smokers were 151% more likely to be dating someone when compared to nonsmokers. What’s more? Smokers were 109% more likely to have had multiple orgasms and had 3.6% more orgasms per sexual encounter.

More than filters: Finding a weed-friendly partner is easier than ever

By now, you’re probably thinking: This is great, but how do I find the right 420-friendly dating site for me? Luckily, there are unique dating sites designed specifically for this purpose — think High There! and My420Mate. If you’re more into the mainstream dating sites (we’re looking at you, match, and Zoosk), you can use filters built into the apps to find your ideal smoking buddy.

Some of the best 420-friendly dating apps even have filters specifically for weed users, making it super easy to find other stoners looking for love.

How much do weed-friendly dating sites cost?

Each site and app we mention below has a free version you can sign up for — though, these basic membership levels offer varying access to the apps’ features. However, if you’re serious about things, it can be worth shelling out the cash for premium membership tiers, which unlock more features that, in turn, should theoretically unlock more (or better) matches and, therefore, more dates. Price points exist for almost every budget, too, so you can choose the service that feels the best for you.

Here are the best dating sites for cannabis enthusiasts and 420-friendly singles looking for love in 2023.

UPDATE: Aug. 23, 2023, 4:20 p.m. EDT This article has been updated to reflect the Mashable team’s latest experiences with dating sites and apps. We selected a best overall option and removed two apps (Zoosk and EliteSingles) that weren’t providing good results for 420 singles.