Entertainment
Have a Delicious Weekend.
What are you up to this weekend? I’m excited to see comedian John Early at the New Yorker Festival tomorrow night. He makes me laugh so much — this Paris video, his 2 Dope Queens appearance, even just his face at this point. Hope you have a good one, and here are a few links from around the web…
I want to live in this sweater.
If you have trouble falling asleep, Ali LaBelle recommends listening to ‘Piano and Hubbub’ on Headspace, which is “500 minutes of light piano music played over the sound of muted voices, as if you’re in bed upstairs while a cocktail party is going on downstairs.”
The magic of Cornwall, England! You know how I feel about it. (NYTimes gift link)
Five common home decor mistakes to avoid.
Force Majeure is one of my all-time favorite movies, and Haley Nahman’s note cracked me up: “I keep laughing at Avi saying this movie is a dramatic exploration of getting the ick.”
A pilot falls in love with a cat on a flight. That is heartwarming.
Wait, is this how you’re supposed to cut cake? Mind blown.
The boys and I have been watching America’s Got Talent — what a wild ride!
The secret to looking like you just got a blowout. (I swear by this.)
But most important:
“Donald Trump says he will prosecute his enemies, order mass deportations, use soldiers against citizens, play politics with disasters, abandon allies. Believe him,” writes The New York Times Editorial Board. “He says that he will mobilize the National Guard to deport immigrants, that he is ready to blow Iranian cities to smithereens, that he will allow vigilante violence as a solution to crime in America.” Vigilante violence!!!
“‘I need the kind of generals that Hitler had,’ Trump said in a private conversation in the White House…‘People who were totally loyal to him, that follow orders.’” (Atlantic gift link via Kottke)
What Trump’s mass deportations would look like: “Everyone regardless of status will in fact be less safe. Such an enormous deportation will require an army of informers. People who denounce their neighbors or coworkers will be presented as positive examples. Denunciation then becomes a culture.”
What a powerful video about a woman who really wants a baby.
The altered reality that would exist with Trump as President is terrifying. Please join us in voting Harris/Walz. Check your voter registration here.
Plus, two reader comments:
Says Tristen on is this outfit drippy: “One of my favorite stranger interactions was when I was seven months pregnant and desperately trying not to miss the bus. I was sprinting my heart out in ballet flats and a maternity dress, and when I boarded in the nick of time, panting and sweating, a teenager with black nails and a nose ring looked at me and said, ‘That was bad ass, lady.’ Gentle readers, I think about that comment TO THIS DAY and hold a little place in my heart for that teenager.”
Says Anon on four fun things: “Fifteen years ago, my friend picked me up from the bus station after an 18-hour journey. She had peppermint tea and homemade lemon poppyseed muffins in the car. That refreshing tea seemed to wash away all of the weariness from the bus ride. I always try to replicate this for people I pick up; it stands out as one of the most thoughtful gestures I’ve ever received.”
(Photo by Carli Teteris/Stocksy.)
Note: If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission or have a sponsored relationship with the brand, at no cost to you. We recommend only products we genuinely like. Thank you so much.
Entertainment
NYT Strands hints, answers for July 28, 2026
Today’s NYT Strands hints are easy if you’re complete.
Strands, the New York Times‘ elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There’s always a theme linking every solution, along with the “spangram,” a special, word or phrase that sums up that day’s theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.
By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.
If you’re feeling stuck or just don’t have 10 or more minutes to figure out today’s puzzle, we’ve got all the NYT Strands hints for today’s puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.
NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Leave nothing out
The words are related to amounts.
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Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained
These words describe wholeness.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?
Today’s NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.
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NYT Strands spangram answer today
Today’s spangram is Its All There.
NYT Strands word list for July 28
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Complete
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Entire
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Its All There
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Undivided
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Total
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Whole Full
Looking for other daily online games? Mashable’s Games page has more hints, and if you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now!
Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Strands.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 28, 2026
Today’s Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you’re a good listener.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’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.
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 was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
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:
Sound navigation.
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Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
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Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter S.
The Wordle answer today is…
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 today’s Wordle is…
SONAR
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. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
Entertainment
A Touching Surprise 85th Birthday Party
In early summer, my grandmother sent a text to our family group chat:
“SAVE THE DATE: June 14th. Tía Marta’s 85th birthday party at my house.”
Cut to the day of the party. My husband Max and I walk through my grandma’s front door, holding diaper bags and our children’s hands. We make our rounds, kissing cheeks and hugging all our family members — tías and tíos, our cousins, our parents, and the group of nieces and nephews whom our older children, Ella and Emiliano, quickly scamper off with.
When I settle onto a sofa and see my tía Mimi hastily blowing up balloons I suddenly realize, This isn’t an ordinary birthday party, it’s a surprise party.
My tía Marta married into our family almost four decades ago. She met my great tío Cris, my grandmother’s oldest brother, on a blind date while he was visiting his brother in Chicago. “I hadn’t expected our date to turn into anything,” says Marta. “He went back to California afterward, while I stayed in Chicago, and I thought we’d never speak again.”
To her surprise, Cris stayed in touch by calling her on the phone for a full year after their first date. “Our conversations were often short because he’d call in the evenings, right before my friends and I went out nightclubbing,” says Marta. “When I realized how serious he was about me, I thought, well, I guess that’s fate.”
Tío Cris saying hi to my son, Emiliano, at Cris’s 100th birthday celebration last year
Last year was especially challenging for Marta because a few months after his 100th birthday, Cris’s health declined. From spring to September, Marta did the hard work of caregiving for a sick spouse. She stayed by his side until he took his last breath.
After his death, my grandmother and tía Esther regularly checked in on Marta, inviting her to all big and small family gatherings, visiting her home multiple times a month, and helping her navigate this new stage of life. As her 85th birthday drew near, they wanted to plan a party that would make her feel extra special.
First, they filled my grandmother’s home with colorful paper fans and balloon arches. They ordered burnt almond cupcakes and a German chocolate cake from Peters’ Bakery, a staple in San Jose.
My oldest daughter, Ella
That day, as we waited for Marta’s arrival, we snacked on homemade ceviche and planned our hiding spots.
My baby, Evelynn
Once my tía Esther spotted Marta outside, right around the corner, everyone rushed to their positions with party blowers in hand. We held a collective breath as the front doorknob turned, and as soon as Marta walked in, we popped out with a hearty “SURPRISE!”
The emotion on her face, after she realized that everyone was there to celebrate her, is unbridled joy. I smile every time I watch this video! Also, how fun is the balloon drop?!
My grandma and tía Esther, over the moon that they pulled off the surprise
A few days after her party, I called Marta on the phone, curious to hear her thoughts. “I’m not one to celebrate my birthday, because it’s easier for me to give than to receive,” she told me. “But, oh, it was a very nice surprise. I hope everyone is fortunate enough to have people like my sisters-in-law in their life. I used to joke to Cris, if our marriage doesn’t work out and we split up, Esther and Loida are mine.”
Marta and her baby sister, Gloria, who had flown in from Texas
Marta with her great-nieces and nephews
Thinking back on that day, I so admire the female friendship and devotion that led to this party. I hope, dream, wish, and pray that I’ll have women in my life who will celebrate and love me that much when I’m in my eighties. It was such a gift to witness.
Have you ever planned a surprise party, or had one thrown for you? I’d love to hear about it!
P.S. 12 readers share their favorite birthday celebrations, and are you friends with any older women?
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