Entertainment
Are You Watching ‘The White Lotus’?
Are you gripped by the third season of The White Lotus? I really am; it’s going to be great. Here are five thoughts I had while watching the first two episodes (don’t worry, no spoilers)…
1. The iconic opening song has changed, devastating the Internet; this reel made me laugh.
2. The Ratliff family of five came to Thailand because their middle child, Piper, is writing her Chapel Hill thesis on Buddhism. Her style is so good, especially that blue floral mini dress from Ciao Lucia a few years ago. My friend Lucy said, “That’s an absurd nightgown,” but I disagree! I kept thinking that she’d be all over Dôen’s spring collection.
(Meanwhile, is Patrick Schwarzenegger, who plays her brother, doing a Tom Cruise impersonation? I can’t unsee it.)
3. Next, English party girl Chelsea arrives at the hotel with her grumpy older boyfriend, Rick. I love her open-hearted optimism. “Chelsea the whole time is like, ‘You’re so mysterious, Rick. You don’t say anything. I need everything out in the open. I’m an Aries,’” says Aimee Lou Wood, who plays Chelsea, in an Elle interview. “And actually she’s just as mysterious. So I loved that… this idea that she’s this strange girl that’s just appeared and nobody really knows where she’s come from, but I think she’s a real survivor.”
For her swimsuit scenes, Aimee knew that she couldn’t show any nerves, even if she felt them: “As Chelsea, I cannot be thinking about how I look. She does not give a shite about how she looks. She is not an insecure person about her body. She’s insecure about other things, about her intelligence and everything, but she’s not insecure about that.”
4. Three female friends have come Thailand for a girls’ trip, or “victory tour,” as one of them says. I find their vibe very stressful — they don’t seem to know or really like each other, other than having a shared history. “I remember that there have been times where I’ve been on vacations, and you’d see women friends together, and you were just like, ‘I can’t really get a vibe of what’s going on?’” creator Mike White told HBO. “And then one would leave and the other two would start talking. They’re triangulating in some way.” During the second episode, whenever one of the friends would leave a scene, my friend Alison would look over at me and immediately mimic, “Well, I will say…”
5. Finally, spa manager Belinda, who’s studying wellness in Thailand, is a sweet character but also kind of… boring? The actress Natasha Rothwell can be absolutely hilarious, I wish they would lean into her comedic talents.
So, have you been watching? Before last week, my boyfriend Freddie hadn’t seen a single White Lotus episode (!) but he has valiantly course-corrected by inhaling both the first and second seasons within a few days. Is his head now a scribble of plot twists and red herrings? “I stayed up late, fueled by afternoon and evening coffees,” he told me. “I felt so much anxiety in my chest and had such uneasy feelings.” Well done, Freddie, you understood the assignment.
Okay, if you HAD to guess, who do you think will end up dead? And how? Leave any burgeoning theories below, if you’d like…
P.S. Cup of Jo’s Ultimate TV Guide, if you’re looking for something good, and three comedy scenes that made us laugh.
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121
TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
Mashable Deals
Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025
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 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:
Gibberish.
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Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
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…
TRIPE.
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.
A'ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces' early exit in '24
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
