Today’s NYT Strands hints are easy if you’ve been watching the Olympics.

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: Cold competition

The words are related to sports.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe cold activities.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today’s NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today’s spangram is Zodiac Signs.

NYT Strands word list for February 18

• Luge

• Hockey

• Curling

• Winter Sports

• Bobsled

• Snowboarding

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.

Caitlin Wylde lives with her dog, Rocket, on a woodsy street in Echo Park, Los Angeles. Though she’s been a Californian for over 30 years, her New England upbringing still echoes throughout her home with family heirlooms and nautical accents. Here, Caitlin gives us a tour, with photos by Leela Cyd…

On a great leap: Before I moved here, I was in a relationship, and even though I knew we weren’t the right fit, we’d started looking at houses together. The relationship ended, and two weeks later, I saw this house for sale on a bulletin board in a bakery. As soon as I walked in the door, I was like, ‘Oh my god. This is my house.’ I decided I was going to take the leap. And it ended up being the best leap I ever took.

LIVING ROOM

Wall paint: Sydney Harbour Paint Co.

On being a New Englander: I grew up by the sea in Massachusetts — surrounded by nature, roaming in the woods — and New England still has a big influence on my taste and my work as an artist. I once did a series of hand-stitched banners made from old boat flags, which was bananas, because they’re so huge.

On durable art: The circles on the table are actually an art piece of mine. Kids really seem to like them. They go right for them, and throw them around. But I let them — they’re sturdy!

On vignettes: I love to make clusters of things around the house. I’ve been doing it since I was a kid — collecting objects from outside and arranging them together, almost like they’re talking to one another. I’m always trying to pare down and put things away, but I just end up making another little scene. I can’t help it.

KITCHEN

Wall paint: Benjamin Moore Simply White.

On a connection: I spotted this French poster at an auction house here in L.A. I was born in the Year of the Rooster, so when I saw it was a rooster, I was immediately drawn to it. I told myself, ‘Okay, if the bidding doesn’t go too high, I can get it.’ And then of course, I was the only one who bid on it.

On working with what you’ve got: The kitchen was not in great shape when I moved in, so I had to work to make it functional. Since it’s such a small space, I think of it like a boat kitchen.

On a landline: We had a phone just like this in the kitchen when I was growing up, so I love having one in my own home. It was my actual landline for many years, and I finally just had the service turned off because the only people who still used that number were my mom’s old friends calling from back east, and they’d never remember the time difference!

On calendars: I buy these calendars every year from a store in L.A. called Bunkado. They’re designed by the artist Hajime Okamoto, and every year it’s a different cat theme — this one was railway cats. The drawing of my dog, Rocket, was done by my friend’s daughter, Charlie, when she was four (she’s now 14). I love it so much.

GUEST ROOM

Wall paint: Benjamin Moore. Rainbow lamp: MoMA Design Store.

On a playful space: My friends’ kids always end up hanging out in the guest room when they come over. So, it’s where I keep all the toys and stuffed animals and fun things.

On a just-right bed: You know what’s wild? Before I moved here, I saw this bed. It belonged to a dear neighbor, who had an estate sale when his partner died. And I just loved the bed — it was so adorable. So, I got it, then my relationship ended, and then I wound up in this house. When I saw this nook, with the little triangle ceiling, I just knew that bed belonged there. It fit perfectly.

On a green floor: When I moved in, these floorboards were just pine with shellac, and it was just — ugh. My solution was to just paint over with this dark green paint. And I’m so glad I did, because it makes me happy every time I look at it.

BATHROOM

Model ship: similar.

On a special feature: All the wood in the bathroom is cedar. So, when you take a bath or steamy shower, the room smells so good.

Cabinet paint: Fine Paints of Europe in Navy. “It’s Dutch door paint — it lasts forever!” Cup: Falcon. Clam shell bowl: similar.

BEDROOM

Wall paint: Benjamin Moore in Simply White. Bedding: Pietse.

On red and white: I have a great love for red-and-white stripes. Growing up, my dad’s best friend was a classics professor who had to spend time in Greece. We were able to go there, and I have this memory of being four years old, standing on a beach, and seeing all these red-and-white beach balls. I was filled with awe.

On a colorful collection: I love enamel lamps from the 60s and 70s. I get so pumped by the simple shapes, amazing colors, and utilitarian design.

ART STUDIO

On rituals: I’m an early morning person, and my ritual is to start the day by burning Japanese incense and playing dreamy music, like Brian Eno. Then I have a cup of tea. I like to sit and just be in the studio before I start work.

On reflection: Right now, my old and new work is mixed together in the studio, as well as some of my parents’ artwork. It’s nice to look around and see the progression, how it all connects.

Thank you so much for sharing your home with us, Caitlin!

P.S. Many more home tours, including a book lover’s family home, a soft landing in Brooklyn, and a Minnesota house with the cutest dog.

(Photos by Leela Cyd.)

By Robert Scucci
| Published 27 seconds ago

The idea of playing video games until the world ends may sound like a lot of fun in the right setting, but 2018’s Relaxer will make you think twice. Set in 1999, just before the Y2K apocalypse, Relaxer isn’t one of those feel-good stories about getting together with your friends, chugging Mountain Dew, eating pizza, and going on an epic multiplayer adventure. Instead, it’s a solitary trudge through an isolated world of apathy and decay. It’s a tough watch, even nauseating at times, but if your video game habit is causing problems in your day-to-day life, Relaxer may be the wakeup call you’ve been looking for because it pulls no punches.

Set almost entirely on one man’s couch, Relaxer is claustrophobic, filthy, and enough to make you want to turn the Nintendo off and step on some grass. If you can make it through this one without tasting that metallic, “I’m about to throw up,” flavor on the back of your tongue, give yourself a pat on the back for being strong willed and possessing the kind of intestinal fortitude that escapes me.

The Ultimate Slacker Comedy 

Relaxer begins with our hero, if you could call him that, Abbie (Joshua Burge), playing Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater and chugging milk whenever his older brother, Cam (David Dastmalchian), looks up from his stopwatch. This “challenge,” as they put it, is the latest in a long line of failed attempts where Abbie taps out because he makes himself sick chasing whatever high score or record is in front of him.

Sitting in a pool of his own vomit, Abbie promises Cam, who’s rightfully frustrated with his slacker brother’s lack of contributions to rent and utilities, that he’s going to do the unthinkable. Legend has it that if he can document himself passing level 256 of Pac-Man, something that has only been done once before, he’ll win $100,000 and stop being such a burden. Cam reluctantly agrees to support him through the challenge, under one condition: Abbie cannot even think about leaving the couch until he accomplishes what he set out to do.

Taking Cam’s conditions seriously, Abbie gets to work but quickly runs into logistical problems. At some point, he has to eat, drink, and use the bathroom, and he has to make do. At multiple moments throughout Relaxer, Cam throws on a pair of 3D glasses that he believes give him telekinetic powers when the moment is right. It’s never made clear whether Abbie actually gains anything mystical while wearing the glasses, but enough strange coincidences encourage him to lean into the idea as he attempts to beat the unbeatable Pac-Man level.

Know What You’re Getting Into

While Relaxer’s premise is ridiculous on its own, the execution is absolutely nauseating. Abbie is dressed only in underwear, which are obviously soiled thanks to the conditions of his wager. When plumbing pipes burst, he gets sprayed with their contents. When the windows break, the elements pour inside. When somebody stops by, it’s either an acquaintance offering expired food from the fridge or an exterminator about to bug bomb the place even though Abbie refuses to leave.

Abbie sits through all of it, for months, maybe even years. He uses a reaching stick to collect rainwater from the broken window, nearly asphyxiates himself with noxious chemicals, and wallows in so much filth that if he ever beats the game, he’ll either be stuck to the couch or physically unable to stand. It’s all so disgusting. To make matters worse, every single character in Relaxer is catastrophically unlikeable.

While Relaxer may feel like an endurance test in every conceivable way, it does an excellent job of getting its point across. It’s meant to be unappealing to all senses. It’s meant to show how desperate Abbie becomes in pursuit of his challenge. It’s meant to be uncomfortable and claustrophobic. It’s almost as if writer-director Joel Potrykus made this movie specifically to bother people, and if so, he succeeds in every measurable way.

As of this writing, Relaxer is streaming for free on Tubi.