Technologies

Microsoft’s Clippy Crocs Might Be the World’s Weirdest Pair of Shoes

Hey, two of the world’s worst inventions are joining forces. And for just $80, you can wear them.

Crocs are an infamously ugly shoe style that was once named to Time’s list of the 50 worst inventions. Clippy is an annoying animated paperclip from Microsoft that once made that same list. So maybe it’s fate that the two much-mocked products are teaming up for a pair of limited-edition Crocs the wearer can deck out with a smiling Clippy accessory.

According to The Verge, the Crocs are part of Microsoft’s celebration of its 50th anniversary, and are right now only available for preorder by Microsoft employees. They’re expected to be available to regular folks at an undetermined date.

A representative for Microsoft did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

While I’m no Crocs fan, what I like about these is the calm, cloud-filled background that honors the famed Windows XP wallpaper of a green hill and cloudy sky, a photo taken by photographer Chuck O’Rear on the Napa-Sonoma county border back in 1996.

Not sure, however, that I like the cloudy scene enough to fork over $80 for a pair of Crocs, even if they do come with a six-pack of shoe charms, including the infamous Clippy. The other charms include the original MSN logo, the Internet Explorer logo, a mouse pointer, a file folder and the computer recycling bin.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Saturday, Aug. 9

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Aug. 9

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Today’s Mini Crossword is the longest of the week, and it was a bit tough, too. Lots of long answers, so it took me over two minutes to solve it. Need the answers? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times’ games collection. If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Friendly and pleasant
Answer: AMIABLE

8A clue: Irritatingly self-important
Answer: POMPOUS

9A clue: Cheerleaders’ accessories
Answer: POMPOMS

10A clue: Barely ___ out a living
Answer: EKE

11A clue: «We haven’t decided yet,» on schedules
Answer: TBA

12A clue: Radio exposure for a song
Answer: AIRPLAY

14A clue: __ of two evils
Answer: LESSER

15A clue: Pancake mix ingredient
Answer: EGG

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Challenge to a court ruling
Answer: APPEAL

2D clue: Dodgers slugger Betts
Answer: MOOKIE

3D clue: Deeply involve oneself (in)
Answer: IMMERSE

4D clue: Smartphone download
Answer: APP

5D clue: Illegal copy
Answer: BOOTLEG

6D clue: Kind of support for the lower back
Answer: LUMBAR

7D clue: English class assignment
Answer: ESSAY

13D clue: French soccer club that won its first Champions League title in 2025, for short
Answer: PSG

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for Aug. 9, #790

Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for Aug. 9, #790.

Looking for the most recent Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Today’s NYT Connections puzzle is a fun mix. Honestly, I didn’t realize that the blue category was a movie genre, but now that I think about it, sure it is. Read on for clues and today’s Connections answers.

The Times now has a Connections Bot, like the one for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and have the program analyze your answers. Players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including the number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score, and their win streak.

Read more: Hints, Tips and Strategies to Help You Win at NYT Connections Every Time

Hints for today’s Connections groups

Here are four hints for today’s Connections puzzle groupings, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Outcome.

Green group hint: Riddles are another type.

Blue group hint: Spooky cinema.

Purple group hint: Often on the cob.

Answers for today’s Connections groups

Yellow group: Result.

Green group: Kinds of jokes.

Blue group: Movies featuring supernatural romance.

Purple group: Corn-y things.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is result. The four answers are fruit, product, return and yield.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is kinds of jokes. The four answers are dad, inside, knock-knock and practical.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is movies featuring supernatural romance. The four answers are Casper, Ghost, Let Me In and Twilight.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is corn-y things. The four answers are maze, muffin, silk and syrup.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for Aug. 9, #524

Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for Aug. 9, No. 524.

Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Julia Child wannabes, today’s NYT Strands puzzle is for you. None of the words were too difficult to find, and the theme was a fun one. If you need hints and answers, read on.

I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far

Hint for today’s Strands puzzle

Today’s Strands theme is: Chef’s special.

If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: Stock your kitchen.

Clue words to unlock in-game hints

Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:

ROACH, TACH, TEAT, TEATS, COACH, TOOL, TOOLS, PATS, TOTE, WETS, CLUE, CLUES, LOOP, SPAT, TOTES, POOL, POOLS

Answers for today’s Strands puzzle

These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers: