Widespread, but not complete, service disruption reported for both personal and business Google accounts.
Rafe NeedlemanFormer Editor at Large
Rafe Needleman reviews mobile apps and products for fun, and picks startups apart when he gets bored. He has evaluated thousands of new companies, most of which have since gone out of business.
Many Gmail users are getting an error instead of their mail.Screenshot by Rafe Needleman/CNET
Google's e-mail service, Gmail, is being reported as offline for many people this morning.
The extent and cause of the outage isn't known at the moment. It is not a complete outage, but Twitter is abuzz with reports from users unable to access the Web service.
Users seem to be reporting mostly outages in Gmail.com accounts. Users of Google business e-mail accounts (Google Apps) are also reporting issues. Google's Apps status dashboard reports, "We're investigating reports of an issue with Google Mail. We will provide more information shortly."
Other services, such as Google Docs and Google+, also appear unusable for those who are unable to access Gmail.
Update, 10:40 a.m. PT: Gmail appears to be coming back online for those who experienced an outage. Google reported in a tweet that "#Gmail should be back for some of you already, and will be back for everyone soon. Thanks for your patience."
Update, 10:42 a.m.: A Google representative provided this statement: "We're aware that some users are experiencing an error when accessing their Gmail. We are working on a resolution and apologize for the inconvenience. Thanks for your patience."
Update, 11 a.m.: Google's App Status Dashboard now says "The problem with Google Mail should be resolved. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience and continued support. Please rest assured that system reliability is a top priority at Google, and we are making continuous improvements to make our systems better."
Update, 11:22 a.m.: A Google representative said less than 2 percent of Gmail users were affected. "We've implemented a fix, and users should now be able to access their mail."
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Butchers and Beef Experts Agree, These Are the Best Cheap Steak Cuts
These affordable steak cuts are perfect options, even on a tight budget.
Pamela VachonContributor
Pamela is a freelance food and travel writer based in Astoria, Queens. While she writes about most things edible and potable (and accessories dedicated to those topics,) her real areas of expertise are cheese, chocolate, cooking and wine. She's a culinary school grad, certified sommelier, former bartender and fine dining captain with 10 years in the industry. When not sitting at the keys, she leads in-home cheese classes, wine tastings and cocktail demonstrations.
Save your money on steak night and opt for these butcher-approved budget cuts.
Getty Images
Cooking up a delicious steak is about more than just knowing the right way to cook it. Whether you're opting for a reverse sear to deliver a caramelized crust, or you want the flavor that a sous vide can deliver, the first thing you'll want to consider is what cut is right for you.
While certain cuts including filet mignon and ribeye grab the spotlight, lesser-known beef cuts offer equally full flavor when cooked correctly. We consulted with butchers and beef experts to pinpoint the best affordable steaks that deliver a rich, satisfying taste without the premium price.
Keep enjoying incredible steak and save your grocery money by exploring these overlooked, high-value options.
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There are suitable alternatives to ribeye that cost much less.
Natalia Gdovskaia/Getty Images
"A ribeye comes from the area between the loin and the shoulder, and is commonly known for its rich flavor and juicy texture," Jason Jerome, beef supply chain expert at Beef. It's What's For Dinner, told CNET in an email exchange. Despite its mouth-watering qualities, ribeye is among the most expensive cuts of meat and therefore is the No. 1 candidate to swap for a cheaper cut of steak.
Mark Dommen, head chef and partner at San Francisco's One Market restaurant says, "There are a number of beef and steak cuts that can ably stand in for rib eye, offering up value for the budget-conscious without sacrificing on flavor and texture."
Best cheap steak cuts to buy instead of ribeye or filet mignon
1. Flat iron steak
Flat iron steak has the required marbling to match the grill's intensity.
Ozgurcoskun/Getty Images
If you're craving the tenderness of ribeye, Jerome suggests the flat iron steak as a worthy alternative. "The flat iron steak is the second most tender cut of beef, behind the beef tenderloin," he said. While beef tenderloin is generally not recommended for high-heat grilling because of its delicate nature, the flat iron has the required marbling to match the grill's intensity. "These steaks are known for their rich beef flavor and are well-marbled," he said. "That makes this cut stand out above others and it can be used in a variety of ways."
2. Strip steak
Strip steak is tender and it can be a tasty substitute for ribeye.
Kativ/Getty Images
"Strip steak is incredibly tender and can be a tasty substitute for ribeye," said Jerome. It's also one of the closest in flavor to everyone's favorite steak. The major difference between the two cuts is marbling, ribeye has more internal marbling throughout the cut, which accounts for its tenderness and flavor. Strip steak tends to have a thick band of fat on the outside of the cut that generally isn't eaten, but which contributes to its equally robust flavor.
Jerome also adds that you can easily tease out more portions in a strip steak. "You can cut a strip steak in half for smaller portioned strip filets," he said. "Not only does it increase your portions, but it's also perfect paired with fresh veggies for an easy weeknight dinner."
As with all cuts of meat, if you find something on sale you should stock up and freeze portions for later, but with strip, Jerome also advises considering buying whole and doing a little bit of your own butchering for added savings. "With a whole striploin, you can save up to $2 per pound by buying in bulk and cutting down your own strip steaks at home," he said. "On average, a striploin weighs 14 to 15 pounds, so that could be an average savings of up to $28 to $30."
3. Sirloin steak or sirloin cap
Sirloin steaks are a tasty, budget-friendly option.
Nycshooter/Getty Images
Sirloin is a primal cut, further down toward the rump of the animal from the rib. Steaks cut from muscles get more work than ribeye, which also makes them a leaner choice for grilling. "Sirloin steaks are a great budget-friendly option chock-full of flavor," said Jerome, who also suggests cutting sirloin steaks into smaller pieces for another budget-stretching, grill preparation: kabobs. "Top sirloin steaks are a great option to have something lean but also tender and flavorful for your beef kabobs."
Dommen also mentions another cut from the sirloin to consider for your barbecue. "The cut is what Brazilians call the picanha," he said. It's instantly recognizable as a frequently skewered cut served in Brazilian churrasco. "The picanha comes from the sirloin cap at the rear of the animal. The muscles get more work and have more flavor but also need to be cut with care against the grain," he said.
4. Flank steak
A marinade is a good way to ensure some added tenderness to your flank steak before grilling.
BWFolsom/Getty Images
Because a flank steak is so large, coming from just above the belly in the rear quarter of the animal, it qualifies as buying in bulk unto itself. It's therefore a terrific, budget-friendly option for your cookout. "Flank steak is a versatile cut that's perfect for fajitas," said Jerome. That makes it another preparation that's great for the grill and easy to feed a crowd with. Because of its natural leanness, however, a marinade is a good way to ensure some added tenderness before grilling.
"Acidic marinades with vinegar or lime juice are better suited for flank steak than dry rubs," said Jerome, "and the longer you marinate, the better, even up to 24 hours. Add pantry olive oil and spices to your acidic base and you're ready to go."
5. Beef short rib
Short ribs are most commonly braised but you can grill them too.
BWFolsom/Getty Images
"Short ribs are known for being braised but they can also be grilled," said Dommen. "Short ribs have a lot of marbling, which makes them great for grilling."
Short ribs come from an area near the prime rib, coming from the chuck, not actually from the rib as the name suggests. (This is why beef requires experts.) While rib eye comes from the top of the animal, short ribs are closer to the belly. Short ribs for braising are typically sold bone-in and in shorter pieces, but you can ask your butcher for boneless short ribs that are cut in longer pieces for steak.
"Short ribs should be grilled to medium rare with a nice sear to make sure all the intermuscular fat is warmed," advised Dommen. "I grill short ribs to an internal temperature of 115 Fahrenheit and it will carry over another 10 degrees while resting."
6. Chuck eye steaks
You've probably already put chuck on the grill.
Milanchikov/Getty Images
"Chuck eye steaks are sometimes referred to as a 'butchers' steak,'" said Jermone. And it bodes well for the cut's quality if butchers are hoarding them. Chuck is a cut at the very top and front of the animal, from which ground meat is often processed, so if you've ever grilled burgers, you're already accustomed to putting chuck on the grill.
"The steak gets its nickname because years ago butchers would keep this steak for themselves because it cooked and tasted like a ribeye while being more budget-friendly," said Jerome. "This steak sits right next to the rib eye primal and therefore inherits a lot of the same qualities you would get from a rib eye."
No matter what cut you're grilling, also consider a few expert tips to make the most of whatever you're working with. "Elevate more tender cuts of beef with dry rubs," said Jerome. "You can use spices you already have in your pantry for added savings. Warming spices like cumin, coriander, and allspice are on trend, and work great on the grill."
You should also consider extending your budget by choosing dishes and meals that call for less steak per person than simply steak for steak's sake. "Beef is a highly versatile ingredient," Jerome said. In addition to kabobs and fajitas, mentioned above, "beef up any salad for a quick easy meal or pair sliced steak with a grain and lots of veggies to make it stretch in a delicious stir fry or bowl with Mexican or Mediterranean flavors."
"There are certain principles that apply to all cuts of beef when grilling," Dommen said. "By the time your meat is cooked it should also ideally have a nice sear on it. Always allow the meat to rest before slicing, which will give it a chance to redistribute the juices back into the meat. Other than rib eye, always slice meat against the grain to ensure tenderness."
Today's Wordle Hints, Answer and Help for Dec. 5, #1630
Here are hints and the answer for today's Wordle for Dec. 5, No. 1,630.
Gael Cooper
CNET editor Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, a journalist and pop-culture junkie, is co-author of "Whatever Happened to Pudding Pops? The Lost Toys, Tastes and Trends of the '70s and '80s," as well as "The Totally Sweet '90s." She's been a journalist since 1989, working at Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, Twin Cities Sidewalk, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and NBC News Digital. She's Gen X in birthdate, word and deed. If Marathon candy bars ever come back, she'll be first in line.
ExpertiseBreaking news, entertainment, lifestyle, travel, food, shopping and deals, product reviews, money and finance, video games, pets, history, books, technology history, and generational studiesCredentials
Co-author of two Gen X pop-culture encyclopedia for Penguin Books. Won "Headline Writer of the Year" award for 2017, 2014 and 2013 from the American Copy Editors Society. Won first place in headline writing from the 2013 Society for Features Journalism.
Looking for the most recent Wordle answer? Click here for today's Wordle hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.
Before we show you today's Wordle answer, we'll give you some hints. If you don't want a spoiler, look away now.
Wordle hint No. 1: Repeats
Today's Wordle answer has no repeated letters.
Wordle hint No. 2: Vowels
Today's Wordle answer has two vowels.
Wordle hint No. 3: First letter
Today's Wordle answer begins with A.
Wordle hint No. 4: Last letter
Today's Wordle answer ends with G.
Wordle hint No. 5: Meaning
Today's Wordle answer can refer to being with or surrounded by people. It's also the first word in a popular computer game where someone is an imposter.
TODAY'S WORDLE ANSWER
Today's Wordle answer is AMONG
Yesterday's Wordle answer
Yesterday's Wordle answer, Dec. 4, No. 1629 was TULIP.
Recent Wordle answers
Nov. 30, No. 1625: MUGGY
Dec. 1, No. 1626: LEACH
Dec. 2, No. 1627: CACTI
Dec. 3, No. 1628: HASTE
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Thursday Night Football: How to Watch Cowboys vs. Lions Tonight for Free
Find out how to watch or stream tonight's game and the rest of the Week 14 slate no matter where you live.
Matt ElliottSenior Editor
Matt Elliott is a senior editor at CNET with a focus on laptops and streaming services. Matt has more than 20 years of experience testing and reviewing laptops. He has worked for CNET in New York and San Francisco and now lives in New Hampshire. When he's not writing about laptops, Matt likes to play and watch sports. He loves to play tennis and hates the number of streaming services he has to subscribe to in order to watch the various sports he wants to watch.
Kevin Lynch is a London-born, Dublin-based writer and journalist. The author of Steve Jobs: A Biographic Portrait, Kevin is a regular feature writer for a number of tech sites and the former Technology Editor for the Daily Mirror. He has also served as editor of GuinnessWorldRecords.com and has been a member of the judging panel for the BAFTA British Academy Video Game Awards.
Tonight's game could go a long way to determining the NFC's playoff picture at the end of the year. The 7-5 Lions and 6-5-1 Cowboys are both on the outside looking in with five weeks remaining in the regular season. With a 9-4 record, the 49ers currently hold the 7th and final playoff spot in the conference. Entering tonight, the Lions hold the 8th spot, and the Cowboys find themselves 9th in the NFC. Detroit has home field advantage tonight, but the Cowboys have momentum, having won their last three games.
The Cowboys-Lions game kicks off tonight at 8:15 p.m. ET (5:15 p.m. PT) and will stream nationally on Prime Video and free on Twitch. Fans in the Dallas and Detroit markets can watch on a local TV station but the rest of the country will need to stream it on Prime Video or Twitch.
In his first season as a Dallas Cowboy, George Pickens is second in the league with 1,142 receiving yards through 12 games.
Tonight's game will stream nationally on Prime Video, giving NFL fans more incentive than free two-day shipping to sign up for an Amazon Prime account, which costs $15 a month or $139 a year. You can also subscribe only to Prime Video for $9 a month.
You can also use NFL Plus, the league's $7-per-month streaming service (or $15 a month with Red Zone included), to stream the game without subscribing to Prime or Prime Video. Note that NFL Plus viewing is limited to watching on just a phone or tablet, not on a computer or TV.
You can watch tonight's game and the rest of the Thursday Night Football slate this season on Prime Video. For millions of Amazon Prime subscribers, the Prime Video channel is already included at no extra cost. But if you're not an Amazon Prime subscriber, it might be worth it to shell out the $9 a month for the stand-alone Prime Video service, not only for football but also its impressive selection of shows and movies.
Yes, Cowboys and Lions fans in the local markets of each team will be able to watch the game on an over-the-air station. For this game, that's Fox 4 (KDFW) in Dallas and Fox 2 (WJBK) in Detroit, according to 506 Sports.
There are two ways to watch local channels on your TV without cable or satellite TV. The first is with a live TV streaming service. The second is with an over-the-air antenna if you live in an area with good reception.
You can watch Fox with a live TV streaming service, but not every service carries every local network in every area, so check each one using the links below to make sure it carries Fox where you live.
How to watch NFL Week 14 from anywhere using a VPN
Looking ahead to the weekend, if you find yourself unable to view Sunday's games locally because of incorrectly applied blackout restrictions, you may need a different way to watch. That's where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, plus it's a great idea for when you're traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.
With a VPN, you're able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. So if your internet provider or mobile carrier has stuck you with an IP address that incorrectly shows your location in a blackout zone, a VPN can correct that problem by giving you an IP address in your correct, nonblackout area. Most VPNs, like our Editors' Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.
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Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you're streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks. Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.
Looking for other options? Be sure to check out some of the other great VPN deals taking place right now.
Price $13 per month, $75 for the first year or $98 total for the first two years (one- and two-year plans renew at $100 per year)Latest Tests No DNS leaks detected, 18% speed loss in 2025 testsJurisdiction British Virgin IslandsNetwork 3,000 plus servers in 105 countries
ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. Prices start at $3.49 a month on a two-year plan for the service's Basic tier.
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This Sunday, there are eight games starting at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT ) on CBS and Fox, followed by three games in the late window before we get to the Sunday night game on NBC and Peacock.
NFL Week 14 Sunday schedule
Away Team
Home Team
Time (all times ET)
TV channel
Streaming service
Miami Dolphins
New York Jets
1 p.m.
CBS
Paramount Plus
New Orleans Saints
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1 p.m.
CBS
Paramount Plus
Indianapolis Colts
Jacksonville Jaguars
1 p.m.
CBS
Paramount Plus
Pittsburgh Steelers
Baltimore Ravens
1 p.m.
CBS
Paramount Plus
Seattle Seahawks
Atlanta Falcons
1 p.m.
Fox
Fox One
Cincinnati Bengals
Buffalo Bills
1 p.m.
Fox
Fox One
Tennessee Titans
Cleveland Browns
1 p.m.
Fox
Fox One
Washington Commanders
Minnesota Vikings
1 p.m.
Fox
Fox One
Denver Broncos
Las Vegas Raiders
4:05 p.m.
CBS
Paramount Plus
Chicago Bears
Green Bay Packers
4:25 p.m.
Fox
Fox One
Los Angeles Rams
Arizona Cardinals
4:25 p.m.
Fox
Fox One
Houston Texans
Kansas City Chiefs
8:20 p.m.
NBC
Peacock
How to watch NFL Week 14 in the US
If you don't want to subscribe to a live TV streaming service, you can watch the CBS games with Paramount Plus, the Fox games with Fox One and the NBC games with Peacock.
Football fans can stream CBS' Sunday afternoon football schedule each week of the season on Paramount Plus with its $8 per month Essentials tier. You can check for yourself if your area has live CBS streaming here.
Fox's new direct-to-consumer streaming service costs $20 a month or $200 a year and lets NFL fans watch their local Sunday afternoon games on Fox. You'll also get access to Fox's complete TV portfolio, including sports-related channels such as Fox Sports, B1G, FS1, FS2 and local Fox stations.
While subscribing to Paramount Plus, Fox One and Peacock is cheaper than a live TV streaming service, the advantage of the latter is the ability to flip quickly between CBS and Fox on Sunday afternoon when two games are on at the same time. Shutting down one streaming service and firing up another is much slower and more annoying, to the point that it's not worth flipping to the other game during a commercial break of the one you're watching.
The good news for football fans is that CBS and Fox are available on most live TV streaming services along with NBC, ABC, ESPN and NFL Network for SNF, MNF and the NFL's international games.
DirecTV's MySports plan costs $70 a month and includes ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and NFL Network, which are the main channels you need to watch NFL games on Thursday, Sunday and Monday each week of the season. You can't get the RedZone add-on with the MySports plan but will need to subscribe to the full $85-a-month package and then add RedZone for an extra $15 a month.
YouTube TV carries all of the channels needed to watch the NFL and costs $83 a month, and you can add RedZone for an extra $11 per month.
YouTube TV is also the exclusive home to NFL Sunday Ticket. But note that Sunday Ticket doesn't include local games. You can only watch Sunday afternoon games that aren't being broadcast on CBS or Fox in your area. If you want to watch all the football on Sundays you'll need Sunday Ticket plus a YouTube TV subscription (or just get Sunday Ticket and then use an antenna for local games).
Plug in your ZIP code on YouTube TV's welcome page to see which local networks are available in your area.
Fubo's main package costs $85 per month and includes ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and NFL Network. You can also add RedZone for an extra $11 per month.
Fubo has a new skinny bundle that includes most of the channels you need for the NFL. This new Fubo Sports plan costs $56 per month ($46 for the first month) and includes all of the above channels except NBC for Sunday Night Football. It also includes access to ESPN's new streaming app. It's worth noting that the bundle is only available in certain regions at the moment, with a gradual rollout across the country.
All the live TV streaming services above allow you to cancel anytime and require a solid internet connection. Looking for more information? Check out our live TV streaming services guide.
Quick tips for streaming the NFL with a VPN
With four variables at play -- your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN -- experience and success may vary.
If you don't see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the "search for city or country" option.
If you're having trouble getting the game after you've turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs -- like Roku -- don't have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you'll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you're using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network's sports app, you'll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you're using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.
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