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

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Pop music’s ___ Bunny
Answer: BAD

4A clue: Unaccompanied
Answer: ALONE

7A clue: Date circled in blue on a Google Calendar
Answer: TODAY

8A clue: Kitchen appliance with burners
Answer: STOVE

9A clue: The “S” of GPS: Abbr.
Answer: SYS

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Takes a turn at the plate
Answer: BATS

2D clue: Tons and tons
Answer: ALOT

3D clue: Extinct flightless pigeons (don’t worry, you’ve heard of this answer!)
Answer: DODOS

5D clue: Dark shade of blue
Answer: NAVY

6D clue: Googly ___
Answer: EYES

TL;DR: The Stop Killing Games initiative has spent two years pushing legislators across multiple countries to consider laws that would prevent publishers from rendering full-priced games unplayable. After the European Commission declined the group’s core demand following a closed-door industry meeting, SKG says other avenues remain open.

The European Commission has rejected a petition bearing 1,294,188 verified signatures to propose legislation against making end-of-life premium games permanently unplayable.

The decision is a significant setback for Stop Killing Games, which formally submitted its European Citizens’ Initiative – titled “Stop Destroying Videogames” – to the Commission in January, but the group says it will pursue other routes to strengthen consumer protections in the games industry.

SKG emerged after Ubisoft deactivated the servers for The Crew, leaving the game unplayable for the 12 million players who had accessed it, including some who bought physical copies shortly before they became useless. Ubisoft is currently facing legal action over the shutdown in both California and France.

– Stop Killing Games Official (@StopKilingGames) June 16, 2026

In response to the shutdown, the consumer initiative gathered over 1.3 million verified signatures from European citizens, obligating the Commission to formally consider complaints about planned obsolescence in video games. Lobbying group Video Games Europe, alongside Ubisoft, has strongly opposed SKG, fueling a broader debate over whether a game purchase conveys a product or merely a license to access a service.

Ubisoft, VGE, and the Entertainment Software Association argue that developers should not be required to maintain servers indefinitely and that customers purchase only licenses. SKG accuses the industry of misrepresenting its goal, saying it is only demanding full-priced games remain playable in some form, be it offline modes or privately hosted servers. Furthermore, while Ubisoft believes gamers should “get used to not owning games,” the initiative argues that the debate actually hinges on how long someone who buys a license can expect to retain access.

Despite outspoken support from multiple European politicians, the Commission announced that it would not propose new laws at this time. SKG and other observers noted that Ubisoft and VGE met with the Commission behind closed doors two weeks before the ruling, raising questions about whether industry lobbying shaped the outcome.

– Stop Killing Games Official (@StopKilingGames) June 17, 2026

In its official response, the Commission said it could not propose laws to keep games playable after they are pulled from sale – something SKG says it never demanded – citing existing intellectual property rights, publisher costs, and potential cybersecurity concerns.

Instead, the Commission plans to convene industry and consumer representatives to work toward a voluntary, non-binding code of conduct for end-of-life products by the end of 2026. Possible measures include warnings on store pages for games requiring internet connections and engagement with preservation groups.

SKG remains undeterred. In a press conference, the group explained that it has other paths to appeal to the European Parliament. Some have suggested amending the Digital Fairness Act, a package of consumer protection laws that the EU is currently discussing. It already includes rules against dark patterns, addictive design, misleading pricing, and hard-to-cancel subscriptions.

Meanwhile, in the US, SKG is backing California’s Protect Our Games Act, which has already passed the state Assembly and now heads to the Senate. The bill would require publishers to give 60 days’ notice before shutting down an online game and to either keep it playable through an offline mode or community server support, or issue a full refund.

When the superhero adventure game Dispatch made its way to the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 in January, gamers noticed that the game was censored as black bars covered up partially nude bodies and obscene gestures. Developed AdHoc Studio said it was working with Nintendo to resolve these issues, and it looks like a new update will bring back all the censored content if players want it. 

The HR Violations Pack for Dispatch went live Wednesday and with it a visual filters setting to change the censorship in the game. Players can now decide if they want to remove the black bars from the Switch 2 version or add them to versions on other platforms, but depending on the region, their choices can be limited. 

For Switch players in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, they will have access to full or partial coverage of characters’ bodies, while players in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea and Southeast Asia will have full coverage only. There are different options for coverage from the standard blackout bars, a mosaic effect or what the developer calls a Chaotic style that will offer more creativity with the censorship, such as one character’s naked private parts being covered up by a pair of jean shorts. Only the Japan region limits censorship in the game to blackout bars. 

“We’ve confirmed that Switch players can now see all the breasts, butts and birds (AKA, obscene gestures) they want in North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand,” Nick Herman, co-founder of AdHoc Studio, said in a Discord message on Wednesday. 

The studio didn’t provide much of an explanation in January as to why the game was so heavily censored, but Herman cleared things up in his message on Discord, saying that when nearing the launch day of the game on Switch 2, the team learned that the game would need some censoring for certain regions. Without time to make all the changes needed for the different regions, AdHoc Studios decided to have all versions use the most restrictive settings, which appear to be for Japan, according to the previously mentioned region options. 

Dispatch is AdHoc Studios’ debut game, and it received praise for its story and characters, voiced by Aaron Paul and Jeffrey Wright. Last year, it was named one of CNET’s Favorite Games of 2025. 

Builders who pick up set 77256, priced at $22.39 (was $28), get a compact LEGO Speed Champions model that covers key looks from the first two Back to the Future films without needing extra purchases. The 357-piece count keeps the finished car at roughly six and a half inches long, a scale that sits comfortably alongside other vehicles in the same line for display or light play.

“>One of the notable features is the rebuild option. The instructions lead you through an initial version that looks exactly like the DeLorean from the original film, replete with a California plate on the back and the iconic tall lightning rod. Swap a few sections around and you’ll have the sequel’s DeLorean, complete with the Mr. Fusion unit strapped to the back, wheels angled out to give the impression of hover mode, and, of course, all the details you’d expect, such as the rear vents, the flux capacitor visible under the hood, and the time calculator display in the cabin.

LEGO Speed Champions Time Machine from Back to The Future Building Toy for Kids – Pretend Play & Display…

• MODEL CAR BUILDING TOY – The LEGO Speed Champions Time Machine from Back to the Future (77256) building toy for kids 9 years old and up lets young…
• 2 MINIFIGURES – Kids can place the Doc Brown and Marty McFly minifigures inside the cockpit for creative storytelling and pretend play adventures
• BUILD 2 WAYS – Kids can construct the DeLorean from the first Back to the Future movie with lightning rod and California license plate, then rebuild…

Transparent details and printed tiles make movie-specific elements stand out, even on a small scale. The interior work in the cockpit section is excellent, with enough space for the supplied minifigures to sit comfortably. If you prefer getting up close and personal with the model, you’ll appreciate the degree of detailing on all of the body panels, as well as the way the little light-up accents capture the eye when the model is displayed on a shelf.

This set features new prints of Doc Brown and Marty McFly, both of which are amazing (to fans of the film series). Doc wears a little clock around his neck that is set to the precise time as shown in the movie’s clock tower scene, and Marty wears a puffy jacket that can be removed to expose his shirt patterns and a few smaller elements underneath. Both figures have a variety of expressions to choose from, and they fit nicely inside the DeLorean for role-playing or simply decoration.

The build is ideal for children aged nine and up, but there’s plenty to keep even older fans amused. The digital instructions on the LEGO app are a godsend since they allow you to zoom in, rotate the model, track your progress, and do other things that would be difficult to do with a large print guide. Once completed, the model feels worthy of exhibition, but it’s not so large that it can’t fit into a small place if necessary.

It happened to me: I opened a Google Doc to write an article, and I was immediately confronted with a text box inviting me to “write with Gemini.” I looked for some button to swipe away the garish AI display, but I could not find it. It made me mad.

Now, instead of writing the article I’m supposed to be working on, I am writing about how to get the AI pop-ups off of your Google Docs screen, since it took me some time to figure out. You’re welcome.

The first fix is pretty straightforward:

• Click “Gemini” on the top menu bar above your document.
• On the drop-down menu, select “bottom bar preferences.”
• You can choose to turn off that bottom bar, which will get rid of that AI box at the bottom of your screen.

Full disclosure: I was so enraged when I set out to find “bottom bar preferences” that I initially missed it entirely. Instead, I clicked “Ask something else” and asked Gemini to help me remove itself from my life. AI may not be human, but Gemini seemed to have some sort of survival instinct, because it told me to click the “X” icon. That does not remove Gemini. It simply closed the conversation, the one in which I was asking it how to turn itself off. Suspicious!

Other aggrieved Google Docs users have reported features that I have yet to encounter, like a “help me write” feature that hovers over your cursor while you work. This seems like something that would upset me, so it’s probably worth nipping that in the bud before it’s too late. Benjamin Franklin once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” (He was talking about fire safety. I am talking about product design.)

Instead of turning off each individual AI feature like a game of whac-o-mole, we can disable “smart features” across our Google workspace via Gmail.

• First, navigate to your Gmail inbox.
• From there, find the gear icon for Settings and click it.
• Then, at the top of the menu, click “See all settings.” (But while you’re here, you should pick out a fun theme for your inbox. Would a little bit of whimsy kill you?)

• After clicking “See all settings,” scroll about half way down the page to find “Google Workspace smart features,” then click “Manage Workspace smart feature settings.”

• Here, you’re presented with two options: one that lets you toggle off smart features in Google Workspace (like those annoying Gemini pop-ups in Google Docs), and one that applies to other smart features (which I personally find less annoying). I only toggled off the first option, but if for some reason you hate when Gmail automatically makes calendar events for your flights, this is where you can fix that.

You should now be safe from annoying Gemini pop-ups that disrupt your writing process in Google Docs. You can rest easy.

RAMaggedon claims another one.

The rapid evolution of the global engineering landscape requires continuous education. For one week in April, the IEEE community focuses on its educational frameworks. IEEE Education Week, which just concluded its fifth year, provided a comprehensive overview of the resources available to professionals and students.

From 11 to 19 April, the organization supplied a variety of live and virtual events, online resources, and promotions that champion the cycle of lifelong learning.

IEEE President Mary Ellen Randall kicked off the week with the keynote: “Inspiring Tomorrow’s Innovators: How IEEE Educational Resources Can Open Pathways Into STEM.” The event served as a central point for programs that run throughout the year.

“Education Week allows different units to share resources with members and the public, covering everything from preuniversity programs to advanced professional training,” says Jamie Moesch, managing director of IEEE Educational Activities.

Coordination across the organization

The event relied on the cooperation of 120 IEEE partners. Involved organizational units included the IEEE Communications Society, the IEEE Education Society, and chapters and sections from around the world, including in Brazil, Colombia, and India. They produced 114 events, 23 resources, and 11 special offers.

“These collaborations help members remain current in a changing technological environment,” says Timothy Kurzweg, vice president of IEEE Educational Activities. “The goal is to provide accessible tools that assist members in both their own professional development and their efforts to mentor new engineers.”

“The week allows different units to share resources with members and the public, covering everything from preuniversity programs to advanced professional training.” —Jamie Moesch, managing director of IEEE Educational Activities

The participation metrics reflect a broad geographic interest. The IEEE Education Week website recorded more than 4,770 visitors, with primary engagement coming from India, Nigeria, and the United States. Nearly 240 digital badges were issued to people who completed educational quizzes.

To encourage participation, organizers enlisted 72 volunteer ambassadors to promote the week’s activities across their local networks and share key resources on social media.

Available educational tools

Here are a few of the virtual events held during Education Week—most of which are available on demand:

The Education Week website highlights resources and offers shared by IEEE organizational units, including:

• A half-off discount for members on IEEE e-learning courses. The catalog covers such topics as computing, power and energy, and telecommunications.
• IEEE Communications Society on-demand webinars. Learn the latest trends and innovations.
• IEEE Women in Engineering career-focused, upskill, and reskill webinars. The presentations cover a variety of topics including agentic AI, leadership, and robots.
• IEEE Innovation at Work. The e-newsletter covers emerging technologies, education, and training for technical professionals.
• IEEE Learning Network. Hundreds of continuing education courses, all in one place.
• IEEE TryEngineering lesson plans. The easy-to-use, engaging activities and plans help teach engineering concepts to preuniversity students.
• IEEE TryEngineering collections. The lesson plans and multimedia resources, developed with partners and IEEE technical societies, are designed to introduce technical topics and deepen student understanding.

Individuals who were unable to attend the live sessions can find the archived content on the IEEE Education Week website.

The website also accepts donations for education-related funds managed by the IEEE Foundation.

Updates and technical resources continue to be shared through the #EducationAtIEEE hashtag on social media channels.

Planning for IEEE Education Week 2027, scheduled for 3 to 11 April, is underway.