PUZZLES
Thursday, December 17, 2020
Secret Theme by Sam Buchbinder & Brad Wilber
Universal Crossword edited by David Steinberg
ACROSS
1 Gathers, as
wheat
6 12-point type
10 “One more thing
...” in a text
13 Flashy effect
14 Strung along
romantically
15 “Eureka!”
16 *Campus bigwig
18 Math-based card
game
19 *Inc. Magazine
issue?
21 Anytown, ___
23 Prefix with
“second” or
“technology”
24 October
birthstone
25 Fights off
27 “That’s already
on my radar”
30 Wonder Woman’s
rope
31 Chinese gambling
region
33 Distance units for
QBs
34 Encrypted terms,
or a hint to the
first two letters of
both parts of the
starred answers?
37 Undecided, on a
TV sched.
40 Already
recognized
41 Where lying
is always
acceptable?
45 Certain cutting
tool
47 Pina ___
48 Toledo’s lake
49 Indian garb
51 Dude
52 *Minimal moral
standard
57 Spanish “a”
58 *Fossil fuel
source
61 Get into the
pool?
62 Gin’s partner
63 Come together
64 Canonized Fr.
woman
65 Universal donor’s
blood type: Abbr.
66 Grand ___
National Park
DOWN
1 Remote button
for taping
2 Green prefix
3 FORMAT OF
THIS CLUE
4 ___ Alto
5 “I mean
business” stares
6 Martinez with
three Cy Young
Awards
7 Brainchild
8 Layer of paint
9 Oscar winner
Hathaway
10 Salary before
bonuses
11 Nickname for
Shakespeare
12 Danglers on
turkey necks
14 Revolutionary
Trotsky
17 4.0s on an
academic list,
e.g.
20 Big name in
chemicals
21 Surfer’s address?
22 Dolphin’s
environment
26 Upper-left PC key
27 Symbol on a
phone screen
28 Tarnish
29 Place for a
microphone’s
plug
31 Feline greeting
32 “That’s adorable!”
35 Material in your
genes
36 Andy Samberg’s
old show, for
short
37 Wrigley Field
team, familiarly
38 British commoner
who can use the
title “Sir”
39 Make a cartoon
of
42 Look after the
kids
43 Campus email
ending
44 Dance move that
resembles sneeze
hygiene
46 Rep.’s
counterpart
47 Saskatchewan
tribe
49 Former MLB
commissioner
Bud
50 “High Voltage”
band
53 Eight: Prefix
54 XII, during the
day
55 Copenhagen
native
56 Driving course
obstacle
59 Judge Lance
60 Cube root of
1,000
Fuzzy Math by Jack Mowat
Universal Crossword edited by David Steinberg
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2020 Great Conjunction Pre-Show
As Jupiter and Saturn race to embrace, there’s a
strong sense of anticipation hanging in the air on the
subject of help. Like the hopeful stranded on a remote
island sending smoke signals to alert the sky of their
presence, we wonder what the chances are that help
really is on the way. Align the beach rocks to spell out
your request.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). You call yourself “easy-
going” because you’re pretty accepting of situations
and people. Although, when it comes down to it, you’re
not so easily won. It takes a special combination to
light you up, which happens today.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). If life’s a journey, then
follow the rules of a savvy traveler; don’t overpack.
If you bring half as much as you want to, you’ll be
unencumbered. Rule two: Take twice as much money
as you think you’ll need.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). If you have a choice, it’s
better to copy someone who is already doing the work
than to gather up theoretical knowledge. You could
spend hours learning and still not have the practical
experience necessary to do the job.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). You’ve the sense that
you’re getting ready for something, though you may
not be sure what. The vision is as faint as a drive-in
movie played in the dead of noon. Don’t you worry.
Dusk comes soon enough.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). If the best you can say of a
connection is that it’s easy, then you’ve said a lot.
Sometimes the best camaraderie is lighthearted,
breezy and even somewhat insubstantial, as it gives
you a break from the burdensome side of life.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You have the urge to
share what you know, and it’s important that you
do so. People will be better for it. Just don’t expect
SOLUTIONS
HOROSCOPES BY HOLIDAY MATHIS
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2020 Jupiter Chases Saturn
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). The one who avoids
the question is hiding something. It’s the reason that
matters most though. Secrets can be kept out of
graciousness, privacy or deceit.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Of course, you want the
shiny, bigger-than-life, exciting enticement that’s
being dangled before you. Maybe you wouldn’t want
it under different circumstances though. Take yourself
out of the situation and see what sticks.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Where wants are well-
provided for, stagnation sets in. There’s no need to
pursue the breakthrough, innovate or elevate the
thought process. Being deep and wanting more
means that you are, to a certain degree, insatiable.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). In certain friendship circles
the levels of disclosure are high, as are the competitive
vibes. You’re conversationally generous. You’ve been
waiting for your turn to talk, and you should run with
it when it comes.
DOWN
1 Hello, in
Shanghai
2 Dating long-
distance, maybe
3 Pieces of glass
4 Contributes (to)
5 Bay Area airport
code
6 That stag
7 Chopping tool:
Var.
8 Nebraska’s
Herbie Husker
and others
9 180-degree
maneuvers
10 Home of
“SportsCenter
AllNight”
11 Uncommon
group
12 Lighting might
help set it
15 Genre related to
goth
18 Classic fountain
drink
22 “___ It Be Nice”
(Beach Boys
song)
25 The “E” of 30-
Down
26 Letters before an
alter ego
27 Smuggler-
stopping org.
29 ___ Line (French
fortification)
30 Abbr. in a proof
31 24/7 med.
centers
32 Wet noodle, say?
33 Sushi items with
pink centers
36 Coldness in the
air
37 H.S. exam with a
Science section
38 Australian birds
40 Like many a
brush
41 Burglarize
42 Words of
commitment
45 Like flowers that
come in vases
46 One may hail
from Wales
49 Sasha’s sister
50 In the thick of
51 Apple alternative
to Word
52 Lead-in to
“Canaveral” or
“Cod”
53 Hawaiian pizza
meat
55 Rideshare
company with a
pink logo
58 Type
59 Capital of
Vermont?
60 “___ showtime!”
a response. This is new information, will need to be
repeated and will take time to soak in
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Charm may be your go-
to, but it won’t be your bread and butter. (Man does
not live by bread alone.) Give extra attention to the
tangible takeaway. What are you really offering?
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You successfully resist
the urge to react to frustrating circumstances. Cool
people keep their cool. Also, the calm allows your
mind to move easily into problem-solving mode.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Your attitude
impresses others and makes your life a lot more
pleasant. It boils down to this: No matter what you
encounter, you turn it into something good.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). No matter how
spectacularly enticing the deal is, it still isn’t worth
chasing after. If the other people involved get that
your offering is valuable, they’ll come after it.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Much of your success
hinges on sticking with the focus and topics that
inspire, entertain, forward the action, engender trust
and feel all-around wholesome and healthy.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Fear can topple you,
or you can topple fear. When you think about all the
things you do now that you couldn’t do before, you
realize just how effective you are when you face fear
head-on.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Dec. 18). You make decisions to
support long-term relationships, finances and health.
The action required may not be as convenient or fun
as some options, and yet your choice will still be
intensely satisfying. This is a pleasurable journey to a
prosperous future. In May, you’ll be paid-off and use
the money for a new venture. Virgo and Scorpio adore
you. Your lucky numbers are: 1, 4, 7, 11 and 20.
Universal SUDOKU
ARIES (March 21-April 19). You can’t prepare for
everything. In fact, if you prepare for nothing, you’ll
still be OK today. You’ll dip into the scene, figure out
exactly what you need and go from there.
39 Kind of bond in a
salt molecule
40 Fedora feature
43 Silent affirmative
44 Calculation for a
botanist?
47 To and ___
48 Nucleic acid
sugar
49 Diagram in a
fantasy novel,
often
52 Sweatshirts,
sweatpants and
sweat suits
54 Andean animal
56 Instant
messaging
pioneer
57 Calculation for a
personal trainer?
61 Buddy
62 “Business in the
front” hairdo
63 Not coarse, as
sand
64 Otherworldly
visitors, briefly
65 Young children
66 IDs on social
media
A13
HOROSCOPES BY HOLIDAY MATHIS
In all likelihood, the animals act automatically and
unthinkingly, responding to sensory input. The dog
bites; the bee stings; the bear eats all. Contrastingly,
humans must consider and control quite a lot about
their experience or society couldn’t function properly.
As Jupiter chases Saturn into Aquarius, think less;
trust the inner animal.
ACROSS
1 Valley of
vineyards
5 Phased-out
SeaWorld
attraction
10 “Uhh ...”
13 Apple debut of
2010
14 Focus intensely
(on)
16 ___ Paulo
17 Calculation for a
modeling agent?
19 Expert
20 “You ___ busted!”
21 Made king, say
23 Fourth qtr.
followers
24 Exactly right
28 Shape of a
fisheye lens
picture
29 Calculation for an
economist?
32 Bake sale
organizer, for
short
34 Some small
batteries
35 Respected
villager
36 Chewy candy
filling
38 Sea swirls
East Oregonian
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You’ll be intrigued by those
who talk about the common things a little differently.
You’re being introduced to a different worldview and
may be inspired to explore edgier terrain.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You realize that you have, to
some degree, overcome that which once would have
activated your defenses and ego. You now see the
game in something you used to take quite seriously.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Calm people make
better decisions. Decisions made in the heat of anger,
passion or retail pressure are likely to be regrettable.
Hold your tongue – also your receipts.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). As much as you
want to share, the timing of your sharing is crucial
to the development of the relationship. You want to
stay in charge of it. Being overly emotional results in
a loss of control.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You are like the
others in a group in a few key ways that matter. You’re
also different. Highlight the values you share for now.
There will be plenty of time to challenge one another
in the future.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Alexander the Great
learned how to govern a state from Aristotle. As
Alexander applied his firsthand experience to modify
his learning, he surpassed his mentor in knowledge
and power. You’ll do the same.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). It behooves you to
create offers that are a win-win. You need support. It
is only when others want to see your objectives met
just as badly as you do that things start moving.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Dec. 19). You’re the cause
for the party, the reason people meet each other,
work together and maybe fall in love. You are also
the benefactor of your own social savvy, your circle
enhanced by a steady flow of new energy and
exciting happenings. You’ll earn through teaching
and investing. Virgo and Aries adore you. Your lucky
numbers are: 40, 15, 7, 22 and 48.
Universal SUDOKU
SOLUTIONS