PUZZLES
Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Fill in the Blanks by Howard Barkin
Universal Crossword edited by David Steinberg
ACROSS
1 Off in the
distance
5 Scary giant
9 Hangs in there
14 Big name in
pineapple
15 Swamp menace,
informally
16 Greek leader?
17 -
19 Gymnastics gold
medalist Kerri
20 Baron’s title
21 It may mean “Pet
me!”
23 Opera princess
who loves
Radames
24 Payment
promises
26 Rhinoceros part
28 Daisylike flowers
31 Slightly cracked
33 Spy org. that split
up in 1991
36 -
39 “___ it snappy!”
40 Stretch of history
41 Sci-fi princess
who loves Han
42 -
47 CIA’s
predecessor
48 Grape or tomato
holder
49 Floppy-eared
hound
50 Last word of a
prayer
52 Donate
53 Drink at a sushi
bar
55 “Catch ya later,”
in London
58 Children hunt for
them annually
61 Double
checkers?
63 Commonly
misused adverb,
or how to read
the clues to
17-, 36- and
42-Across
66 Like the best-
case scenario
67 Swear to
68 Minute ___ (juice
brand)
69 Like the screws in
eyeglasses
70 Achy
71 Pros at saving
lives
DOWN
1 The second word
of this clue, e.g.:
Abbr.
2 Fair’s opposite
3 Additionally
4 Pet that may be
“golden”
5 Condition with
rituals, briefly
6 International
bakers’ units
7 Flower on a float
8 Automatic
response to a
call?
9 ___ Vegas Aces
10 Wedding site
11 Parts of a fire
safety system
12 Ungraceful
landing sound
13 Multiseason
show’s storyline,
perhaps
18 Love to pieces
22 Alphabetically
first of the five
W’s
25 Seabees’ org.
27 “... man ___
mouse?”
28 Have the
intention of
29 Iranian leaders,
once
30 Protests during
the national
anthem
31 Button on
an electronic
contract
32 Rock icon Jett
34 Tour leader
35 Monster
37 Marine bird
38 Its final score
may be 20-21
43 The night before
44 “You ___ lyin’!”
45 ___-Wan Kenobi
46 Seesaw on a
decision
51 “Will & Grace”
Emmy winner
Mullally
52 Swamp menace,
informally
53 Comedy sketch
54 Political assistant
56 “Sad to say ...”
57 Pioneering DVR
59 Glitzy rock style
60 Cut, as a well-
taped box
62 Crafty
64 Lamb’s mother
65 Three-ft.
measures
Bite Encoding by Jesse Goldberg
Universal Crossword edited by David Steinberg
ACROSS
1 Agreement
7 When doubled, a
Hawaiian fish
11 Hoover ___
(Colorado River
structure)
14 Haitian religion
involving sorcery
15 Hugh Laurie’s
boys’ school
16 Former
quarterback
Manning
17 Waiting one’s
turn
18 Rustic home
20 University official
21 Isn’t thorough
when cleaning an
ashtray?
23 Shortly, in poetry
24 They sometimes
clash
25 Closed-down
arena?
32 Chatty bird
33 When required
38 Word after
“public” or
“popular”
41 TV schedule slot
42 Takes revenge
44 Trap, as by a
winter storm
45 Glowing alien of
Jabba’s species?
48 Headliner
52 IRS experts
53 Where one might
get a dog?
57 Was aware of
61 Conspiring (with)
62 Discomfort
64 Actress Seydoux
or Thompson
65 Raise one’s voice
66 U-Haul truck, for
one
67 Hosp. areas
68 Poetic tributes
69 Forgo cooking
... or, read with
spaces after
the second and
fourth letters, a
theme hint
5 “Anchorman: The
Legend of ___
Burgundy”
6 “Crime ___ pay”
7 Philanthropist
Gates
8 On the summit of
9 Big pigs
10 Machu Picchu
builder
11 Eliminate glitches
from
12 Samuel of the
Supreme Court
13 After-dinner
candies
19 Prez known for
his top hat
22 RVer’s stopover
23 More pale
25 Pollution
portmanteau
26 Overdone
publicity
27 Army group
28 Prepares, like
leather
29 “This ___ test”
30 Prefix with
“verse”
DOWN
31 Deserves
1 Fanatical
34 Scratch the
2 Certain ice cream
surface?
holder
35 “Mon ___!”
3 Carbonated drink 36 Issue forth
4 Thor’s father
37 Bumper concern
39 Large
reproductive cells
40 “The Simpsons”
character who
says “hi-diddly-
ho”
43 Coins that cost
more than seven
cents each to
make
46 Mimic
47 Inherent
character
48 Welcoming
expression
49 Piano technician
50 He has the world
at his fingertips
51 GPS suggestion
54 Hellmann’s
spread, informally
55 Like good Scotch
56 Regulation
57 Superman, aka
Clark ___
58 Defense org.
since 1949
59 Birthright seller in
Genesis
60 Mark from a
paintball fight,
say
63 Teachers’ org.
East Oregonian
A13
HOROSCOPES BY HOLIDAY MATHIS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021 Mars/Pluto Earth Sign Trine
We are all doing what we need to do to flesh out
a given role. The plot is being revealed with each
interaction; you are every bit as able to steer it as
anyone else involved. Yes, the larger context is hard to
change, but the Mars and Pluto situation reminds us
that with consistent action in any particular direction,
change is inevitable.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Someone is expecting
you to pull a rabbit out of your hat, and can you blame
them? You’ve done this trick before to astonishing
effect. Now for the key question: What’s in it for you?
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You’ll get props. These
are probably deserved, but you won’t feel that way.
Even if you think you haven’t earned this respect and
admiration, don’t deflect it. A simple thank you is all
that’s needed.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Go with the momentum.
Resist the urge to make a thing perfect or start over
the “right” way... this is just fear talking. Keep going;
you’ll be able to build on what you have. Work what’s
working.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). There’s the reason why
you like each other, and then there’s the real reason
why you like each other, and they are seldom the same
reason. The relationship will thrive in awareness and
service of the real reason.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). The title of a poem by Paige
Lewis reads, “In the Hands of Borrowers, Objects Are
Twice as Likely to Break.” The notion holds true today,
so be neither a borrower nor a lender.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You are needed for your
talents. In some ways, you are indispensable. And
while it feels good to do something that another
cannot, it’s also a lot of responsibility that could get
burdensome if held for too long.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). It’s absolutely brilliant to
have something, and it’s absolutely brilliant to not
have it. Each is its own kind of brilliance. Not worrying
about a loss or gain... that’s liberation.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Now, more so than last
week, you get attached to the thing you do routinely.
Use this to your advantage by adding that one thing
you want to be a part of your daily life.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Someone you
admire is having a regular roller coaster of a time
lately. Following someone so unpredictable is an
adventure that, in a weird way, makes you feel
grounded by comparison.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). What clear and
poignant observations have you – and now for
someone to tell them to... it’s true they would be
wasted on someone close to you. For now, preserve
and save them just for you.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Animals don’t have
leisure time, because they have no delineation
between what they have to do and get to do. It’s all just
what they’re doing. You’ll benefit from an animalistic
approach, reducing mental noise caused by definitions.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). There are aspects of
you, caused by your sensitivity, that you sometimes
want to change. There’s nothing wrong with these
parts of you, but they make certain situations more
difficult. Instead of changing, create workarounds.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (FEBRUARY 24). You didn’t think
it was a burden at the time, and yet a responsibility will
come to its natural ending place, and suddenly, you’re
free to enter an era of discovery and exploration.
It’s as though the color dial has been turned up in
your worldview and life comes at you with overdue
vividness and excitement. Cancer and Capricorn
adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 6, 18, 44, 38 & 9.
Universal SUDOKU
SOLUTIONS
HOROSCOPES BY HOLIDAY MATHIS
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021 Venus Catches a Fish
Take a picture and you’re a photographer. Paint it and
you’re an artist. Keep a journal and you’re a journalist.
Do it once and you get the title in the short term. Make
a lifestyle out of it and you could go pro. The jury is
still out on which is better. The Venus passage into
artistic Pisces suggests you try it all while the creative
vibes are flowing.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). You didn’t get all that
you wanted. It’s better this way. Some degree of
hunger keeps things exciting. Hunger causes action.
Overindulgence causes lethargy and is generally
unattractive.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). People pick up on your
signals whether or not you are consciously aware of
what they are. Know yourself and be empowered. Ten
minutes of honest reflection will do it. Relationships
transform as your intention does.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). What good is your charm
if you are not using it to forward your purposes? You
didn’t exactly wake up this morning knowing what
those purposes were, but it’s OK. You can make up for
lost time by getting clear on it now.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). The reason you haven’t
met the goal yet is that you’re not totally sure you’re
ready. In the back of your mind, there’s fear as to
the responsibilities that go with the prize. Grab on
anyway. Don’t borrow tomorrow’s problems today.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). These circumstances are
not inherently entertaining. This fun you’re having,
that’s all you. Know it. Own it. Claim it. The world is
your playground and people love being around you
because of your unique way of being in it.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Good conversation leads to
even better things – a deal, a friend, a meaningful and
possibly life-changing exchange. Your communication
skills are a golden ticket.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). To enjoy a thing fully, you
must empty your mind of fantasies, assumptions,
prejudices and expectations in all directions. Into that
void will flow experience in which you can revel in
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You’ve tended toward
criticizing and directing yourself lately, and an
amazing thing happens when you stop that. Chaos
doesn’t ensue. Everything gets done. The vibes
simultaneously elevate and relax.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You do quite a lot in
a day and yet you find, when your head hits the pillow,
you still want more. There is more, right? The question
sticks with you even after you’ve closed your eyes to
sleep. Ambitions fill your dreams.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). The words, “I love
you,” can only be interpreted inside of context.
Consistently loving behavior reflects one meaning,
and if these words are unsupported by such things
they could mean literally anything.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You’re dedicated to
work. You manage time well, and you’re conscientious.
It’s when your high standards of performance extend
to those around you that you realize how much you
need to team patience with your other virtues.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Though you may turn
to other worlds as a fun escape, you do not wish to
have the lives of others, only to make your own more
brightly reflect your heart and ideas.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Feb. 25). In the same way you
can turn the mighty sun on and off with a flick of your
eyelids, you can change the trajectory of a relationship
with tricks of the mind. This you’ll do often and well,
finding ways to think of things that give you power
and options, and then exercising that potential to
create one magnificent outcome after another. Virgo
and Pisces adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 12,
22, 4, 44 and 18.
Universal SUDOKU
SOLUTIONS