PUZZLES Tuesday, March 9, 2021 Mixed Breeds by Michael Lieberman Universal Crossword edited by David Steinberg ACROSS 1 Lively dance 4 Evade 9 Fruit-filled pastries 14 Hullabaloo 15 “Raining cats and dogs,” for one 16 Hawaiian greeting 17 ___ C, aka Sporty Spice 18 Seedy breakfast option (unscramble letters 6 to 11 in this answer) 20 Negative press, informally 22 Buy time 23 Important stretch 24 Not worth arguing about 26 Started disliking, with “on” 28 “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” actress (3 to 7) 33 Physique, briefly 34 Erotic poetry muse 35 Does some housecleaning 39 Supportive garments 41 Whitney Houston’s “I’m ___ Woman” 43 Conceal, as an odor 44 Speak off the cuff 46 Made more bearable 48 “Woo-hoo!” 49 “The show that made country music famous” (5 to 10) 52 French fashion house 55 Women’s rights icon Alice 56 Juice box brand 57 White House No. 2s 61 Drizzle with ranch, say 64 Community with a shared cultural background (5 to 9) 67 Schumer or Poehler 68 Get a move on 69 “Haters ___ hate” 70 Space heater? 71 Ostentatious 72 Watch stealthily 73 Abbreviated list ender DOWN 1 Doorframe part 2 Metaphorical lightbulb 3 One of four won by Simone Biles in Rio 4 Lose the threads? 5 Poem of tribute 6 Insult 7 Animal that has kids 8 Jane Austen heroine 9 One might cover an alien abduction 10 In the style of 11 “I read you,” on a radio 12 In that place 13 Healthy side dish 19 Otherwise 21 Old-timey curse 25 Pulled apart 27 E pluribus ___ 28 “Dancing Queen” band 29 British noble 30 “Nevermore” speaker 31 Lieu 32 Body’s trunk 36 Politeness reminder 37 Alexander I, for one 38 Vodka in a blue bottle 40 Aries or Gemini 42 Website with many bad reviews 45 “The soul of wit” 47 Like an emotionless comic delivery 50 “Match Game” host Baldwin 51 Couple’s possessive 52 “The Queen’s Gambit” game 53 Unforeseen snag 54 Sound preceding “Bless you” 58 Some are soft- boiled 59 The handkerchief in “Othello,” e.g. 60 PlayStation maker 62 Dirty literature 63 Align 65 At this moment 66 Card game similar to Crazy Eights It’s Not About You by Gary Cee Universal Crossword edited by David Steinberg ACROSS 1 Kidder in “Superman” films 7 Bonobo and orangutan 11 “The Talk” network 14 “Me! Me!” 15 Obtain fraudulently 16 “The Lord of the Rings” humanoid 17 ABBA, for instance 19 Salmon ___ (sushi choice) 20 Round Dutch cheese 21 Horseshoe’s place 22 Toy vehicle with a handle 24 Half a Worcestershire sauce duo 26 “The Simpsons” block? 28 Tail off 30 Common deg. for a CEO 32 ___ next door 33 Athlete who uses irons 35 Common deg. for a professor 36 “Quickly!” 40 Facetious nickname for a singular couple 43 Former Giant Chris (SEEN anagram) 44 Female chicken 45 Reindeer part 46 Anesthetize 48 “Catch you later!” 49 Ballpoint filler 50 Round of buck- passing 54 Did a basic dog trick 56 Flood preventer 57 Japanese noodle 59 They may be bridged or filled 62 Ruckus 63 “I’m not done,” or a hint to both words in 17-, 26-, 40- and 50-Across? 66 Carp in a garden pond 67 Muslim prayer leader 68 Strongly opposed (to) 69 Call a halt to 70 “Awkwafina Is ___ From Queens” 71 Clears all data from 29 Brought into being 31 Dudes’ embrace 34 Possible meaning of “Meow!” 35 Bill signer’s need DOWN 37 Game with no 1 Boggy ground opponent 2 What Ritalin 38 Congregant’s treats: Abbr. reply 3 Color associated 39 Free lunch at the with Queen office, e.g. Charlotte 41 Major celebrity 4 Super easy 42 Small bills answer 47 Land, like a fish 5 One could be 48 Actress Neuwirth titled “To a Tee” 50 Lively on TV? 6 Reggae’s Peter 51 Pretended to 7 Loathe have feelings for 8 Messy dessert 52 Shun battle 53 Poppa’s partner, 9 National Mall tree perhaps 10 Criticize harshly 55 Choreographer 11 Short-legged dog de Mille 12 Witch’s ride 58 Miles away 13 “Don’t make a 60 (Hey, you!) ___!” 61 Spike Lee’s “___ 18 N.Y. nightclub in Gotta Have It” a Manilow song 64 Mopey music 23 “Finally ...” genre 25 City north of Des 65 “___ run out of Moines ideas” 27 Chicago airport 28 They’re often cracked before breakfast East Oregonian A15 HOROSCOPES BY HOLIDAY MATHIS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 2021 Nostalgic Neptune Conjunction “The one that got away” belongs in the category of nostalgic concepts with limited validity or usefulness. Almost anything could have been, but there is only one thing that actually was. Being good with that is the power move reiterated by the mighty conjunction of the sun (here-and-now king) and Neptune (king of all nonrealities good and bad). ARIES (March 21-April 19). However complex the project may be, with all its moving parts to tend to and diverse personalities to contend with, the essence of your work still boils down to a simple directive: Do the next right thing. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Your agenda may feel off. Ask, “Why am I doing this?” Reasons like guilt and obligation may surface. Maybe you still have to follow through, but at least you’ll approach in full consciousness of your motives. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You take great pleasure in connecting people, and you consider it your job to do it well. There’s more to it than just making an introduction. You create the structure and social safety that helps everyone relax and shine. CANCER (June 22-July 22). Your thoughts about a thing can go in many directions, which is why you’re better off if you stop thinking and start doing. Your action will be far more deliberate, making things go in one direction – the one that works in reality. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). It’s better to express stress than to swallow it. Avoid eating or drinking the tension. Instead, drain it from your body onto the pavement you walk, or onto the page on which you write your mind and feelings. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You are not defined by your past, but your way of thinking of it can be very defining indeed. The new person you are now sees what happened a little differently than historic you saw it. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). One way to prove to yourself that you are not defined by the past and the things that have happened to you is to create a new identity fashioned purely to your preferences. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Being with that energizing person is like being born, reborn and a hundred times made new. Now the phenomenon has developed to the point where you don’t even have to be in close vicinity. The thought alone brings a quickening. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). The one receiving all the attention won’t be the most powerful one in the room. You’ll tune your eye to the dynamics of power and see it vividly at work. This deep level of understanding will give you more options. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Even more than usual, others will follow your lead. This will be especially true regarding your approach to all things you. The things you say about yourself, the way you treat your time and value your efforts... they’ll follow suit. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Brick by brick, you are building the empire of you. Right now it feels like more of a single-room studio of you. That’s only because you’re so focused on the main priority. The expansion is coming. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). There’s a change you want and a chance to contribute the elements to help bring it about. Of course, it’s not all up to you. It’s going to take a team, if not an entire army, to make this happen. Your contribution matters, though. TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (March 10). The interactions that come as part of your cosmic birthday package contribute to the lighter side of life. Frivolity, laughter, novelty, glamor and excitement shouldn’t be looked at as “extras,” since you need some degree of the effervescent to keep your heart buoyant and your mind working optimally. A windfall comes in July. Aries and Scorpio adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 7, 44, 23, 9 and 4. Universal SUDOKU SOLUTIONS HOROSCOPES BY HOLIDAY MATHIS THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 2021 Moon of the Beyond The ubiquitous big blue Bed, Bath & Beyond coupon started as a one-off promotion piece and became corporate mailer iconography. Is it the size, the blueness, the deal itself? Yes, yes, and yes. But mostly it’s the regularity with which the thing shows up – a relatable concept. In the closing of this lunar cycle, repeat what’s worked. ARIES (March 21-April 19). Ever since the Big Bang, this plane of existence has been made up of contrasts, curves and cycles. You wouldn’t want it all one way. Embrace how it is now. It’s about to change. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You’ll fill this day with as much affection, warmth and laughter as you can muster, in full-knowledge that people are attractive people. You’re in the mood to be improvisational and turn things into a game whenever possible. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). It really doesn’t matter how good a person is at formulating answers if all of the questions are pointless. This is why you examine your questions with the aim of up-leveling before you ask them. CANCER (June 22-July 22). Your water-sign instincts lend an innate understanding of the significance of paddling in the same direction as the others in the boat. Today’s rowers will be all over the place until you take charge. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You have an extremely generous attitude with your friends and only need to point that inward to get fantastic results today. What is it that would make you smile? Get it, do it, be it. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You will travel through the magic of media and dreams. Your own fantasies provide the sweetest escapes but much more is possible. Learning to guide your imagination is a skill that will bring good fortune to hand. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You’ll be working your mind like it’s your job – because it is. While feeding your brain the facts and figures that will be necessary, also throw in the unnecessary stuff that makes it all go down a little sweeter. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Though you’re not a spy or a member of a secret society, and you’re not doing much today that you shouldn’t be doing, you still want privacy and appreciate most those who respect yours the best. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You have that caring vibe now, which is why someone in need of comfort, protection and nurturing will be drawn to you. You don’t have to know the right way to help – willingness is enough. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Managing relationships is the most important business of the day. Is it on the task list? It belongs there, as caring for relationships takes time and specificity beyond what many other “to-do” items require. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Communicating well will require careful articulation, patience and a level of attention emotional attunement that is, quite frankly, work. Nonetheless, everything good comes through good communication. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Love will feel like a kind of completion. Matters of the heart have great potential to resolve well, allowing you to trust and give more freely and with greater integration of different parts of yourself. TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (March 11). Perhaps improving sleep, fitness and nutrition is not included on your list of ambitious and glamourous goals. And yet, self- discipline in this regard will be cosmically the birthday gift you’ll most cherish, as all you desire will be served on the shiny platter of good habits. An excellent rating gets you promoted in June. Aries and Aquarius adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 8, 10, 33, 36 and 41. Universal SUDOKU SOLUTIONS