PUZZLES Tuesday, April 20, 2021 Subtraction by Blake Slonecker Universal Crossword edited by David Steinberg East Oregonian HOROSCOPES BY HOLIDAY MATHIS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 2021 Volcanic Anticipation As Shakespeare wrote, “the course of true love never did run smooth.” While today it will seem even and frictionless enough, there is hot lava burbling inside, anticipating tomorrow’s connection between romantic Venus and explosive Uranus. Stay outside the danger zones and you can enjoy the beautiful spectacle without getting scorched. ARIES (March 21-April 19). Courage doesn’t have to be a substance in limited supply. Grow your own. Cultivate it through the magic of habit. Whatever you feel like shrinking from, move toward it instead. Do that over and over and suddenly, you’re brave. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). The purity of your intention will be felt by all; the loveliness of it reads loud and clear. Because of this, you don’t have to say the perfect words or overthink your approach. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You’ll be moved to do something unusual, outside the routine, maybe even against the social norms. This is a new day and a new chance for self-reinvention and discovery. CANCER (June 22-July 22). It’s coming easily to you today – this charismatic communication that just flows. The more you use it, the stronger that flow becomes. You can share it by speaking on someone’s behalf or putting your thoughts in writing. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’ll get two kinds of compliments today: compliments born of neediness (you pity the giver) and compliments that come from genuine appreciation (you love them back). ACROSS 1 Float through the air 5 German lament 8 Rude things to make 13 Red Sox Hall of Famer Martinez 14 Pi follower 15 Subside 16 Stereotypical dorm meal 17 *Hero’s journey? 19 Stylish Saab 20 Repurposes, as food scraps 21 Club light 23 Grp. that clashed with Israel 24 Crunch targets 27 Original sin’s aftermath 29 *Military snitch? 32 Yiddish laments 33 Cut calories 35 Famed fabulist 36 *Passengers per car, e.g.? 39 Cosmetician Lauder 42 Drinks that may be iced 43 Ancestry test molecule 46 *Adore weed? 49 Trees for giraffes 51 Anatomy experts, briefly 52 Get first place 54 Drum kit parts struck with the feet 55 How dental procedures should be 59 Indy 500 champion Luyendyk 60 *Grouchy splinter group? 62 Opposite of subsequent 63 No later than 64 Jazmine Sullivan’s record label 65 “Secret” or “free” follower 66 Out of style 67 Tofu base 68 Room with toys everywhere, say DOWN 1 Well-to-do 2 Looks up to 3 With 50-Down, pro bono ... or like each starred answer, based on its deleted word? 4 Unit of bricks? 5 2012 movie set in Iran 6 Bite like an alligator 7 Big to-do 8 Helpful website pages, briefly 9 Share a boundary with 10 ___ Palace (Las Vegas landmark) 11 GRE org. 12 Thicken, as custard 13 “Abraca-dabra!” 18 Knocker’s place 20 Salsa legend Cruz 22 Image problem that Photoshop can’t fix, informally? 25 Chinese steamed bun 26 Race car driver’s additive 28 Luau loop 30 People of the African Great Lakes 31 So far 34 Network for “Claws” and “Snow-piercer” 36 Golf ball support 37 Caribbean ___ 38 RPM gauges 39 Common tree in Central Park 40 Lawn repair option 41 Ads that may last 30 seconds 43 Targets for nosy siblings 44 States or countries 45 State as fact 47 Dominates, in slang 48 Some bathroom contractors 50 See 3-Down 53 Colorful wafer maker 56 Yard sale caveat 57 Place to get marooned 58 Don’t go 60 Cone alternative 61 Messenger’s letters? 62 “The Office” character who marries Jim Leadership Summit by Laura Zipin & Ross Trudeau Universal Crossword edited by David Steinberg ACROSS 1 “___ on earth?” 5 “Confound it!” 9 Big ___ (7-Eleven drink) 13 Sharpen 14 Landlocked African nation 15 Chimpanzees and bonobos 16 Nobelist Tokarczuk or Olympic medalist Korbut 17 On-screen parent such as Lorelai Gilmore 18 Transcript figs. 19 Cookbook author Curry 21 Most gauzy 23 Queen’s domain 25 Declare 26 Sphynxes might sit on them 29 Agenda component 30 Soccer ball filler 31 Not just think 32 Have the final turn 35 Nutrition fig. 36 11-year-old, say 38 Med. research agency 39 Thing an anxious writer may chew 42 Dull and dreary 44 Letters before a pseudonym 45 Middling 46 Have plenty of vegetables, say 48 Ones deserving of respect 50 Honey-mooners’ hotel booking 51 “Who wouldn’t want to date me?!” 53 Hole-enlarging tool 56 Org. fighting to end bullfighting 57 Wishful words 59 Thompson who qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open at age 12 60 “All right already!” 61 Birds with big eyes 62 Not eliminated 63 “I double-dog ___ you!” 64 Zilch 65 “Boy” or “girl” lead-in DOWN 1 “Amazing!” 2 Word before “Grail” or “Ghost” 3 Title for Obama’s satirical assistant Luther 4 Buckingham Palace service? 5 Driver’s license org. 6 Bashes into 7 Hawaiian greeting 8 3/4, e.g., in music 9 Source of laughs at the end of a comedy? 10 Top of an organizational chart, and a hint to the first words of 3-, 8- and 17- Down 11 ___ common denominator 12 Cheater’s sound during a test 17 Competition within Miss America but not Miss Universe 20 “___! The Herald Angels Sing” 22 This, in Spanish 24 Sound from a tabby 26 Complain 27 Helper on the hill 28 Greta Thunberg, nationality-wise 33 Believer in a turban 34 This’ partner 37 Noted stretches 40 Savory fish appetizer 41 Offshore 43 Sometimes- baked cheese 47 Roma’s home 48 2004-’05 NBA Rookie of the Year Okafor 49 Unstressed vowel 51 Device with a phased-out Shuffle variety 52 Embrace 54 Leave 55 EGOT winner Moreno 58 Charitable ad, briefly A15 VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Talking to a stranger is always a risk, one worth taking when you feel the friendly vibes flowing today. Regardless of what you learn, good or bad, it will be well worth the effort to get to know new people. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). When there is no one telling you what you must do to improve, you’ll take matters into your own hands. You’ll explore novel territory to stay ahead of the game. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Your process is more important than the end product. The product will be handed over in the end, but the process is yours. You can use your process over and over, reshaping to fit the problem at hand. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). As soon as you say what you want, the spirit of resistance perks up its ears and readies itself to take form – laziness, fear, fatigue... it has many shapes. You’re well-equipped to fight them all. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). As you repeat similar types of projects, you become more proficient in identifying which actions lead to a desirable result. But it’s when you’re pushed outside your comfort zone that you really shine. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You’re taking care of the things that matter to you. Some of these things you don’t recognize as crucial elements of your life, but the fact that you tend to them as you do tells the truer story. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You’re figuring out what’s working for you. All you have to do now is more of it! Each time increases your confidence and competence further and eases your trepidation about scaling up. TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (April 21). You may not think of last year as strength training, but you’ll notice you’re stronger, solid in your footing and moving with confidence. This year is a dance. Parts go off as though intricately choreographed, and other parts are passionately unbridled. You’ll be brilliantly partnered in both love and business. Cancer and Leo adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 20, 1, 18, 14 and 32. Universal SUDOKU SOLUTIONS HOROSCOPES BY HOLIDAY MATHIS THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021 Venus and Uranus Shake-Up Did you feel it coming? This chemical reaction of Venus and Uranus will burble, spit and combust into colorful plumes. Well, love was never intended to give people more of the same. The unpredictable plot of it is exactly the point. If love is to stay upright when the ground is shaking, it must be flexible enough to bend at the knee and shift as needed. ARIES (March 21-April 19). First, you had worries about the endeavor. Then you did it enough to get comfortable, and next you’ll take it further. You’ll be excited by the challenge and look forward to commanding this realm. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You’re unlikely to participate in sheer fun for great lengths of time because you feel too much pleasure indicates an unbalanced life. You’re probably right about that, but could you tip the balance just a bit in the name of joy? GEMINI (May 21-June 21). It doesn’t seem like it would be so, but having less time to work on a project will lead to more creative results. The crunch will focus you on what matters and you’ll be smart about how you use your minutes. CANCER (June 22-July 22). Once again, it’s time to confront your inner critic, who is getting out of hand. Before you express your need for peace and space, be sure to give hearty thanks for all the good taste guided by your critic’s vigilant presence. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). There are plenty of instances where it’s appropriate to do the safe and expected thing, contributing to a smooth interaction without drawing attention to yourself. Not today. This one requires you to be bold and memorable. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Your working habits didn’t really need to improve, and yet they will as you make a practice of keeping up a certain pace. You are becoming more confident in your capacity to turn out results in any given timeframe. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You’re so productive now because you’re using everything you feel to fuel your endeavors – the good, the bad. There’s nothing that can’t be used here, so just throw it all into the engine. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Who is asking you to be the next superstar in your realm? No one but you. And you would be wise to give that expectation a rest for a bit while you dedicate yourself to the humbling repetition needed to gain practical skills. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You will take chances and perform experiments, each risk teaching you, among other things, how to access your intuition in the pursuit of meaningful results. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). With all the digital tools available to you, today’s cosmic advice may surprise you. The stars indicate you will flesh out ideas and land on a direction for your project using the fastest technology available – a paper and a pencil. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). What you stand to win is well worth the minor risk of getting your feelings hurt. So, though you’re fearful of certain outcomes, you’ll move forward knowing what’s at stake is far too important and exciting to indulge these fears. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You don’t always think of your interactions as creations, but they are. Each scene unfolding on the stage of life is an opportunity for beauty. Work purposefully. Meaning is the most powerful element in play here. TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (April 22). For this day and beyond, grant yourself permission to focus on yourself. You’re so generous in your vision of others. Shine that optimism on your own life and live the joyful adventures you were meant for! You’ll brush with fame. An encounter will change your views. Professional endeavors stretch and pay you. Aries and Virgo adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 30, 1, 28, 15 and 7. Universal SUDOKU SOLUTIONS