PUZZLES
Tuesday, June 15, 2021
Splitting Image by Evan Mulvihill
Universal Crossword edited by David Steinberg
ACROSS
1 Resuscitation
expert, briefly
4 You might snap
one with your
BFF
7 Parody
9 One may pwn a
noob
11 What a mask
blocks
13 Treats like a baby
15 *Certain
geocentric paths
17 Unit of land
18 “Harold and ___”
(1971 cult classic)
19 ___ mot
(witticism)
20 *Experience
auditory
hallucinations
23 Signal signals?
24 Blood-filtering
organs
25 Religious
subgroup
26 Monkey (around)
27 Lead-in to “gritty”
29 Cardiologists,
e.g.: Abbr.
30 Nostalgic photo
tone
31 “Boo 2! A ___
Halloween” (Tyler
Perry film)
34 *2011 movie
in which Jean
Dujardin played a
silent film star
38 Academic URL
ending
39 Paul of “Knocked
Up”
40 Watson or Stone
of film
41 Couch potato’s
device
44 Business name
abbr.
45 Colorado skiing
destination
46 Withdraw from
the front lines
48 Full of hot air
50 Pizza seasoning
51 Picks out
52 With 53-Across,
what lovers often
have after ending
their relationships
... or a hint to
both this grid’s
shape and the
word hidden
in each starred
answer
53 See 52-Across
DOWN
1 Quotation at the
start of a chapter
2 Jackpot
3 Schlep
4 Spanish for
“father”
5 Movie lover’s
website
6 What a nun
practices
7 Jazzes (up)
8 Ga. neighbor
9 Get the ___ on
(obtain evidence
against)
10 Snappy
comeback
11 Persian monarch
12 Weasel with white
fur
13 Word you
may chant at
Oktoberfest
14 IDs targeted by
phishers
16 Basks in the sun
21 Ancient Romans’
world
22 Gas brand with
collectible toy
trucks
23 Bug catcher?
25 Kerfuffle
27 Money-related
question in an ad
28
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
42
43
45
47
49
Apple tablet
Repeatedly avoid
Paris subway
Figuratively,
literally?
Tool for cleaning
a bookcase
Moon of Neptune
Typeface
commonly used
for memes
Refines, as metal
Gets awful
reviews
Thus
Tropical
hardwood
Penne ___ vodka
Ending for oct-
“Life of Pi”
director Ang
Universal Crossword edited by David Steinberg
38 “Thanks a million
for all that help,”
and a theme hint
42 Goalies’ face
coverings
44 Slide down the
slopes
45 Game cubes
48 Trojans of the
NCAA
49 Nonverbal
communication,
for short?
52 What fills a
sleeve
54 Yoga accessory
55 Patron of
plane traffic
controllers?
58 Wards off
60 It’s at the end of
a 52-Across
61 Freezer container
63 Yearning (for)
65 Patron of people
writing with quill
pens?
69 Chocolaty cereal
70 “Science Guy”
Bill
71 French money
72 Contract
conditions
73 Stale
74 Gush
DOWN
1 Pellets that are
shot
2 Bit of horse food
3 Hush-hush org.
4 Chutzpah
5 Pitcher’s aim?
6 Farm team
7 Prescribed
amounts
8 Moody music
genre
9 Tennis star Marin
whose surname
is a palindrome
10 “Later, maybe?”
11 Most optimistic
12 Gets ready to go
out, maybe
15 Those opposed
17 24 cans of beer,
often
20 Disco ___ (“The
Simpsons”
character)
22 Muscles below
pecs
23 Also
24 Alternative to a
metal detector
26 Novelist Hoag
29 Get older
33 Totally fine
35 Accelerator,
informally
37 Also
A15
HOROSCOPES BY HOLIDAY MATHIS
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 2021 The Upside of Retrograde
Canonization by Eric Hougland
ACROSS
1 West German
capital, once
5 Silent assent
8 Online birthday
greeting
13 Wicked, as
instincts
14 Kitchenware
brand
15 Key without
sharps or flats
16 Patron of stone
bridge builders?
18 Win-win
19 Most narcissistic
21 “Oh, really?”
22 Most favorably
25 Patron of
dermatologists?
27 Scary sound
28 Incoming flight
info
30 Country in a
Springsteen title,
briefly
31 Pittsburgh-to-
Baltimore dir.
32 Popcorn
accompan-
iment, often
34 Omelet ingredient
36 Mini-___ (small
stores)
East Oregonian
39 One may rate an
app
40 Reggae relative
41 Hung out?
42 Circle’s center,
in a variation
of duck, duck,
goose
43 Actor/dancer
Fred
46 Hot Wheels toy
47 Visitors from afar,
briefly
50 Gulps from a
flask
51 D.C. fundraising
org.
53 Unkind
56 It might get lost
in translation
57 Binary type of
question
59 Little ones
62 Texter’s signoff
64 They’re saved on
cellphones: Abbr.
66 Lightweight
boxer?
67 Metallic resource
68 Haul from behind
Would you admit that sometimes the Mercury
retrograde is a very convenient excuse for why things
don’t go according to plan? And next week, we’ll also
have the excuse of a Jupiter retrograde putting the
squeeze on funds, so “the check is in the mail” will
be echoed world-round, along with the digital version,
“my server is down.”
ARIES (March 21-April 19). While it’s possible that a
self-sacrificing act will help a relationship, it benefits
you to consider the opposite tactic as well. You’ll
be surprised at the improvements that come from
answering the question, “What’s in it for me?”
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Ultimately, the mother of
frustration is desire. Team an expectation with a time
frame and suddenly the climate is perfect for desire.
There are at least two immediate solutions. Let go of
the desire or lengthen the time frame.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). The duality of the twins
will fascinate others. You’ll be many things at once.
Exhilarated yet patient; hopeful yet reasonable. You’ll
have trepidation and still move forward in boldness,
ready for what comes.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Thinking a thing through
can happen in a flash. Carrying it out takes much
longer than you anticipate, though, especially in light
of the complexity of your current endeavor.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You have the grit that will
propel you forward, regardless of obstacles. And while
you would prefer to reach your destination as soon as
possible, the important thing is not how long it takes
but that you do it.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). The golden rule will
extend like a blanket of karma over your whole scene.
Everything counts. Stay on the safe side. Spare
feelings. Spare spiders! Practice the compassion of
catch and release.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). The group participation
route isn’t always your favorite, but your current
endeavor really does require a team effort. When one
person is tired and ready to give up, another will be
ready to help.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You are, in fact, in the
process of change. You happen to be so deep in it that
it would be impossible to see what’s happening, and
you don’t need to. That’s a job for future you.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You are well aware
of how everyone likes a good storyteller and that bad
ones are tolerated to varying degrees. You’ll make
sure you’re interesting to talk to, which is partly about
brevity and partly just reading the room.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Your heart defies
logic like that’s it’s job. For instance, the bigger your
heart gets, the less worried you are about breaking
it. Love seems to provide its own kind of protection.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Your ego likes to think
it’s the source of your strength and therefore it beats
its chest in a display of dominance when its position
is challenged. The truth is real strength has nothing to
do with posturing.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Don’t assume that
being happy is better than being other emotional
tones. The best feeling is the one that’s coming up, no
matter what it is. Fully feeling is fully processing, and
eventually, this leads to peace.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (June 16). It’s action time.
You’ve already processed your situation, and now
you’ll move without thinking, although thousands of
decisions get made below your consciousness that
will ultimately land you in a sweeter place than you
ever thought possible. In love, you’ll shake a historic
influence to embrace an improved way of operating in
relationships. Scorpio and Leo adore you. Your lucky
numbers are: 7, 9, 28, 40 and 11.
Universal SUDOKU
SOLUTIONS
HOROSCOPES BY HOLIDAY MATHIS
THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 2021 Advice from the Moon of Nurturing
With the intention of nurturing our growth process,
the Virgo moon has the following messages: To
protect someone from the natural consequences of a
choice will change the takeaway. In some cases, it’s
a good idea. Although, with most circumstances, the
pain that comes with the territory is an essential part
of the education.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Nothing makes or breaks
an experience like expectation. And assumption, the
close cousin of expectation, outright changes your
understanding of reality. This adventure goes better
when you leave those kin at home.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). A great accomplishment
is earned in small gains. The steps you execute
today will set you up for one of the more exceptional
weekends you’ve had in a long while.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). The path before you is
being cleared. This isn’t a lucky happening so much
as payback for work you’ve done, relationships you’ve
cultivated and favors you’ve so freely given in the
past.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). You’ll model yourself
after an admired person, aligning in superficial
ways at first, and then on deeper levels such as
communication style, work approach and attitude
about life and relationships.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Your current circle of friends,
loved ones and supporters help you in every way they
know, and yet what you really want and need right
now is still conspicuously missing. Time to widen the
circle, broaden the search.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). In full knowledge that an
opportunity will not be here forever, you’ll soak up
every bit of its deliciousness while you have it. You’re
a smart cookie who realizes a good thing while it’s
yours.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). There are ways of knowing
that fall outside the five senses that seem to be giving
you lots of information now (arguably more than
you’re finding in the traditional ways), and the best
part is that you can trust it.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You’ve had your share
of fickle friends who only come out to play in the sun
and leave you wanting and alone in the shadows of
dreary weather. This is why, no matter what comes,
you show up for your own.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). If what you feel is
the downward tug of tethers, you’ll also be presented
with the option afforded by garden shears. It’s so easy
to build yourself up when there’s nothing holding you
down.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Once upon a time,
the answers were blowing in the wind. They may still
be, but since people are not outside as much, check
for answers trending on social media, too. Also, call a
mom, and, just to be safe, check everywhere.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). When in doubt,
diversify. Seek advice, friendship and news from
different sources. Make sure you’re not getting your
inspiration and influence all from one place, as that’s
a short ride to narrow-minded mistakes.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Part of you wants to
go back and reopen the old fight, check under the
hood of a relationship or rehash a more dramatic bit
of history. Yes, there’s something juicy there, and it
should be left back there, too!
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (June 17). Though you’re
serious about making progress, you never lose your
sense of humor – an essential part of your charismatic
leadership. Qualities like loyalty and honor become
increasingly relevant. Your commitment to a person
or an ideal will define much of your year and in ways
you’ll always be proud of. Virgo and Sagittarius adore
you. Your lucky numbers are: 7, 30, 21, 14 and 2.
Universal SUDOKU
SOLUTIONS