PUZZLES Tuesday, July 6, 2021 Contain Yourself by Jared V. Goudsmit Universal Crossword edited by David Steinberg ACROSS 1 * 5 Apt rhyme for “trim” 9 Widen, as one’s nostrils 14 Strong of “Ben 10” 15 Game akin to bingo 16 Primate such as Madagascar’s aye-aye 17 “Goodness me!” 18 Flowt sandal maker 19 River mammal 20 Taboo topic (Hint: Start by reading this answer’s middle 8 letters) 23 Acts as peacemaker 24 Boxing venue 27 “Yes, monsieur!” 28 “___ a trap!” 29 ___ carte 31 Ride the breeze 34 Final mistake that contributes to a failure (... middle 4 letters) 38 Speak at length 40 “The Matrix” hero 41 Lugged along 42 Song originally dedicated to Marilyn Monroe (... middle 6 letters) 45 Comic ___ (font in many memes) 46 “What’d I tell ya?” 47 Craft kit initials 48 Snitch 50 One of 50 in America 52 Admirable sort 57 Having divided loyalties (... middle 6 letters) 59 Religion for Malcolm X 62 Stockpile in a zombie movie 63 Idyllic garden 64 Take suddenly 65 Like excellent eyesight 66 “Woe is me!” 67 Mental fogs 68 Like, forever 69 ___ mortal DOWN 1 Leave angrily, with “off” 2 Sierra Nevada lake 3 Ready for a duel 4 “Goodfellas” actor 5 One with reservations 6 Cafe con ___ 7 Ancient Peruvians 8 It isn’t made of green cheese 9 Burns rubber 10 “I’ll handle it” 11 Qty. 12 Feel remorse over 13 Bark up the wrong tree 21 ___ de cologne 22 “So long, old chap!” 25 ‘90s commerce treaty 26 Crop circle creator, some say 28 Privy to 30 No ifs, ___ or buts 31 Dazzles 32 Sagittarius : archer :: ___ : ram 33 Diamond side 35 No more than 36 Finder’s ___ 37 Ran low on energy 39 When meetings wrap up DOWN 1 K-pop group that has spoken at the U.N. twice 2 Contents of lodes 3 Text while watching TV, say 4 The “B” of BCE 5 Rummikub or Risk 6 Swiss peak 7 Font flourish 8 “Who’da thunk?!” 9 Male sheep 10 Incubation locations 11 Type of cake or pan 14 Fancy ‘do 16 Mom-and-pop grps.? 18 Bon ___ (Justin Vernon’s band) 19 Horrid 24 Unfortunate smells 25 Indian breakfast cake 26 Spice up, as wine 27 Where most of Turkey is 28 Perspective, figuratively 29 ___ wash (baker’s mixture) 33 “Pass” 34 Atlanta university HOROSCOPES BY HOLIDAY MATHIS WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2021 Venus Drama Patience is called for on a day that loiters between two stressful Venus events. What we want is bound up in the rules of time, laws that we are helpless to change. But without these boundaries, life would fluctuate wildly, becoming too fast to comprehend or unbearably elongated. The best we can do is accept and embrace impositions of pacing. ARIES (March 21-April 19). Thoughts show up like intrusive pop-up ads on the internet -- suggestions based on your history -- but that doesn’t mean you have to act on them. Click the little “X” and bring your attention back to what matters to you now. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Shallow thinking leads to knowing enough to be dangerous. While not everything requires a deep dive, be alert to the signals that there might be more than what meets the eye. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Sometimes you wonder why you were even chosen, but you can stop that line of inquiry today because it’s easy to answer: You’re the best person for the job. Go and do it. CANCER (June 22-July 22). You’ll toss out ideas to your friends, and though they may not act on them, your position as a valuable contributor and influence in the group will be reinforced. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). One part of you sets the tone and the agenda for the rest of you. Your inner leader beats the drum for your better angels to follow, and follow they will... until they won’t. There’s an inner conversation and negotiation to work out today. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Inexperienced people can read about the inner world of others, but experienced people like you have felt it, so you can instantly spot it -- pain, excitement, need -- and seize the arising opportunity. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You’ll see evidence of a person’s attempt to hide something. You’re not interested in shaming anyone or calling out bad behavior; you just want the truth. Naughtiness is a cover-up for an honest, if unacceptable, desire or need. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Among the world’s more interesting jobs is the scientific station involving the search for extraterrestrial life elsewhere in the universe. You can relate. You, too, await a distant affirmation. You won’t regret holding out hope. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Financial decisions may be serious and requiring of a rigorous thought process and strategy, but once the decisions are made, back off and relax. It’s only money. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). There’s a difference between the detachment of effortless coolness and one of shy reservation, though it’s a difference many will not recognize. Go on and build your mystery; it’s working for you. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). With intelligence and compassion, you’ll connect with people on levels deeper than the business at hand. You’ll communicate from the heart, which will take surprisingly few words. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). People ask things of you, their requests rarely coming in the form of questions. You’ll tune into what people need and want, which is something very different from the literal meaning of the words spilling from their lips. TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (July 7). Healthy relationships will top the long list of things you’re grateful for. What starts as an exciting attraction will develop into a deep connection and, at points, a shared mission. You’ll entertain loved ones and contribute to the magic of many a social event. The places you see will enrich your work and open opportunity. Scorpio and Libra adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 38, 33, 21, 8 and 20. Universal SUDOKU 44 Fantasy creatures that hoard gold 49 “Pokemon” protagonist Ketchum 51 Stupefy SOLUTIONS 52 Short appearance in a movie 53 Lightbulb unit 54 Throw for a loop 55 Unambiguous 56 On pins and needles 58 Word after “crumb” or “crab” 59 Suffix with “self” 60 Briny deep 61 Congresswoman Cheney Universal Crossword edited by David Steinberg 45 Lever pusher in a lab 46 Rep who led a Twitter tutorial for House Dems 48 New versions of TV shows 51 *”Best case scenario ...” 56 Storyline shape 57 Photographer Goldin 58 Historical chapter 59 “Old MacDonald” vowels 61 Novel forms for novels, and a clue to the word scrambled within each starred answer 66 Cookies sometimes decon-structed 67 Trivia spots 68 Song like “Take Me or Leave Me” 69 Word on a red sign 70 Bit of ink 71 Queries A15 43 Conked out Moving Pictures by Ella Dershowitz ACROSS 1 Not get a single laugh, say 5 Pump product 8 Chow 12 Word after “ring” or “hold” 13 Baldwin of “30 Rock” 15 “Food’s ready!” 17 *Personal growth 20 Skillet’s spot 21 The third 22 Nutritional letters 23 Feeling after a bad call 24 *Like topics you shouldn’t talk about 27 Changed 30 College URL ender 31 Habitat for some otters 32 “___ fishing” 35 Woolly Peruvian animal 39 *You may apply one to a selfie 43 In need of straightening 44 Croc, but not gator East Oregonian 36 Horrid 37 What a vegetarian avoids 38 Be An ___ Hero (grassroots campaign for creators) 40 Debate group 41 Not touching base, informally? 42 Consultant’s charge 47 Fed a line to 49 Goad 50 Potato product brand named for two states 51 Data, briefly 52 Food-on-a-stick events 53 Fjord or sound 54 Losing roll at a casino 55 Unfixable 59 ___ Bay (Oakland’s area) 60 Fun run length, informally 62 Cattle call? 63 Shakespearean snake 64 Unknown, on a schedule: Abbr. 65 Ave. crossers in NYC HOROSCOPES BY HOLIDAY MATHIS THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021 Venus Is a Stressed-Out Teacher A lesson from the stressed relationship of Venus to Uranus. Disappointment and frustration can be avoided by anticipating and preparing for experiences. Imagination is a time machine. Project yourself into events; see yourself winning; and then work backward, supplying yourself with what you need to make that happen. ARIES (March 21-April 19). You are arriving at a juncture that many before you were unable to successfully navigate, their failures a motivating force behind your caution and senses on high alert. You can do this. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). To the world, you’re a diligent worker bee, but you experience yourself differently. Unmet expectation causes a discrepancy in you that no one else can see. You feel you should do more to get there. Is it even possible though? GEMINI (May 21-June 21). If you spread yourself thin, there will be a little of you on every sandwich, though maybe not enough to impact the overall flavor profile of anyone’s meal. Say no to three things so you can give a more concentrated yes. CANCER (June 22-July 22). As it was with the royals in days of old, the luxuries you share in your “castle” will really pay off. Entertainment wins battles without raising swords. Diplomacy is among the numerous unselfish reasons to invest in your home. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). While attempting to balance the professional, personal, creative and communal aspects of your life, you’ll come to the inevitable conclusion that something’s got to give. If you don’t choose what, the universe will choose for you. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). The work is tricky and new to you, though there are people around who have been doing this for decades. While trying your best to do things right, you may bring smiles to the lips of experts. They will be smiles of compassion. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Society will readily present you with an entire chart of what you must do to be virtuous and deserving of respect, and your impulse to set it on fire is not entirely unwarranted. It’s all too much, right? Retreat; recharge; and regroup. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Before you spend countless hours trying to figure out and execute the most efficient and effective way to complete the task, make sure it’s worth doing. The big-picture view is invaluable. Step back; walk up; figure it out. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Communication isn’t always talk. In fact, too much talk can definitely muddy the waters of communication. The point gets made best when sharpened by the flint of brevity. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Everything you experience today has a benefit of one kind or another. Some will pay off immediately and others years from now. It will be lucky to thank them in advance for the dividends. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). It’s taking a while to master a subject. Maybe it doesn’t come naturally to you, or perhaps you’re so interested in it that you want to absorb it wholly and deeply. Either way, embrace this pacing. It’s perfect! PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You’re a diligent, reliable worker, a friend to be counted on, a go-to member of the family -- and, in a related story, you’re tired. How does the “inside-you” figure into the equation? That person wants equal attention. TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (July 8). Nothing will interfere with your quest for and maintenance of an exciting, fulfilling personal life. You’ll develop skills and sharpen your intellect with an ongoing competitive challenge; advancement is certain. You’ll come to new understandings as you experiment and learn how to succeed among diverse personalities. Libra and Scorpio adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 8, 32, 14, 4 and 17. Universal SUDOKU SOLUTIONS