PUZZLES Saturday, August 14, 2021 Absent Note by Jess Shulman Universal Crossword edited by David Steinberg ACROSS 1 Sasha or Malia 6 Egyptian biter 9 Cooling systems, for short 12 Evidence 13 Sporty car roof option 15 Seed found in health foods 17 Clean type of energy 18 *Manufacture mannequin toppers? 20 Score, as great seats 22 Update, in real estate lingo 23 Kind 24 *Split ends? 27 “Eww, I didn’t need all those details” 29 Ready to deliver a baby 30 “___ of the d’Urbervilles” 31 Not required 34 Petro-Canada competitor 38 *Anticipate a drink at a dance? 42 Fill fully 43 Like a certain continental union 44 Creative writing degs. 48 Rapper ___ Baby 49 Moody music genre 50 *External investor? 55 Device for taping TV shows 56 Feathery fish hook, perhaps 57 Battery in a toy, often 58 Write a letter, or a hint to the deletion that formed each starred clue’s answer 61 Word after “blow” or “spin” 65 Hang on to 66 “Bye-bye,” in Bristol 67 Tapenade ingredient 68 So far 69 Place to park 70 Used a keyboard DOWN 1 Chances, as for photos 2 Sis’ sib, maybe 3 Dial-up pioneer 4 Polynesian Disney protagonist 5 Scared about 6 Money dispenser, for short 7 Drummer Ringo 8 Prod with a finger 9 Get a perfect score on 10 Lead, as a meeting 11 Move furtively 14 British coins 16 Requests 19 Have the ___ for (find attractive) 21 Pop star Mars 24 Bandleader’s “Go!” 25 What a chicken feels? 26 Deplete 27 Pulls along 28 Film-rating org.’s longtime name 32 Bullet points 33 4G ___ 35 Scornful look 36 Phishing attempt, e.g. 37 “That’s not good!” 39 Dance at a luau 40 PlayStation thriller game whose title is a girl’s name 41 Spot that won’t come out in the laundry 45 Nike competitor 46 Act like a grown- up, in slang 47 ___ comma (punctuation mark that sparks much debate) 50 Likelihood 51 Bit of light that burns 52 Cache 53 Japanese box lunch 54 With time to spare 59 Word before “name” or “food” 60 Partake of latkes, say 62 Puppy’s sound 63 Preceding night 64 Like cinnamon candy Finding That Niche Job by Pam Klawitter Universal Crossword edited by David Steinberg ACROSS 1 Soup with Hanoi and Saigon styles 4 Tiny unit of work 7 Cornstalk topper 13 Takes the wrong way? 15 River, in Venezuela 16 On full-time duty 17 Remark after something fortuitous happens 19 Readied for shipping, as oranges 20 Specialized role at a school of wizardry? 22 Take a stroll 23 They follow sigmas 24 Race, as an engine 27 GPS lines 28 “Sweet!” 29 Cooktop’s appliance 31 Specialized role at a coalpit? 33 Gems Myanmar is known for 3 Constantly think (about) 4 Stonestreet of “Modern Family” 5 “You said it!” 6 Lost control 7 Bulletin board fasteners 8 Forestland unit 9 Toronto newspaper 10 Basic dog command 11 First lady? 12 Was in first place 14 Blowout or BOGO 18 Crafty 21 Sticks in pool halls 24 Only Clue weapon whose token isn’t metallic 25 “... happily ___ after” 26 Part of VIP 28 One ran away with the spoon DOWN 29 Cook quickly, as 1 Spectrum makers scallops 2 Chinese meal 30 Hanoi holiday cooked at the table 31 Track event 37 Cafe or bistro 38 Specialized role at a tent factory? 42 Person who takes your car key 43 New York City’s Central ___ 44 Small social circle 47 High degree? 48 One is inherited naturally 49 Broadway’s Menzel 51 Specialized role at a sweet shop? 54 North African expanse 57 “IMHO” 58 Good luck charm 59 Agent, briefly 60 Cheekiness, informally 61 Religious doctrines 62 Rx providers 63 Word with “mattress” or “mouse” 32 Wall calendar row 33 Get back to the host 34 State whose official snack is Jell-O 35 Like worn tires 36 ‘50s presidential nickname 39 Angled column? 40 Cord that may hold an ID card 41 Nightstand’s companion 44 Add one’s two cents 45 Largest lake entirely in New York 46 Flitted 48 Summer pests 49 Form 1040 org. 50 South Beach or Beverly Hills 51 Storm lead-in? 52 Tiler’s calculation 53 Pieces of inside information 54 Inapt rhyme for “glad” 55 Word from a Latin lover 56 Greeting for a grandchild East Oregonian A9 HOROSCOPES BY HOLIDAY MATHIS SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2021 Last Day of Venus in Virgo As we savor the last day of Venus in Virgo, there’s an awareness of experiencing life with more than just our five senses. Our memory informs us -- as does our perception of context -- of place and time; beliefs around status; prejudices and preferences; and a million other subtleties that shape how we’ll move through this puzzle of a day. ARIES (March 21-April 19). To ready yourself for something new, you must first reset. You can’t try again until after you’ve hung up. Put in new numbers all you want, but it won’t start a new call until you disconnect the old one. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). One thing leads to another. You’ll soon find yourself sorting through a mystery with an uncomfortable awareness of the risk factor. This is the start of an ongoing adventure. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You have something to say, though it will benefit you to hold back. Ask another question. Listen hard. There’s more to learn and at least one key piece of information that will have you changing your mind or your strategy. CANCER (June 22-July 22). You did what they wanted last time -- and the time before that, and before that. It’s your turn to do it your way and in the timing you’d prefer to. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’ll get puzzled looks and field questions that can’t be answered. Sometimes, the moral of the story is that there is no story -- just a list of things to figure out before a foundation can be laid. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Getting to know people is your forte and pleasure. You’ve a talent for drawing out the real story so you can better understand who people are and their motivating passions. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You may be able to execute a solo mission cheaper and faster, but it won’t be nearly as useful as what you do in a team. Collaborations will net the best results and come together more easily than you anticipate. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). There are fancier and trendier ways to solve problems, but new isn’t always better. The old tool works; use it until it doesn’t. You’ll save time and money not having to deal with a learning curve. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). There will be something or someone driving you crazy all day, making you yearn for peace and quiet. As a result, you’ll be motivated to do remarkable things. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Love is intense and transformative. Love overshadows, overtakes and renders all prior messes and mistakes insignificant. Love is a reset button. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You are in charge of what you say and do, but the meaning others extract from it is entirely their own. Let go of caring about that and you will be set free. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). It’s strange to admit, but you do get tired of seeing things from your own point of view. You’ll be won over by the person who offers you another perch and a different experience. TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Aug. 15). Close relationships are the beautiful music of your life. You’ll make connections with astounding ease. You’re never more than a few sentences away from striking the chord of familiarity. Harmonious dealings will be your trademark. You’ll highlight commonalities, bridge differences and inspire brilliant collaborations of prosperity and healing. Aquarius and Pisces adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 4, 44, 1, 18 and 30. Universal SUDOKU SOLUTIONS HOROSCOPES BY HOLIDAY MATHIS MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 2021 Venus Goes Home We aren’t always aware of our values. Sometimes it takes an unusual situation to remind us of what we care about. Venus floating into her homeland of Libra will bring our values into stark relief. They’ll be represented in our demeanor, what we talk about and how we relate to each other. The articulation will help us better embody our beliefs. ARIES (March 21-April 19). Good communication keeps it all on track. This will involve eye-to-eye contact and double-checking to make sure you hear and have been heard correctly. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Is it possible to take your show on the road? The more you get out and see people -- especially strangers -- the better chance you’ll have at realizing a goal. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Energy -- like love -- is invisible to the naked eye, though the evidence of its existence is concretely and undeniably represented in the physical world. Action is encouraged. Don’t just feel it; show it. CANCER (June 22-July 22). Today features whimsical offerings to sate your appetite for excitement and change. Join a trend or set one. Upgrades of the domestic scene are especially favorable. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). The price tag of what you want may give you a kind of sticker shock, though dollars may not be the real currency to be exchanged. When you want something badly enough, you’ll do quite a lot to get it. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). More than one thing will be true at once. You’ll sort through a multitude of options and pick the prettiest ones for a mixed bouquet on the table of your life. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). It feels like you’re starting over. Maybe so, but building from ground zero is the cleanest and most stable way to start. You won’t have much to work around now. Experience has cleared your way. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Your current venture won’t go to plan, but the choice to make something happen is never for nothing. Everything you make and do teaches you something new. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). If you want to know exactly what will happen, stay home. The unpredictable excites. You’ll get out, move, interact, dare, strive and connect. Anything can happen. Anything will. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You’re a hard worker and a wise one too. When it’s time to stop and rest, make sure you have adequate time to do so. To skip that would put your future productivity in jeopardy. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). It takes courage to put yourself in the crosshairs of judgment. Though you’d rather not leave yourself open like that, the potential for connection requires risking vulnerability. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Love is the container you’ll pour yourself into. Another will do the same to make a mix unique to your relationship, never to be duplicated by any other. TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Aug. 16). You establish health habits to hold you in good stead. Your focus on doing instead of saying nets huge wins. You make plans and act on them, surprising and delighting people with your sureness. Shared education will bring together a winning team. You’ll meet people who will be in your life for years to come. Scorpio and Libra adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 7, 22, 14, 18 and 32. Universal SUDOKU SOLUTIONS