PUZZLES
Thursday, August 26, 2021
Splittin Hairs by Malaika Handa
Universal Crossword edited by David Steinberg
ACROSS
1 Drains
5 Cultivate
9 Word after
“punch” or
“sloppy”
14 Land measure
15 “Live!” co-host
Kelly
16 Bread at
an Indian
restaurant?
17 Soothing
succulent
18 Way off
19 Covered with
flakes, in a way
20 *Denim pants that
don’t zip up (Hint:
In each starred
clue’s answer,
note the first two
+ last two letters)
23 Caramel-filled
candy
24 Ger.’s continent
25 De Armas of
“Knives Out”
27 In the manner of
29 Emphatic
affirmation
33 Clic Stic pen
maker
34 *Part of the family
with one’s dada
and dadi
36 Plays charades
38 Couple’s
possessive
39 Leafy option at
Sweetgreen
40 *Tote
45 Dream location?
46 Cry from a
jealous girlfriend,
perhaps
47 Knee part: Abbr.
48 Surgery sites,
briefly
49 “So pretty!”
50 Bar in an
accessible
bathroom
52 *2012 event that
featured female
athletes from
Saudi Arabia,
Qatar and Brunei
59 Some lines in
circles
60 “Teen ___” (Meg
Cabot novel)
61 Purplish berry
62 Chatting on the
web
63 Seaweed enjoyed
as a snack
64 Pulitzer-winning
Kendrick Lamar
album
28 Make amends
29 ___ mate (South
American tea)
30 Devilish
31 Couch potato,
e.g.
DOWN
32 Ownership
1 Bygone Swedish
papers
car
35 The “O” of XO
2 RBG’s onetime
37 Doing some
employer
cuddling
3 It can give you a
particular angle
41 Little Stevie
4 Handle efficiently
Wonder, for one
5 Breakfast with oat 42 Texter’s “If you’re
clusters
asking me ...”
6 Improvised bit of 43 Material for fake
jazz
nails
7 Australian gem
44
Chic,
informally
8 Needing
51 Apple tablets
convincing, say
52 Dalai ___
9 Creator of the
Lorax
53 Norse god of
10 Do something
wisdom
dangerous
54 IX
11 Atop
55 Stench
12 MSNBC fodder
56 Chicago mayor
13 One may be
Lightfoot
under a doormat
57
Print
on military-
21 “Frozen”
inspired fashion,
snowman
briefly
22 Taunt
58 Participate in a
25 Embarrass
cabaret
26 Specialized
market
59 Lip of a glass
65 Like an unkempt
dog
66 “The ___ Andre
Show”
67 Laborious task
Star-Crossed Lovers by Andrew McIntyre
Universal Crossword edited by David Steinberg
ACROSS
1 Dined
4 Bat wood
7 Shar ___ (wrinkly
dog)
10 Kitchen meas.
13 Was a segue for
15 Liquor in a pina
colada
16 Steamy, or
dreamy
17 14-Down’s lover,
in a medieval
story
18 8-Down’s lover, in
a Greek myth
20 Not tricked by
21 Hair goo
23 Pine (for)
24 Rodeo rope
26 Like a 2020
calendar, in two
ways
27 Loses, as one’s
coat
30 Gin’s partner
32 It doesn’t stand
for “any time
money”
34 Sharpens
35 Word between
“no” and “luck”
36 To and ___
37 Summer mo.
with no federal
holidays
38 This puzzle’s has
a bonus if you
read the letters
where the lovers
cross in order by
column
40 Tit for ___
41 “___: Vegas”
(2021 TV reboot)
42 Kind of Japanese
beef
43 Choose by a vote
45 “Jeopardy!”
legend Jennings
46 Surrounded by
48 What erasers
often leave,
ironically
49 42-Down’s lover,
in “Hunger
Games” books
51 47-Down’s lover,
in a 1920s novel
53 Tilted, to a Brit
54 City east of KC
55 Comfort
59 Soldier with a
sword, say
61 Yosemite Falls’
range, informally
63 Latish lunch hour
64 Mermaid’s home
65 Person playing
low notes
66 Takeoff guess at
JFK
67 Common ID
68 Football gains:
Abbr.
69 “It all makes
sense now!”
DOWN
1 High male voice
2 Gull’s relative
3 Rewrite, perhaps
4 Tiny colony
member
5 Deer also called
bucks
6 Perfectly frank
7 Gamer who was
once a noob
8 Lover of
18-Across
9 Accuse, as an
officeholder
10 Subsequently
11 One plays in “Toy
Story 4”
12 Quart divisions,
briefly
14 Lover of
17-Across
19 It may have a
wide brim
22
25
27
28
29
31
33
38
39
42
43
44
47
50
52
56
57
58
59
60
62
Remaining details
Animal that brays
Rough home
Kitchen pot filler
that isn’t cooked
Designed
___ Lock
(computer key)
Applesauce
maker
Ketchup
ingredients
“The Sopranos”
network, once
Lover of
49-Across
Long dash
lengths
Sections of cakes
Lover of
51-Across
Bodily canal site
Trojan War epic
Cantata solo
Pageant garment
“Como ___?”
Grief
Did a marathon
Letter with two
curves
East Oregonian
A9
HOROSCOPES BY HOLIDAY MATHIS
FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 2021 Jupiter Nudge
The fifth planet from the Sun is over two and a half times
bigger than the rest of the planets combined. It follows
that Jupiter is associated with expansion, exponential
growth and massive fortunes. The current position of
Mercury in vigilant Virgo to lucky Jupiter is a nudge to
check on the soundness of our investments.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Because there is always
more to learn, you’re seldom bored. The exception is the
case in which circumstances disallow you to follow your
curiosity. A restriction will lift -- hooray!
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You’ll find yourself in
a fascinating position. The next 48 hours are marked by
boldness and unpredictability. Because no one, not even
you, is sure how this will go, all eyes are on you.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). If you martyr yourself in
the name of friendship, you’ll only end up resenting your
friend. The best reason to make a sacrifice is for how it
defines you to yourself.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). It’s hard to see the value
of an opportunity on its face. You must proceed down the
winding corridor in hopes it actually leads somewhere
good. Even if you have to turn around and go back, at
least your curiosity will be satisfied.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’ve a keen instinct for
when to get in and out of things. If you’re in it, it’s because
you want to be. To stick with something because of the
sunken costs would be a prideful mistake.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). It takes boldness and
self-awareness, but if you dare ask for what you want,
you’ll save yourself from countless hours of struggle and
frustration. If they can’t do it, you’ll know quick. If they
can... satisfaction!
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). In today’s endeavor, you
cannot have both perfection and practicality. Pick one.
Hint: happiness is choosing options existing within the
realm of possibility.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). There is a purpose
behind your communication and behavior, though not
everyone will understand it. Spell it out and get the
support you need.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Social scientists
suggest most untrained people do not read emotional
expressions as accurately as they think they can. It’s
worth it for you to make special efforts to tune yourself
into the feelings of others.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). When others around
you don’t acknowledge the reality you are experiencing,
question it. Maybe they are afraid. Maybe they are waiting
for the leader. Say what’s on your mind; speak the truth
you see.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). In the case of
incompatible desires or mutually exclusive agendas, no
amount of persuasion will alter the course. You know
where you stand. What you encounter is not worth
bending for.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Efforts are rewarded,
though not always by their reciprocation. An attempt to
connect will result in something positive, regardless of
whether the connection actually takes place.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Aug. 27). Your craving for
excitement will be satisfied repeatedly. You won’t have to
go far to find a new world; there’s one behind every door
you come to. At the turn of the year, you’ll devote yourself
to a single purpose. Publicly declare your intentions
to gain the focus, motivation and support necessary to
make them real. Cancer and Aries adore you. Your lucky
numbers are: 7, 5, 22, 18 and 12.
Universal SUDOKU
SOLUTIONS
HOROSCOPES BY HOLIDAY MATHIS
SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 2021 Mercury Gets Existential
The last full day of Mercury in Virgo will be a productive
one in which orders are followed, requests fulfilled, goals
met, expectations exceeded. At day’s end, there will be a
brief sense of accomplishment followed by a lengthy bout
of assessment as Mercury, in transition, asks, “Now that
it’s done, what does it mean?”
ARIES (March 21-April 19). If no one else is taking
charge, assume the authority. Handle each issue as
it comes to you and as quickly as possible. Delaying
problems will only result in bigger problems.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). What is commonplace to
you will be a novelty or even a wonder to someone from a
different place. Sharing your culture will open your eyes,
ears and taste buds to what’s great about it.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). The benefit to keeping
communication short and to-the-point is both social and
financial. You will be heard, understood and paid. People
respect how you value time.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). As good as you may feel
about your ability to handle details, there will be simply
too many of them to juggle and still feel calm and relaxed.
The answer is a checklist or an assistant -- more likely,
both.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). A project you thought was
completed will need to be deconstructed and rebuilt
differently. The willingness to go through the exercise is
what sets the pros apart from the amateurs.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You figure out how to get
the most out of the least. These limitations do not limit
your capacity for glamour and could in fact give birth to
the best elements of your style.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Make a plan, and
move through it quickly, leaving no room for doubt or
overthinking. With elegant simplicity, you will hit your
marks and move to the next level.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). To open yourself to
criticism makes you vulnerable while giving you an edge.
Not all vulnerability is weakness, and not all criticism is
negative. You’ll get just what you need to improve.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Are you willing to
go one step further? Everyone who completes the course
will receive a certificate, though only those who go above
and beyond the requirements will take home the prize.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). The day plays like
a coin toss. You surrender your problem to the whims of
fate, and when you catch back up with it, it’s either just
how you left it or the opposite of that.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Loosen your grip on
the rules. Trying to make a thing flawless will prevent it
from getting finished in time. You cannot go to the next
step until you ship the thing.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Your water sign
energy can steam, boil, flow or freeze, according to the
emotional climate around you. Let the hand that guides
the thermostat be your own.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Aug. 28). You’ve the heart of
a teacher. When you share knowledge and skills, you’ll
be paid in money and other ways more meaningful.
Adventures launch in the spur of the moment, and events
are oddly enhanced by the lack of planning. You’ll have
fun with your image and make lifestyle upgrades to add
ease to your day-to-day. Libra and Scorpio adore you.
Your lucky numbers are: 10, 4, 44, 12 and 15.
Universal SUDOKU
SOLUTIONS