PUZZLES Tuesday, September 21, 2021 Runback by George Jasper Universal Crossword edited by David Steinberg ACROSS 1 Criticize harshly 7 In ___ of 11 Pizzazz 14 Musketeer of note 15 Shows for wannabe performers 17 “Blonde” author (In this clue’s answer, notice letters 8 to 5) 19 Donkey 20 Revealed 21 Weight-loss plan 22 Dad 23 Significant span 25 “Go ahead, say it’s my fault!” (... letters 5 to 2) 31 Microwaves 32 Paintballs or snowballs 33 Gift for a new employee, maybe 36 Drink made with ice cream 37 Iota follower 39 Bird last seen in 1662 40 Where to get a salt scrub 41 Steady boyfriend 42 Type of mustard 43 ‘90s “Star Trek” spinoff (... letters 5 to 1) 47 Down ___ (memorized) 48 Wheels of fortune, perhaps? 49 Pastrami place 52 Put on, as a protest 54 Boxing ref’s call 57 Timely response time, and a theme hint 61 Like an Etch A Sketch or a whiteboard 62 Cleaned in a finger bowl, say 63 ___ Perignon 64 Point of view 65 Fuels, as a fire DOWN 1 ___ California 2 Son of Ares 3 Fish with flat bodies 4 “Better Call Saul” network 5 Neckwear clasps 6 Daydreaming, for some 7 Oral history 8 2001 Apple release 9 Symbol of slipperiness 10 Number one card game? 11 Tubular pasta 12 Drink with a Tropical Fusion flavor 13 (Listen up!) 16 Respectful address 18 Medina resident, most likely 22 Get the ball rolling? 23 “Avenger” Peel 24 ___ Speedwagon 25 Resistor measures 26 Proverbial bucket of bolts 27 The jackfruit dish tam khanun, for instance 28 Accept eagerly 29 Volume-boosting box 30 Vulcan Salute symbol, e.g. 34 Thick Japanese noodle 35 No longer there 37 Held on to 38 Certain batteries 39 Jurassic beast, for short 41 “Come on, ___ pal!” 42 Negative aspect 44 Films with large casts 45 Mathematician Turing 46 Humidor items 49 Barred from competing, informally 50 Capital of Italy? 51 Actor Hemsworth 52 Wear a pouty face 53 Shade “thrower” 54 Mammoth growth 55 Joint with a cap 56 Long ones are unfavorable 58 Fox’s “Call Me ___” 59 Up in the air, briefly 60 “The Coda Collection” co- founder Yoko Don’t Burn After Reading by Parker Higgins Universal Crossword edited by David Steinberg ACROSS 1 Testy response to “What a fun puzzle!” 5 Sixth sense, for short 8 *Juice pouch brand 13 Boy, in Bolivia 14 Sound of relaxation 15 “How curious ...” 17 Hypothetical situation 19 Short trailer 20 Thing to discuss 21 Fade (out) 23 For example 24 Tiny queen’s subject 25 Got a bit closer 28 Fanny 29 Embarrassing misstep 33 Venue for a facial 35 “White” or “Red” follower 36 “Wow, that’s neat!” 37 *What casts short shadows 39 *Some lie on top of blankets 40 Laptop part used for shortcuts 41 Jardin ___ Tuileries (Paris park) 42 Catan resource 43 Inauthentic person 44 Quinoa and teff 46 Scatter 48 Early programmer Lovelace 51 Unrefined 54 Secret supply 55 Goods 57 Estevez in “Repo Man” 59 Beach trip essential, or any of three squares in this grid that affects the starred clues’ answers? 61 Be overly fond of 62 It might need a massage after getting bruised 63 Muslim prayer leader 64 *Vitamin D source 65 ID on an IRS form 66 “Rent” actor Diggs DOWN 1 App that has stories, for short 2 Send after, as an attack dog 3 Clumsy 4 “Beloved” author Morrison 5 Musician’s asset 6 Cry directed at a boat 7 *Arizona NBA player 8 Referenced 9 Had a healthy diet 10 TV ad for a good cause 11 “Dress for Less” sloganeer 12 Lightbulb, in comics 16 *Partner of “various” 18 Grp. co-founded by Helen Keller 22 Casual top 26 Writing assignment 27 Chips that may be loaded 28 Bombed 30 Author Jonathan Safran ___ 31 Golfer’s heads-up 32 Chi-Town trains 33 Guitarist’s opportunity to impress 34 Plants’ places, perhaps 36 Desert haven 37 Go out early? 38 Mockery 39 Big embraces 41 *Summer shifts? 44 College app stat 45 Novice, in gamer lingo 47 Word after “rolling” or “stepping” 48 Candy store’s smell, e.g. 49 Radioactive process 50 “I’m an open book!” 51 *Feature of the Krypton skyline 52 “Famous” cookie man 53 Currently dating 56 Landed 58 Hawaiian graduation gift 60 Prefix for “smoking” East Oregonian A15 HOROSCOPES BY HOLIDAY MATHIS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2021 Autumnal Equinox When the night and day divide in equal parts, it’s that magical time of the year celebrated by cultures ancient and modern -- the autumnal equinox. The pagan name for the fall equinox celebration is Mabon. The Druids celebrate with Alban Elfed and other harvest festivals abound across the globe in the weeks to come. Happy equinox! ARIES (March 21-April 19). As you commit to seeing your situation and your role in it more clearly, you will discover who you are, what you want and what matters deeply to you. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). The call is to action swift and sure. Once you have decided, follow through with the whole of you. Hesitate and you’ll lose power. Wait and it will only get harder and harder to influence the situation. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Today offers you a free ticket to a different perspective. All you have to do is be willing to check your own way of seeing things outside the door. You can pick it back up on the way out. CANCER (June 22-July 22). Your psychic senses tingle today and you are especially aware of people who are in need. What they need and how you may help is harder to pinpoint. Or you could just ask! LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Your values are different from those of another, but that does not have to be a relationship deterrent. The fact that you have values, know them and uphold them well is extremely attractive and an excellent thing to have in common. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You already know the right thing to do in general, but the specifics hang you up. It feels like you’re working harder than you need to. Look around for the person having an easier time of it and start asking questions. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). There’s a distraction monkey on your shoulder ready to interrupt any task that doesn’t promise instant gratification. If you’re to achieve your goal, he must be ignored. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Know what you’re getting into. Step back to see how things and people are connected. One move will have the sort of domino effect that people make videos about; an intricate spiral of collapsing pieces. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). The outcome you desire will be achieved through persuasion. However, if your subject feels at all manipulated, the effect will be lost. Build attraction. It is the most powerful persuasion. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You’re driven by the spirit of cooperation. Your personal efforts revolve around organizing and supporting others. You create an orderly atmosphere around you so people can understand what to do and fall into line. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). When you see someone in need of assistance, you spring into action. Your movement will wake up the many people who don’t notice too much outside of their own thoughts. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). People do their own growing, often despite themselves. So while you can’t make another person grow up, you can, and will, contribute to circumstances that favor growth. TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (SEPT. 22). This solar return features unexpected twists, unexplainable luck and a revolving cast of characters to sparkle up your social life. A change in your work turns an obligation into an opportunity to learn and earn. You’ll educate and celebrate others, building your legacy with each event. Scorpio and Sagittarius adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 5, 20, 40, 16 and 30. Universal SUDOKU SOLUTIONS HOROSCOPES BY HOLIDAY MATHIS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 Libra Season Commences As we glide into Libra season, we are reminded that Libra is the only inanimate image in the zodiac, scales of justice that stand alone, nary a blindfolded lady to uphold them. Considering the difficulty of getting an accurate measurement from any instrument touched by human hand, the lack of humanity in Libra’s justice only speaks to its purity. ARIES (March 21-April 19). You’re open to seeing yourself how others see you. Their opinions aren’t necessarily more accurate than yours, but the blend of several views creates the kind of clear picture that makes obvious your next success move. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). One impediment to learning is thinking you should know something already. Better to admit what you don’t know and gather experience than to unnecessarily stumble around in the dark. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Certainty causes you to take great risks and use powerful tactics to further the mission. But if there’s even a shadow of a doubt, as there will be today, watch and wait for more illumination on the matter. CANCER (June 22-July 22). You’ll step into a role you haven’t played before -- a natural fit. It’s new territory and yet oddly familiar, which allows for ease and grace in these early stages. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Brainstorm new friendship rules. With good social boundaries, you can avoid having another one of those conversations in which people feel better after sharing their feelings and pain with you, but you feel worse. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). The resolve has always been in you; it just hasn’t been brought out quite this powerfully before. Now exciting projects, ideas and plans give you a surge of transformational courage. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Maybe it seems like you’re acting out of character, but really, it’s just that certain people bring out rarely seen sides of you. The unpredictability of this fascinates even you. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You don’t have to say or do anything for people to feel your energy. You take care of your own heart, happiness and focus. You send out the sweet, attractive energy, and people respond in kind. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You’ll be inspired by the people you meet and the stories you hear. You may not realize the good you do for others just by giving your supportive attention and listening well. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). As gardeners know well, many seeds look alike. It’s early, and the ideas are folded in on themselves -- pure, featureless potential. Put them in dirt to see what happens. If it’s not what you want, you can always try again. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Conforming to certain culture norms is sometimes necessary to survive, fit in and influence others. But conforming all the time is soul- crushing. You feel a rebellion coming on. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). The bear who wants honey bad enough is willing to risk bee stings. You’re much cleverer, though, and will stand by watching until you figure out how honey can be had without a chance of getting stung. TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Sept. 23). The encouragement of your surroundings will be unmistakable. All you have to do is take steps toward the destination and wild bounty pours forth. This is a product of excellent alignment. What you need to give is precisely what they need to receive and vice versa. Keep it rolling; luck follows movement. Leo and Aquarius adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 18, 2, 22, 16 and 5. Universal SUDOKU SOLUTIONS