PUZZLES Tuesday, November 16, 2021 Noodles Around by David Litman Universal Crossword edited by David Steinberg ACROSS 1 Body pic 4 Admirer’s poem 7 MRI alternative 14 Poured poorly 16 Sea otter’s snack 17 Observing Yom Kippur 18 Put together in a pinch (See this answer’s last 3 letters + the previous answer’s first 5) 19 Near 21 Group of games 22 Steamed bun 24 Ice Bucket Challenge letters 26 Performs like Cardi B 29 Place for a hen 32 Raise, as a building 34 Kindergartner’s break 35 Basketball showstopper 37 Spaniels’ sounds (... last 4 letters + the previous answer’s first 4) 39 Loan figures: Abbr. 40 Name hidden in “loveliest” 41 ___ pig 44 Airship in a legendary band’s name (... last 3 letters + the previous answer’s first 5) 48 Side part of a sofa 49 Smooth and shiny 51 Intimidating look 52 Chew persistently 54 Sheep’s sound 55 Nonetheless 56 Talk endlessly 58 Sugar from photosynthesis 63 D or L, for this puzzle’s creator 66 Dance in the NATO phonetic alphabet (... last 3 letters + the previous answer’s first 3) 69 Film series? 70 Subscription period, often 71 Pushes, or is pushy 72 Nine-digit ID 32 Goddess of dawn 33 Psychedelic experiences DOWN 36 iO toothbrush 1 Org. at LAX maker 2 Bottom-row PC 38 Two left ___ key 3 Really awesome 40 “So scary!” 41 Prank 4 Buckeyes’ home 42 Large vase 5 TV spots? 43 Think up 6 Barely beat 7 Persuade through 44 Great enthusiasm 45 Like many fancy flattery cakes 8 ___ Dhabi 46 Great anger 9 Covers, as a road 47 Bottom line 10 More crafty 50 Birds on some 11 “Relative” of Siri quarters 12 Nickname for a 53 Late drummer Skywalker Charlie 13 Opposite of pos. 57 Prejudice 15 Ego Nwodim’s 59 Sci-fi vehicles show, for short 60 They’ll never be 20 Baseball field pros cover 61 Beasts that pull 22 Bikini half plows 23 Internet pioneer 62 Total mess 25 Resell illegally 63 Little rascal 27 5, for a long golf 64 It pairs with hole “neither” 28 Abbr. on a 65 What tree rings Banana Boat measure tube 67 Rower’s need 30 Actor Astin 68 Have a go at 31 Kinds 73 Like the Sahara Writing Letters by Jeffrey Wechsler Universal Crossword edited by David Steinberg ACROSS 1 Where the Ganges flows 5 Defeats 10 “My Life” musician Billy 14 “My Life” or “My Universe” 15 An architect of D.C.’s National Gallery of Art 16 Strongly encourage 17 Tesla Model 3, e.g. 18 Certain woodwinds 19 Huge: Prefix 20 Distillery calculation 22 No longer stylish 23 Utensil for ice cream 24 With 27-Across, acts with precision 27 See 24-Across 33 Pet in the weasel family 34 City by the Illinois River 35 “O sweet my mother, cast me not ___!” (Juliet) 36 Supporting 39 Tough journey 40 ___ room (foosball venue) 41 Ancient Roman racing vehicle 45 Metallic mineral, maybe 46 Pronouncing “churro” like a Spanish speaker 49 Early web portal 50 Card game with no face cards 51 Behave properly 60 Piano practice piece 61 Gunk in a pit 62 N, on a Spanish compass 63 Sought information 64 Pro 65 Black hair or brown eyes 66 One might use batik to decorate fabric 67 “Look over here!” 68 Rock concert lineup? DOWN 1 “Don’t delay!” 2 Like grapefruit 3 Fascinated by 4 Outlet for pent-up sadness 5 “About Me” blurb 6 Add a raised design to 7 Pitchers’ projections 8 Grow incisors, e.g. 9 Bro’s sib, maybe 10 High court maneuver? 11 Cookie in many crosswords 12 Waffle in many crosswords 13 Low-fat 21 Golfer’s warning 23 Location 25 Little one 26 Paranormal “power”: Abbr. 27 Off in the distance 28 More recent 29 Malfoy played by Tom Felton 30 Mistake 31 Concert hall sections 32 Sushi bar beverage 36 Supporter 37 End of the ACLU’s URL 38 Copacabana 41 42 43 44 47 48 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 Beach’s city, briefly Was overly sentimental Home of Hawaii’s Liliuokalani Gardens Burden Many a city dweller Word after “corporate” or “rope” Mexican state below Arizona Renaissance Faire beverage Teeny-tiny Quickly reheat, in slang Zion National Park’s state America’s Cup, for one Krill, to a whale Weight unit hidden in “skateboard ramp” Cottony swab Complete collections East Oregonian A17 HOROSCOPES BY HOLIDAY MATHIS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2021 Mars and Uranus Opposition The fight between Mars and Uranus is not tricky or nuanced. It’s a winner-takes-all situation, a straight-up opposition in which only one side can win. Will it be luck or hard work? Force or chance? The steady effort over time or the chance eruption that turns the tables? The win will be clear but temporary. The game is much longer than this day. ARIES (March 21-April 19). Because patterns establish themselves whether we want them to or not, some things are better to steer away from entirely. With a bad path, the wrong move is the first one. Just don’t go there. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You can believe in a person’s pure nature and still recognize their less-than- pure intention. Many are only about the highest good if it also happens to coincide with what their ego wants. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). As it is with great recipes, one missing element changes everything. You are the essential ingredient. Even if you don’t contribute much, just being there makes a difference, and proceedings would suffer without you. CANCER (June 22-July 22). A relationship will go smoothly once you find the groove. It’s all about hitting on the right amount of space between “notes.” Too much closeness is stifling. Too much distance leaves nothing to grab onto. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You have help when you need it because you’re gracious enough not to take it for granted. Seize the chance to publicly recognize the efforts of your team. Words spoken before a group have deep emotional impact. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Experience is like money. Sometimes it falls your way, but mostly, you hustle for it. Getting into the mix is the hardest part. It takes effort and introductions. Volunteer and give of yourself. Opportunities open. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Since you won’t pay lip service to any result you can’t actually deliver, you’ll find yourself experimenting, stretching to see what is reasonable, possible and comfortable. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You are compassionate, warm and empathetic yet still within your preferred boundaries. It’s not so comfortable enforcing them, but it gets easier the more you do. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Hesitation shows weakness. But contemplation isn’t hesitation. While thinking and experimenting, you’re uncommitted. You won’t make a move until you’re sure, then you will move with confidence. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You’re compelled to clean up your environment and you consider it your responsibility even though you technically had nothing to do with the mess. This may be true on an emotional or physical level today. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You’re approachable, interested in others and quick to lift the conversation. Your playfulness walks a line, and you’re better off sticking to the safe side of that line; you’ll make friends. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Your generosity shows in the way you compliment, encourage and attend to others. The spirit in which you interact with others makes a positive difference in the world that money alone just can’t make. TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Nov. 17). You’re entering a new circle and you’ll be embraced for what you bring to the group. It’s a boost for your ego, but it’s your heart that benefits the most. You’re aware of what people need and how you can help. Because of this, you’ll execute diplomatic maneuvers to get you where you want to be at work. Aries and Aquarius adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 1, 44, 43, 14 and 28. Universal SUDOKU SOLUTIONS HOROSCOPES BY HOLIDAY MATHIS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2021 Storytelling Trine Fanciful Mercury trine Neptune highlights the uniquely human tendency to make up stories. We do it for pleasure and out of necessity. We do it because our minds need to bridge the clashing facts with some kind narrative. We do it to make sense of our worlds and to explain ourselves to ourselves. May you enjoy and revel in this storied day. ARIES (March 21-April 19). Life isn’t a popularity contest, but if it were, you would win the day. You have what people are looking for and you’re willing to share it. A burden is eased. You’ll get a surge of self-control. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Like getting hooked on a song, or falling in love, some happenings are too quirky to explain. The explanation is unnecessary to those who already know, and ineffective to those who don’t. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Trust your instincts. It saves time. As you explore what captures your interest and quickly move past what doesn’t, your talent is honed. Your work becomes more infused with what is essentially you. CANCER (June 22-July 22). A task has fallen through the cracks and the consequences for missing it have been largely unnoticeable. This is a gift! Now you can spend your time on things that make a difference. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’ll be in a position of leadership. Communication errors abound now, so keep your messages simple. The integrity you bring to your endeavors speaks louder than words ever could. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Feelings can be bossy. They want to be acted on, so they can come on strong. But feelings can also be fickle, unwise and selfishly motivated. Make your feelings prove their worthiness. Make them earn their way into action. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You’ll test the relationship waters. You’re subtle and cool. You suggest things without directly stating them. Your implications get picked up by the socially savvy and missed sometimes too. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You’re too impatient to be slow and steady today. Besides, you feel like you’ve already taken that route and are ready for something more exciting. Take off running and you’ll get your wish. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). The difference between the extraordinary and the ordinary is the “extra.” It’s why you do more than what’s expected of you until doing more is the new normal. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Relationships should be give-and-take. If you never seem to be on the receiving end, you have to wonder if you’re choosing people who are a good fit. Dedicate your energy where it will be appreciated. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). “Beauty rest” is real in the sense that the more energy you have, the more attractive you are. You’ll make adjustments to improve and protect your most valuable healing time -- the time between sheets. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). As you decide how to engage with the world, not engaging is also a solid option. An unstimulating and distraction-free environment brings you peace, mental freedom and ultimately more creativity on the other side. TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Nov. 18). What works on a small scale will make you money on a large scale. Funding is less important than a good plan. You’ll get help bringing things to the next level. Relationships contribute to your creativity. What used to baffle you will finally make sense and the clarity allows you to build something beautiful. Libra and Capricorn adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 1, 50, 32, 17 and 28. Universal SUDOKU SOLUTIONS