PUZZLES
Thursday, December 16, 2021
Lit From Above by Kyle Dolan and Elizabeth O’Tuama
Universal Crossword edited by David Steinberg
ACROSS
1 Recedes
5 Deep divide
10 Crunchy side
served with ribs
14 Emit a foul smell
15 Relish
16 Caesar’s garment
17 *Lorraine
Hansberry play
whose title comes
from a Langston
Hughes poem
20 Where a
lumberjack might
rest
21 ___ Paulo
22 Ciabatta or naan
23 *Novel about a
con man and a
girl during the
Depression
26 Animal in a cave
29 Symbol on South
Korea’s flag
30 Deplete
33 Stimulate, as
curiosity
35 Tiny terrier, for
short
37 Jacuzzi features
38 Advice to a
workaholic
42 London’s ___
Park
43 Symbols of Lent
45 Sigma follower
46 Less numerous
47 Sixth sense,
briefly
48 Ignore the line,
say
49 Ring bearer?
50 Planking muscles
52 Got too old to
participate
55 Texter’s “I think ...”
58 “For sure!”
60 Farmer’s ride
62 Like much
folklore
63 Fix, as code
65 For dieters, in ads
66 Aloe ___
67 Certain bee, or
the sound of bees
68 Biblical
preposition
69 Site for crafty
people
70 Some vertical
graph lines
71 They can be
bruised or
boosted
DOWN
1 Divisions of time
2 Ernie’s pal
3 Sender of
chocolates,
perhaps
4 Be stingy
5 Longtime forensic
series
6 Sally ___ (nail
polish brand)
7 House with many
bills?
8 California wine
valley
9 “The A-Team”
actor with a
mohawk
10 Rudder’s place
11 Be checkmated,
say
12 Contents of un
lago
13 Wondrous baton
18 Prevents littering?
19 “Game of
Thrones”
streaming
service, in some
countries
24 Seaside platform
25 Black-and-white
gem
26 Mexican
peninsula,
familiarly
27 Mars, in Greece
28 *1994
George Takei
autobiography
30 Aerial text, or the
asterisked clues’
answers?
31 Helper
32 Viscount, e.g.
34 Smartphones
have many
36 Actress Seehorn
39 “And so forth”
40 Praise
41 It corrects a
singer’s pitch
44 “Life” or “time”
follower
46 Cheese that
crumbles
50 Beyond’s partner
51 Artist’s hat,
stereotypically
53 Extremely joyous
54 Impulses
56 “Forward,” for
Wisconsin
57 Black-and-white
snacks
59 Eye cream brand
61 You’re reading
one
64 ___ office (ticket
source)
First Place by Gary Larson and Amy Ensz
Universal Crossword edited by Amanda Rafkin
ACROSS
1 Campfire residue
4 Brood X insect
10 University official
14 Post-O.R.
destination
15 Travel on foot
16 Actress Watson
or Thompson
17 United Kingdom,
e.g.?
19 AKB48 genre
20 British boarding
school
21 Post-wedding
title, for some
22 Fried pancake
often served with
sour cream
23 Doctor ___
(Marvel’s
Sorcerer
Supreme)
26 Dark blue shade
27 National anthem,
e.g.?
32 Weekly sitcom,
e.g.
35 What makes the
earth turn?
36 Actress Thurman
37 Warning signs
38 Baby panda
39 Movie excerpts
41 Zilch
42 Aries, in the
zodiac
43 Founder of
philosophical
Taoism
44 Utopia?
48 “Around the
World” toy
49 Try
53 Not at all overly
wordy, rather
unlike this clue
itself
55 Ticked off
57 Something
you might get
in trouble for
breaking
58 Time line
sections
59 Local citizenry?
62 “Good one!”
63 Goes onstage
64 Part of a sleeve?
65 No good ___
goes unpunished
66 Puts forth
67 Messy room,
metaphorically
DOWN
1 Helpers
2 “King of Ragtime”
Joplin
3 Funny stuff
4 Chinese life force
5 Particle with a
charge
6 Some scam
artists
7 In the distance
8 Lowers, like the
lights
9 Enjoyed some
jajangmyeon
10 “This situation
seems so
familiar” feeling
11 Ineffective
executive
12 Run ___ (go wild)
13 Back of the neck
18 Pain relief brand
22 On the ___
(fleeing)
24 Denials
25 Gloomy ___
(alliterative
pessimist)
26 “Science Guy” Bill
28 Opposable digit
29 Apt name for a
burglar
30 Little devils
31 It’s cracked when
all the pieces
come together
32 Princes, e.g.
33 Send out
34 Four-person
Olympic event
38 Half-___ (rhyming
coffee order)
39 Musical group?
40 People who play
paper against
scissors, e.g.
42 Kanga’s kid
43 Like candles in a
menorah
45 Threw out
46 Center ofa storm
47 Piece of
equipment
for hanging
Christmas lights
50 Necessities
51 Fabric fold
52 Short-tempered
53 Be inclined
54 Lake that’s 3/4
vowels
55 Tailless cat
56 Poker pot starter
59 Gymnastics
champion Suni
60 “The A-Team”
muscleman
61 Braying beast
East Oregonian
A9
HOROSCOPES BY HOLIDAY MATHIS
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021 Planetary Party Prep
Countdown to the final full moon of the year. The Cold
Moon is made warmer by the cozy communication
Gemini energy famously creates. This full moon is the
hot cocoa by the fire, the “hygge” vibe of Danes and
Norwegians, and, in the dead of winter, “the giggle at a
funeral” that Hozier sings of. Three, two, one...
ARIES (March 21-April 19). You enjoy who you are,
and this makes it possible for you to get much more
pleasure out of every experience. Even daily errands and
simple tasks will give you a peaceful, easy feeling.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Being an adult will have
a lot to do with sticking to what’s constructive. This may
involve seeing, and acting like you don’t see, or listening
to it all and focusing only on the part that is actionable.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You have three eyes.
Two for looking and one for seeing. The third eye does
have certain known blinders. For instance, smoldering
passion is a smoky irritant to say the least!
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Knowing a lot about a
person isn’t the same thing as knowing a person. You’ll
get a chance to understand who a person really is, which
will be very different from what can be assumed from a
social media profile or resume.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Among the scariest words
uttered between friends is the inquisitive trifecta, “Can
we talk?” Today it’s better not to. Everyone’s actions are
saying enough. Read those, and save the conversation for
more puzzling fare.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You’re feeling reserved
and there’s a benefit to holding back. After all, not
every story needs an answer story from the personal
history archives. You’ll be appreciated for your excellent
listening.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Having things in common
will bring you together. Making a connection takes more
than togetherness, though. It’s the differences that ignite
the spark. People who are too much alike aren’t so
interesting to one another.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). The competitive mood.
It starts with knowing you can beat someone else and
then realizing that the thing to beat is the status quo, or
perhaps your own personal best.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You’re not trying
to deceive anyone, and no one means to deceive you. But
there are dynamics in play that cause people to behave a
little differently. Have fun getting to know a heightened
version of your personality.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Don’t worry about
saying the right thing. The words are not what move
social discourse along. Hold the space, be interested,
and you’ve won.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Impulsive people
need someone thoughtful next to them to temper their
flaring energy. You’re the stabilizer who will anticipate the
other person’s move and encourage all to take a pause
before rushing into the wrong thing.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). The only thing standing
between you and the goal is a knowledge gap. Get the
expert. Learn what you didn’t know that you didn’t know.
The right one will be well worth your investment.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Dec. 17). You’re onto
something -- you know it and this year the world will
know it too. Deals get made, papers signed, bonds
braided. You’ll flip the script in February. In May you’ll
give generously and receive unexpectedly. Powers of
attraction will be at an all-time high in September, so
focus well and celebrate the spoils. Libra and Virgo adore
you. Your lucky numbers are: 9, 5, 11, 21 and 17.
Universal SUDOKU
SOLUTIONS
HOROSCOPES BY HOLIDAY MATHIS
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2021 Cold Moon Closer
The closing act of the 2021 lunar carousel is brought to
us by the full moon in Gemini, otherwise known as the
Cold Moon for obvious reasons, although the feelings
zinging around are anything but. There’s a social fire
flickering in rooms and hearts. The conversation comes
easily -- even the singing comes easily. These are joyful
times.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). You now know much
more than you did when you made a certain decision.
Your new opportunity to do things differently is coming,
so this is a good time to visualize yourself making new
choices.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Love gets referred to as
a game, but what happens in so-called games of love is
more about social maneuvering, knowledge of human
nature and flexing assets than it is about love. Don’t
overthink the move; follow your heart.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Before you lament a
flaw, consider that shortcomings are usually entwined
with interesting talents, remarkable stories and facets
of personality most relatable. A flaw can be an exciting
asset.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Relationships are not a
work of lone architecture; they are always built by a crew.
Note the influence of family, friends and culture on your
ties. The people next to your relationship are part of the
relationship, too.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). As you try to dream big, you
might be surprised at how difficult it is to put your head
into a fun, crazy fantasy. It’s as though before you can even
imagine it, your mind is working out the practicalities of
bringing it to life.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Be kind to you. Don’t
make unreasonable demands of yourself. Give yourself
one thing to do at a time. Bonus points for signing
yourself up for tasks that include at least a little
pleasurable indulgence!
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You’ll be made aware that
some things are so easy to do and nearly impossible to
undo. Like you can’t reverse-pour dressing on a salad,
you can’t take back words once you’ve said them.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You can still have a
good relationship with someone you don’t have much in
common with, as long as you get straight to work creating
things in common. It’s a fine excuse to embark on shared
adventures, interests and pursuits.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). In a perfect world,
the bonus would come when the work deserves more
compensation. But in this world, the bonus will come
when the bestower has the means to offer more.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Sometimes it’s
appropriate, or even crucial, to give until it hurts.
However, right now it’s best to give comfortably and let
others contribute in the same spirit.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You’re having to work
pretty hard for the “free” stuff. Consider forgoing the
complimentary whatnot and paying for what you really
want instead.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). This is a test; this is
only a test. It will seem that you’re getting no help at
all but going it alone for a stretch will show impressive
gumption and attract just the help you need.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Dec. 18). New habits and
lifestyle transformations will happen! The work isn’t
glamorous, but the results really are. Your financial
horizons will broaden as you learn a new skill. Expect a
steady climb. Have tenacity. Also, the resource you most
need, over money or sway, is wise guidance. Seek these
things and you will win. Scorpio and Leo adore you. Your
lucky numbers are: 10, 4, 33, 18 and 49.
Universal SUDOKU
SOLUTIONS