PUZZLES
Thursday, December 30, 2021
Letter by Letter by Adrian Johnson
Universal Crossword edited by David Steinberg
ACROSS
1 Magnum ___
(great work)
5 He’s a deer
9 Future D.A.’s
exam
13 “Be quiet!”
14 Gullible
15 Wonky
16 “That explains it”
17 Championship
game
18 Shirts often
cropped at Pride
19 “Is that so?!”
21 Olay competitor
23 “You Send Me”
singer Cooke
24 Member of a
Great Basin tribe
25 Shade at the
beach?
26 “That’s fair”
32 “Hulk” director
Lee
33 Park walkway
34 Pride group
37 La Scala’s locale
40 Rock’s ___
Speedwagon
41 Urban front
staircase
42 Panache
43 Sag, as a flower
45 Org. at JFK
46 Afternoon fare in
Britain
50 Digital ___
camera
52 Prom wear for a
certain lesbian,
briefly
53 Important time
span
54 Shopper’s
clipping
56 Explain in detail
... or what the
starts of 19-, 26-
and 46-Across
do, phonetically?
61 ___ canai
(flatbread dish)
62 Cutoff
64 Hidden-object
book series
65 Arthur ___
Courage Award
66 Gets the wrinkles
out
67 Sound of a stone
hitting a pond
68 Word after “hot”
or “fine”
69 Luggage IDs
70 Perfect over time
DOWN
1 The Buckeye
State
2 Encouragement
during labor
3 Internet explorer?
4 “The things I put
up with!”
5 Travel by boat
6 Wee
7 “When They
See Us” director
DuVernay
8 Frozen treat in
Rome
9 Like 10 p.m., for
many kids ... and
their parents
10 Chocoholic’s
Achilles’ heel
11 Colosseum, e.g.
12 Cicely of “Roots”
14 2018 award for
Patrick Mahomes
20 Small battery
22 Bridal coverings
24 Stand behind
26 Celebrated crops
in “Things Fall
Apart”
27 “I’ll get this done”
28 Unpleasant
realities
29 Anatomical canal
blocker
30 Dined at home
31 Trivial criticism
35 A proboscis
monkey’s is long
36 Facial joints?
38 Brewery quaff
39 “How cool!”
44 Contents of some
social media
threads
47 Naturally bright?
48 Not just online,
briefly
49 Historic Muslim
leader
50 “Get lost!”
51 Like saggy pants
55 Orders at
bakeries and
pizzerias
56 Polluted air
57 ATM codes
58 Norway’s capital
59 Second word of
many fairy tales
60 A+, e.g., at a
blood bank
63 Radio’s Glass
You Can’t Have It Both Ways by Emet Ozar and Matthew Stock
Universal Crossword edited by David Steinberg
ACROSS
1 Flip-flop
6 Green dip, for
short
10 Catchy song, or a
jazz style
13 Uintah and ___
Reservation
(tribal home in
Utah)
14 Largest dolphin
15 Chow chow
choice
16 *Altercations
accompanied by
irritable remarks?
(Hint: What
comes between
R and T?)
19 Home to Gateway
Arch Nat’l Park
20 Captain Hook’s
henchman
21 Like the “z” in
“rendezvous”
22 Cow chew
23 Weighed down
24 *”I need to watch
hoops!”? (...
between A and
C?)
29 Beetle or Viper
32 Diva’s solo
33 Mystical glow
34 Submit taxes
digitally
36 Bugler’s “lights
out” signal
37 Rotary phone
parts
39 Behind schedule
40 Adorable aquatic
mammal
42 Exam on which
Elle Woods
scored a 179
43 Grows older
44 Outdoor gear co.
45 *Advice to
someone building
a computer? (...
between C and
E?)
48 Gives up, as land
50 Egg-shaped lip
balm maker
51 Welcomes at the
door
53 Barely open
55 “Yeah, right!”
58 Compromise, or
what two letters
of a phrase do to
form each starred
clue’s answer?
61 Like a comedy
sketch about
comedians
62 Modern cry of
excitement
63 Pumbaa’s pal
64 Green-lights
65 ___ Club (Costco
competitor)
66 Leaves out
Florida student
25 Super mad
26 Exclusive passes
27 Makes a Lego
house, say
28 Rudely assertive
30 Tweak
31 Witherspoon of
DOWN
“Legally Blonde”
1 Throw
35 Imperfections
2 Go after prey
38 Broadcast on
3 Spoken exam
Twitch
4 Siesta
41 Wheel spokes,
geometrically
5 Mineral in some
plaster
46 Seller of the
Moons Over My
6 Not here anymore
Hammy breakfast
7 Compulsion
sandwich
8 Take steps
47
Certain
flavored
9 Leading to an
chip
effect
49 “Como ___
10 Speed Sock
usted?”
sneaker brand
51
Snowballs
and
11 Sign of things to
water balloons,
come
e.g.
12 (Hey, you!)
52 Hide-and-___
15 Archipelago part
53 (Clears throat)
17 “Too funny!”
54 High flyers?
18 Walk like a crab
55 TV cable initials
22 Stop
56 Boatloads
23 Teletubby with
57 Egg layers
a reduplicative
59 Oolong or pu’er
name
24 University of
60 Lowly lit
East Oregonian
A11
HOROSCOPES BY HOLIDAY MATHIS
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021 Sagittarius Moon Rules the Countdown
The raucous Sagittarian moon rules this year’s New
Year’s Eve countdown, a fire sign placement sure to turn
the party up as the ball comes down. Sagittarian lunar
energy is adventurous and friendly, sophisticated and
sometimes excessive. So, remember, safety first and
when in doubt, get a ride out.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). To maneuver well, make
sure you’re in the same reality as what you’re trying to
influence. Once you accept the way things are, you have
power in the situation. Drop all resistance to what is.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). It will be as easy to make
a big change as it is to make a small one. So, as long as
you are envisioning a change, go for one that will make a
huge difference in your life.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Most of what needs
organizing is emotional, but it can be handled through
the physical moving of objects. You process feelings as
you tidy up and arrange your possessions in a pleasing
manner.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). You’ll look at things like
a true and inclusive optimist. That means the glass is
neither half full, nor is it half empty. It’s all the way filled
and brimming over. It’s just that some of the content is
water and some of it is air.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). One moment you’re tuned in
to the people around you and present to the conversation
and work at hand; the next you are focused on
experiencing your inner world. Alternating between these
two forms of mindfulness will serve you well.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). One way to keep
someone’s attention is to dangle a promise in the air, then
yank it back. It’s the old carrot-on-a-string trick, not for
the faint of heart, though it keeps things interesting.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You’ve been so busy
watching the entertainment around you that you forgot
to get up and show the world what you can do. Take your
turn in the spotlight.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You’ll find creative ways
to use what you have. You’ll tinker and fix things and
assemble your resources in such a way that the result is
greater than the sum of its parts.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Plan for
future good times. The fun you anticipate will bring
your endorphins up almost as much as the fun you’re
actually having. You love to be surprised by humor and
camaraderie.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Life is not a dress
rehearsal. You’re fully aware that the show will go on
regardless of the level of energy of your performance,
and this is why you give it your all.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Removing yourself
from a scene will help you see it for what it is. Tonight,
someone you know needs to hear words of love. Lead
with compassion.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). To learn from your
mistakes, you have to be willing to make them in the first
place. Your habit of being hard on yourself after the fact
isn’t helping. Ease up. It’s okay not to get it right every
time.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Dec. 31). You’ll express what
others need to hear and lead a group into clarity and
success. The spirit of receptivity also visits your personal
life. Your connections grow stronger, your relationships
more vibrant as you make the sort of bold choices that are
only possible between people who truly trust one another.
Aries and Libra adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 8, 14,
33, 40 and 15.
Universal SUDOKU
SOLUTIONS
HOROSCOPES BY HOLIDAY MATHIS
SATURDAY, JANUARY 1, 2022 Mercury Change
Mercury celebrates the new year with a different outfit,
slipping into his Aquarian garb. It’s slick, sporty and
fashion-forward with a social conscience that is more
than just trendy -- it’s essential to the wellness of the
planet. Between this change and the recent shift in
Jupiter, the group mind becomes more inclusive, tolerant
and open to change.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). As long as you’re going
to have ideas about yourself, you may as well focus on the
ones that contribute to your happiness and confidence.
Let the negative, disempowering stuff go.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). It is natural to pick up
mannerisms, sayings and attitudes from people you
admire. Sometimes you do this unconsciously, but right
now you benefit from consciously picking and choosing
what you want to adopt.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Matters of taste come up.
Don’t think about things in terms of what’s good or bad,
rather consider what’s working better or worse. You will
sharpen your awareness by studying effectiveness.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Take a break. Ideas won’t
come to a stressed-out mind. What would it take for you
to be more at ease? Make yourself comfortable, as that’s
half the work.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Your interactions do not
have to be serious to matter. To show up in a casual,
lighthearted way will be a gift to others. A beautiful thing
to add to the mix -- levity, buoyancy, a wink or a giggle.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). There’s something you
need to “ship,” at least metaphorically. It will require
organization to pull off -- not because it’s difficult
but because it’s so easy that its importance could go
overlooked.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You’ll act as a project
manager of sorts. You’ll determine what has been
done and what still needs doing. You’ll make course
corrections and plan for the next checkpoint.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Being involved with
yourself isn’t inherently bad. In fact, you could use more
of it. You are the only one who can keep an eye on your
inner world and therefore it is your sole responsibility
to do so.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Worry has value,
but a little goes a long way. Let your worry lead you to
action. And if that action is simply to distract yourself
from worry, it’s still a plus!
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Motivated by a juicy
goal, you’ll go full speed ahead, passing competitors,
temptations and distractions. To pause to ponder or chat
would spoil the delicious momentum.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You get to call the
shots today. It begins when you say it begins and ends
when you say it’s over. Power is fleeting, so enjoy it while
you’re in it and use it well, tending to what you deem
important.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You’re thoughtful and
will offer up symbols of your affection and appreciation.
These tangible tokens will serve as touchstone reminders
of the intangible generosity you deliver on the regular.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Jan. 1). You’ll invent a new
order for life and love. Certain things that have taken your
time and energy didn’t give back, and now you’ll set the
balance straight. By placing your efforts in more fertile
areas, your world bursts into blossoms. New resources
open up to you and you’ll do something extraordinary
with them. Aries and Scorpio adore you. Your lucky
numbers are: 8, 20, 22, 14 and 9.
Universal SUDOKU
SOLUTIONS