PUZZLES
Saturday, February 26, 2022
Universal Freestyle 9 by Adam Aaronson
Universal Crossword edited by David Steinberg
ACROSS
1 Place onto a
self-checkout
machine
5 Scottish hats
9 Petri dish gel
13 Angels’ headgear
15 Cookie with a
Lady Gaga flavor
16 Snap, Crackle
and Pop, for one
17 Cuban-born
“Knives Out” star
19 “May” or “march,”
at times
20 Cocktail invented
to prevent malaria
22 ___Pen
(lifesaving item)
23 Top shooter at a
basketball game?
25 Prez known for
honesty
28 Fish in unadon
29 “All right, phew!”
30 Obsesses over a
celebrity, say
33 ___ & Young
35 Circular current
36 Sandwich nobles
39 One spelling for
a conical Cree
creation
40 Leading
question?
42 She sells certain
shells by it
44 Smells in
restaurants
47 Minor criticism
48 “Neither a
borrower ___
a lender be”
(“Hamlet”)
49 Facilities covered
by blast doors
52 End of a
nonprofit’s URL,
often
53 Reader of
Engadget or
Gizmodo
57 First man in the
Bible
59 Rodent that barks
60 What many a
trans person
changes
61 Sewing lines
62 ‘90s fitness
phenomenon
63 Pirates’ approvals
64 Humanities’
counterpart,
briefly
65 In a wink
26 Good time to
change locks?
27
Sci-fi
novel
DOWN
featuring aliens
1 Layered hairdo
known as
2 “Pretty please?”
buggers
3 Turing with a
31 Sandwiches with
namesake test
tzatziki
4 Greet nonverbally 32 Fourth-year
5 What may stop
students: Abbr.
you from spilling
34 Stadium level
the beans?
37 Ideology behind
6 Protective gear
the October
7 Will, if possible
Revolution
8 Super cool
38 One may shuffle
around a deck
9 Dune rider’s
transport, for
41 Send forth
short
43 “Cut that out!”
10 Gumbo garnish
45 First Hebrew
letters
11 High-end Apple
earbuds
46 Confidential
12 American ___
49 Disney heroine
(Wisconsin’s state
who meets the
bird)
demigod Maui
50 “Aw, what a ___”
14 Martial arts
teacher
51 Bundle of grain
18 Stick (to)
54 Creative spark
21 ___-free eggs
55 Arcing shots
24 Arizona-to-Utah
56 Quartet of
direction
showbiz awards
25 Not that many
58 Month, in Mexico
Top Chef by Alan Massengill and Andrea Carla Michaels
Universal Crossword edited by David Steinberg
ACROSS
1 D.C. lobbying
group
4 Bitter-smelling
9 Jouster’s wear
14 “A long, long time
___ ...”
15 “Word on the
street is ...”
16 Easy to con
17 Where Harvard is
located
19 Welsh poet
Thomas
20 Islamic ruler
21 Where pub goers
go?
22 “French” dog
23 Additional helping
25 Shore roar
26 Reddi-___
27 Kangaroo’s
pouch, e.g.
28 Prepare, like flour
32 Flat, in geometry
35 Annoy
36 Bruins’ campus
37 Celestial
instrument
38 Media mogul
Winfrey
40 In shouting range
41 Megastore
42
43
45
46
47
48
50
54
57
58
59
60
62
63
64
65
66
67
founded in
Sweden
Expected, as a
baby
Like a no-show
Ballerina’s jump
Hilton Garden
___
“Ain’t happening!”
Things to brood
over?
High Navy rank
Twisted, or cool
Up to, in ads
___ Inch Nails
Lead character in
“First Blood”
Shorter or
cleaner version of
a song
Brainstorming
outputs
Modify for the
better
Outback bird
Twinges of guilt
Chunk of cheese
Agent, informally
DOWN
1 Acts like a
stereotypical
expectant father
2 Best-effort
performance
3 Improv performer
4 Scuba tank
supply
5 *Young phenom
6 Mulligans
7 “Othello” bad guy
8 Nickname hidden
in “gold record”
9 Both/either
conjunction
10 *Cheery person
11 Not so hot?
12 Indianapolis
Motor
Speedway’s
shape
13 Descartes who
said “Cogito, ergo
sum”
18 *Recyclable lunch
holder
22 *Hockey dexterity
24 Actress Vardalos
of “My Big Fat
Greek Wedding”
25 “... nobody doesn’t
like ___ Lee”
27 Fire truck’s
noisemaker
29 Drink with a
Cotton Candy
flavor
30 Custardy treat
31 Filled treat
32 Punxsutawney
groundhog
33 One of over
10,000 in
Minnesota
34 Surveyor’s
measurement
39 “Tequila
mockingbird”
and “whiskey
business,” e.g.
44 Emeril catchword
49 Shiny finish
50 Lent a hand to
51 Cyclist or
equestrian
52 Japanese film
style
53 Abate, as rainfall
54 Hold firmly
55 Nothing, in
Madrid
56 Prayer-ending
word
57 Hardly risque
60 Like some
crunchy
vegetables
61 Inspired poem
East Oregonian
B7
HOROSCOPES BY HOLIDAY MATHIS
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2022 Power Alignment in Capricorn
Every living system has a power structure, a circuitry
to deliver the vital energy to every necessary part of the
whole. Jellyfish, families, daffodils and corporations
are all organized to move energy in a particular way.
You don’t have to understand it to be affected by it, but
it helps, as this lunar conjunction of Venus, Mars and
Pluto points out.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Cozy up to your
inspiration. Listen intently to your whispering muses.
They will like and trust you when you show your interest.
The more you develop the bond, the more they favor you.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Two paths converge,
resulting in a blockage. Neither path is better than the
other, but the issue must be solved or progress cannot
be made. Herein lies your role as the great negotiator.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). While you are reluctant
to air your grievances, the time is now. Those who need
to hear them will receive them well and do their best to
make corrections.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). As long as you
don’t dwell on the negative aspects of your situation,
identifying the ways in which you are not happy will help
you find happiness. Choose one problem to focus on
and work it until it’s fixed.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Promptness speaks volumes.
However casual the appointment may be, you get there
when you say you will and do what you planned to,
which is the basic tenant of human interaction to uphold
and expect of others.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You have true friends
who do not give a hoot where you live, what you wear
or what vehicle you drive. But not everyone is like that.
Avoid relationships with those whose interest seems
superficial.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). The intensity is turned up
and you’ll channel it positively and appropriately. When
you apply yourself to a worthy activity, you excel --
although you might be initially attracted to a superhuman
know-it-all type.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). A group of like-minded
people will fascinate you with their intense concentration
of energy. This will be an influence tempered by your
own research and knowledge, which is becoming
extensive lately.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Experience has
taught you what you’re good at. You know your own tricks
and what you could pull off if you practiced a little more. It
will benefit you to put the time in. Practice makes perfect!
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Many stay in a
situation they don’t like because, as bad as it is, the
problems involved are already known. You’ve chosen to
explore the unknown instead, which will be a supreme
and well-earned benefit to you.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Specific thoughts
and habits will help you achieve the level of success and
fulfillment you so deserve. You already sense what they
are, and reinforcement from a mentor or friend will seal
the deal.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Over time, ignoring
a part of you will eventually force you to notice it. For
instance, pushing yourself too hard to work all the time
may lead to a cold, so that you are forced to relax and
take a personal day.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Feb. 27). You will live daringly.
Even when afraid, you will find the strength to overcome
it. Powerful people admire your courage. Decide where
you want to be this time next year; a mentor will help
you get there. Friendships and fun are the spring themes.
Love is found on a getaway. Summer will bring financial
success. Libra and Leo adore you. Your lucky numbers
are: 10, 3, 33, 28 and 49.
Universal SUDOKU
SOLUTIONS
HOROSCOPES BY HOLIDAY MATHIS
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2022 February’s Closing Song
February’s final day aligns the moon with Mercury, the
communication planet, then Saturn, the planet of lessons.
It’s a signal to choose your words carefully -- not to avoid
trouble or sound smart or open sesame but to honor your
own expression. What you want, how you feel and all you
do is very specific to you, and your words should be, too.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). What feels arduous and
static at the beginning will prove to have its own powerful
momentum once it gets going. You’re on the right track;
you just need to build it out a little more.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). The one who finishes
first is not the winner. The winner will be determined by
some other criteria more subtle and strange. For instance,
the one who involves the most senses while listening.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Many times a day, you
have feelings you don’t act on. Your maturity allows you
to separate yourself from your emotions so you can try
to understand them without identifying too strongly with
them.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). The minimum you
expect from yourself is to add value. Ultimately, your goal
is to multiply the good fortune of those around you. You’ll
do it, especially by spreading a positive message to a
large number of people.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Being brave is your specialty.
You’ll make the cold call, introduce yourself to a stranger
or risk rejection in another way. You’ll put yourself out
there and create opportunities.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). The memorized pitch, the
skillful presentation... You admire these displays but are
not particularly influenced by them. You prefer people to
speak naturally and candidly, which you’ll get today.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You do not have proof of
your ability in a certain field, yet you feel deep down in
your being that you can and will do whatever it takes to
succeed.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You’re good for the
morale of a group. You’re funny. People lighten up
around you. You can make things happen with indirect
suggestions of the sort that won’t trigger people’s
defenses.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). There are no
insignificant mysteries in life. Investigate the subject that
interests you. An answer to some minor problem might
be the solution to what ails the world.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). No one wants to
spend their time fake laughing. Luckily, you won’t have
to. Funny people will solve more than one problem for
you today. They keep you from boredom while answering
the call of the moment.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Rather than attacking
the problem head-on, take a sideways look at it; the new
slant leads to a breakthrough. You will be rewarded for
your brilliant thinking.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Proceeding through
fear takes courage. But sometimes it’s better not to give
yourself a chance to be afraid. Just move. If everyone
pondered the possible consequences, we would have
fewer heroes.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Feb. 28). Welcome to a
sociable year of harmonious relationships. Embrace your
delights but also the bothersome things, as there’s a huge
opportunity hiding inside a persnickety problem. As you
learn how to change things, you’ll pick up valuable skills.
Group work is favored. A dream will spring to life. Gemini
and Scorpio adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 9, 17,
8, 33 and 41.
Universal SUDOKU
SOLUTIONS