PUZZLES
Thursday, March 10, 2022
Pick Me! by David Distenfeld
Universal Crossword edited by David Steinberg
ACROSS
1 UFC sport hidden
in “scrimmage”
4 Phone programs
8 Formally charge
14 Corn core
15 Contents of
spreadsheets
16 2010s dance
inspired by a
1990s sitcom
character
17 Bit of hope
18 One of five in a
full house
20 “The gram”
22 Sticky secretion
23 Rocker’s low
instrument
27 Raises a paddle
at an auction
30 Puzzle invented
by a Japanese
math teacher
31 Country by the
Red Sea
32 History chapters
35 “Shop ___ You
Drop”
36 Seasoned
sausage
37 Part of L.A.
38 Door security
40 Dreidel, e.g.
41 “Sycophantic” pet
43 Letters before a
stage name
44 Gendered
clothing
department
45 Bit of land in the
sea
46 Fathers’ group?
48 Diehard fan
49 Pretty plant that
wasn’t planted
53 Like seven
games that Nolan
Ryan pitched
55 Too good for
56 Virtual group of
real players
61 By way of
62 Pluck, like a
unibrow
63 Beatles song,
album or film
64 Series finale?
65 Married
66 ___ out (just
manages)
67 “I’m gonna pass”
DOWN
1 Golden Arches
sandwich that
has no bones
2 Disney film with
a Polynesian
protagonist
3 Chasm
4 It makes money
for Money
5 Friend
6 School meeting
org.
7 “I’ve been
thinking ...”
8 Word before
“circle” or “child”
9 Reminds
constantly
10 Sound unit
11 Lifeless
12 One may pass a
smog check
13 ___ Talks
19 Neighbor of
Pakistan
21 Sounds of
disapproval
24 Remove a name
from, as on
Facebook
25 “Just teasing!”
26 Like a juicy
memoir
28 Exorcist’s enemy
29 Cuts quickly
31 Tibetan pack
animal
32 ___ Island
(landmark near
Lady Liberty)
33 Honor with insults
34 According to
schedule
36 Winter neckwear
38 Antes build it up
39 Gave the go-
ahead to
42 Signified
44 Initials meaning
“Butt out!”
46 Skyscraper’s spot
47 Sleeps in a
luxurious tent,
perhaps
49 Smartened (up)
50 Like wicker
products
51 Musical set in
Buenos Aires
52 Arm measure
54 It reduces
visibility
56 Enthusiastic
online acronym
57 Flabbergasted
feeling
58 Opener for many
rock bands?
59 Cartoonish
scream
60 Pub pint
Drop By Drop by Gary Larson
Universal Crossword edited by David Steinberg
ACROSS
1 Closest bud
4 Hardware chain
7 Impulsive
11 Hatcher of
“Desperate
Housewives”
12 Rotten
13 Justice
Sotomayor
14 Flock sounds
15 Barely get (by)
16 Gentle strokes in
golf
17 Backpacker’s
accommodation
(Hint: Look down
at letter 5)
19 Number in a
dating profile
20 Insect not found
in Antarctica ... or
is it?
21 That dude’s
22 Keeps back (... at
letter 4)
26 Auto remote
28 Energy
29 Whacks weeds
30 Dawson of
Hollywood
32 Lead-in to
“sesame” or
“secret”
33 “Star ___:
Discovery”
35 Head to Vegas?
36 Took legal action
37 Like a wafer
cookie
38 Classic sayings
40 Bench, in Paris
(hidden in “urban
center”)
41 Free ad
42 Click ___ (noisy
insect)
46 Snooty attitude
(... at letter 4)
48 Chicken-king
connector
49 Salmon eggs
50 Not just “a”
51 Cascade, and a
feature of 17-, 22-
and 46-Across?
54 Garment that
may say “Life is
what you bake it”
56 Pen tip
57 Flowerpot filler
58 Woo
59 Thurman of
“Even Cowgirls
Get the Blues”
60 Compost holders
61 Future
twentysomething
62 “Gangnam Style”
singer
63 Desired answer
to a proposal
27 Coiled brass
instrument
28 The devil wore it
on the big screen
31 Like an assured
DOWN
victory
1 Skin-deep
33 Tom yum’s
attribute
cuisine
2 College party site 34 Sound about right
3 Marlins’ catcher
36 Believes strongly
4 Assists in crime
in
5 Angel food or
37 “Truthfully,” in
devil’s food
textspeak
dessert
38 Special ones are
6 “The Sound of
covert
Music” song
39
Willing
partner?
named for a white
43 Some have many
flower
cars
7 Get rowdy
44
Takes
it easy
8 “Home on the
Range” critter
45 Fish that may be
electric
9 Plop down
47 Storage unit
10 Suffers from
expense
11 Steakchoice
48
Unable
to retreat
13 Fight about the
dishwasher, say
52 Objectives
17 Cow’s shaggy
53 ___ gras
relative
54 Pretense
18 Twins, e.g., briefly
55 Writer who
23 Nasdaq debut
inspired the
24 Monopoly card
Baltimore Ravens’
name
25 Sensitive ID
East Oregonian
A11
HOROSCOPES BY HOLIDAY MATHIS
FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2022 Mercury Humor Warning
In the early days of the word “sarcasm,” the term
referred to a bitter, harsh mockery. In its modern
usage, sarcasm is softened by a touch of irony, humor
or both. Still, communicating in this way comes with
risks to be aware of, especially with today’s climate of
sensitivity. Avoid dry or ambiguous humor. Stick with
warmth and authenticity.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). The one you love can
hurt you with so much as a look. Knowing this, you
recognize the similar power you hold and will wield
that power with gentle compassion.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Talent is everywhere
and what you witness will get the wheels of your mind
whirring. People are doing the unimaginable, though
once you experience it, imagining certainly gets easier.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You have many
interests. Even if the people around you don’t share
the same passions as you, they appreciate your wide
range. For your sake and theirs, keep on exploring!
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Some people listen;
others just wait for the chance to talk again. You’re
an attentive listener who deserves the same. Today it’s
better to just avoid the known offenders who can’t or
won’t connect.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). The day has a confessional
quality, including admissions you’d rather not hear.
As for your own information, you like to keep it on
a need-to-know basis. Later you’ll leverage all the
mystery you’ve cultivated.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). The potential for
tedium is too high for your liking, so whatever you
can do to keep things interesting is strongly favored.
Elements of humor, mischief, creativity... even chaos...
can help.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Saying “sorry” doesn’t
put things back the way they were before, but it can
give the closure necessary to start again. Do they
deserve your forgiveness? Debatable. Forgive anyway.
You deserve the peace.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Being around
different styles will make you appreciate your own. It
will also inspire you to change a few things. You’re the
best kind of impressionable right now.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). The answer will
involve putting people to work. This is more effective
than any other way of starting a relationship. Through
work, bonds are woven, loyalties forged.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). People say it’s
not about the cards you’re dealt, but how you play
them -- not entirely true. Good cards win. Bad cards
can win too, but only if you bluff. Today’s game will be
tricky; perform and prevail.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). The secret to
success is... there is no secret. It’s the same thing
everyone knows. Work and try. Improv. Try again.
When your offer is what they need and want -- success!
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Everyone has a self-
image and a public image. These two images will
align in a curious way. Whatever you do, do it for you.
Please yourself and don’t look for validation from any
other.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (March 11). You’ll take part
in a race. Many will drop out before the finish line, but
not you. You’ll eventually end up among the winners.
Your tenacity will also net lucrative arrangements and
gloriously beneficial relationships. Avoid attracting
unwanted jealousy; remain low-key about your
abundant blessings. Aries and Gemini adore you. Your
lucky numbers are: 2, 22, 19, 30 and 45.
Universal SUDOKU
SOLUTIONS
HOROSCOPES BY HOLIDAY MATHIS
SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 2022 Mercury Emphasizes Intuition
Love, art, exploration and many other endeavors can
seem, on their face, to be pointless. There is no logical
purpose for embarking, only a magnetic pull where the
logic should be. Maybe you only do the thing because
you can’t not do it. But with Mercury in intuitive Pisces
now, that should be all the reason you really need.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Uninspiring work
makes you lethargic. Perhaps it has to be done, but
does it have to be done by you? Once you get into an
interesting project, it will be like you’re plugged into
a power plant.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You don’t learn or
grow much from goals that are too easily attained.
Strive for the hard aims now. Likewise, make it a little
more difficult for others to win prizes from you. You’ll
be doing them a favor.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). People everywhere
are engaged in their own internal battles. Sometimes
these conflicts go undetected to even their nearest and
dearest. Whether you are on the giving or receiving
side of help, things are improving.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Around people who
may be envious of your success, you’ll be tempted to
play it low-key. It’s better to say nothing at all than to
downplay or speak ill of your good fortune.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). There’s an ace up your
sleeve and you’re about to play it. Once you do, the
game is yours. Apply your winnings to improving your
favorite thing. It will be a thrill to watch something go
from good to fabulous.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). A relationship has
been weathering some tension, but the reconciliation
is coming. You’ll each say what you need to say and
hear what you need to hear.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You can say what you
need to say, and the other person won’t be the least
bit defensive. Accept all invitations for joint ventures,
especially work-related ones. Your dreams are
celestially tied to people who support them.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). There will be
evidence that, contrary to popular belief, life may
really be fair after all. Justice comes in many forms,
including poetic or delayed. Things turn out the best
way possible.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You do not
have to be a painter or poet to be creative in your
work. Even straightforward tasks like filing or cleaning
will be turned into creative endeavors because you
approach with style.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Your ability to
lead yourself will depend largely on your environment.
Arrange your environment so it’s easy to do the things
you tell yourself to do and/or very hard to do the
unwanted behavior.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Happiness and
simplicity will be linked up. The minute you feel
things involving too many elements or getting too
complicated, busy, messy, fast or expensive... stop
and start over.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). One solution doesn’t
work for everyone. Also, one solution doesn’t work for
anyone all the time. This is why when something is
working, you celebrate it.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (March 12). Success is not
an award, a number on a chart or an amount in the
bank. Success is a feeling, and one you’ll cultivate and
recreate many times over. You’ll revel in certain aspects
of your work and tend to details that elevate you to
excellence. A study will thrill you and you’ll travel to
pursue deeper knowledge. Capricorn and Taurus adore
you. Your lucky numbers are: 8, 4, 49, 1 and 15.
Universal SUDOKU
SOLUTIONS