PUZZLES Thursday, August 18, 2022 The Missing Link by Jon Pennington Universal Crossword edited by David Steinberg ACROSS 1 Crew team’s poles 5 Ziti, for one 10 “___ Lisa” 14 Stuff from a shopping trip, slangily 15 Pale with shock 16 Sashes in Sapporo 17 Mufasa’s hair 18 Gain an upper hand, minus the secret word 20 Phobia 22 Modify, as a photo 23 About 98% of Antarctica’s surface 24 Commit accounting fraud, minus the secret word 27 Pilsner beer, e.g. 29 Word before “wash” or “pool” 30 Show with Featured Players, briefly 31 Most secure 32 Improv piece 34 Cease’s partner 37 2006 crime film starring Leonardo DiCaprio, or a theme hint 41 Indifferent to ethics 42 “OMG, hilarious!” 45 Sporadically available BBQ sandwiches 48 “I’ve got it!” 51 Is free to 52 Got up 53 Just in time, minus the secret word 56 Keanu, in the “Matrix” series 57 City northwest of Las Vegas 59 Strap for Prancer 60 Manipulate rules to get an edge, minus the secret word 63 State of stupefaction 66 Soul vocalist Redding 67 Like ghost stories 68 English boarding school since 1440 69 Trickle 70 Homeowners’ documents 71 Must-have DOWN 1 Volt/ampere 2 Towing org. 3 “Get outta here quickly!” 4 Smooth and shiny 5 Funder of the arts 6 Tempe sch. 7 Princess Fiona’s husband 8 Is inclined (to) 9 Oppositional prefix 10 Disorderly crowd 11 Legally compel 12 North and Chicago West, to Kylie Jenner 13 State boldly 19 Title song of Etta James’ debut album 21 Core muscles 24 Keeps in the email loop 25 Wood for wine barrels 26 Born earlier 28 31 33 35 36 38 39 40 43 44 45 46 47 49 50 53 54 55 58 61 62 64 65 In search of Knight’s title Bangkok locals Eco-friendly org. Bar food? Glowing fire remnants Uno + uno Exercise control over A ways away Active ingredient in Drano Fruits in many a chutney Bring into being Dormmate, say Mercury’s Greek equivalent Is for groups? “Eww, I can’t ___ that!” ___ Dame Get broader Stared at Telepathic skill, for short Islam’s ___ al-Fitr Kravitz of “Big Little Lies” Termination Insect Sound by Doug Burnikel & Zhouquin Burnikel Universal Crossword edited by David Steinberg ACROSS 1 One in a slalom race 6 Fiber in brown rice 10 What cats do constantly 13 “That toy is mine!” 14 Prefix with “space” 15 De la Reguera of “Goliath” 16 “There’s just no way” 19 ___ Friday’s 20 “What was I thinking?!” 21 Thor or Vishnu 22 National park attendant 24 “Get lost, pest!” 25 Professions 26 Really bad 29 Astronomer who taught at the University of Pisa 31 “Ha! I was right!” 33 A bunch of 34 Easy-to-learn card game 37 Digits in a sock 38 “Big Little Lies” author Moriarty 40 The “k” in kg 41 Lager alternative 42 ENTs and GPs 43 Needed replenishing 45 Harmony, to Taoists 48 State fair thrills 49 Poses a danger to 51 Provide a false alibi for, say 53 Headwear in Santa’s workshop 54 Mother of a piglet 55 Frodo’s friend 58 Opposite of paleo- 59 Informal addition to the Fab Four 63 First numero 64 Artist’s inspiration 65 Gemstones with a matrix variety 66 Plopped down 67 Periods whose names often end in “zoic” 68 Mombasa’s African country DOWN 1 Reached base dramatically 2 Diet high in fat 3 Poison ivy symptom 4 Problem that often comes with success 5 Approximately 6 “No SmartBones for you!” 7 Stimpy’s companion 8 Butter sculptures, e.g. 9 Easy decision 10 “Secrets of the Zoo” network 11 Fury 12 Units for socks and shoes 17 Bathroom at Wimbledon 18 Ahead of schedule 23 Word before a birth name 24 Bodywash lather 25 Large family group 26 Lead in to “girl” or “boy” 27 Cashmere, e.g. 28 Run away 30 Gather together 32 Period for self- care 35 Diaper cream additive 36 Propels a dinghy 39 Treats with a cold pack 40 Make a blankie, say 42 Late-night tea choice 44 “Everything all right between us?” 46 “Uh-uh” 47 Glam bands? 49 Lists of salon services 50 Kagan of the Supreme Court 52 Move like a buoy 55 Comics icon Lee 56 Partner in a fight 57 Flat-topped hill 60 Coyote’s coat 61 Org. screening carry-ons 62 Donkey Kong, e.g. East Oregonian A9 HOROSCOPES BY HOLIDAY MATHIS FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2022 Countdown to a Mars Change In the realm of Taurus, Mars is a warrior for appetite, motivated by the senses, driven by quality, luxury and the smell of money. The warrior planet will soon have a change of culture. In Gemini, Mars takes on new drives. We may soon find ourselves prone to prioritize the conversation over the meal, the sport over the trophy. ARIES (March 21-April 19). Bad habits ultimately deplete; good habits ultimately fortify. You might feel tired after you exercise, but in the long term it makes you stronger. A new pursuit will follow a similar rhythm with short-term pain and long-term gain. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). It may feel important to declare your boundaries. Relationships are defined by actions, not words. When it’s not going strictly by your rules, just remember that you can go by your own rules, and that’s what matters. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). A calm mind makes you better at just about everything. getting to that calm mind is an essential discipline to learn and eventually master. You may even create a method of calming that’s unique to you, yet helpful to many. CANCER (June 22-July 22). For the most part, you’re a lover, not a fighter. Still, some things are worth fighting for. Today it’s enough just to notice what they are and experience the surge of feeling that comes with appreciating them. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’ll employ your talent for sensing the motives of others. You’ll counteract any force threatening your goals. It will be strategic to keep your plans secret. Relatedly, an effective use of silence will make a statement that words cannot. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Your network keeps giving. You’ll learn what you need to get to the next place then return with a long list of new questions to ask. The more you know, the more comfortable you get with the reality that you’ll never know it all. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). When something happens easily, it feels fated. In today’s case something falls together and gets tied up in the bow of destiny. Note the difference between “easy” and “automatic,” which is more an indicator of habit than fate. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). A flurry of new people and challenges comes with the chaos of a new venture. It will be invigorating to dance with the disorder instead of attempting to control it. Eventually things will order themselves. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). The dance of relationships is one of stepping back to get closer. Honor your need for space and become sensitized to the spatial needs of others. The oxygen in these spaces is what makes togetherness spark. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Today’s project may not seem like a fertile ground for self-expression, but with your imagination it won’t be too hard to find an approach that elevates. Somewhere inside every job is an opportunity to be fully yourself. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Ask for what you need. In doing so you’ll create the change that sets off a hundred other improvements. You may not have the support you want now, but it will come eventually. Meanwhile, be your own champion. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Remember the time when the unexpected change shook up your perspective and then something truly positive came out of it? That’s great because it will happen again. When it goes a bit sideways, hang in there. TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Aug. 19). A surge of power; with faith, courage and vision you’ll harness the winds of fortune to do your bidding. You change or drop many old rules you had for yourself as love renders all micromanaging unnecessary. Other highlights include savvy investments, coveted keys and stellar invites to times you’ll remember for years. Scorpio and Capricorn adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 1, 10, 44, 28 and 14. Universal SUDOKU SOLUTIONS HOROSCOPES BY HOLIDAY MATHIS SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 2022 Mars Gets Social Mars in Gemini stirs up the cocktail of business and pleasure. It’s the retro swirl of a three-martini lunch. It’s the grouping on the golf course and the community social that makes the towny business connections. In the weeks to come, small talk abounds, even though there’s no such thing as small talk. Everything is aimed to something. ARIES (March 21-April 19). You stand amidst a sensory swirl of potential influencers, though few are worthy of your attention. In today’s over-informative world, knowing what to ignore is crucial. You’ll be drawn to selections that simplify your life. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Knowing there are always taller peaks to climb, you’ll celebrate the elevation you’re at. Make an event of it! This will help you network, advance professionally and connect personally with those as supportive and enthusiastic as you. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You’re a problem- solver extraordinaire. When yours isn’t coming together fast enough, you keep the momentum going on someone else’s. The energy of progress will soon bring improvement all around. CANCER (June 22-July 22). What good is knowing where to go unless you actually go? The research is stacking up. The feeling in your gut is pointing to a specific aim. Take courage and make your move. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). When someone tells you how they feel, it’s valuable information, especially since feelings will have more of an impact on events than the facts. Listen carefully. Allow for long pauses. Energy will be discharged through breath. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You’ll find yourself trying to reason with unreasonable forces, most likely in the form of children or those who act like them. Maintain a sense of internal structure, appear patient with the outside world and you’ll pass the test. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Either what you assumed has been proven correct, or these events are a direct result of your assumption -- in other words, you believed it, so it’s coming true. It’s cause for reflection either way. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Regardless of what authority may bear on the situation, you are known for summarizing a situation before making a decision. There are three colors at the traffic lights of life. They suggest, yet you alone decide which to heed. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Today brings interesting facts to light, the sort from which there’s no going back. Even if you forget the lesson, rebel against the teaching, go numb to its imprint or believe its opposite, you’ll still be changed. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Irritation or aggravation can be a very positive emotion to feel. It’s a signal to move or adjust, to think differently or get yourself out of there entirely. It’s better to feel uncomfortable and move than to get numb and stay put. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). The evidence suggests there are 24 hours in a day, give or take. Your experience of the moments will have you wondering how it could be true. Time will elastify, some moments a freeze-frame and others a blur. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Beautiful experiences will catch you by surprise. You won’t have to wait for it to happen. It’s a function of putting yourself in the diverse environments that beautiful experiences find irresistible. TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Aug. 20). You’re like a seasoned athlete who understands the magic of pacing. You’ll manage your energy brilliantly this year and have plenty to draw on when you need it most. Seek adventure, follow curiosity and regularly do the things you used to save for special occasions. Also featured: a big sale and a dream holiday. Gemini and Libra adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 8, 4, 12, 33 and 15. Universal SUDOKU SOLUTIONS