20131216comicspuzzles

The Anniston Star

Monday, December 16, 2013

STAR LITE

Blondie

HOROSCOPE By Bernice Bede Osol

Hagar the Horrible

Beetle Bailey

Snuffy Smith

This is the year to fight for what’s yours. Past limitations have lifted, and it’s high time that you got your house in order. Learn from experience and avoid situations that seem too risky. Use your instincts and follow your intuition. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) — You may get an opportunity to meet people who can help you reach your career goals. You’ll need to mount a massive charm offensive if you want to bolster your reputation. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Your moodiness and changing attitudes may alienate you from friends and family. Be careful what you say. Try to avoid being controversial, and make amends quickly before a situation spins out of control. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Avoid getting caught up in details. Maintaining a general overview of a situation should do for now. Your time is better spent reading or meeting up with friends and colleagues who provide mental stimulation. PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) — Traveling or group activities will foster new partnerships. Avoid investing in moneymaking schemes. Be sure to consult with a financial adviser before you open your wallet. ARIES (March 21-April 19) — Seek a promotion or a more lucrative position at work. Be wary of competition — peers may try to make you look bad. If you take special care to avoid being criticized, affairs will work out well. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) — Now is

not the time to worry about your personal life. Focus on your professional goals, and you’ll be amazed by what you can accomplish. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) — If you get out and meet like-minded people, you could expand your network of friends. It is also a very good time to consider expanding your family or circle of loved ones. CANCER (June 21-July 22) — Opportunities for partnerships abound among the right people. Now is the time to make a difference through involvement in humanitarian ventures. Take a measured, rational approach when dealing with children. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) — Your work rather than home life is where you will shine most right now, so focus your energy there. But don’t neglect your domestic responsibilities entirely — try to maintain a balance. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Plan to travel, whether for business or pleasure. Self-improvement efforts will make you feel good and boost your aesthetic appeal. Make decisions while free from outside influence. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) — Pay attention to nutrition, as unwanted weight gain is likely at this time. Maintain a healthy and active routine. You can take control if you pay attention and are willing to work at it. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) — Close friends and relatives may steer you in the wrong direction regarding a sensitive situation. Keep in mind that it is you who must endure the consequences of your actions.

Mutts

Garfield

Zits

Born Loser

Jump Start

Wizard of Id

B.C.

Pickles

Dilbert

Baby Blues

Get Fuzzy

Bound & Gagged

Mother Goose and Grimm

Dennis the Menace

Family Circus

THE CLASSIFIED CHALLENGE ACROSS 1 Capital of Qatar 5 Invertebrate’s lack 10 Former Cubs slugger Sammy 14 Stale smell 15 Controversial topic 16 Greek boy with a bow 17 Allot, with “out” 18 *Naval cereal icon sporting a Napoleon-style hat 20 Nuclear __: social unit 22 City in Honshu’s Kansai region 23 Academic URL ending 25 Stately tree 26 Like most pies 28 *Nearly none, in slang 31 Summer, in Paris 32 Nosed (out) 33 Eggs on 35 Christmas carol 36 Forest clearing 38 Feet pampering, briefly 42 Bridal party rides 44 Anglo-__ 45 Giant slugger Mel 48 *Venue for self-publishing 51 Shingles or slate, e.g. 53 “Isn’t __ bit like you and me?”: “Nowhere Man” lyric 54 39-Down unit 55 Brown Betty fruit 56 Beantown basketball player 58 *Arc-shaped, finger-staining snack food 61 5,280 feet 64 Erie or Huron 65 Myanmar, once 66 Yard sale sign phrase 67 Expected landing Monday, December 16, 2013 times, briefly

68 Ply with drink 69 Formally turn over DOWN 1 __ Pérignon 2 Poem of celebration 3 Sundae topping 4 Region 5 Mount Etna’s island 6 Biblical songs 7 ’60s espionage show 8 Religious sister 9 Continental trade org. 10 Grinch creator 11 Elaborately decorated 12 Light bulb’s place

GOREN BRIDGE

13 Slightly 19 Google Maps offering 21 Pinochle declaration 23 Genesis garden 24 Prank 26 Bean __: tofu 27 Fierce anger 29 “The Farmer in the __” 30 Resembling 34 Practice in the ring 36 Fed. agent 37 Like the “o” in “no” 39 Beneficial activity that ends the answers to starred clues

40 Two teaspoons, say 41 Gadget’s rank: Abbr. 43 Wall-climbing vines 44 Lovers’ clash 45 Ancient soothsayer 46 Astaire headwear 47 Capital of Kansas 49 Heat: Pref. 50 Chew out 52 Makes tracks 56 Mangy mutts 57 1998 Apple debut 59 Go out, like the tide 60 Pool shark’s stick 62 Jar topper 63 Opposite of WNW

EDITOR’S NOTE: Today’s Crossword,Sudoku Puzzle and Jumble solutions are included below.

BRIDGE

SOLUTIONS TO TODAY’S PUZZLES

WEEKLY BRIDGE QUIZ ANSWERS Q 1 - Neither vulnerable, as South, you hold:

Q 4 - Both vulnerable, as South, you hold:

♠Q84♥ KQJ4♦ AJ ♣9864

♠ J 5 ♥ A J 3 2 ♦ A K 10 6 3 ♣ Q 6

The bidding:

As dealer, what is your opening bid?

A - In days of yore, you might have been drawn and quartered if you overcalled on a four-card suit. Experts today will overcall with a four-card suit, as long as the suit is excellent and the hand is reasonably good. Bid one heart. Q 2 - North-South vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠J974♥KJ54♦Q987♣A

The bidding: NORTH 1♣

EAST 1♦

SOUTH ?

WEST

What call would you make? A - Double. This is a negative double promising values worth competing at this level, but with no clear bid. It suggests length in the unbid suits. Should this find a major-suit fit, great! You are strong enough to continue with a no trump bid if that fails.

A - Should you open one diamond and partner respond one spade, you will have no good re-bid — not enough for two hearts and too much for one no trump. Avoid this and open one no trump now. You are a bit offshape, but it is the lesser evil. Q 5 - North-South vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠ 10 7 5 3 2 ♥ 5 3 2 ♦ K J 7 2 ♣ J

The bidding: NORTH 1♥

EAST 2♣

SOUTH ?

WEST

What call would you make? A - Your hand re-evaluates to about seven points in support of hearts. Bid two hearts. With a better hand, you might start with a negative double and support hearts later, but this hand is only worth one bid. Raise now! Q 6 - Neither vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠QJ92♥ J652♦ AK7 ♣J9

Q 3 - East-West vulnerable, as South, you hold:

As dealer, what call would you make?

♠5♥ AK87♦ 864 ♣J9643

A - A hand with this distribution is usually opened one diamond. This is an awkward opening and sometimes leads to problems later in the auction. Is this hand really worth it? Pass.

The bidding: SOUTH Pass ?

WEST NORTH EAST 2♠ Pass Pass

What call would you make? A - Partner may have quite a good hand with length in spades. Double! You are protected by your status as a passed hand. Partner can’t play you for too much.

Answer:

What call would you make?

TOXIN DECAY CHURCH BECKON

SOUTH ?

She was going to try the spicy hot wings, but she — CHICKENED OUT

WEST NORTH EAST Pass Pass 1♣

(Tannah Hirsch and Bob Jones welcome readers’ responses sent in care of this newspaper or to Tribune Content Agency, LLC., 16650 Westgrove Dr., Suite 175, Addison, TX 75001. E-mail responses may be sent to tcaeditors@tribune.com.)

The Star’s on TWITTER

THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME

Unscramble these four Jumbles, one letter to each square, to form four ordinary words.

YECDA CCRUHH COBNEK

Jumble puzzle magazines available at pennydellpuzzles.com/jumblemags

by David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek

Now arrange the circled letters to form the surprise answer, as suggested by the above cartoon.

A: Saturday’s

(Answers tomorrow) Jumbles: THANK GAUGE SICKEN WINNER Answer: This section of the gym was a — “WEIGHTING” AREA

For the latest in local news, visit www.AnnistonStar.com

THE CLASSIFIED CHALLENGE ACROSS 1 Capital of Qatar 5 Invertebrate’s lack 10 Former Cubs slugger Sammy 14 Stale smell 15 Controversial topic 16 Greek boy with a bow 17 Allot, with “out” 18 *Naval cereal icon sporting a Napoleon-style hat 20 Nuclear __: social unit 22 City in Honshu’s Kansai region 23 Academic URL ending 25 Stately tree 26 Like most pies 28 *Nearly none, in slang 31 Summer, in Paris 32 Nosed (out) 33 Eggs on 35 Christmas carol 36 Forest clearing 38 Feet pampering, briefly 42 Bridal party rides 44 Anglo-__ 45 Giant slugger Mel 48 *Venue for self-publishing 51 Shingles or slate, e.g. 53 “Isn’t __ bit like you and me?”: “Nowhere Man” lyric 54 39-Down unit 55 Brown Betty fruit 56 Beantown basketball player 58 *Arc-shaped, finger-staining snack food 61 5,280 feet 64 Erie or Huron 65 Myanmar, once 66 Yard sale sign phrase 67 Expected landing Monday, December 16, 2013 times, briefly

68 Ply with drink 69 Formally turn over DOWN 1 __ Pérignon 2 Poem of celebration 3 Sundae topping 4 Region 5 Mount Etna’s island 6 Biblical songs 7 ’60s espionage show 8 Religious sister 9 Continental trade org. 10 Grinch creator 11 Elaborately decorated 12 Light bulb’s place

GOREN BRIDGE

13 Slightly 19 Google Maps offering 21 Pinochle declaration 23 Genesis garden 24 Prank 26 Bean __: tofu 27 Fierce anger 29 “The Farmer in the __” 30 Resembling 34 Practice in the ring 36 Fed. agent 37 Like the “o” in “no” 39 Beneficial activity that ends the answers to starred clues

40 Two teaspoons, say 41 Gadget’s rank: Abbr. 43 Wall-climbing vines 44 Lovers’ clash 45 Ancient soothsayer 46 Astaire headwear 47 Capital of Kansas 49 Heat: Pref. 50 Chew out 52 Makes tracks 56 Mangy mutts 57 1998 Apple debut 59 Go out, like the tide 60 Pool shark’s stick 62 Jar topper 63 Opposite of WNW

EDITOR’S NOTE: Today’s Crossword,Sudoku Puzzle and Jumble solutions are included below.

BRIDGE

SOLUTIONS TO TODAY’S PUZZLES

WEEKLY BRIDGE QUIZ ANSWERS Q 1 - Neither vulnerable, as South, you hold:

Q 4 - Both vulnerable, as South, you hold:

♠Q84♥ KQJ4♦ AJ ♣9864

♠ J 5 ♥ A J 3 2 ♦ A K 10 6 3 ♣ Q 6

The bidding:

As dealer, what is your opening bid?

A - In days of yore, you might have been drawn and quartered if you overcalled on a four-card suit. Experts today will overcall with a four-card suit, as long as the suit is excellent and the hand is reasonably good. Bid one heart. Q 2 - North-South vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠J974♥KJ54♦Q987♣A

The bidding: NORTH 1♣

EAST 1♦

SOUTH ?

WEST

What call would you make? A - Double. This is a negative double promising values worth competing at this level, but with no clear bid. It suggests length in the unbid suits. Should this find a major-suit fit, great! You are strong enough to continue with a no trump bid if that fails.

A - Should you open one diamond and partner respond one spade, you will have no good re-bid — not enough for two hearts and too much for one no trump. Avoid this and open one no trump now. You are a bit offshape, but it is the lesser evil. Q 5 - North-South vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠ 10 7 5 3 2 ♥ 5 3 2 ♦ K J 7 2 ♣ J

The bidding: NORTH 1♥

EAST 2♣

SOUTH ?

WEST

What call would you make? A - Your hand re-evaluates to about seven points in support of hearts. Bid two hearts. With a better hand, you might start with a negative double and support hearts later, but this hand is only worth one bid. Raise now! Q 6 - Neither vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠QJ92♥ J652♦ AK7 ♣J9

Q 3 - East-West vulnerable, as South, you hold:

As dealer, what call would you make?

♠5♥ AK87♦ 864 ♣J9643

A - A hand with this distribution is usually opened one diamond. This is an awkward opening and sometimes leads to problems later in the auction. Is this hand really worth it? Pass.

The bidding: SOUTH Pass ?

WEST NORTH EAST 2♠ Pass Pass

What call would you make? A - Partner may have quite a good hand with length in spades. Double! You are protected by your status as a passed hand. Partner can’t play you for too much.

Answer:

What call would you make?

TOXIN DECAY CHURCH BECKON

SOUTH ?

She was going to try the spicy hot wings, but she — CHICKENED OUT

WEST NORTH EAST Pass Pass 1♣

(Tannah Hirsch and Bob Jones welcome readers’ responses sent in care of this newspaper or to Tribune Content Agency, LLC., 16650 Westgrove Dr., Suite 175, Addison, TX 75001. E-mail responses may be sent to tcaeditors@tribune.com.)

The Star’s on TWITTER

THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME

Unscramble these four Jumbles, one letter to each square, to form four ordinary words.

YECDA CCRUHH COBNEK

Jumble puzzle magazines available at pennydellpuzzles.com/jumblemags

by David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek

Now arrange the circled letters to form the surprise answer, as suggested by the above cartoon.

A: Saturday’s

(Answers tomorrow) Jumbles: THANK GAUGE SICKEN WINNER Answer: This section of the gym was a — “WEIGHTING” AREA

For the latest in local news, visit www.AnnistonStar.com

THE CLASSIFIED CHALLENGE ACROSS 1 Capital of Qatar 5 Invertebrate’s lack 10 Former Cubs slugger Sammy 14 Stale smell 15 Controversial topic 16 Greek boy with a bow 17 Allot, with “out” 18 *Naval cereal icon sporting a Napoleon-style hat 20 Nuclear __: social unit 22 City in Honshu’s Kansai region 23 Academic URL ending 25 Stately tree 26 Like most pies 28 *Nearly none, in slang 31 Summer, in Paris 32 Nosed (out) 33 Eggs on 35 Christmas carol 36 Forest clearing 38 Feet pampering, briefly 42 Bridal party rides 44 Anglo-__ 45 Giant slugger Mel 48 *Venue for self-publishing 51 Shingles or slate, e.g. 53 “Isn’t __ bit like you and me?”: “Nowhere Man” lyric 54 39-Down unit 55 Brown Betty fruit 56 Beantown basketball player 58 *Arc-shaped, finger-staining snack food 61 5,280 feet 64 Erie or Huron 65 Myanmar, once 66 Yard sale sign phrase 67 Expected landing Monday, December 16, 2013 times, briefly

68 Ply with drink 69 Formally turn over DOWN 1 __ Pérignon 2 Poem of celebration 3 Sundae topping 4 Region 5 Mount Etna’s island 6 Biblical songs 7 ’60s espionage show 8 Religious sister 9 Continental trade org. 10 Grinch creator 11 Elaborately decorated 12 Light bulb’s place

GOREN BRIDGE

13 Slightly 19 Google Maps offering 21 Pinochle declaration 23 Genesis garden 24 Prank 26 Bean __: tofu 27 Fierce anger 29 “The Farmer in the __” 30 Resembling 34 Practice in the ring 36 Fed. agent 37 Like the “o” in “no” 39 Beneficial activity that ends the answers to starred clues

40 Two teaspoons, say 41 Gadget’s rank: Abbr. 43 Wall-climbing vines 44 Lovers’ clash 45 Ancient soothsayer 46 Astaire headwear 47 Capital of Kansas 49 Heat: Pref. 50 Chew out 52 Makes tracks 56 Mangy mutts 57 1998 Apple debut 59 Go out, like the tide 60 Pool shark’s stick 62 Jar topper 63 Opposite of WNW

EDITOR’S NOTE: Today’s Crossword,Sudoku Puzzle and Jumble solutions are included below.

BRIDGE

SOLUTIONS TO TODAY’S PUZZLES

WEEKLY BRIDGE QUIZ ANSWERS Q 1 - Neither vulnerable, as South, you hold:

Q 4 - Both vulnerable, as South, you hold:

♠Q84♥ KQJ4♦ AJ ♣9864

♠ J 5 ♥ A J 3 2 ♦ A K 10 6 3 ♣ Q 6

The bidding:

As dealer, what is your opening bid?

A - In days of yore, you might have been drawn and quartered if you overcalled on a four-card suit. Experts today will overcall with a four-card suit, as long as the suit is excellent and the hand is reasonably good. Bid one heart. Q 2 - North-South vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠J974♥KJ54♦Q987♣A

The bidding: NORTH 1♣

EAST 1♦

SOUTH ?

WEST

What call would you make? A - Double. This is a negative double promising values worth competing at this level, but with no clear bid. It suggests length in the unbid suits. Should this find a major-suit fit, great! You are strong enough to continue with a no trump bid if that fails.

A - Should you open one diamond and partner respond one spade, you will have no good re-bid — not enough for two hearts and too much for one no trump. Avoid this and open one no trump now. You are a bit offshape, but it is the lesser evil. Q 5 - North-South vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠ 10 7 5 3 2 ♥ 5 3 2 ♦ K J 7 2 ♣ J

The bidding: NORTH 1♥

EAST 2♣

SOUTH ?

WEST

What call would you make? A - Your hand re-evaluates to about seven points in support of hearts. Bid two hearts. With a better hand, you might start with a negative double and support hearts later, but this hand is only worth one bid. Raise now! Q 6 - Neither vulnerable, as South, you hold: ♠QJ92♥ J652♦ AK7 ♣J9

Q 3 - East-West vulnerable, as South, you hold:

As dealer, what call would you make?

♠5♥ AK87♦ 864 ♣J9643

A - A hand with this distribution is usually opened one diamond. This is an awkward opening and sometimes leads to problems later in the auction. Is this hand really worth it? Pass.

The bidding: SOUTH Pass ?

WEST NORTH EAST 2♠ Pass Pass

What call would you make? A - Partner may have quite a good hand with length in spades. Double! You are protected by your status as a passed hand. Partner can’t play you for too much.

Answer:

What call would you make?

TOXIN DECAY CHURCH BECKON

SOUTH ?

She was going to try the spicy hot wings, but she — CHICKENED OUT

WEST NORTH EAST Pass Pass 1♣

(Tannah Hirsch and Bob Jones welcome readers’ responses sent in care of this newspaper or to Tribune Content Agency, LLC., 16650 Westgrove Dr., Suite 175, Addison, TX 75001. E-mail responses may be sent to tcaeditors@tribune.com.)

The Star’s on TWITTER

THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME

Unscramble these four Jumbles, one letter to each square, to form four ordinary words.

YECDA CCRUHH COBNEK

Jumble puzzle magazines available at pennydellpuzzles.com/jumblemags

by David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek

Now arrange the circled letters to form the surprise answer, as suggested by the above cartoon.

A: Saturday’s

(Answers tomorrow) Jumbles: THANK GAUGE SICKEN WINNER Answer: This section of the gym was a — “WEIGHTING” AREA

For the latest in local news, visit www.AnnistonStar.com

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook