Tuesday, October 24, 2023 Samuel A Donaldson

Once, Twice, Three times ...

18-Across. "So tasty!": NOM NOM NOM.

20-Across. Disco hit with the repeated lyric "How do you like it?": MORE MORE MORE.

36-Across. Dance syllables: CHA CHA CHA.

54-Across. "Exactly right!": DING DING DING.

58-Across. "Wait for it": DOT DOT DOT. ...

And a bonus theme clue:

1-Across. Three, so they say: CROWD.  Two is company, but Three's a crowd, Four is too many, and Five's not allowed.  This made me think of the 1970s sit-com, Three's Company, which starred Suzanne Somers (née Suzanne Marie Mahoney; Oct. 16, 1946 ~ Oct. 15, 2023), who died just a few days ago.

Across:

6. "You're a riot": HA HA!

10. Monterey __ cheese: JACK.  Yummers!  Everything you wanted to know about Monterey Jack cheese, but didn't know to ask.   I like the pepper jack version of this cheese.   [Name adjacent.]

14. Prying tool: LEVER.

15. Pizazz: ELAN.  This word has become a crossword staple.

16. Not pro: ANTI.

17. Mimic's talent: APERY.

22. Naval initials: USS.  USS = United States Ship.  The abbreviation is used in official documents to identify a commissioned ship of the Navy.  It applies to a ship while it is in commission.  Ever wonder how ships got named?

23. French agreement: OUI.  Today's French lesson.

24. Polite child's reply: YES, MOM.

28. Bit of plastic foam packing material: PEANUT.

30. Soviet news agency: TASS.

32. Director DuVernay: AVA.  //  Not to be confused with 45-Across Green who played Vesper Lynd in "Casino Royale": EVA.  Ava Marie DuVernay (b. Aug. 24, 1972) is an American film maker.  She is probably best known for her films Selma, about Martin Luther King, Jr.; and A Wrinkle in Time.  Eva Gaëlle Green (b.  July 6, 1980) is a French actress who appeared in the 2006 Bond film.  [Names # 1 and 2.]

Ava DuVernay

Eva Green

33. Crisis unit: SWAT TEAM.

35. Sink-cleaning brand: AJAX.

39. Roll up, as a flag: FURL.  Unfurl is a far more common word than its opposite, furl, which means "roll or fold."  Did you know that the origin of the word comes from the French ferler?

42. Volatile types: HOT HEADS.

46. Slender woodwind: OBOE.

48. "Earthsea" series writer __ K. Le Guin: URSULA.  Ursula K. Le Guin (né Ursula Kroeber; Oct. 21, 1929 ~ Jan. 22, 2018) was an American author best known for her works of speculative fiction, including science fiction and the Earthsea fantasy series.  Ursula is not a name you hear often.   [Name # 3.]

50. Big name in pianos and motorcycles: YAMAHA.  Everything you wanted to know about Yamaha but didn't know to ask.

52. Army fare, briefly: MRE.  MRE = Meals Ready to Eat.

53. Baseball great Hodges inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2022: GIL.  Gilbert Ray Hodges (Apr. 4, 1924 ~ Apr. 2, 1972) had a long career with the Brooklyn / Los Angeles Dodgers.  Sadly, he died young of a heart attach just 2 days before his 48th birthday.  He was formally inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in July 2022, 50 years after his death.  Little known fact:  When he was born, his surname was Hodge.  At sometime in the 1930, his family added an "s" to the end of their name.  [Name # 4.]

61. New wave band __ Boingo: OINGO.  Apparently this band was active in the 1980s and early '90s.  I don't remember it.  [Name # 5.]

62. In that case: IF SO.

63. Sunup direction: EAST.

64. ATM key: ENTER.

65. Überfan: STAN.  Hand up if you knew this one.  Apparently Stan is defined as a maniacally obsessive fan of a celebrity, particularly one whose fixation with the celebrity is unhealthy or intrusive.  Thank goodness for the perps.

66. Sazerac spirits: RYES.  Yummers.  Sazerac is the official cocktail of New Orleans.  In 2008, the Louisiana Legislature enacted La. R.S. 33:1420.2, which proclaimed the Sazerac the official cocktail of New Orleans:  "There shall be an official cocktail of the city of New Orleans.  The official New Orleans cocktail shall be the Sazerac.  The Sazerac, created in the nineteenth century by Antoine Amedee Peychaud in the French Quarter of New Orleans, is world known for the use of a local product known as 'Peychaud's Bitters'.  Its use on official documents of the city of New Orleans and with the insignia of the city of New Orleans is hereby authorized."  Good to know our lawmakers are looking out for its citizens.

67. Retail outlet: STORE.

Down:

1. Refuse to answer questions: CLAM UP.

2. Takes a rest: REPOSES.

3. Supervised: OVERSAW.

4. "Where __ we?": WERE.

5. Sign of dehydration: DRY MOUTH.

6. Painter Matisse: HENRI.  French artist Henri Matisse (né Henri Émile Benoît Matisse; Dec. 31, 1869 ~ Nov. 3, 1954) was a printmaker and sculptor as well as a painter.  He is best known for being an impressionism and post-impressionism.  Click here to see some of his most well-known paintings.  [Name # 6.]

7. Natural balm: ALOE.  A crossword staple.

8. Soccer legend Mia: HAMM.  Mariel Margaret Hamm (b. March 17, 1972) is a former professional soccer player.  She also led three Olympic Games: 1996 in Atlanta, 2002 in Sydney, Australia, and 2004 in Athens, Greece.  She also competed in four FIFA Women's World Cups: 1991 in China, 1995 in Sweden, and two in the United States (1999 and 2003).  She also makes frequent guest appearances in the crossword puzzles.  [Name # 7.]

9. Drives bonkers: ANNOYS.

10. LeBron who broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's NBA scoring record in 2023: JAMES.  Both LeBron James (né LeBron Raymone James; b. Dec. 30, 1984) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (né Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr.; b. Apr. 16, 1947) played for the Los Angeles Lakers, although LeBron has also played for Cleveland and Miami as well.  Kareem started his professional career with the Milwaukee Bucks.  [Names # 8 and 9.]

11. Novelist Patchett: ANN.  Ann Patchett (b. Dec. 2, 1963) makes frequent guest appearances in the crossword puzzles.  Her most recent novel is Tom Lake.  [Name # 10.]

12. Exec who's good at networking?: CTO.  CTO = Chief Technology Officer.

13. Crime-fighting teen toon __ Possible: KIM.  Kim Possible, an obvious pun on Impossible, looks like an average high-school cheerleader, but in her spare time, she saves the world from supervillains.  [Name # 11, fictional.]

19. Mine yields: ORES.  Another crossword staple.

21. "Straight __ Compton": OUTTA.  Straight Outta Compton was a 2015 film.

25. Capt.'s boss: MAJ.  The Major oversees (3-Down) the Captain.

26. Egg cells: OVA.

27. Tops: MAX.

29. Table salt, to a chemist: NaCl.  Also known as Sodium Chloride.

30. Chevy model that shares a name with a lake: TAHOE.

A Tahoe in the Tahoe, perhaps?

31. Amo, amas, __: AMAT.  Today's Latin Lesson

34. Sound in an empty hallway: ECHO.

35. Penlight batteries: AAAs.

37. Device for making butter: CHURN.

38. "Wish me luck!": HERE GOES.

39. Writer/actress Tina who graduated from 40-Down: FEY.  Hand up if you knew that Tina Fey (née Elizabeth Stamatina Fey; b, May 18, 1970) graduated from the University of Virginia.   [Name # 12.]

40. Charlottesville sch.: UVA.

41. Aries animal: RAM.

43. Explored deeply: DUG INTO.

44. Burger preparer, in diner slang: SLINGER.

46. State on Lake Erie: OHIO.

47. Friendly back-and-forth: BANTER.

49. Dick Cheney's predecessor: AL GORE.  Dick Cheney (né Richard Bruce Cheney; b. Jan 30, 1941) was the 46th Vice President of the United States.  He served in that Office from January 2001 to January 2009.  Al Gore (né Albert Arnold Gore, Jr.; b. Mar. 31, 1948) was the 45th Vice President and served from January 1993 until January 2001.  [Names # 13 and 14.]

51. Optional feature: ADD ON.

52. Fielding gloves: MITTS.

55. Aussie mate-ing call?: G'DAY.  Hi, Kazie!

56. Two tablets, maybe: DOSE.

57. By __ of: due to: DINT.

58. Put down: DIS.

59. Over and again, in poetry: OFT.

60. LAX agency that's not lax about safety: TSA.  TSA = Transportation Security Agency.

And Here's the Grid:

חתולה

Monday October 23, 2023 Steve Faiella

  

Hello Cornerites!

sumdaze here. Today's theme is                     Hot Stuff

Donna Summer sang about Hot Stuff in 1979. Today constructor Steve Faiella takes a different approach. He gave us five starred clues (three horizontal and two vertical). Each is composed of two words such that the first word can follow the word "hot" to make an in-the-language phrase.

17 Across. *Holders of small liquor servings: SHOT GLASSES.  HOT SHOT has a few different meanings, including this one from the American Heritage Dictionary:  a person of impressive skill and daring, especially one who is highly successful and self-assured.

29 Across. *Facial feature of Frosty the Snowman: BUTTON NOSE.  A HOT BUTTON is a topic or issue that is highly charged emotionally or politically.

48 Across. *Theater buff's memento: TICKET STUB.  A HOT TICKET is someone or something that is very popular, the current rage.

11 Down. *Top dog: HEAD HONCHO.  A HOT HEAD is quick to anger.

28 Down. *Upholstery protectors: SEAT COVERS. The person in the HOT SEAT carries full responsibility for something, including facing criticism or being answerable for decisions or actions.

The reveal is at 62A:

62. Arriving with great speed, and what the first words of the answers to the starred clues are doing?: COMING IN HOT.  

Shadow the Hedgehog

Most of the sources I looked at say this phrase has military origins but is now also used metaphorically in business and entertainment promotions. We hear it often in films to mean approaching (too) fast or about to arrive and prepared to begin immediately firing one's weapons. You can probably think of other examples.

For this puzzle, "COMING IN HOT" means that HOT will be the intro to the first word of the starred clue. You might not want to overthink it.

Across:
1. Circle dance at a Jewish wedding: HORA.

5. Asparagus units: SPEARS.  

Advice from Bonnie Plants:  Plant asparagus in Spring or Fall in a sunny spot with nutrient-rich, well-drained soil. Asparagus takes a few seasons to mature but will reap a harvest for 15 to 30 years, so choose a planting location that will go undisturbed for a long time.

11. Over-the-top actor: HAM.  

Actor Jon Hamm's John Ham SNL skit (2 min.)

14. Not worth debating: MOOT.  A MOOT point is a topic where there is no practical reason to continue discussing it because it no longer matters or you will not reach a satisfactory resolution. OTOH, "mute" means without sound.  

15. "That may be true. However ... ": YES, BUT.  Good one!

16. CNN's "__ Longoria: Searching for Mexico": EVA.  Her mother's name is Ella, her father's name is Enrique, and her sisters' names are Esmeralda, Elizabeth, and Emily.

19. Put on TV: AIR.  An 'anachronym' is a word or phrase that remains in usage even as behaviors change. One example is "hang up the phone". I suspect "AIR" is an anachronym from the days when the three major networks broadcast television shows to rooftop antennas.

20. Protective feature of a work boot: STEEL TOE.

21. Tosses in: ADDS.

22. Large body of water: SEA.  Did you read about the discovery of a deep-SEA Octopus Garden off the coast of California?

23. Filly sound: NEIGH.  Generally speaking, a filly is a female horse who has not yet been bred.

26. Sit a spell: REST.

34. Suffix with prop-: -ANE.  PropANE is a three-carbon alkane with the molecular formula C3H8. It is a gas at standard temperature and pressure, but compressible to a transportable liquid. Perhaps that is why these containers are sometimes called "bottles".  

35. "Barefoot Contessa" host Garten: INA.

36. Play divisions: SCENES.  theater clue

37. Ill-suited: INAPT.  

40. Charity URL ending: ORG.  Before donating money to a charity, you might want to first do some research here.

42. Natty necktie: ASCOT.  The Cambridge Dictionary defines "natty" as "stylish and tidy in every detail".  

Princess Kate always appears "stylish and tidy in every detail"
-- especially when she wears royal jewels.

43. Private pupils: TUTEES.  One being tutored is a TUTEE.

45. Singer Yoko: ONO.

47. Tint: HUE.

50. Shoe bottom: SOLE.  intersects with  32 Down. South Korean capital: SEOUL.

When I was in SEOUL, every public bathroom I used had these blue bars of soap. They are attached to metal rods so you just rub your wet hands on them to lather up.

51. Vim and vigor: OOMPH.  I thought for sure I had an error when I saw the two O's.

Yesterday we learned that Yorkshire Terriers weigh less than seven pounds (3.18 kgs).

52. "To Kill a Mockingbird" novelist Harper: LEE.

54. Gaga review: RAVE.  Not "Lady GAGA", although I am sure she gets many RAVE reviews.

56. Pop star Christina known as the "Voice of a Generation": AGUILERA.  

She was born on Dec. 18, 1980, is 5'2",
 and was a coach on The Voice for seasons 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, & 10.

61. Valuable rock: ORE.  

Identifying Valuable Rocks (1 min.)

65. Respectful title: SIR.  and  69 Down. Polite titles: MADAMS.

66. Street crosser: AVENUE.  Where I live now, avenues run north-south and streets run east-west, but I have also lived in cities where it is the opposite. Which direction do they run in your city?

67. Tot: TYKE.  Def.:  a small child.

68. Billboards, e.g.: ADS.  

70. Mount of Greek myth: OSSA.  If you have not done so already, I recommend memorizing this one, as well as 53D, for future solves.  

Mount OSSA (a.k.a. Kissavos)
It is 6,490 ft. (1,978 meters) high.

Down:
1. Letters on a British ocean liner: HMS.  His (or Her) Majesty's Ship

2. __ and aahs: OOHS.  

3. Tooth anchor: ROOT.  I've often thought it would be good if humans got a third set of new teeth when they turn 45 years old. If it happened to everyone, it would not seem weird.

4. Bear witness (to): ATTEST.

5. College course outlines: SYLLABI.  A syllabus is a document that communicates information about an academic course and defines expectations and responsibilities. Its plural form is not "silly busses".

6. __ moss: gardening material: PEAT.  Most gardening gurus now recommend a "PEAT-free" approach. Monty Don's recommendations

7. Canadian fuel giant: ESSO.  

I took this pic in Nakusp, BC, Canada while on my cycling trip this past summer.
I have been waiting for ESSO to pop up on a Monday ever since!
Note: The price is cents per litre.

8. Not in class: ABSENT.

9. Deeply regret: RUE.

10. MN and NM: STS.  Minnesota and New Mexico are STateS.  Great clue!

12. Enthusiastic: AVID.

13. "The War of the Worlds" planet: MARS.  H.G. Wells authored this book in 1898. Prior to that, he had already published The Time Machine, The Island of Doctor Moreau, and The Invisible Man.  goodreads link

18. "Gosh!": GEE.

21. Choreographer de Mille: AGNES.  A CSO to a sweet & savvy Cornerite.  

Agnes George de Mille
(September 18, 1905 - October 7, 1993)

24. Dawn goddess: EOS.  Greek mythology

25. Native of ancient Peru: INCA.

26. "Something To Talk About" singer Bonnie: RAITT.  I like her music but I always forget how to spell her name. Here's the song:  

27. Listless feeling: ENNUI.  

"Ennui" by Walter Richard Sickert (c.1914)
learn more about this painting

30. Card game with an edition for colorblind players: UNO.  According to Mattel, each colorful card also has a symbol (see below) designed to represent that color so color blind and color sighted players can "compete on equal footing".  Does Twister do this, too? ("Footing", get it?)

31. Fortuneteller's card: TAROT.

33. Lauder of makeup: ESTÉE.

38. Grade of black 64-Down: PEKOE.  and  64 Down. Steeped beverage: TEA.

39. Overflow (with): TEEM.

41. Stocky antelope: GNU.  Apparently there is a GNU Muppet. Who GNU?  

44. Fuel additive brand: STP.  Yesterday it was 99A. Gas additive brand.

46. Does a favor for: OBLIGES.

49. Disgraced: SHAMED.

50. Taken care of: SEEN TO.

53. Yalie: ELI.  Yale University was founded in 1701 in Saybrook, CT as the Collegiate School. In 1718 it was renamed after the Welsh merchant Elihu Yale as a gesture of gratitude for a donation. Henceforth, "ELI" and "Yalie" became nicknames for Yale students.

54. "Alita: Battle Angel" star Salazar: ROSA.  IMDb page

55. Extremely dry: ARID.  To make an 'extremely dry' martini, pick up the vermouth bottle, consider it, then set the bottle back down.

57. Actress Gershon: GINA.  IMDb page

58. E pluribus __: UNUM.  "out of many, one"; the motto of the United States of America

59. "The Americans" actor Matthew: RHYS.  Matthew Rhys Evans is a Welsh actor. He is also the new Perry Mason.

His partner on The Americans, Keri Russel, is his partner in real life, too.

60. NASA go-aheads: A-OKS.  

62. Pic taker: CAM.  "Picture" is shortened, so is "CAMera". "Smart phone" does not fit.

63. Reproductive cells: OVA.  plural for "ovum"

Here's the grid, HOT off the presses:

I liked Steve's HOT idea; however, I wish there was more of a transformation for SEAT and TICKET. I also liked that we had both vertical and horizontal themers today. What do you think? It is difficult to please everyone -- only Some Like it Hot.  

"Nobody's Perfect", the final scene from Some Like it Hot (1959)

starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon (2 min.)

Sunday October 22, 2023 Brian Callahan

Theme: "Finish Lines" - Each theme entry has five R's.

27A. *Coral Sea structure: GREAT BARRIER REEF.

46A. *Place to chill on the train?: REFRIGERATOR CAR.

65A. *Long-running comic strip about the Patterson family: FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE.

85A. *Naval vessel known as a "flattop": AIRCRAFT CARRIER.

107A. *Dog breed that weighs no more than seven pounds: YORKSHIRE TERRIER.

14D. *Cause of some memory problems: READ/WRITE ERROR.

47D. *Need for a comprehensive background check?: REARVIEW MIRROR.

Reveal:

122. Fins, or when parsed differently, a feature of the answers to the starred clues: FIVERS.

I don't get the title "Finish Lines". How does it relate to the five R's?

I like that 14D/47D & 65A intersections. I always try myself and love when it happens. Interesting that Brian started the first theme entry at Row 4 rather than 3. 

Across:

1. "That's sorta funny": HEH.

4. Oscar-nominated biopic about a Supreme Court justice: RBG. Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

7. Pampered pet's destination: CAT SPA.

13. "If I Were __ Man": A RICH.

18. Good Grips brand: OXO. Their ginger grater.

19. In the way of: A LA.

20. Eyepieces: OCULARS.

22. Soprano Fleming: RENEE.

23. Choking hazard warning label: NOT A TOY.

25. Like some car engines: REBUILT.

26. Disciple of Haile Selassie, informally: RASTA. Their god is Jah.

30. Fawning parents?: DEER. 33. Shows of soft power?: NERF WARS. Great clues.

31. Roland Garros playing surface: CLAY. French Open. The King.

32. "Far out!": NEAT.

35. Battleship response: MISS.

36. Webpage standard: HTML. 92. Wrote 36-Across, say: CODED.

37. Delight: JOY.

40. Pushover: DOORMAT.

41. Quick __ wink: AS A.

42. Tribeca neighbor: SOHO.

43. Names on a fundraiser's call list: ALUMS.

45. Customizable Wii Sports avatar: MII.

50. Wander off: STRAY. I had a few 6-mile hikes at Elm Creek this year. Mostly because I wandered off and got lost.

54. Property transfer need: DEED.

55. Word on a whiskey bottle: MALT.

56. Stadium visitors: AWAY TEAMS.

58. DDE rival: AES.

60. __ Xtra: soda brand: PIBB.

63. Pan Am rival: TWA.

64. Track legend Zátopek: EMIL. Czech runner. Wikipedia says he popularized the interval training.

71. First name in game shows: MERV.

72. Old Prizm maker: GEO.

73. Actor Morales: ESAI.

74. South, south of the Rio Grande: SUR.

75. Liz of fashion: CLAIBORNE.

78. Vegetables in fried rice: PEAS. No peas in Xi'an style fried rice. Just green onions, eggs and rice. 

81. Peal: TOLL.

84. Fifth cen. pope: ST LEO.

90. Org. with lots of "Raw" footage: WWE.

93. Threesome: TRIO.

94. Fannie or Sallie follower: MAE.

95. Salt spray: SEAMIST.

99. Gas additive brand: STP.

100. Luge, e.g.: SLED.

101. Ctrl+C action: COPY.

102. Belle & Sebastian genre: INDIE POP. Scottish indie pop.

104. Hearty bowlful: STEW.

105. Blue Pixar fish: DORY.

106. Red or Card: NL'ER. Gluey.

113. Iraq port city: BASRA.

115. "You had your chance!": TOO LATE.

116. Centrum alternative: ONE A DAY. I finally finished Boomer's remaining multivitamin last Friday.

117. One who plays a part: ACTOR.

118. To the extent that: SO FAR AS.

119. Adobe file format: PDF.

120. New __: cap brand: ERA.

121. Caterpillar rival: DEERE. Caterpillar has a big factory in Shanghai.

123. Retired boomer: SST.

124. 1040 fig.: SSN.

Down:

1. __ Kong: HONG. An hour away from Guangzhou via the speed train.

2. Lifted one's spirits?: EXORCISED. Nice clue also.

3. Traveler's storage spot: HOTEL SAFE.

4. Well-worn: RATTY.

5. Amorphous mass: BLOB.

6. Lady Gaga's "Born This Way," for one: GAY ANTHEM.

7. Round up: CORRAL.

8. Nail the midterm: ACE IT.

9. Mascara container: TUBE.

10. Curved line, in musical notation: SLUR.

11. Twosome: PAIR.

12. "King of the Hill" town: ARLEN. Arlen, Texas.

 

13. Pt. of ETA: ARR.

15. Jeans measure: INSEAM. I like American Eagles jeans. They have the perfect inseam, rise and leg opening for me. 

16. Part of etc.: CETERA.

17. San Simeon castle builder: HEARST.

21. Mount: STEED.

24. Duracell options: AAAS.

28. Suckerfish: REMORA.

29. Gift tag field: FROM.

34. Pass off (on): FOIST.

35. Tarnish: MAR.

36. Biker's wheels: HOG.

37. "The Back-up Plan" actress, familiarly: JLO.

38. Sharing word: OUR.

39. Org. with a community pool: YMCA. Brooklyn Park does not have a YMCA.

42. Record half: SIDE B.

43. Wear: ATTIRE.

44. Handled: SAW TO.

48. Suisse peak: ALPE.

49. Playful growl: RAWR.

51. Hits hard: RAMS.

52. French friend: AMIE.

53. Couture initials: YSL.

57. Veers port or starboard: YAWS.

59. Bell-shaped lily: SEGO.

61. Sox from Mass.: BOS.

62. Cup insert: BRA PAD.

65. Experienced: FELT. Verb.

66. __ hygiene: ORAL.

67. Portable drive capacity prefix: TERA.

68. Restorative: TONIC.

69. Medieval land: FIEF.

70. Closing music: OUTRO.

71. Roast hosts, briefly: MCS.

76. "Young Americans" singer David: BOWIE.

77. Son of Ares and Aphrodite: EROS.

79. Prime minister before and after Churchill: ATTLEE. Clement Attlee.

80. Some bottle caps: SCREW TOPS.

82. Stretches out?: LIMO RIDES.

83. 2024 and 2028: LEAP YEARS.

86. ORD summer hrs.: CDT.

87. Weight room unit: REP.

88. Help: AID.

89. Del __ Books: sci-fi publisher: REY.

91. 2023 award for Lionel Messi: ESPY. Inter Miami.

95. Mythical mariner: SINBAD.

96. Twist together: ENLACE.

97. "__ Fideles": ADESTE.

98. Horn sounds: TOOTS.

100. Emotional strain: STRESS.

101. Former "Iron Chef America" chef Cat __: CORA.

103. Word on a whiskey bottle: PROOF.

104. Instrument in the tanbur family: SITAR.

105. P&G detergent brand: DREFT.

108. Former U.N. chief Annan: KOFI. He graduated from Macalester, a private college here in Minnesota.

109. Macedonian or Montenegrin: SLAV.

110. Aesop character: HARE.

111. Winds down: ENDS.

112. Meg of "You've Got Mail": RYAN.

114. "__ you sure?": ARE.

C.C.