Puzzle of the DayNew York TimesOscar Double Feature by Alan ArbesfeldTime: 20:19/Puzzly Score: 1390/Difficulty: MediumI'm surprised that the hometown L.A. Times didn't do anything Oscar-themed this year. Fortunately, Alan Arbesfeld stepped up for the NYT with some puns based on Oscar trivia. Combining movie titles is obviously not the newest or fanciest theme in the world, but the trivia element made it a little more of a challenge, especially because the movies weren't all recent or obvious, and some of them were only nominees.Theme entries:BRAVEHEARTOUTOFAFRICA (Nelson Mandela? (1995, 1985])ROCKYWITNESS (One giving unreliable testimony? [1976, 1985*] [* = Nominee])AIRPORTTRAFFIC (Reason for missing a flight? [1970*, 2000*])CHICAGOTAXIDRIVER (Part of a line at O'Hare? [2002, 1976*])GOINGMYWAYBABE (Cheesy pickup line? [1944, 1995*])NETWORKCRASH (Reason why all the computers are down? [1976*, 2005])PICNICONTHEWATERFRONT (Seaside outing? [1955*, 1954])Using nominees felt like something of a cop out, but at the same time, they made the trivia element more challenging - so overall it was still a worthy Oscar day challenge.There was also some hard stuff in here...Hmmm: BAFF (Strike the ground in a golf swing) - I've been playing golf since I was a little kid. I played (and stunk) on my high school team, I know the rules, I watch the Golf Channel, I've read a few golf-related biographies and even fiction... and not once have I ever, ever seen the word "baff." That is just nasty.Dept. of "There's a Word For That:" REDAN (V-shaped fortification). The picture looks familiar, but I had no idea that was the name for it.***Happy puzzling...Patrickhttp://www.puzzly.com/patrick
