Just because everyone knows my procedure in picking each week's random ScuttleButton winner is as fair as Sunday's Putin re-election in Russia doesn't mean you shouldn't try to solve this week's puzzle. In fact, I think this week's is a good one.
First, my weekly/weakly reminder. Every Monday on this site I put up a vertical display of buttons. Your job is to simply take one word (or concept) per button, add 'em up, and, hopefully, you will arrive at a famous name or a familiar expression. (And seriously, by familiar, I mean it's something that more than one person on Earth would recognize.)
For years, a correct answer chosen at random would get his or her name posted in this column, an incredible honor in itself. Now the stakes are even higher. Thanks to the efforts of the folks at Talk of the Nation, that person also hears their name mentioned on the Wednesday show (by me) and receives a Political Junkie t-shirt in the bargain. Is this a great country or what?
You can't use the comments box at the bottom of the page for your answer. Send submission (plus your name and city/state — you won't win without that) to politicaljunkie@npr.org.
And, by adding your name to the Political Junkie mailing list, you will be among the first on your block to receive notice about the column and the puzzle. Sign up at politicaljunkie@npr.org. Or you can make sure to get an automatic RSS feed whenever a new Junkie post goes up by clicking here.
Good luck!
By the way, I announce the winner on Wednesday's Junkie segment on TOTN. But with a new puzzle up every Monday afternoon, you should get your answer in as soon as possible.
Here's the answer to last week's puzzle:
Elect St. John to Congress — Radio commentator Jeffrey St. John was the Conservative Party nominee in the 1966 special election to succeed John Lindsay in New York's 17th District.
It's Hell With Mel — This button was put out by someone who didn't especially like New Hampshire GOP Gov. Mel Thomson in the 1970s.
2 Udall buttons — Rep. Mo Udall (Ariz.) sought the Democratic nomination for president in 1976.
Great Hinckley Fire / 75th Anniversary / 1894-1969 — Remembrance of an awful event that destroyed the town of Hinckley, Minn. in 1894 and killed hundreds of people.
So, when you combine St. + Hell + Mo's + Fire, you just very well may get ...
St. Elmo's Fire. The Brat Pack movie from 1985.
This week's ScuttleButton winner, chosen completely at random, is ... Gin Peck of Phelps, N.Y. Gin gets a TOTN t-shirt.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.