Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 5-7-2025 — The Secret Service

5th July, 2025: the Secret Service.

I’ve woken up with several things, today.

Right now?

I’ve a mental image of the Swedish Chef, done up as a Borg … 

… and the phrase “Resistibonk is flumpty” banging through my head.

Why … ?

If I knew that, I’d be earning a fortune.

~≈👨🏻‍🍳≈~

Something else I’ve woken up with … ?

Is a mysterious beeping noise.

One that’s been going on since the power cut a couple of days ago, and is coming from a flat over the road.

• What’s beeping?
• Why is it beeping?
• Is the tenant OK?
• Why is it still beeping?
• Has something serious happened?
• Is the tenant really OK?
• How much Italic lettering can I use?
• What on Earth is going on?

I’m sorely tempted to head over and ask … 

~≈📟≈~

Just as a final thing … ?

My nephew, Jude, was over, last night.

Yes: fish, chips, chicken nuggets and onion rings were eaten.

After Jude managed to upload some videos.

Feel free to hit the like buttons, folks!

~≈📀≈~

As a final, final thought?

One I know I’ve mentioned a time or two?

Somewhere out there is a games company called Steve Jackson Games: best known for Car Wars, and GURPS.

GURPS, so you know, saw a generic role playing game.

You bought the main rules, and designed whatever background world, adventures and additional rules, as needed.

But you could also get pre-prepared backgrounds, and adventures.

Unfortunately for Steve Jackson Games?

They ended up getting severely raided by the US Secret Service after releasing GURPS Cyberpunk: during what the Service called Operation Sundevil.

The raid?

In delaying the release of GURPS Cyberpunk, the raid did Steve Jackson Games substantial financial damage.

The ensuing court case?

Over a raid on a games company?

Has made the Service look stupid, to this day*.

~≈🕵🏾≈~

Let’s move on.


Yesterday’s Teaser saw Mum†, Olga‡ and Debbi§ putting in their answers: with everyone scoring five out of five.


Let’s see how everyone does with today’s themed questions, shall we?

Here it is, along with the How To, License and video.

Q1)        The USA’s Secret Service was established on 5th July.   Of which year of the 1860s?

Q2)        The Service was originally responsible to which US government department: the Department of the Treasury, the Department of State or the Department of Homeland Security?

Q3)        The Service is now part of which US government department: the Department of the Treasury, the Department of State or the Department of Homeland Security?

Q4)        Since 1901, the Service is responsible for protecting whom: the US President, the Archbishop of Canterbury or Ronald McDonald?

Q5)        Finally … ?   The Service is also supposed to investigate what: counterfeiting, littering or tree-spiking?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1)        4th July is Independence Day in the USA.   It declared independence in which year of the 1770s?

A1)        1776.

Q2)        It declared independence from where: Great Britain, China or France?   (I’m going to be picky, there).

A2)        Great Britain.   (The modern UK didn’t come into existence until 1800: some twenty-four years after Independence.)

Q3)        Who was that latter country’s monarch, on the original Independence Day: George 3rd, the Qianlong Emperor or Louis 16th?

A3)        George 3rd.   (He was also known as Farmer George, Mad King George and George the ‘I Just Get These Headaches’.)

Q4)        The US Declaration of Independence was unanimously passed by the Founding … whom?

A4)        The Founding Fathers.

Q5)        Finally … ?   Macy’s holds a Fourth July fireworks display on Independence Day.   What is Macy’s: a department store, an army regiment or a public park?

A5)        A department store.   Or, at least, a chain of them.

Here’s a thought …

“The Secret Service is mandated by Congress with two distinct and critical national security missions … ”

From the Wikipedia page on the Service.

I refer you to Operation Sundevil!

And give you a song …

The next ten question set is on 15th July: it’s about the Northwest Territories.

Comments will be published, tomorrow morning.

Today’s questions will be answered in tomorrow’s Teaser.

Decisions about scores are final.

Thank you for coming: have a good day.

*        My copy of GURPS Cyberpunk?   Gives credits the Service with “Unsolicited comments”.

†        Hello, Mum … !

‡        I think the one woman mentioned at that point, Olga¶, was Betsy Ross: she supposed to have sown the first American flag.   There’s arguments, though: no-one’s sure if she did or not.

        It’s got an interesting background, Olga, I know that: quite a lot of games took a cue from things like RuneQuest, and Traveller, and had-built in backgrounds.   It made for a lot less work for the referee.   (Steve Jackson of GDW, the company behind Traveller and Space: 1889, also founded Steve Jackson Games: the company that got raided by the Secret Service.)

        Totally off the subject, Olga?   When I switched on the telly, this morning, the News channel was airing The Travel Show.   It didn’t take long to work out where they were … 

§        Cheers, Debbi¶: I’ve got it bookmarked for later: and I’ve added the YouTube version to my Watch Later list.

        Do any of the local stores use Click and Collect?   That can be very useful … !

¶        Did I mention “Free Man”, by When Rivers Meet?   It’s rather good …