The Daily Teaser — 20-12-2013: The Secret Policesman’s Teaser …

Did I mention the Great Train Robbery, the other day … ?

Yes, I did, didn’t I … ?   Given the recent death of Robber, Ronnie Biggs: and that the BBC were showing one heck of a drama about it.

I’ve actually got part two of the BBC’s drama on in the background, as I write: called A Copper’s Tale.

And, boy, it’s as riveting as the first half, A Robber’s Tale.

If you get the chances … ?   Check the pair out: fascinating dramas, the pair of them … 

~≈Ï≈~

Moving on … ?

Moving on, yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi* putting in her answers: along with letting us know the Ronnie Biggs/Sex Pistols video was cool, she also bagged nine out of ten.

Let’s see how she — and you — do with today’s rather secretive questions, shall we?

Here they are, along with the ‘How To,’ License and video … 

Q1) 20th December, 1917, saw the founding of the first Soviet secret police force.   What was it called … ?

Q2) Its first director was Felix … who … ?

Q3) Which Russian leader issued the decree that founded the force … ?

Q4) The group was eventually replaced by the NKVD: short for its Russian name, Narodnyy Komissariat Vnutrennikh Del.   This translates as People's Commissariat for Internal … what … ?

Q5) The last Soviet Russian secret police force was the Committee for State Security.   Better — or infamously — known by which initials … ?

Q6) Russia’s current President is a former member of that latter agency: who is he … ?

Q7) Finally … the Russian Federation’s current security body is — in English — usually known by what initials … ?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 19th December, 1843, saw the first publication of A Christmas Carol.   Who wrote A Christmas Carol … ?

A1) Charles Dickens.

Q2) The main character of A Christmas Carol was Ebenezer … who … ?

A2) Ebenezer Scrooge.

Q3) The book’s set seven year’s after the death of Ebenezer’s business partner, Jacob … whom … ?

A3) Jacob Marley.

Q4) How many ghosts visit Ebenezer … ?

A4) Four.   (4)

Q5) Name one of those ghosts.

A5) Jacob Marley’s, along with — in order — the ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet To Come.

Q6) Who was Ebenezer’s overworked and underpaid clerk … ?

A6) Bob Cratchit.

Q7) That clerk had an ill son: called Tiny … what?

A7) Tiny Tim.

Q8) More to the point, Ebenezer refuses Christmas Dinner with his nephew: what’s his nephew’s name … ?

A8) Fred.

Q9) Ebenezer frequently describes Christmas as a humbug: or fraud.   A humbug is also a kind of mint-flavoured what … ?

A9) Boiled sweet, or candy.

Q10) Finally … name any one of the four other Christmas books by the author of A Christmas Carol.

A10) The Chimes, The Cricket on The Hearth, The Battle Of Life and The Haunted Man And The Ghost’s Bargain.

I’ll leave you with this thought …

“When confronted with evidence, criminals in almost every case confess; and what argument can have greater weight than a criminal’s own confession?”

Thoughts from the founder of the Soviet Secret Police.

And with Body On The Bed, by the Secret Police.

Have a good Friday.

*        Actually, Debbi, did you ever see The Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Swindle … ?   Biggs crops up in that.   You might want to check out The Filth and the Fury, though, it’s a bit more favourable to the band, themselves.