Phoenix 47 (42 corrected for inflation)

Cardinal Sin · Post by **Cardinal Sin** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 11:25 am

You're wrong - although it is pretty rubbish - especially considering how exciting its acronym is. "Office" is correct tho

Clue: COBRA relates to the location of these meetings

Weyland · Post by **Weyland** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 11:48 am

Cabinet Office Briefing Room Annexe

(I used to read a lot of Frederick Forsyth

)

Cardinal Sin · Post by **Cardinal Sin** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 11:52 am

Almost there (unless I'm wrong).

I heard it was Cabinet Office, Briefing Room A - but I could be wrong.

Anyway, over to you Weylando.

harry 3 · Post by **harry 3** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 11:55 am

Is this in reply to ADDER, where the terrorists meet

Abdul's Dingy Diner End of Road ?

Weyland · Post by **Weyland** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 12:01 pm

Hmmm, according to Wikipedia, you're right. Mind you, the books I'm refering to were written in the 70's, it might have changed!

I can't remember if this one's been asked or not, but I'll risk it because it's sort-of related:

The head of the SIS (or MI6) is called "C", while the equivilant post in the Ian Flaming's James Bond stories is called "M". What is the common origin of both of these terms?

Istenem · Post by **Istenem** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 12:07 pm

are they both letters of the alphabet?

Weyland · Post by **Weyland** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 12:20 pm

Yes, but the link is a touch more specific than that.

Istenem · Post by **Istenem** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 12:26 pm

darn. this is the sort of thing i should know but don't.

could it be the first letter of their surname or that a bit too insecure?

harry 3 · Post by **harry 3** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 12:29 pm

Civilian/Military ??

Weyland · Post by **Weyland** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 12:32 pm

UP is along the right lines, but remember that everyone who holds that post gets called it, and not all their surnames wil begin with "C".

Flying Spaghetti Monster · Mon Jul 02, 2007 12:34 pm

Was it the letter the first person to ever hold the position's surname started with?

Istenem · Post by **Istenem** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 12:37 pm

how about c for commander and m for magister (or similar)?

Weyland · Post by **Weyland** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 12:37 pm

Rob has it exactly.

Captain Sir Mansfield Smith-Cumming was the first to hold the post, and his codename "C" comes from the first letter of his surname. When Ian Fleming first came up with his fictional version of the post, he instead took the first letter of his first name for "M".

Over to you "R".

Flying Spaghetti Monster · Mon Jul 02, 2007 12:53 pm

cheers 'W'

In the TV show Stingray, what did WASP stand for?

Istenem · Post by **Istenem** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 2:23 pm

water and sea patrol?