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What’s in a name?

Cluckminster is my real name but in the spy community I am sometimes known as Agent Phantom Poultry. Why do spies need special code names anyway? Spies sometimes need a way to identify themselves to the people they deal with without revealing their real identities which could lead to them being captured or jailed. 

Virginia Hall, an American spy during World War 2, assisted the French resistance under code names that included Germaine, Marie of Lyon, and Artemis. She even had an artificial leg with its own code name Cuthbert. She once reported to her superiors that she hoped Cuthbert would not give her trouble during her escape from France. Their response? “If Cuthbert troublesome, eliminate him.”

Celebrities have been known to use code names to allow them to travel discretely. Tom Hanks has reportedly traveled as “Johnny Madrid”, Natalie Portman as “Lauren Brown”, and Jessica Alba as “Cash Money.”

Bodyguards often use code names when guarding political figures to disguise who they are referring to. In his youth, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was known as Maple Three. Recent US President code names include:

  • Renegade - Barack Obama
  • Tumbler (later Trailblazer) – George W Bush
  • Eagle – Bill Clinton

So when you’re up to covert activities remember: A spy by any other name is that much harder to catch.

— Cluckminster, a.k.a. Agent Phantom Poultry.

 

This week’s challenge:

Generate your spy name using the following chart:

Day Of The Month You Were Born

First Letter Your First Name

1.Fuzzy

2.Velvet

3.Iron

4.Electric

5.Bubbly

6.Alarming

7.Charming

8.Slippery

9.Dangerous

10.Fluffy

11.Glamorous

12.Gruesome

13.Handsome

14.Stealthy

15.Insidious

16.Misty

17.Cryptic

18.Magnificent

19.Mysterious

20.Majestic

21.Curious

22.Fragrant

23.Sweet

24.Wiggly

25.Speedy

26.Honey

27.Jiggly

28.Bearded

29.Soaring

30.Midnight

31.Guardian

 

A.Eagle

B.Guinea Pig

C.Hummingbird

D.Pants

E.Claw

F.Bunny

G.Bluebird

H.Sandwich

I.Shark

J.Hammer

K.Raven

L.Cheetah

M.Sink

N.Hamster

O.Shadow

P.Goblet

Q.Pizza

R.Cupcake

S.Buccaneer

T.Falcon

U.Puff

V.Watermelon

W.Shield

X.Stone

Y.Potato

Z.Yarn

 

 

So if your real name was Fiona and you were born on July 19, your spy name would be: Mysterious Bunny.

Share your spy name with the hashtag #swTopSecret.

 

About the sticker

Survivors

Artist: Jeff Kulak

Jeff is a senior graphic designer at Science World. His illustration work has been published in the Walrus, The National Post, Reader’s Digest and Chickadee Magazine. He loves to make music, ride bikes, and spend time in the forest.

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Egg BB

Artist: Jeff Kulak

Jeff is a senior graphic designer at Science World. His illustration work has been published in the Walrus, The National Post, Reader’s Digest and Chickadee Magazine. He loves to make music, ride bikes, and spend time in the forest.

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Comet Crisp

Artist: Jeff Kulak

Jeff is a senior graphic designer at Science World. His illustration work has been published in the Walrus, The National Post, Reader’s Digest and Chickadee Magazine. He loves to make music, ride bikes, and spend time in the forest.

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T-Rex and Baby

Artist: Michelle Yong

Michelle is a designer with a focus on creating joyful digital experiences! She enjoys exploring the potential forms that an idea can express itself in and helping then take shape.

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Buddy the T-Rex

Artist: Michelle Yong

Michelle is a designer with a focus on creating joyful digital experiences! She enjoys exploring the potential forms that an idea can express itself in and helping then take shape.

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Geodessy

Artist: Michelle Yong

Michelle is a designer with a focus on creating joyful digital experiences! She enjoys exploring the potential forms that an idea can express itself in and helping then take shape.

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Science Buddies

Artist: Ty Dale

From Canada, Ty was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1993. From his chaotic workspace he draws in several different illustrative styles with thick outlines, bold colours and quirky-child like drawings. Ty distils the world around him into its basic geometry, prompting us to look at the mundane in a different way.

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Western Dinosaur

Artist: Ty Dale

From Canada, Ty was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1993. From his chaotic workspace he draws in several different illustrative styles with thick outlines, bold colours and quirky-child like drawings. Ty distils the world around him into its basic geometry, prompting us to look at the mundane in a different way.

About the sticker

Time-Travel T-Rex

Artist: Ty Dale

From Canada, Ty was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1993. From his chaotic workspace he draws in several different illustrative styles with thick outlines, bold colours and quirky-child like drawings. Ty distils the world around him into its basic geometry, prompting us to look at the mundane in a different way.