The Inquisitive Hand Blogger Blog

A Blogger Blog for Religion, Money and Conspiracy

Today's Message: Open your minds, Expand your thoughts, Find meaning.

Thursday, June 23, 2005

Getting A Passport Photograph in a Mall

So here is the deal people, I needed a passport sized photograph for (surprise, surprise) renewing my outdated and somewhat half incinerated passport. However, the local Chemists, who usually I would go to, to get a nice photo taken were closed due to it being the Lunch hour. Slight panic and nausea. What do I do?

After sipping my half cup of golden Yogi tea, I realised that the only probable solution would be to go to (what you Americas call) a Mall (or a shopping centre, as it is known in the UK). Yet another problem stood in my path, how would I get there? Upon a moment's reflection of all the wide range of transport available in the UK, out of the choice of a bus or bike, I chose instead to go in a friend's car.

I arrived in the Mall at approximately 4:00pm to look for the little machine that automatically takes your photos and prints them out in 60 seconds. My eyes adapted by widening 5 millimetres to cope with the extra stress of attempting to find a needle in a gaystack (note: the gay is intentional). I found it! It was lodged in a little corner, a dreary place where no one would look unless they absolutely needed to.

I peered into it and ironically someone who I knew was inside having their picture taken too. I waited outside, as any gentlemen would do until the machine was vacant. My friend got out and I was driven to ask "How much does it cost?", the reply was "3 Pounds and 50". That was a rip off, since it was the exact amount I earned in a week. I had no choice however, I needed a passport photograph and fast too.

I entered the space ship like capsule, that was really a highly adapted computer given plastic surgery, a facelift and some liposuction, and I sat in an upright position as I attempted to read the VDU (Visual Display Unit for those of you who lack cognitive depth). It said simply, "Insert £3.50" aided by a women's computerised voice. I did as it asked of me. Upon looking down at the arcade-like control panel I noticed something strange, there were foreign glyphs printed next to each of the button which I could not seemingly understand.

By now it was too late to get my money refunded, I had been conned. I had fallen victim to commercialism and globalisation. The glyphs were Japanese, not Arkanian (a rare Alien breed), and the whole concept of a photo box (as I like to call it) was a sham. In total the box allowed me to take 3 photos and forced me to choose one. However, the curtain was as about as long as a retro miniskirt, which in this case fell too short. What a shame. Furthermore, due to the ambience, coupled with the redness of the flash, I was not only temporarily visually impaired but also the photos showed by eyes as been bright red.

There was a number of possiblities that could be reached as to why this occured. The first is that if we take the premise "The Camera Never Lies", then it would seem to suggest that I am in fact intrinsically evil. However, I would not accept this because it is an absurd suggestion (cough). Another thoery that had been suggested was that the poor quality of the printer coupled with the lack of curtain inquisitive depth caused this effect. Again however, I cannot accept this, since the curtain was as closed as it could be and also the photo box was made by the Japanese (zero defects, except in their genes). I have therefore been forced to reach the conclusion that "The Camera Lies and is Evil". This is the only logical solution to a widely accepted problem.

The question still remains, is it really so hard these days to get a passport sized photograph? The answer is a conditional Yes, if in fact you try to get one on a weekday at lunchtime and live in the UK which lacks both transport and transport routes, which in other countries are taken for granted. Remember this and you shall avoid the pain and agony that I experienced. I simply wish that it happens to no one else (I am therefore justified in suing the company and claiming emotional and physical damages). The advice I can give is "If in doubt, ask" (what has that got to do with anything in this inquisitive hand blog post?). Good day my rodents who live in a cage.

11 Inquisitives:

  • At 1:44 am, Blogger Black Cat said…

    hey! just saw ur profile...younger than u come off to be - im american myselfbut english people are cool. i love lotr but hate the matrix..stupid,stupid.

     
  • At 3:49 am, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    My passport has bullet holes in it... a little reminder of a not-so-little run-in with border control while "vacationing" in Prague. They accused me of being a foreign spy. Hah! Imagine that... I mean, the nerve, calling a professional assassin a spy! Just joking of course. Mostly.

     
  • At 6:50 pm, Blogger Jazz said…

    Americans are way more cool and I like both LOTR and Matrix, however, Demosthenes...where have you been lately? Oh. I forgot. Prague. I think you know who to assassinate next then, clearly it has to be your foot. And also, age really is a bugger, it's hard to cut off once it grows on you (like algae). My opinion, better to stay young and die young. Joking of course. (uhh-bul-humm-shi)

     
  • At 10:34 pm, Blogger Black Cat said…

    haha

    thank you for your comments and complements on my blog, inquisitive hand. i apprectiate muchly!

     
  • At 1:35 am, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    There is a short explanation for my absence (other than Prague) in my latest post, but the subject of the main issue is one we have already debated. Thusly, I already know your opinion, but I will have a new post soon. Maybe one about Prague.

     
  • At 10:25 am, Blogger Jazz said…

    I hate prague because I don't even know where it is.

     
  • At 7:06 am, Blogger Christina said…

    Some cameras do lie and are evil. You should see my Drivers License. Bouncers are like, "is that you?" Best of luck.

     
  • At 11:12 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Hey, I just wanted to extend a hand if you need it. Everybody heard about London and I'm just making sure everything is all right with you. I could use some English perspective on the matter; they aren't telling us much over here. Hopefully you're unscathed.

     
  • At 4:14 am, Blogger Black Cat said…

    hey, i just wanted to tell you... i hope i speak for all of america when i extend my consolances for your country's loss. hope you're ok and i hope you werent in london when the attack happened. hopefully you're safe in middlesex.

    hannah

     
  • At 11:19 am, Blogger Jazz said…

    Yes, thanks for your concerns. Everything is good. London's been in pretty bad shape with the Underground network paralysed for the day. The best are working to find out how the exact affair all happened although initial sources suggest Al-Quida (however you spell it). The death toll continues to rise as more and more people are discovered.

    I think the most important thing is to continue life as normal as we possibly can, otherwise, these terrorists have won in disrupting our lives. It's been a great shock to all of us but we're gonna be ok. Again, thanks for your concerns, it's appreciated.

     
  • At 1:36 am, Blogger Black Cat said…

    hear, hear

    if we dont band together, they'll have succeeded.

     

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