smiling has been outlawed

On Saturday I went to the Motor Registry to renew my licence. A very pleasant young Asian woman pointed at a chair and asked me to assume the position for “the taking of photo please”. I sat down and gave my best don’t-arrest-me grin to the camera. “Please to not do that” she said “smiling has been outlawed”.

So, no smiling in New South Wales then. Even when you look at these delightful entries for the Gimcrack’s Inaugural Cat Competition. Please cast your vote in the comments. And yes, you may vote for your own cat (entrants names are visible when you hover cursor over the photo – click to enlarge)

Published in: on July 12, 2011 at 8:31 am  Comments (44)  
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44 CommentsLeave a comment

  1. On July 12, 2011 at 8:43 am Cindy said:

    I vote for Milo 1 as he looks so grumpy.

    Reply
  2. On July 12, 2011 at 9:54 am Syncopated Eyeball said:

    I’m voting for them all.

    Reply
    • On July 12, 2011 at 6:35 pm spilledinkguy said:

      Me, too!
      Smiles all around… or… you know. Whatever is appropriate. 🙂

      Reply
  3. On July 12, 2011 at 10:33 am Miss Scarlet said:

    Well, I’m smiling… and purring… they are all adorable.
    Sx

    Reply
  4. On July 12, 2011 at 10:40 am G said:

    I vote for Scabbers 1…reminds me of mine when she sleeps on my bed.

    Reply
  5. On July 12, 2011 at 10:43 am Hospitable Scots Bachelor said:

    Forget high heels, sgtockings and all the other paraphernallia. As far as I am concerned there is nothing quite so sexy “on” a woman as a warm and sincere smile!

    Reply
  6. On July 12, 2011 at 11:26 am King Willy said:

    Scabbers looks great!

    Cue illegal expression on face of doting parent.

    Tonight we caught him licking the duck fat off a pan in the kitchen while we supped – little bugger.

    The King

    Reply
  7. On July 12, 2011 at 11:29 am bluebee said:

    Milo’s got cattitude

    Reply
  8. On July 12, 2011 at 11:34 am Camilla Jessop said:

    I’m a little disappointed that you haven’t shown the picture that I sent you of my niece’s pussy – it’s very strokeable. But of the one’s you have shown, I like Hermione.

    Reply
  9. On July 12, 2011 at 11:39 am melbo said:

    Oh how do I choose? They are all wonderful. But the Teva and Isabel shot is lovely.

    Reply
  10. On July 12, 2011 at 11:39 am nickbowman said:

    I would be voting for Scabbers if it wasn’t for Scabbers in Harry Potter which is a very evil creature.

    I saw what our Liz Hurley has done to your Shane Warne so had an inkling that smiling was a thing of the past

    Reply
  11. On July 12, 2011 at 12:03 pm kono said:

    That’s what if forgot to do, send the picture.

    Reply
  12. On July 12, 2011 at 12:39 pm Pearl said:

    What?! No smiling?

    I vote for the cat on the shoulders. I’m a sucker for a man and his cat. 🙂

    Reply
  13. On July 12, 2011 at 12:46 pm Mitzi G Burger said:

    Stunning felines all. The main reason I didn’t get an entry organised was because I thought one had to be photographed together with one’s cat.

    The Kira/Caliban is amazing, if I had to forced at bazooka-point to choose only one.

    Reply
  14. On July 12, 2011 at 12:46 pm Nick said:

    It’s Scabbers1 for me. She just looks so sweet, waiting for her tummy to be rubbed.

    We’re not allowed to smile on our photo ID in the UK either. Apparently smiles confuse facial recognition scanners. So we all have to look like escaped convicts.

    Reply
    • On July 12, 2011 at 8:10 pm dinahmow said:

      My current passport shows a homicidal maniac expression. Stupid, since I’m usually laughing.

      Reply
  15. On July 12, 2011 at 12:53 pm Mitzi G Burger said:

    RTA is staffed by droids.

    Reply
  16. On July 12, 2011 at 2:06 pm andrewdotcoza said:

    I vote for Hermione!

    Reply
  17. On July 12, 2011 at 2:06 pm Hansi said:

    Seems like whenever one goes into a government agency these days, one must always be ready to “Assume the position”.

    Reply
  18. On July 12, 2011 at 2:12 pm Pat said:

    Milo 1 has an indefatigable battered look that I can relate to so my vote goes there.

    Reply
  19. On July 12, 2011 at 2:46 pm healingmagichands said:

    I love Mallory but I have to vote for Hermione

    Reply
  20. On July 12, 2011 at 3:07 pm Carina Macdougall said:

    My vote goes to Hermione, cutest kitten of all!

    Reply
  21. On July 12, 2011 at 4:10 pm daisyfae said:

    This is tough! I love my Huey Newton (aka sleepy kitty) but I sent a lousy photo. Mallory (and sweet Ruby), Teva and Isabel are known wonderful kittehs, too…. But I’m going with Jazzy.

    Reply
  22. On July 12, 2011 at 5:10 pm Banished To A Pompous Land said:

    Smiling has been abolished here in the USA too. No smiling allowed when dealing with officialdom. Though when dealing with the Department of Motor Vehicles its easy enough to wipe the grin off your face.

    Reply
  23. On July 12, 2011 at 5:24 pm Daddy Papersurfer said:

    Good grief!!!

    Reply
  24. On July 12, 2011 at 7:31 pm Jack said:

    You can’t smile but I bet they let you wear a full burqa.. Appeasement politics at it’s best.

    Reply
  25. On July 12, 2011 at 8:37 pm dinahmow said:

    I like all of them, but Kira and Caliban might just swing it…
    or maybe Scabbers. ..hell! I can’t choose! [Ticks all boxes.]

    Reply
  26. On July 12, 2011 at 10:46 pm dana said:

    Teva and Isabel! They look so cozy. And kind of insolent in that cozy cat-like way. And they’re not smiling, because that’s not legal.

    Reply
  27. On July 12, 2011 at 10:52 pm Bearman said:

    I just can’t pick a Scabber.

    Reply
  28. On July 12, 2011 at 11:12 pm thegnukid said:

    yeah, i’m going to have to go with Jazzy.

    and it seems that all of these kittehs could live in New South Wales…none of them are smiling.

    Reply
  29. On July 12, 2011 at 11:27 pm lululabonne said:

    I vote for Scabbers – looks like the rudest one

    Reply
  30. On July 13, 2011 at 12:51 am Nicole said:

    Scabbers looks enviously relaxed. Gonna have to go with that one. 🙂

    We aren’t allowed to smile for passport photos here in the US either.

    Reply
  31. On July 13, 2011 at 1:18 am Binky said:

    I vote for sleepy kitty 1 since he doesn’t even look real.

    Reply
  32. On July 13, 2011 at 3:09 am alonewithcats said:

    I vote for Jazzy.

    (Even though we all know that I really vote for Teva and Isabel.)

    Reply
  33. On July 13, 2011 at 4:29 am Seraphine said:

    if you don’t let me smile, you’ll get a smirk instead.
    scabbers.

    Reply
  34. On July 13, 2011 at 5:01 am Laura said:

    I admire your bravery. By posting these pictures, you’re risking being charged with Incitement to Smile.

    Reply
  35. On July 13, 2011 at 6:22 am jaya j said:

    Hermione for me 🙂

    Reply
  36. On July 13, 2011 at 9:22 am nursemyra said:

    Well it looks like Scabbers beat Hermione by a couple of whiskers. And it means I save on postage with the prize as Scabbers is owned by none other than queenwilly and The King who live only minutes from my place.

    Thanks to everyone who entered and voted xxx

    Reply
  37. On July 14, 2011 at 2:12 am Lynn said:

    What?!! You smiled? That’s very daring of you NM.. sinfully daring.

    A difficult decision but for some reason Jazzy caught my attention the longest! I’m kicking myself for not knowing about this, my cat Reggie aka Lucky Bastard would’ve won. I’m sure of it!

    Reply
  38. On July 14, 2011 at 2:39 am renalfailure said:

    I vote for Jazzy 1 as Jazzy is striking the usual feline “I’m being photographed” pose.

    Reply
  39. On July 14, 2011 at 8:32 am Marvin the Martian said:

    When they outlaw laughter (especially at their ridiculous laws), it’s time for a revolution. Australia has never had a revolution, right? They’re great fun. You should try it.

    Reply
  40. On July 14, 2011 at 10:01 am John M. said:

    sporran2, paws down

    Reply
  41. On July 14, 2011 at 11:20 am The Unbearable Banishment said:

    I’m going with Kira because I had two Siamese for 14 years and I have a soft spot for them. God, I love cats. I think I’ve finally worn my wife down and we’re going to get one.

    Reply
  42. On July 18, 2011 at 7:30 am azahar said:

    They’re all adorable!

    Reply

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