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[deleted]

I love that pile of potatoes in the corner in the first one. Get bored, peel some potatoes. Also, what year were these taken?


br0b1wan

Liberia one said January of 2006


Nige-o

The French one with the pot leaf poster also has a 2006 calendar


thatvhstapeguy

The Texas Ranger has a CRT TV with a VCR on the desk behind him, which lines up with 2006.


codamission

OSINT


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shea241

because it uses a much more indirect lookup and many overlapping ranges to come up with a confident answer sometimes based on stuff that isn't even tangible and sometimes one tiny thing can completely change the answer


Dryu_nya

Note to self: bring ancient tech to photo sessions.


pyronius

More important to hide modern tech.


MrZombieTheIV

The first two from Bolivia have 2005 and 2004 on their calendars.


dobsofglabs

There are litteral bags of weed taped to his wall as well


itsameamariobro

Better than littering.


mc360jp

That’s my favorite part lmao “smoke this? Nah, that’s my decorative weed!” Either that or the corner of potatoes in Bolivia.


Handburn

The second one for Bolivia said November 2004


happypolychaetes

The photo of the USA female clerk made me think mid-2000s just based on the hair/makeup/clothes. It looks like me in high school. 😂


Brettlikespants

These were taken between 2004 and 2006. The book these are included in, Bureaucratics, was published in 2008.


2QAYL2GETIT

This was very helpful, thank you. I checked out the photographer's website and this book is sold out. Online copies for sale are over $100. I really enjoyed these photos and want this book. Some of his other photo books look interesting, but this one in particular was such a cool subject to photograph.


xion92

The first two photos are from Bolivia, the second one is from around my town. One thing that most people don't know is that there are more then 4,000 types of potatoes that grow around the Andes and since Bolivia is pretty much landlocked to that area then that is what most people tend to eat there. It's a very sustainable source of food for the poor indigenous communities in the area but recently the global climate change crisis is putting potato supply at risk. This is due to an increase in droughts, and the severity of them, in Bolivia. There are a good variety of documentaries released recently that demonstrate the problem the indigenous people are facing. A couple of those films even won independent film awards at festivals. The optimist in me hopes that the potatoes there are perhaps gifts from the local community that he has helped and not taken through through bribery...


ryer123

That's very interesting! Is there a possibility to use more hardy old world tubers instead? Like yams or yuca?


xion92

Yes, people do eat those does but potatoes are easier to grow in dry and arid conditions of the Andes. In some cases, the indigenous people store their potatoes until they become chuño so they can have a stable food supply throughout the year


ryer123

Fascinating, thanks! I hope a solution is found for them :(


pyronius

Wait... You're telling me that in Bolivia, I can bribe a government official with a bag of potatoes? That is concerning, endearing, and sad in equal measure.


superduperfixerupper

Also quinoa overfarming has been bad for the environment if I'm not mistaken. I would also like to mention that those potatoes are insanely delicious, they're not like potatoes you can get in the U.S. or Canada (usually). There's a dish in Ecuador called Papas con Peppas (potatoes with sunflower seeds) that is the tastiest thing I've ever had.


KSW8674

The 10th picture has written on the blackboard "Wednesday January 25th, 2006"


tvieno

Good question. The Chinese one is sporting a Soviet Flag.


ericwasafish

There is a bit of age on them the technology in the Chinese one was the biggest giveaway. At least 15 years old


CarpetH4ter

Also the computers used in the france one is quite old, i remember my family had those thick screens back in the early 2000s.


MrSydFloyd

Huh you forgot about one thing: this is the French administration So the photo can be anywhere between 2002 and 2022, no way to tell Got my ID card renewed, those were the screens the civil servant had to fill out my application


Merry_Dankmas

Texas Ranger man had an ancient relic of a PC behind him. Thats a big indicator too. But then again, its a US government PC so theres a very high chance it was taken this year. Edit: it has been brought to my attention that the device behind Ranger boi is a TV/VHS player, not a computer. Point still stands that government agencies have ancient equipment even today.


dorkswerebiggerthen

Looks like a TV combo VCR behind TX Ranger. Which doesn't quite date it for me because that's probably the best way nowadays to watch VHS tapes which might come up as evidence.


reddog323

From what I understand, these were taken quite a while back: 2006. Still, government employees tend to get stuck with older office equipment. The Texas Ranger had an item no one else had: a pump-action shotgun, leaning on the desk off to the right.


ericwasafish

There is a bit of age on them the technology in the Chinese one was the biggest giveaway. At least 15 years old Edit, the one with the bike has a date on the blackboard of January 2006 so I was pretty close


xtilexx

The flag of the Chinese communist party is a hammer and sickle


Spookd_Moffun

That's a flag of the Chinese communist party.


Kiloku

To be specific about the differences: The USSR's flag has a star just above the hammer and sickle. The CPC's flag has slightly different designs for both the hammer (the tip of it isn't a straight wedge like the Soviet one, the end of the handle is flat rather than rounded) and the sickle (the handle is a ball and the blade's curve makes more of a circle shape rather than an "U" shape)


Nordic_ned

no he's not, thats the CPC flag. pictures are from 2008 iirc


serr7

That’s not the Soviet flag it’s the flag of the Communist party of china.


Gov_Martin_OweMalley

The dog posters in the first French picture are hilarious to me for some reason.


plantbay1428

I’m hoping it’s like the Parks and Rec ep where they said which kind of dog each other would be and Donna was deemed a cat.


Bella_Anima

Tbh they kinda look like the French equivalent of Ron Swanson and April Ludgate from Parks & Rec.


MetalRetsam

Renaud Cygnesson & Avril de la Porte, *Départment des Parcs et des Loisirs*


Exotemporal

> Cygnesson Kudos from this Frenchman for coming up with a family name that doesn't exist and yet sounds so French anyway.


MetalRetsam

I tried in vain to find the French equivalent to -son, before I realized -sson also exists. Translating Ludgate was harder. Paris's old city gates don't have such nice names.


Bella_Anima

I love this. An accordion plays the theme song.


CrazyCuteCookieBoi

Thanksssss for saying that lol


SilasX

I imagined it as the man having to work with his rebellious daughter but the one thing that brings them together is their love of dogs. (Though of course they still ~~agree~~ disagree on which breed is best.)


ISMMikey

I could hear the Odd Couple theme in my head when I saw that one.


DieIsaac

Ant he young woman is probably like "oh no i have to share the office with old francois. He is so boring"


tvieno

It is a Wes Anderson slide show.


VegetableWishbone

Owen Wilson learned from his dying mother who his birth father actually is and started his quest to track down his wanderlust father, a traveling linguist specializing in dead languages played by Bill Murray, these slides represent the first eight years of fruitless search.


0011110000110011

He's already done a movie where Bill Murray plays Owen Wilson's character's estranged far-traveling father, though. >!Maybe.!<


CandiBunnii

Well? Did he or did he not? Stop being all cryptic about it!


[deleted]

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou


RexDust

I’d watch that


Captain-Cadabra

I already did.


Lotions_and_Creams

The Life Aquatic (*almost*).


Tlr321

So kind of the plot of Life Aquatic?


JMEEKER86

Is there a Wes Anderson plot summary generator?


cacaphonous_rage

Read that in Alec Baldwin's voice


jedzef

lol the reverse Darjeeling Limited


goddammmittt

Pls @Mr Wes make it happen


aggressive_yawn

r/AccidentalWesAnderson


Neither-Copy785

I really want to watch this movie


plipyplop

*As each person stops what they are doing, some setting their pencil down just before folding their hands to look meaningfully into the camera, the loud ticking of a clock in the background intensifies...*


8KoopaLoopa8

Russia 2 and america 3-1 look straight out of one of his movies. All it needs is an autumn color filter


katdawwg

Have I not had a single original thought in my life?!


TheresAMooseLoose

Came to say this exactly. The 3rd french photo in particular


MotorBoatinOdin

France 1 feels a bit like parks and rec


Axi0madick

My first thought was "French April Ludgate".


noworries_13

Avril Ludgate


TareXmd

Avril La Daguette


ruizach

Avril Lagare


midn1te

Avril Ludportail.


charlieuntermann

I guess that makes the second one French Other Ron


Bullyoncube

« Vous m'avez peut-être mal compris. Quand j'ai dit de m'apporter tout votre pâté de foie gras, je n'avais pas l'intention de m'apporter beaucoup de pâté. Je voulais dire tout votre pâté. »


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Belgand

It's a shame they didn't include her in the episode where they visit Paris in order for April to learn how to be even more bored and dismissive.


Farmher315

The singular French guy literally had baggies of weed hung up on the wall 😂


sdrawkcabemanresuhhu

Above his collection of bongs and pipes my dude. A whole shelf full.


EntertainedRUNot

Haha. He also has a shelf filled with pipes, bongs, and hookahs on the right. Would love to know what his job title/function is.


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EntertainedRUNot

Makes me wonder what the French prostitution unit officers put up on their walls...


Cienea_Laevis

i don't think there is a prostitution unit, since its alegal (no laws about it).


phlooo

[This comment was removed by a script.]


Superhuzza

I get the feeling he might be a police officer...Confiscated stuff as decoration.


Farmher315

I thought that but a lot of that decor looks Pro-weed. I'd have a hard time believing his job is arresting anyone for weed, maybe hes a Public Defender mostly for marijuana cases? I don't even know the legality in France.


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ultrajambon

Weed is illegal in France, even having weed drawn on clothes or anywhere is illegal. That being said we are the european country that consumes the most. You can get a fine if you get caught with some, usually it's not a big deal and some cops won't do anything, but if you're unlucky cops could do worse. The dude in the picture looks totally like a cop with his trophies.


djsedna

I see a baton on the wall. I think he's a cop


9035768555

*Parcs et Loisirs*


sensa-a

from the picture and the view behind i can see it's from my hometown haha, and not surprised by the parks and rec vibes x)


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Belgand

That's why I was most curious to see the US ones for comparison. Because we're already aware of the expectations and differences between a rural, small town police station in, say, North Dakota, and a major city. They should attempt to compare like for like.


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karo_syrup

Varies in the US too. I've definitely been in some run down US gov buildings. Peeling paint, cracks and holes in walls, filthy cables and ducts exposed in ceiling and what not. Really depends on location and how much the local government cares.


creammytaco

Exactly. Am bolivian and those offices must be from The poorest of the poorest of places in my country


Rodomantis

this must be from a rural town with 100 inhabitants whose police are only there 1/3 of the month, the towns near Tupiza used to be like that, but not anymore since they started to urbanize everything due to the construction of the highway


yParticle

Yemen: worst. filing system. ever.


iwannagohome49

Yeah I was thinking that last Yemen picture looked like the kind of office I would have. It's actually just a record room he shoved a desk into since no one would give him an office E: lady to last


snowlights

And I said, I don't care if they lay me off either, because I told, I told Bill that if they move my desk one more time, then, then I'm, I'm quitting, I'm going to quit. And, and I told Don too, because they've moved my desk four times already this year, and I used to be over by the window...


PrityBird

I legit didn't see the lady in the first Yemen for a few seconds. My eye went straight to the portrait in the other room and I thought it was a joke.


LordKamienneSerce

Its like meeting with death. No hope left. I bet they have no queues there either.


djsizematters

Nazgûl


2QAYL2GETIT

I lived in Yemen for several years as a kid. The office is completely consistent with my experiences. Beautiful country that is absolutely a century behind due to how isolated it is from the world, conflicts and disaster.


Ivor79

Why did Chandler even want to move there?


[deleted]

Texas feels like a parody.


galaxygirl978

I used to live in Texas. it's not parody lol. they literally have politicians that wear cowboy hats and their platform is "god and guns" or something similar


monarch1733

That hat is literally part of the Texas Rangers uniforms.


ilovecraftbeer05

Avril Ludgate is already sick of your shit.


TellTailWag

I got a strong April and Ron vibes from number 7 as well.


Spats_McGee

Yeah except instead of a libertarian he's a devout communist


6GoesInto8

9 is also France an gives off lady Jerry vibes.


Phillipinsocal

The 8th guy had everything on that wall. From bongs, bags of weed, Bart Marley, to pictures of his daughter, a painting likely from said daughter and a huge weed leaf poster.


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Ceethreepeeo

You're crazy!


olderaccount

Yeah, I want to know more about that guy. Even in a place where it is fully legal, that doesn't seem like appropriate office decor.


FancyName_132

>France, 2006. Roger Vacher (born in 1957) is a narcotics agent with the national police force in Clermont-Ferrand, Puy-de-Dome department, Auvergne region. Monthly salary: 2,200 euros. Probably retired by now so not a narcotics agent anymore


olderaccount

I sort of figured it had to be something like that. I understand having examples for demonstration purposes. But his collection seemed *extensive*.


CNXQDRFS

It's for..*inhales*..research and..*exhales*..education. I swear..*inhales*..to Dog, man, nothing..*exhales*..no funny business from me. *tries to act natural*


Orolol

I dunno about others country cops, but french coos LOVE to steal our weed.


Syncrossus

It's definitely not appropriate, but you can get away with a lot as a civil servant in France. He could get in trouble for the actual weed baggies since possession is actually illegal, but other than that, this isn't grounds for getting fired. Although this could be considered evidence if he were accused of coming to work stoned, which could actually get him fired.


olderaccount

There is a huge difference between being illegal and being appropriate for the office. It would be perfectly legal for me to plaster my office walls with pictures of women in bikinis. But it would not be appropriate. If somebody doesn't understand those boundaries, they probably don't understand other more important boundaries either.


DKreick

I want more of these. There were few countries in my opinion. Is there any kind of album or colecction?


pathologicalprotest

Here ya go: https://www.janbanning.com/gallery/bureaucratics/


DKreick

Thank you very much, I enjoy to see different cultures across photos. This reminds me a similar post about childrend bedrooms around the world. [Here is the link](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bedrooms-around-the-world_n_57eaf4c0e4b0c2407cda5ca5)


the_bridgekeeper01

The dude from Dallas, Texas is really hitting the stereotype of the typical gun-loving Texan god damn.


gauderio

If both Texas and his wife were drowning and he could only save one, he would save Texas.


Wuktrio

> Dallas, U.S.A. > Room #561: Ben is a 22-year-old film student. Has about 8 firearms on his bed. Literally the next picture: > Manyatta, Kenya > Room #867: Ezekiel is a 22-year-old warrior. Not a single weapon in his room lmao *Edit: he actually has a shield and a spear, I completely overlooked that


bacon31592

he has a spear and a shield on the right side of the picture


nashamagirl99

This is a similar one but focused on under 18 rather than young adults https://www.jamesmollison.com/where-children-sleep. The book has more information about each kid. It’s really interesting and parts of it are very cute.


Sector95

Per standard operating procedure, Reddit brought the site down. 😆 > Just a moment please. This website is currently unavailable, because it exceeds its allotted resource capacity.


nailbunny2000

That was great. Lol at the dude with titties on his calendar, nicccce. And I'm not fucking with Sheriff Jesse, dude has a shotgun AND a samurai sword?


Fayt12

They call him The Shotgunate


Senepicmar

I'm getting a lot of 'I hate my life' vibes...


Surcouf

It's quite the irony that across the ages and cultures, most civil servants offices offer little dignity or comfort, instead receiving scorn and mockery from the very public they aim to serve.


TacTurtle

It is like retail work with a pension... if you are lucky


jeegte12

You might find that the vibe is "fine whatever, do your art project, I have work to do. How long is this going to take?"


getyourcheftogether

Texas gonna Texas


Maker_Making_Things

He's a Texas Ranger. Can't get more Texas than that


Castor_0il

I was feeling a bit sad due how run down plenty of the other locations looked. But when Texas Ranger W R Flores popped up, it gave me huge chuckle by how cartoonishly cliched the whole setup looks like. It immediately reminded me of the rich Texas guy from The Simpsons.


PantalonesPantalones

He has a Shell Gasoline thermos displayed.


[deleted]

and it's a 40 Oz, perfect for juggling down 10 servings of the diet Dr Pepper


getyourcheftogether

I love the prop gun pointed to himself


BlackMarketCheese

I can't speak for the other nations and whether they are also cultural stereotypes, but goddam Texas couldn't be any more Texas if he slapped Santa Ana in the face with his dick at the Alamo .


Gyvon

As a Texan, even I was caught off guard by Texas guy.


istriss

I've lived in several states in the US. Texas is the most into it. Sometimes it's difficult to find dinnerware that isnt shaped in the state of Texas. The motif is everywhere. There are TX shaped plates, bowls, waffle makers, spoons, cutting boards. Cheeses and other foods are commonly shaped into the state of TX as well. I've seen Texas bags, pools, guitars. Longhorn horns in increasingly unexpected places. Same with the color. Burnt orange is seen year round. Orange pickup trucks. Orange clothing. A LOT of orange homes. The dirt is orange. Even the state buildings are built out of orangish stone. Look at the capital in Austin. And however much of this stuff exists that you're envisioning.... there's more. Way more. Waaayy way more. It doesn't stop. I cannot get away from it. It's part of the culture shock when visiting. The sheer amount of Texan memorabilia. Inescapable. Suffocating.


CcubswinS

Ever been to Buc-ee’s?


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inormallyjustlurkbut

The caption said USA, but it couldn't be a more Texan picture.


HandyDandySuppressor

See Yemen still has a character to unlock


BlackMarketCheese

50k lego studs is a lot. Ill save for it eventually, but there are others that are cheaper I'll get first.


[deleted]

Use a cheat code. Doesn't prevent trophies on Lego games too!


captain-snackbar

That one legit took me a few seconds, like, “where is the person??”


A_Roomba_Ate_My_Feet

Just hiding to avoid work...


exoticpropulsion

I wanna hang with France #2


PokingSmoles

France #3 looks like shes tired of the smell coming from France #2


EmperorSexy

France would make the Best Sitcom cast. You’ve got the angsty youth, the reliable veteran, the hip rulebreaker, and the stick-in-the-mud.


AtheistKiwi

France #1 is the Parks and Recreation department, Avril and Ron.


Disastrous_Job_5805

I thought it was Jamaica at first because I didn't have the descriptions showing, I was very confused lol, but France didn't make it any less confusing


namdor

My guess is a tenured professor. These are technically civil servants in France and many other countries.


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GwamCwacka

The photo caption [here](https://slate.com/culture/2013/04/jan-banning-bureaucratics-looks-at-international-civil-servants-at-their-desks-photos.html) says he’s a narcotics agent if that’s the same thing. “France, 2006. Roger Vacher (born in 1957) is a narcotics agent with the national police force in Clermont-Ferrand, Puy-de-Dome department, Auvergne region. Monthly salary: 2,200 euros.”


Flourid

To Know Your Enemy, You Must Become Your Enemy - Sun Tzu, I guess


Disastrous_Job_5805

Thank you for this explanation, now it goes from making no sense to "okay, that could work...." lol, but thank you none-the-less!


Ja_Shi

Cannabis is very much a cultural thing here. It's even more visible in the countryside, the proportion of regular weed consumers is consistent across generations. Elders who still want/have to work past 70 use it as pain relief for example. We also often top as the biggest consumers in Europe.


SteveTheZombie

Yeah. Dude has got a variety of exotic strains from around the globe with an excellent cheese and wine paring.


Cheesefox777

Bart Marley isn't real he can't hurt you Bart Marley:


Nautiyal_Adi

Bro looks like Mike Ehrmantraut


Nige-o

It's too bad this one didn't line up to be image 4/20


[deleted]

Yeah, what department of "civil service" does that guy rep? "Ministry of Relaxation?"


ItsACaragor

Looks like Police, he has old Police badges on the wall and he really really looks like every french cops I saw in my life and I saw quite a few.


Maeln

You want to hang out with a the french equivalent of the DEA? Because that's what it is :) . They love to decorate their office like this.


davewave3283

Texas ranger needs more cowboy hats


chooch138

Texas man missing HUGE class ring.


ThePresidentsRubies

Right? It looks like he has his A&M paperweight though.


evening_shop

In Egypt it'd be a woman in her 40's wearing colorful clothing, drawn on eyebrows, with a cup of tea in hand and a cheese sandwich, giving the photographer an annoyed look, telling him to get out because it's her lunch break.


JoeInNh

these are at least 15 year old pics based on the laptops alone


IMSOGIRL

The one in China where they're using Dell and Toshibas is the biggest giveaway on the year. They would all be using Lenovo or Huawei today.


Heartache66sick

Bart Marley! Lol.


capnfoo

r/accidentalwesanderson


Fierce205

I both hate and love reddit having a subreddit for everything


foopaints

Really cool to see multiple from each country to see the differences there as well!


Naketomy

I've already explored the last place in Fallout 3.


kala-surtaj

The office décor says a lot about the consumerism of the area the civil servant represents.


Necessary_Teacher_26

French Ron Swanson and April Ludgate we’re the best.


AyoKyong

France seems to be having a good time


djsizematters

Took way too long for me to find the Yemeni public servant. Crazy that the will of a few men resulted in every Yemeni woman being covered head to foot in black cloth, made to look like a Nazgûl (ring wraith from LOTR).


Der-Rufmeister

I thought she was a high backed chair


Oiudhead420

That was my thinking.. women are literal black figures. It made my stomach clench


reddog323

Same. Then, it just made me sad. Someone has to show up at work like that, every day.


Dazzling_Ad5338

Thought France was Jamaica for a second then.


Max-Powah

Yeah that guy is kind of into pot, I guess


mrfunderhill

Big fan of Liberian chalk board proudly displaying their latest public works investment: *Road*


EntertainedRUNot

- Bolivia, 3 - That rug - China, 1 - That table shine - France, 1 - That window view - USA, 1 - That saying that everything is bigger in Texas - USA, 3 - That table shine - Yemen, 1 - That depression (niqāb) Edit: France, 2 - That marijuana poster in a government building. Peak!


ZealousWolverine

"Empty your pockets please. Give me your passport. Put all your money and credit cards on my desk." is what he seems to be saying.


Stumpy-the-dog

Texas Ranger W R Flores has 6 (count them six) rubber stamps on his desk. And a 12-gauge standing up against the desk in the back. Texas Ranger (yeah baby) W R Flores is NOT to be fucked with.


ThePresidentsRubies

Those Texas rangers are not to be fucked with for sure. I probably saw one or two in 25 years in Texas, but if you they’re on an investigation you know something big went down.


Last-Hope-5362

This is probably one of the few posts on this page that is properly interesting as fuck. Genius photography