Macro Pope
There are these ubiquitous machines that accept some change, make you work just a little bit, and then return a prize. Herein I will call them bauble machines. When I was a child these machines were of great interest to me. At that time the prices were typically 5 cents, 10 cents, or 25 cents. The 5 cent machines never had anything I was interested in. The only 10 cent item worth the trouble of hitting my Dad up for change was a Super Bounce Ball. The real action was at the 25 cent machines. Here you could find all kinds of things that would make your life worth living, or at least that’s what it felt like at the time.
I may have never really outgrown that bauble machine addiction because I have always glanced these machines over in passing out of idle curiosity. I have noticed that inflation has taken a heavy toll on this market, rarely do I see a machine that costs less that 50 cents anymore.
On my way out of the neihborhood Fry’s Electronics today I glanced at the impressive array of bauble machines pleading for one last minor impulse buy and took immediate notice of one proclaiming ‘Santos.’ Upon closer inspection this machine, at 50 cents, contained a variety of Catholic saints. Additionally I think I saw a Jesus and what might have been other Biblical figures. I’m not well versed enough of Catholic saints to know which biblical figures are and aren’t covered by that term.
This was just surreal enough that my resolve weakened, curiosity won over (it does that a lot to my inevitable chagrin) and I dropped 50 cents and turned the crank.
Behold, (Update: Woops) Pope Benedict XVI John Paul, and quite a bargain at $0.50. He was made in China:
Please forgive the image quality. My poor camera may never have been cut out for macro photography. It probably doesn’t help that I can only be called a photographer because I know which end of the camera to point away from my head. To be completely fair this camera has been nothing but satisfying to use until today, the problem here is most likely pilot error.