Monday, July 28, 2008

Hard-Boiled Customers

But They're Coming Out Of Their Shell

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON


There's this highly plausible theory that my camera is simply another limb of mine, hot-wired to my brain. One warm tropical night in Kuala Lumpur a few days ago, we were in bustling Chinatwon when I spotted this sight at a pavement food stall.

I reckon it wasn't just the eggs that caught my attention. Not even the speckled shells. Not even the carton. But I was immediately drawn to the metal implement, which I can only guess is used to produce a fried egg in a perfect circle. Or maybe, given its size, it's used to produce not one but two fried eggs in perfect symmetry.

And speaking of symmetry, Australian egg cartons simply have round indentations for the eggs. This is the first time I've seen hexagonal indentations in egg cartons.

Which brings me, in a roundabout way, to a question I have pondered since my college days. How do psychoanalysts prefer their eggs - boiled or Freud?

(The Odd Shots concept came from Katney. Say "G'day" to her.)

33 comments:

Georgina said...

It's good that you are pondering about eggs. The French verb to lay an egg is pondre. I've often wondered if that's where we get the word ponder from. Debs x
Word verification scrambled

Anonymous said...

This is so weird. I am at work on Sunday. You are already working on Monday!

polona said...

the first thing that caught my attention in your photo was that metal thing. and i had to think hard how our egg cartons look... i think they have hexagonal indentations, in the main at least.
but the eggs look very much the same :)

Skeeter said...

Those brown and speckled eggs cost extra here! I think the organic growers raise a different breed of chicken or something. The mass produced commercial types from the battery farms are all white, ordinary and exactly the same as the egg before.

Best wishes,
Skeeter

Daryl said...

I expect that this is not part of Jung's analysis group .. most of his patients were cracked and a bit scrambled ... but none of them was poached by another shrink so I guess its really just a case of over easy, huh?

SandyCarlson said...

That thing makes me think of a poacher for use on a grill. Those eggs look delicious (don't tell their mother I said that).

Anonymous said...

I've read that the sign of a true photographer as opposed to a hobbyist is that a true photographer carries his/her camera with them everywhere. I love this shot, very fun. Thanks for visiting my blog.

Cath said...

Oh no I am groaning big time!
I'd say "Freud" to answer the question. lol

You've never seen hexagonal ones before? Ours are usually hexagonal. In fact, I'd never thought about it and had to look twice (and thrice) thinking "They're hexagonal? Oh yeah. So they are!" :0)

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Definitely Freud, but sometimes an egg is just an egg! :-)

Anonymous said...

OC says boiled because Freud's theories are outdated.

Katney said...

I think that the hexagonal shape has something to do with the material. Our styrofoam egg carton cavities are more round than anything, but it may be difficult to mold the cardboard (? is that what that stuff is?) into a circle.

I'm about to post a series of pictures that could have given me at least six months worth of Odd Shots. But I will have my regular Odd Shot up around midnight my time.

MamaGeek @ Works For Us said...

I love that shot. The pattern and break in it, is eye candy.

Woman in a Window said...

Yes, the metal implement...in anticipation, I suppose.

Andrea said...

Thanks for your visit to my blog! :) That is really funny about the hexagonal indents for eggs! I've never even thought about that before...hmmm...I should go check what mine are now! ;)

alicesg said...

I guessed the hexagonnal shape is to prevent the egg from moving too much during transportation. We get our eggs from there, so transportation of eggs from Malaysia to Singapore is a very careful and delicate matter to prevent eggs from being damaged. This is just my guessing. :)

Anonymous said...

It definitely is an eye-catching shot & yes I'm also viewing the hexagonal shape for the first time...nicely captured!

Louis la Vache said...

"Louis" always a sucker for a bad pun was LOL at your getting Freud egg all over your face...

Jules~ said...

oh my sides hurt from your pun!
The shape of egg cartons....now I am going to have to pay attention the next time I shop to see what shape they are here.

Charles Gramlich said...

Boiled or Freud? I can't believe you said that.

dixymiss said...

Cool shot! Love the geometry of it ~ spheres/ovals in contrast to heXagons. Punny prose. I daresay, you crack me up!"

Hey, thanX for the heads up on the "blank paper" challenge. I am very eXcited to see what you've done with it. Staying tuned...

mrsnesbitt said...

Poached egg! Hmmmmmmmmmmmm now I just might have to cook one now. Breakfast time here!

Hilary said...

Too many egg puns! I hens forth call for an eggs ban edict... ;)

Jane Hards Photography said...

Really bad joke, worthy of Frasier.
Eggs are odd in themselves when you ponder them for a while, whatever shape they are.

Anonymous said...

It depends what age the eggs are, you knw - if they are Jung enough.

Texas Travelers said...

Great post and photo.
Good commentary.

Love Daryl's comment

Our odd shot is found Here.
Come visit,
Troy and Martha

PRH said...

Do brown eggs really taste better than white eggs, or is it just my imagination?

Thanks for taking me off track David, and making me wonder about my own sanity...again!

:)

Rambling Woods said...

Hello David! I'll have to ask my daughter the psychologist. LOL

Kat said...

Hehehe. Broiled or Freud. Hehehe.

Sandy Kessler said...

I was zooming along ready to answer with all my egg expertise(relatives ship thousands weekly) and Zap there it was hard boiled or Freud ??Will I ever learn to ???stop stepping in David's egg yolks

holly said...

i'm thinking they would be satisfied, as long as they get their (why oh WHY do i have a psychology degree and can't think of a psychology-related term for...) *kiss*.

becky aka theRAV said...

Loved the pun at the end!

Diane said...

LOL~your pun makes me smile =)

Louise said...

Groan! I love the egg picture, however. First time to see hexagonal cartons? I've never seen anything else.

And I LOVE brown eggs. A farmer friend kept us supplied when I was a kid. I miss it.