Hi,
>Beg to differ - it's not the Soviet bloc. Yugoslavia was non-aligned.

Well, you didn't mention Yugoslavia - just Adriatic - could have been Albania :-)

>
As to similar scenarios: here, if you want to register for voting, you go to DMV (Department of Motor vehicles, where you get your driver's license and register your car, tank or yacht).
>
They should just rename it to DBP (Department of Bits of Paper) then all would be logical enough.

Can't think of too many examples here. It's true that if you apply for a passport by post it takes about three weeks but if you go to a passport office in person it's done almost while you wait. Implies they must spend about 18 days working out how to fit the d**mn thing into an envelope...

Regards,
Viv