The battle is over but the war goes on.

I know you're probably sick of my robin ranting but I don't work any longer and I have lots of time to dwell on things. Things like robins trying to run my life. They prevented us from using our front door and from doing yard work in the area for approximately 3 weeks. I was in fear of losing an eye to their sharp beaks every time I left the house. Then the babies left the nest and I thought all was well. But no! I saw the parents fornicating again - in plain view! And hanging around the Boston fern where they already had a nest. I was all like "No way Jose" and removed the plant to a screened-in sun porch. How do ya like that, avian bullies?
Today I discovered that they were executing their lewd activities in the back yard and had constructed a nest in the wisteria arbour over the back deck - where I drink wine and listen to jazz! There is no way those bastards are going to prevent me from listening to music in my garden while inebriated (me, not them). Knowing them as I do I realize that it would also be impossible to weed or mow or deadhead for the next three weeks if they were to take up residence there. So I took strong action! I told Mr. Nag to go out and dismantle the nest before that floozy dropped another bunch of eggs. Instead he hung a bunch of his freshly washed shirts out to dry in the vicinity of said nest and it is our sincere hope that they will vacate without further incident. I can't help but think that his dirty shirts might have worked to better effect. Let's hope they are spooked enough to relocate. If not I'm sure Mr. Nag will pull out the big guns (Not literally, of course. This isn't the US. We don't even have teeny weeny guns here.) It'll take more than a couple of feathered terrorists to keep me out of my garden.

The Crusader

Lee Philips intends to sue Warner Bros. for mis-representation. Lee believes the Batman franchise is based on his life. "It's not the money; it's the glamourization. Does this look like a mansion to you? I'm on the dole, mate."

I am a big fan of The Caped Crusader. Came upon this when I followed a link to Futureshorts via Uncertain Times.

Return of the ivory trade

Poaching tusks of endangered animals to make tourist trinkets? I'm disgusted.

The world trade in ivory, banned 19 years ago to save the African elephant from extinction, is about to take off again, with the emergence of China as a major ivory buyer.Read more

Smoking Etiquette Posters

Japan Tobacco's 'Smoking Manners for Adults' Ads

Japan Tobacco finds itself in a bind. Like other cigarette makers and distributors, JT is saddled with a product that is at the same time popular and unhealthy. Advertising cigarettes, when it is allowed at all, has to be handled with care and discretion. With their “Smoking Manners for Adults” ads, JT avoids the whole “to smoke or not to smoke” conundrum, focusing instead on ways smokers can lower their profile and not annoy non-smokers.

Here are a couple from this amusing collection. See more here.

Street Heat

Mary Mack's hip hop shoutout to her ride. Hilarious.

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

via

Never drink alone again

Virtual Drinking Buddy - much more engaging than the folks I usually drink with. I don't really mind that he won't make me an appletini.
Via

Holy daily photo, Batman!

The Daily Batman where you will find a new photo of the Caped Crusader each and every day!


Via

A British Ghost Town

Tyneham a small parish in the Isle of Purbeck 6 miles south-west of Corfe Castle and 7 miles from Wareham is Dorsets' most famous lost village. In November of 1943 notice was given to the villagers and those in the surrounding area that they would be required to leave within 28 days as the area was needed for training. On 17th December 1943 the last villagers left believing that one day they would be able to return. Sadly this was never to happen.

It must have been very hard for these villagers to give up the homes that their families had lived in for generations but they did so out of patriotism. Below are pictures of Post Office Row as it was then and the ruin that it is today. Only the church and the village school have been restored.
Via Metafilter

Communist Utopia

I've posted a lot of Chinese propaganda posters but I'm pretty sure I haven't posted these.

China as paradise (1972-1976)

The chaos of the civil war is hidden behind the optimistic images of the early 1970s. They create the impression that China is a paradise, where abundance reigns and everyone is happy.

And I say to myself, what a wonderful world

30 Satellite Images of Earth
These would look at home in any art gallery.

Aleutian Islands

Bahamas

Lake Carnegie, Australia

Via Rashomon