Bran Bird™ brand Breakfast Bran

As you can see, I haven't had anything to post in the last few days. Frankly, I often forget about it entirely. I may just abandon the idea and think of something else to do with this site; I'll post any future links on my main blog as I did before.

No link today, just a George Carlin quip. I don't know if he actually said this (most things on the internet with his name attached aren't really his), but nonetheless it's attributed to him:

Comedian Goerge Carlin mocked [T.G.I. Friday's] during a comedy routine, saying they should change the name to HSIOW (Holy Sh*t It's Only Wednesday). He reasoned that they would sell more hard alcohol if people thought it was always Wednesday. He also stated that the restaurant concept was amusing for "about an hour."

After you have your morning bran, how about brushing your teeth with some whiskey-flavored toothpaste?

Shoe houses, fish houses, and dragons wrapped around towers. They all appear to be real.

Crazy Houses

Hey, smokers! Tired of having to carry both your cigs and cell phone?

Then quit smoking.

Or, get the trendy new smokers' phone, fresh from Asia.

I posted this on my main blog a few years ago, but I came across it again today and thought it would fit well here. Pac-Mondrian is a version of Pac-Man you can play online that's based on a distinctive painting by Piet Mondrian. It's kinda neat, in the sense that you're not only playing Pac-Man, but creating new music (such that it is) each time.

Updated every week, it's Mr. Manners' Quick and Dirty Tips for a More Polite Life!

I've seen this type of art before, but here are some new ones: sidewalk illusions.

Uh, pretty much what the title says: Crocheting a coral reef.

I've said it before, and it bears repeating: Never say that anyone has too much time on their hands, else life would be boring and we wouldn't have cool things like this.

Neat But Semi-Pointless Motorway Loop in Germany. I'm sure you get a cool yet slightly-horrifying view from the car though. Watch the animation video to see a simulation of the drive.

It seems in all the excitement surrounding my car, I forgot to post today's bran. I call this one, "from the mouths of babes."

I actually meant to post this to my main blog many months ago, but today I just happened to come across the place where I'd saved the links. In any case, I thought it would make good Bran Bird fodder:

Check out all kinds of cool LEGO models, particularly New York City (2 pages) and Bilbo Baggins' hobbit hole.

My boss refers to Subway restaurants as "salad on a bun."

I disagree with this assessment, firstly because each sandwich is made to order right in front of you. I never get iceberg lettuce on my sub, although I'll usually ask for a few leaves of the baby spinach and grated carrots. That's about as close to a salad as I get at Subway. For years, the only item I would get there was a Pizza Sub, which had no vegetables at all besides black olives.

Secondly, who cares if it's "salad on a bun," if it tastes good? If the issue is simply that he doesn't like that type of sandwich or that it's overpriced, just say so; don't act like it's inherently wrong by virtue of being a "salad on a bun."

/mini-rant

Apparently bento is a Japanese single-portion takeout lunch, typically arranged in a container by the housewife in some artistic way. And sometimes they go overboard. Be sure to scroll all the way down to see the Hello Kitty wine bottles.

For when it's just one of those days.

Just in time for St. Patrick's Day, I present the Green Eggs and Ham Cookbook! My parents are going on vacation soon, so I'll be cooking all my own dinners again. Perhaps this will give me some ideas.

Get your daily dose of potassium, plus a little culture on the side: Crazy Bananas.

This morning's randomness comes in egg form.

Incidentally, iwantoneofthose.com has all kinds of quirky and intriguing gadgets and knick-knacks, some more useful than others, such as this USB record player for digitally importing your vinyl collection. Or how about USB Cells, the batteries that can be recharged via your computer's USB port? (Although if you want these, I'd recommend buying them from Amazon instead, since the British pound is about twice as valuable as the American dollar at the moment). On the useless-but-cool side of things, try the USB Plasma Ball.

My digital piano has a USB port for MIDI, so it's fun to see what USB-powered devices I could potentially use there. Maybe a plasma ball if I'm playing techno? What I found more useful is a USB-powered fan for those hot summer outdoor performances.

What is the purpose of this blog? I have no idea, yet. My guess is that it will evolve into a dumping ground for random thoughts and web links of no particular consequence. I hope to post at least one item each morning. Something to amuse you during your breakfast -- assuming you eat breakfast at all, and don't eat it in the car like I do.

Where did this begin? My name is Bryan Bird. It is rather frequently misspelled, understandably, as Brian Byrd. One day, when instant messaging with my friend Justin, I mentioned how, on several occasions, my first name has been rendered -- nay, published -- as "Brain."

Bryan → Brian → Brain

Justin then further decomposed "Brain" to "Bran." Bran Bird. Which brought to mind bran.bryanbird.com.

And Raisin Bran.

So we'll see where this goes and/or if anyone is reading it. You may not get your daily dose of fiber, but you'll get a daily dose of... something.