Appreciation Societies
Dull men appreciate many things – particularly ordinary things. We are pleased that a number of Appreciation Societies have been brought to our attention.
These societies have been made possible in large part with the advent of the world wide web. The societies can now keep in touch — sending newsletters, exchanging opinions, and sharing pictures — with their members worldwide.
We report on many Appreciation Societies, which dull men may find interesting, such as: apostrophes, biscuits, cheese, clouds, corduroy, coriander, park benches, pylons, pork pies, Robin Hood, roundabouts, saunas, semicolons, tire valve dust caps, traffic cones and umbrellas.
If you have an appreciation (or preservation or protection) society or club you would like to added to this page, please email it to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Apostrophes
The Apostrophe Protection Society
The society was started in 2001 by John Richards to preserve the correct use of the apostrophe, which he found to be a much-abused punctuation mark. Its headquarters is in Lincolnshire, UK.
John, now retired, spent most of his working life in journalism, first as a reporter then as an editor. As an editor, he not only made news stories more readable, by tightening or cutting if needed, improving clumsy phrasing, he also corrected grammar, especially adding, deleting, or moving apostrophes. He was constantly amazed at how often reporters had no idea of the correct use of this important punctuation mark — the apostrophe.
In retirement, his irritation not only did not disappear, it became more obvious. He could take it no longer. He, together with a half dozens like-minded people, founded The Apostrophe Protection Society.
John Richards, Chairman
Letter of support soon flowed in from all corners of the world, not only from the UK for also from the Australia, Canada, France, Hong Kong, Sweden and the United States. There has been press coverage (the former reporter now being reported on). John also plays a role in Lynn Truss’s Eats, Shoots & Leaves.
There are many examples – photographs – of apostrophes being misused. “No Dog’s,” “Security Camera’s in Operation,” Communion Dress’s & Veil’s, “Beauty Care that let’s me be me,” Fair Deal’s.”
Examples Of Misuses Of Apostrophes
Baked Beans
Baked Beans on Toast Appreciation Society
Here is a baked bean society - click here or take a look at The Baked Beans on Toast Appreciation Society.
Baked Bean On Toast
Biscuits
Biscuit Appreciation Society
The members of the Biscuit Appreciation Society meet and taste biscuits from all around the world. The society has become so popular there is a 17-year waiting list to join.
The society provides up-to-the-minute biscuit news including, importantly, the latest information about biscuit baking technologies.
The society encourages individuals to form their own local biscuit appreciation society, host a local biscuit fete, play biscuit games or simply enjoy eating biscuits together. Another thing they suggest is to start memorizing biscuit recipes.
An Inviting Plate Of Biscuits
Dunking Instructions has very useful instructions on how to dunk. We have studied these instructions carefully. Our dunking experiences have been greatly enhanced.
A Biscuit Ready To Be Dunked
First you should test to make certain the biscuit fits in the cup. This test should be done before you add any liquid – in effect, make a dry run. If the biscuit doesn’t fit, then find a bigger cup. After the dry run and before doing it with liquid in the cup, make certain you have placed a saucer under the cup. Then select the liquid, such as tea or coffee with milk, hot chocolate, or just simply hot milk. Lemonade is not recommended.
A Cup Of "Dunking Liquid"
According to the article Biscuit Dunking Physics on the website Great Moments in Science, tea or coffee was not always used for dunking biscuits. Tea and coffee did not exist in Roman times. Romans dunked their bis coctum in wine. Even today, according to research done by Dr. Len Fisher, University of Bristol, tea and coffee are probably not the best for dunking. Milk is better.
In 1998, Dr. Fisher began researching the physics of biscuit dunking. He found that a biscuit consists of dried grains of starch that are glued together with sugar. Liquids cause the grains of starch to swell and soften. Liquids also dissolve the sugar. Eventually the biscuit loses so much of its structural integrity that it collapses under its own weight.
Biscuits get wet because they are porous. Fascinatingly, they are full of interconnecting hollow channels. When a liquid gets into these channels, capillary action sucks the liquid deeper into the biscuit.
Dr. Fisher used an old equation from 1921, the Washburn Equation (L^2=frac{gamma Dt}{4eta} to predict how long it takes for liquid to rise in a biscuit. He made experiments and found that the best dunking time for various biscuits. The best dunking time for a gingernut biscuit is three seconds; for a digestive biscuit, it’s eight seconds.
In 1999, Dr. Fisher continued his research. This time he delved into which liquid is the best for dunking. This was when, much to his surprise, he found that milk — not tea or coffee — is the best.
As for lemonade, Dr. Fisher’s research confirms that it is the worst drink for dunking. Lemonade causes the biscuit’s flavor to drop by a factor of ten according to Dr. Fisher’s calculations.
It may come as a surprise but there is no official UK tea dunking biscuit dunking day. Dull men - these people need your help.
Cheese
The Cheese Appreciation Society
This society is for cheese lovers throughout the world to share cheese-related stories.
A Lump Of Cheddar
Warning to dull men: the society’s website contains exclamation marks. Be careful.
Clouds
Cloud Appreciation Society
I like to watch clouds. It’s such an easy thing to do. I can do it from anywhere, anytime. And it’s free.
It’s about time that someone stands up for clouds: The Cloud Appreciation Society is doing just that.
This society and its website, founded in 2004 by Gavin Pretor-Pinney, is busy giving a good name to clouds (an objective very much the same as an objective of the Dull Men’s Club – giving a good name to dull).
A cloud should not be a metaphor for doom. I learned from this website that I must watch the thoughts I have and words I use about clouds. I no longer say “I see a cloud on the horizon” to mean that something bad is about to happen. Now when I say “I see a cloud on the horizon” I mean that I am looking at one of the most marvelous displays nature has to offer.
Corduroy
The Corduroy Appreciation Club
The Corduroy Appreciation Club's members meet, dressed in corduroy naturally, and have lively discussions about wale widths. They also discuss the latest in corduroy fashions. And they debate the origin of the word “corduroy.”
The club was founded by Miles Rohan. Miles was feeling lonely. He thought he’d like to belong to a social club, perhaps the Shriners or Elks. But then he decided instead to form his own club — but what club? He noticed that he wore a lot of corduroy and liked it. Why not a club for corduroy lovers?
Miles formed the Corduroy Appreciation Club in 2005. Miles has made the right choice, at least that’s my opinion. I’d rather belong to a corduroy club, and wear corduroy than belong to the Shriners and have to wear one of those red fezzes. I don’t feel silly wearing corduroy; I would feel silly wearing a red fez. Moreover, that tassel, always falling in my face, would be a bother.
And I’d rather wear corduroy at the Corduroy Appreciation Club than belong to the Elks and have to wear antlers.
If you like corduroy as much as I do, I recommend that you join The Corduroy Appreciation Club. It’s easy to join. Simply click on their website’s “join” page and fill in the blanks. There are only a few blanks to fill in. And membership is free.
You will be asked to list your favorite corduroy items so you may wish to give this a think before you begin filling out the form.
When the club had its inaugural meeting in 2005, the meeting was held on November 11 — 11/11 the day of the year that resembles corduroy more than any other day of the year.
While all wales are welcome — the club’s slogan in fact is “All Wales Welcome” — members usually have their preferences. Rohan himself at first will give the diplomatic answer, “I like them all.” But, when pressed [pun intended], he admits he leans towards a medium wale. “I feel more neat and together in a medium wale,” he says. “Fine wales I like, but they can often be mistaken for velvet. I love a wide wale during the holidays. Thanksgiving seems like an especially wide-wale holiday.”
At inaugural meeting the guest speaker was Chris Lindland from San Francisco, the creator of Cordarounds, which are trousers made of horizontal corduroy. I think they invited him as they want to see the club’s membership expand. Horizontal corduroy makes people look fatter.
The origin of the word “corduroy”? The prevailing view is that it came from France in the seventeenth century where courde du roi means the royal cloth.
Coriander
Coriander Appreciation Society
The Coriander Appreciation Society appreciates all forms of coriander (or cilantro). We love fresh coriander, coriander seeds and dried coriander. Mmm mmm delicious.
Coriander
Dust Caps
Dust Cap Appreciation and Protection Society
The Dust Cap Appreciation and Protection Society appreciates and protects dust caps (or tire valve caps.)
Hedgehogs
International Hedgehog Club
- Always smiling
- A low-maintenance pet
- No oder
- Don't chew furniture
- Many hotels, even though they do not allow dogs or cats, allow hedgehogs
- Don't bark
- Purr
Jam
Jam Appreciation Society
The Jam Appreciation Society is for members who appreciate jam.
Strawberry & Rhubarb Jam
Pork Pies
The Pork Pie Appreciation Society
The Pork Pie Appreciation Society began in 1982 at The Old Bridge Inn in Ripponden, Yorkshire, an inn that dates back to 1327. A group of men, who had reached their 30s and started working at the local fitness club, went to the inn after their workouts. After a few pints, a member of this group pulled out a pork pie produced by his wife and shared it with his mates. As this continued week after week, the man earned the title of “pie fetcher.” The Pork Pie Appreciation Society was born.
The pie eating did not begin as a competitive event. Week by week comparisons were inevitable, however, and eventually scorekeeping. Competitions are now held regularly.
During these competitions, the pie testers are encouraged to eat quietly — to not give away their judgments on the pies. Clues are evident, however. The condiments box provides the best clues. No particular signal is sent when a member uses HP sauce. Things are not looking good for a pie, however, if a member reaches for Chinese Oyster sauce, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce. If it’s Tabasco sauce, that’s it for the pie.
Pylons
Pylon Appreciation Society
The Pylon Appreciation Society was formed by Flash Wilson in 2005.
The Pylon Appreciation Society welcomes new members. It’s simple to join and costs only £10 for a lifetime membership. New member receive a welcome pack containing a card enabling access the members-only section of the website. The pack also includes your member’s badge and a Parts of a Pylon poster.
The Pylon Appreciation Society holds photography competitions. Peter Anchor, a competition winner, said “These pylons are my favorites as they are very big and show their power and might. The pylons are at Blackstone Edge in Littlebrough, Greater Manchester.” The DMC believe that Peter has a great future ahead of him as an award-winning pylon photographer. In addition, with the lovely clouds in the background, Peter’s picture could probably win an award at The Cloud Appreciation Society as well.
A Pylon Forest, Germany
An Extreme Pylon
Robin Hood
The Robin Hood Appreciation Society
The Robin Hood Appreciation Society caught my eye immediately. A society that appreciates the original Robin Hood film, in black-and-white, is a fine society indeed. Click here.
And there’s a way of thinking that the Dull Men’s Club has in common with Robin Hood. “Rob from the rich, give to the poor.” Downplay the glitz and the glam, celebrate the ordinary.”
The society has a magazine — the Sherwood Forester.— that comes out several times each year.
Roundabouts
Roundabout Appreciation Society
If you like roundabouts like I do, you’ll enjoy the website of the Roundabout Appreciation Society.
As is explained in circle after circle of information on the website, this society had its start in Christmas 2002 when Kevin Beresford of B.B. Print Digital Ltd, a printing company in Redditch Worcestershire, was wondering what kind of calendar to give to the company’s clients that year. He figured that clients had become bored with the traditional trotting out of Beckams, Jordans, Naked Old Ladies, and Six Pack Firemen. Kevin and his colleagues at work racked their brains. They came up with the most unique calendar in history — The Roundabouts of Redditch — twelve stunning shots of the very best roundabouts Worcestershire had to offer.
It should be pointed out that there was competition to get on the calendar as Redditch is home to no less than 41 splendid roundabouts. For the record, Redditch also has a twenty-four hour Tesco and three prisons (but no cinema).
One thing I especially like about this website is its circles of information. Once you finish reading what’s in one of the circles, you click on an arrow to get to the next circle, which of course has more information. It’s like going through a roundabout and then on to the next roundabout. It reminds me of the fun I have on the A316 coming out of London, through Twickenham and on to the M3.
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ROUNDABOUT JARGON
The website lists useful jargon about roundabouts, such as:
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Road signs for roundabouts in the UK are less intimidating than the road signs for roundabouts in the US:
Saunas
The Sauna Appreciation Society
The Sauna Appreciation Society has a lot of good information about saunas, a rather dull pastime, which, until Nokia cell phones came along, was the most exciting thing Finland could come up with.
Is there anything much duller than taking a sauna? Sitting in a hot room waiting to sweat? And then telling yourself you are enjoying it?
Enjoy a brief history of the sauna. Saunas have existed in various forms for thousands of years. The first saunas were holes in the ground. A hole would be dug large enough to fit the entire tribe. The hole had a fire pit in its centre. And a roof. The Finns, being practical people, liked roofs over their saunas to retain the heat and prevent things from falling in like rain and snow.
There is sauna humor on the website:
If yuu kets a sliffer in yuu packside from ta pench, ton’t holler tuu lowt. Naypers vil tink vee putersing a pic, ant pe looken for porks sops next tay, ant rit avay pe asken, “Vhen ta het cease pe ton?”
(If you get a sliver in your backside from the bench, don’t holler too loud. Neighbors will think we are butchering a pig, and will be looking for pork chops the next day, and right away be asking, “When the headcheese be done?”)
Traffic Cones
The Traffic Cone Preservation Society
This is the most comprehensive source of coneology I have ever come across, truly providing a great service.
To begin with, this society has a field guide to cones. This guide, which has pictures of course, lists not only the common names for each cones but the scientific (Latin) names as well, names like Orange Conecone (Conus traficus), Blue Conecone (Conus smurficus), Leper’s Blackfoot (Conus leprecus), Esther’s Cone (Conus estheris), Giant Cone of Madagascar (Conus giganticus), Northern Petal Cone (Conus florapodis), Lesser Striped Cone (Conus zebricus), Whiffle Cone (Conus whifflis), Bumble Cone (Conus buzzicus), Purple Pylon (Conus grapius), Greater Rufous (Conus redicus), Dward ConeCone (Conus tinicus), Swiss Hatted Cone (Conus suizicus) and the French ConeCone (Conus francaisicus).
From the society’s home page, you can navigate to their “join us” page where you can join and print out a membership card:
Traffic Cone Appreciation Society
The Traffic Cone Appreciation Society loves traffic cones.
Water Towers
Water Towers
British Water Tower Appreciation Society
German Water Tower Society
A Water Tower