Blog — "Dullog"
Dear DMC
Bullund airport, Denmark (Legoland): clockwise
Michael-John Gornall
Stamford, Lincolnshire
23 January 2013
Inaugural Speech: Boring? This might be the case:
Sasha, Second Daughter, listening
For dull men and other readers of this who have not viewed the speech, here it is: http://www.policymic.com/articles/23773/youtube-obama-inaugural-speech-watch-the-video-and-read-the-full-transcript
Squirrel Racing? Yesterday, Squirrel Appreciation Day [click here], we found pictures of Squirrel Racing on Google Images [see below]. But can't find articles or blog postings about these races. Can anyone help us? [ This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to email us]. We'd like to add Squirrel Racing to our Races Page.
Rounding a curve
Full speed ahead
Finish Line
Exhausted
A local Dull Men's Club is starting up at the Southborough Senior Center:
Fridays at 10:00 a.m.
9 Cordaville Road, Southborough, Massachusetts.
The Southborougn Daily Voice reports that some men just want to talk about simpler times. The Dull Men's Club will meet every Friday morning to enjoy simpler ordinary things — even if they're a bit dull.
Read more: Breaking News: DMC local meeting starts today in Southborough Massachusetts
The day Albert Einstein feard most may have arrived
Having coffee with friends
The Wall Street Journal recently ran an article "Nudists Seek Corporate Sponsor Looking for Greater Exposure."
Article's subtitle: "The American Association for Nude Recreation is on a bare hunt."
Read more: "Nudists Seek Corporate Sponsor Looking for Greater Exposure"
New Year's in Moscow x 2 — double your pleasure, double your fun
Did you know that there are two New Year's in Russia?
There's good news in this. Not only double the New Year's Eve parties. There's a second chance at New Year's Resolutions.
Alfred C. Fuller (1985-1973)
Original Fuller Brush Man
founder of the Fuller Brush Company
Are any readers of this old enough to remember Fuller Brush Men?
His simple strategy for success: saying humble.
When reading, in a biography of him, that he was fired from his first three jobs, he remarked, It's quite evident why I became self-employed — I had no choice."
Click here to read his fascinating biography, at least it's fascinating for dull men to read.
Fuller brushes are still available:
Dear DMC,
Here's something possibly for the website's Collections & Museums page.
I've heard about New Englanders who were notorious for saving everything — “it might come in handy some day.”
When one of them died, the executor found his house crammed with boxes, contents neatly labeled.
"Pieces of String Too Short to Save" was a label on one of the boxes.
As we reported to you in late December, on New Year's Eve many of us Dull Men would be staying in (we don't get out much anyway) to practice writing 2013.
The reports are in now. It's been a resounding success. Not a single member has made a mistake and written 2012 on a check or other item after New Year's Eve.
From our Facebook Page:
Watching bread rise might be an appropriate activity for dull men, especially if the dough hasn't been salted and slow rise yeast is used.
Anticipating the eventual baking of a solid, bland loaf of bread can be a tonic for the nerves.
Jim Lipton
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That's right Jim, an appropriate activity indeed. It falls into our Safe Excitement category of things on our website.
There are several YouTube videos of bread rising. The picture above is from this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1w09QKf9GU
Some might have a problem with this one, however, as it's a time lapse view of bread rising, perhaps appearing to rise too fast.
"Parking Signs, Clutered and Confusing for Decades,
Are Revamped at Last," from The New York Times
NYC's transportation commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan said the old signs are "a cross between an Excel spreadsheet and a totem pole."
Right up our alley of "Celebrating the Ordinary", a beginners course of ukulele lessons — at The Idler Academy — 81 Westbourne Park Road, London — 0207 221 5908 — click here for info and sign up
Danny Wooton — "Ukulele Teacher to the Stars"
Dear DMC,
Reading the Dullog posting "New Year's Resolutions for Aspiring Entrepreneurs" — especially Resolution 9 "I will focus on just one thing" — reminded me of something I came across on YouTube — a good (and amusing) example of not focusing on just one thing — click here
Brian Blandford
London
According to an article we came across — “New year’s resolutions for aspiring entrepreneurs” by Francisco Dao — resolving to lose weight or start going to the gym is not good enough for aspiring entrepreneurs. They resolve to start companies.
Read more: New Year's Resolutions for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Dear DMC,
I recall in prior years, for New Year's you had something on your website from Dear Abby about a day at a time. I really liked that, Are you going to have it this year?
Maxwell House
Glenview Illinois
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Dear Maxwell,
Thanks for reminding us of this. It comes from Dear Abby, click here.
It's a great way to live.
Here's the first part of it:
Just for today I will live through this day only.
I will not brood about yesterday or obsess about tomorrow.
I will not set far-reaching goals or try to overcome all of my problems at once.
I know I can do something for 24 hours that would overwhelm me if I had to keep it up for a lifetime.
DMC
Dear DMC — Happy New Year
Here is a seasonal compendium of useless knowledge from the BBC:
Click here to order from The New Yorker
[we mean order the cartoon, not the can]
A reader sent a card to us that is much too exciting — click here to view it.
Some of our members dulled it down some by turning on their mute buttons.
What to you think of it?
Dear DMC
Just been told about your website, it has kept me apathetic for 37 minutes so far.
I have never wanted to visit the US (do Americans really need to be SO enthusiastic?). So forgive me if I am mistaken, but it appears that your Rest Areas equate to our Motorway Service Areas, of which we have a great number.
I feel that a register of service areas along with their facilities would be a suitable addition to your site. Please note that any such list should carry a warning for travelers, who expect these sites to be consistently dull soul-less places, Westmoorland Services on the M6 is in a beautiful location, has polite staff and a varied menu of good quality food and does not represent the norm.
Describing experiences of travel is one of the top activities for Dull Men in the UK, so it is good to note that travel related items feature heavily on your site.
Keep up the good work
Steve
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Dear Steve
As for a register of service areas and their facilities, we found there's one already:
Peter Willis — Worcester, England — photographing all 115,000 postboxes throughout Britain
Ken Myers — Leeds, England — 34 years in a row has given same Valentine's Day card to wife
Rod Stewart — avid model railroader
Iggy — "I've got a lust for slippers"
Simon Beck — England — creates Snow Art while walking on snowshoes
Peter Skyllbeck — Sweden — survived two months in car buried in snow by avalanche
Dr. Alan McElligott — University of London — his research indicates goats have accents
Peter Willis, retired postman, has set out to photograph all of Britain's 115,000 postboxes. So far, he has photographed 2,500. He started when he retired in 2007.
Peter was interviewed this year on BBC Radio 4, click here to listen.
Peter and his wife Diane live in Worcester, county town of Worcestershire in the East Midlands of England.
He has a list of every postbox from Royal Mail. Once he's taken a picture of a box, he strikes it off the list."
Not only does he have the list, he has programmed his GPS to beep when he passes a postbox.
Peter is thrilled that he lives near a rare postbox, one bearing the insignia of King Edward VIII. Only 160 boxes were made during his short reign.
Diane accompanies Peter on many of his trips. She often needs to stand guard when he's out in the middle of a road to get a good shot of a postbox. She also needs to explain to onlookers that Peter is not mad."
Here is some seasonably dull news from Yorkshire. Unfortunately the card in question is not grey, but otherwise Mr Myers seems to have got the right idea.
http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/top-stories/husband_sends_same_valentine_s_day_card_for_34th_year_in_a_row_1_4243868
Regards
Steve Reszetniak
London
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That's right, Mr Myers evidently is one of us . . . steadfast to the nth degree . . . likely will be nominated for our list of Dull Men of the Year.
Grover
According to research recently announced, pygmy goats develop "accents" as they grow up.
This groundbreaking research by Dr Elodie Briefer and Dr Alan McElligott at Queen Mary's School of Biological and Chemical Science at the University of London was published in Animal Behaviour.
Should Dr McElligott be nominated for Dull Man of the Year 2012? (Dr Briefer can't be a nominee — she's the wrong gender.)
Or should the goats be nominated?
Here's the URL for an article about this research on BBC Nature News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/17061101
Dear DMC
Another suggestion for 2012's Dull Man of the Year nominees — the Swede who survived two months in his car:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2012/feb/20/car-peter-skyllberg-survived-two-months
Spring will come, sooner or later.
Yours sincerely
FrançoisGojat
Wimereux, France
February 20, 2012
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Dear François
We used to think of Sweden as a dull country. Except for Stieg Larsson thrillers, Sweden is generally regarded as a dull country. This news about spending two months in a car buried in snow reaffirms the dull image of Sweden.
Thanks for sending this to us.
DMC
I'm catching up on reading the Sunday Times from last Sunday. I read 'I've got a lust for . . . slippers'. It's an article about Iggy, who the article describes as the godfather of punk.
But might he now be one of us dull men?
Not only does he lust for slippers, according to the article:
• He likes to potter — walks around the garden, smells the flowers, listens to the waterfall, watches the clouds
• He's a big cloud fancier
• He's ploughing through de Tocqueville's Democracy in America
• Goes to bed at 10:00 p.m., sometimes even earlier
Here's the article: http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/Magazine/a_life_in_the_day/article985699.ece
Bryce Blandford
London
For Dull Men, this Snowsuit Issue, compared to
the Swimsuit Issue, is much more suitable [pun intended]
Dear DMC
From what I've seen about you guys, you are so nice — do you really need to make any New Year's Resolutions?
One your mottos is "Predicatble Reliable Safe" — it's on the back of a cap I have:
"Predictable Reliable Safe" — I don't see how you can get any better than that.
Fondly
Victoria Valmont
London
Floss more
Clean slippers
Arrange fridge by sell-by dates at least every fortnight
Fill our staplers
Phone mother
Brush our Hush Puppies
Check on slippers
Eat Velveeta, not brie
Drink club soda, not Perrier
I you can't resist eating Ben and Jerry's, eat only their vanilla (it's wonderful [exclamation point removed])
Balance checkbook
Check on slippers
An exciting topic for Dull Men's Club meetings this time of year, especially for our apostrophizer members, is whether it should be "Seasons Greetings" or "Season's Greeting"?
Sincerely,
Graham Marr
Breaking News — Santa candidate for Dull Men's Club membership:
Sweden: Foreigner angered over gray Santa outfit
Associated Press – Tue, Dec 25, 2012
STOCKHOLM (AP) — Police in Sweden had to intervene after a foreign visitor to a spa and conference center grew angry because a visiting Santa Claus was wearing a gray instead of red costume.
In the current issue of The Atlantic there's a gripping article "Wrappers' Delight: A Brief History of Wrapping Paper."
The article credits two brothers, Joyce and Rollie Hall, with starting the use of decorative wrapping paper in the U.S. — in their stationery store in Kansas City Missouri in 1917.
Read more: "Wrappers' Delight: A Brief History of Wrapping Paper"
Snowglobes are a wonderful. They are fun to watch. A great way to enjoy winter. You can watch snow without having to go outdoors where it's cold and you get wet from real snow.
Read more: Snowglobes — Day 6's suggestion on our 12 Days of Christmas Gifts for Dull Men
Dear DMC,
I'm not sure what the overall position of you dull guys is on guns. But as you like avoid extremes, like Extreme Ironon (I agree with you about ironing on mountaintops, by the way, ironing in the basement is just fine), I expect you don't see the need for such easy access to assault weapons.
So I thought you will enjoy the picture above, which could well be what Rockwell would paint today is he were still with us.
From a DMC fan,
Nancy Newsome
Stockbridge, Massachusetts
Breaking news report in the Seattle Times: video of a suitcase's trip through the local airport.
A fitting video for us Dull Men to enjoy. Our website has the world's largest report on airport luggage carousels — clockwise or counterclockwise?
Now, on this video, we can actually see what happens to luggage on the way to a carousel.
A real treat indeed.
Click here to watch the video: http://video.seattletimes.com/2050542026001/
December 23, 2012
Myrrh
Dull Men are often shy. Conversations can be difficult. Give him myrrh — a good conversation starter.
Myrrh was of course a gift at the original Christmas. According to Matthew 2:11, three Kings from the East brought gifts of myrrh to Jesus.
Assorted lots of myrrh, probably like what
the Three Kings brought to Bethlehem
Myrrh Trees
Available online, click here for an example
The picture above explains how the forecast for yestesrday came about — interesting indeed.
Sincerely,
Joe Kerr
New York
Old Fashioned Metronomes
Old fashioned metronomes can be bought at music stores and from online stores.
Click here to get to a big online music store we found on the
web that has many metronomes like the elegant one above
Online Metronome
Click here for an online metronome. It's easy to use right now. Simply choose a tempo on the dial, then click the "ON" button:
Metronome Apps
There are many metronome apps for iPhones, iPods, and iPads.
Ramping it up— Extreme Metronoming
Click here for a YouTube video of 100 metronomes.
It's not going to happen:
French police at Bugarach are prepared, however — just in case:
Dear DMC,
Before I retired I was in the habit of bringing home the plastic tubes that came inside the paper used in the large laser printer thinking they might be more useful at my house than in the landfill.
I might have been mistaken. But looking at them today, after receiving the latest DMC Newsletter, I had a thought.
Could they be cut to various lengths to make a musical instrument? If so, would anyone want to form a Gray Men Group to play said instrument?
Anonymous
December 20, 2012
Dear DMC,
Shortly after I'd downloaded and played around with the new app Favorite Shades of Gray, I heard an nice story about the book Fifty Shades of Grey. I attach the story below. If confirms what I thought — the new app is much safer for us Dull Men than the book.
Henry Morris
McLean, Virginia
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Story:
Four guys have been going to the same fishing trip for many years. Two days before the group is to leave, Ron's wife puts her foot down and tells him he isn't going.
Ron's mates were really upset that he couldn’t go, but what could they do?
Two days later the three get to the camping site to find Ron sitting there with a tent set up, firewood gathered, dinner cooking on the fire — and sitting down having a cold beer.
“Ron, how long you been here, and how did you talk your missus into letting you go?"
"Well, I've been here since last night. Yesterday evening, I was sitting in my living room chair and my wife came up behind me and put her hands over my eyes and asked, 'Guess who?’”
“I pulled her hands off, and there she was, wearing a nightie. She took my hand and pulled me into our bedroom."
"The room had candles and rose petals all over. Apparently she's been reading Fifty Shades of Grey. On the bed she had handcuffs, and ropes [exclamation point removed] She told me to tie her up and cuff her to the bed, so I did."
And then she said, "Do whatever you want."
"So, here I am guys. Grab yourselves some beers."
Dull Men love slippers. Slippers are always a safe bet for a Christmas gift give to a Dull Man.
Slippers can be found is all clothing and department stores. Recently we came across some we like. Particularly their color. They are the ones pictured above. The are from Magellan's Travel Supplies: http://www.magellans.com/men-s-travel-slippers
These slippers are:
• Comfortable and practical
• Comfortable because they have cushioned soles — as well as small ridges that massage as you walk (nothing exciting, only a mild massaging suitable for Dull Men)
• Practical because they prevent feet contacting with bad things around swimming pools, locker rooms, etc. — like viruses that cause plantar warts
• Practical because they prevent slipping on slipery surfaces (so why are they called "slippers?")
* Practical because they are washable
* Easy to slip on (is this why they are called "slippers"?)
* Perfect when traveling — they come with a travel case or simply lay them out flat in your suitcase
* Even sturdy enough for short jaunts outdoors
• They come in a gray/black. Also solid black.
Christmas Quackers
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Why does Santa have three gardens?
So he can Ho Ho Ho
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Why does Santa go down the chimney?
It soots him
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What's Santa's favorite cereal?
Frosties
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Where does Santa stay when he travels?At the Ho Ho Hotel
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Why would you remove your door bell?
To win the no bell prize
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How does the Pacific Ocean greet the Atlantic Ocean?
It waves
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What did the snowman say to the other snowman who was standing next to him?
I think I smell carrots
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What do you give a railway station master for Christmas?
Platform shoes
Christmas Crackers — a British Tradition — History and Background
For viewers of this page who are not familiar with the British Christmas tradition of Christmas crackers, we'd like to offer some background.
Christmas crackers are brightly colored paper tubes that are placed on each plate at Christmas parties.
The tube is constructed so that, when pulled on each end, the tube "cracks" open. A paper slip with a joke on it and a paper crown fall out.
Christmas crackers were invented by Thomas Smith in 1846 when he was visiting Paris. He came across a bon-bon, which is a sugar-almond wrapped in tissue paper. Smith began importing bob-bons to England.
The bob-bons sold well in England at Christmas but not at other times of the year.
In the 1850s, Smith started putting mottoes in the bob-bons. As many of the bon-bons were bought by men to give to women, many of the mottos were love poems.
In 1860, Smith added the banger — two strips of chemically impregnated paper that made a cracking sound when pulled apart.
Over time, jokes replaced the love poems.
More information about this can be found on this website: http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/xmas/crackers.html
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The Vision Toaster by Magimix:
Experience the only see-thru toaster — a viewing window that lets you watch the toasting process in action.
Click here to view it on Magimix's website. You'll see that it comes in four colors. Most Dull Men will want the cream one, certainly not the red one, and probably not black or silver.
Click here to watch it on YouTube. We should warn you, however — it might be too exciting for you — it shows toast popping up.
Fifteen years of research and development led to the ultimate toaster for us Dull Men. We've been hoping for a toaster like this so we could watch toast toast. Now we have it — a toaster with a panoramic view of toast toasting.
Magimix Managing director Simon Kinder, in an article “Transparent toaster sees end of burnt toast” in The Telegraph said they could have rushed the product into production four years ago but held off because they wanted it to be perfect.
Kinder said, “The idea is incredibly simple and we started with the concept of creating a toaster where you could watch the toast browning 15 years ago. The problem was that we wanted to create something very simple which worked perfectly and did not obscure the view of the toast. We tested it to destruction and now we are happy we have a brilliant product which is well designed and looks great at the same time.”
“The response has been phenomenal,” Kinder added.
The article ends with fascinating points about the history of toast and toasting:
- The word “toast” came from the Latin word “tostum,” which means scorch or burn.
- Romans spread toast across Europe.
- The modern toaster were invented by Frank Shailor, a technician with GE, who created his D12 toaster in 1909.
- Shailor invented his toaster so people could still eat bread that was going stale.
- After a decade of people getting their fingers burnt, the first pop-up toaster was invented in 1919.
- The first automatic toaster, the Toastmaster, was invented in 1926.
- Once a machine to slice bread was invented — invented in 1928 by Otto Frederick Rohwedder who lived in Chillicothe, Missouri — no home could be without a toaster.
Here’s the URL to The Telegraph article in case you want to read more about toasters: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/6931661/Transparent-toaster-sees-end-of-burnt-toast.html
Click here to start heading to Apple's App Store to download
It's a free app. It'll make a great "Stocking Stuffer" for Christmas.
The app features 50 shades of gray. The shades are numbered, which make them even more interesting for Dull Men.
If you don't find your favorite shade on it, please send your favorite shade to us and we'll get it on the next version.
After you've viewed the shades on the screen titled "50 Shades" (the second screen of the app), you can take the Poll by clicking on the button that says "Poll" in the upper right corner of that screen.
The poll asks users to indicate their favorite shades, both for standalone gray and two-tone gray.
We're looking forward to reading results from the poll and tabulating them.
12 Days of Gifts — Dull Men's Club Suggestions
We are starting a 12-day series of suggestions for Christmas gifts.
We are still working on the list. If you have suggestions for it, please email them to us: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Dear DMC,
I'm not sure whether admitting my fondness for Twinkies, Ho Hos, Cupcakes, and Ding Dongs will jeopardize my DMC membership. I hope it won't.
I've been following the outcome of Hostess Bakeries — I just now heard some breaking news about what'll be happening to the various parts of the company.
Joe Kerr
New York
PS: I also liked Wonder Bread
In the YouTude video "The Dreaded Stairs" attached below, there are stairs next to an escalator.
At first almost no one took the stairs — 97% took the escalator.
Then a few engineers decided to change the percentages around.
From Herb Aceous, Food Editor, DullMensClub.com
1. No need to worry about salmonella
2. Guests will think your turkey is Cajun blackened
3. Uninvited guests will think twice next year
4. Your cheese broccoli lima bean casserole will gain
new fans
5. Pets won't bother you for scraps
6. No one will overeat
7. Smoke alarm due for a test
8. Carving the bird will provide a good cardiovascular
workout
9. You'll get to desserts quicker
10. After dinner, take the bird to the yard and play football
11. You won't be putting up with three weeks of turkey sandwiches
Now explain it to her:
Christmas Card — in stunning two-tone gray:
Dear DMC,
With Thanksgiving arriving, I think we need to recognize what clever birds turkeys are. Their survival skills are amazing.
Robert Parrish
Grand Junction, Colorado
When thanksgiving rolls around, we Dull Men are thankful for:
- Turkey dinner — turkey, the blandest of meats
- All those boring conversations at Thanksgiving Dinner
- The bleak weather that arrives in November
- The fact that color has gone — gone from trees, shrubs, and grass
- Leaves are everywhere — they are so much fun to rake
- There's also snow — it's so much fun to shovel
- That fact that they are not turkeys
The actual, uncensored sound track from the fall was leaked to YouTube. I came across it recently. It scared the bejesus out of me.
It proves that jumping from a plane like this clearly is not for us Dull Men.
Click here to listen to it.
E.Z. Pace
Indianapolis, Indiana
Dear DMC,
We Dull Men like to work in the kitchen, we're good at it. A favorite thing to do in the kitchen is kneading dough. One of our heroes is the Phillsbury Doughboy.
I saw this sad news in the newspaper:
Please join us in remembering a great icon of the entertainment community. Doughboy died yesterday of a yeast infection and trauma complications from repeated pokes in the belly. He was 71.
Sign posted once Hurricane Sandy struck
Dear DMC,
DMC members apparently are not the only ones who avoid excitement. It looks like FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) is in the same boat.
Hurricane Sandy was too much for them to deal with?
If hurricanes are too much for FEMA, what kind of emergencies was it set up to handle?
Tom Bland
New York
Dull Men exercising: favorite exercises are strolling, sauntering, meandering. They also amble. Jogging is OK, is slowly. But treadmills should be avoided:
Amazing foresight: Baumgarter drew this when he was five years old
Dear DMC
Felix Baumgartner is unlikely to apply for DMC membership for a while. However this article about his childhood ambitions seems to have attracted some interest from the online community of dull men:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/shortcuts/2012/oct/16/felix-baumgartner-kids-drawings
Best wishes
Steve Reszetniak
London
Shop Amazon - Holiday Gift Cards - Instant Delivery or Free One-Day Shipping
Do you get annoyed with all those subscription solicitation cards that fall out of magazines?
Pop the cards in a mailbox. Let them go back to the magazine company. The company needs to pay the postage even if the cards are not filled out. But if you want to file them out [dull men like to fill out forms], instead of writing your name and address, express your thoughts about these cards.
Read more: Those annoying subscription cards inserted in magazines
Dear DMC,
This ought to keep you busy:
"The Science of Stacking Firewood"
Jim Edwards
Sterling Heights, Minnesota
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Dear Jim,
This is excellent. It's got us thinking. It's given us a great idea.
Read more: Stacking Wood — should be November's Event of the Month?
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Much more suitable for dull men than "Running of the Bulls" in Pamplona is "Running of the Sheep" in Madrid. It takes place the last Sunday of October every year.
Shepherds and sheep dogs take a flock of 2,000 sheep through the streets of Madrid. It's been going on since 1273. Madrid was a rural hamlet back then.
The purpose is make certain sheepherders' droving rights are kept alive.
It's part of the Festival of Transhumance — celebrations along the ancient nomadic path shepherds take when moving their flocks from summer pastures to winter pastures.
There's a task involved with this that dull men can enjoy: counting the sheep to make certain none are left behind.
To watch the parade of sheep on BBC News click here.
There's not much that's dull in Ireland, not even traffic lights.
Dull men like to watch traffic lights change. In Ireland, however, this might be too exciting for them — click here.
Patrick O'Malley
Dublin
Hot off the press, some of "All the News That's Fit to Print" from the New York Times is an article about chickens in a park in Brooklyn.
A NIMBY ("not in my backyard") battle began when members of the Warren-St. Marks Community Garden in Park Slope brought eight clucking hens into the garden.
The pro-chicken residents say the chickens are good to have in the garden. They improve the environment there by eating scraps and contributing to the garden's compost pile.
The anti-chicken residents say the chickens stink and might bring flies, vermin, lead poisoning, and possibly even avian flue into the neighborhood.
We dull men would have enjoyed being at a meeting of local residents Sunday when discussed, in detail, composting and chicken coop wiring. And a city rat consultant explained that the chickens were rat-free.
Hopefully the dispute is resolved soon. "I want to get along with my neighbors — I don't want a chicken to get between me and my neighbor," says Ibon Muhammad, a Warren Street resident since 1980.
To read the NYT article, click here
The folks in Washington DC certainly know how to celebrate the ordinary. Yesterday a special ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for the reopening of the city's subway escalators at the Dupont Circle South Entrance:
The entrance was closed for 8.5 months for a complete rebuilding of the escalators.
It's exciting to read about how the work was done, as reported in huffingtonpost.com:
"Working in a narrow space with the proportions of a drinking straw, the old escalators, each weighing nearly 55 tons, had to be cut into 24 separate sections and individually moved out of the entrance on three separate cranes. Then each section of the new escalators had to be installed 24 sections in all, each traveling on 3 cranes. In total, there were nearly 150 crane picks during the project, many happening late at night with 19th Street closed to vehicular traffic."
Additional articles about this are in myfoxdc.com and in washingtonpost.com.
Members of the Pembroke DMC continue to do stuff that delights readers.
The Boston Globe reports on one of their meetings: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2012/10/17/dull-men-club-celebrates-the-ordinary-pembroke/1k8y9FiOYIOgBeo49gZzbM/story.html
A great joke told at the meeting is included in the article:
"One member launched into an amusing story about a drug test that took place at his place of work. He said one of his colleagues refused to urinate in the plastic cup and instead filled it with apple juice. Later on, when the nurse approached the colleague, he grabbed the cup back from her and said, “Here, let me put it through again [exclamation point removed]” He put the cup to his lips, tipped it back, and drank it, as the nurse looked on in horror."
Actually, high winds did this.
It happend near Chappell, Nebraska — near the DMC's back office (our favorite place to work).
Our member there who took this picture said it’s the most exciting thing he’s seen there in quite a while.
Holgate Mill Roundabout, in York
Here's an article no dull man will want to miss:
Cheers
Ian McIver
Brisbane, Australia
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Wow. A multitasking roundabout. A roundabout that generates power. What will they think of next?
I was gobsmacked," said Kevin Beresford, president of the Roundabout Appreciation Society. Beresford added that this one is the Holy Grail of roundabouts, unlike most roundabouts that are merely "an oasis in a sea of asphalt."
Read more: Holgate's "Roundabout 'round a Windmill" — chosen for 2013 Roundabout Calendar's cover
I was watching CBS's "Sunday Morning" yesterday. There was an amazing story about a traffic copy in LA — Elton Simmons — who has an amazing record of complaints from drivers he's issued tickets to.
Zero complaints. That's for 25,000 arrests over a 20-year period.
Read more: Traffic Cop — a great one — we need many more like this
Prarie Home Companion — next week, October 20: Joke Show — "Pretty Good Jokes"
I was listening to Prairie Home Companion yesterday and the repeat today. They announced that next week's show will have more of their jokes.
If you like the jokes on our Groaners page, you'll like the jokes on Prairie Home Companion.
"You could see it grow," said Ron Wallace of Greene, Rhode Island, grower of a 2009 pound pumpkin.
The pumpkin grew at the rate of 40 pounds a day.
Watching a pumpkin like this growing is a great kind of safe excitement for dull men.
Just as breaking the sound barrier was to aerospace and running the four-minute mile was to sports, the Holy Grail for giant pumpkin people is this one-ton pumpkin. For decades, pumpkin growers have been pursuing this.
CBS News, "One-ton pumpkin shatters weight record, click here
Hello all at the DMC,
I was checking out your calendar for October and noticed that apart from Raking Leaves there is nothing else listed.
Last month you covered events including Bathtubbing, Gurning and Rock Flipping and I wondered if you'd like to list some Crazy Golf events coming up in October and November (the last 5 competitions of 2012).
Read more: Minigolf (much safer for dull men than regular golf)
October 3, 2012
Swanson TV dinner — long a meal of choice for us dull men. That's why we were pleased to see the article "Kid's meal of choice" by Craig Wilson in today's USA Today.
Read more: A kid's meal of choice: Swanson TV Dinner (some years back)
I read that the presidential candidates trying to lower expectations for Wednesday's debate.
It reminds me of an advantage I enjoy as a dull man. We come with lower expectations.
Life's easier. Less is expected of me.
Sincerely,
Wynn Underwood
Columbus Ohio
Kitchen Window
As a card carrying member of the DMC who likes to “Celebrate the Ordinary,” and also a member of one of those 12-step outfits, I thought I’d share with readers something I came across a few days ago: “Don’t overlook the wonder of the ordinary.” It was in a daily email from Hazelden in Minnesota. Here are excerpts:
Don't overlook the wonder of the ordinary.
The extraordinary, the amazing, the phenomenon are daily glorified in the movies, the news, and on television. Our senses become bombarded. We become addicted to drama. The only things that get our attention are the big, catastrophic, knee-jerking events.
Entomologist and pest expert Hal Coleman — better known as “The Internet Bug Guy” — he shares, on video, tips and facts that the insiders — the professional exterminators — don’t want you to know — click here — but be forewarned: there are some exclamation points.
September 28, 2012
October, which will be here in a few days, is Raking Leaves month for us Dull Men.
There's a lot to like about October. Apples. Crisp air. Falling leaves.
Hello
I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for a website full of useful information, in particular the list of luggage carousels in airports with has saved me several seconds and given me somewhat of a reputation in the Scandinavian aviation society.
I have been to Arlanda several times and I am fairly certain that the carousels are going counter clockwise. I might of course be mistaken so I implore you to use your, I am sure, vast connections to verify my claim.
Regards
Martin
Stockholm
This is one of the luggage belts at Malaga Airport.
It's a shame I didn't take a video, but you can tell from the way the lady is facing, that the belt is moving in a clockwise direction.
I like belts that travel in a clockwise direction.
Sent from my iPhone.
Tom Ditchfield
Winchester
Hampshire (England)
The club took part in the Pembroke Massachusetts' 300th anniversary parade on Sunday September 23. It was a big event — 16 bands in eight divisions.
We now have new black with gold shirts and matching hats.
The antique car we rode in belongs to member Tiny Brown. The magnetic signs on the sides of the car had the club's logo.
Dick Nickerson
Pembroke DMC
The Dull Man will always wish to ensure when he travels to foreign parts that he takes the power adaptor(s) necessary to connect his electrical appliances to the local supply.
Click here to read the article
The article has "aroused lots of mirth locally [exclmation mark removed]" its author, Jane Bakowski, reports in an email us.
Here is some dull news from Harrogate, Yorkshire, about prize-winning giant vegetables.
The onion in the picture weighs 18 pounds – or as much as two reasonably-sized babies.
http://www.anorak.co.uk/333435/the-consumer/harrogate-autumn-flower-show-photos-of-massive-vegetables.html/
Regards
Steve Reszetniak
London
World Gurning Championships — held Saturday 15 September
in Egremont in Cumbria
Tommy Mattinson, winner
Read more: World Gurning Championships 2012 — Mattinson wins 14th year in a row
Reported in the Ecco:
Two men in a dinghy were almost left stranded after their engine failed in blustery conditions.
The men were just 50 yards off the beach at The Leas, Westcliff [east coast of England] when the dinghy's engine cut out.
- Today: World Gurning Championships — in Egremont in Cumbria — click here
New entrants ? . . . . . . :
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Hey, how about me?
There a many art exhibits that are far too exciting for dull men. We came across one, however, that we like. It has only five photos. Five stunning photos of bus stops.
Not only are the photos of something quite ordinary — the bus stops go nowhere. There are no buses.
In fact, they are not even on roads that buses travel on. They are on the grounds of nursing homes in Germany.
They are fake.
They are for patients suffering from dementia. The patients wait at the bus stops until they are escorted back inside or return of their volition, having forgotten where it is they won’t be going that day.
Click here to see all five photos in the magazine. Which one of the five is your favorite?
This week's New Yorker has exhigit of photos by Timo Klos.
Thanks to Gerry Cook and Steve Reszetniak for clueing us in on this
Dear DMC
Here is a real silly season story.
Reports of a lion on the loose in Essex were a slight exaggeration. It was only a big pussycat.
"Was Essex 'Lion' a Pet Cat?, " click here
Regards
Steve Reszetniak
London
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Thanks Steve.
This will be quite a relief to quite a few of our DMC members, those who are caravaners.
A related article says the police have called off their search:
"Police Call Off Search for Essex Lion, " click here
Now our cavaning members can breath a sign of relief knowing it’s safe to go to St. Osyth Caravan Park again.
DMC
I must admit that I sometimes feel sleepy after a meeting. Now I know that this is due to the heroic amount of energy I expend in sitting down for minutes at a time.
Read more: Gold Medals for Daily Chores—chores burning calories than Olympic events?
Reports from London 2012 are still trickling in. This one is really amusing. Watch all the way to the end if you have the time/ The best part is at the end:
Compass
Level
Have you seen this? Very interesting.
http://flowingdata.com/2012/08/08/celebrating-the-joy-of-metering/
Kurt Kessler
Lexington Kentucky
As we in the DMC relish the ordinary and have a distaste for the extraordinary, the phrase “the curse of the ordinary” in the opening paragraph of a recent article the New York Times caught our eyes. The article is “Finding the Facebook Magic” by Peter Eavis.
The article says “it’s all about valuations” and “the transition from extraordinary to ordinary is brutal.” It points out that the hyping of the share value for the public offering was based on projections of amazing, extraordinary profits. Then came the nightmare when investors stopped believing in the hype.
Moral of the story: stick with ordinary, steer clear of extraordinary — "Celebrate the Ordinary."
The Rev. Al Sharpton host of NBC's show PoliticsNation, talks about snail racing when talking about summer breaks, observing that snails move as fast as Congress. Click here to watch the race.
There's nothing wrong with coming in second. In fact, it can be very rewarding. After all, it's the second mouse that gets the cheese:
A Class Act — Zara Phillips — "Chuffed" with Silver
she won with UK Equestrian Team — truly royal behavior
A different viewpoint — obviously ungracious
American gymnast McKayla Maroney
Dear DMC
There are some fine queues here. Note that The Times Fast Track entrance is not so popular. Clearly the queuing experience is diminished there so it's avoided.
Joining queues gives the opportunity to enlighten confused visitors, particularly those from overseas, talk about the weather and discover the price of burgers and CocaCola in countries all over the world.
I met a gentleman from Tajikstan who told me with some pride that his country had won one bronze medal for boxing and another from Latvia who had won a medal for Beach Volleyball. I think I might check out the beaches in Latvia for my holiday next year.
Tom Ditchfield
Winchester
Dear DMC
The lavatory queues are fine too. Here you see a group of people discussing the possibility of joining the existing queue or perhaps forming a new one.
The sixth cubicle is clearly very popular, so that's a hard one.
Tom Ditchfield
Winchester
Dear DMC
Empty seats in the Stadium. Can only think its because people are still queuing at the 2012 Store.
Tom Ditchfield
Winchester
See previous article in El País, click here.
This is the queue for the souvenir store — the London 2012 Megastore in Olympic Park.
I'm here. The queues are real. They are exciting. They are fantastic. 2012 will be the year to remember.
Tom Ditchfield
Winchester
8 August 2012
Sent from my emd
We wish we could find a website or other facility that provides live information on queues — where they are and their size.
We can't fine one. The best we can do is a blog post of articles queuing at the London Olympics. We will be updating the report with our own research as well as content contributed by readers, about queuing at the London 2012 Olympics.
If queuing is a favorite pastime for you, as it is for many Brits, you can use these articles to find queues. If you want to avoid queues, you can find where to go.
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7 August — Telegraph — "Long queues for trains to London 2012 Olympic park" — http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/9449135/Long-queues-for-trains-to-London-2012-Olympic-park.html#disqus_thread
29 July — Guardian — "Dressage spectators miss key moment queuing" — http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-18981998
27 July — BBC News — "Olympic football delay at St James' Park 'unacceptable'" — http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-19013655
26 July — BBC News — "Queues for Olympic football at Newcastle's St James' Park" — http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-18981998
25 July — ABC News (Australia) — "Olympic ticket queue strectches for hours" . . . "Australina trying to collect their pre-paid Olympic tickets in London have been forced to wait for up to nine hours in hot weather" — http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-07-25/olympic-ticket-queue-stretches-for-hours/4154816
23 July — Daily Mail — "Foreign visitors forced to queue for hours in 27C heat after administrative error means they can't get their Olympics tickets" — http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2177859/London-Olympics-2012-Visitors-forced-queue-hours-27C-heat-tickets-administrative-error.html
Dear DMC
Samantha Cameron speaks up for the joy of accounting. (Mrs Cameron is married to David Cameron, who is something in politics over here.)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/aug/05/samatha-cameron-vogue-interview?INTCMP=SRCH
Read more: UK PM's wife Samantha Cameron speaks up for joy of accounting
How to Get Things Really Flat
Enlightenment for Every Man on Ironing,
Vacuuming and Other Household Acts
Examples of what's covered:
When dusting, where does the dust go?
How to load a dishwasher without inducing comments
What’s the worst thing that can happen during ironing?
Toilet cleaning — an overview
This book is in our aStore, click here
Pellston Regional Airport [PLN] — no carousel
Emil Bentgen
Cross Junction, Virginia
No list of roundabouts is complete without the one in the center of East Longmeadow MA.
It is in the Guinness Book of Records.
It has seven roads which go into it: North Main, Somers, Prospect, Pleasant, Maple, Elm and Shaker.
Hooray for dullness.
Frank Driscoll
Here is a useful link about the engineering properties of sand castles. It's mostly about the moisture content.
Best wishes
Steve Reszetniak
London
Read more: "The Physics of Sand Castles" — from The Economist
I was in the U.K. when the games began. Was watching them live on TV there. Monday flew to Dulles (one of our favorite dull airports). Duller to watch them here in the U.S.
There's a five-hour time delay. By the time I see the games on TV, I already know the winners.
Which games are dull to watch? Rowing? Same motions over and over again? Same countries always win (U.S., U.K., Germany)?
Grover
August 2, 2012
Dear DMC
I have always believed that it is a good idea to leave two spaces after a full stop (period). This man disagrees very forcefully. I have no idea if he is right, but this looks like a good topic for discussion by dull men.
Read more: Good meeting topic: after each sentence—one or two spaces?
I happened to run across this just before finding out about your list. I knew you would want to know about this.
The General Shale company in Johnson City, TN has a "Museum of Ancient Brick." The website is below.
http://www.generalshale.com/company/museum/
Cindy
Riverdale Maryland
Pole dancing classes have been a fitness craze in recent years. It's now moved beyond being a fad. Dancers from all over the world participate in pole dancing competitions. The most recent one was held on March 15, 2012 in Hong Kong.
"It can be extremely challenging. It's Olympic level difficulty depending on what the style is," said pole dancer Becca Butcher.
Tim Trautman, president of the Interiational Pole Sport Federaton is leading an effort to make pole dancing an Olympic Sport. For their application to the Olympic Committee, we suggest that they kick off the high heels and remove the eroticism, at least some of it.
We like mazes. They are a fine form of safe excitement for us.
That's why we enjoyed so much today watching the Olympic Torch being carried into and back out of the amazing maze at Hampton Court Palace.
You too can enjoy watching this, it's now on YouTube, click here
Sheep shearing, Queen watching
The New Zealand Federated Farmers says the time has come to elevate sheep shearing to Olympic status. "The world's top shearers are athletes who take it to another level," according to the farm group.
This is reported in The Huffington Post, including a video of the sport, click here.
And in Aljazeera, also with a video, click here.
We are watching the excitement of the Olympics and looking at the list of events.
We wonder why some wonderful long-standing English events are not on the list. After all, as was recognized years ago in the Official Report for the 1908 London Olympic Games [click here], "England is the cradle of so many forms of athletic sport."
The organizers of the World Black Pudding Throwing Championships tried, unsuccessfully, to get Black Pudding Throwing to be an event in the London 2012 Olympics.
We hope they try again for the 2016 Olympics, which will take place in Rio de Janeiro.
In the application for Olympic status, since the shot put is an Olympic sport, naming it the the "pudd put" might help it qualify.
In this event, competitors throw black puddings at a stack of a dozen Yorkshire puddings on a 30-foot high plinth. Competitors have three turns in an attempt to knock down as many Yorkshire puddings as possible. The black puddings must be thrown underarm.
Black Pudding Throwing stems from the ancient rivalry between Lancashire and Yorkshire during the War of Roses, a war fought spasmodically 1455-1485. Two rival branches of the Royal House of Plantagenet, the House of Lancaster and the House of York, were fighting each other. The troops ran out of traditional military ammunition. So they threw food.
The present championships take place at The Royal Oak pub, which is in Ramsbottom, near Manchester. They take place on the second Sunday of September every year. Contestants come from England, Scotland, Wales, South Africa, Australia and many other countries.
It's on our Calendar, click here. For the blog called "World Black Pudding Thrower Diary," click here.
If air rifle shooting and the biathlon are Olympic sports why not pea shooting?
Peashooting began in 1971 in the Cambridgeshire village of Witcham. Competitions have been held every year since then. This year the 42nd Annual World Peashoting Competition was held on July 14. It was on our Calendar, click here.
It all began when the village schoolmaster, John I. Tyson, caught mischievous pupils amusing themselves by pinging their unfortunate schoolmates with peas. He confiscated the offending weapons.
Around the same time the village had identified a need for a village hall and they were seeking ways to raise funds, John suggested a World Peashooting Championship. The idea was an instant success and is central to each year's fund-raising activities to this day.
Although innovations like laser sights and telescopic sights are being used by some shooters now, traditionalists are holding their own. The innovations have, however, been a source of keen interest from the media and raised the national profile of the event.
Participants and spectators come from, the U.S., Scandinavia, France, Spain, New Zealand, Holland and many other countries.
The secret to wining? “It’s all about selecting the right pea,” says former world champion George Hollis, a local from Witcham.
Click here to get to Witcham's website about this big event.
Stilton
Cheese rolling is an annual event in Stilton, a village in Cambridgeshire. Hundreds of villagers and visitors line the racecourse that begins at The Bell Inn and ends at the bottom of Fen Street and Church Street. Contestants group together in teams of four.
Click here to read about it on our Calendar page.
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Gloucester
An eight pound large round Gloucester cheese is set rolling down Cooper's Hill, a steep hill in Gloustershire. Participants chase the cheese down the steep slope. There's ittle hope they'll catch up with the cheese. There's lots of sprawling, rolling, tumbling.
The first to the bottom wins the cheese.
Medics are on hand to carry injured participants off the hill, usually on stretchers. Safety nets are on each side of the course to protect spectators.
Queuing
Our Worldwide Report on Airport Luggage Carousels was on "Mock the Week: too hot for TV3," now can be watched on YouTube.
Click here to view the episode
A lively discussion indeed, at least as lively as dull men ever get. Do these guys qualify for DMC membership?
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We've gone back into our archives and rediscussed [dull men like to rediscuss things, over and over again] this report. Here are some of the things we rediscussed:
Meeting Room
The first thing to do is find a place to meet. There are many possibilities: local community centers, schools, churches; restaurants often have back rooms available for meetings; perhaps one of your members has a garage that could be used for the meeting.
Chairs
What kind of chairs? Folding chairs are convenient to store away if that needs to be done. Chairs with arms are more comfortable.
Read more: Suggestions for Starting DMC Meeting in Your Town
Today's Wall Street Journal writes about the very active (at least as active as dull men ever get) Dull Men’s Club in Pembroke Massachusetts and also about our website — if you are one of us — or are interested or curious about us, you’ll enjoy reading this article.
Click here to read the article. There’s also a hilarious video, click here to watch it.
July 20, 2012
- Snow shovels
- Oil Change Intervals
- Tire rotation
- One or two spaces after a sentence? click here
- Filing systems
- Staples versus paper clips
- Favorite shades of gray — click here to see our iPhone app about this
- Apostrophizing
I arrived at Southampton Airport from Paris Tuesday night. The luggage carousel where I picked up my bag was rotating counterclockwise.
I see on our Worldwide Report, the direct indicated for Southampton is clockwise. This clearly needs to be investigated. I'll drive back to the airport sometime soon to sort this out.
Meanwhile, here's a photo I took of my bag arriving . . . counterclockwise . . . it's always such a joy to see one's bag arriving:
Grover Click
Winchester, England
Flores, Guatemala [FRS] is clockwise.
I was last in Hobart 15 years ago. Glad to see that they are still using the tractor [exclmation mark removed]
Michael Howland
Dear DMC
I was wondering if there is such a thing as a Vulture Appreciation Society. I couldn’t find one exactly, but this site gets close – and has links to web cams. I hope the members will appreciate it.
The way I look at it, vultures eat all that stuff so we don’t have to.
http://vulturesociety.homestead.com/
Regards
Steve Reszetniak
London
18 July 2012
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Dear Steve
When I arrived at Orly airport yesterday, I noticed that Orly had not yet been included in our world-famous worldwide report of luggage carousels.
Orly's carousels rotate counterclockwise:
Grover Click
July 14, 2012 (Bastille Day)
In yesterday’s International Herald Tribune, there was an article that naturally caught our eye: “Celebrate Boring Africa Aid.”
America’s foreign aid in Africa these days is taking a down-to-earth approach. It’s focusing on agriculture. Results are mixed.
On the plus side, the initiatives are cost-effective and potentially transformative.
On the negative side, they’re boring. The aid to African farmers doesn’t wow Congress or voters.
But, even though it’s boring, it’s succeeding.
Fields are being irrigated for the first time — with pumps powered by foot pedal treadle pumps resembling elliptical machines from an American gym. A picture of this multitasking shown above.
To get to the article, click here.
July 14, 2012
In today's International Herald Tribune — "From the top, a new tone in France":
"Mr Ordinary," Francois Hollande, France's new president, is impressing the French with his down-to-earth style.
In sharp contrast to the "bling-bling" of the presidency of Nicolas Sarkosy.
• Hollande took the train instead of plane to a meeting in Brussels recently.
• Ministers to travel coach class on planes.
• Smaller cars for government officials.
• Champaign is at receptions replaced with Muscadet
Click here to get to the article.
July 13, 2012
Dear DMC,
This week I've been watching the "Running of the Bulls" in Spain on TV. Shame on me. It's not a suitable sport for a Dull Man like me.
Dear DMC
This is a sort of public service announcement. Dull men may have become aware of a new book entitled "50 Shades of Grey" by E L James.
I was rather hoping this might be something for us, but after doing a little research I have come to the conclusion that E L James is not a dull man; and that this book is not likely to be of interest to dull men. I could say more, but I think that is quite enough.
Sincerely
Steve Reszetniak
London
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Dear Steve,
We agree. The title sounds like it's right up our alley, grey being our favorite color. But the books are too frisky for us.
Shades of grey is sometimes a topic at our meetings.
And many of us have the suits in our closet hung based on shades of grey, usually from light grey upwards to dark grey.
DMC
http://www.thegreatbritishduckrace.co.uk/
Dear Readers,
In past years, Dull Men have enjoyed watching this race. Does anyone know what is happening this year? All we can find is the sign we show above. If you know anything about this, please email us: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Thanks,
DMC
It caught our eye: an article "Redefining Success and Celebrating the Ordinary" by Alina Tugend, New York Times, June 29 — because of the words "Celebrating the Ordinary" — words that have long headed up our logo, which is at the top of this page.
The article laments that there being no place any longer for people who live ordinary lives. No place for people who are good citizens but are not setting the world on fire. Ordinary and average are out, extraordinary and above average are in.
Even in Garrison Keillor's Lake Wobegon "all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average".
The article builds upon a commencement address, "You're Not Special," given at Wellesley High School in Massachusetts that went viral. The address was given by one of the school's English teachers, David McCullough Jr. (son of David McCullough, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian).
After citing accomplishments of the graduates, McCullough said, "But do not get the idea you're anything special. Because you're not."
Read more: "Redefining Success and Celebrating the Ordinary"
Dear DMC,
I believe that for anyone who likes queues, and the majority of English members of the DMC must surely love them, the 2012 Olympics is going to be the place to go to join the most phenomenal queues of the decade, if not the century.
Forget airports, railway stations and checkout queues at Sainsbury's and Tesco. Everyone is going crazy just waiting for the queues to start, let alone getting into them and being part of them.
They've sold 8 million tickets already. You're never going to find 8 million people at an airport or a railway station or a supermarket. No. The only place you're going to find eight million people this year is at the Olympics and the queues are going to break all records. That's for sure. I'm really grateful that I can be part of this.
Tom Ditchfield
Winchester
16 June 2012
Dear DMC,
I know some fathers are worried they won't get cards from their kids on Father's Day.
As a happy bachelor, I'm worried too — that I might get cards.
Cheers,
Randy Amore
Loveland, Colorado
Will queuing become an Olympic Sport?
It was invented in 1899. It hasn't been improved since. What is it?
Yours
François Gojat
France
Read more: The mighty paper clip—invented in 1899, not improved upon since
Goldman Sachs announced Friday it has hired a junior analyst, Greg Kohler, who possesses a clear set of morals and a basic understanding of right and wrong.
Click here for the story, which was in "America's Finest News Source."
Dear DMC,
Is that one of you dull men heading to the beach?
After Dull and Boring came to light, we're hearing about more names: Staines (Surrey), Lost (Aberdeenshire), Hell (Michigan), Crapstone, (Devon), Thong (Kent), Looneyville (Texas), Intercourse (Pennsylvania),
The proposal from Dull to Boring was made over a month ago. We have been waiting with baited breath ever since to see how the vote in Boring would turn out.
Read more: Breaking news: Boring (Oregon) votes to twin with Dull (Scotland)
Dear Sir
You cannot imagine my disappointment when I clicked on This is "International Clothesline Week" and the link went nowhere.
We have the highest clothesline poles in the village with three horizontal lines between them (my father put them up years ago, I think they’re set in 3 ft of concrete) which makes putting the washing out no chore at all.
There’s nothing I like more than, having hoisted the lines up, leaning against the garden wall, smoking a cigarette (can I use that word?) and watching the clothes blow.
It’s especially satisfying if you have sheets and or duvet covers on the line, they really billow out, if, of course, you have pegged them in the right way to catch the wind properly.
Read more: Clothesline Report from Cornwall — highest clothesline poles in Penzance
For your information, the carousels at Munich, Germany (MUC) go counterclockwise. And the airport code for Dulles in Virginia, USA is IAD, not DIA. I can verify that the motion is ccw there too.
You're welcome.
Richard Lindstrom
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Many thanks for letting us know about Munich. And for correcting the airport code for Dulles and confirming that its a counterclockwise airport.
Jim Cotter — painting
Dear DMC,
CBS Sunday Morning yesterday had an interesting segment about a man who set out to paint the town, and is getting the job done.
Before I describe the show, however, I wish to point a key thing it lacked. There was nothing said about whether any dull men are there watching the paint dry. I expect there were. It would be great if they emailed us about their experiences in this regard.
Dear DMC
Dull Men everywhere will mourn the passing of Eugene Polley, inventor of the TV remote control: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-18164200
Read more: TV Remote Control's Founding Father — we mourn him now
Dull men adore orderliness. Orderliness is especially gratifying when has amazing results.
A fallout from Manhattan's orderly grid system of streets is Manhattanhenge, which occurs twice each year when the sun is aligned exactly with Manhattan's east/west streets — presenting stunning views of the sunset. (The grid system was the subject of our May 5 newsletter [click here].)
The name "Manhattanhenge" was coined by astronomer Neil deGrassse Thyson, Director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Nature History in New York. As Thyson explains, "Manhattanhenge takes place when the setting sun aligns precisely with the Manhattan street grid, creating a radiant glow of light across Manhattan’s brick and steel canyons, simultaneously illuminating both the north and south sides of every cross street of the borough’s grid. A rare and beautiful sight.”
2012
The 2012 dates are May 30 and July 11. Unfortunately, on May 30 the view was dampened by bad weather. A cold front with rain showers moved across Manhattan — disappointing spectators as well as photographers hoping to get more stunning photos.
Street grid tilts 29 degrees to the east, thus not aligned with equinoxes
The sunset point moves each day. It moves north until the first day of summer (the summer equinox), then south until the first day of winter (the winter equinox). The sun rises precisely to the east and sets precisely to the west only on the equinoxes. But Manhattan's grid of streets is not exactly aligned with geography's north/south course. The streets tilt 29 degrees to the east of geographic north. Therefore, unlike Stonehenge where the stones are properly aligned north/south, the days to view the sunsets at Manhattanhenge are not the same as the summer and winter equinoxes.
It's not "Manhattansolstice"
"Solstice" is a Latin word that means "stopped sun." At a solstice, the sun stops moving for a moment and then reverses to move in the opposite direction. At Manhattanhenge, the sun is still moving.
Do you, as a dull man, feel you are apart from other people when you do -- and enjoy doing -- doing mundane things, life's daily chores?
Good news for you in this new book -- you're not alone. Great writers do these things too. as explained in the book: Hemingway hung wallpaper; Hunter Thompson put up a garden fence; Julius Caesar put up a shelf; Machiavelli espoused on the Art of Mowing; Harold Pinter made cheese on toast; Charles Dickens made plum pudding.
Congratulations on being selected for inclusion in the Chase’s Book of Events.
Read more: Congrats on listing in Chase's Calendar of Events
Dear DMC,
I recall Hollande was one of the nominees for Dull Man of the Year last year. So I thought your members would enjoy seeing him in action now as President of France.
Wanda Ring
Philadelphia
Dear DMC
Ants and ballet – two words that go together like gravel and birthdays.
"The humble spud. Not much to look at, admittedly.
But in our hands it becomes the ultimate feel-good food."
Am dining at a great restaurant for a Dull Man — a restaurant that specializes in mashed potatoes — Mother Mash on Ganton Street just off Canaby Street.
Read more: "Mother Mash" — London restaurant specializing in mashed potatoes
Chase's Calendar of Events -- next year will include our "Fill Our Staplers Day"
Event title: "Fill Our Staplers Day"
Dates: March 11 and November 4, 2013
Description: To avoid those annoying empty staplers, the Dull Men's Club has established Fill Our Staplers Day. The day occurs twice a year - the days after the days we change our clocks to and from Daylight Saving Time. For info: Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Web: www.dullmensclub.com.
Formula: Days Days after our clocks change to and from Daylight Saving Time
David Rees is now an artisanal pencil sharpener. His rapid rise to being the leader in his field is yet one more American success story.
A one exit/entrance roundabouts
For when four way roundabouts are too exciting.
Eager Way, Ide
KevinCaulfield
Edinburgh
New York is the "World Capital" of many things — but did you know it's the "World Capital of Park Benches"? There are 9,000 benches in Central Park and more in other parks and squares around the city.
Gracie Deegan, winner last year
Am looking forward to seeing the results of yesterday's Pun-Off that's listed on the DMC Calendar [click here]. Am wondering when we'll hear the results — who won and with what puns?
Reviewd by DMC member Paige Turner:
Is there any musical instrument more ordinary that the ukulele? I think not.
Read more: "Uke of Wallington: one man and his ukulele round Britain," by Mark Wallington
Although New York has many world-famous restaurants, there are places where dull men can comfortably eat, where reservations are not required, there's no wait to get in, the food is good and reasonably priced.
Read more: Dull Man's Guide to New York — Dining — 600 Greek Diners
Our members indeed have patience. We continue to get emails about how they are waiting for the next drop.
There's good news in once sense. Unlike many dripping things, no one's complaining about this one being too bothersome.
Dull Webcam of the Year? Perhaps, addition to our annual Dull Man of the Year award, we should start a Dull Webcam of the Year award.
From Australia:
Gentlemen,
I submit for your consideration:
Read more: Pitch Drop Experiment — DMC members still waiting
Emil Bentgen
Cross Junction, Virginia
She's gone now but am glad I have fond memories of her, my mother Edna. She made me laugh, mostly at my own expense.
Valedictorian
Peter Willis, retired postman in England, intends to photograph all of Britain's 115,000 postboxes. So far, he has photographed 2,500 of them. He started when he retired in 2007.
Today Peter was interviewed on BBC Radio 4, click here to listen.
11 May 2012
Dear DMC
Here is news of a new dull activity, together with a nomination for Dull Man of the Year.
The article ends: “Are you more boring than Peter Willis? Call our newsdesk on 0800 282 591.” I think we should keep an eye on the Mirror.
• The carousel, located towards the southern end of the park, is one of America's biggest carousels.
May 8, 2012
News articles about Hollande's victory Sunday reiterate what we've been commenting on over the past year — that he's one of us.
From the New York Times — headline "In French Race, the Tortoise Sets His Own Pace":
Report from Stilton's 2012 Cheese Rolling — 7 May
8 May 2012
Yesterday's events are being reported on now on the town's website. Their headline is:
"A bit of rain during the rolling didn't dampen our spirits; another great cheese rolling day [exclmation mark removed]"
Read more: Report from Stilton — "A rather soggy cheese rolling"
We’re starting a series of tips for surviving in exciting places. Dull men are not always able to avoid traveling to exciting places. The trips might be for work, or for family reasons—weddings, birthdays, funerals—or dragged there by the wife.
We’re starting with New York. What officially is New York, New York. Also known as Manhattan, its Indian name.
Read more: Dull Man’s Guide to New York — Grid System for Streets
Dear DMC, I rarely visit YouTube (too much adverse energy) but I found this video quite educational and illuminating, in a subdued sort of way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=xFQ_fO2D7f0
Michael Decker
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Dear DMC, I'm writing to you from my office at appliancesonline.co.uk where I'm sitting with some of the Dull Men [but don't tell them called them that] I work with. We’ve just spent fifteen minutes having a good laugh at your website [exclamation mark removed]
One of our training tasks for new recruits is for them to come up with jokes. Here are some of our favourites, hope you like them:
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An Englishman, Irishman and a Scotsman all walk into a bar.
The barman says, “What is this? Some kind of joke?”
Dear DMC, one of the birthday presents I received was a Lodge Grill Press. I used it yesterday. It was most enjoyable to watch. And to enjoy eating the bacon that was flattened, duller that way than when it's curly.
To watch the it in action, click here.
Tim Ditchbank
Winchester, Hampshire
Dear DMC, I thought you might be interested in this video: 'Dull' and 'Boring' to become 'sister communities'?.
Emil Bentgen
Cross Junction, Virginia
Two Dear DMC emails arrived at our doorstep to let us know about the late-breaking news of Dull's invitation to Boring to twin.
Franchois Hollande is emerging as the front-runner. He's pulling ahead of incumbent president Nicolas Sarkozy. Running for president is a big turnaround for Hollande.
A year ago he was a nominee for our Dull Man of the Year.
For years, Hollande was referred to as Monsieur Ordinaire. And l'homme tranquillite,"The Quiet Man." He was the Socialist Party's eternal backroom boy, working in the shadows of the party's stars, including his former wife, Segolene Royal.
Franchois Hollande is emerging as the front-runner. He's pulling ahead of incumbent president Nicolas Sarkozy. Running for president is a big turnaround for Hollande.
Dear DMC
Dull men surely relish tinned fish: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/apr/13/tinned-fish-recipes-sardines-anchovies
I received this in an email this morning. I finally stopped laughing enough to forward it to dullmensclub.com.
Like many dull men, I spend time in computer stores, probably more than I should. I overhear inane conversations about computers. But none as funny as Abbott and Costello’s:
[Warning to dull men: this contains exclamation points.]
ABBOTT: Welcome to the Computer Store. Can I help you?
COSTELLO: Thanks I'm setting up an office in my house and I'm thinking about buying a computer.
ABBOTT: Mac?
COSTELLO: No, the name's Lou.
Monday night I checked into a Holiday Inn in Denver. I had a choice of rooms: looking east across Colorado Boulevard at Shotgun Willies [strip tease] or south down at the Waterway Car Wash.
Read more: View from hotel room—Shotgun Willie's or car wash?
Late-breaking news of a thrilling annual sporting event. One for the diary in 2013: http://www.varsity.co.uk/news/2232
Read more: Second Annual Oxford-Cambridge Goat Race—Cambridge Wins
NZ Herald travel wroter Jim Eagles, stuck at an airport, killed time by reading our website.
Mind you, he did this during an eight-hour layover at Charles de Gaulle Airpot in Paris. There would have been enough time to visit Paris. But instead he read our website. There's little doubt — he's one of us.
Dear DMC
There're plenty of nettle recipes around, and nettles from back gardens to the Chelsea Flower Show in London. What about April being 'Nettle Month'? Contributors are welcome.
Dear DMC
Lovers of the traditional British telephone box may have wondered what they look like when covered with a knitted woolen “cosy”.
I know how you dull guys like to watch sap drip. And you don't get out much. You like to watch web cams instead. I've been looking for a web cam of sap dripping. But can't find one.
A video is the best I can find. Click here to see what I found for you.
It has audio as well of course. I should warn you, however: the sound of the sap dripping might be too staccato for you.
Enjoy [wish I could use an exclamation point here but I don't want to offend you]
Camilla Weber
Pacific Palisades, California
Dear DMC
I read this article in the Guardian "Why the World Needs Introverts":
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/mar/13/why-the-world-needs-introverts
Do we fit in?
Yours sincerely
François Gojat
France
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Dear François
Yes, we fit in.
In fact, our Grover went to the launch of this book in SoHo (NY), met the author Susan Cain, left with an autographed copy of Quiet.
He posted this on our Home Page:
"Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking — a new book — launched Tuesday [January 24, 2012] — it's right up our alley — it's about the many accomplishments of introverts — much like our motto "It's OK to be dull," the book's message is "It's OK to be an introvert."
The posting linked to the book where it is now in our aStore — click here.
Dear DMC
What can I say about this?
http://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/artist-creates-british-icons-in-jaffa-cakes.html
Greetings,
I would just like to contribute the fact that the luggage carousels inthe Nikos Kazantzakis airport (code: HER, Heraklion, Greece) go
Read more: Airport Luggage Carousel Report — Nikos Kazantzakis, Greece
ESTONIA
TALLINN
CLOCKWISE
Urmas Piir
Tallinn, Estonia
March 14, 2012
I'm catching up on reading the Sunday Times from last Sunday. I read 'I've got a lust for . . . slippers'. It's an article about Iggy, who the article describes as the godfather of punk.
But might he now be one of us dull men?
Not only does he lust for slippers, according to the article:
• He likes to potter — walks around the garden, smells the flowers, listens to the waterfall, watches the clouds
• He's a big cloud fancier
• He's ploughing through de Tocqueville's Democracy in America
• Goes to bed at 10:00 p.m., sometimes even earlier
Here's the article: http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/Magazine/a_life_in_the_day/article985699.ece
Bryce Blandford
London
Hello again, I'm the fellow who told you about the Flashlight museum. I have another one you may or may not be interested in adding to your list. Tho it may be a little too tangy for most.
It is the Mustard Museum in Wisconsin.
The web address is mustardmuseum.com.
February 28, 2012
Leap Day is just around the corner. It's tomorrow. What will you be doing with the extra time?
Wall Street Journal article about what people will be doing with their Leap Day: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204131004577235610148743548.html
February 25, 2012
Unfortunately, there'll be no awards for Movie Extras, the unsung heroes of almost every film, at the 84th Academy Awards ceremony tomorrow night. But they won't be forgotten tomorrow. CBS's Sunday Morning will cover them:
http://nl.com.com/view_online_newsletter.jsp?list_id=e884http://nl.com.com/view_online_newsletter.jsp?list_id=e884
We're appreciate CBS doing this. Behind each of the stars are unsung heroes — making it possible for leading lights to shine.
Dear DMC
Another suggestion for 2012's Dull Man of the Year nominees — the Swede who survived two months in his car:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2012/feb/20/car-peter-skyllberg-survived-two-months
Read more: Dull Man of Year Nominee: Swede Who Survived Two Months Buried in Car
According to research recently announced, pygmy goats develop "accents" as they grow up.
Good Morning,
My name is Julia McCartney and I am a staff researcher/part-time writer for SeniorCare.net. While searching for inspirational resources, I discovered your site through this page titled “Famous Last Words (thanks to Car Talk)” at this url: http://www.dullmensclub.com/blog/24-blog/597-famous-last-words-thanks-to-car-talk.html
A women-only event for 565 years, then in 2010 a BBC presenter ran in it. Click here for the BBC news report about this.
What about after 2010? Did any men run in 2011? Are any expected to run in 2012? (The 2012 race will be this upcoming Tuesday, February 21).
Dear DMC
DMC members will certainly enjoy the gentle humour of misplaced quotation marks:
Yours sincerely
François Gojat
Wimereux, France
Here is some seasonably dull news from Yorkshire. Unfortunately the card in question is not grey, but otherwise Mr Myers seems to have got the right idea.
Regards
Steve Reszetniak
London
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That's right, Mr Myers evidently is one of us . . . steadfast to the nth degree . . . likely will be nominated for our list of Dull Men of the Year.
Grover
Dear DMC,
I have an explanation for "submarine races" in racing category. In some areas of the US, when young couples wish time alone to romantically explore each other, they park their car in a lonely spot . . . and it is said that they are ". . . going to the submarine races . . . ."
Average Wins
Dear DMC,
I overheard a conversation in a coffee shop the other day. Was sitting next to two ladies who were having lunch. One said to the other, "I just want to be average." Unfortunaly, I didn't hear the other's response (I felt like asking them to speak up but am too shy to do a thing like that (does that prove I'm a dull man?)).
This got me thinking. About me. ("I'm Always on My Mind.")
Five advantage of being Plain Jane, click here
Tom Bland
Washington DC
© 1996-2013 International Council of Dull Men, London and Washington DC
