Dull Man of Year
5th Nominee for Dull Man of Year — Peter Willis — photographing all 115,000 letter boxes in U.K.
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.
Are you more boring than Peter Willis?
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.
"Monsieur Ordinary" — France's President-Elect
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":
French Presidential Election, after first round "Monsieur Ordinaire" (a nominee last year for our Dull Man of Year) remains front-runner
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.
French Presidential Election, first round today, front-runner is "Monsieur Ordinaire," a nominee for 2011 Dull Man of Year
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.
Iggy's Lust for Slippers
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
Dull Man of Year Nominee: Swede Who Survived Two Months Buried in Car
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
Goats Have Accents
According to research recently announced, pygmy goats develop "accents" as they grow up.
Dull Man of the Year 2011 Announced (also Runners-Up)
Dull Man of Year
Michael Kennedy — moves rocks every day to build seawall
Michael, who lives in Hunstanton on the Norfolk coast, spends two hours every day, except Saturdays, moving rocks to build a seawall that prevents erosion of the cliffs along the coast.
He moves about 40 pounds of rocks each day. He’s been doing this for 14 years. He’s worked 9,000 hour, has moved 200 tons of rocks.
“I used to walk to Old Hunstanton and back, two and a half miles every day, but that wasn't enough physical exercise for me. I started moving rocks and now I can’t stop. It’s better than sitting in the armchair and I’ll do it for as long as I’m healthy.”
Read more: Dull Man of the Year 2011 Announced (also Runners-Up)
Nominees So Far for Dull Man of Year
Table of Contents
Michael Kennedy — two hours every day gathering rocks to build sea walls
John Kubiatowicz — measured increase in Kindl'e weight when fully loaded with books
Terry Green — "Cashier number three please," says Mr. Queue who as a matter of fact is Terry
Peter Adamson — broadcasting a History of Western Philosophy (without any gaps) in 20 minute episodes — complete Aristotle in 50 episodes
François Hollande — candidate for president of France — known as "Mr. Ordinary" and also as "The Quiet Man"
Keith Richards — closet librarian
London Police — with arms folded, stood around merely watching as the looting was taking place — now watching 40,000 hours of CCTV to catch the looters
Kindle's weight increases when loaded with books
Dear DMC
We may have suspected that a Kindle full of books weighs more than an empty one.
We were right – and here’s why:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/oct/26/kindle-weighs-more-when-fully-loaded?INTCMP=SRCH
Regards
Steve Reszetniak
London
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Dear Steve,
This is good to know.
A billionth of a billionth of a gram increase in weight when loaded compared to empty.
I expect that Professor Kubiatowicz will be nominated for Dull Man of the Year.
Grover
Nominees for Dull Men of Year: London Police
London Police . . . actually, police throughout England:
• Inaction during the riots — stood by and watched
• Now spending two years watching 40,000 hours of CCTV footage to arrest the looters
Can anyone thing of a duller way for policemen/women to carry out their duties?
Keith Richards—Dull Man after all? — nominee for Dull Man of Year?
Dear DMC
Here is an early and unexpected nomination for Dull Man of the Year:
http://www.stonesforum.nl/index.php?topic=106185.new
Regards
Steve Reszetniak
London
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Steve,
Should we make him an honorary DMC member?
Richards is an interesting example. To be a member of the DMC, a man does not need to be totally dull, dull in all aspects of life. it's enough that he embodies some aspects of dullness. A closet librarian should be enough to make him eligible, even if his day job is an exciting one.
Grover
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Dear Grover
That sounds like a splendid idea.
Regards
Steve
Dull Man of Year Nominee: Norfolk man moving rocks to fight erosion
Dear DMC,
Another early — and very worthy — nomination for Dull Man of the Year. We need Norfolk and we need more rather than less of it. Click here to read article from the Guardian.
Steve Reszetniak
London
Nominee for DM of Year 2011: Mr Queue, "cashier number three, please"
Dear DMC,
Here is an early nomination for Dull Man of the Year — Mr Queue whose voice is known to many of us:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2011/feb/13/go-to-cashier-number-three/print
Regards
Steve Reszetniak
London
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