Blog — "Dullog"
Arizona is the only state in the United States that does not recognize daylight saving.
Saskatchewan is the only Canadian province that does not have it either.
Probably because of "The Old Indian."
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,
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
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
The picture above explains how the forecast for yestesrday came about — interesting indeed.
Sincerely,
Joe Kerr
New York
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.
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.
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
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
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).
Hi there Dull Men
I expect those of you who are Christmas Cracker aficionados already read the article in the Sunday Telegraph about the panel of experts' ratings of this year's cracker offerings.
I found the article to most helpful when I set out to buy crackers.
Morrisons won. Their crackers had the loudest bank, an ear-splitting 81 decibels, classic hats, and a really funny joke:
"Dad, there is a man at the door collecting for the new swimming pool."
"Give him a glass of water [exclamation mark removed]", replied the father.
Harrods' flaws, compared to Morrisons, apparently were a muffled bang, only 78 decibels, and flimsy hat. They had a good joke though:
"I'm worried about you always being at the bottom of your class" said the father to his son.
"Don't worry dad," the son replied. "They still teach the same thing at both ends."
Price also played a role — a tenfold price difference: 50p for a Morrison cracker; £4.99 for a Harrods cracker.
Click here to read about this on the Telegraph's website
Merry Christmas to all my Dull Men friends
Holly Day
London
Dear DMC
In these austere times, dull men would be advised to stick at a partridge in a pear tree. All that other stuff adds up to be much to much.
http://consumerist.com/2011/11/reenacting-12-days-of-christmas-will-now-cost-you-more-than-100k.html
With seasonal best wishes
Steve Reszetniak
London
5 December 2011
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Steve,
How about some cutbacks — cost reductions?
Instead of swans a swimming, how about ducks? Ducks are less expensive than swans.
Ladies dancing? Two ways this cost could be reduced: (a) instead of dancing, they sit down and rest; (b) instead of ladies, hire little girls, who would probably charge less.
Grover
September 30, 2011
October, which will be here tomorrow, is Raking Leaves month for us Dull Men.
There's a lot to like about October. Apples. Crisp air. Falling leaves.
Falling leaves should not be viewed as a burden. It is an opportunity to get good exercise. AARP reports that, according to Barbara Ainsworth, an exercise epidemiologist at San Diego State University, raking leaves is categorized as moderate physical activity similar to a brisk walk. Your arms are moving and your core is working to stabilize your body. A 135-pound person burns 240 calories per hour when raking leaves.
Getting prepared
It is a good time now to get prepared for raking leaves.
Warming up. As with any physical activity, you should warm up your muscles before raking. Almost all your muscles are used when raking — arms, chest, shoulders, legs, upper back, and lower back. To get ready for raking, walk around your yard doing circular arm movements and also bending exercises, bending forward, backward, and from side to side. Then do some gentle stretches.
What to wear. Get your clothes ready now. If you need to shop for the right clothes, do it before leaves start falling. Dress in layers. If you get too warm while raking, you can peal off a layer.
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.
Falling leaves should not be viewed as a burden. It is an opportunity to get good exercise. AARP reports that, according to Barbara Ainsworth, an exercise epidemiologist at San Diego State University, raking leaves is categorized as moderate physical activity similar to a brisk walk. Your arms are moving and your core is working to stabilize your body. A 135-pound person burns 240 calories per hour when raking leaves.
Getting prepared
It is a good time now to get prepared for raking leaves.
Warming up. As with any physical activity, you should warm up your muscles before raking. Almost all your muscles are used when raking — arms, chest, shoulders, legs, upper back, and lower back. To get ready for raking, walk around your yard doing circular arm movements and also bending exercises, bending forward, backward, and from side to side. Then do some gentle stretches.
What to wear. Get your clothes ready now. If you need to shop for the right clothes, do it before leaves start falling. Dress in layers. If you get too warm while raking, you can peal off a layer.
© 1996-2013 International Council of Dull Men, London and Washington DC
