April 01, 2026
On The Upside with Marley
Wonder Can Help Overcome Self-importance And Even Hate
Wonder has a quiet way of dismantling self-importance and fear of others or hate. It doesn’t argue with the ego, it simply melts trivial things away.
Few images illustrate this better than the famous “Pale Blue Dot.” In 1990, the spacecraft Voyager 1 turned its camera back toward Earth from more than six billion kilometers away. Our entire planet appeared as a tiny pixel suspended in a ray of sunlight, barely visible against an eternal vast void.
From that distance, every triumph of civilization disappears into a single speck. All the empires, victories, grudges, borders, arguments, and battles shrink to a point smaller than a pixel. On that dot lived every human who ever was, every parent, child, artist, tyrant, dreamer, and skeptic. Every god and every ruler, good and bad.
Moments like this awaken something deeper than current events.
Wonder re-frames the story we tell about ourselves. It reminds us that our personal dramas, however consuming they feel, unfold on a planet that itself is a tiny island in a vast cosmic ocean. The universe is not hostile to our self-importance. It simply does not notice it.
Yet this realization does not diminish us. Paradoxically, it enlarges us.
When wonder replaces self-importance and anger, humility emerges naturally. The smallness of our world does not make life meaningless… it makes it precious. If everything we have ever loved exists on a fragile blue dot in the dark, then kindness, curiosity, and cooperation suddenly matter more, not less.
Standing before the immensity of the universe, we begin to understand that the real miracle is not our power, our status, or our certainty. The miracle is that on this tiny pale blue dot, conscious beings exist at all, capable of looking outward and asking questions.
And sometimes, if we are lucky, capable of being humbled by the answer.
Editors Quote Book
“Life is a paradox. We enter the world empty-handed, strive to acquire everything, and ultimately depart leaving everything behind.”
—Unknown
April Fools
I once had a kind of funny but also kind of jarring joke played on me on April Fool’s Day. I was on my way to my office when a phone call came in from a member of the band I was in, saying that the rehearsal space had been broken into and my $10,000 guitar amp was gone. He was convincing because he mentioned the things he didn’t take. Toward the end of the call, he revealed it was just a prank, but I’ll admit that it did cause a funky mood for a couple of days afterward. What April Fool’s pranks have you received or played that are memorable? Go to theperkolator.ca and comment about it in this issue!
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In 1957, the British broadcaster BBC aired a news segment showing a Swiss family harvesting spaghetti from trees. At the time many viewers in Britain had never seen uncooked spaghetti, so the story seemed plausible. After the broadcast, hundreds of people called the station asking how they could grow their own spaghetti trees. The BBC reportedly advised them to place a strand of spaghetti in tomato sauce and “hope for the best.”
Speaking Of The Great Spaghetti Harvest
How To Deal With Paranoia
A man walked into a library and asked the librarian, “Do you have any books on paranoia?” The librarian leaned forward and whispered, “They’re right behind you.”
A Smart Dog
A man bought a new dog and bragged to his friend, “This dog is so smart he can do math. ”His friend laughed. “Really? What’s two minus two?” The dog said nothing. The owner smiled proudly. “See?”
This Week In History
April 1: 1976 – Apple Computer founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne.
April 2: 2005 – Pope John Paul II dies after a 26-year papacy.
April 3: 1882 – Jesse James, famous outlaw, is shot and killed by Robert Ford.
April 4: 1968 – Martin Luther King Jr. assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee.
April 5: 1955 – Winston Churchill resigns as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
April 6: 1917 – The United States declares war on Germany in World War I.
April 7: 1969 – The Symbolic Birthdate of Of The Internet when RFC 1 describing ARPANET is published.
April 8: 1974 – Hank Aaron hits his 715th home run, breaking Babe Ruth’s record.
Trivia Quiz
(Click Question For Answer)
Your Horoscope
For Amusement Only
Taurus (Apr 20 – May 20): Practical thinking proves valuable now; stay patient, protect steady routines, and consistent effort strengthens both finances and peace of mind.
Gemini (May 21 – Jun 20): Conversation opens new doors; listen carefully, exchange clever ideas, and unexpected insights reshape plans for the months ahead.
Cancer (Jun 21 – Jul 22): Personal connections deepen now; show kindness openly, welcome honest support, and build warmth through thoughtful and caring words.
Leo (Jul 23 – Aug 22): Natural charisma shines brightly; encourage teamwork generously, lead with optimism, and your enthusiasm inspires exciting shared achievements.
Virgo (Aug 23 – Sep 22): Careful planning brings clarity; organize priorities patiently, complete lingering tasks, and steady attention turns small steps into success.
Scorpio (Oct 23 – Nov 21): Inner strength guides decisions; confront lingering uncertainty, release what limits progress, and focused determination creates lasting transformation.
Sagittarius (Nov 22 – Dec 21): Adventure calls loudly now; accept surprising invitations, follow curious instincts, and lessons from new experiences broaden your outlook.
Capricorn (Dec 22 – Jan 19): Discipline shapes success; maintain steady effort daily, welcome useful advice, and calculated risks help advance long-term ambitions.
Aquarius (Jan 20 – Feb 18): Creative thinking accelerates progress; share unusual perspectives openly, collaborate with inventive minds, and bold ideas spark opportunity.
Pisces (Feb 19 – Mar 20): Intuition grows stronger now; slow your pace briefly, reflect on deeper feelings, and imaginative energy supports healing and inspiration.
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The Pale Blue Dot
“The Pale Blue Dot” is a famous photograph of Earth taken in 1990 by the spacecraft Voyager 1 from about 6 billion kilometers away. Encouraged by Carl Sagan, NASA turned the probe’s camera back toward the inner solar system before shutting it down. The image shows Earth as a tiny speck of light suspended in a sunbeam. In his book Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space, Sagan reflected that every human who ever lived existed on that small dot. The image reminds us of our shared home and the importance of humility, cooperation, and protecting Earth.
More April 1 Pranks 🙂
The Left-Handed Whopper (1998)
In 1998, Burger King ran a full-page advertisement in USA Today announcing a “Left-Handed Whopper.” The ad claimed all the ingredients were rotated 180 degrees so left-handed customers could eat it comfortably. Thousands of customers reportedly went to restaurants asking for the special burger. Even funnier, some customers specifically asked for the right-handed version instead.
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Google’s “Gmail Motion” (2011)
In 2011, Google announced a new way to control email called “Gmail Motion.” The promotional video showed people standing in front of their computers using exaggerated body gestures to write messages and open emails. The video looked surprisingly professional, and many viewers initially wondered whether the technology was real.
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The Great Chicago Flood (1992)
On April 1, 1992, the Chicago Tribune published an article announcing that the city had officially changed the color of the Chicago River from green back to its “natural blue.” For decades the river had been dyed green each year for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Many readers believed the story and called city offices asking when the new policy would take effect. The Tribune revealed later that day it was simply an April Fools’ joke.
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Alabama Changes the Value of Pi (1998)
In 1998 the science humor magazine New Mexicans for Science and Reason released a press statement claiming the Alabama legislature had voted to change the value of π from 3.14159 to the “biblical value” of 3.0. The story spread quickly through early internet forums and newspapers, and many readers believed it was real. Teachers and scientists began receiving angry emails before the group confirmed it was an April Fools’ satire.
The Last Word
“Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something.”
I have been reading Brian’s paper since its inception over twenty years ago. Brian seems to have a sense of right, of common sense and great values. His compilations of philosophy, humour and brain teasers makes the delivery of the Perkolator one of the best pieces of email that I receive every week. My wife and I always sit back and do the quiz together. With permission, I have copied many of Brian’s articles into my National Newsletters which reach thousands of members across Canada. Brian, thank you. May you live safely and happily for many more years to come
I really enjoy receiving the Orillia edition in my inbox each month. ?
Hi Sharon, We take great pleasure in sending you a new edition every week, and then we have the pleasure of having you approve of it.
BG.
What a way to start 2025 Brian! The jokes were hilarious, the quiz was challenging, and the music video an exquisite compiliation of conductor expertise. You can be sure I’ll be coming back to this week’s edition all month long!
Thank you, Lynn; your comments will spur us to provide you and all our readers with content to start each week with a similar response. By the way, did you know that you can read two years of back issues. Go to the home page, scroll down to Perkolator archives and read all our back issues. BG
Every week, whenever I see this in my email, it brings me joy to see the jokes and the frequent inspiration, so I thank the Perkolator for perking up my inbox. Now I have something to look forward to every 7 days.
Every now and then, when a particular written word moves me, I take a snapshot of it and tuck it away in my ‘Lessons Learned’ file. This edition of ‘BG’s Positively Speaking’ titled “I Can Hear You” is one of them. Thanks for your continuing words of wisdom. Always much appreciated!
Who said…”It’s amazing what you can accomplish if you don’t care who gets the credit?” President Harry Truman.
My grandmother had a similar saying: .”More haste, more waste”.
I hadn’t seen a copy of the Perkolotar for sometime. I was thrilled to find one at the Orillia Bakery. I immediately signed up for the online delivery. I enjoy this little paper so much. I’m very glad I am able to get it.
Love this online version. Find it much easier to read than the printed copy. Great job!
I am so happy to receive the Perkolator in my in box.
Plus I laughed out loud after reading the Irish jokes. Will certainly share with my family when they get home today. Again thanks and keep up the good work.
M. Robertson
I´m so happy I can get The Perkolator to my email! I started read it when our son moved to Canada 1993 when he married a canadian girl. After that he have collected it and sent me in the mail a few times every year. It has been hard to find the last year. Yes, I live in Sweden! Thank yoy!!!