April 8, 2026
On The Upside with Marley
The surprising strength of quiet persistence
Many people imagine success arriving in dramatic bursts of brilliance or luck. In reality, the quiet engine behind most meaningful progress is persistence. The ability to keep moving forward when enthusiasm fades is far more powerful than the brief excitement that often accompanies a new idea.
Persistence is rarely glamorous.
It looks ordinary from the outside. It is the writer returning to the page after a difficult paragraph, the musician practicing scales no one will ever hear, or the worker who steadily improves a small skill each day without applause. Yet those small repetitions gradually shape ability and confidence in ways sudden effort never can.
One reason persistence works so well is that it removes pressure from the outcome. Instead of demanding perfection in a single moment, it allows improvement to unfold over time. Each attempt builds on the last. Mistakes become adjustments rather than failures.
Over months and years, quiet persistence often outpaces raw talent. Talent may open doors, but persistence keeps people walking through them long after novelty fades.
Great achievements rarely arrive in one dramatic moment.
They grow slowly from the quiet discipline of continuing when others stop.
Strange Laws From Around The World
Legal systems evolve over time, but occasionally unusual laws remain on the books long after their original purpose has faded.
- Switzerland – In some areas it is illegal to flush a toilet late at night in certain apartment buildings because of noise concerns.
- Singapore – Chewing gum sales are heavily restricted in an effort to keep public spaces clean.
- Japan – Certain companies measure waistlines during health checks to encourage fitness.
- France – It was once technically illegal to name a pig “Napoleon.”
- United Kingdom – Members of Parliament historically were not permitted to wear armor inside the House of Commons.
- Italy – In parts of Venice feeding pigeons in popular squares can lead to a fine.
Many of these laws originated from practical concerns in earlier eras, even if they sound unusual by modern standards.
Odd Headlines That Actually Happened
“Town installs new bench so people have somewhere comfortable to complain.”
“Man forgets password he just reset moments earlier.”
“Local gardener grows pumpkin large enough to require parking permit.”
“Study reveals most people pretend to understand instructions.”
“Dog waits patiently for owner who is inside looking for the dog.”
The Cost Of Lamb Chops Is Insane!
The Forgetful Professor
A professor absent-mindedly left his house wearing two different shoes. When a colleague pointed it out he sighed and said,
“That’s strange… there’s another pair just like them at home.”
The Library Visit
A man asked the librarian, “Do you have any books on paranoia?”
She whispered, “They’re right behind you.”
Cooking Advice
A chef told his student, “Remember, cooking is an art.”
The student replied, “That explains why my dinner looks abstract.”
Editors Quote Book
“Energy and persistence conquer all things.”
—Benjamin Franklin
Trivia Quiz
(Click Question For Answer)
Your Horoscope
For Amusement Only
Taurus Apr. 20 – May 20: Practical choices guide you well now. A calm approach to a lingering issue brings clarity and a welcome sense of stability.
Gemini May 21 – Jun. 20: A thoughtful conversation offers insight. Pay attention to subtle hints because useful advice may appear in an unexpected moment.
Cancer Jun. 21 – Jul. 22: Home life benefits from patience. Small gestures of understanding rebuild harmony and strengthen connections with those closest to you.
Leo Jul. 23 – Aug. 22: Your natural confidence draws attention. Use it wisely by encouraging others rather than pushing too hard for recognition.
Virgo Aug. 23 – Sep. 22: Organization restores peace of mind. Clearing one unfinished task creates space for creativity and renewed enthusiasm.
Scorpio Oct. 23 – Nov. 21: Observation becomes your strength. Taking a step back allows hidden details to appear before others even notice them.
Sagittarius Nov. 22 – Dec. 21: Curiosity sparks opportunity. Exploring a fresh idea may lead to a rewarding experience you had not expected.
Capricorn Dec. 22 – Jan. 19: Discipline pays off again. A steady routine helps you complete something important that once seemed difficult.
Aquarius Jan. 20 – Feb. 18: Creative thinking leads the way. Trust your unusual perspective because it reveals solutions others miss entirely.
Pisces Feb. 19 – Mar. 20: Reflection brings calm understanding. A quiet moment of clarity helps you decide where your time truly belongs.
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The Last Word
“Persistence is the quiet habit of continuing long after excitement fades.”
And our heartfelt thanx to you, Brian Garvey for coming up with the PERK idea 30 years ago. I and many others have enjoyed and will continue to enjoy the publication for hopefully years to come.
I commend you!
WELL DONE !
The May 1st edition was the best I’ve read since becoming a follower. Positively Speaking……logical and smack on, the quiz, difficult but for the first time ever I’m 8 for 8! The bog island vid…who’d a thunk?
I can’t be all positive though.
The sand which board with I b4 e was a tough one for my aging eyes.
Lastly, could your font be slightly larger with the adds just a wee bit smaller.
So many magazines, internet articles, etc have yet to learn that their main audience is aging and eyes are not what they were of days past.
Keep up the good work.
PS: Adds work. I’ve used more than one company you’ve listed with total satisfaction (politicians excepted)
Hi Dave. Firstly thanks so much for the comments. I’m not the writer of this stuff just the web guy. While reading anything that you find is too small on the internet generally all you need to do is hit your Control and the plus key or minus key together to increase or decrease the size of things. I’m afraid if we reduce the ads any smaller they won’t be readable and of course it’s due to their investment in the Perkolator that the publication can actually exist 🙂 Happy Spring.
why do l keep getting the same perkolator every month for the S Muskoka edition. this is the same issue running from Jan.2026.
Hi Nina
The Perkolator doesn’t actually publish monthly, it publishes weekly. I cannot see what you’re seeing of course. However I have reviewed the website thoroughly and including the last 5 weeks Perkolator’s and there’s no duplication. The only thing I can determine is if you’re clicking on an old email from last month and expecting last months perkolator. Clicking on the link in your subscription email will always take you to the latest edition regardless of how old the email is. Perhaps that’s where the issue lies.
Thanks for reading!
Today’s edition is the same as last weeks.
Apologies Howard. It’s now fixed. The automation wasn’t automatic!!!
Please don’t change anything, I look forward to my weekly paper
We’re glad to hear that you’re enjoying The Perkolator.. You keep reading it and we will keep it coming.
Why, when I’m already a subscriber must the pop up SUBSCRIBE for double your pleasure pop up in the first place? Oh, I just realized, you can’t have pop ups in your printed newsletter.
Silly me.
As well. Without being “logged into” a website, there’s no way for it to determine who you are. SO it displays for everyone 🙂
Lately your articles seem to be very anti-woman. I’m most certainly going to stop reading!
Good day Jessica. I do hope that you are still reading The Perkolator. Although you don’t say which articles you found objectionable, I can assure you that we, at The Perkolator, are not anti-women. In fact, if we look back to past issues men are the Butt of more jokes and stories than are women. In our world we need to find the humour in our words, habits, situations, and actions more often, whether we are male of female. The ability to laugh at ourselves and our humanness allows us to cope better with the stresses in life. I hope that you will consider continuing to read The Perkolator, understanding that we are only joking and mean no offense.
Best Regards.
Brian G