July 16, 2025
BG’s Positively Speaking
The Value Of Knowledge
Gaining knowledge should be a lifetime commitment. Many people complete their schooling and believe that their education is complete. This is far from being the truth. If they don’t continue learning, they will not grow beyond their current level. Without growth, they will not be in a position to move forward, to increase their earnings and will eventually fall backward.
If we look at some higher-income earners, we will find that they have an insatiable curiosity, not only about their specialty but about everything in general. This leads to a greater ability to analyze and provide solutions to a broader range of challenges. They are then able to demand higher rewards for their services. I recently heard a story that illustrates this principle.
A manufacturing concern had a problem with a malfunctioning machine, so they called the person responsible for maintenance and repairs. The man arrived a short time later, walked over to the machine, switched it on, listened for a few seconds, then switched it off. Walked over to his toolbox, pulled out a hammer, returned to the machine and gave it a swift hit with the hammer. He then switched the machine on, and it was running perfectly. He wrote out his invoice and gave it to the manager. It read: Repair to Machine ……. $300
The manager took one look at the bill and said that he would not pay such a ridiculous amount for five minutes’ work and demanded an itemized billing. The maintenance man sat down and wrote up the following invoice:
For checking the machine, getting a hammer from the toolbox, striking the machine ………
(For knowing where to strike the machine) $50.
$250
Total $300
It was his knowledge that commanded the most significant portion of his billing, not the physical activity that was required to apply that knowledge. To grow in life, it is essential to…
Never Underestimate the Value of Knowledge
A Canadian Ghost Story
This Gothic mansion is thought to be one of the most haunted places in the city. Built in 1867 by Arthur McMaster, the nephew of William McMaster, founder of Hamilton’s McMaster University. The mansion was purchased by Hart Massey in 1882 and named Euclid Hall by his daughter, Lillian, after the street in Cleveland, Ohio, where they used to live. When Lillian, an educator and philanthropist, died in 1915 due to poor health, the maid hanged herself in the vestibule above the main staircase. Some say she killed herself from grief. Rumour at the time, however, speculated that she was having an affair with one of the Massey men and that Lillian was protecting her from the scandal. There have been reports that she has been seen hanging from a rope in that area. In 1976, the mansion became the home of The Keg restaurant. Since then, there have been reports of hearing children’s footsteps and other sounds from upstairs, where the Massey children had their rooms. Even scarier is that women using the bathroom report that the stall doors unlock by themselves and that they feel as though someone is watching them.
If you decide to have dinner at the Keg Mansion, order yourself a stiff one.
Never Disappoint The Customer
A store manager overheard a clerk saying to a customer, “No, ma’am, we haven’t had any for some weeks now, and it doesn’t look as if we’ll be getting any soon.” Alarmed by what was being said, the manager rushed over to the customer who was walking out the door and said, “That isn’t true, ma’am. Of course, we’ll have some soon. In fact, we placed an order for it a couple of weeks ago.” The manager drew the clerk aside and growled, “Never, never, never, say we don’t have something. If we don’t have it, say we ordered it and it’s on its way. What DID she want?” The clerk smiled and said, “Rain.”
Keep Taking The Medicine
Patient: It’s been one month since my last visit, and I still feel miserable.
Doctor: Did you follow the instructions on the medicine I gave you?
Patient: I sure did – the bottle said ‘keep tightly closed.’
Editors Quote Book
“You should know that before 10am, no matter what the question is,
My answer is always, “Coffee, please.”
—Anonymous
Trivia Quiz
(Click Question For Answer)
Your Horoscope
For Amusement Only
Aries Mar 21 – Apr 19: A short-lived romance comes to an end. Don’t fret, rejoice at being free to find the real thing.
Taurus Apr 20 – May 20: You will need to be less rigid this week. Bending to the wishes of a loved one will pay you dividends.
Gemini May 21 – Jun 20: The last few months have been tough. You need to get away. Plan a break and GO. You deserve it.
Cancer Jun 21 – Jul 22: It’s surprising what you can achieve if you don’t care who gets the credit. Giving credit to others works.
Leo Jul 23 – Aug 22: Stay on your toes. A fast-paced week is going to be challenging. Take time to relax on the weekend.
Virgo: Aug 23 – Sept 22: Your social obligations must be fulfilled. Relax, your happy personality will easily win others over to you.
Libra Sept 23 – Oct 22: Identify and solve challenges quickly. Procrastinating will not help but will make things worse for everyone.
Scorpio Oct 23- Nov 21: Restrain from indulgent spending. You may find yourself burdened with unexpected expenses. Be safe, not sorry.
Sagittarius: Nov 22- Dec 21: You will find yourself in the middle of an angry disagreement. Referee when you can, but be ready to duck.
Capricorn: Dec.22 – Jan 19: It feels like you’re moving backwards at the moment. Your patience is being tested. Stay focused, things will move forward.
Aquarius Jan 20 – Feb 18: Sometimes all we have is our faith and belief. This is one of those times, and it will carry you through.
Pisces: Feb. 1-March 20: Your “calm and in control” image is being put to the test. Don’t be pushed into stepping out of character.
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Delivered FREE To Your Inbox
Follow Us On Facebook
CLICK HERE and SUBSCRIBE NOW
Random Thoughts On Exercise
- My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was 60. She’s 97 now, and we don’t know where she is.
- I joined a health club last year and spent about $ 400. Haven’t lost a pound. Apparently, you have to show up.
- I have to exercise early in the morning before my brain figures out what I’m doing.
- I don’t exercise at all. If God meant us to touch our toes, he would have put them further up our bodies.
- I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.
- I have flabby thighs, but fortunately, my stomach covers them.
- The advantage of exercising every day is that you die healthier.
- If you are going to try cross-country skiing, start with a small country.
- I don’t jog; it makes the ice jump right out of my glass.
Printer Cleaning
When the guy’s printer type began to fade, he called a local repair shop, where a friendly man informed him that the printer probably just needed to be cleaned. Because the store charged $50 for such cleanings, he suggested that he might be better off reading the printer’s manual and attempting the job himself. Pleasantly surprised by his candour, he asked, “Does your boss know that you discourage business?” “Actually, it’s my boss’s idea,” the employee replied sheepishly. “We usually make more money on repairs if we let people try to fix things themselves first.”
“Doctor, Doctor!”
** ‘What kind of work do you do?’ a woman passenger inquired of the man travelling in her train compartment. ‘I’m a Naval surgeon, he replies. ‘My word!’ spluttered the woman, ‘How you doctors specialize these days.’
**”Doctor, Doctor, I think I need glasses.” **
“You certainly do, Sir, this is a hardware store!”
** Suzie: “How can you prevent diseases caused by biting insects?”
Doctor: “Don’t bite any!”
The Fly Swatter
I stopped by a friend’s house the other day and found him walking around with a fly swatter. When I asked if he was getting any flies, he answered: ‘Yeah, three males and two females.’ Curious, I wondered how he could tell the difference. He said: ‘Three were on a beer can and two were on the phone.’
Mistaken Identity:
LONDON (Reuters) – It was seven inches long, two inches wide, pink, stripy, and the English family who discovered it hiding under a bed thought it could be a dangerous lizard. But after the terrified family called an animal welfare charity to apprehend the “creature” at their home in Coventry, central England. Animal Collection Officer Vic Hurr, from the RSPCA charity, said she had warily approached the “lizard” after being alerted to its presence last Friday. “It was protruding from the edge of the bed and it wasn’t moving at all,” Hurr said. “As it wasn’t very light, I got out my torch to see better and that’s when I realized it wasn’t a lizard at all.” It was revealed that it was something far less sinister—a dirty sock. Hurr said she had left the family with some guidance and a warning. “I advised the young girl whose bedroom it was to tidy her room and to take care of her socks, but not before reminding her that another one will turn up soon as they are usually in pairs,” she said.
Eating Disorder
A mother complained to her consultant about her daughter’s strange eating habits. ‘All day long she lies in bed and eats yeast and car wax. What will happen to her?
‘Eventually,’ said the consultant, ‘she will rise and shine.’
The Last Word
The Happiness in your life will depend on the
quality of your thoughts
July 16, 2025
BG’s Positively Speaking
The Value Of Knowledge
Gaining knowledge should be a lifetime commitment. Many people complete their schooling and believe that their education is complete. This is far from being the truth. If they don’t continue learning, they will not grow beyond their current level. Without growth, they will not be in a position to move forward, to increase their earnings and will eventually fall backward.
If we look at some higher-income earners, we will find that they have an insatiable curiosity, not only about their specialty but about everything in general. This leads to a greater ability to analyze and provide solutions to a broader range of challenges. They are then able to demand higher rewards for their services. I recently heard a story that illustrates this principle.
A manufacturing concern had a problem with a malfunctioning machine, so they called the person responsible for maintenance and repairs. The man arrived a short time later, walked over to the machine, switched it on, listened for a few seconds, then switched it off. Walked over to his toolbox, pulled out a hammer, returned to the machine and gave it a swift hit with the hammer. He then switched the machine on, and it was running perfectly. He wrote out his invoice and gave it to the manager. It read: Repair to Machine ……. $300
The manager took one look at the bill and said that he would not pay such a ridiculous amount for five minutes’ work and demanded an itemized billing. The maintenance man sat down and wrote up the following invoice:
For checking the machine, getting a hammer from the toolbox, striking the machine ………
(For knowing where to strike the machine) $50.
$250
Total $300
It was his knowledge that commanded the most significant portion of his billing, not the physical activity that was required to apply that knowledge. To grow in life, it is essential to…
Never Underestimate the Value of Knowledge
A Canadian Ghost Story
This Gothic mansion is thought to be one of the most haunted places in the city. Built in 1867 by Arthur McMaster, the nephew of William McMaster, founder of Hamilton’s McMaster University. The mansion was purchased by Hart Massey in 1882 and named Euclid Hall by his daughter, Lillian, after the street in Cleveland, Ohio, where they used to live. When Lillian, an educator and philanthropist, died in 1915 due to poor health, the maid hanged herself in the vestibule above the main staircase. Some say she killed herself from grief. Rumour at the time, however, speculated that she was having an affair with one of the Massey men and that Lillian was protecting her from the scandal. There have been reports that she has been seen hanging from a rope in that area. In 1976, the mansion became the home of The Keg restaurant. Since then, there have been reports of hearing children’s footsteps and other sounds from upstairs, where the Massey children had their rooms. Even scarier is that women using the bathroom report that the stall doors unlock by themselves and that they feel as though someone is watching them.
If you decide to have dinner at the Keg Mansion, order yourself a stiff one.
Never Disappoint The Customer
A store manager overheard a clerk saying to a customer, “No, ma’am, we haven’t had any for some weeks now, and it doesn’t look as if we’ll be getting any soon.” Alarmed by what was being said, the manager rushed over to the customer who was walking out the door and said, “That isn’t true, ma’am. Of course, we’ll have some soon. In fact, we placed an order for it a couple of weeks ago.” The manager drew the clerk aside and growled, “Never, never, never, say we don’t have something. If we don’t have it, say we ordered it and it’s on its way. What DID she want?” The clerk smiled and said, “Rain.”
Keep Taking The Medicine
Patient: It’s been one month since my last visit, and I still feel miserable.
Doctor: Did you follow the instructions on the medicine I gave you?
Patient: I sure did – the bottle said ‘keep tightly closed.’
Editors Quote Book
“You should know that before 10am, no matter what the question is,
My answer is always, “Coffee, please.”
—Anonymous
Trivia Quiz
(Click Question For Answer)
Your Horoscope
For Amusement Only
Aries Mar 21 – Apr 19: A short-lived romance comes to an end. Don’t fret, rejoice at being free to find the real thing.
Taurus Apr 20 – May 20: You will need to be less rigid this week. Bending to the wishes of a loved one will pay you dividends.
Gemini May 21 – Jun 20: The last few months have been tough. You need to get away. Plan a break and GO. You deserve it.
Cancer Jun 21 – Jul 22: It’s surprising what you can achieve if you don’t care who gets the credit. Giving credit to others works.
Leo Jul 23 – Aug 22: Stay on your toes. A fast-paced week is going to be challenging. Take time to relax on the weekend.
Virgo: Aug 23 – Sept 22: Your social obligations must be fulfilled. Relax, your happy personality will easily win others over to you.
Libra Sept 23 – Oct 22: Identify and solve challenges quickly. Procrastinating will not help but will make things worse for everyone.
Scorpio Oct 23- Nov 21: Restrain from indulgent spending. You may find yourself burdened with unexpected expenses. Be safe, not sorry.
Sagittarius: Nov 22- Dec 21: You will find yourself in the middle of an angry disagreement. Referee when you can, but be ready to duck.
Capricorn: Dec.22 – Jan 19: It feels like you’re moving backwards at the moment. Your patience is being tested. Stay focused, things will move forward.
Aquarius Jan 20 – Feb 18: Sometimes all we have is our faith and belief. This is one of those times, and it will carry you through.
Pisces: Feb. 1-March 20: Your “calm and in control” image is being put to the test. Don’t be pushed into stepping out of character.
The Perkolator Online
Published Weekly with More Features + Videos
Delivered FREE To Your Inbox
Follow Us On Facebook
CLICK HERE and SUBSCRIBE NOW
Random Thoughts On Exercise
- My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was 60. She’s 97 now, and we don’t know where she is.
- I joined a health club last year and spent about $ 400. Haven’t lost a pound. Apparently, you have to show up.
- I have to exercise early in the morning before my brain figures out what I’m doing.
- I don’t exercise at all. If God meant us to touch our toes, he would have put them further up our bodies.
- I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.
- I have flabby thighs, but fortunately, my stomach covers them.
- The advantage of exercising every day is that you die healthier.
- If you are going to try cross-country skiing, start with a small country.
- I don’t jog; it makes the ice jump right out of my glass.
Printer Cleaning
When the guy’s printer type began to fade, he called a local repair shop, where a friendly man informed him that the printer probably just needed to be cleaned. Because the store charged $50 for such cleanings, he suggested that he might be better off reading the printer’s manual and attempting the job himself. Pleasantly surprised by his candour, he asked, “Does your boss know that you discourage business?” “Actually, it’s my boss’s idea,” the employee replied sheepishly. “We usually make more money on repairs if we let people try to fix things themselves first.”
“Doctor, Doctor!”
** ‘What kind of work do you do?’ a woman passenger inquired of the man travelling in her train compartment. ‘I’m a Naval surgeon, he replies. ‘My word!’ spluttered the woman, ‘How you doctors specialize these days.’
**”Doctor, Doctor, I think I need glasses.” **
“You certainly do, Sir, this is a hardware store!”
** Suzie: “How can you prevent diseases caused by biting insects?”
Doctor: “Don’t bite any!”
The Fly Swatter
I stopped by a friend’s house the other day and found him walking around with a fly swatter. When I asked if he was getting any flies, he answered: ‘Yeah, three males and two females.’ Curious, I wondered how he could tell the difference. He said: ‘Three were on a beer can and two were on the phone.’
Mistaken Identity:
LONDON (Reuters) – It was seven inches long, two inches wide, pink, stripy, and the English family who discovered it hiding under a bed thought it could be a dangerous lizard. But after the terrified family called an animal welfare charity to apprehend the “creature” at their home in Coventry, central England. Animal Collection Officer Vic Hurr, from the RSPCA charity, said she had warily approached the “lizard” after being alerted to its presence last Friday. “It was protruding from the edge of the bed and it wasn’t moving at all,” Hurr said. “As it wasn’t very light, I got out my torch to see better and that’s when I realized it wasn’t a lizard at all.” It was revealed that it was something far less sinister—a dirty sock. Hurr said she had left the family with some guidance and a warning. “I advised the young girl whose bedroom it was to tidy her room and to take care of her socks, but not before reminding her that another one will turn up soon as they are usually in pairs,” she said.
Eating Disorder
A mother complained to her consultant about her daughter’s strange eating habits. ‘All day long she lies in bed and eats yeast and car wax. What will happen to her?
‘Eventually,’ said the consultant, ‘she will rise and shine.’
The Last Word
The Happiness in your life will depend on the
quality of your thoughts
This is an excellent publication.
Keep up the great work!