Review - Resident Alien - Netflix

I adore Alan Tudyk and was delighted when he got a series that has been successful.

I'm talking about Resident Alien, now streaming on Netflix and Peacock for subscribers. You can also rent it on Apple, Google Play, YouTube TV, and Amazon Prime.

Resident Alien, an American science fiction mystery comedy-drama TV series was created by Chris Sheridan, and is based on the comic book of the same name by Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse.

It premiered January 27, 2021, on Syfy, with Mr. Tudyk in the title role. The series has now moved from SyFy to USA Network which will air the new episodes.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT

An extraterrestrial crash lands his spaceship near the small town of Patience, Colorado, and is ejected. His mission is to wipe out humanity so when he accidentally kills a vacationing doctor, he takes on the doctor's appearance and identity. 

When he's asked to take on the job of town doctor, he figures that will enable him to locate his downed spaceship. The only initial problem is the mayor's young son who can see him in his true alience form. Of course, the fact that he is an alien creates hysterically funny complications, and that he becomes more human, he learns emotions.

2 THUMBS UP

Why should you watch? Because it's so off-the-wall and unexpected in dialogue and situations and surprising with heartfelt emotion. It's irreverant, inventive, and just plain laugh out loud funny.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

If you're a subscriber, absolutely add this to your list. You'll become a fan too.

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Monday Magic Tip - Tabs

Instead of a review on a free app for Monday Magic, I'm giving you a quick tip to make your browsing easier.

If you're still opening tabs on a browser the old school way—by moving your mouse up to the + sign and clicking, you're wasting time.

When you want to open a new tab, simply click this key combination: CTRL + t. Voila! A new tab opens in a nano second.

That's right, it's that simple—the CTRL key and the letter t on your keyboard.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Seconds saved can add up to minutes. I'll give more tips like this because I find them so useful and time-saving. Try this and let me know if you incorporate it into your work routine.

Heat Lightning — 99¢ SALE

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Funny How Time Disappears

There's an old country song, "Funny How Time Slips Away," written by Willie Nelson for Elvis Presley and recorded by Willie, Elvis, and other singers too.

Originally, the song was a lament about losing someone you loved to another and hearing the lost lover tell a new person the same thing you were told—that he/she would "love you forever."

The viewpoint character muses over how time changes some things but that, sometimes, the deep emotion and sense of loss remains.

The lyrics are so true and applicable to so many aspects of life. That struck me today when I was lamenting that we are in the 4th month of this year, and I haven't accomplished nearly as much as I thought I would.

The Rolling Stones may have sung that "time is on our side," but I'm at the age when I must disagree with that idea.

The Theory Simplified

EINSTEIN'S THEORY OF TIME VS. MINE

I'm not a physicist, but I think Einstein left something out of his Theory of Relativity that revolutionized the understanding of time. Yes, it's definitely not absolute. 

According to Einstein, time is relative to the observer's frame of referenced—yes, I concur—and gravitational field. Well, I don't know much about the gravitational field to which he refers.

I do know that time is definitely relative to my frame of reference. See if you agree with my Theory. 

When going through hard times of grief and loss, time seems to freeze. You're stuck in that emotional mine field, seemingly forever.

Then there are the times of great joy, happiness, and excitement. Those moments seem to pass quickly and slip away before we notice that they're now in our past.

TIME DILATION FIELD

Other examples of time and one's frame of reference that make you think you're frozen in a time dialtion field:

* standing in line at the DMV or post office

* waiting in a doctor's office for your name to be called

* waiting in a hospital ER for news of your loved one who's being treated

* working on a project for so long you feel as if it will never end

* waiting for your kid to come home after he or she drives to a nighttime event, alone, for the first time.

Bad times don't last forever—it just seems as if they do.

Good times feel fleeting, but as long as there's life, good times will come again.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I guess all I'm trying to say today on this Palm Sunday is to be aware of the truly important people in your life and make the moments with them memorable in a good way because it really is not funny how time slips away.

In case you want to learn more about the REAL Theory of Relativity, John Stoddard published an excellent book on the subject, in plain easily-understood English, and it's available in paperback and hardback from Amazon.

The book has a LONG title which I've shortened: Relativity For Beginners, The Special And The General Theory

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Happy 20th Birthday, SlingWords!

Twenty years ago today, I wrote and published the first post to this SlingWords blog. Yes, I've been blogging for you since 2005.

That post was an inspirational quote, a Japanese proverb that I believe wholeheartedly is a secret to success.

Since then I've blogged 4,388 times. That's probably not a record, but I'm proud of it because each post has been personal and meaningfull in some way.

At least that's what I intend with every post whether it's a bit of inspiration, a guide to authors, a recipe, a movie review, a guest author feature, or heartfelt thoughts about some subject. 

My blog has mostly had the same design for many years. I go in periodically and update the images on the sidebars, but the look of it—blue skies and bluebonnets—remain the same because I simply like those images. They visually represent optimism.

Every blog I've written can be found in THE ARCHIVES, and all of those posts are categorized in SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT.

When I mention a product, it's because I believe in the product. 

I use it myself, or I'm purchasing it for my own use. 

I don't receive free products of any kind, but if I ever do, I will disclose that.

NEW FEATURE

I have some standard posts, but I haven't posted many of those during the last year. I'll get back to that this year. Also, I'm starting a new feature, ASK JOAN, as a way to help beginning authors or maybe to explain to readers why authors do some of the things they do. 

If anyone reading this wants to know something about the art, craft, or business of writing or the bookss, or the writing life, feel free to ask just about anything.

I've been in the business a long time, and this is a way I can help those just starting out. I'll answer anything to the best of my ability.

STATISTICS

To this day, years-old posts are still being read. Here are a few stats about the readership of SlingWords.

Since 2005, this blog has been read 2,492,372 times. Here are the view stats which I culled on April 4. Views are unique, meaning not the same internet visitor reading the same post.

Yesterday: 2,548 views.  This month, April: 7,679.  Last month, March: 31,099

SURPRISING READERSHIP

Even more surprising than these big numbers are the locations of these blog readers. It's gratifying to know so many people worldwide, through the years, have read SlingWords.

United States - 1.34M

Singapore - 326K

Hong Kong - 109K

Russia - 67.4K

Germany - 54.3K

France - 52.2K

Israel - 44K

Italy - 33K

Sweden - 28.9K

United Kingdom - 25.6K

Ukraine - 23.6K

Türkiye - 23.6K

Canada - 21.7K

India - 20.5K

Netherlands - 18.3K

Brazil - 12.8K

Saudi Arabia - 9.89K

China - 8.34K

Australia - 6.96K

Other - 270K

Thank you, readers, I apprecciate each and every one of you.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

That's a wrap for looking back at 20 years of SlingWords. Keep reading, and tell your friends about this blog with original content written by a Human, not AI generated.

Thanks for reading. I appreciate your time and your Comments.

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Quote for the Week - Renewal

Easter is the season of renewal of the spirit, of nature, and, for many people, physical renewal.

Many take this time to renew their commitment made during New Year's for better health, a more balanced life, etc.

The desire to change ourselves is a constant in life because we are always changing whether we realize it or not.

Emile Zola said, "Vines will be planted, corn will spring up, a whole growth of new crops; and people will still fall in love in vintages and harvests yet to come. Life is eternal; it is a perpetual renewal of birth and growth."

In today's world, people are worried and scared, and that is true of conservatives and liberals. Avoid fear mongering. Seek the truth from impartial sources. Disdain click bait titles that seem to be created to spread fear and anxiety.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Take heart in these scary times. As long as there is life, there is hope so keep hope in your heart and in your speech.

Read Romance, the Optimistic Genre.

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Saturday Share Recipe - Sausage and Bean Stew

If you're trying to eat healthier by adding more legumes to your diet, today's recipe can help.

If you want a vegetarian version of this dish, simply eliminate the smoked sausage.

A WORD ABOUT BEANS

Use this recipe as is, or cook your own beans rather than using canned beans. Of course, that takes advance preparation so if you need to make this quick and easy, add canned beans to your pantry.

You can use any kind of canned bean you like. In fact, you can mix and match beans different from the ones in the recipe.

Your local supermarket probably has several brands. As far me, I try to get Trappey's, for sentimental reasons I guess. We lived near a Trappey's cannery when I was a kid so my Mom always used Trappey's brand.

They also come as plain beans or a spicy variety wtih hot peppers and slab bacon seasoning. Just another way to add seasoning. 

To make this dish spicy without the Trappey's brand or even with it, use Rotel tomatoes instead of stewed tomatoes.

If you don't use Tony's, maybe give it a try. Since I grew up in Louisiana, Tony's Creole Seasoning is almost a requisite ingredient in many of the things I cook.

For those who really like big, bold flavor and who isn't afraid of heat, try Tony's sidekick  spice,Slap Ya Mama. 

SAUSAGE AND BEAN STEW

Ingredients

1 pound of smoked sausage, sliced

1 medium bell pepper, diced

1 medium to large onion, diced

2 cans stewed tomatoes or Rotel

1 can red beans, drained and rinsed

1 can pinto beans, drained and rinsed

1 can great northern beans, drained and rinsed

1 teaspon Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. In a large Dutch oven, brown the smoked sausage, remove from pan and set aside.

2. Drain all the beans and rinse.

3. Saute the onion and bell pepper in the drippings from the sausage. 

If that's too much fat for your diet, drain the rendered fat away and use some olive oil to saute the vegetables.

4. When the vegetables are soft but not browned, add the tomatoes, all the beans, and the seasonings.

5. Simmer about fifteen minutes on low then add the seasonings and the cooked smoked sausage. Simmer another 10 minutes. Make sure the liquid doesn't cook down too low.

6. Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper if needed.

7. Serve over rice and with cornbread.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

This is actually an economical dish to make, and it serves a lot. Even better, it's the kind of comfort food we all love.

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My Week In One Word

Thank goodness it's Friday. If I had to use one word to describe my week, that word is BUSY.

Yes, I edited a book and got it uploaded, designed 4 new book covers, wrote a chapter in the new book, created 2 new FB ads, started editing another book, cleaned up my office, filed a gazillion papers, worked on a spreadsheet to judge the performance of my FB ads, and then there was...

THE PERSONAL SIDE OF MY LIFE

I cleaned up the guest room since we're expecting a house guest, and that meant I had to remove all of the income tax documents from the guest bed since I use it as a conference table.

The guest bed? Well, yes. It's a large surface that isn't used until someone comes to visit so it's perfect for organizing papers and projects. (One of these days, I hope to again have a larger office with a table for that purpose, but for now, I use what I have.)

Groan. Income tax. Yes, I started on that, and today we'll finalize it and get it shipped off. Also upped my workout routine with weights, cooked at least 2 meals most of the days—Darling Hubby did the other meals in between working on his own projects—and kept my patio plants watered since we had a lot of wind every day that dehydrates them.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

 Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by all of different tasks I undertake as a self-published author, but I tend to believe what Deepak Chopra once said, "All great changes are preceded by chaos.”

How was your week?

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