Let's end the week with a chuckle.
The wise words quoted here are from the talented actress, Sharon Stone.
I don't know if she's the first to have said this, or if a comedian is actually the source of this witticism.
In any event, it's funny—and true.
TAKEAWAY TRUTH
Wishing you a great weekend. I've got a fabulous recipe for you tomorrow.
See you Saturday, here on SlingWords.
Everyone has a favorite genre of fiction. Within your chosen genre, you probably have a specific type of story you want to read.
That can be called a sub-genre. You might call it plot or theme or premise.
In the Mystery genre, common sub-genres are cozy, police procedural, suspense, and thriller.
In the Romance genre, common sub-genres are sweet, spicy, romantic suspense, historical, etc.
All of the sub-genres are broken down by an aspect of the story or plot. In Romance, some of the most popular are small town, second chance, marriage of convenience, enemies to lovers, and dozens more. With Romance, this is one of the reasons it's the most popular genre in the world. Yes, that's right. In the entire world. (Stats come from Alex Newton's K-lytics reports. If you're an author or want to be one, I strongly urge you to research your favorite genre with Alex's reports.
3 FACTS ABOUT THE MOST POPULAR FICTION GENRE
1. the most popular genre on Amazon Kindle is romance with sales of the category increasing every year over the previous year.
2. More than half of the Top-400 most sold Kindle books are romance titles. That's why you often see new dedicated categories within the Romance Fiction category.
3. The majority of authors of these Romance novels are self-published.
TAKEAWAY TRUTH
If you want to do a bit of research on your own,, plug in the search string "romance books" on Google. You'll find a lot of information that may amaze you.
Thus, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe was born. I stumbled across it a week ago. Of course, I had to see what this American science fiction comedy TV series created by Lorre, Zak Penn, and Bill Pradyit was all about.
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is the third spinoff of The Big Bang—first was Young Sheldon then Georgie and Mandy's First Marriage, and now Stuart's series.
This latest entry in The Big Bang franchise premiered on HBO Max on July 23, 2026.
It's premise? Stuart Bloom accidentally damaged a device created by Sheldon Cooper, Leonard Hofstadter and Howard Wolowitz.
Therefore, Stuart must prevent a "multiverse Armageddon" and save the Universe by traveling through various alternate realities to change his own reality. In each new reality, he encounters friends and acquaintances from his own reality.
To be honest, this series seems like a love poem to The Big Bang, because it brings back the quirky characters from that series. It's like having a family reunion with all the weird cousins showing up. Look at the Cast below, and you'll see what I mean.
Kevin Sussman as Stuart Bloom and as Alternate Stuart Bloom.
Lauren Lapkus as Denise, Stuart's true love.
Brian Posehn as Bert Kibbler, the very large and boring geologist.
John Ross Bowie as Barry Kripke, the hilarious egotistical physicist.
SUPPORTING CHARACTERS
SPECIAL GUEST STARS
Kunal Nayyar as Alternate Raj Koothrappali who is just as weird as original Raj.
Penn and Teller as themselves.
Kaley Cuoco as Alternate Penny, who embraces her power.
Christine Baranski as herself, rather than as Leonard's mom.
Melissa Rauch as Alternate Bernadette Rostenkowski, a giant demon which means she embraces her power too.
Wil Wheaton as Alternate Wil Wheaton—love Will Wheaton!
WHY WATCH
If you're a Big Bang fan, I don't have to tell you why you watch. If you're not a fan, watch because it's weird, the episodes are short, and each episode gets better than the previous. Watch because the title creds alone are funny, creative, and different—they are an inside joke aimed at the entire audience that tries to skip over the credits.
MY THOUGHTS
If I weren't a fan of the original series, I don't know that I'd have watched the second episode. Once Barry Kripke, played by the talented John Ross Bowie, shows up, I was hooked.
Every scene with Kripke in Episode 2 is a belly laugh, side-splitter. If you've been looking for something different, give this a try. Watch the first 3 episodes, and I think you'll want to watch the rest.
TAKEAWAY TRUTH
Like most streaming series, the future of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe depends on the audience numbers. I don't know if this series has enough promise to carry what seems like a one-joke premise into the future, but if anyone can do it, Chuck Lorre can.
The Greenshot app is safe, but only if you download it from the official source. This is true of all apps I review on SlingWords. Download from the true source so you avoid bloatware, adware, or malware.
NOTE: Older versions of Greenshot did have security flaws, but those have been patched in recent updates which is another reason to download only from the Greenshot website.
WHAT GREENSHOT OFFERS
Although a light-weight screenshot software tool for Windows, it offers some grreat features:
When I was a kid, my Dad planted a huge garden every summer. When the Yellow Crookneck Squash started producing, we had enough to supply the entire neighborhood.
My Mom always cooked that delightful yellow squash, called Summer Squash by many, and made it so delicious that there were never any leftovers. We always preferred yellow squash over zucchini.
My husband's grandmother cooked squash in a similar fashion with a few additions that gave it added texture and flavor. Next week, I'll give Granny Smith's recipe.
But today, I'll tell you how my Mom cooked it and made it so delicious. Serves 6-8.
SUMMER SQUASH FRY
Ingredients
I made the Quote Graphic so you could copy and print it if you wish.
This comes from Sally Poplin, who isn't a "real" person.
Sally Poplin is a fictitious humorist often cited in British and international books of quotations.
"She" is best known for witty one-liners about marriage, modern dating, and personal finance.
Now you know if you see quotations allegedly by Sally Poplin, that she is a made-up person.
TAKEAWAY TRUTH
Who do you think is the wit behind her—a real person or an AI entity?
3 TIPS TO TRAIN YOUR FOCUS
1. Make a list of every single thing you think you should do. Write it down, don't just think about it and so your brain is spinning around.
2. Look at the list—I mean really look at it. Now, go item by item on the list and mark everything that needs to be done right now—today—with a big N.
Anything that can be done by the end of the weekend, mark L for Later.
Anything that really isn't crucial, but it would be nice to do it before the month is over, mark O for Optional.
3. Take your list and write it again. That's right curate your list. Put NOW items at the top, listed in the priority of importance. Later items are next, also listed by how important they are to get done before the month is over. Optional items are last. In looking at them, decide if it's really something you must do or can it be delegated? In fact, is it something that really must be done at all?
Bonus Tip: Keep your curated list where you can read it in the morning to train your focus on what is most important and then in the evening before you head to bed so you can pat yourself on the back because you're using your time effectively.
TAKEAWAY TRUTH
The ability to prioritize how you spend your time is a hallmark of success.
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Happy Wednesday! Enjoy this Hump Day post.
When I was a kid, I read one of those funny lines you see on buttons and tee shirts. It said: "Life is short. Eat dessert first."
I think that’s why so many people struggle in life—they want to eat dessert first rather than start at the beginning of the meal and enjoy each course that’s served.
Of course, I’m describing those who want to start at the top and who don’t seem to understand that no one really starts at the top—unless they’re the offspring of the company founder or a prodigy of some sort and perhaps not even then.
PAYING DUES
You know about paying due or whatever you choose to call the process of beginning, making mistakes, and learning. Some way or other, everyone pays their dues. Doctors start as interns before they become the leading doctor at a hospital. First year lawyers start out at the bottom pecking order of law firms. Electricians start out as apprentices. Writers start out as newbies trying to hack out a writing career and build an audience for their work.
Whether you’re a corporate accountant, a bank teller, or a writer publishing a first book, you need to understand that success is not made overnight. Success is made by baby steps then bigger steps and sometimes leaps forward every now and then. Consistency of action leads to progress.
If you enjoy each leg of the journey, not impatiently striving to leap over steps, you’ll find more satisfaction in your career—and in life—than someone who is never satisfied and constantly longing for more, more, more.
TAKEAWAY TRUTH
If Life is a seven-course dinner, then savor and enjoy the appetizers before moving on to the soup. The pleasure that comes from each “course” will keep you satisfied and inspired to experience the next stage in your career and in Life when it comes along. That's my 2¢ opinion. What do you think?
Ride or Die, an American TV series billed as action adventure comedy, is an Amazon Prime exclusive.
This new Prime exclusive was created by Tessa Coates, writer, comedian, and one third of the sketch group Massive Dad, and has showrunner Matt Miller with his action acventure creds like the TV series Lethal Weapon and Chuck.
Ride or Die stars well-known actors, Octavia Spencer, Hannah Waddingham, Ed Skrein, and Bill Nighy, along with a larger cast you'll find listed below.
PREMISE
Two friends, Octavia Spencer as Debbie and Hannah Waddingham as Judith, have to go on the run from a multitude of highly trained assassins when Judith's secret life as an assassin is exposed.
FULL CAST
Hannah Waddingham is Judith, an English woman with a secret life as an elite assassin.
Octavia Spencer, is Judith's BFF Debbie, an American wife of a member of Parliament (MP).
Ed Skrein as Billy Donovan, is a member of a crime syndicate.
Savannah Steyn is Queenie, Judith's tech and weapons specialist.
Jamie Parker is David, Debbie's husband and an MP.
Sylvia Hoeks is Ana, a fellow assassin and former friend of Judith's.
Bill Nighy is The Director, Judith's employer.
Jacky Ido is Jacques, an Interpol agent.
Cathy Tyson is Mrs. Williams, Queenie’s mother who is training her daughter to take over assassin support. Side note: Cathy Tyson is the niece of legendary actress Cicely Tyson.
Camille Chamoux is Colette, a French police officer according to Cast Notes.
MY THOUGHTS
Love the settings—from London to Monte Carlo to other European cities.
Love the acting—how can you go wrong with Waddingham, Spencer, Skrein, and Nighy? Waddingham and Skrein together are believable. So is the friendship between Waddingham and Spencer. Nighy has had a lot of experience playing amoral villains with a minute glimpse of human emotion that shows he has a human heart.
Now, the Cons. Character actions—Too many scenes where characters simply do not behave as humans would act and react. They act and react like cardboard characters that the script says should do or say this in this scene.
A character is in a scene doing something then boom. They're in a different location undertaking what the character must need to move the plot forward. This kind of jerks the plot along.
Scene Logic—Characters end up doing things that don't seem realistic given who the characters are as they've been established.
Humor—Billed as an action adventure comedy, this series is amusing in places, but I wouldn't call it a comedy. Action adventure comedy is a hard act to pull off.TAKEAWAY TRUTH
Should you watch it or skip it? I picked it because there were no really good options.
If you watch it for the acting chops, the action adventure with Waddingham really pulling her weight, and don't look for the comedy or the logic, you'll find it entertaining and be clicking next episode every time.
Answer questions from curated external sources. That's what WolframAlpha can do for you.
There are 2 modes in which you can query this website: Natural Language and Math Input.
There are 4 columns of listed subjects:
Below each column Category, there are 8 topics shown and a button to click for more topics. If you click on a topic, a screen opens with some common computations or answers shown. You can fill in the information you need. For instance, Under Society & Culture, you can click on Food & Nutrition. An information sceen shows the calories in swiss cheese. Change that to Gruyere and hit enter. Instantly, the nutritional content of Gruyere.
From the simple to the complex, you can find answers to just about anything by using the free website WolframAlpha.
In case you're wondering, the website uses a form of artificial intelligence, but it is symbolic AI, not the modern generative or statistical AI (like ChatGPT).
In other words, symbolic AI does not guess words based on patterns. It uses rules, algorithms, and curated data to compute exact answers.
TAKEAWAY TRUTH
Since answers are curated, I think this may be more accurate than many of the answers now given by Google. I know I've found erroneous information when I've researched on Google. What's your experience been since Google began sourcing via AI?
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I still have potatoes in the pantry so here's another recipe using this beloved spud.
Today was the day I jumped back into my workout program. Walking, weight lifting, and exhausting myself this morning.
That's why I didn't get this recipe for FAT RASCALS posted in time for you to make it for lunch, but save this recipe.
You're probably wondering what Fat Rascals is. Right? It's an old-fashioned fried potato dish. If you like French fries, you'll love Fat Rascals which is great as a hot appetizer or as a side dish.
Ingredients
Directions
In a heavy sauce pan or a deep fryer, heat cooking oil until it's 350°F. (175°C.).
Beat the eggs and add in all the other ingredients, mixing well. This batter should not be too souply. It should hold together so it can be dropped by spoonfuls into the hot oil. If it seems too thin, add more flour, a teaspoon at a time.
Drop from a spoon into the hot oil. Fry until light brown. Serve hot.
This is especially good served with sour cream or cheese sauce.
TAKEAWAY TRUTH
I don't know where the name of this recipe came from, but I can imagine a white-haired granny of yesteryear saying, "Wash up for dinner before the Fat Rascals get cold!"
I was reading an article about Friday the 13th, the historical event involving the Knights Templar, and decided to see how many weird things happen on Fridays.
To my surprise, I found a treasure trove of trivia. Let's get started with the Knights Templar. Read on and be amazed.
1. On Friday, October 13, 1307, King Philip IV of France had hundreds of the powerful Knights Templar arrested. That event is often cited as the origin of the Friday the 13th superstition.
2. Security data shows companies are disproportionately hacked or hit with phishing scams on Fridays because that's when IT staffs, like all the other employees, leave for the weekend.
3. Seafarers have long believed it was bad luck to start a new voyage on a Friday.
5, In the USA, the crazy mad rush in stores on the day after Thanksgiving is called Black Friday because the first such event actually resulted in the death of a retail employee in 2008 in Valley Stream, New York.
He was crushed to death in the stampede of 2,000+ shoppers when the doors opened at midnight.
6. The expression “Man Friday” comes from the character Friday in the novel Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe. The phrase is used to describe a particularly loyal and/or competent male personal assistant.
7. The restaurant chain TGI Friday opened in 1965 to capitalize on the popular TGIF phrase.
8. The popular saying “Friday on my mind” was popularized by the 1966 hit song of the same name by The Easybeats.
9. Friday is the most common payday in the United States.
11. Friday is the only day of the week named after a Norse goddess, Frigg, who was the equivalent of Venus.
12. More bank robberies happen on a Friday than any other day of the week.
TAKEAWAY TRUTH
TGIF! Let's have fun today and get ready for the weekend.
