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    Home » More Stuff

    This Is Where I Try To Buy Your Love

    July 20, 2023 by Karen 894 Comments

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    By giving away an Aerogarden. Technically it's not buying your love, because you're already here. It's more of an appreciation gift for current subscribers who come to my site every day, week or even month to see what I have to say.

    Being a reader, you're more important to the whole Internet wheelhouse than you think. If you weren't reading blog content, there would be no blogs. If there were no blogs, there would be no answers when you searched Google.

    You would STILL be sitting there wondering whether dogs can eat strawberries.

    They can.

    If Google didn't have all those answers there would be no AI.

    It just occurred to me that I should try growing strawberries in my Aerogarden.

    Before I get to the giveaway I have some insider information about AI (artificial intelligence).

    AI IS KILLING ALL CREATIVITY. And creatives.

    And it's happening QUICKLY. Google is now spitting out AI generated content in the search results. I'm sure you've Googled something lately to have an answer come up that either had nothing to do with what you asked it, or was just plain wrong.

    This kind of artificial intelligence is one of the things that has led to the writer's strike, the actor's strike and now ... content creators are on board with the war against AI.

    AI IS DESIGNED TO MAKE THE OBSCENELY RICH RICHER

    When the rich get richer, the poor get poorer and the middle class ... disappears.

    My goal has always been to create entertaining information. There was a bit of a hiccup over the past couple of years when I was trying desperately to get more traction on Google and fell into the Google likes it this way trap.

    The result was mediocre blog posts and an increase in my migraine medication intake. It was also WAY less fun to write posts that would appeal to Google.

    I don't care how many fun colours and bouncing balls they use in their logo - Google doesn't know jack shit about fun. Google is the Internet cop insisting on: Just the facts ma'am.

    Bloggers have been told over and over again that we could not succeed without Google. When the truth is - Google and AI couldn't succeed without us.

    theartofdoingstuff

    The folks at Google aren't figuring out what the best way to fix, grow, teach or learn something is. They're figuring out the best way to make money.

    YES! Finally Google and I are in agreement. I want to find the best way to make money too! The difference?

    I just want some of the money - Google wants all of it.

    It is the 5th most profitable company in the world. In 2022, Google made an annual revenue of 279.8 billion U.S. dollars.

    Would you like to save this stuff?

    We'll email you this post, so you can refer to it later.

    I, by comparison, contemplated performing my own dental surgery last month. Admittedly that was more of a curiosity thing than a money thing for me, but still.

    It would have made a really good blog post.


    Unlike this blog post which feels like a mound of depression buried under a recently vomited hairball.



    Over the past couple of decades large tech platforms have gained enormous power and wealth by using the information provided by people. Humans. Content creators. Me.

    You can support this and other human run websites you like by signing this open letter urging big tech and AI companies to reconsider their relationship with content creators.

    By paying us.

    Protectcontentcreators.com

    Uch. What a gross post to have to write.

    The Giveaway!

    In appreciation of you sticking around, some of you for 13 YEARS, others just 'til the end of this horribly un-fun blog post, I'm giving away an Aerogaden.

    Which sounds woefully inadequate when I phrase it that way.

    O.K. I'll add in one of only 5 remaining Art of Doing Stuff tea towels to the prize package.

    So one winner will receive both an Aerogarden and a tea towel hand screen printed by me.

    THIS is the "Aerogarden" I'm giving away if you'd like to take a look at it.

    To enter, all you have to do is make sure you are indeed subscribed to this blog (which I'm pretty sure you all are) and leave a comment below.

    It will be a random draw from the comments and the WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED NEXT FRIDAY.

    That's it! Thanks for listening.

    Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere. I washed maggots out of a chicken's ass. Twice. I can handle this fight.

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    1. Mary Morris

      June 22, 2025 at 1:34 pm

      Hello Karen!
      I have been reading your blog for a few years now, and actually archive them because I am constantly wondering how to do things. I even forward some to my sister, daughter, and nieces when I think it is something they can use! Yes, I know you have the archive buttons. It is a habit from work to save specific items of import, even though I retired last November. Gives me a project to work on now that I don't go in to an office.
      I enjoy your style of commentary, truly. You are the reason I had the courage to do a window box this year and wanted to share the photo with you even though it is not very good, so here you go!
      Thank you for all your inspirations!

      Reply
      • Karen

        June 22, 2025 at 9:39 pm

        I love that. Both that I inspired you and that you took action! :) ~ karen

        Reply
    2. Deanna Walker

      March 05, 2025 at 12:30 am

      Soooo happy to begin seeing your blog frequently again🥰I’ll send you some chicken hats if you reply and want them! 🐥

      Reply
    3. Barb Clerici

      December 31, 2024 at 8:38 pm

      Maybe they weren’t technically maggots. Chickens have intestinal worms. Sometimes they poop worms…ugh. I used to make my birds a mash of oats with lots of raw garlic, apple cider vinegar, molasses, and some diatomaceous earth thrown in. Some of the ingredients were just to boost their nutrition and immune systems. Some kill the worms. FYI.

      Reply
    4. Priscilla Morris

      July 05, 2024 at 9:46 am

      Great idea for a giveaway! Thank you for all of your interesting posts and fun musings. I appreciate you.

      Reply
    5. Karen Purpero (gmail.com)

      June 03, 2024 at 11:25 am

      I love your blog and I’m with you in your disdain for AI! I’m a graduate student and it’s horrible for those of us who actually want to learn and write about what we learn using our own brain! We need more Phillip.

      Reply
    6. Melissa McMullen

      April 03, 2024 at 3:13 pm

      Smart, funny and pretty. Truly a lovely trifecta of humanity! Thank you for all you do.

      Reply
      • Judy Holgate

        October 18, 2024 at 12:43 am

        Thank you for letting me live vicariously through you!
        You go, girl!!

        Reply
    7. Linda Roberts

      March 25, 2024 at 12:27 am

      You are so unbelievably talented and awesome lady!!! Love all your ideas!!💞

      Reply
    8. Kris Ski

      October 22, 2023 at 5:03 am

      Yours is the only blog that I am subscribed to. Funny, but I didn't realize that this was actually what a blog is until now. I thought it was only a website that I go to when I get your emails. In fact, I hope I am responding to this correctly because I can really, really use this. Without getting into life, it has been VERY difficult these past years and something simple like this would be a huge
      :) if not, still, all will be okay. Best to you all out there.
      Kristine

      Reply
    9. connie

      October 22, 2023 at 12:18 am

      Yours is one of only 3 blogs I am subscribed to. I always learn something, am entertained and usually laugh. Thank you for sharing your adventures in DIY of all kinds!!!

      Reply
    10. Jim

      October 12, 2023 at 6:29 am

      Karen
      Liked all your posts about growing vegetables but I lost you for a while and found you again.
      I don’t have a website.
      Jim

      Reply
      • Karen

        October 12, 2023 at 10:58 am

        That's O.K. Jim, that space for a website is just for people who have one and want to let everyone know. And welcome back. ~ karen!

        Reply
    11. Pattie

      August 12, 2023 at 5:17 pm

      Wow. Didn’t realize the importance of this backstory. Keep doing what you’re doing.

      Reply
      • Karen

        August 13, 2023 at 11:10 am

        Thanks Pattie! ~ karen!

        Reply
    12. Ada

      August 09, 2023 at 5:33 pm

      Karen,
      You are the bohemian Martha Stewart. I love your blog so much. Enough said

      Reply
      • EC

        August 23, 2023 at 7:49 pm

        Well said!

        Reply
    13. Helen-Mary

      July 31, 2023 at 4:26 pm

      Yes Karen, I subscribe to a whopping THREE blogs. Yours is one of them. Many hearts to you...I am trying to trellis my zucchinis for the first time ever. <3

      Reply
    14. Shelley Goodman

      July 30, 2023 at 11:20 am

      I have subscribed to your blog for years Karen. I have built, pondered, grew a garden and spewed coffee on my laptop while laughing and reading your blog. Thank you for YOU !

      Reply
    15. Lorrie L Thomas

      July 29, 2023 at 10:37 am

      Always fun! Even that scary bit about AI :)

      Reply
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    My name is Karen Bertelsen and I was a television host. In Canada. Which means in terms of notoriety and wealth, I was somewhere on par with the manager of a Sunset Tan in Wisconsin.

    I quit television to start a blog with the goal that I could make my living through blogging and never have to host a television show again. And it’s worked out. I’m making a living blogging. If you’re curious, this is how I do that.

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