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.
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.
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.
AI can never compete with Karen!
Thanks for all the random!
I have always enjoyed your blog and more importantly your sense of humour! Keep it up!
Yours is only blog I still subscribe to and read regularly! Plus I love your content on Instagram
Unfortunately I work for one of those soul sucking giant companies that help other companies create AI - gotta make a living somehow :( Anyhow, I love you and your blog so hopefully my crappy choice of employment won't disqualify me!
I’ve spent the past 4 hours reading your blog posts…one after another. Your writing style and sense of humor are so refreshing, so real, and just plain comfortable. It’s like reading a letter written to me by one of my super fun friends, who just happens to have identical interests to my own.
You’re so great, Karen. Thanks for all you share with us!
Being able to read anything for 4 hours without conking out 3 minutes in, is more impressive than anything I've ever done. ~ karen!
The Art of Doing Stuff, how do I love thee ... let me count the ways. (Too many to count!) But count me in for this great giveaway!
I was out of town for the weekend. Hopefully I can still enter!
Yes, you can still enter! ~ karen
Thank you for informing me on this- I didn't really understand what AI is doing..
I love you blog, even this post.
Thanks Annie! ~ karen
I subscribed to your blog for all the valuable garden tips and suggestions. Stayed for the humor. Thanks for keeping it fresh.
Omg! Karen....just when I think there is nothing you can surprise me with that would start me howling with laughter at 2:20 AM you come out "with wiping maggots from a chIckens ass"!!!!!
Have I told you lately that I love you? Lol
Keep up the good fight and thanks for being you!
It will be the title of my memoir. ~ karen!
very much agree with you about AI and just (poorly) recycling actual content!
Thank you for explaining so clearly that creators like you (and all of your followers) are absolutely being affected by the tech giants' use of AI. It continues to be a treat to read your posts (for a few years now) - I appreciate your humor and ingenuity so much! One of your recent brilliant suggestions saved my sour cherry crop from marauding magpies (camping mosquito net with garden posts & tennis balls) Let me know where to mail a jar of jam to you :)
Oh! That's great. I just harvested my wheat today from under it. If it wasn't covered by that net the birds would have decimated it. ~ karen!
I’m all in! AI content is dreck. Personally, I wouldn’t mind if AI replaced the obscenely rich. But it doesn’t have a chance in hell of replacing you. Yours is also the only blog I subscribe to. RESIST!
You are knowledgeable and funny and knowledgeable about being funny. You are the blogger I read with regularity, and certainly the only blogger who has their own folder in my bookmarks. Keep up the great content.
I am subscribed to your blog via Feedly. I hope that counts. I appreciate the fact that you still blog. Some year, I will even follow your Christmas prep plan. Although being completely exhausted on Christmas Eve after having tried to do everything in the last week is my tradition.
Hi Jenny! Feedly doesn't count actually.🙃 You're actually subscribed to Feedly not my blog. Feedly sends you my content via RSS. ~ karen!
Thanks for sticking with this…most enjoyable!!!
You are a sun among daughters! Love your wit, your intellect and your posts.
I have been reading you through RSS for years. I subscribed just to tell you that you totally bought my love for an aerogarden. I want one because it's one of the few household items on the planet my cat has not destroyed yet. I want to see if she'll make quick work of the plant, or let it die a slow, painful death as she toys with it, scratching and biting until it barely clings to life.
I might unsubscribe if I get a lot of emails. Don't take it as a loss; I will still read every post through RSS. Even the ones involving backyards and chickens, of which I have neither.
Hey! There are the exact same number of emails whether you read through RSS or emails. The emails are triggered by the RSS feed. :) ~ karen!
Karen, you are the one I trust. You helped me figure out tomatoes (determinate and indeterminate - I had no idea before you) and what to do to grow them so they don't take over the whole garden. And lots of other stuff. Thank you!