Donna Barstow Blog #2

Why does Google hate me?

I like games. I’ll play them for a long time. But I don’t like games with no rules at all, because it’s only fun if I can learn the rules and play better. By this, my 2nd blog, it’s apparent that Google is better at games than I, and believes that too much SEO knowledge is a dangerous thing…

It took me 6 months of writing my first blog, Griffith Park, Interrupted, to realize that no matter how much I wrote, or how good (I thought) it was, or how important, Google had no interest at all. If I searched for complete sentences from my posts, I could find them when I Googled. But keywords, or just search words, nada, my posts never came up. I was so disappointed. Like most bloggers, I don’t get paid for writing, and although I had a few commenters, not that many, so watching yourself get more popular on Google is a well-deserved reward, I say!

I redesigned my whole WordPress theme, and learned a hella lot about blogs and design by doing that, but I avoided adding plug-ins. WordPress constantly warns you that your whole blog can FAIL or GO DOWN, and everything will be LOST if a plug-in goes bad. It wasn’t worth it to me. But there is one plug-in that is very important, and will change your fun in blogs, and that is the All-in-One SEO plugin. And Blogger or LiveJournal doesn’t have it! It’s our special prize!??

Tech Tips for Artists

blogging google wordpress

Comments closed

By Donna Barstow

I’m working on cartoons for Jillian’s hot dog book.

More observations on The Bachelorette, Jillian Harris style:

Thinking more about Ed, he is funny as hell,? from his dolphin anecdote to the throwaway lines that the Editor allowed to sneak in. Funny and a hard worker and very handsome. Jillian chose well.

HOWEVER – the more I consider the Final Rose, I really think she was half way in love with Reid. I never thought she liked him as a boyfriend, so this surprises me – but when she let him go – both times- she really did have feelings for him. As Chris Harrison pointed out in his blog, who knows what she would have decided, if he hadn’t stepped in to give advice. I still think she would have chosen Ed, but that was a really close call.

Now, on to Jillian’s future! From Reality Wanted:

Q. Jillian, have you been offered anything in Chicago?
A. Jillian: Back home, I?ve gotten a few offers, which I don?t want to turn down until there are some finite plans. There?s been some talk of other TV things and I?m working on my hot dog book, but my main goal is to set my life back up and to get back to work as soon as possible.

Q. What?s the deal with the Hot Dog Book?
A. Jillian: I?m trying to write something cute and funny about the hot dog theory and my dating life and just a girls guide to dating a guy. Maybe some short stories about guys I?ve dated, just something fun on how to get a read on a guy just by what he puts on his hot dog.

Hmm. Well, Jillian is going to need some good dating cartoons for the hot dog book, right? And I’ve been doing restaurant cartoons for years! And I have an entire book out of chocolate cartoons!! Hey! [Hand waving, somewhat like Queen Elizabeth.] Over here, Jilly!

jillian-harris-and-chris-harrison

I don't Watch TV

bachelorette books tv

Comments closed

By Donna Barstow

My first Wordless Wednesday, with pizza

My first Wordless Wednesday. Taking the cue from a bird blogger I admire: Bev. So if I get the self-control I hope for, there won’t be any words next time.

Uncategorized

cat cartoon food cartoon morbid cartoon wordless wednesday cartoons

2 Comments

By Donna Barstow

Jillian is left-handed, and got 3 proposals!

When our Bachelorette, Jillian Harris,? was writing a letter (in reply to letters from Ed and Kiptyn? – we never got to see that scene), her left-handedness was revealed. She’s just that special!

It really was an eventful Final Rose Ceremony. Jillian did glow, and she looked beautiful. The Bachelors looked properly nervous. There were rings. And Reid…did show up, and to Fleiss’s great satisfaction and relief, humiliated himself by asking Jillian to marry him when she already loved another.

jillian-harris-from-la-times — Photo from The Monitor, from the LA Times.

Comments from Television Without Pity:

Reid didn’t seem that broken up by being turned down. I’m of the belief he’s been asked to be the next Bachelor, and this was part of the deal. They like their Bachelors to be jilted now and this ups the ‘ah, poor Reid’ quotient. I would hope if he really was there to propose seriously that he would have chosen to tuck his shirt in and wear something other then tennis shoes.

It was interesting to see Chris actually giving Jillian advice about how to handle Reid’s return. Has he ever done that before? But the million-dollar question in my mind is: why did they keep hiding Reid’s face? When he got down on one knee and said, “I love you,” we didn’t see him say it. We only saw Jillian’s face during that whole scene. Why? Hmmmmmm?.

I noticed the missing camera shots of Reid, too. Usually she pushes them into prime lens territory, so…was the camera on the blink?

Other stuff: The volcano erupting as Jillian and Ed retired into the bedroom suite was hysterical. See, the Editor at The Bachelorette does have a sense of humor. The other time I laughed out loud is when the red station wagon pulled up and Reid stepped out in his white sneaks and some half-assed clothes that I’m sure they told him to wear.

I don't Watch TV That's not funny

bachelorette tv

Comments closed

By Donna Barstow

Tweety bird haters.

I had to point out this disgusting article about birdfighting involving canaries and finches. From the Daily Record: Police arrested 19 people from Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jersey and seized…

Parakeets vs. Canaries

canary

Comments closed

By Donna Barstow

Last Jillian interview before the Final Rose!

From TVWatch about Ed: After the fantasy date, I questioned if he was attracted to me physically or if it was just nerves. After he came back, it was more…

I don't Watch TV

bachelorette tv

Comments closed

By Donna Barstow

Predictions for Jillian Harris and The Bachelorette Finale!

I have my sources. But it occurs to me that maybe others don’t, and they don’t know where to go to get the great gossip and stories.

I’m not on this journey alone. My first stop for all TV shows is Television Without Pity. I can’t believe everyone doesn’t know about and read this, but I ran into George Pennachio, Entertainment reporter for ABC here, (who doesn’t seem gay in person…) at an LA Press Club event and he had never read TWOP! Weird!? Everything is moderated on this board, so it’s mostly spelled, makes logical sense, and is written by intelligent, thoughtful viewers. Barnes is the mod now, and I think she’s the worst mod on TWOP, but c’est la vie. Mods are the reason I never write in those forums. I only read, and I read A LOT.

Next is Fans of Reality TV, or FORT as most call it. These writers have big colorful gravatars that they change frequently with favorite screen shots and contestant bio pics. They don’t write too good. Sometimes it’s a complete sentence. I think they’re mostly housewives, because they have a LOT of time on their hands to sleuth and analyze screen shots to figure out the winner, and find the Facebook and MySpace pages from first name only contestants on the shows. ? They are kind of naive, but an enthusiastic bunch, and I like to read when they write live while the show is on. (TWOP doesn’t allow this.) Downside: the servers crash towards the end of each Bachelorette season, so they close the board on show nights, if you’re not a member.

Way, way down, is the scary boards, the ABC forum. I just assume people? who go here haven’t found the other 2 boards! Most of these people are out of their minds, and dumb as rocks. That’s a dangerous combo. Half of them make up outrageous rumors, and the other half believe every word of them. Spoilers abound.

I don't Watch TV

bachelorette tv

Comments closed

Donna Barstow Blog #2 Posts