Divine Developments with Ali

I Launched a WordPress Website & Deleted It Within 3 Days

2024-08-06T16:57:00.000-07:00

I Launched a WordPress Website & Deleted It Within 3 Days

WordPress.com is Pissing On Our World: Hidden Costs, Frustrating Issues, and Lack of Support.

On August 3rd, I created a WordPress website to drive traffic to my content. The content writing and freelance gurus tell us to do that, right? Those people are a conversation for another day, but the “I made $10,000 from my website in 6 months” headlines are provocative and get people interested.

Besides the fact that I consider myself intelligent enough to know that all of that is nonsense, I wanted to conduct a test since that is the key to success for so many “pioneers” in the industry. I mapped out a plan:

Create a homepage with a strong headline and call to action.
Develop an “About Me” page that showcases my core values and personal journey.
Create a “Contact” page.
Showcase my blog and social media posts from different publications and media platforms.

Easy enough? Not really. The basic premises were done, but the little details needed for a website to be appealing and professional were lost unless I shelled out over $500 upfront. The money isn’t the part I’m mad about, though. It’s the lack of upfront communication that pisses me off the most. That is the problem with most businesses.

For instance, WordPress utilizes blocks to map out content to make your information stylistic and readable. That’s great in theory, but I’ll be the first to say I don’t code. “Girls Who Code” in middle school was a big thing, but I was too busy working and helping my single mom, who worked day, night, and Sunday, survive the week by keeping the house in order while she was gone. So I missed out on that program. (Still kicking myself for that one.)

Because I don’t code, I am a user who would have to rely on plug-ins and external databases to fix little details that would either consume too much time or not get done due to the limitations of WordPress.com hosting. The problem is, you can’t even use plug-ins unless you pay an additional $350. Again, that’s fine, but it wasn’t until I did a bit more digging that I found out that social media embeds do not show up on the website unless supported (there is no stock plug-in for that), and your blog post page will still look like all of the words…

page every time you input an excerpt setting. Hence more paid features were not made clear in the beginning.

Granted — user error is a contributing factor — but the whole point of a website host is to help you when you’re not skilled in CSS and HTML implementation.

Like, okay I’m a dumb-dumb and you are big strong website developers. HELP ME!

Kevin Hart Gif — Tenor

The straw that broke the camel’s back was what I experienced today. I was spending some intimate time with my keyboard and trackpad, speaking sweet nothings to the WP admin page, begging it not to let me down. I opened my website on a completely different browser as if I were another person just checking it out.

*Word of Advice: If you are ever developing a product page or service channel, always log into another page to check things out. You will see what your viewers see, and that gives you more clarity on what to edit and change.*

I noticed a glaring “Subscribe” action bar at the bottom right of the screen. The screen that viewers and users are supposed to see.

Example of Action Bar — WordPress.com

What the hell? If that’s the case, what did I create a Newsletter pin for?

I went to edit the site to see if I could turn it off. No dice. I went to the settings of my admin portal to see if I could change it there. No bueno. Then I decided to go to good old Google for some answers. While my question was answered, I was taken aback by something else.

*Author’s Note: Start reading from left to right*

Screenshots from WordPress.com Forum: Disable Action Bar Issues

Wow.

My issue is, if people have had the same question since 2017, why hasn’t it been made clearer upon signup? And why is it appropriate for an administrative member of your company to snidely “correct” a fellow user on fact-checking information when it’s your negligence causing clients to figure it out amongst each other? Like it’s 2024, and I had to find this old ass thread to find out this information.

But most of all, the person who responded to the initial WordPress member was just trying to help — and ultimately no one’s issue was fixed in the end.

I think this should be a testament to all business owners that have team members.

Be clear with your instructions.
Acknowledge faults or what is lacking in your company, and listen to your consumers.
Establish a precedent for the people who are representing your business to have empathy in their communication.
And a side, side note: Companies, please stop requiring candidates to know how to use WordPress! Lol

As for me, I’ve decided not to shell out any more money solely out of fear that I’m going to be treated like an idiot for not knowing the things that I’m asking for help with. I deactivated everything, and I am awaiting a refund.

Now I’m going to keep looking, and keep interacting on the sites I do frequent (such as Medium) and worry about a website later.

I should check and see if “Girls Who Code” has an adult program, aye?

Cheers, folks.

Ali

Let’s Take a Trip Down Memory Lane: A Tale of “Human Nature”

2024-07-24T16:57:00.000-07:00

Forrestchump44 - Reddit

“…the world assumes white people are naturally good. So when something bad happens, it’s a good person doing a bad thing. They assume black people are naturally bad, so when something good happens, it’s only a matter of time before that animal’s true nature rears its ugly head.”

— Mr. Nancy, American Gods

Many films portray stories of those who have been. Showcasing their experiences, and what it truly means to be “white” or “black” in America.

You may not want to read any further than this. You may feel as though society talks about race enough. Well, in my opinion — the significance of historical indecency bestowed upon Black Americans is never done justice on a grand scale.

Yes, you hear people talk about slavery often. As do you hear perpetual stories of judicial injustice, and police misconduct — hence the most recent polarizing case of Sonya Massey. You hear it all the time. But I can assure you, that the majority of the American population does not understand why black people are so frustrated.

Through the course of a 500-year relay of black bodies bearing the fruit of a dying tree, history is repeating itself.

Pathological Adaptation in the Black Community:

Typically the term “Pathological Adaptation” is about the cells in the body. When the central nervous system is compromised, cells try to adapt to their conditions by attacking the harmful cells or adjusting and changing into something else. In psychological research, the term has been adopted by some about how people acclimate themselves to traumatic experiences (Kennedy, T. M., & Ceballo, R., 2016). This concept is often utilized to explain the impact of generational violence on Black American people.

Brief History:

Between the years of 1882–1962, over 4000 slaves were subject to openly gruesome acts of American terrors (Pilgrim, 2004). Such acts consisted of lynchings, castration, and intimidation. There were events held in the Jim Crow South commonly referred to as “Nigger Barbecues”. Aside from civil unrest, and mistreatment — Black Americans of that time were subject to what could be considered domestic terrorism.

Jim Crow Museum Website

In the final days of slavery, the United States government — limited resources and freedoms to Black Americans through the “Black Codes”. The Black Codes ensured a passageway for indirect chattel slavery by property and employment violation laws for newly freed black individuals. Vagrancy laws permitted the arrest of unemployed and homeless black individuals, who were fined and, if unable to pay, were then indebted and required to perform labor (Britannica, 2023). The phrase, “freedom ain’t free” reigns supreme even today.

As of July 20th of this year, The Washington Post reported that though half of the U.S population fatally shot by law enforcement is white, Black Americans are killed at an inordinate rate: “They account for roughly 14 percent of the U.S. population and are killed by police at more than twice the rate of White Americans” (The Washington Post, 2024).

The Washington Post

This morning, I was doom scrolling on TikTok and saw a clip from a movie that reflected society in the early-mid 1900s. A black woman was attempting to buy groceries on credit from her local clerk — he was white. He wouldn’t allow her to use her credit although she had always been paid up. In the midst of this, he had been stealing money from letters her son was sending her from out of state, while simultaneously bad-mouthing her to other local white patrons.

You shouldn’t be fooled into thinking things like this only happen in movies, or only happened in the past.

The Department of Justice recently reported that a Virginia-based tech company requested that hiring managers only accept White American applications: “The Labor Department’s agreement resolves its determination that Arthur Grand violated Executive Order 11246, which prohibits federal contractors from discriminating in employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.” (Dept. of Justice, 2024).

Indeed

Are you getting the picture yet? Do you need another example?

It is not just one-off murders or misunderstandings. It isn’t that he or she may or may not have had a gun. It is every piece, of every thread, of every fabric that makes up the American tapestry that hates black people.

Work. School. Stages. Fields. Courtrooms. It‘s Everywhere.

Mr. Nancy also said, “Angry get’s shit done”. But not if you're black. It gets you killed.

Navigating Career Changes: Embracing Chaos and Chasing Dreams!

2024-07-21T17:53:00.000-07:00

Photo by Peter Fogden on Unsplash

Have you ever gone job hunting?

It’s that time again — time to dive back into the world of job applications and resume building. We’ve all had those sit-down conversations with friends who share how they landed their dream jobs, assuring us we can do it too. It feels like taking a nice shower, putting on your best clothes, and going to a speed dating event recommended by your happily married friend of ten years. You know, the “love will come when you least expect it” situation. That’s what looking for a job feels like right now. I’m sure anyone reading this has felt the same way recently.

Ha! Let me tell you a story.

Earlier this month, I decided to change my career trajectory. Most of my experience has been in healthcare, but I’m still young and have time to explore other options. I discovered a passion for writing, culture, and community action, so I have been refocusing. I deleted my old LinkedIn profile and created a new one. I updated my resume to reflect my new path as a content copywriter, making note of my career change, and began applying for journalistic internships.

Now, here comes the funny part. Have you ever heard of BairesDev? I hadn’t until this week. Their site describes them as a software development and data science company. I saw a job posting on Google for a “Social Media Copywriting Intern” and thought, why not?

As I began applying, I filled in my previous work experience and salary expectations. They asked for my very first work experience, which was odd because I started working at 15, and writing “Supreme Pizza” down didn’t seem like the best option. So, I listed an Administrative Assistant Internship I did during my junior year of high school. Again, note that I have much more experience that is not only more recent but less relevant to the field I’m trying to break into.

Nevertheless, I persevered. They wanted a video or voice recording summarizing my work experience. I thought, “Okay, this is getting extra,” but I completed the voice recording. I was then directed to an assessment to “boost my profile.” I reluctantly started and encountered questions like, “If Josh usually makes 20 cents per glass of lemonade and typically sells 10 glasses, how much would Josh make if he sold 15 glasses for 10 cents less?”

So, like an idiot, I finished the 20-question assessment. When I was done, I was taken to a portal with other evaluations. While trying to delete this new “profile” I made for the website, I wondered what the hell happened to my job application. So here I am, chuckling to myself, writing about it.

In the midst of all this, my reactivated LinkedIn profile couldn’t be verified because it had already been verified before. So, every time I send a connection request to a fellow copywriting peer, they probably think I’m a scammer.

But you know what? It can only go up from here. The moral of this long-winded story is that even though struggles and confusion arise when making changes, it doesn’t mean you should give up. So here I am, still writing and hoping to find something that brings me contentment and fulfillment.

Photo by Austin Chan on Unsplash

Until next time. :)

Kung-Fu-Kenny and Mr. Graham - Think Piece

2024-07-05T15:01:00.000-07:00

Shhh...I see dead people.

Yes, Kendrick Lamar and Drake's beef seems to have come to a raging head, and the internet is going berserk. There's so much to unpack, but for now, I want to discuss two of the main tracks people have been talking about: "Push-ups" and "Meet the Grahams".

Let's start with Drake. From an artistic standpoint, I will be the first one to admit that "Push-ups" is a great diss. Initially, it seemed as though KDot was mad without merit and might have just been a little bitter about something super arbitrary. As things have begun to unravel, we are seeing that all is not as it seems.

*I spoke to a former counseling instructor, and he noted that we are seeing a cultural expression bringing many black issues to the surface.*

This segues into the point that Drake has been stepping on the toes of other black artists for a while now. Longtime emcee and recent podcaster Joe Budden suggested that Drake seems to be an agent of chaos within the rap community, simply because of his Certified Lover Boy ways, i.e. promiscuity, dishonesty, reactiveness, coloniz… - you get the point. I suppose it’s true that female genitalia runs the world... if only our feminine powers were recognized for their necessary place. Why are women always at the center of male fragility? I mean the mandem go on to diss their exes over 16’s now… strange work.

Alright, let's move on since people's attention spans are limited. Let's discuss the horror movie turned musical "Meet the Grahams". Since "Not Like Us" was released, "Meet the Grahams" seems to have been ignored. There are conversations about the lack of credibility of "Meet the Grahams" and how it relies solely on hearsay. The same can be said about Drake's responses, especially since Whitney appeared in the "Not Like Us" video, which undermines his claims that Kendrick is a violent partner. This, along with other examples of literary imagery could be analyzed extensively in a full dissertation. The Pulitzer Prize is starting to make more sense as time goes on.

"Meet the Grahams" presents a powerful portrayal of the human nightmare experience through its lyrical content. Kendrick Lamar uses various literary devices, such as anaphora, to convey his message sonically. An example of this is the repetition of the phrase, "You lied".

This is the perfect time to develop a new appreciation for sound producers like The Alchemist, who contributed to "Meet the Grahams" and Kendrick's latest album, "Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers". We should also acknowledge producers like Metro Boomin for “BBL Drizzy” and DJ Mustard for the success of “Not Like Us”. It might be the perfect time to reignite the East Coast/West Coast debate, and the West Coast seems to be dominating this year (not that “O Canada” constitutes as a hot new record for either region or anything).

Ultimately, whether or not the allegations these artists have made about each other are true, the culture would be remiss not to acknowledge that it's been a great duel between the two. Though it's obvious to me who kept their head above water as the rap ship sank, I wonder what others think.

There is a lot more I can say about this, but I want to see some engagement. Let me know, I’ll be waiting for your responses!

A Letter to Martin Scorsese

2024-02-23T05:29:00.000-08:00

Letter to the DIRECTOR...

Hey! Today is February 23rd, and I've been up all night. In the wee hours, I prayed and read my Bible, as it's believed that these times of the day or night are when God can speak more clearly to you due to the lack of daily obligations and distractions.

Anyway, I'm about to try and update my car, even though I'm broke (as a joke ha!). So, I was going through my documents to make sure that I had my title readily available. While doing so, I found one of the papers I wrote during my time in undergrad.

It was for an elective film class I took in the Fall of 2019 when I was still a freshman. It's funny because every now and then, I think about how fun that class was and how much it sparked my interest in cinema and writing about things that matter to me. At that time, I even considered trying to get into film school to learn more about the craft, but you know, practicality and life got in the way.

Anyway, I read one of my papers, and it was about the usage of lighting in film. I remember my instructor loved showing Scorsese films, and a few of our assignments revolved around them (and Dinero, of course).

Not for nothing, I know no one will give a shit - but I thought I'd share my essay here. I thought it was pretty kick-ass, and I want to hear your thoughts. So, feel free to leave comments and talk pretty much about me *Kiss Kiss*.

F****** "A", am I right?! 😂

Well S***, What Are Y'all Doing?

2023-12-10T20:17:00.000-08:00

Heyyyyyyyy!

What's going on folks? Long time, no hear from - I know I've been AWAL, but a lot has been going on.

I essentially just finished my first semester of grad school, and it went about how you would expect. I feel like I just got jumped by a bunch of kangaroos on steroids - but I made it with all A's so that's good! It has been a very stressful experience moving to Maryland from Rhode Island - and it is only about 5 months in the making of my life here. Currently, I would not say that I am particularly enjoying my MD experience - but I will make due until I obtain my degree.

I've met some pretty nice people in my cohort so far, but I still have not managed to go out much other than to school, or to babysit so that I can pay my rent. The job market is very difficult right now, even with a bachelors and a decorated resume. I've applied to just about anywhere that accepts my medical and clerical experience. I got a few interviews, but ultimately all went KAPUT!. I think at one point I even applied to Ross (not too much of a big shot to do retail again lol), and even they sent me a declination letter. Too overqualified, or something like that.

Go figure.

Anyway, enough about me - I want to hear from the few people who read my content. I know that a lot is happening in the world right now, and I would love some suggestions of what you guys want to discuss. Feel free to interact and leave a comment. Everybody needs somebody, you know?

Be kind. Be caring. Be true. Talk to y'all soon!

- Ali

A Life of Transitions!

2023-07-14T06:00:00.048-07:00

Hey Divines,

I hope your week has been treating you well!

Recently, I find myself in the position of "transitioning" and moving into a new stage of my life. I have been accepted to a mastery program for Counseling Psychology at Bowie State University (AYE, AYE, AYE BOWIEEEEE!). I wanted to come on here and do a quick check in :)

Long story short, I am moving! I currently live in Rhode Island, but I am moving to Maryland in a few days time. Needless to say there is a lot of anxiety that is coupled with this experience - but I believe that God has a *divine* way of increasing the values we already inherit. Ultimately, I wanted to write this post to welcome anyone else who may be going through a transition in life right now that is causing stress or anxiety. Just know...

We will be okay. We are okay, and this time in life is a blessing. You are doing so well, and all of the things you have been wishing or praying for is soon to come!

In closing, I would like to say a quick prayer as we close out the week.

Father God in the name of Jesus,

We want to thank you for this experience called life.

We magnify, and glorify your name with the upmost capability within us.

God, as we go forth, we ask for protection and guidance Lord.

Help us to manage our anxieties and worries by casting them onto you God.

Please instill in us a sense of knowledge, wisdom, and understanding all the days of our lives.

In Jesus name we pray,

Amen.

Thank you all for joining me on todays blog post, and regardless of your religious identity - I hope you feel a sense of positivity in todays message. We can all be here for one another during the changes that life can bring.

Be kind. Be caring. Be true. Talk to y'all soon!

- Ali

Published July 14th, 2023

Affirmative Action in 2023

2023-07-07T06:00:00.004-07:00

Hey Divines!

So, it seems as though a new occurrence in the political world has once again made a negative impact on a marginalized community.

On July 29th of this year, the Supreme Court overturned the longstanding law of affirmative action, implemented in the 1960's to create equal opportunities for Black Americans, and all other marginalized communities. Understandably, this is a cause for concern for many people, and it has sparked a huge discussion.

In the former portion of the development of affirmative action, its significance was established due to the discriminatory barriers affecting the black community in the United States. In other words, black people were sick and tired, of being sick and tired.

Though the cessation of slavery had been ratified over a century prior to this executive order - the humanization of black people in the U.S had barely been applied to the essence of society. Black Americans faced issues with fair treatment in the workforce, public services, and access to reputable schools. Following the Civil Rights Act in 1964, affirmative action became an executive order signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965. Thus predicating equal opportunities on the basis of race, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, and age (Britannica, 2023). In todays time, this looks like EEOC laws in job applications, or equal opportunity in college admissions.

Currently, the overturning of affirmative action is only altering college admission processes. However, many people are concerned that soon employers will be more apt to disregard EEOC laws during the hiring process. It is the opinion of many that ending affirmative action is a gravely mistaken decision, but there are plenty of people who deem it as a judiciary achievement.

Recently, the editor of National Review Journal, Ramesh Ponnuru, wrote an opinion piece in The Washington Post expressing agreement with the new change. In gist, he explains that the 14th Amendment is enough to cover any means of discriminatory acts. He writes that the Civil Rights Act "does not say that such discrimination may be allowed to rectify the effects of past discrimination, or to construct demographically representative student bodies, or to secure educational benefits from racial diversity. It flatly prohibits it" (Ponnuru, 2023). He concludes his entry with the sentiment that the reasoning behind the overturning may not be the best, but the decision to do so at all is just.

Here is what I think...

In theory, it would be the proper notion that the 14th Amendment completely prohibits discrimination in every way. However, there are many historical events following the 14th Amendment that make this argument null and void. Hence the reason a Civil Rights movement had to happen in the first place. It is not discrimination to make note that people of color are just as qualified, if not more than their counterparts - and not to overlook them solely because they are not white. If we lived in a society where the 14th Amendment "flatly prohibits" discrimination, affirmative action would have never been created.

I could delve deeper into what I mean, but I trust that those reading can use context clues - or maybe even talk to a black person in their proximity to understand what I mean. I think it is intellectually dishonest to count on semantics, and the "American Dream" to justify a change in policy like this. It is not surprising though, because it merely reinforces the placation of the suffering experienced by those whose bootstraps you will never have to pull up.

Ultimately, affirmative action was developed due to the tenacity and the struggle of black people in America. There are many notable people, even some in politics, that would not have gotten as far without it. Also, this does not just impact people that are black - it impacts everyone who is "other" in this country. For those who are in favor of it being taken away, make sure that when you look in the mirror - you see yourself the same way the world does. At some point, you will be treated accordingly.

I'd love to hear some responses! This is a new blog, so please feel free to make your voice known.

Be kind, be caring, be true. Talk to y'all soon!

- Ali

Published July 7th, 2023

Sources:

Britannica

The Washington Post - Ramesh Ponnuru

United States Senate

Welcome!

2023-06-30T20:56:00.001-07:00

Hey there, and welcome to the Divine Development blog!

All over the world, we are either blessed or forced (for lack of better words) to consume the thoughts and points of view of people we have never met. In creating this blog, I even acknowledge this idea as it pertains to myself.

Who cares what I have to say? No one knows who I am, and seemingly I am no one of importance.

Be that as it may, I realized that the purpose of this development is truly a way of accepting and releasing the challenges, and hardships I have endured in my life. As a young black woman, I am sure others can relate to experiences I have had, and am having!

I want to take this journey together! I want to talk about things that not only come to my mind but things that my followers will like to discuss as well.

We will talk about life, love, loss, forgiveness and so much more. I implore you to stay tuned and to join in. I want to make clear that all are welcome, but this is a safe space for women most of all!

God bless, and talk to y'all soon :)