Tried to create it online on my own. It basically got into a never-ending loop. Called them up. Got their new Philippines Call Center. They were good. Admitted that it was best IF THEY set it up, rather than I trying to do it myself. They went ahead and set up a site for me. Took about 30 minutes. I was OK with that.
I had forgotten how much work it is to get a WP site up and running. But, I have been using WP, DAILY, for 20 years! So, I got a basic site up. Got the NameServers updated at GoDaddy. So, to be fair, I had it up and running …
THEN the troubles started. Biggest issue was that new updates to the site were NOT getting propagated. I would make changes to the home page and PUBLISH it. I would be able to see the CHANGES on my Chrome browser BECAUSE I am always logged onto WordPress. But, the changes would NOT show on other systems!
Had to call HostGator. That was a hassle. They fixed it initially and said it was a CACHING issue — and that I should just clear the CACHE. I had been told this, on this site, a few months ago. I was OK. They AGAIN showed me how to clear the cache via SETTINGS. I was cool.
Problem happened again a few hours later. Clearing the cache didn’t fix it.
I WAS DONE.
I did some research and decided to TRY ‘Google Sites‘. I did NOT need a Blog. So, that was not a factor.
I changed the GoDaddy nameservers back to ‘PARK’ & this morning started on ‘Google Sites’. I am delighted.
NO MORE WordPress with HostGator.
I hope I can keep this site running OK. Fingers crossed.
If it was multiple people I it would be easier to fathom — and indeed very flattering.
This is ONE PERSON. The WordPress STATS distinguishes between VISITORS & VIEWS. So, what I am seeing is 1 VISITOR … over a 1,000 VIEWS.
I really would like to know who it is & why this interest.
Yes, perfectly OK. This is a public blog. I appreciate.
It is just that I have never had anyone so interested in my posts. Plus, Ireland. You know, this is sad. I don’t know anyone in Ireland.
C’est la vie. Just wanted to get this out.
IF you see this, I really would like to get to know you. If nothing else to say ‘THANK YOU’ & also ask if there are any subjects you want me to write about.
Click to ENLARGE. Two ‘WordPress’ ‘Jetpack’ messages overlayed on ‘HostGator’ banner.
To be fair, as far as I can remember this is the FIRST outage of any note I have suffered on this site/blog in 2023. But, in a way, that is also why it comes as a JARRING shock when it happens. You get lulled into a sense of complacency & then, ‘BANG’, you get a message saying your Website is down.
I pay BIG BUCKS (& I am not joking or being facetious) for ‘WordPress’ ‘Jetpack‘. One of the key things it does is regularly monitor Website availability.
Getting a message from Jetpack saying that the site is down is not pleasant. Your first reaction is to check it, i.e., check the site. They were right. WOW.
All sorts of bad scenarios go through your head. Has the site been HACKED. What will it take to restore it.
I tried hard to be patient. So, rather than continuing to check repeatedly, I decided to wait. That paid off. But, NOT fun. Just glad to have it back.
I still let ‘HostGator‘ automatically update my ‘WordPress‘ software. So, today, i.e., May 16, 2023, I got a message saying that WP had been updated to 6.2.1. I do NOT keep up with WP releases & as such had no idea that this maintenance release was in the works.
It seems to work, but it is still early days.
I have seen that WP has had quite a number of security issues of late & this update claims to fix several. That is good.
I had not given ‘it’, i.e., ChatGPT mining this blog, any thought UNTIL I saw this. So, it caught me off-guard. Not sure what to make of it. Do I even care?
The WHOLE & SOLE purpose of this BLOG is to disseminate & share information. As such it is totally open. No restricted posts. It truly is an open book — an open blog. So, why should I care — why I would I care — IF ChatGPT wants to mine it. I guess in the end, I don’t. To mind would be hypocritical. A contradiction.
Yes, WordPress does give me the option of blocking search engines from scrolling the blog. Of course I have never opted for that option. That would defeat the goal of the blog. So, that answers the question — really. ChatGPT is basically NOW an extension to search engines. So, that is that.
In a sense I just wanted to share this with you. Something you should be aware. Worth knowing. What you see here could end up being used by ChatGPT. Wow. All this said, I am still skeptical about AI — & I have always been. Just recall that my first interaction with Google’s ‘Bard’ was a total & utter failure.
Click to ENLARGE. An e-mail I got AFTER I switched.
I only used the WordPress APP on my phone to check Stats. I do all of my WordPress blog postings, updates & maintenance from my desktop PC. So, I don’t really use the WP APP that much.
For the last few days, everytime I opened the WP APP, I would get a pop-up from ‘Jetpack’ telling me to install the Jetpack APP. I had no idea that this was not a recommendation — BUT a COMMAND. I had ignored the request because the WP APP was working & gave me the Stats I sought.
But then tonight the Stats stopped working on the WP APP!
Having dealt with WP for over 20-years I kind of had a hunch. They have disabled Stats to force me to install Jetpack. I WAS, alas, RIGHT!
The above e-mail confirms that.
I installed the Jetpack APP & BINGO I had my Stats again. Even without being told I uninstalled the WP APP.
So, that is the story.
IF you use the WP APP look into this. The Jetpack APP is supposed to work whether you have Jetpack on your Website/blog or NOT.
I do not, in any way, want to appear insensitive (let alone crass), but ‘WOW’. 37. Nearly 1/2 my age. Died in his sleep — on his wedding night. (Yes, my adoptive mother died in her sleep, at 62 — & coincidently, it was after a big party in her honor attended by upwards of 300 people).
I hope we are told, in time, as to what caused this. Yes, heart failure — & then one has to wonder if physical exertion (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) was a factor. But, alas, these days one cannot also rule out drugs. Shame. Of the two, dying from too much sex would definitely be better.
Well, I am sobered. Wow. I guess I have been very lucky. SMILE. Enough said.
I do NOT want to disrespect this poor guy. What a way to go.
