Claude/jekyll blog theme 011 c uio pj s ecmke g fi ux mv yx

CNAME

@@ -1 +1 @@
-
+ben-levin.online

_config.yml

@@ -1,83 +1,81 @@
-#
-# This file contains configuration flags to customize your site
-#
-
-# Name of your site (displayed in the header)
-name: Your Name
-
-# Short bio or description (displayed in the header)
-description: Web Developer from Somewhere
-
-# URL of your avatar or profile pic (you could use your GitHub profile pic)
-avatar: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/barryclark/jekyll-now/master/images/jekyll-logo.png
-
-#
-# Flags below are optional
-#
-
-# Includes an icon in the footer for each username you enter
-footer-links:
-  dribbble:
-  email:
-  facebook:
-  flickr:
-  github: barryclark/jekyll-now
-  instagram:
-  linkedin:
-  pinterest:
-  rss: # just type anything here for a working RSS icon
-  twitter: jekyllrb
-  stackoverflow: # your stackoverflow profile, e.g. "users/50476/bart-kiers"
-  youtube: # channel/<your_long_string> or user/<user-name>
-  googleplus: # anything in your profile username that comes after plus.google.com/
-
-
-# Enter your Disqus shortname (not your username) to enable commenting on posts
-# You can find your shortname on the Settings page of your Disqus account
-disqus:
-
-# Enter your Google Analytics web tracking code (e.g. UA-2110908-2) to activate tracking
-google_analytics:
-
-# Your website URL (e.g. http://barryclark.github.io or http://www.barryclark.co)
-# Used for Sitemap.xml and your RSS feed
-url:
-
-# If you're hosting your site at a Project repository on GitHub pages
-# (http://yourusername.github.io/repository-name)
-# and NOT your User repository (http://yourusername.github.io)
-# then add in the baseurl here, like this: "/repository-name"
-baseurl: ""
-
-#
-# !! You don't need to change any of the configuration flags below !!
-#
-
+# --- Site basics
+title: Benefit
+name: Benefit
+description: "Generalist aiming to specialise but the curious nature is constantly challenging me to explore and seek out understanding new things."
+url: "https://ben-levin.online"   # if using a custom domain, put that here instead (e.g., https://example.com)
+baseurl: ""                           # "" for user/organization sites; "/repo-name" for project sites
 permalink: /:title/
+timezone: Africa/Johannesburg
+locale: en-ZA
 
-# The release of Jekyll Now that you're using
-version: v1.2.0
+# --- Theme
+remote_theme: "mmistakes/[email protected]"
+minimal_mistakes_skin: "mint"         # try: default, dark, sunrise, sea, neon, etc.
 
-# Jekyll 3 now only supports Kramdown for Markdown
+# --- Plugins (GitHub Pages–compatible)
+plugins:
+  - jekyll-include-cache
+  - jekyll-feed
+  - jekyll-sitemap
+  - jekyll-paginate
+
+# --- Markdown & syntax highlighting
 kramdown:
-  # Use GitHub flavored markdown, including triple backtick fenced code blocks
   input: GFM
-  # Jekyll 3 and GitHub Pages now only support rouge for syntax highlighting
   syntax_highlighter: rouge
   syntax_highlighter_opts:
-    # Use existing pygments syntax highlighting css
-    css_class: 'highlight'
+    css_class: "highlight"
 
-# Set the Sass partials directory, as we're using @imports
+# --- Sass
 sass:
-  style: :expanded # You might prefer to minify using :compressed
-
-# Use the following plug-ins
-gems:
-  - jekyll-sitemap # Create a sitemap using the official Jekyll sitemap gem
-  - jekyll-feed # Create an Atom feed using the official Jekyll feed gem
+  style: :expanded
+
+# --- Theme features
+search: true
+breadcrumbs: true
+
+# --- Author profile (used on posts and /about)
+author:
+  name: "Benefit"
+  avatar: "https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/8112969"
+  bio: "Generalist aiming to specialise but the curious nature is constantly challenging me to explore and seek out understanding new things."
+  links:
+    - label: "GitHub"
+      icon: "fab fa-github"
+      url: "https://github.com/Benefit00"
+    - label: "LinkedIn"
+      icon: "fab fa-linkedin"
+      url: "https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben--levin/"
+    - label: "X (Twitter)"
+      icon: "fab fa-x-twitter"
+      url: "https://x.com/B3Liev"
+    - label: "YouTube"
+      icon: "fab fa-youtube"
+      url: "https://www.youtube.com/@B3nefit"
+
+# --- Defaults so existing posts Just Work™
+defaults:
+  - scope:
+      path: ""
+      type: posts
+    values:
+      layout: single
+      author_profile: true
+      read_time: true
+      comments: false
+      share: true
+      related: true
+      show_date: true
+
+# --- Pagination (optional: uncomment to paginate your home blog list)
+paginate: 5
+paginate_path: "/page:num/"
+
+# --- Analytics & comments (fill in later if you use them)
+google_analytics:
+disqus:
 
-# Exclude these files from your production _site
+# --- Excludes (fine to keep from Jekyll Now)
 exclude:
   - Gemfile
   - Gemfile.lock

_data/navigation.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+main:
+  - title: "Home"
+    url: /
+  - title: "About"
+    url: /about/
+  - title: "Categories"
+    url: /categories/
+  - title: "Tags"
+    url: /tags/

_data/ui-text.yml

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+

_layouts/default.html

@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ <h1 class="site-name"><a href="{{ site.baseurl }}/">{{ site.name }}</a></h1>
           <nav>
             <a href="{{ site.baseurl }}/">Blog</a>
             <a href="{{ site.baseurl }}/about">About</a>
+            <a href="{{ site.baseurl }}/game">Game</a>
           </nav>
         </header>
       </div>
@@ -47,5 +48,17 @@ <h1 class="site-name"><a href="{{ site.baseurl }}/">{{ site.name }}</a></h1>
     </div>
 
     {% include analytics.html %}
+<!--     <script>
+  document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function () {
+    const items = document.querySelectorAll(".accordion-item");
+
+    items.forEach(item => {
+      const title = item.querySelector(".accordion-title");
+      title.addEventListener("click", () => {
+        item.classList.toggle("active");
+      });
+    });
+  });
+</script> -->
   </body>
 </html>

_posts/2024-10-05-house-hijacking.md

@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+---
+layout: post
+title: "When the System Fails Its Citizens: My Story of Being Victimized in My Own Home"
+date: 2025-07-27
+description: "A firsthand account of property hijacking, corruption, and institutional failure in South Africa."
+tags: [South Africa, crime, corruption, property hijacking, victim rights]
+---
+
+> _"A home should be a place of safety and dignity—not a battlefield."_  
+
+South Africa is a country with promise, beauty, and resilience. But for many ordinary citizens like myself, it has also become a place where justice is selective and protection is not guaranteed—even in your own home.
+
+---
+
+## 🏠 My Home Was Hijacked
+
+What happened to me was not just criminal—it was a violation of everything a person holds sacred. My house, a space I worked hard to build and maintain, was taken over by individuals who had no right to be there. They were **foreign nationals**, involved in **coordinated criminal activity**, and I believe they were not acting alone.
+
+They **broke in**, **destroyed property**, and **refused to pay rent**. Fixtures were stolen—**taps, lights, mirrors**, all gone. Even utilities like **water and electricity** were illegally connected and used, leaving me to face financial and legal consequences.
+
+What’s worse? The people who were supposed to help me—**SAPS, local authorities, and housing enforcement units**—**did nothing**. Some were outright dismissive. Others, I suspect, were **on the payroll** of the very criminals they should have been prosecuting.
+
+---
+
+## 🚨 When Crime Is Protected
+
+We often talk about corruption in abstract terms. But when you **see it firsthand**, when you realize that **uniformed officers** or **municipal officials** are **protecting criminals** rather than victims, the betrayal cuts deep.
+
+I followed every legal avenue:
+- Opened cases with SAPS  
+- Contacted local councillors and city officials  
+- Tried to obtain eviction orders through the courts  
+- Reached out to civil society and victim advocacy groups  
+
+Each time, I was met with **delays, excuses, or silence**. I wasn’t just fighting criminals—I was **fighting the system**.
+
+---
+
+## 💔 The Impact
+
+What they stole wasn’t just physical property. They stole:
+- **My peace of mind**
+- **My trust in the law**
+- **My faith in state institutions**
+
+They left emotional and financial scars I still carry. I live in fear—fear that no matter what happens, **I’ll be on my own** again. As a law-abiding, tax-paying citizen, I expected the protection of the Constitution. Instead, I was left to fend for myself.
+
+---
+
+## 📢 A Call for Change
+
+I’m writing this not just to tell my story, but to speak for many others who are going through the same thing in silence.
+
+### What must change:
+- **Transparent oversight of SAPS and local law enforcement**
+- **Proper vetting of government officials and their ties to criminal syndicates**
+- **Fast-tracked legal protection for property owners and victims of hijacking**
+- **More public awareness of how property crime is enabled by state inaction**
+
+If we don’t talk about this, if we don’t hold our institutions accountable, then we are complicit in a cycle of abuse that’s eating away at the soul of this country.
+
+---
+
+## 🙏 To Fellow South Africans
+
+If you’ve been through something similar, I stand with you. You are not alone. Our voices may be ignored by officials, but we can still speak the truth—and in that, we reclaim some of the dignity that was taken from us.
+
+---
+
+**If you are a journalist, legal advisor, or advocacy group willing to investigate or amplify this issue, please reach out.** South Africans deserve better—and it starts with stories like ours being heard.
+

_posts/2025-05-06-how-to-learn-anything.md

@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+---
+layout: post
+title: How to learn anything in general!
+date:   2025-07-10 10:00:00 +0000
+categories: learning productivity
+tags: [curiosity, strategy, growth]
+---
+
+<p align="center">
+  <img src="/images/assets/learning.png" alt="Learning is a Lifelong Journey" style="max-width: 600px; width: 30%; height: auto;">
+</p>
+
+Learning is a lifelong journey, and curiosity is your best compass...
+
+## Step 1: Embrace Questions
+
+Ask "why" and "how" relentlessly and of course diligently, show genuine interest and willingness to listen, learn and responsd with input that is accurate and clarifies rather than convoluted, big worded babble.
+
+Don’t just accept things as they are—wonder about them. Ask “Why?” to understand root causes. Ask “How?” to uncover processes and connections. Ask “What if?” to stretch your imagination beyond the boundaries of what’s known. Every question opens a door to a new perspective.
+
+But curiosity is more than just asking. It’s about how you ask—with sincerity, attentiveness, and a desire to grow. When you pose a question, do it not just to sound smart or challenge others, but because you truly care about the answer. Because you want to understand something better.
+
+And when you listen to responses, listen fully. Absorb what’s being said. Let it challenge your assumptions, and follow up with more questions if needed. Great learners don’t just collect facts—they engage with them. They respond with clarity, accuracy, and a drive to simplify, not complicate. Leave the jargon behind; seek explanations that enlighten, not obscure.
+
+This means welcoming input that is accurate, concise, and meaningful. It means choosing clarity over cleverness. And it means recognizing that every conversation is an opportunity to learn—not to impress, but to grow.
+
+---
+
+Keep Going
+
+Curiosity doesn’t stop after one question—or even a hundred. It fuels momentum. It sharpens your ability to think, reflect, and act. So stay curious. Embrace your role as a lifelong learner. The more you ask, the more you see. And the more you see, the farther you’ll go.
+
+## Step 2: Practice Beats Passive Learning
+
+Watching content—tutorials, lectures, how-to videos—can be inspiring and informative. It gives us a sense of understanding and often feels like progress. But here’s the truth: watching alone doesn’t make you proficient.
+
+You can’t become a chef by watching cooking shows. You won’t become a coder by watching hours of programming videos. And you certainly can’t master a musical instrument by just listening to others play. You must practice. You must try.
+
+That means rolling up your sleeves and attempting the task yourself. It means struggling through it—fumbling, failing, learning, fixing, and trying again. Mistakes aren’t setbacks—they’re signposts. They show you where you need to focus, and they shape your growth far more than flawless theory ever could.
+
+Skill is not downloaded. It’s built.
+
+It’s built through action, repetition, reflection, and adjustment. Watching can guide you. It can introduce you to techniques and possibilities. But only doing transforms knowledge into skill.
+
+So next time you feel stuck in the loop of passive learning, stop and ask:
+Have I actually done this yet? Have I failed at it? Have I tried to fix it?
+
+If not, start now.
+Open the code editor.
+Pick up the tool.
+Write the draft.
+Make the call.
+Take the shot.
+
+Whatever your craft or goal is—start practicing. Real learning lives in the doing.
+
+## Step 3: Take Smart Notes That Stay Useful
+
+Learning isn’t just about absorbing information in the moment. It’s about being able to recall and apply that information later—sometimes weeks, months, or even years down the line. That’s where good note-taking becomes a superpower.
+
+But not all notes are created equal.
+
+It’s easy to write down everything and still end up with a page full of clutter that makes no sense when you come back to it. The goal isn’t to copy—it’s to capture meaning. To jot down the essence of what matters, in a way your future self can understand, even after the topic has gone cold.
+
+Smart notes are:
+	•	Brief, not bloated – Summarize ideas in your own words. Aim for clarity, not completeness.
+	•	Contextual – Include cues that remind you why the idea mattered or how you might use it.
+	•	Searchable – Use keywords or headings so you can easily find them later.
+	•	Personalized – Highlight what stood out to you, not just what was presented.
+
+The best test? A week from now, can you glance at your notes and still understand what they mean—and why they mattered?
+
+If not, tweak your approach. Remember: Notes aren’t just for today. They’re for future moments when inspiration strikes, when a challenge arises, or when you want to revisit something you once knew but forgot.
+
+Taking good notes is how you build your own knowledge base—one that stays relevant long after the learning moment has passed.
+
+## Step 4: Reflect and Refine
+
+Learning doesn’t stick just because you practiced or took notes—it sticks when you take time to reflect.
+
+Reflection is the pause between action and improvement. It’s when you look back at what you tried, how it went, and what you’d do differently next time. It’s how you turn scattered experiences into structured insight.
+
+After every session—whether it’s studying, practicing, or working on a real project—ask yourself:
+	•	What did I actually learn?
+	•	Where did I struggle, and why?
+	•	What would I do differently next time?
+	•	What questions still remain?
+
+You don’t need a full journal entry every time—just a few thoughts captured in your notes or mind. This small habit adds compound value: you deepen your understanding, speed up your progress, and stay aware of what’s working (and what’s not).
+
+Refinement is where real growth lives.
+
+Don’t be afraid to revise your approach. Tweak your process. Learn from others. Try a new method. Reflection isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being better, more aware, and more intentional with each iteration.
+
+⸻
+
+To Sum It Up: The Lifelong Learner’s Loop
+	1.	Embrace Questions – Curiosity is your starting point. Ask boldly, listen fully.
+	2.	Practice Relentlessly – Watching isn’t doing. Skill is built by trying, failing, and refining.
+	3.	Take Smart Notes – Keep it short, clear, and useful for your future self.
+	4.	Reflect and Refine – Learning deepens when you pause to understand and improve.
+
+⸻
+
+Curiosity gets you started, but habits like these keep you going—and growing.