First things first… Again, my most sincere appreciation to all those voices who have called, written and contacted us expressing support. The level of support during this effort to silence our voice is overwhelming and very much appreciated.
The people at WordPress open source software are apologetic, and they point to the people at WordPress.com/Automattic (the business) as the issue; two different groups.
On the technical side of the equation, there is a team of independent website engineers, platform designers and exceptionally skilled technology folks working to assist us. They are working brilliantly on this process, and our CTH community would be lost without their diligent efforts.
We are blessed to have brilliant people on task, focused and executing. To say this is a considerable task would be an understatement. It is very time consuming.
At first blush, the migration seems a simple process of exporting and importing the current CTH data…. until you realize the sheer scale of data involved. There are approximately 35,000 research articles and more than 7,200,000 comments in our decade-long archives each with an independent url to handle. The first step to secure the research library resulted in an export base of 60 files, each file holding massive amounts of data for transfer.
Ten years of graphics, pdf’s, charts, images, videos and millions of internal citations within that library equates to a lot of data. Combine that with a customary 10,000 to 20,000 word daily output of analysis, and then thousands of daily unique comments, and the server space needed for file transfer (as well as the import time) was a seriously unknown variable.
So, the team built a temporary site to see how long the transfer would take. After initial efforts, the engineering realized they could not auto-run the import. Simply the issue was overloading server capacity and few systems could handle the load.
The result is the 60 files can only be loaded in batches of five at a time. Each file takes approximately 30 to 45 minutes to import. The test run took place over two+ days, and we identified a total import time of 30 to 60 hours.
By taking this painstaking approach, we are ensuring that all internal links do not result in a “404” dead link notification. Meaning the library will remain intact, and all external links that lead to the CTH library will be able to find them. Additionally, and/all citations within the CTH library will be retained, and people will be able to use all the embed links; and also importantly, all prior links to your previous comments are retained.
After we knew the architecture and data import would take approximately two days; and adding the anticipated scale of bandwidth to foresee; we have signed up for host data services with an organization that should be able to handle the volume. We are soon to transfer the data from the temporary site into the permanent site on permanent servers.
NOTE: During the transition and data transfer we will need to shut down commenting function for CTH (WordPress) until CTH 2.0 launches. The mirroring of the site during this process will take (based on the test run) approximately 40 hours +/-. As a result, it is highly likely comments will be closed for around two days. Unfortunately, there is no other way to pull this off; it is simply a matter of volume and scale.
We will continue to post new articles and you will be able to see them, you just might not be able to comment on them until the full data transfer to Treehouse 2.0 is complete. Likely, I will have to cross-post to both websites during this transitional phase.
[Remember, the articles from CTH/CTH 2.0 cross-post onto Twitter, and you can also comment there. Or use the Twitter link to return to the CTH 2.0 article when live]
On the good news side… the functionality of the new site should be similar to what you are currently experiencing. There will likely be quirks after the launch that will need to be worked out, but the user experience will hopefully remain (essentially) as it is now, albeit you will not need a WordPress account for functionality. We are using the WordPress open-source software, so most of the current site functions should transfer.
There are some proprietary WordPress.Com features that will not transfer; however, we will immediately begin a priority process of building-in those features via plug-ins where possible…. there are a variety of add-ons that can enhance the new site and even make it better. We will use those features when feasible, and when possible in our budget.
♦ Some exceptionally kind people have requested a subscription platform; however, it has always been my mission to provide the raw and cited details, with an opinion toward what it means, totally free for everyone to use as they choose.
I do not consider my finished products proprietary, because they can always be made better by smart researchers who can find even more details for a bigger story, and make it even better. The site openness and accessibility is as important to me now as it was when The Last Refuge of misfits first assembled 10 years ago. CTH will never charge for access to the truth as we can discover it.
Just as many generous people had excellent suggestions for website hosting; however, many of those were disqualified simply because they cannot handle the volume of CTH traffic without major upgrades and CTH would be paying for those upgrades. The results of the test site disqualified a lot of hosting options. We simply have a ton of data and a great deal of bandwidth use on a daily basis. Our selected host has the capacity (fingers crossed) to handle the scale we need.
♦ The domain name will remain the same: “TheConservativeTreehouse.com”, and should be seamless in transition to the new website. However, after CTH 2.0 launch you may need to clear your browser “cookies” and “cache” so that your search or bookmark reaches the new servers accurately.
How you can tell – If you find yourself only finding older articles when you visit CTH this will be the problem. Clear your “cache and cookies”, search or use your bookmarks for CTH again, and your browser should redirect you to the correct website.
We are up against a deadline of December 2nd – As a result, the graphic design of CTH 2.0 should not look much different. The site will (should) appear the same to users until we go through a process of modifying the design but retaining the theme. Our website theme is over a decade old; we are keeping it but will be refreshing some of the aspects (like the blogroll etc). On an independent site we will have options to add enhancements and make the site carry more features. That part should be fun.
When the comments go live again, please be patient if you get hung up in a moderation cue. One of our challenges will be the absence of Askimet spam filtering. It may take time to release some comments if they are hung up in moderation. The site admins do a great job with comment moderation and release so it shouldn’t be too much of an issue; and quite frankly, there are likely to be benefits from not having the WordPress software filtering through the comments as they post. Spam removal will be a priority.
Please bear with us as we work through some of the challenges of comment moderation in our new platform. It should be seamless, but just in case… well, patience is appreciated. Be assured we will work diligently during this go live phase to deal with any comment issues as rapidly as possible.
♦ Random Stuff – You may not notice, but your user experience is a top priority to us. One of the ways we do this is through opening links in a new window on your browser. As you click on any citation in a CTH article that action opens a new window in your browser; and when you “x” out of that window you return to your original place in the article. This was always a standard convenience approach a decade+ ago on websites.
However, as people started monetizing their sites they realized if they forced the person to exit and come back they could inflate their clicks or impressions. 80 percent or more of websites today push you out of the article when you click a citation and force you to return to finish reading. CTH never subscribed to this inconvenient approach, and we don’t intend to do it now. Each link will open a new page in your browser. We will not inflate our statistics by forcing you to go back and forth just to read citations or more info.
Everything is essentially ready to begin the site changeover. As soon as I know when that process will initiate, I will let you know. Once activated the ability to comment will be closed for approximately one-to-two days (30-50 hrs), though we hope to make it as quick as possible. As soon as the changeover is complete, the commenting function will return to normal…. and you will be on CTH 2.0
Any questions feel free to ask below.
Again, thank you all for your support, this is your community. All of the Treehouse admins are stewards for this place, this Last Refuge, where you are what matters.
The key to Treehouse 2.0 is recognizing we are building something within a system that wants to see us removed. Being proactive will hopefully make us better stewards for our conversation. Remember, YOU are the important part.
Without you CTH doesn’t really have a purpose. I could stand outside shouting at trees with no impact; but together, sitting on the figurative porch, the conversation is rich with unique skill-sets, subject matter experts, and life-long experiences that make discussion so much more valuable. Myself and the CTH admin team cherish the value you represent.
Love to all,
~ Sundance
…Never fight until you have to. But when it’s time to fight, you fight like you’re the third monkey on the ramp to Noah’s Ark… and brother, it’s startin’ to rain.
Thank you for everything. I am with you all the way. Hell or high water.
We’re with you, Sundance
Take as much time as you need to do it correctly we the Treepers will wait patiently
I have not yet commented on this subject, but this basically sums it up.
When the changeover finalizes, those of us with a WordPress ID, will we have a new login?
Bless you, SD!!!??❤️If we could choose our family members, SD and fellow Treepers would be my siblings. Love you guys!!! Keeping the faith for CTH 2.0, as well as Trump 2.0.
Since I can’t like on WP, here’s my LIKE to that!
T2, same back at you. Yes indeed, siblings. Say, could you lend me a tenner?
Of course, I’m FOOLING!
Yes, you’re definitely family.
Looks like I struck a familiar chord. Ha.
Lots of thumbs up!
Thank you the update! ?
Thank you for all that you do!
Wishing you good luck with the huge task!
God bless you and your entire team, Sundance, having been through it in a much smaller way, but with no less worries other than I am the entire operation, it can be somewhat nerve-wracking that all the parts will arrive in their due place at the due time in as pristine and understandable a condition as when they left the old for the new … Such a relief when they act as normal as ever!! Prayers UP for great things to happen … Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Amen. Maranatha. In Him … But GOD !!! ❤
Thank you Sundance!! We are ready for our new site and when all is said and done I will remove WordPress.
Looking forward to our new digs!!
We are all with you Sundance!
That’s a given wouldn’t be on here except for the
Treehouse.
Thank you, Sundance. Appreciate all your hard work and effort. Glad you can move within deadline. They banned OANN on Youtube today! They are trying shut us down and out!
Love this, love the gift you give us! Thank you Sundance, I have been reading since just before President Trump was elected, I don’t know where I would be without your commentary and all the wonderful comments from Treepers. Fabulous education. Bless you and bless all who believe in this site. <3
Thank you Sundance. What ever it takes is fine with me, you and your work is important to me and so many other Treepers.
Stay Safe, Stay Strong, Never Give Up and Never Give In. Be Blessed Sundance
God Bless You Sundance and crew!
Thank You for all you do! it’s greatly appreciated by all of us.
OT BUT… BREAKING
https://www.donaldjtrump.com/media/pennsylvania-arizona-michigan-legislatures-to-hold-public-hearings-on-2020-election
Yes and new federal lawsuits
Sidney files in Georgia Wednesday. They have VIDEO!
https://twitter.com/LLinWood/status/1331316720385069057
If SD and the mod’s weren’t so busy right now, you’d probably be in big trouble for that one.
Snippy you make a great wicked stepmother.
You have no idea! Now go bugger off, before I turn you into a pumpkin.
Pumpkin pie!
U have decided emulate antifa? Bad form, dearie take your Broomstick stick & get outta dodge.
Bully.
If we no longer wish to keep our WP accounts, what will be the alternatives for posting?
December 2nd is my birthday so I take this move as Divine Providence!
You would! 😉
Yes, I would like to be done with the WP account.
Yes – I want to dump my WP account but stay registered on CTH – is that do-able for 2.0?
PJ, I’m sure Sundance will walk us through the details for posting on 2.0. I’ll be jumping ship from WP too. One step at a time.
Thank you Sundance. This is outrageous that you have had to deal with all of this in the middle of the Lib generated election chaos, as well as the most important family holidays of the year upon us.
God bless you, SD. God bless all of our Admins, and all our fellow branch dwellers. From the bottom of my heart, I have never felt so graced by such intelligent company and so many who share a deep love of our Country.
Re-wording: I’m sure Sundance will walk us through the details for posting on 2.0 WITHOUT a WP connection… Oy vey
I have an email account with @reagan.com and receive all of the Treehouse articles and comments at that account, and I can comment…no dealing with wordpress. There is an annual fee, but I prefer the privacy.
They can’t erase us, they will have to face us…
With you all the way, Sundance! B
“People don’t know the value of what they have until it is gone: Freedom suppressed and again regained bites with keener fangs than freedom never endangered…. Liberty is rendered even more precious by the recollection of servitude. Don’t wait till freedom is gone before you enjoy, value, support, protect and make the most of it!”
Cicero
Thank you for all you and the mods do! Looking forward to 2.0!
Prayers and heartfelt thanks to Sundance and all who are tackling this overwhelming endeavor.
And a Happy Thanksgiving.
God Bless.
Thank you for this communication and all of your efforts. Sincerely
I feel like I have been punched in the gut. – just reality.
I will save this page and read it carefully.
I am so grateful for CTH and all of you
God Bless and God speed on your journey! You are a blessing to be thankful for! Happy Thanksgiving to Sundance and those he loves!
Generatepress.com is my highly recommended WordPress theme.
The comments are rich with information, factual and a priori.
However, I think we could handle it if you nixed the comments.
I hope I don’t speak as a lone voice. You’re content is what we want, as good as the commentary is, we will still be commenting in the future and that’s what’s important.
The future.
Praying to that end, Sundance. Truly.
get rid of comments? really? Maybe i don’t get what you are saying..apologies if I am wrong.
For me it is the commenters along with Sundance that i have learned so much over the years
Of course it is the commentary, I’m only talking about the enormous load of OLD comments, not the ones in the future.
No need to take all the comment sections we’ve already commented upon.
That takes up oodles of space, allowing us to can post and read commentary in the FUTURE.
I agree with you. Wish there was a way to keep the best most informative comments and trash the duplicates. But only Sundance and the mods can determine that. So is there a way to archive all the old comments and start with a clean site?
Just during transition from what I read.
Prayers for you and the effort, Sundance. Prayers always for our nation and its people. Prayers that evil is vanquished in our time as well.
Thank you Sundance and crew. You are very reassuring and you help make so much sense in a disobedient world. God bless this next phase.
Thank you Sundance.
We are lucky to have you. God Bless you, your team, and the individuals helping with this transition. We will need you more than ever!
Askimet ha a plugin for WordPress sites.
Tank you for all you do. We are with you all the way. Come hell or high water.
Good luck.
Sundance, I assume you have my contact information. My availability/time is limited, but if you need any plugin development work or theme development assistance, please reach out. I’ll be hsppy to contribute whatever I can.
Thanks Chip.
Thank you to the entire TreeHouse crew
Glad this is working out, the silencing of so many voices the past couple years has been sad to witness. With a biden white house, transparency will be completely gone. We need people like you, Sundance, to bring things to the light of day. Keep up the great work.
can someone post link to sundance’s article on who actually writes bills in Congress…need for a friend but I can’t find it…
Here ya go, Merle Marks.
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/?s=Who+writes+legislation+&submit=Search
Liked that myself and worth keeping.
I am going to be leaving WordPress.com with my little blog as well. It is a teeny one with maybe 100 followers but I refuse to stay with a company that would do this to you. I look forward to being through with these creeps.
Me, too.
We left, though still use the open source WordPress software.
Expect bugs in comment management.
A little patience here, we’ll be better than ever!
I am considering it though my blog was mostly about traveling and due to health reasons and COVID we aren’t traveling much these days.
Treehouse readers can not thank you enough Sundance for your dedicated and unending hard work! I pray the transition to Treehouse 2.0 is smooth. I’ll miss ya like crazy for the 2 days you’ll be silent and I’ll be holding my breath till I see that rag tag site for conservative misfits logo reappear! God bless you!!!
As A poster said a couple of days ago and a hat tip to them ” If you build it Sundance, we will come!”
God Bless you SD, Puddy, WeeWeed, Stella, Menagerie and all Admins behind the scenes!!
AD REM !!! The most beloved administrator!
I will find you Sundance..
Thank you for teaching me about economics, the supply chain, for being a CERT hero, for teaching me and pulling me along to a profound understanding of current events.
Blessings to you and yours.
?
Puddy is long time term of endearment nickname for Ad Rem and her avatar… Puddy Cat ?
Nothing to do with pudding?
I second that blessing. You are much appreciated.?❤️
God Bless you and your team and every member. I will see you on the other side.
WOW…30-50 hours! You’re going to have some mighty twitchy Treepers when we finally get back in here!
True DAT!!!
LOL
Just make a PedoJoe/HyenaHarris voodoo doll and…..you know what to do….
I think I’ll sit out a bit, so as not to have an initial surge and perhaps overload of the system.
Hehe, jack.
With you all the way, Sundance, and thank you. Although it’s a mammoth task (beastly, really) to make this transition, I believe there will be many positives to the move. Looking forward to it.
It has to be done.
?
God bless you Sundance and all the mods. Praying it all goes smoothly. I’m kinda scared to go two days without you all.? You are all my like minded family and you help me keep my sanity. Praying for us all and for our country!??
“…Never fight until you have to. But when it’s time to fight, you fight like you’re the third monkey on the ramp to Noah’s Ark… and brother, it’s startin’ to rain.”
I don’t know if that third monkey made it or not, but I think the third snake did, otherwise we wouldn’t have the RINOS.
A women in my office brought her 7-year son to work today and he was showing me a couple of his Avengers that he put together…you know, super-heroes…I asked him if he had one called SUNDANCE. That’s what Sundance is to all of us Treepers, and man, do I have something to be thankful for on this coming Thanksgiving. Prayers and thanks to you Sundance !!!
AWESOME! Be there, or be square.
Thank you for all you do Sundance! Prayers for a successful transition!
All of my WordPress blogs are free, and easy to use. I won’t pay for it. They keep trying to get me to sign up, but why would I when I have complete control over my about 50 blogs. I would help you in any way that I can, God bless you, never give up!
Thank you Sundance. Having been through this on my own sites (different/custom platform), I know what a pain it is. My advise is plan plan plan, and then start early. Have a rollback plan if needed. Once you are happy, force the nameserver server IP reset (at midnight) so that downtime will be minimized.
I am educated enough to be dangerous (hey, I’m the exec not the tech guy), so if any of the above contradicts your plan or platform please forgive me.
Wish you the best and will be here as soon as the new site is accessible.
Cheers Team,
““…Never fight until you have to. But when it’s time to fight, you fight like you’re the third monkey on the ramp to Noah’s Ark… and brother, it’s startin’ to rain.””
Sundance we’re with you till the end. Let’s Roll Patriot!
Thank You, Sundance!
Your site is a National Treasure.
Semper Fidelis.
Given what has been the actions of the media – print, TV, social on the Internet – it’s likely CTH 2.0 will grow in importance for those looking for reliable information, lively discussion and debate, and, as evidently the case for those who have been around for awhile, good neighbors.
Thank you, Sundance for rising to the challenge and taking on the roll of the “third monkey”. I am forever grateful. I go to the Treehouse every day for news and commentary. It is my refuge, my safe haven. So happy you have found a new home for the most informative, conservative blog on the internet. Peace be with you and your team!
So very grateful to you, Admin, and my fellow treepers! You are my Refuge! Everyone else in my little world has abandoned the fight and caved. Sad! Not me! I still email my Texas Senators and Congressmen. I still email President Trump.